A horse with no name

Ok…so I’m dating myself…just sitting here at Starbucks and this song pops up in my mind.  So I started googling for lyrics and possible interpretations of the song…

If you want to listen to the song click on this youtube link:  A Horse with no name

Here’s the lyrics:
On the first part of the journey
I was looking at all the life
There were plants and birds and rocks and things
There was sand and hills and rings
The first thing I met was a fly with a buzz
And the sky with no clouds
The heat was hot and the ground was dry
But the air was full of sound

I’ve been through the desert on a horse with no name
It felt good to be out of the rain
In the desert you can remember your name
‘Cause there ain’t no one for to give you no pain
La, la …
After two days in the desert sun
My skin began to turn red
After three days in the desert fun
I was looking at a river bed
And the story it told of a river that flowed
Made me sad to think it was dead
You see I’ve been through the desert on a horse with no name
It felt good to be out of the rain
In the desert you can remember your name
‘Cause there ain’t no one for to give you no pain
La, la …
After nine days I let the horse run free
‘Cause the desert had turned to sea
There were plants and birds and rocks and things
there was sand and hills and rings
The ocean is a desert with it’s life underground
And a perfect disguise above
Under the cities lies a heart made of ground
But the humans will give no love

You see I’ve been through the desert on a horse with no name
It felt good to be out of the rain
In the desert you can remember your name
‘Cause there ain’t no one for to give you no pain
La, la …

America released this song in 1971 and became the number 1 song on the Billboard charts for five straight weeks…the interpretation of the song lends itself to some drug reference because “horse” is a commonly used term for heroin.  Unfortunately, when I was growing up in the ’70’s, my criteria for a song that I liked had to do more with the rhythm and beat of the song.  Today, I am contemplating, the melody of the song came across my mind, especially the line…”I’ve been to the desert on a horse with no name…”
I am profoundly awakened by the word desert. It has so many connotations and meanings for people.  You might feel as though you are in a desert.  What do you rely on?  Are you by yourself?
America writes that the desert experience was accompanied by the horse with no name.  Understanding or gaining meaning from the lyrics of song leads to many interpretations.  In the author’s experience, he is accompanied by a horse in the desert…in a sarcastic way, he lets horse go away because the desert had turned into an ocean…unfortunately, the humans give no love!
At this moment, I want to give you an alternative look.  Acts 1:8 says, “you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you and you will be witnesses for me in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the uttermost parts of the earth…”
1.  I want to remind you that in whatever desert you are in, the Holy Spirit is with you!  He won’t leave!  And His love is everlasting!

2.  I want to tell you that there is a community of Christ followers at GracePointe Community Church, Lee’s Summit, MO that is rooting for you and behind you.  We are believing the best for you!

3.  I want to encourage you to find room for another person to join you in your desert…He hasn’t left, you just haven’t connected with his presence and His Spirit…check out Hebrews 13:5
Come and join us this Sunday at 8:30 for coffee and donuts…worship starts at 8:45…See you at GracePointe!

helping to form a young clerk…

james-k-bridges-picOn this Memorial Day, May 31, 2010, I remember the life of James K. Bridges.

I remember that first time walking into your home in Waxahachie, as a young seminary student.  You laughed, joked, and welcomed me with open arms. You treated me with respect and humility.  No air or pretenses, or the slightest sense of arrogance.  You walked with grace and humility.   I didn’t even know that you were the District Superintendent!

Years later, even as the General Treasurer, you welcomed me and my family in your home in Springfield with the same warmth and grace.  You gave us personal tour and even allowed my 10 and 7 year old boys to run around your beautiful home…you smiled and told me I had beautiful boys (all the while, I worried they were going to break something!)!  You were a somebody, who acted as though they were a nobody! (I say that with the greatest respect…)

You modeled a life of grace and humility (Matthew 23:11-12).

I will forever remember the life lesson you have taught me.  Gilbert Burnett wrote, “the greatest good that one can hope to do in this world is upon young persons, who have not yet taken their ply, and not spoiled with prejudices and wrong notions.  Those who have taken an ill one at first, will neither be at the pains to look over their notions, nor turn to new methods; no will they, by any change of practice, seem to confess that they were once in the wrong.  So that if matters that are amiss can be mended or set right, it must be by giving those that have not yet set out, and that are not engaged truer views and juster ideas of things.  I will therefore here lay down the model upon which a clerk is to be formed…” (Discourse of the Pastoral Care, 149)

Thanks for helping form this young clerk…

The son, the son, who will take the son?

rembrandtthereturnoftheprodigalsonstpetersburghermitage2A wealthy man and his son loved to collect rare works of art.  They had everything in their collection, from Picasso to Raphael.  They would often sit together and admire the great works of art..

When the  Vietnam conflict broke out, the son went to war. He was very courageous and died in battle while rescuing another soldier. The father was notified and grieved deeply for his only son.

About a month later, just before Christmas, there was a knock at the door. A young man stood at the door with a large package in his hands.

He said, ‘Sir, you don’t know me, but I am the soldier for whom your son gave his life. He saved many lives that day, and he was carrying me to safety when a bullet struck him in the heart and he died instantly.  He often talked about you, and your love for art.’ The young man held out this package. ‘I know this isn’t much. I’m not really a great artist, but I think your son would have wanted you to have this.’

The father opened the package.  It was a portrait of his son, painted by the young man. He stared in awe at the way the soldier had captured the personality of his son in the painting. The father was so drawn to the eyes that his own eyes welled up with tears.  He thanked the young man and offered to pay him for the picture . ‘Oh, no sir, I could never repay what your son did for me. It’s a gift.’

The father hung the portrait over his mantle. Every time visitors came to his home he took them to see the portrait of his son before he showed them any of the other great works he had collected.

The man died a few months later. There was to be a great auction of his paintings. Many influential people gathered, excited over seeing the great paintings and having an opportunity to purchase one for their collection.

On the platform sat the painting of the son. The auctioneer pounded his gavel. ‘We will start the bidding with this picture of the son. Who will bid for this picture?’

There was silence….

Then a voice in the back of the room shouted, ‘We want to see the famous paintings. Skip this one.’

But the auctioneer persisted. ‘Will somebody bid for this painting? Who will start the bidding? $100, $200?’

Another voice angrily. ‘We didn’t come to see this painting. We came to see the Van Goghs, the Rembrandts. Get on with the Real bids!’

But still the auctioneer continued. ‘The son! The son! Who’ll take the son?’

Finally, a voice came from the very back of the room. It was the longtime gardener of the man and his son. ‘I’ll give $10 for the painting…’ Being a poor man, it was all he could afford.

‘We have $10, who will bid $20?’

‘Give it to him for $10. Let’s see the masters.’

The crowd was becoming angry. They didn’t want the picture of the son. They wanted the more worthy investments for their collections.

The auctioneer pounded the gavel.  ‘Going once, twice, SOLD for $10!’

A man sitting on the second row shouted, ‘Now let’s get on with the collection!’

The auctioneer laid down his gavel. ‘I’m sorry, the auction is over.’

‘What about the paintings?’

‘I am sorry. When I was called to conduct this auction, I was told of a secret stipulation in the will.   I was not allowed to reveal that stipulation until this time. Only the painting of the son would be auctioned. Whoever bought that painting would inherit the entire estate, including the paintings. The man who took the son gets everything!’

God gave His son 2,000 years ago to die on the cross. Much like the auctioneer, His message today is: ‘The son, the son, who’ll take the son?’

Because, you see, whoever takes the Son gets everything.

Come and join us at GracePointe Community Church, 2305 NE Douglas St Lee’s Summit; MO...Sunday worship at 8:45-10 AM!  See you there…

27 Tough Questions Pastors Ask

27-tough-picThere seems to be an incessant desire, today, to find easy solutions to some very difficult questions.  We want ten principles for building leaders, five easy ways to reduce stress, ten steps for effective leadership, and how to books to help us navigate life’s tough questions.

“This is not a book of formulas, rather one of approaches to ministry,” writes Dick Hardy, as he tackles 27 Tough Questions Pastors Ask. I, for one, appreciate Dick’s candor as he writes about some very difficult questions that deal with leadership and management, staffing, conflict management, discipleship, budget and finance, and hospitality.  In these sections, Dick handles questions that pastors ask openly, travel to conferences in order to ask them, and spend time, energy, and finances to find the right questions to ask.

In a very readable manner, Dick asks and answers the questions we, as pastors, are asking!  Each chapter deals with specific questions written concisely for us to be able to process the information quickly and readily.  Dick’s book is a useful resource for those who are involved in pastoral ministry and ministry leaders.

At this present time, we are searching for potential candidates for a music ministry position at GracePointe Community Church, here in Lee’s Summit, MO.  The chapters on interviewing potential staff member and dismissing staff is vitally important to me personally.

I appreciate Dick’s writing style and approach to each question.  I believe you will enjoy reading his book and profit greatly from his years of ministry experience and insight.  Dick’s book, 27 Tough Questions Pastors Ask, is available at www.thehardygroup.org or Amazon.com.

you can make a difference…

you-can-make-a-difference-picYou can make a difference!

Have you ever thought of that simple statement?  How often do you hear of making a difference?  Of leaving a legacy?  Making your life count?

I am starting a new series at GracePointe Community Church with this title, “You can make a difference!” Listen to this passage:  ”For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”  (Jeremiah 29:11)  God is saying, “I’ve created you from the very beginning to  make a difference!

God’s plan is for you not to fail! God’s plan is for you is not for disaster!  Do you understand that?  Are you convinced that God’s plan is for you to make a difference?  Pauls says this in Philippians 1:6, “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”

God’s plan for you is to succeed! The word is succeed not success!  Webster defines succeed this way:: 1) to come next after another in office or position or in possession of an estate; especially : to inherit sovereignty, rank, or title 2) to follow after another in order,  3) to turn out well, 4)to attain a desired object or end.  You might have success, but not succeed!  Success never guarantees that you will succeed!  God’s plan is for you to succeed!

Why not believe what God says about you? You can make a difference!  Someone needs you in their life–you can make a difference!  A company needs you in their business–you can make a difference!  A relative needs you in the family–you can make a difference!  We need you at GracePointe–you can make a difference!

Come and join us this Sunday at GracePointe Community Church, Lee’s Summit, MO as we continue:  ”YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

the “Green Jacket…

mickelson-amazing-shot2

“A great shot is when you pull it off,” he said. “A smart shot is when you don’t have the guts to try it.” This will be a famous quote from the ‘10 Masters Champ, Phil Mickelson.  Mickelson provided the signature shot on the par 5 13th hole at Augusta National Country Club’s famous Amen Corner, a Sunday moment that any “great” championship needs. Living up to his lifelong reputation and eschewing the safe route, Mickelson executed a shot from behind two trees on the 13th hole with a 6 iron from 206 yards, clearing the creek, and landing his ball softly to 4 feet below the cup, a shot that still seems incomprehensible days later.

So before I lose you non-golfers who are asking, “What’s the point, Fel?”  In the game of life, you can either pull off a great shot or a smart one…it’s your choice!

I’m hoping you’ll choose the former!

1.  The first great shot you must pull off is–to live for God! John says, “God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” 1 John 5:11-12.  You must accept Christ in your life in order for you to live for God!  There’s no going around this one…you’ll have to execute the great shot if you want to win the game of life!

2.  You’ll have to pull this shot off–live for others!  You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”  What do gain if you gain the world?  The World.  Execute that shot and you get a smart shot off.  But it doesn’t matter since only great shots counts in the game of life!  I really believe that it is not what I accumulate that matters, but I what I can share with my wife, my boys, family, and my church, GracePointe Community Church, in Lee’s Summit, MO!

3.  Execute this shot and you will leave a legacy–live for the world! Jesus says, 16“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:16-17.  You and I have the wonderful opportunity to continue Jesus’ mission to the world!  As God sends Jesus to the world, Jesus sends us to our world with the power of the Spirit!

Pull off this shot and you can have a Masters moment!

Masters Golf

As a golf fan, or someone who dreams of incredible moments, wearing a Green Jacket would be a fantasy!

mickelson-pic1

In the game of life, there is no fantasy…just reality!  You either pull off a great shot or a smart one…it’s your choice!

Live for God…Live for Others…Live for the World!  That’s how we:  LIVE FULLY ALIVE!


an open door…

open-door3

Revelation 3:7  “This is the message from the one who is holy and true,
the one who has the key of David. What he opens, no one can close; and what he closes, no one can open.”

GracePointe Community Church, Lee’s Summit, MO invites you to the Sunday morning service on April 11, 2010 at 8:45-10:00 AM.

Come and join us as we continue walking through the open door that God has opened before us!  We believe that this is the time of opportunity for God to birth a new work in Lee’s Summit, MO.

We continue our series:  BROKEN. Come and join us this Sunday as we look at “Broken Relationships.” If you know someone who is hurting, suffering, and need mending from broken relationships, invite them to join you and your family to this coming Sunday service at GracePointe Community Church 2301 NE Douglas St, Lee’s Summit, MO.

We look forward to seeing you there!

out of control…

what-is-love1Can you describe God as out of control?

When you think about God, rarely would you think of the word out of control…it doesn’t describe a God who is all powerful, knowing, and powerful!  It doesn’t match to say that God is out of control!  God, the master creator, orders the world and all that is in it!  He is in control!

When God loves, He loves out of control…

You cannot control God’s love, and you don’t want to…God loves who He wants to love, when He wants to love, what He wants to love, and where He wants to love!

God loves who He wants to love–He loves people who are not lovable, who don’t deserve His love!  He loves even when His love is not reciprocated!  He loves unconditionally!

God loves when He wants to love–He loves people in the most unlovely conditions, when we look and act unlovable!  He loves when we don’t want to be love!  God loves when–at any time!

God loves what He wants to love–He loves all things, especially His most important creation!  He loves you!  You cannot say, “God doesn’t love me!”  God loves what He wants to love!

God loves where He wants to love–He loves in the most unexpected places, places that are often void of love!  He will love in the bottom of the pit, a closed jail cell, a lonely and silent moment, a crowded room, a drunken stupor or in a high, even when you try your very best to get away from His love!

Aren’t you glad that God’s love is out of control?  God loves you!

Merry Christmas everyone…

christmassnow210_me_12-25-09_jfsstandaloneprod_affiliate81Wow…did you make it to GracePointe Community Church last night?

If you did, you didn’t heed the warning signs…but bravely went when no one was going!  I believe we were one of the few churches in Lee’s Summit, MO (maybe KC) that had Christmas Eve services…so for those of you who came, I offer this commendation–Thank You!  And for those who were willing to come and the snow storm of ‘09 prevented you from coming, we missed you and hopefully you’ll come real soon! (maybe on Jan 3, ‘10 for our first Sunday morning service…8:30-10 AM…hint- hint)

Where is the baby?  As I drive down Chipman Rd, I see a nativity scene on one of our neighbor’s yard, but the baby is missing?

That vivid picture captures the essence of the lie that the enemy of our souls perpetrates in my life, as well as yours.  In times when all is well, I hardly recognize or even care if the baby is present or absent.  But in times of fear, doubt, panic, want, and desperate need, there is that powerful lie, where is the baby?

You know, is God present right now?  Where is the baby?

Isaiah 7 declares that He is Emmanuel, God is with us!  Matthew 1:23 declares the same thing…the child will be called Emmanuel! The truth is the baby is here with us!  God on that Chrismas morn decided to become flesh, like us so that He can forever settle the question of His presence…will God be there?  The answer is a definitive YES!

Tear down the powerful lie–replace it with truth…Emmanuel is right there near you and in you!  Speak His powerful name! So if you missed last night, this is the message for you!  Emmanuel is there for you…He is not missing!

So enjoy His presence.  Be filled with Emmanuel!

Merry Christmas to all of you!

Christmas Eve Service

carols-candles-and-communion2Come and join GracePointe Community Church in Lee’s Summit, MO for their first Christmas Eve Service, “Carols, Candles, and Communion.”

As I make my way to this time of the year, I am often reminded of this simple fact…that Christ comes to earth in human form–flesh like you and I.  Matthew says that he is to be called, Emmanuel–God with us!  Matthew 1:23  This simple statement is utterly profound and incredible.  The Creator of the universe, the God of all creation, The Everlasting One, has come to us in flesh!  Can you believe it?

GracePointe Community Church welcomes Him in our midst!  We declare that Christ is Lord of all!  Christ our Savior is born today!

We invite you to join us at 6 PM to 7 PM for our “Carols, Candles, and Communion” Service  2305 NE Douglass St, Lee’s Summit, MO 64064.

Here’s the directions:  http://tinyurl.com/ycgmyxs