True faith is proven when God looks at our person and He
sees the likeness of Jesus. When He breathes in our presence and smells the
aroma of His Son. As a pastor, preaching professor, father of five and a
respected community leader, under this examination I would have failed the
test. There was a gaping disconnect between what I believed of myself and who I
really was at the core. My thinking was broken and needed to be transformed by
the renewing of my mind. I had preached and taught that so many times in my
life, but never realized the extent to which my own thinking needed
transformation. I needed the kind of thinking that could demolish my perceived
normal life… that would leave no room for any pride or ambition and would cause
me to faint at the realization of how desperately short of His Glory I have
fallen. How deep His grace must reach to bring me back to into His abiding and
glorifying presence. Then, divinely we were introduced to a couple from Dallas,
Kirk and Nicole Porter, who had gotten involved in “something” they wanted our
opinion about. It seemed so prosaic and pathetic at the time. They were so
“inexperienced” and had certainly not paid the price to be so opinionated that
they could teach me anything new. I had paid my dues…a Ph.D. in theology,
hundreds of post-grad hours in multiple disciplines, decades of personal
business experience. But, that night something went right. “Somehow” they got
me to commit and started investing into our lives. Systematically, over time,
the old stinking thinking was chipped away and replaced by the liberating truth
that was missing from my life for so long. I began to see why I had never
learned the secret of true freedom. Always so busy, yet so broke. So many
sermons, yet so little substance. So much activity yet so few accomplishments.
So much fellowship yet so few friends. Stops and starts that came close to
divorce for the first 20 years of marriage... Over the next three years
transformation came through continued support and accountability through
Reading, Listening, Associating and Implementing what I had learned. I realized
I could become someone who is loved and admired by my family and friends and
that I could leave a legacy of influence that would make the world a better
place. In one year of influence we have impacted more people for Christ and a
better life than in 7 years pastoring a city church. I have learned the
importance of being a husband and dad first and pastor teacher second. I have
found that true friendship is a priceless gift to be guarded and nurtured
without compromise. I am truly thankful to my friends Kirk and Nicole Porter
for introducing Janice and me to this incredible group of world class, caring
individuals, and for their support and encouragement on this journey to
freedom. With LIFE, life
will never be the same. PTL!
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