upward & inward

Read this article concerning the killing of Christians in Iraq. Why aren't we hearing more about this in the general American media? I did a search and, in addition to this article in the Christian Post, found references to this in Reuters, World Magazine, and an Asian internet news site. The only other American site was the Houston Chronicle. Even the Pakistan Daily references this tragedy. Why must I go out of the country to read about the slaughter of the church? The references in history regarding the criticality of Christ in the formation of this country is beyond contestation, yet we as a nation ignore the reality of His sovereignty. Abraham Lincoln was once quoted as saying "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord." He, of course was quoting the Bible, of which he was a practiced student. Psalm 33:12 was his reference. In the Bible, however, the word "Lord" is capitalized as "LORD" signifying the reserved word, YHWH. Specifically, Abraham L

If all goes as planned, and the Lord allows, six months from now I'll be in Uganda. Here are my thoughts on the matter... 1) When I was younger, I enjoyed travel. While I no longer look forward to it, I typically enjoy it once I get there. Sherry, the boys, and I traveled to Europe with my parents and sister a couple of years ago and I felt the same way. While I wanted to go visit my daughter and see her graduate from High School, I really didn't look forward to the trip itself. Of course, I enjoyed the trip and in some ways would have preferred staying. This Uganda trip is worse for me because my family isn't coming. I'll be without my bride and my boys for two weeks. Yikes! 2) While I can intellectually accept the notion that the trip will be life-changing and that I will have the privilege of forging life-long relationships with my teammates and with folks from a completely different culture, I have deep reservations about going. What else will be achieved? How will

In a few short weeks, Sherry and I will have been married for 21 years (that's her at a Mercy Me concert a few weeks ago). Wow. Here are some thoughts on the first twenty-one and the next... Marriage, as a particular relationship, is transformational, NOT transactional. What?! Anyone or anything which transforms, must lose itself first. The butterfly is no longer a caterpillar. The baby is no longer an ovum. And I am, thank God, no longer the guy she met so long ago. While I remain me, I am no longer me. I am the me who is joined with Sherry. And, she is no longer Sherry but the Sherry who is joined with greg. We're different - because we're united. We rely on each other to be who God has called us each to be - individually AND united with one to the other. I love to hear her laugh and she still makes me laugh. I love being with her - in fact, there is no one on this planet with whom I'd rather be. While there have been times in our relationship when I have not demonstr

Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the Lord, till He comes and rains righteousness on you. --Hosea 10:12 Read this quote. Another from Brother A. W. Tozer... The fallow field is smug, contented, protected from the shock of the plow and the agitation of the harrow.... But it is paying a terrible price for its tranquility: Never does it see the miracle of growth; never does it feel the motions of mounting life nor see the wonders of bursting seed nor the beauty of ripening grain. Fruit it can never know because it is afraid of the plow and the harrow. In direct opposite to this, the cultivated field has yielded itself to the adventure of living. The protecting fence has opened to admit the plow, and the plow has come as plows always come, practical, cruel, business-like and in a hurry. Peace has been shattered by the shouting farmer and the rattle of machinery. The field has felt the travail of change; it has been upset, t

What do I mean? In a meeting this week, I was less prepared than I should have been. What's more irritating is that I checked ahead of time to be prepared and felt assured that I didn't need to be. As a result, I missed a chance to lead. Now, we have to wait until we meet again to resolve and capitalize on an important opportunity. Secondly, there has been a brewing issue that's turned into the "rotting carcass" in the room. In other words, everyone knows it's there, but nothing is happening to solve the problem and we all get to smell the remains. Yuck. The resolution seems simple but it's not simple - because the problem has been left unsolved since before I arrived. While I've mitigated the problem, it remains a thorny issue that will require stamina, courage, and additional patience (maybe even long-suffering) in order to solve the problem and deal with the aftermath of its resolution. Lastly, we have just come off of a big change in whose m

Read this post by Michael Spencer. Are we really following the path of Western Europe - spiritual apathy, biblical abandonment, and secular victory? Oneida, Ky. - We are on the verge – within 10 years – of a major collapse of evangelical Christianity. This breakdown will follow the deterioration of the mainline Protestant world and it will fundamentally alter the religious and cultural environment in the West. Within two generations, evangelicalism will be a house deserted of half its occupants. (Between 25 and 35 percent of Americans today are Evangelicals.) In the "Protestant" 20th century, Evangelicals flourished. But they will soon be living in a very secular and religiously antagonistic 21st century. This collapse will herald the arrival of an anti-Christian chapter of the post-Christian West. Intolerance of Christianity will rise to levels many of us have not believed possible in our lifetimes, and public policy will become hostile toward evangelical Christianity, see

I came across this video and wanted to share it. Have we really traveled so far from what this country started out to be? While I don't agree with all his suggested remedies, I do agree with much of how this man describes the problems we're facing as a nation. What he doesn't emphasize is the lack of moral core we're suffering from. The early leaders of the revolution were quoted as saying, "No other king, but King Jesus!" If every leader truly made Jesus the king He has been given authority to be, what would our country be like?

I admit it. I find it reheheheheally tough to post blogs. Why is that? Here are a few reasons... Whenever I feel like writing, I'm doing something else. It's in the morning, usually, when it hits me to write. During the week, I'm working. Saturday, I'm either sleeping in or working on projects in the home. Sunday, I'm worshipping. Whenever I don't feel like writing, I'd rather not try generating the enthusiasm. Seriously. When I get home, I want to eat dinner, spend time with the family, chill out, etc. Even my non-biblical reading has really dropped off. I've become less trusting about what I should post for all to see. Not sure how to explain this, because nothing external has caused this, that I know of. I'm facebooking/twittering more. It's easier because I can update on my phone as I go..:) Ok. So, now that I've confessed, I'll try harder to post. In the meantime, have a great day and let me know what you'd like me

Ok, I know this is just a commercial - a looong commercial - but I really liked this and wanted to share it.