QUESTIONS

OK so it has been a busy summer and I have not blogged for a long time. I'll try to remedy that.
You may know that I am a songwriter and spent my early years in Nashville. I had a song called "Saving Grace" that was recorded by Ray Boltz and actually topped the charts in the Fall of 1993. In our youth ministry we frequently use another of Ray's songs, "Jesus Out Loud" as a wake up call for sleeping students. This week I learned that Ray has come out of the closet and acknowledged his struggle with homosexuality. He also announced a brief return from retirement for some limited concert dates at some lesbian/gay churches that he says have helped him with his struggle. While I have not talked to Ray for years and have only had brief conversations at best, I would be assured that we differ on our views on this topic and probably many others. Initial responses, made in jest, had me renouncing my claim to fame and looking for a new "wake up" song. But it has made think about some things.

Should I write off all the great songs and ministry Ray has had in his career as not sincere or glorifying to God? Is his sin worse than my gossip or gluttony? Want the truth!? I wrote songs during that period of my life to honor God, but I am pretty sure some of my behavior at the time disappointed Him. (As it does today.) Sin separates us from God, but it does not diminish our value or worth in God's eyes. My God has never once written me off! For only one Jesus would have suffered and given up his life. Can you argue with that. That is from one of Ray's songs. I'm not condoning or condemning. That is not for me to do. And how about this, what about the thought that some are born gay? If we are born into sin, is that a possibility, or is it the fact that because we arrive into a fallen world, circumstance and environment bring us to places of struggle? I mean, we all have our struggles because our flesh wants nothing to do with the discipline and correction that holiness requires. So we all have a genetic bent to sin. It is our human condition not an excuse. The cross is to be freeing for us. We are to be new creations with the power of Christ in us to defeat sin. We are not supposed to determine what is sin and what is not, that is reserved for a Holy God and no one else.

Situations like this leave me more questions than answers. They also leave me thankful for a loving God whose wisdom is far beyond mine. They leave me feeling sorry for the deception that is in our world. I wonder what the future holds, because the last 50 years have brought us to a broken place where our moral fiber has disappeared like an 8 track tape. Not everything is gray matter and I am convinced that truth is not relative. It is absolute and the Bible is Truth. I believe God disapproves of many things (including this issue), but the love poured out at the Cross can cover it all. And if we are children of that grace then we are to hate the sin but live the sinner. This isn't some tolerance crap, or let's hold hands and get along. It is simply an acknowledgement that I sin, need a Saviour and my Saviour, Jesus only asks me to be responsible and accountable for my behavior, He'll deal with everyone else.

CHIPS IN THE FAN (POWER OF REST)

If there has been one thing that I have learned over the past 20 years is that bodies need rest. For various reasons the past month and a half had been extremely draining. Mix some travel, stress, illness and gas prices and I found a worn down 41 year old. So last week I disappeared for awhile and touched base with my first love, golf. As a Jr. Higher my dad would drop me off at the local course on the way to work and pick me up on the way home. While never, being close to a pro, I do find it relaxing and humbling. It's taught me a lot of lessons, most recently that even the pros hit bad shots and that perfection will always elude us. Mostly though, it is a way to re create. I came away from my respite restored. I know so because on Sunday morning in the middle of the FT01's set I was setting up a fan and crumbling a bag of chips to see how far they would fly when I threw them in the fan. Impromptu and silly, but fresh!

REACH WRAP

We had an awesome time this weekend with REACH. It is hard to believe that we have done it 9 years now!!! Manna gets the credit as it was her project and she did an awesome job! We worked for two wonderful ladies in South Knoxville and two families in the Sutherland area. we are so blessed to be in connection with the Knoxville Leadership Foundation, who provides our projects. A double blessing are the adults who help us in so many ways. As team leaders, drivers, food preparers... they are all awesome and we appreciate them greatly. Here's to 9 great years. May we continue to serve, and may you desire to be a servant like Christ when you read this.

SALT & LIGHT TOUR WRAP

It has been a great week. Wrapped up yesterday by a neat performance at the Truetlin House, a place I'm sure we will return to. The day also had a sprint (literally) to get to Paula Dean's restaurant so we wouldn't lose our reservation. Some beach time for pics, followed by our traditions and the now famous Clary room Dance Party were a great cap off to a wonderful week of service. Despite a desire for some make believe vigilante justice to a blond kid on a bike, we have had an awesome week. But, as always, there is no place like home, so we return with new memories and new things to pray for: Jakori and the other kids and families at the RMcDH in Charleston, the people at the Trinity Assisted Living, the kids at Morning Star and Truetlin House, their programs and funding, those in the Missions and training centers who are battling addiction or mental illness, for the new church being started by our waiter at Lady and Sons, and for our kids that the lessons would stick and that they would lead their lives in a new way upon return.

As we celebrated communion on the beach last night I was reminded how peculiar we are to be as passer by after passer by looked with questions written on their faces. They saw salt and light and it was strange to them. Our world needs to see more of it.

A Powerful Serve

The value of service is an incredible thing. Last night I had the privilege of one of our seniors sharing some old stories of lives touched by the choir tours he has been a part of. Yesterday, alone we prayed with the parents of Jacori, who was rushed to the hospital after his appendix broke. Other students ministered to other families who were at the Ronald McDonald House in Charleston. We witnessed in song and in conversation to the residents of Trinity Assisted Living in Charleston. It was great to see the kids reaching out to an older generation, but even better to here them processing the experience later that night. We realize our purpose in Christ when we get away from the thought that is all about us. One more great day then home, but hopefully the change will stay. I can see it on some faces, they are getting it!

Trinity Mission and a great Burger

We had an awesome morning at the Trinity Rescue Mission in Jacksonville, FL. It was way more than sing and get out. Our students toured, sang and then served lunch to about 60 people at this great mission. They were definitely into the performance and we had a lot of great conversation whole they ate. The dish washers (our kids) learned a new song form a resident, we loved on babies and men going through detox. It was an awesome day and a testament to the fact that the Love of God is a wonderful and powerful bonding agent!!! also had a chance to witness and hang with Jamie & Demetrius at the Cafe at the oldest drug store in the US. Cool guys, great cooks and I pray that they will come to know Jesus.