Lord, you may be sought and found anywhere.

Wherever we are, you are.

But there are also special places for seeking and finding:

sanctuaries,

chapels,

monasteries,

mountains.

The places and spaces where your people gather for praise and petition are perfect for discovering the divine.

So, for these places and spaces, I pray for peace.  Peace among members.  Harmony between worshipers.

May the House of the Lord be filled with peace.

May I seek you today where you wish to be found.

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Lord, your love is long-lasting.  It never ends.

Your faithfulness is ever-present.  It never quits.

That’s why I long for the day when all the world will worship you.

That’s why I dream of the day when all the  peoples will praise you.

My greatest wish is for the world-wide worship of the One who leaves me speechless.

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Lord, the weak were worn down.

The powerful abused their position.

So you sent forth a king.

Through him you brought justice.

You lifted the lowly.

You collapsed those in control.

Now, Lord, send forth us.

Use us to bring justice to all.

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I wrote about the disease of distraction:

Poverty.

Childhood obesity.

These are the first three maladies I might normally diagnose when examining the patient that is metro-Memphis. I’m tempted to name any one of these as the most significant sickness facing our cities.

But upon further reflection, I think another disease demands need greater attention. The disease of distraction.

To clarify, I’m not certain distraction is a worse syndrome here than elsewhere. But it is certainly as prevalent here as elsewhere. Richard Foster, bestselling Christian author and speaker on spiritual formation, was asked last year, “What’s the curse of the postmodern age?” His answer? Distraction.

A close friend once hosted a dinner for Jesus. She got frantic trying to make everything perfect for this ultimate dinner guest (and you think you’ve got it bad when your mother-in-law comes to dinner!)  Jesus had to finally stop her and tell her: “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. Only a few things are important, even just one.” Problem? Distraction. She was distracted from the one truly good thing by a lot of other important things.

Jesus once noticed how people in his day got worked up about having the house they wanted, the clothes they desired, and the meals they wished. Jesus spoke up: “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”  Problem? Distraction. They were distracted by significant issues and had forgotten the supreme issue.

A long-time and beloved elder in my congregation had a saying: “The main thing is the keep the main thing the main thing.” These words connected so deeply with us that upon his death we had the words painted and hung in our building. With great wisdom, he saw how even us religious people (perhapsespecially us religious people) get distracted from the main thing.

This was certainly true in Jesus’ day. The trained clergy in his time used to debate which of the over 600 commands in the Bible were the most important. Each could make a case for why he felt this command or that command was superior. They finally drew Jesus into the debate. “What’s the most important command?” they asked. Jesus simply said, “Love God and love your neighbor.” Problem? Distraction. They had gotten distracted by all their scholarship, theology and tradition. Only a few things were truly important. Actually, just one.

We’re distracted today by smart phones which won’t shut up, televisions we won’t turn off, and schedules that won’t let up.  We’re distracted by the squeaky wheels in our organizations. We’re distracted by the very serious sicknesses which plague our metropolis. We’re distracted by the religious experts urging us to “give this” or “read this” or “do this.” There’s a lot to be worried and troubled over. But only a few things are important. Actually, just one.

You, O Lord, are every place–over all, through all, and in all.

But there was a time when you favored one place–the City of God.

How your Self saturated that City!

I’ve lingered in similar locations.

Places where your presence was pronounced.

A stirring worship service in a Nashville sanctuary.

A quiet moment on the Malibu shore.

A brilliant sunrise on a Las Cruces mesa.

Those glimpses of your glory make me hunger for a new day and a new city where we’ll finally meet face to face.

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LORD, we have failed you.

Please don’t fail us.

We have treated you wrongfully.

Please don’t treat us wrathfully.

Instead, Lord, restore us.

Revive us.

Redeem us.

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I was thrilled to participate in this year’s Catalyst Atlanta.  I joined Russ Turman and Brishan Hatcher from Highland, along with 12,997 others from 50 different countries.  Here are some of the most quotable quotes I tweeted during the conference:

A primary reason young people leave the church is they believe church is antiscientific. David Kinnaman

52% teens interested in a science career but 1% of youth ministers ever speak on scientific related issues. David Kinnaman

Only 1 in 11 churches say they do a good job ministering to young leaders. David Kinnaman

3 keys to keeping the young: 1)relationships with adults, 2) seeing how Bible applies to their field of interest..David Kinnaman

3 keys to keeping the young: 3) belief that Jesus is relevant. David Kinnaman

Your ministry cannot go beyond your prayer life Mark Batterson

Bold prayers honor God and God honors bold prayers. Mark Batterson

Prayer is the difference between you fighting for God and God fighting for you. Mark Batterson

I’d rather have 1 God idea than 1000 good ideas-these only come thru prayer. Mark Batterson

A goal without a deadline is dead on arrival. Mark Batterson

Leaders must embrace 5 truths about the heart: 1) Your heart (not your public image) is the essence of who you are. Michael Hyatt

2) Your heart (not your skills, training) is the most valuable leadership tool you have-everything flows from it. Michael Hyatt

3) Your heart directly impacts your influence. Michael Hyatt

Your heart is the greatest gift you bring your team. Michael Hyatt

4) your heart is either healthy or unhealthy (many of us have unknown cardiovascular disease). Michael Hyatt

5) Your heart is under constant attack. Satan’s primary objective is to take you out thru your heart. Michael Hyatt

70% of ministers have no close friend. Over 50% would quit ministry if they could find another job. Michael Hyatt

Sabbath is critical to guarding your heart. Michael Hyatt

Too many Christian leaders think “I need a bigger platform so God can get greater glory.”

Nothing tells your kids they are second rate more than you coming home still talking on the cell phone. Jon Acuff

We get drunk on what’s next and what’s new and we miss the now. Jon Acuff

I don’t believe compliments but I think critics have PhD in me and they are always right. Jon Acuff

1000 compliments + 1 critique = 1 critique. Jon Acuff

The more sucessful you are. The less accessible you are. Andy Stanley

You can’t shut it all out. But you can’t take it all on. This is the primary tension of ministry. Andy Stanley

Do for one what you wish you could do for everyone. Andy Stanley

Go deep rather than wide; go long term rather than short term; go time not just money.That is, engage deeply with a few.Andy Stanley

When you do for one, you end up doing for more than just one. Andy Stanley

Greatness is not a function of circumstance but of choice and discipline. Jim Collins

In a chaotic world, knowing What to do isn’t as critical as having the right Who with you. Jim Collins

Leadership is not about personality (charisma) but about humility (submission to greater cause and will to do it). Jim Collins

Hubis-outrageous arrogance- is the great enemy of leadership. Jim Collins

Bad decisions done with good intentions are stil bad decisions. Jim Collins

Fanatic discipline is critical to leadership. The greater the chaos, the more important discipline is. Jim Collins

Empirical creativity is critical for leadership. Leaders look at empirical data and then act creatively using that data. Jim Collins

Productive paranoia is critical to leadership. Always ask What If? and act productively on the answer. Jim Collins

The signature of mediocrity is not refusal to change but chronic inconsistency (eg no unchanging values). Jim Collins

Key to innovation is to keep the values but change the practices. Jim Collins

1) run good to great diagnostic tool from jimcollins.com; Jim Collins

2) what are your key seats to fill and what is your plan to fill them in 1 year? Jim Collins

3) who will you allow to mentor you? Build a personal board of directors Collins

4) get your personal hedgehog – your passion, your genetic makeup, what you make a contribution in – Jim Collins

5) set a 20 mile march and stick to it 6) navigate uncertainty fire bullets – 6 small new things this year; Jim Collins

7) turn off all electronics 2 days every 2 weeks create a stop-doing list – Jim Collins

9) double your reach to people half your age by changing your practices 10) set a BHAG that makes you useful. Jim Collins

Most in ministry need to double the amount of time they are spending on staffing. Dave Ramsey

People matter; a culture of excellence matters; slow and steady matters–don’t overreach the resources God provides

When you care deeply about why you are doing something, rather than just what you are doing, you excel. Dave Ramsey

When God is present, fruit is borne, no matter what else is not present. Francis Chan

If I could look at a transcript of your prayers from last month, would a hunger for God’s presence be thematic in them? Francis Chan

I don’t smoke crack because this [Jesus] is good enough for me. Judah Smith

Since when is Jesus not enough? Judah Smith

If you want to make a big difference, start small. I began by helping 250 and now have helped 2 million. Blake Mycoskie TOMS

TOMS is driven by the biblical promise that if we give God will bless. Blake Mycoskie TOMS

Fear is always an opportunity to trust or to sin. Mark Driscoll

Criticism today is instant, constant, and global due to technology. Mark Driscoll

The Bible’s answer to fear is this: Fear Not. This is the most oft-mentioned command in Scripture. Mark Driscoll

“Fear Not” in Scripture is almost always followed by “I am with you.” Mark Driscoll

John Ortberg tells of being at a hotel swimming pool with his two daughters who were three and five years old.  Before getting into the water, Ortberg gave his daughters a stern lecture about the danger of drowning.  Then, while his five year old jumped into Ortberg’s waiting arms in the water, the three year old accidently slipped from the pool’s edge into the water.  Within a second Ortberg grabbed the three year old and lifted her out of the water.  The three year old starting bawling: “I drowned, Daddy.  I drowned.”  “No you didn’t, honey,” Ortberg replied.  “You didn’t drown.  You were only underwater for a second.”  The brief submersion was terrifying to her, but Ortberg knew she was always within reach of her father’s arms.

Jesus knows this truth.  Though submerged in a deep and dark pool of suffering, he knows that he remains within reach of his Father’s hands.  Jesus understands that though the circumstances may suggest that the Father’s hands have slipped, those hands actually still hold.  Jesus is able to entrust himself into those reliable and ready hands.

What about Highland’s future do you need to entrust to those same hands?  Is there something about that future which in some way seems endangered?  Picture it in your mind and then pray: “Into your hands, I commit ______________.”

Forsaken.  This is a strange word coming out of the mouth of the Son.  Just as you and I have never known life without skin or oxygen or a heartbeat, Jesus has never known life without Trinitarian community.

Remembered.  That’s the word that should be coming out of the mouth of the Son.  That’s the word that describes what has been as characteristic to Jesus’ life as breathing is to ours.  Yet here Jesus is, forsaken.

Note what Jesus does: he prays.  He prays to the very one whom he feels has abandoned him.  Jesus prays hard words.  He prays raw words.  But the important thing is that Jesus prays.

When we are wounded and upset, what matters most is not the kind or quality of our words, just presence of our words.  Keep communicating.  Keep talking.  Keep praying.

Is there something in your life about which you’ve just stopped talking to God?  Is there a pain, an injury, or a wound that you no longer share with God?  Take time today and this week to re-start the communication with God in that area.

This intercessory prayer represents the height of prayer.  There is no other prayer in Scripture that demonstrates the level of maturity and compassion found here.  If prayer is a ladder, this one is the top rung.  If prayer is a building, this is the top floor.  If prayer is a mountain, this is the peak.

When despair and darkness hit, the natural reaction is to pray about ourselves and our pain.  Jesus has elsewhere demonstrated how to do this.  The non-natural reaction in times of pain is to pray about others, those whom we love.  Yet the supernatural reaction is to pray for the very people responsible for our pain.  That is what Jesus does here.  He takes prayer to its greatest height.  There is no greater sign of spiritual maturity than to intercede for people who have injured us.

Bring to your mind someone who has hurt you, disappointed you, or caused you some pain.  Now, repeat after Jesus: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”