The Phil Files

We joke that we have two seasons in West Texas — hot and hotter. In reality, we do have some cold weather in parts of December, January, and February. But we don’t have autumn: we call fall, football season or hunting season. Donna grew up in Ohio with autumn as her favorite season. With the rolling hills and big trees of southern Ohio decked out in a breathtaking array of colors, and the smell and feel of autumn in the air, I can understand why: it is a beauty experienced. However, Donna insists we don’t have autumn in Texas. We accurately call is fall. In her words, “It’s 95 one day, a norther blows through and it’s 25 the next night. On the third day, all the leaves fall off the trees and blow to Mexico.”

Our family, however, is going through a major change of seasons right now. Megan is begins Physical Therapy school. Donna has headed back to teaching for the year. I am geared up for the school year and it’s opportunities at Southern Hills — at church, we describe three seasons of the year (or ministry): Fall Semester, Spring Semester, and Summer Vacation.

But yesterday marked a huge change of seasons for us. Tiny, our miniature dachshund for 12 1/2 years had his back go out this weekend. Megan and I knew before we took him to the vet yesterday what the outcome would be, we just couldn’t talk about it. Tiny has been there for the kids journeys through high school, barking at everything that moved and never slowing down. Until the last two months, he would literally drag us on a two mile walk. It was a hard hour at the vet’s: they were kind, but we still came home without him. Lexi — our little black shy dachshund — looks lost without her guardian and keeper. With a bunch of other pressure, Donna’s start to school and continuing battle with IC, deep concern for a friend who is in the hospital ICU, the AC man stepping through the ceiling in the attic, and now Tiny’s goodbye, it’s been a rugged couple of weeks.

Changes in season are like that sometimes. We often romanticize how the summer slips into Indian summer, and then autumn gently falls upon us. But that’s seldom the way it is. Summer’s green gives way to winter’s chill with withering heat, then thunder, lightning, wind, flash-floods, and cold. We marvel at the flash, we are often humbled by the thunder, and we are rightfully fearful when the showers become torrents. Yet through the pandemonium of it all, we know we will emerge out of it into a new season of shorter days, cooler weather, and the richness of Thanksgiving and the joys of Christmas. So we, those of us in the Warehouse, wait for the flash, rumble, and torrents to pass and trust that somewhere beyond this time lies a great feast and the joy of Jesus.

In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly (Psalm 5:3 tniv).

In the morning, Lord!

In my post to Heartlight this week, Called Out in Church, I talk about being communities of “subversive goodness” using the example of the letter to the Colossians and Philemon. Yeah, there’s an interesting little story about my being “called out” in church in there, too, but the real point is about “being real” as God’s people and challenging each other to more than we do today.

We undervalue the potential power in our congregations. Sometimes this is because we are so aware of our hypocrisy and weakness. Sometimes it is because we know we are not living up to what God has called us to be as a community of Jesus’ people. But if we did not have both strengths and weaknesses in our churches, there wouldn’t be room for us. So, rather than going on a church bashing fest, let’s think of higher things we can and should be calling each other to be as families of faith.

How can we be more effective at being communities of “subversive goodness” — an outpost for the Kingdom of Heaven — in our churches today? I’d love to get your response below!

I was busy hurrying around trying to get caught up on my to do list. I was gone this past week to Alaska and have a bunch of things that need doing. Then, everything changed.

Cindy, an old friend from college, called to say her cousin’s husband, my dear friend, Danny Diaz had collapsed while training for an upcoming marathon. So everything else seems much less important. Please pray for Danny and his wife Nancy, and their children Austin, Abby, and David.

Words seem silly, so I ask again, please pray for my friend and those that are precious to you, as well.

I have been corresponding with a person who said, “I know I have a God-shaped hole in me. But how do I fill it?”

There is no 1, 2, 3 prescription for this. However, a seeking heart is where we must begin. Here are a few brief words I shared about this journey.

There are a couple of familiar passages you may remember. In the beattitudes, Jesus said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness’ sake.” (Matthew 5:6) This is another way of saying you hunger for God — His presence, His character, and His compassion. A little later, he promises that, “For everyone who asks receives; those who seek find; and to those who knock, the door will be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-8).

So what I am going to encourage you to do is to read the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John). If you want to read something else for this search, also read the Psalms and find those that really speak your heart’s cry to God. And pray that God will show himself to you in your daily life. Be open and honest with Him about you hunger for Him.

In Matthew, there are four primary ways given for us to experience God through Jesus in our lives.

1. In the life of Jesus — that’s why I want you to read the Gospels over and over in modern translations that use today’s language (see Matthew 1:23).
2. In the fellowship of authentic Christian community where care and forgiveness are practiced (Matthew 18:20 really verse 12-35).
3. In caring for those in need, especially those who are believers (Matthew 25:31-45; cf. Galatians 6:10).
4. In crossing cultural barriers to walk alongside someone to help them grow in their likeness to Christ (Matthew 28:18-20).

But the key in all of this is a seeking, hungry heart that knows that it has a “God shaped hole”!

Please keep me informed from time to time about how your journey goes and I will pray that God brings several other seekers alongside you to share your journey.

Grace,
Phil

Monday, I finish my series on the seven sayings of Jesus, with a post called, “Splashdown.”

All along the way as we grow up, we learn to either trust or doubt those around us. It’s not easy once trust is broken. But, there are great lessons to learn from this process once we realize that God has not only given us permission, but also given us His Spirit, so we can approach Him as our Abba Father.

I relate in the post the experience of teaching my daughter to jump off the side of the pool. For me, this is a great metaphor for my challenge to trust God with a “leap of faith” at different points in my life. I see this as fitting for a number of others. Right now I am trying to minister to both young adults launching into life on their own and facing the challenges of trusting God with their future. They are facing the crucial faith challenge of owning their own faith and launching into life trusting Him. I am also trying to encourage and support several who are facing hard battles with illness and possible death. Others are facing financial challenges with the economic times. Each of these requires a longer leap of faith than they have had to make before. Trusting God for that leap, that launch into the unknown for them, is both a challenge and an opportunity to know God in fresh ways.

What is the hardest “leap of faith” you have had to make?

How can Jesus’ example of trusting Abba Father help us?

What are some other examples of a child trusting a parent that remind you of Jesus trusting his Father?

I’d love to hear from you in the response area below!

I tried to prepare myself to not watch as much as previous Olympics. I didn’t want to blow a bunch of time watching the drama and hype known as the Olympics. I am very very concerned about our Christian brothers and sisters in China next year after all the concern for PR by the Chinese ruling government has evaporated with the conclusion of the Olympic games.

However, the competition and the stories behind the athletes and their families is mesmerizing. The difference of two inches on a touch in the pool carries such huge expectations and surprises — for both women and men competitors. Watching young men hanging on for dear life to keep a bronze medal was exhausting in gymnastics. The incredible strength, grace, and stamina as athletes compete in multiple events and preliminary rounds or heats for their chosen sport.

Yet what also weighs heavily on my heart tonight — or better yet, early this morning — are all those who are battling hard illnesses, disconcerting job losses, foreclosure on their homes, and unexpected and untimely deaths. Their battles are more private and equally as life-altering. Often times, these unseen battles are much harder and there are few if any cheering fans. So let’s make sure we look around our circle of relationships and find someone to cheer on and lift up — especially those no one else seems to notice.