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The Yes That Makes Possible the No (Mk. 1:21-39)

Ron Wade is one of the shepherds at Highland.  About fifteen years ago when a campus minister asked Ron if he would start a ministry to Asians in Memphis, he said “Yes.”  About four years ago when the Highland church asked if he would serve as a shepherd, Ron said “Yes.”  About two years ago when we needed to restructure our leadership so elders had more time for shepherding and were less involved in administration, we asked Ron to outline a plan.  He said “Yes.”  About a year ago leaders at HopeWorks asked if Ron would become their new director.  Ron said “Yes.”  But several months ago, Ron told me he needed to learn how to say “No.”  He was too busy.  He had too many demands on his time.  And so half-jokingly and half-seriously, when I would see Ron in the hallway at church services I would mouth the word “No.”  Each time we saw each other, I would mouth the word “No.”  It’s still a struggle, but he’s learning.  When I emailed him earlier last week to ask if I could have his permission to tell this story about him this morning, he replied “No.”  But he explained he was just kidding.

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Dreams from The Holy: The Dream of Inclusion (Is. 56:1-8)

Earlier this month a photo was taken at the White House.  In it a white man and a black man sit in high back chairs in the Oval Office.  The white man is President George W. Bush.  The black man is President-elect Barak Obama.  It is the first time that a black President-elect has ever been in the Oval Office.  And this January, it will be the first time a black President takes up residence in the White House.

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The Simple Way: People Who Are Sent to Save (Matt. 5:13-16)

One of the movies Kendra and I used to watch with Jordan and Jacob was called An Extremely Goofy Movie.[1]  The story centers on Goofy struggling with the empty-nest-syndrome caused when his son Max leaves home for college.  Goofy misses Max so much that he enrolls in Max’s college just to get near him.  Max, however, wants nothing to do with his dad.  In class one day Goofy daydreams about happier times with Max.  The soundtrack to the dream is a song by the Partridge Family called “Come on Get Happy!” [2]: Traveling along there’s a song that we’re singing, “Come on get happy!” A whole lot of loving is what we’ll be bringing.  We’ll make you happy!  While the song plays, Max appears as a young boy in love again with his dad.  Together Max and Goofy float in the clouds.  Everything is right.  But then Goofy is dragged back into the painful reality.  Read More »The Simple Way: People Who Are Sent to Save (Matt. 5:13-16)

The Simple Way: People Who Are Sent to Serve (Acts 1:1-11)

1 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3 After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”  6 So when they met together, they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”  (Acts 1:1-6 TNIV)Read More »The Simple Way: People Who Are Sent to Serve (Acts 1:1-11)