Happy Father's Day

Happy Father’s Day to all of you Fathers out there and to those of you like me who are so thankful for your Father. I believe I am one of those really fortunate ones who was given such an amazing father. Or, maybe I have it backwards since my father along with my Mother gave me my life. I do know I am thankful for Dad and for my Father in Heaven.  On this day each year, I am just a little more grateful to have the Father I was “given” in life. I sure miss Him and always wonder what we might talk about if we were given just a few more minutes to enjoy and love one another.

  Usually I spend a good bit of Father’s Day reminiscing and thinking about the love and wisdom my Dad gave me.  And, I am sure I still will do my share of that today. Today, I woke up thinking a good bit about not only my Dad as I call him, but my Father in Heaven. I call this Father, God, Abba, Lord and more. I am very thankful for Him.  I often wonder if He would come, sit down with me and just chat, what would we talk about?  Most of my conversations with the Lord are one-sided. I seem to do all of the talking and though I work to listen to Him and hear his voice, I am not so sure I am such a good listener.

   Early today, I started my morning reading my current book, “Six Hours One Friday”, written by Max Lucado.  Max is one of my favorite authors. My favorite of all of his books, is “He Chose the Nails”, but I have been deeply touched by other books of his as well.  When Max describes how Jesus chose the nails, and chose the cross for you and for me, it brings me to tears.  Yes, I am a man who hates to admit he ever cries, but the idea that someone chose to give his life for me is just a little more than I can take with a straight face. Max also wrote “God Came Near” and many other books that are simply amazing.  He writes stories that make you feel like you are an important part of God's stories.

  As I read “Six Hours One Friday” this morning, Max shared the story of a priest, Maximilian Kolbe who was imprisoned in Auschwitz.  One day in prison, Kolbe offered to take the place of another prisoner who was randomly selected to die of starvation and torture. This man had exclaimed he was a father in his plea to live. The commander accepted Kolbe’s offer and he died a slow, tortured death so that another man could live. People often speak of how bad life is and how things are just getting worse, but I don’t see it that way. The sacrifices we see that people are willing to make for one another shows us a love that is bigger than this life we know.  God’s love for us is greater than we can really totally grasp.  It is so hard to wrap my mind and heart around the truth that He gave His son as a sacrifice for all of us to accept.  And, what a love for us from Jesus who willingly chose the nails, chose to die on the cross to obey His Father and save the world. Jesus chose to save a world that has difficulty accepting His gift of sacrifice.

  During the great recession as I call it, I saw many people lose their fortunes and their jobs. I even saw some people lose their lives because they could not bear the losses. I saw friends turn against one another end, many of whom would never recover some of their closest relationships.  Even though our financial losses were significant, I believe I was one of the lucky “survivors” of the recession. By the way, I am not suggesting that the sacrifice of one’s life even remotely compares to the loss of money or net worth.  Where I am headed today is one man’s offer of personal sacrifice during the recession that truly overwhelmed me. I want to share this man’s amazing offer of sacrifice even though we did not accept his offer.

  In 2008, during the course of two days, we laid off well over 40 people in our business.  We had no idea this wasn’t even the worst of the recession in the building supply business, but this was a very hard time. We looked people in the eyes, apologized to them that we could no longer afford to pay them and let them go.  The crash of the market was bigger than our financial reserves.  Many of these people we worked with had done everything we asked them to do, but we could not afford to pay them. Some of our leaders had voluntarily quit accepting paychecks so times were tough.

  At the end of the second day of layoffs, a young man with a family asked if he could come in and talk with me. He had a wife and a teenager whom he supported. This man offered to take the place of another employee who had been laid off earlier in the day.  He said to me, “I am much younger and can find a job much more readily than he can.”  He had not even discussed this offer he made to us with his wife.  He did not have another job lined up to go to that afternoon.  Tears rolled down his face as he offered to lose his own job. As tears rolled down my face, I explained that even if we laid him off instead, his offer would not “save” the other man’s job.  I shared that even though the other man was a wonderful employee, he was not physically able to do all of the jobs we needed done. We believed we had to keep the people who could do a larger variety of work, not people who were really strong in one area. We hugged, we quietly wept, and we moved on that day.

  I have not forgotten this man’s offer, his amazing courage and compassion for his fellow man. You see that even though we live in a world where bad things happen, there are incredible acts of courage, sacrifice and love.  The "older" man who was laid off was eventually able to return to work at the same business.  Even though I was a partial owner, I had moved on too because I could no longer go forward working without receiving a paycheck.  Both men and their families survived the very difficult financial times.  At the time, the mountains we were climbing seemed insurmountable, but ultimately they were not.  Some of our deepest hurts make the greatest positive impacts on our hearts and souls. I know from direct experience that “life ain’t always beautiful”, but I also know it is a beautiful life.

  I hope this Father’s Day brings you great joy and love even if it is in the midst of loss or because you miss someone as badly as I miss my Father. I am so grateful that I had such an amazing Father who I miss so much. He always believed in me.  I realize not every Father is that good to His children. I also know that God believes in and loves you so much He gave you His only son. Please be thankful for Him today. He is a greater Father than I deserve.  And my children are greater gifts than I could have ever imagined God would give me. I am only called Father because of them.  Thank you, children. You are the gifts that make Father's Day "happy".

Same Kind of Different as Me

About 10 years ago I read the book, Same Kind of Different As Me written by Ron Hall and Denver Moore. I started reading at home and finished reading this book sometime in the middle of the night at my good friends, Kevin and Alison Hancock's home in Casco, Maine. I was visiting them and was in search of peace in my own life.

We were in the midst of a time when I wasn't taking a paycheck even though I was working full time. I learned an incredible number of life lessons during these difficult times. My wife and I lost all of our "wealth" during this time. We "gave" our home away, had to sell our interest in the business while we went 18 months without making a single penny. I worked long hours, but it was for the promise for recovery that never came. I was especially sensitive to homelessness at this point in my life. I hope I never lose that sensitivity or the humility you experience when you work incredibly hard and don't receive a financial return from your work.  

Due to some very strange circumstances, I repeatedly found work in other cities to survive financially, but more importantly, the Lord gave me something far more valuable than wealth. He gave me a new kind of faith and peace and hope like I had never experienced. This book's wisdom was like oxygen for a person who found himself struggling to take a breath. We may never be "wealthy" again in the financial sense, but we can experience a new kind of joy not associated with wealth. I am not suggesting wealth is not good. It could be that I needed to be separated from wealth for me to learn the lessons God had in mind. It could have been a coincidence, but I believe it was much more than that. Regardless, I learned a great deal about life and about who I could count on. I became very grateful for my experiences even when I would not have chosen such hardship. It is humbling to lose so much you believed you had earned for yourself and your family.

I vividly remember where I was when I finished the book because I could not put it down. I read all through the night. I left my copy of the book there with Alison as a gift for her to read. Since then, I have made numerous pictures as gifts with Denver's quotes as the captions. I have given away a few more copies of the book. You might wonder how a person losing wealth is giving gifts, but I believe giving is one of our greatest riches in life. No matter how bad things became, I never lost that belief. I hope I never do. And no matter how little we have, we can give to those who have less than we do. I have had more than my share of gifts in this world.

Last night I finished watching the movie version of this story and while it stirred and inspired me again, it could not do justice to reading the words that Ron and Denver shared with us in this amazing book that they wrote together in 2006. I wish I had gone to see and gotten to know Denver on one of his tours before he died in 2012. He came to Atlanta and I can't say why I didn't go meet him.

At times, I feel like I know Ron Hall because I believe I have my own real-life version of someone like Debbie Hall in my own wife, Elizabeth. Elizabeth has always found ways to give to others no matter her own circumstances. When I met her she was a single Mother, giving her children as much love and joy as any "couple" ever could. Someone once suggested that Elizabeth needed me when we met. I needed her far more than she did me. She helps bring out the good in others, but especially me. She has made my world a better place. Our greatest gifts are those that when we give them we always have more to give.

I remember years ago that Elizabeth and my youngest daughter, Mary Sims who was just a small child, insisted on giving food and rides to "homeless people" in spite of the possible danger. They would ignore my protests of taking this risk. They would do this with just the two of them in the car. "Sims" as we call her now was so young she was still riding in a car seat. She would cry when she passed a homeless person and we didn't stop and help. Some people just seem to get what matters in life. They take risks to give to others. Their hearts have so much room for others. It seems to me that we give people a home even if it is just for a moment when we give them a little room in our hearts.

Denver and Ron's words touched me deeply then and I am sharing some of my favorite words of theirs with you today.  Remember as Denver said, in a way we are all homeless on this earth - this earth is not a final resting place.  - Jim

Quotes from "Same Kind of Different as Me"

     by Ron Hall & Denver Moore with Lynn Vincent

“Every man should have the courage to stand up and face the enemy, cause every person that looks like an enemy on the outside ain’t necessarily one on the inside.”  Denver Moore

Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

Denver asks, What did God say when he finished makin the world and all that is in it?  Ron answers, “It is good.”  Denver responds, “Exactly.”

Denver, “Money can’t buy no blessins.”

Joshua & Caleb, Land flowed with milk and honey.  The bad news is the land is inhabited with Giants.  Do Not Be Afraid!

Denver, “You know you got to get the devil out the house, ‘fore you can clean it up!”

Homeless woman in Fort Worth quote, “Why are you so happy?  I woke up!  And that’s reason enough to be happy!”

Plucky – definition – spirited and brave.

Denver asks, “Mr. Ron, does you own something that each one of them keys fits?  Ron answers, “Yes.”  Denver responds, “Are you sure you own them, or does they own you?”

Denver, “A successful person is one who can thank God for nothing, and then He will give him everything!”

What must befall thee, must befall thee, what must pass ye by, must pass ye by!”

Mr. Ron asks Denver, “will you be my friend?”  Denver responds, “let me think about it.”  The next day Denver says, “So Mr. Ron, if you is fishin for a friend you just goin to catch and release, then I ain’t got no desire to be your friend.”  “But if you is lookin for a real friend, then I’ll be one.  Forever.”

“All good medicine tastes bad!”  Aunt Etha

“I ran out of strong.”  Carson Hall

“You are welcome in our home.”  Debbie Hall

Denver when Miss Debbie (Ron’s wife) dies, tells Mr. Ron, “I know when somebody you love is gone that’s the last time you feel like thankin God.  But some times we has to be thankful for the things that hurt us.  Cause some times God does things that hurt us, but they help somebody else.”

Solomon, “There was found in the city a certain poor man who was wise and by his wisdom, he saved the city.”

“You never know whose eyes God is watchin you through.”  Denver Moore

Denver, “But I found out everybody’s different – the same kind of different as me.  We’re all just regular folks walkin down the road God done set in front of us.  The truth about it is, whether we is rich or poor or something in between, this earth ain’t no final restin place.  So in a way, we is all homeless – just workin our way toward home.”

Peace Be With You

Those words have many meanings to me. In the church we attend “the peace” is a sign of reconciliation, love and renewed relationships. These words are words we have shared for many years and they give me comfort. The Priest says, “The peace of the Lord be always with you.”  And we reply, “And also with you.” I think of anyone I need to “make peace” with and pray for peace with that person. I often pray to forgive or to be forgiven when we use these words in worship.

   In today’s message, I found myself thinking of these words I have used for so long in a new way, taking on a new meaning. I really enjoy when that happens especially when the “new” meaning touches me. We are still celebrating Easter. I believe I should celebrate Easter every day. What if Easter never happened?  What if the witnesses who saw Jesus after He rose from the dead never shared their story? We would likely not know much about Jesus if His followers did not go and share his story and love.

   I realize not all people believe in Easter. Some people have a different faith. Some don’t have faith in any God. I assure you as I write these words I am not judging anyone. I am simply doing what I can do to share good news. In my view, no one can persuade you to believe. You need to seek to believe for it to happen. Faith involves believing in something we can’t necessarily see or touch.

   I don’t know that I consider myself to have a great deal in common with the disciples of Jesus. These men devoted the rest of their lives to Jesus after this encounter. Many of them were imprisoned, stoned and crucified for sharing what they learned and saw in Jesus. They believed so strongly in Jesus and what he taught them that they gave their lives so that we would know about Him. I find myself writing about Him every so often. I choose to do this because I do feel very strongly that I need to share what I have come to believe and even know in my heart and soul about Jesus. You see, if these men and women did not share the story of Jesus even though it costs them their lives, we would not know His story. With Him, we have the opportunity to rewrite our own story with everlasting peace.

   In the book of John Chapter 20, verses 19-31, the disciples were locked in a room in fear for their lives.  Their Lord had been brutally murdered. They had serious doubts about their own faith. Jesus came (somehow through locked doors) and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” After he said this, He showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Can you imagine the joy they must have felt? He used those words of comfort and reconciliation. Lord Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you.  As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”

   I believe He has sent all of us who have come to believe that He is God’s Son and our Lord and Savior to share the Good News….to share His story. I feel an overwhelming need to take a little risk every now and then with my family and friends and share His story. I am forgiven. You are forgiven.  We are forgiven.  Shouldn’t we shout it out a little more often than we do?  He gave those who were there with Him this message of peace. He sent them into the word to share this message. I love to share stories of my earthly Father, shouldn’t I find ways to share stories of my Heavenly Father?

   I know there are doubters among us. Even in the Gospel, Thomas, one of those who loved and followed Jesus would not believe He had risen until He had seen the mark of the nails and placed his finger in Jesus’s side. It is so hard for many of us to believe in something we have not actually seen and touched. Jesus went on to say “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” For so much of my life, I had so many doubts. I was a good example of what we call a “Doubting Thomas.”  Without Him, I had no peace. With Him, no matter how tough my life becomes, I feel a comforting peace. When I sought to see and feel God in my life, He did become very real. He became my greatest source of peace.

   Do I have my doubts? Of course I do. I find myself using these words, “I believe Lord, help my unbelief.” He always finds a way to let me know he hears my cries for help and peace. Do I still have considerable shortcomings? Oh my, yes I do. Somewhere along the way, I believe we got mixed up in His message.  We decided if someone believes in God and Jesus, he should behave perfectly. I don’t know anyone like that. I do know people who turn to Jesus for peace and they find peace through Him. Even though I do not know anyone who is perfect, I do have amazing role models. I have never been able to find a better role model than Jesus.

   I am so sure about His peace that I am willing to write to you and ask you to consider accepting His peace. Consider receiving His gift of forgiveness and grace. If you already have, then please consider following his words, “As the Father sent me, so I send you.” I believe that if I can help just one person to seek Jesus in his or her life then our world will be a better place. Imagine if each one of us just helped one more person? Easter would be celebrated every single day. I believe that if you seek Him, you will find Him. Peace be with you.