The David and Sean Tooth Extraction Method or (D.S.T.E.M.)

Step 1.) Wait until thirty minutes before your little sister's birthday party. This way your mom and dad will be busy and distracted from what you're doing.

Step 2.) Find your most powerful Nerf gun and about three bullets. Be sure to use the bullets with the hard plastic tips.

Step 3.) Since you know you'll get in trouble shooting your brother in the mouth with a nerf gun, be sure and get your brother's permission this way you're in on it together. Don't bother asking your parents for permission. Afterall, they're busy with the party and they won't mind the mouth shooting since it's serving a utilitarian purpose. But if you get caught make sure both of you are smiling it will make it look like you're working together. Parents like it when their kids are getting along.

Step 4.) If the Nerf gun doesn't complete the extraction you will need to find some string. This may create a problem because it's now 15 minutes until your sisters birthday. If your mom cleaned your room over the weekend and threw away your kite string, you'll need parental assistance.

Step 5.) If your mom says she doesn't have any string, don't let that slow you down. Go to the junk drawer and just start digging. You'll have to really dig and drag things out to make sure there isn't any string. If your mom complains that your making a mess while she's trying to clean for the party just keep sharing the big picture. Talk about how badly Sean wants this tooth pulled, how great it will be to have the tooth fairy come for a visit along the birthday festivities and Easter bunny!

Step 6.) You might be met with resistance with the string on the door knob method. Now it's time to find Dad's tools. You'll need a pair of pliers. Go to the closet where dad keeps his tools and just dump them out in the entry way. Again, mom won't mind. She seemed  excited about the Tooth Fairy and the Easter bunny coming. After all she said, "Yeah, that would be JUST GREAT!"

Step 7.) You're running out of time now. It's time to leave for your sister's party. So just go in the bathroom and have your oldest brother yank that tooth out! You might get blood all over the place but mom will clean that up. The important thing to remember is to work as a team and don't let anything get in your way! Good luck! Let us know how this works out for you!

Love That Will Not Let Me Go

This morning started off kind of rough. I had lost my keys, the set of keys with the remote. Chad handed me his set of keys to take the kids to school so David wouldn’t be late. Got the kids to school. Came home for our regular “staff meeting” where Chad and I sit with our caffeinated beverages to hammer out the details of our week.

With my list of errands in hand I started out the door then the following conversation took place.

Me: “Did you find the other set of keys this morning?”

Chad: “No”

Me: “Well, I know I brought them inside. Didn’t you use them last?”

Chad: “No, because then they’d be hanging up.”

By now we’re both standing on the front porch as I contemplate digging through the dumpster in the pouring rain to find my keys. Then Chad asks,

 “Hey, Where’s the truck?!?”

Me: “I thought you drove it last. Where did you park it?”

Now we know where the keys are. They're with the truck, but the truck is gone. Not just any truck. It was the truck my dad helped me buy in college. I drove it home the day I bought my cap and gown and couldn’t wait to show my parents.  This truck was the  “get away” car at our wedding. It’s got history.

I drove it out of stubbornness with two car seats in the front until Ruby was born; then dad started driving it as his work truck. It still has his leather work gloves and hat on the dash and I haven’t had the heart to move them out of the sun yet. Chad is kind enough to leave them be.

The last couple of years have been emotionally rough, I’ve found comfort hopping in the blue truck on the bad days for a drive to Sonic with the windows down. So, realizing that it was gone was just. .  . sad. I literally stood in the rain and cried like that girl in The Notebook.

“Anna” Chad said “Get in the car. Let’s go find it.” We drove up one turn and there it was, still in our apartment complex.  It was probably just some kid going for a joy ride. For some reason that made me even more upset.  The police came and took a report, but there wasn’t much more she could do.

There is a little boy who spends time with our boys. He was at our house last night until it was time for the boys to take their bath and settle down for the night. His mother is never home and she leaves him in the care of her “boyfriend” who looks to be about 19 years old. This boyfriend has furnished “T” with a cell phone and we suspected before he’s teaching “T” to steal. “T” was upset when I asked him to leave last night and kept knocking on the door. The boys let him in while I was in the kitchen, and he ran out of the house as I rounded the corner to the living room, taking my keys on the way out to give to his mom’s friend.

Right here in the privacy of our own home I had a break down. “If they want to live this way, let them all live this way!” and I went on and on. and on.

Then it hit me like a two by four. This is how Jonah must have felt. When after delivering an obligatory message to the Ninehvites, he went and made himself a shelter within view of the city. He didn’t want to be in the danger zone, but still  wanted to have a good view of God’s judgement. Kind of the same way you choose your seats at the circus.

As Jonah, sulked and seethed, God grew a vine to provide some shade, which Jonah greatly appreciated. “Well thank you, God!” I can hear him say. It was so kind of God to care for his servant this way. After all, think of all the hardships Jonah had endured! He was probably missing patches of hair and most likely has a good bit of acid burn from his custom whale belly transit to shore. It’s hard out there for a saint! *please note the sarcasm

Just as Jonah thought he’d found something to like about the town, God sent a little worm to destroy this one piece of comfort. After the shade was gone a hot dusty wind blew through to sandblast the last little shred of pride off of Jonah’s heart.

What  follows are the greatest gifts God could ever give one of His servants.

 1.)  The Gift of Correction

  

       Jonah 4:8-11

“But God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?”

“It is,” he said. “And I’m so angry I wish I were    dead.” 10 But the LORD said, “You have been concerned about this plant, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight."

These moments are so painful, when God speaks the hard truth to my heart like he is with Jonah. “Anna, really?! Is this what you want your life to be about? This worn out truck? This treasure is passing and can be gone in an instant. Keep your eyes on eternity, daughter.”

But what if my Heavenly Father indulged me in all of my earthly desires when I pound my fist like a spoiled child? What if He never cared to discipline, correct or instruct me. I’d be forever stuck in my spiritual “terrible 2’s”.


Ofcourse, God understands my needs! I know He  cares for me when I'm hurting,  but I'm so glad He takes the time to shape my heart to be more like His. 


2.)  A Glimpse of His Heart

“But the LORD said, “You have been concerned about this plant, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. 11 And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?”

 In the heart of God is a love so deep and so long suffering that it endured the shame and pain of a public crucifixion. Love left the glory of Heaven and dwelt among us in humility.

As Jesus hung on the cross He endured the separation from God we're born to fear. As Jesus cried out, “My God! My God! Why have You forsaken me!”  He was enduring the separation from God that I deserve. 

It’s not something to consider lightly that God gave Jonah the number of people who would be destroyed and the live stock. He knew each one, and He knew them well enough to know that they would be destroyed in ingnorance of the truth.

God needed Jonah to be moved by compassion to run with an urgency and deliver the message of His love.

This is what I want my life to be about. There are a lot of appealing things in this world, focus my eyes on what matters most to you. Give me Your heart for the lost. Give me your eyes to see their needs. Give me more love for those who have no love to give in return. Use this situation to bring about salvation in the home of this young man. 

Oh, love that will not let me go

I rest my weary soul in thee

I give you back the life I owe

And in your ocean depths its flow

May richer, fuller be

My life is not my own

It's yours

My life is not my own

I know it's yours

Oh, love that will not let me go

Me and my truck when it was new. 

Children of God

On Sunday nights I teach the High School boys at church. Last week I had a lesson stirring in my soul after reading Genesis chapter 4 and the account of Cain and Abel’s offering. Verse 4:5 says, “The Lord had regard for Abel and his offering but He did not have regard for Cain and his offering. Cain was furious, and he was downcast.” I couldn’t get the next verse out of my head. “Then the Lord said to Cain, ‘Why are you furious? If you do right, won’t you be accepted? But if you do not do right, sin is crouching at the door. It’s desire is for you, but you must master it.’”

What Cain was doing was going through the motions with God and became offended when God didn’t play along.  “Sin is at your door”, He told Cain. God could see the evil intent of Cain towards Abel and He was warning Cain that the murder he was tempted to commit would bring the curse of death and shame upon him, ending his life. “You must master it” “You must rule over it” Cain receives this clear warning and instruction by God; however in the very next verse he says to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.”

I couldn’t wait to deliver this message to our High school boys. It had changed my heart and I wanted to plant this seed in their heart too. Since the weather was good we had twenty youth walk to church. Nearly every kid who usually comes to church brought a friend.

After worship me, Tara, who teaches the girls and her helper Deborah loaded up in the van to go to Freddy’s. We have been “taking over” the ice cream shop on Sunday nights until the weather is nice enough to use the patio again.

We are really at an introduction level with these kids. By that I mean I had to stop the van before we left the apartment complex parking lot to explain that there would be no use of the “f” word, insulting anyone’s momma, or starting gang drama between here and the ice cream shop. They actually listened for the ride over.

I had the boy’s attention as we walked through the hand out for our lesson. I gave them some verses to memorize and we had a good discussion about how much easier it is to just give in to sin than to fight it. Their memory verse was, James 4:7 “Therefore, submit to God. But resist the Devil, and he will flee from you.”

Meanwhile, the girls were distracted by a fight brewing between two of the new girls. Tara had split up the group, but they continued to be disrespectful of the time. As soon as I parked the van at the church they jumped off and started fighting right in front of the church doors. Chad calmed the crowd and dispersed everyone back to their homes quickly. 

As I was driving kids home I thought about how Satan really hasn’t changed his tactics. He’s still pulling the same tricks. Just like Cain the youth received a warning from God’s word and turned in their next breath to say, “. . .come on down to the field.”

The good news is, Satan’s playing a losing game. After dropping everyone off, I parked the van at the gate and declared my refusal to give up on these girls, two of whom are pregnant. I refuse to give up on these young people, these children, these adults. God’s word is true for me and it is true for them and I believe it has the power to transform their hearts! Basically, I was putting the devil on notice.

Last night I got a call from one of the girls who was an instigator Sunday night. She wanted to know if I would take her to school this morning. I told her I would but the other girls she had been fighting with would also go with us. As they got in the car they apologized to me and to each other for what they had done Sunday night.

Over breakfast, the oldest girl started talking about all the things in her life that are making her afraid.  She’s pregnant, she was on track to graduate in May but has been skipping class, altering her report card and is in trouble with her probation officer. On and on she went. The other kids started snickering and making light of her problems until she shouted them down by saying, “How you gon’ disrespect me in front of the gospel lady!”

We made a list of all the things she’s avoiding and came up with a plan to work through them. As we pulled up to the high school this big bully girl started crying. She could hardly get the words out “Miss Anna . . .I love you. . . and I don’t even say that to my momma!”

Thank you Jesus for redemption. We don’t have to accept the same fate as the sons of Adam. We can be called sons and daughters of the king through Jesus Christ.

“For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!” Romans 5:17

Thank you Jesus!

Go and Do Likewise

Yesterday I got to do something I’ve wanted to do for a long time. Chad and I were invited to share about what God is doing at Truth Baptist Church with the Village Baptist WMU group. Since we landed here in Oklahoma City I’ve wanted to get over there to thank them for helping our family during a critical time in our lives.

In 1995, When my mom and dad found out it would be necessary for them to move to Oklahoma City and be closer to the transplant center at Baptist hospital, a huge draw back was not having a place to stay in the city. Most people from out of town bring a motor home or stay in local motels. About one week at the Days Inn was all Mom and Dad could afford.

Mom, who has always been resourceful, decided to call and see if any churches in town still had houses open for missionaries to stay while on furlough. Without knowing any more about us than that we were a pastor’s family and had a need, Village Baptist allowed us to use their mission home indefinitely.

When Chad and I arrived at Village yesterday morning we were greeted by a retired missionary named Helen. As the rest of the group gathered and introduced themselves, I realized that almost everyone in this group had served on the mission field in some way. I felt at home sharing our stories. They, more than anyone else, understand the sacrifice and importance of planting a church in an apartment community with over 15,000 residents who are largely un-churched.

The problem we all have, and I believe it is our human nature, is that we want a clearly defined group who we are obligated to love and serve. In Luke chapter 10:25 a Pharisee came to Jesus and asked what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus responded in verse 26 by asking this expert of the law, “What is written in the law? How do you read it?” 27 “He answered, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” 28 “You’ve answered correctly,” He told him. “Do this and you will live.”

29 “But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbor?’”

What the Pharisee wanted was to make sure that he was following the letter of the law. It even says he was asking for clarification in order to “justify himself”.

Jesus answered by telling the parable of the Good Samaritan.

“A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell into the hands of robbers who beat him up, and fled, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down that road but when he saw him he passed by on the other side. In the same way, a Levite, when he arrived at the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan on his journey came to him, and when he saw the man, he had compassion. He went over to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and told the inn keeper , ‘take care of him. When I come back I’ll reimburse you for any extra you spend.” Luke 10:30-35

Yesterday, as I shared the story of how their church had helped my family not a single person in the room could remember us staying in their home. They weren’t sure whom the members of their congregation were who brought the huge holiday baskets and made sure the house was furnished with clean towels and linens. At the time, we didn’t necessarily fit into any of their programs and had nothing to offer in return; still they had compassion. However, this gift, which was insignificant to the life of their church, had a huge impact on me and on my family.

It was in this home that as a family we prayed and sought God for direction for our future. It was the place where God called us as a family to go back to Amarillo and start Citychurch.

I get asked a lot of times, why Chad and I chose apartment ministry. The truth is that our heart is not just for apartments. This just happens to be one of the greatest concentrations of hurting and lost people in our city. The reason why I can be at peace living here is because I’ve been poor, I’ve had to write papers in the dark because the electricity is shut off. We’ve stood in line at the food pantry to get groceries for our family. I’ve had to walk home from a lousy job because my car ran out of gas and watched someone I loved dearly be physically destroyed by a horrible disease. I understand first hand that those in need of rescue are seldom in flattering positions.

Looking back I can also remember all my “neighbors”; those who rescued us by showing mercy and compassion in our time of need. In verse 10:36-37 after telling the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus asked the Pharisee, “Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?”

“The one who showed mercy to him,” he said.

“Then Jesus told him, ‘Go and do likewise.’ “

When I consider those who have blessed our family in times of need and whose friendship helped heal our hearts, when I think of the sacrifice of Jesus, it moves me to do for others what I can and minister to others His name. We must learn to obey the principle of this parable, which is to be less concerned with defining who our neighbors are and more concerned with whether or not the world around us considers us theirs.

Surely The Presence

This time last year I was sitting in the parking lot of P.F. Chang’s about to go in for another job interview. Having lost a bunch of weight none of my clothes fit, so Chad’s mom who is about six inches shorter than me loaned me some pants.

Something about feeling the cold air on my ankles has always blown a hole in my confidence; still I walked in with my head up, sat down for the interview and tried to convince the twenty-year-old that I was capable of serving food to people in a cheerful and timely manner.

They didn’t give me the job. The last thing I wanted to do was drive back to Jones having failed in yet another job interview. It was so frustrating! I went back to the car and just sat there and cried. I needed to feel God’s presence but could not see Him, could not hear His voice and we so desperately needed His direction.

My senior year of high school my mom and dad moved to Oklahoma City. Dad had been put on the waiting list for a liver at Baptist Hospital and they needed to be closer since they could receive a call at anytime.

My two older brothers and I took part time jobs and were going to school. We would pool our meager income to take care of the household needs, but nobody had money in their pockets. Every weekend we’d drive from Amarillo to Oklahoma City to spend time with mom and dad.

One night I was working a double shift at the fabric store. It was during the holidays and it felt like everybody was buying beautiful things to decorate their homes and celebrate. I had almost forgotten what time of year it was, because we were so focused on what Dad was going through.

It came time for my dinner break. Without a car to leave the store and without any money I just sat in the break room. I was hungry and thirsty and wanted my momma. There was nothing to be done about any of my “wants” so I just put my head down on the table and started to cry.

About that time I heard a “clunk” in the coke machine behind me. I turned around and a cold Diet Dr. Pepper had fallen out. Just happened to be my favorite!

Of all the times God has made His presence known to me this is the one I recall the most often. I felt like the most insignificant person on earth, still He provided and comforted me in the middle of my pain.

This was my “Jacob moment”. God made His presence known to my soul and like Jacob I realized “Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place, and I knew it not.” Genesis 28:16

As I sat in the parking lot last January, after failing in the interview, I recalled this moment when as a young woman and all the other times in my life that I became aware of the presence of my Heavenly Father. Even through this difficult time He was at work. Not long after this day we moved into our apartment and started Truth Baptist. Having been guided by God’s hand through a series of disappointments, trials and victories we are making progress today.

Recently I ran across the sermons of G. Campbell Morgan, a British Evangelist and Bible Scholar in the early 1900’s, who wrote

“To be conscious of God is immediately to have a new interpretation of life, to discover that the earth itself is more than dust, that all flowers are more than the operation of blind force; to believe with Jesus that God clothes the grass, and robes the lily as Solomon was never arrayed, that He is with the birds, and remains their comrade in their dying. All creation utters forth this great evangel when a man is conscious of God. "This is the age-abiding life, that they should know Thee the only true God, and Him Whom Thou didst send, even Jesus Christ."

What a beautiful awareness! I pray to never lose sight of the presence of God and His plan to transform the lives of those around us. Relying on this promise “Remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20b

Our Shield and Portion

Last Sunday night some of the TBC youth came back up to the church to hang out while Chad and I were cleaning. They began to kick-fight and get rowdy. David and Sean were wide eyed watching wondering how long these big boys would get away with this behavior before Chad called them out. Their “Play fighting” escalated into wrestling and name-calling. Chad quickly stepped in and asked the boys to go on home so we could lock up.

The next morning on our way to school, Sean spoke up from the back of the car. He was complaining that the boys at church last night were acting like a bunch of “DJ Dancers”. Then he asked, “Why is everyone who lives around us a bunch of DJ’s and dancers except for us?” What I wanted to say was, “I wish that were true!” Truth Baptist could put our selves on the map with a great praise team! I could tell by the tone in his voice that he wasn’t being complimentary.

I quickly reminded him of one of our neighbors, Miss Ursula, who prays for our family and loves the Lord. I reminded him about the boys from two doors down who came to his birthday party and have become good friends. Then I felt like I had to level with him.

“Sean, I know we live in a hard place in the world.” I admitted “But what's awesome is why we live here. God wants all our neighbors to know He loves them so He sent us to tell them about Jesus. You are a big part of His plan too. We couldn’t do it without you!”

I watched his countenance lighten from the rear view mirror. Really, I think my little explanation was for my own good. How can I expect a five year old to understand this life long lesson of finding fulfillment through the discovery of who God is, How He created us, and the life He has for us to live.

Days later, I don’t remember how it came to my heart, but I started singing the old praise chorus, “He brought me to His banqueting table, and His banner over me is LOVE” It is a song taken from Song of Solomon 2:4 and I was taught many versions throughout my life beginning in pre school Sunday School.

As I studied the passage God brought it to life in my heart. This beautiful picture of a banquet being prepared for an unworthy bride. The Banquet we have been invited to is not a more elaborately decorated version of Golden Coral where we fight over who gets the biggest turkey leg. We are brought into the presence of God where we can know His promises, His truth, healing and provision. One day we will be brought into the presence of our victorious King to celebrate in all His glory.

We won’t just be shuffled in the side door either. His bride will be brought to this banquet with a royal procession under the banner of His Great Love.

Right now, though, we’re still in the heat of battle. It feels like everywhere we go we’re surrounded by the influence of evil. The world is closing in to make a mockery of all the truths Christians hold to. Every day we must lift our eyes to the “rallying standard” of the Gospel. To remember why we even bother confronting a lost and dying world.

The Love of God that gives us life and hope is the reason we move forward into the darkness. It is our protection and provision. "For God so loved the world that HE gave His only son. . ." is our battle cry.

When I was four years old my two older brothers were in school, so I spent every day with my mom. It was the best time of my life. We lived in East Texas and mom was working for a short time at the department of human services. She would go into the homes of families whose children had been taken into foster care and help them clean up.

One day she took me with her. I remember playing on the porch with a little boy who was barely walking. I watched through the front door as my mom washed dishes, gathered up infested clothes and linens. The whole time she would gracefully offer advice to this young mother about how often these things needed to be done and how she had learned to clean growing up. The most important thing she shared with the family that day was how they could know Jesus.

Being just a child, I probably shouldn't have been anywhere near this home; however, I'm glad she took me along to witness the love of Jesus overflowing from one life and into another. I pray our children will understand and grow in faith as they witness the transforming power of the Gospel. I pray they will lift up the banner of the Gospel in their own lives and continue to live for Him!

“May He give you what your heart desires and fulfill your whole purpose. Let us shout for joy at your victory and lift the banner in the name of our God.” Psalm 20:4-5

Jesus is Merciful, Jesus Will Save

“And Jesus said, “Come, follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” Mark 1:17

On Monday, Chad spent his day helping move a lady who was being evicted. She also needed help towing her car to the auto shop. She and her pet guinea pig were locked out at 8:30 in the morning, so Chad, one of the men from QSBC, this woman and her guinea pig all rode together to the auto shop.

On the same day, another couple in our church landed here from New York. They are looking for work and needed another week in their motel room. We agreed to help them because they are making progress they just needed some assistance.

Chad and “Craig”, from New York, were standing at the counter of the motel to pay for the room. The owner of the establishment read the name of our church out loud in a thick Indian accent. “You are from a church?” he asked. Chad answered, “Yes, I am the pastor.”

The owner went on to explain that there was a crippled woman living in his motel who cannot walk without braces on her legs. Her husband has been beating her and forcing her into prostitution. “If I give you the room number, will you go visit her?” He asked.

They took the number and went to find the room. Chad said he knocked on the door, and after some yelling and shuffling the door opened. He looked down to see a badly beaten woman. She had crawled to the door on her knees.

Both of the man and the woman are terminally ill with cancer, and they had no food. The woman had grown up in church. Not knowing how much longer they have to live she had been praying day and night for a pastor to find them. Chad prayed with them and the couple from our church who are living in the motel drove the woman to the store to buy groceries. That night her husband was hospitalized with low oxygen levels. If the woman is able, she wants to come to church on Sunday.

So many people we encounter are hurting tremendously. While their situations at first glance seem overwhelmingly complicated, what they really need most is to be shown the love of Jesus Christ. I pray we will always have the strength and courage to follow Jesus to the dark places. With confidence in The Gospel and by the power of The Holy Spirit we can witness lives transformed!

Rescue the Perishing

By Fanny Crosby

Rescue the perishing, care for the dying,

Snatch them in pity from sin and the grave;

Weep o'er the erring one, lift up the fallen,

Tell them of Jesus, the mighty to save.

Though they are slighting Him, still He is waiting,

Waiting the penitent child to receive;

Plead with them earnestly, plead with them gently,

He will forgive if they only believe.

Down in the human heart, crushed by the tempter,

Feelings lie buried that grace can restore;

Touched by a loving heart, wakened by kindness,

Cords that are broken will vibrate once more.

Rescue the perishing, duty demands it

Strength for your labor the Lord will provide;

Back to the narrow way patiently win them,

Tell the poor wand'rer a Savior has died.

Rescue the perishing, Care for the dying;

Jesus is merciful, Jesus will save.