Just the other day I was driving through my neighborhood and saw a neighbor out walking her dog. Or should I say, I saw the dog out walking my neighbor? The dog was clearly in the lead with its owner an uncomfortable distance behind with a death grip on the leash! The dog was a nice-looking animal but was certainly no beast. It was medium size, not great dane-ish but not poodle-ish either. It was more like a golden retriever or a labrador. But it was obvious who was walking who. There was no denying who was in control. The dog was literally towing its owner down the sidewalk!

It was a rather comical sight and I must confess, I snickered a little. Okay, I laughed out loud. But then, like any good preacher (or any person hit with a swift sense of conviction), I had this thought: When it comes to me and God, who’s leading who?

Think about it. With you and God, who’s in charge? Do you come to God each day with your agenda all laid out prayerfully entreating Him to bless all you’ve got planned for the day? Or do you say, “Here I am God. I’m all yours today?” Do you yield to God’s promptings during the day, or do you call Him off like a pitcher who’s not happy with the signal he’s getting from the catcher? When God is trying to lead, are you a willing follower or do you have your heals dug in with a death grip on God’s invitation? If someone could drive around the corner and get a snapshot of your relationship with God, would it be clear to them who is leading who?

It was certainly a convicting moment for me. Take some time today and be honest with the question: Who’s leading who?

 

 

I stood up three separate times this past Sunday morning and preached a message titled, “The Best is Yet to Come.” It was the final message in a series named “How to Beat the Odds.” We’ve been discussing how life promises trials, struggles and overwhelming situations. Odds are we are either in the middle of a hardship now, have just come out of one, or will be facing one soon. But with God we can beat the odds. That doesn’t mean our trial will necessarily turn out the way we want it to, but if we grow closer to God through the struggle and mold a story of hope to share with others, we have beat the odds.

Each time I stood to preach followed a moment in the service to mention Hurricane Harvey and to pray for those affected. While we had some indication of the devastation the hurricane had brought, we had no idea what was to come. We were relatively unaware as we worshiped that 500 miles away the fierce storm had camped out over the fourth largest city in the nation and would eventually pour up to fifty inches of rain in some places bringing widespread flooding and incomprehensible desolation. And at that moment I was repeating over and over, “The best is yet to come!”

Houston, the best is yet to come.

Here’s how I know:

1. God is with us through every high and every low.

How comforting it is to know that wherever we go, God is there with us. Sometimes we wonder if God is paying attention. We may feel alone and may not be able to feel God’s presence. But wherever we go, God is there with us. As Joshua was about to face a scary, unknown situation, God told him to be strong and to have courage. Then He told him a wonderful truth: “The Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9). Yes, that’s right… wherever! In the highs and the lows. When the sun shines and when the clouds pour. God is with us!

2. God is in the business of bringing new things out of impossible situations.

Jesus said, “With God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26). I think Jesus knew a thing or two about this. Crucifixion Friday was dark and hopeless. Saturday was full of doom and gloom. But Sunday brought triumph and victory! Every dark Friday and hopeless Saturday is followed by a glorious Sunday! Sunday’s always coming!

3. Even through difficult times, Jesus will build His Church and bring hope to more people.

Already, amid the unfathomable, we are hearing amazing reports of neighbor helping neighbor. We are learning stories of dramatic rescues, gracious hospitality and genuine love for others regardless of race, color, or political affiliation. Great tragedy is leading to heroic unity. It’s during times like these the church is at her best. May the church continue to shine and bring hope to all of those looking for the answer.

Houston, the best is yet to come!

 

I arrived home yesterday evening just as the thunderstorm was beginning to move through. As I pulled into the driveway I witnessed the ominous clouds moving closer. I stepped out of the car to the gusty wind and an overt drop in the temperature. I stood there watching as it started to sprinkle. As it began to rain harder I moved indoors and witnessed the opening of the floodgates from the front window. And as all storms do, it eventually (after almost an inch of rain) began to dissipate. But in its wake, was left a spectacular double rainbow. If you live in or near Lubbock, I hope you were able to witness the stunning promise of God’s goodness.

Yesterday’s event was a good reminder of life. There’s either a storm brewing, we are standing in the middle of a downpour, or having passed through the storm we can look back and see God’s goodness.

In 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, Paul reminds us that we will occasionally find ourselves in the middle of the storm. But the promise is that when we are caught in the downpour, God is right there with us! Paul says that “God comforts us”. Literally, He comes along side us. It’s the same imagery used in John 14 when Jesus speaks of the Holy Spirit being the comforter. The Holy Spirit comes along side us. If you are in the middle of one of life’s storms, imagine God being right there with you. You may not always feel like He is there, but He is – guiding you through to the rainbow on the other side!

Paul goes on to say, that when we come out on the other side of the storm and can see the rainbow – God’s faithfulness and His goodness – we are to use that experience to help others who are going through a similar storm. It might be the pain of a broken marriage, a prodigal who hasn’t returned home, a friend’s betrayal, the loss of a job, a devastating medical report, an empty bank account, or the loss of someone close. While we didn’t necessarily choose to pass through any of life’s storms, on the flip side we are able to see how God was there to comfort us in the middle of the storm. And we are encouraged to help others make it to their flip side as well.

At the end of the day, if you can use the lessons of one of the storms you have gone through to help someone else going through a similar storm, you have beat the odds!

 

Do you ever feel like you just can’t get ahead? Like the world is out to get you? Like the odds are stacked against you? My guess is that you are in the middle of some crisis right now. Perhaps you just came out of one. If neither of those is true, buckle your seatbelt, because there’s probably one just around the corner!

James tells us to “consider it a sheer gift when tests and challenges come at you from all sides” (James 1:2, The Message). What? Really? Consider the crises of life sheer gifts? How is that possible?

James answers that question when he says, “You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So, don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way” (James 1:3-4, The Message).

Any time we find ourselves in some life catastrophe, we have two choices. We can either (1) let our faith grow through the calamity, or (2) let our faith wither in the storm.  We can either grow closer to God, or we can move farther away from God.  James challenges us to change our perspective by looking at the crises of life as tests or opportunities to grow closer to God!

The situation may seem overwhelming. The circumstances almost unbearable. The odds may be stacked against you. But at the end of the day, even if the outcome of the crisis isn’t exactly what you had hoped for, if you grow closer to God through it, you beat the odds!

 

 

Life is full of the question, “Why?” If you have children you know a thing or two about this.

–       “Why is the sky blue?”

–       “Why can’t I pick my nose?”

–       “Why do I have to invite that girl to my party?”

–       “Why is my curfew earlier than all my friends?”

As a pastor, I get asked lots of “why” questions. The most legendary is, “Why am I here?” The search for the purpose of life has baffled people for generations. That’s because we typically begin with the wrong questions: “What are my goals? What dreams do I have for my future? Where do I want my life to go? Where do I see myself in 5 years?” While these are all good questions and there is certainly nothing wrong with dreams and goals, “what” and “where” is the wrong questions to start with. The initial question is “why.” The Bible says:

For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.     Colossians 1:16

Consider this:

YOU ARE NOT AN ACCIDENT

Your birth was no mistake, mishap or fluke of nature. You are “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14). Your parents may have been surprised, but God wasn’t (Acts 15:18). You may have been told you were an accident, but God says you are His masterpiece (Ephesians 2:10). The circumstances surrounding your arrival on this planet might not have been what you desire. Jesus knows a thing or two about that. Even before you took your first breath, God knew about every one of your days and that’s no accident.

YOU WERE CREATED YOU-NIQUE

Just look around. There’s no one else that looks exactly like you. No one else has your exact personality with all its peculiarities and nuances. You are the only one with your distinct strengths, talents and gifts. There is not another story out there that matches yours. You have a heart for things that no one else understands. There never has been and there never will be anyone else like you. But that’s not a tribute to you. That’s a testament to the God who created you so you-nique!

YOU WERE CREATED ON PURPOSE FOR A PURPOSE

Everything on this earth was created “through him and for him” (Colossians 1:16). You were created on purpose for a purpose – to bring glory to God. God created you just as you are. You are not a mistake. He crafted you with your one-of-a-kind personality, extraordinary gifts, exclusive story and unique passions so that you could make a big deal out of Him every day of your life.

 

Are you using your one-of-a-kind personality, extraordinary gifts, exclusive story and unique passions to make a big deal out of God? Start there – with the “why.” The “what” and the “where” are not the most important pieces to the puzzle. In the next few weeks we will answer the “what” and the “where” but it begins with asking “why”.

I’ve spent the past couple of days at Red Raider Orientation. It’s been a surreal experience getting Blake registered to begin this new chapter in his life. Dreamlike because it’s hard for Amy and I to believe he will be starting college this fall but also because being on the campus of Texas Tech University fetches a flood of memories to the time we spent there.

Some of the sights and landmarks are exactly the way we remember them but there is so much that is wholly different. New buildings have popped up where the landscape previously stood bare and other buildings have been remodeled to make them more up-to-date. Former administrators have been replaced with new ones, there are new, more contemporary degree plans, and outdated processes are now more innovative. Perhaps the most noticeable change is the class scheduling method. I remember having to fill out my schedule on a triplicate paper form and wait in line in the University Center (which is now called the Student Union Building by the way) for hours to get registered for classes. Today, Blake sits at his laptop from wherever he chooses with real time scheduling present with a few clicks of the keypad.

And so, a thought occurred to me. An institution of higher learning is constantly reinventing itself in order to more effectively engage emerging generations. Buildings change, degree plans adapt and processes morph because today’s generation and the culture around them is changing. Why would the church not do the same? Why would the church be exempt from reinventing itself to more effectively reach evolving generations? Those who lead at Texas Tech University have had the foresight to understand what worked 40, 30, 20 and even 10 years ago won’t work today? Does the church have this same foresight?

Now there are some things at Texas Tech that will probably never change. During our orientation, I saw Raider Red and the Masked Rider and they looked exactly as they did when I was a student. While I didn’t hear the Texas Tech Fight Song, I doubt it has changed. We will still “hit ‘em, wreck ‘em, Texas Tech!” Somebody please remind the Texas Tech defense about that!

Likewise, the gospel message – the story of Jesus Christ – will never change. He still lived, still died, and still rose from the dead! While the message never changes, the way we share the message with emerging generations must change. What worked 40, 30, 20 and even 10 years ago won’t work today. Somebody please remind the church about that!

 

Ah, summer. The lazy, hazy time of the year when school is out, routines change, and the pace of life gets varied. Summer is that leisurely and unhurried season and if we are not careful it doesn’t take much for us to get slothful.  But don’t we deserve to enjoy the summer? After all, it doesn’t last long. So why take time doing something in the summer that can be put off until the fall?

Isn’t that the motto of the sluggard: “Never do today what you can put off until tomorrow”? Sluggards have developed the ability to put off starting a task as well as completing those tasks already begun. The sluggard cannot possibly get to work because there is a dangerous lion in the road (Proverbs 22:13). He fully intends to get things done, but after just a little more sleep (Proverbs 6:9-10). He goes fishing during the harvest – not smart (Proverbs 10:5).

Summer is such an easy time of the year to fall into the everyday life of a sluggard. But don’t good athletes work all summer to be ready for fall competition? Do teachers not go to workshops to prepare for the year ahead? Isn’t the ant busy preparing for what is to come (Proverbs 6:9-10)?

So, what about you? What do you need to be doing now instead of putting it off until tomorrow?

• What area of my life am I neglecting that needs attention today?
• What project, assignment or task to I need to get to now rather than later?
• What conversation do I need to have today?
• Who do I need to call, text, email or send a letter to today?
• Who do I need to have lunch with today?
• Where do I need to meet with God today?

B1. N43. O71.

It’s 2:00 AM (the first time the little hand hits the 2 during a 24-hour cycle) and I’m yelling out BINGO numbers to a room full of young men and women who just received their high school diplomas mere hours earlier. They call it “Project Graduation” – an all-night lock-in celebration complete with food, entertainment, door prizes, a mass of high school graduates, and a few parent sponsors whose high school diplomas are, well, let’s just say older.

And the parent who got stuck screeching out BINGO numbers to those whose ink was still drying on their diplomas? Yep, yours truly. The preacher. Oh, the irony! And oh, the joy! It was such a great diversion to my heavy eyelids and a good learning experience as well. Reflecting on my BINGO calling debut, there are a few lessons I learned that may be of value to you who are recent graduates and to those of us who are not so recent graduates.

Think Before You Speak

I yelled out, “B6.” And from somewhere in the middle of the room I hear, “Wait, did you say B6 or D6?”

Really?

There are four different types of people in the world:

• Those who think before they speak
• Those who think while they are speaking
• Those who think after they speak
• Those who don’t think at all

It’s 2:00 in the morning so I’m tempted to retort with, “It’s BINGO not DINGO! You should probably make sure your diploma was actually signed!” Thankfully, I thought before I spoke and gracefully replied, “Beeeeee…6!”

My ambition is to be that person who thinks before he speaks.  May that be an aspiration for all of us.

Even dunces who keep quiet are thought to be wise; as long as they keep their mouths shut they’re smart. Proverbs 17:28 (The Message)

Winners Never Quit and Quitters Never Win

I’m sure the football icon Vince Lombardi was not thinking BINGO when he coined that famous phrase, but I can tell you it indubitably applies. I called game after game watching kids get caught up in the exuberance of the contest despite their utter frustration at not winning a single game of BINGO. Some would quit and walk out of the room. Some persevered and eventually found themselves howling out, “BINGO!” And still others stuck with it and never won a prize.

But the wise coach was right, winners never quit and quitters never win. Where is it today you are tempted to quit but you know you need to stick with it? Where is it you need to press on and push through? Where is it you need to persevere even if you don’t get the prize you are expecting?

So let’s not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don’t give up, or quit. Galatians 6:9 (The Message)

The Room is Full When It’s Free and Empty When the Prizes are Gone

It was the craziest thing to me. New graduates. Those who are 17, 18 and 19 years old. The BINGO room was packed and there was a line waiting to get in! There was also a leisure pool, a rock climbing wall, basketball, volleyball, ultimate Frisbee and they are lined up waiting to get into BINGO? Why?

It’s simple. It was completely free and there was a prize for every game. Big prizes – like gift cards and cold hard cash. And yet, all good things must come to an end. We eventually ran out of prizes. The room emptied like air swishing out of a popped balloon and there was no longer a waiting line to get in. Since I’ve had the opportunity to catch up on my sleep I’ve wondered: Would BINGO have been as popular had each game cost something and if there hadn’t been a big prize awarded to the winner? Probably not.

And so, the lesson might be the proverbial, “Nothing in life is free.” But there is one thing in life that is absolutely free – God’s unconditional love and undeserved grace. It’s my hope that every kid who played a game of BINGO, every new graduate about to embark on a new chapter in life and every person reading this blog know that it’s completely free and the prize is the loftiest of all.

…I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. Philippians 3:12-14 (NLT)

 

 

There’s a bit of uneasiness in the Smallwood house right now. Okay, let’s call it tension. Our oldest is graduating this weekend and will be starting college at Texas Tech University (Wreck ‘Em!) this fall. This is a testing time for moms and dads. There are days when the thought of him moving out and being on his own is overwhelming and brings tears with the blink of an eye. But there are other days when it is quite apparent it is really time for him to go. In fact, days when I’m ready to help him pack! I think it’s God’s way of preparing parents and children for a natural separation that is to occur. We live in this state of tension of not wanting him to go but also not wanting a failure to launch.

This is not the only place I find myself living in tension. Leading a church with a heart to reach those who have no connection to God generates opposing pulls. There are those who have a long history with church and its practices and those are relatively new with no previous experience of church programming. Those who have been habitually churched most of their life (including me) tend to see things through the lens of how things have always been done. While those who have no church experience tend to view things through a very different lens that includes more of a blank slate.  I think it’s God’s way of making the church labor to find the balance between the two. We live in this state of tension between the church being deep and wide. Conceivably, it’s not either/or but both/and.

We are tempted to buy into the myth that tension is bad. We are taught we should avoid tension and when it rears its ugly head we should work to resolve it as soon as possible. But what if tension is actually good?

Jesus never avoided tension. He did just the opposite. He led his disciples right into the middle of some of the most apprehensive, nail-biting situations imaginable to stretch their faith. No wonder they were ready to confront a broken world with a message of restoration and redemption after He left them. For three years, Jesus used tension to deepen their message and anchor their hearts to discoveries about God and themselves.

Tension is good.  Think about it:

• Tension between the branches of a government creates a needed system of checks and balances.
• Tension in science can lead to remarkable insights and discoveries.
• Tension in a family provides an opportunity to demonstrate commitment and unconditional love.
• Tension within a team pushes them to better perspectives and deeper relationships.

So, don’t avoid tension. Embrace it. Invite it. Pursue it if necessary. If you avoid tension, you are potentially robbing yourself of some defining moments that shape your character, stretch your faith, and clarify some powerful insights. Tension is good!

 

Are you overwhelmed, stressed and exhausted? Are you having a hard time keeping your ducks in a row, all the plates spinning or all the balls up in the air? When asked, “How are you doing?” is your immediate response, “I’m making it!” or “Well, I’m keeping my head above water!” Do you have a hard time knowing if you are coming or going? Are you looking for an easy answer, a quick fix or some instant gratification?

If that’s you, let’s do an experiment. Imagine you are standing on the fringe of one of Lubbock’s famous playa lakes.  You have an empty, clear jar in your hand and you stoop down and dip it in the lake. The jar swiftly fills with murky water, possibly some mud, a pebble or two, a water bug, and some undetermined rubbish. You bring the now full jar up out of the water and begin to observe it. What do you see? The content of the jar is mucky or cloudy at best. The chunky water is undoubtedly swirling around. And there are questionable items drifting purposelessly without any direction.

Does the jar describe your life?

What if you place the jar on a nearby table? And you sit and monitor the jar. Yes, sit. Still. For a while. Over time the sediment begins to settle to the bottom of the jar. The debris begins to find it’s direction. And the water begins to clear where you can actually see through the jar.

Does the jar describe your life?

Does it describe the life you are looking for?

Perhaps you need to just sit. Be still. Watch.

 

“Be still, be calm, see, and understand I am the True God.”

Psalm 46:10 (The Voice)