Randy Wray’s Blog

I like breakfast. I like breakfast a lot. I will stop short of saying I love breakfast. Wait a minute, didn’t I just say I love breakfast? Argh, I did it again! I hold the theological position that breakfast can and should be eaten any time during the day or night.

My favorite breakfast consists of Chicken Fried Steak and Eggs, Hashbrowns, Buttermilk Bisquits and Sawmill gravy. Whenever we visit the Cracker Barrel that’s exactly what I order! I will not, however, turn down eggs, pancakes and sausage. And of course you need peanut butter on the pancakes.

Most days (like today) my breakfast consists of a powerbar and a bottle of water. Kind of makes it hard to get excited about breakfast.

What is your favorite breakfast AND what did you have this morning?

A friend of mine brought this song by Jane Siberry to my attention. It was performed by Jane Siberry and K.D. Lang in the film Until The End of The World.

a man is placed upon the steps, a baby cries
and high above the church bells start to ring
and as the heaviness the body oh the heaviness settles in
somewhere you can hear a mother sing

then it’s one foot then the other as you step out onto the road
how much weight? how much weight?
then it’s how long? and how far?
and how many times before it’s too late?

calling all angels
calling all angels
walk me through this one
don’t leave me alone
calling all angels
calling all angels
we’re cryin’ and we’re hurtin’
and we’re not sure why…

and every day you gaze upon the sunset
with such love and intensity
it’s almost…it’s almost as if
if you could only crack the code
then you’d finally understand what this all means

but if you could…do you think you would
trade in all the pain and suffering?
ah, but then you’d miss
the beauty of the light upon this earth
and the sweetness of the leaving

calling all angels
calling all angels
walk me through this one
don’t leave me alone
callin’ all angels
callin’ all angels
we’re tryin’
we’re hopin’
we’re hurtin’
we’re lovin’
we’re cryin’
we’re callin’
’cause we’re not sure how this goes

I think about pain and suffering quite often. Usually I’m thinking how to avoid pain and suffering. If given the choice, certainly our first impulse would be to trade in all of our pain and suffering. We read the stories (look at Hebrews 11) of all those men and women of God who endured so much for God and we think “I’m glad my name is not on that list!”

This, as the above lyrics suggest, would cause us to miss the beauty of the light upon this earth and the sweetness of the leaving.

Put another way, if life here on this earth was without trouble, was without pain and suffering, we would never want to leave. On the contrary, life here on this earth abounds with trouble, is full of pain and suffering and most of us still have trouble wanting to leave. We have trouble wanting to leave even though God has provided something better for us!

Even with all these faithful witnesses begging us to lay aside those things which entangle, enslave, and ensnare we have trouble running the race. We often find it difficult to keep our vision focused on Jesus. We forget the shame and scorn he joyfully endured for us. We forget the hostility he endured and we grow weary. Yes,

we’re tryin’
we’re hopin’
we’re hurtin’
we’re lovin’
we’re cryin’
we’re callin’
’cause we’re not sure how this goes

And even in our uncertainty we just have to keep trying, we have to keep hoping. In spite of the hurt we keep loving. Through our tears we keep offering our petitions, calling to the only One who can save us.

Over the weekend I was working on a DVD project for the mighty dolphins (Madison’s Softball team). It was an end of season photographic memento.

I originally selected a track from the end credits of “Field of Dreams” and was quite happy with my selection until I was reminded that none of the girls would probably have any idea of the movie. Much less, they would not be captivated by my selection of geezer music. “Why in my day . . .”

Seeing the wisdom in that advice (and not wanting Beth to hit me again) we decided to let Madison choose the music. She chose “This Is Your Life” by Switchfoot. Here are the lyrics:

Yesterday is a wrinkle on your forehead
Yesterday is a promise that you’ve broken
Don’t close your eyes, don’t close your eyes
This is your life and today is all you’ve got now
Yeah, and today is all you’ll ever have
Don’t close your eyes
Don’t close your eyes

This is your life, are you who you want to be
This is your life, are you who you want to be
This is your life, is it everything you dreamed that it would be
When the world was younger and you had everything to lose

Yesterday is a kid in the corner
Yesterday is dead and over

This is your life, are you who you want to be
This is your life, are you who you want to be
This is your life, is it everything you dreamed that it would be
When the world was younger and you had everything to lose

Don’t close your eyes
Don’t close your eyes
Don’t close your eyes
Don’t close your eyes

This is your life are you who you want to be
This is your life are you who you want to be

This is your life, are you who you want to be
This is your life, are you who you want to be
This is your life, is it everything you dreamed it would be
When the world was younger and you had everything to lose

And you had everything to lose

How would you answer that question? This is your life, are you who you want to be?

A different job will not answer that question. A different family will not answer that question. A different house will not answer that question. A new boat on the other hand . . . I mean, a different boat will not answer that question.

I‚Äôm not even sure I am capable of answering that question completely. The better question, of course, is “This is my life, am I who God wants me to be?”

My life in Christ because of my faith in Christ must focus on becoming the person that God formed me, created me, redeemed me and called me to be. That person is one who loves God with everything. That person is one who serves others with everything. That person is one who lives with complete faith in the promise of new life.

That’s the person I want to be.

Madison is finishing the 5th grade - Yikes! Sound the alarm, dive, dive, dive! She moves from elementary school to middle school and is soaking up the entire experience. Personally, I think 6th graders should still be considered part of elementary school. But that’s just me and whoever listens to me?

Madison’s school has an end of year Arts Festival (fancy words for talent show) so she and a few of her friends went out with a quack. With Reese on the drums and yours truly on the guitar Madison and her friends performed their rendition of Raffi’s “The Little White Duck.”

After waiting 2 ¬? hours (I am not exaggerating) we hustled on stage and enjoyed every second of the 2 ¬? minute song. I was proud of all the girls and especially of Reese. At this point in his life, Reese is a backstage person. He‚Äôs not into the being in front of crowds scene. He sat up there on his throne - that‚Äôs really what they call the stool which drummers sit on (talk about a high opinion of what you do) - counted off the beat and drummed his way into the hearts of all his friends hooting and hollering from the audience.

We waited (watching all the other acts) 2 ¬? hours for 2 ¬? minutes of pure silly fun! It was well worth the wait.

There are at least two references in the Bible to Jesus weeping. We’re quite familiar with the first, the shortest verse in the Bible:

Jesus wept. (John 11:35 NASB)

Does anyone know where to find the second reference?

Nestled within the events surrounding the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem we find the second reference. The people, in response to the entrance of Jesus, are shouting Hosannas, praises to the king. The Pharisees, the self-appointed praise monitors, demanded that Jesus silence those who were praising him. Rather than stifle their praise, Jesus informs the praise police that if his followers were to remain silent the rocks would cry out in praise.

Look what happens next:

And when He approached, He saw the city and wept over it, (Luke 19:41 NASB)

Why did Jesus weep? Why did he cry?

The first instance, the familiar instance, we find Jesus crying over the death of his friend Lazarus. Though we could also understand that the tears of Jesus may have come as a result of the unbelief of some and the belief of others.

The second instance, perhaps not so well known, we find Jesus crying because the people of Jerusalem had failed to recognize the graceful activity of God.

I wish you knew today what would bring you peace. But now it is hidden from you. The time is coming when your enemies will build a wall around you and will hold you in on all sides. They will destroy you and all your people, and not one stone will be left on another. All this will happen because you did not recognize the time when God came to save you. (Luke 19:42-44 NCV)

Jesus wept because the people did not recognize what would bring them peace.

Jesus wept because the people did not recognize the stubbornness and unbelief that would destroy them.

Jesus wept because the people did not recognize that their sins consumed them.

Jesus wept because the people did not recognize that God came to save them.

Do you remember what the people said of Jesus when they say him weeping for his friend Lazarus?

So the Jews said, “See how much he loved him.” (John 11:36 NCV)

Would not the tears of Jesus for the people of Jerusalem had also conveyed his great love?

You know I have to ask the question. Does the sinful condition of the cities in which we live, and our love for the people in our city, actually cause us to weep?

I’m not saying if you haven’t shed tears over your city you don’t care. I am saying that we often criticize and condemn the sin in our cities without the care and compassion of Christ.

How do we begin to move beyond condemnation to compassion? How do we develop the attitude and actions of Jesus in response to the condition of our cities?

Stand on your front porch in the morning as you go out the door - take a moment and look at those who live around you - pray for them.

Look at the people who ride the metro with you into or out of the city – take a moment and pray for them.

Look out into your cubicle, look at the people who work in your building and pray for them.

Look out your office window down onto the city block - take a moment and pray for the people you see.

Walking to lunch look at the people around you - in the mall, in the cafeteria, in the restaurants - pray for them.

Driving around on your route, driving back and forth, observe all posted traffic signs and pray for the people you see.

Jesus probably still weeps for our cities. He cries for those who have not yet found peace. He cries for those who have failed to recognize that God wants to save them.

Every once in a while we could use a good cry.

Today is Beth’s birthday! Here’s a picture from a few years ago:

isn’t she cute!

I’ve opened up the comments to any and everyone for you to leave your good wishes. Please make sure to include your name with your comments. Thanks everyone.

If you’re like me you probably get your fair share of forwarded emails. The fun thing about email and the internet is that often you receive some really good stories or funny illustrations. The bad thing about email and the internet is that you can’t use that story or funny illustration in a sermon because everyone else has already forwarded it to everyone on the planet!

With that in mind and for reasons of great humor, I just had to share this one with you:

CHURCH FEUD

There was a feud between the Preaching Minister and the Worship Leader of The Sedona Church of Christ.

It seems the first hint of trouble came when the Minister preached on “dedicating yourselves to service” and the Worship Leader chose to sing: “I Shall Not Be Moved.”

Trying to believe it was a coincidence, the Minister put the incident behind him. The next Sunday he preached on “giving.” Afterwards, the church squirmed as the Worship Leader led them in the hymn: “Jesus Paid It All.”

By this time, the Minister was losing his temper. Sunday Morning attendance, however, swelled as the tension between the two built.

A large crowd showed up the next week to hear his sermon on “The sins of Gossiping.” Would you believe the Worship Leader selected: “I Love To Tell The Story?”

There was no turning back. The following Sunday the Minister told the congregation that unless something changed, he was considering resignation. The entire church gasped when the Worship Leader led them in: “Why Not Tonight?”

Truthfully, no one was surprised when the Minister resigned a week later, explaining that Jesus had led him there and Jesus was leading him away.

The Worship Leader could not resist: He stood before the church and with a cheshire grin led, “What A Friend We Have In Jesus.”

I sure hope it was just a joke!

As we approach the Biblical text, in terms of application, it is often necessary to find a dynamic equivalent. We sure found a great one yesterday.

We had dinner on the grounds yesterday. Not everyone actually ate on the ground, although a few people did, most sat at tables. Our Hispanic brothers and sisters hosted the entire church to a fellowship meal following our morning services. Grilled fajita steak, sausages, chicken, salads, pupusas, iced-tea and ice-cream. Throw in some Dr. Pepper and I would have been listening for trumpets!

Now if you’ve never had a pupusa, you don’t know what you’ve been missing. A pupusa is basically a thick homemade tortilla (made from masa) stuffed with cheese, beans and meat cooked to a golden brown on a grill. Were God to have called Latin American people to a new land a new country he would have sent pupusas from heaven instead of manna.

In spite of the humidity (yes it has finally arrived) and the heat we had a fabulous time enjoying much food and abundant fellowship. It was great seeing God’s people acting like God’s people.

I was struck this morning by the changes that occur within the body outside the auditorium. (I’m speaking generally at this point) Inside the auditorium we have all these rules. We make it so difficult. It’s hard for people to get along. We fight we bicker all while pinching off a small piece of bread or sipping from a small cup. Outside on the lawn, or inside in the fellowship hall, there are no such rules. We laugh, we listen, we have seconds and we learn to love.

What happens outside on that lawn, what happens inside that fellowship hall is the community which the early believers enjoyed. I can’t help but think we would be quite effective in reaching others if those looking for Christ spent more time with us on the lawn than in the auditorium. Maybe the Lord would be adding daily to our number if we spent less time in church and more time cooking. Come to think of it, we should rename the auditorium. It should forever be known as the fellowship hall.

What are some of your memorable potluck, dinner on the grounds experiences?

My friend Danny Mann writes a weekly column for the Valley Morning Star, the daily newspaper in Harlingen, Texas. He sends me his articles each week for comments and input. I usually respond with “I wish I had written that!” Here is his column for this week:

I was sitting in one of the back rooms watching golf. It was a Sunday afternoon, blazing hot and wildly windy. Tiger and some other professional golfer were tied for the lead. It was gearing up to be a close finish, a real nail-biter – if those words can be used to describe a golf tournament on TV.

The tension built as the leaders walked defiantly up the 18th fairway, still tied. Would one of them make a miraculous shot and win it all? Would one of them blow it, finding a watery grave in the pond that fronted the green? Would there be a playoff? Exciting stuff! I was on the edge of my seat wondering what would happen next.

I was sitting by a huge picture window. Just as the last putt was being struck, the window shattered. There was a loud POP! and it fragmented into thousands of pieces. I don’t know if it was the heat that caused it to explode – or maybe the house shifted a little – but whatever the cause, a nice big picture window was ruined.

After I finished having a minor heart attack, I got up to inspect the damage. Odd enough that it shattered while I was sitting there. But odder still was the fact that it stayed in its frame. You’d think it would shatter and fall to the ground, but it didn’t. I shook my head and wondered what it was going to cost to replace such a large pane of glass. What a headache!

A few days later, before we had a chance to replace the window, a buddy from Dallas came to town on business. We put him in that back room. It’s private and quiet back there, when windows aren’t exploding. As he was settling in, he pulled back the drapes and saw the shattered window.

“This is beautiful,” he said. He didn’t realize it was broken. I looked at it, looked at him and said, “It may look beautiful to you. But it looks broken to me.” “Oh,” he said. “Broken, huh? Well, I guess it’s both – beautiful and broken.” And I must admit, I think he was right.

Remember the story of Adam and Eve? God placed them in paradise and told them what he wanted them to do. They decided they would ignore God’s wishes and do their own thing – and sin came into the world. As God was describing the consequences of their sin, he said, “Cursed is the ground because of you.” That’s Bible speak for, “Adam and Eve, your sin has broken the world.”

That which had been perfect was perfect no longer. Where there had been roses, there would be thorns. Where there had been sunny skies, there would be storms. Where there had been peace, there would be war. Where there had been health, there would be disease. Where there had been life, there would be death. What a terrible, awesome thought. Sin broke the world.

It’s still broken today.

Sometimes, for a little while, I forget that I’m living in a broken world. I go to the beach, travel to the mountains, watch a spectacular sunset, and all I see is beauty. But then my phone rings and cancer has struck again. I watch the news and the men and women are still dying in Iraq. I have lunch with a friend and discover another marriage is on the rocks or another kid is in trouble – and then I remember. The world – it’s beautiful, but broken.

So what are the ramifications of living in a beautiful but broken world? Can we fix it, make it better? How does broken-world living affect our work, our families, our relationship with God?

Over the next few weeks, we’ll explore what it means to live broken- world lives. This is important stuff. We better have a plan. Our expectations better be realistic - because we’re all in the same boat. Or should I say, in the same world - a world that’s beautiful but broken.

I’m looking forward to your thoughts. Have a good weekend.

Fan - an ardent devotee, an enthusiast.

Fanatic - A person marked or motivated by an extreme, unreasoning enthusiasm, as for a cause.

I arrived home last night, after teaching for an hour in our mid-week tune-up, in time to watch the LAA beat up on the CWS. I‚Äôm sure my friend Steve is glowing red today with Angel’s pride. I am a fan of baseball. I am not a fanatic. As you can see by the definitions there is a difference.

The difference between “fan” and “fanatic” is evident based on your reaction to Major League Baseball‚Äôs new slogan: ‚ÄúI live for this game.‚Äù

Don’t misunderstand me, I am a baseball fan. I had so much fun playing baseball as a child. I enjoyed every minute of following the Cincinnati Reds until she-who-must-not-be-named purchased the team. Right above and slightly to the left of my computer monitor, as these words are typed, hang photos of Johnny Bench, Tony P?©rez, Joe Morgan, and Pete Rose. I knew Beth was the right woman when she had her own copy of Field of Dreams. We have some thrilling whiffle ball games in our backyard complete with our own version of the green monster. So, yes, I am a baseball fan. I am not a baseball fanatic.

I enjoy the game but I certainly do not live for the game. I probably would not have paid much attention to that sign (displayed right behind the batter) had it not been for the fact that we’ve spent the last several weeks in our mid-week tune-up talking about discipleship, commitment, and becoming a true follower of Jesus Christ.

Here are some observations George Barna makes regarding discipleship:

The true disciple of Jesus Christ is someone who is completely sold out to Christianity. To determine whether you really are a disciple, the relevant question concerns your level of commitment. To what are you absolutely, fanatically devoted? Jesus did not minister, die, and rise from the dead merely to enlist fans. He gave everything He had to create a community of uncompromising zealots – raving unequivocal, undeterable, no-holds-barred spiritual revolutionaries. He wants people who are dedicated to getting beyond the offer of mere salvation to those who are willing to do what it takes to complete a personal transformation. Discipleship is a lifelong calling that demands every resource we will ever muster. Discipleship is about passion to reach our full potential in Jesus Christ.

I’m not picking on MLB, at least they are honest about their expected devotion. We “live” for so many other things in this world that entertain and amuse but are lacking in the substance of eternity. It wouldn’t hurt to have that same expectation clearly stated of those who would follow Christ.

Right now I’m thinking we have the wrong signs hanging in many of our churches. Perhaps we should have some signs outside and inside our buildings which proclaim: “I live for this Christ.” Better yet we could just start by living for Christ and see if anyone else notices. I am not a fan of Christ. I’m learning to be a fanatic.