Hey:
Stay tuned; my absence is not a departure. We have felt the current format is caught between devotional thoughts which are available many other places in my teaching ministry, ie. Our Journey, Weekly Walk, etc.

We are rebuilding the site to focus exclusively on trends in the church/ doctrinal issues, other matters of interest to Christian leaders. It should be up in the next little while, certainly in May.

Stay tuned,

james

Is this a place for a pastor to share his heart? Is this a place for the people who follow my ministry to get the reality that I am the furthest thing from some big-time radio preacher but just a fellow Christian on this journey of following Jesus and trying to get it right? Yeah, that's what I think it is so let me tell you the way things really are . . .

Here's a prayer I pray in some way almost every single day. When I don't, I wish I had. Pray with me today . . .

Ephesians 5:18, Be filled with the Spirit.

Lord, fill me with Your Spirit today. I can't fix yesterday, and tomorrow seems a long way off.
Today, Lord: Cleanse my heart from the fleshly residue of yesterday's fallen humanity.
Today, Lord: Scrub my thoughts and motives till they shine with singularity - wanting Your glory alone.
Today, Lord: Wash me and I will be whiter than snow, purposed afresh to follow Your footsteps.

Lord, fill me with Your Spirit today. The tasks ahead are too much. If I must go alone, I cannot go at all.
Today, Lord: I'm not smart enough to know what is best, and not strong enough to choose what is righteous.
Today, Lord: My wife, my family, my friends, my church . . . I am not sufficient for these things, and I know it.
Today, Lord: Or what unfolds in the hours ahead will fade into the abyss of worthless, wasted time.

Lord, fill me with Your Spirit right now. Come, make these 24 hours all You created them to be.
Now, Lord: You know how to 'give good gifts' and I am so thankful to be called Your child.
Now, Lord: By faith, I receive the Presence You've promised, and delight to know that Your Word is true.
Now, Lord: You are filling my life with peace and purpose and freeing my soul to sing.

Galatians 5:16, 22, Walk then in the Spirit, and you will not fulfill the desires of your flesh. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and self control.

Have a great day,

james

Hey, sorry I haven't been around for a while. I was up in Canada at one of my favorite places in all the world: Muskoka Baptist Conference. About 200 acres on beautiful Mary Lake. It was a real thrill to connect with family and faithful friends and ministry supporters. We were recording a DVD series to be released later this year. It's based on my book from Moody Publishers called Lord, Change My Attitude. Suffice it to say I have had a lot of time to work on my own. The taping went well, the people were fantastic, and our friends at LifeWay who actually produce the video were professional and dedicated as always. While the process was exhausting--two sessions a day with about 2-3 hours of prep for each session--it was well worth the effort. We all sensed God working in our hearts and calling forth 'Promised Land' attitudes like thankfulness and contentment. It's sure a lot better way to live than in the dry parched wilderness of attitudes like complaining and doubt. I will be back Monday with a completion to my little blog series on the role of human persuasion in evangelism. Then keep in touch on a daily basis between now and the end of July for a blow-by-blow description of our BUS TOUR!!!!

u r loved,

james

Well, my low weight number for the wedding was 214. I think I am just over that now. So I didn't get as far down as I wanted, but I did lose 21 pounds and that is a lot for me.

I haven't cried, at least not yet, but suffice it to say that my heart is very full! Full of gratitude to God, full of respect for my wife and the way she has been and is tireless in her efforts on behalf of all of our children. Full of respect for Luke and the man he is becoming . . .

OK, for starters, I had a really great week, in the weighdown department. I saw 214 on the scale, but that was after a workout, ha ha. I think the real number is now at or just under 217. So I am making good progress with ten days to go til the wedding. I go to Mayo this week for a total workover, checkup thing, so I am trying to practice what I preach and take good care of the temple. Just gotta keep it going.

Love the dialogue here, from Matt and Drew and Don etc. I have to get my messge ready for this weekend on Acts 20, but that statement about "all truth being God's truth," needs to be challenged. God willing I will get with you on that early next week. Stay tuned . . .

Well, I was in San Antonio on Monday-Tuesday for the Southern Baptist Pastors Conference--8-9 thousand pastors and a real privilege to speak God's Word to them. I am now at 219 which I am very encouraged about. Last weekend was the first time I was getting a lot of comments from people at church about looking slimmer. It's not coming off as fast as I would like but I am trusting the Lord and not giving up. A lot of people have been wriitng to me about calorie counting and other scientific data. I think each person has a certain amount of tolerance and time for analysis in regard to their diet and I would be pretty low on that scale. I am sticking to one or two meals a day, almost never a dessert and focused activity, be it walking or running or riding a bike. I am happy with what I have accomplished so far though I had hoped for more. WIth my schedule I think I have done well. Two weeks to go til lthe wedding and trying to make sure I keep going down. Thanks for your prayers, keep 'em coming :)

James

PS Here's a great verse from one of our readers, to keep us keeping on!
1Cor15:58 - Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Not a great week. I gained a pound. :( This has to be a good week for me and I must exercise every day. I am at 222 and really need to get my weight under 220 this week to keep my motivation up. I am going to pray about it every day and keep a journal of what I eat and my exercise. Stay with me and let's not give up.

u are loved,
james

Well, I am back from a wonderful trip to the eastern European country of Romania. My second son Landon and I went together and had an amazing time. Though we were treated to constant hospitality and strong pressure to eat, eat, eat. I am happy to report that I didn't gain any weight. I didn't lose mind you, I'm still at 221, but I did not gain and for me that is a real 'road victory.' I'm back in Chicago now and back on the plan to get my weight down into the single 200's before Luke and Kristen's wedding in five weeks. Keep praying for me. How are you doing, those of you who have taken the challenge???? Here's some more exciting info on Romania . . .

I first heard of Jerry Falwell when my parents loaded us into a car in the early 70's and headed for Florida. My dad wanted to hear Doug Oldham sing in person so we had to stop at this "dumb church in Lynchburg," I remember thinking. I don't recall much except there were many more people in one church that day than I had ever seen before. I remember thinking . . .

2 Peter 3:18, But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Kathy and I were sitting with one of the original 18 people who started Harvest Bible Chapel on Saturday night after the service. It is the first time in a long time that she had a chance to share her heart with us. What she said to me could not have come at a better time. She said, "I can't believe how much the Lord has grown you in grace; you always had the truth piece but I see so much grace coming out in your teaching." Such a compliment can be too generic to really benefit the hearer so I took some time to reflect on where the 'chisel' has been hitting my hard heart and hopefully it can make you more receptive to the most precious and needed of quantities: grace!

OK, time to practice my preaching here. I didn't lose any weight last week, but I didn't gain. I attribute this to two things. 1) I didn't exercise the way I wanted to. I got very busy during the day and exhausted at night. On my day off and later in the week I walked 18 holes and then I walked once for about 45 min. with Kathy but that is about it. I didn't get to the weights, and I didn't break a sweat. I think the lack of pounds going off must have gotten to me because I gave in for the first time on Mother's Day and had a piece of pecan pie. mmmmmmm!!!!!!

Ok, first the facts: 221 as of Sunday morning so I am still going down. I try not to weigh myself every day and get all frustrated by the fluctuation. I am really pleased by the number of you who have taken the challenge with me and I hope you will check back here on Tuesdays between now and the end of June as we work together towards our goals.

Well, I'm trying to lose weight. I saw myself in the Easter video and thought, "Man, who is that VERY large dude in my suit?" I've always said there is nothing worse than a 'fat preacher.' You know, up there talking about self discipline as people listen and look at you and say to themselves, 'Apparently you don't have any!'

It is appointed unto man, once to die, and after this comes judgment. Hebrews 9:27

You've heard it said that only two things are for sure: death and taxes. Of course many people do not pay their taxes. It's common knowledge that 21% of Americans admit to cheating on their taxes. YES, taxes can be beat if you're dishonest and determined. So I guess that leaves one thing that's certain: death. Someone I was very close to died this past week.

Imus be missing something because while racial prejudice is wicked and cruel in any form, the comments were more sexist than they were racial so why aren't all sexist comments an outrage . . .

Imus be missing something because . . .

Hey: Well I guess you're all just hanging on the edge of your seats waiting to hear if your entry from the millions received is the actual winner. Great job to everybody who caught the fun spirit and took time to give an entry. Special congratulations to the people who actually made it to getting posted on our website. A lot of pretty sketchy, inappropriate ones had to be totally deleted, ha--just kidding, just a few of those. Major kudos to those of you who made it into the top five and to the Grand Prize Winner. We will be sending you some gifts and . . . drum roll please . . . special congratulations to . . .

My oldest son Luke calls it Christmas and descends into the basement never to be seen for 4 days. He has led worship every weekend since Labor Day, but he booked this one off two months ago. My second son Landon fondly recalls the year he chose George Washington because he liked the way it sounded and they won a big upset, and the year he went with the favorite every time and won the family pool. Kathy calls it crazy, Abby doesn't care too much, and I am totally absorbed by . . . you guessed it . . . March Madness!--the annual season ending college basketball tournament that pits the nation's best 64 teams in a playdown to the championship game in early April. Upsets, last minute buzzer beaters, crying cheerleaders, and regional winners cutting down the nets. It's all so exciting!

No wonder many sports enthusiasts consider it the greatest event in organized athletics. Here's a few thoughts on why it's so thrilling and what we might learn from that:

I have been reading the book God Delusion by Richard Dawkins, the noted British atheist. I have found it thoroughly disagreeable but at the same time refreshing. Dawkins insists that 'religion' should not be in an untouchable category where it cannot be analyzed for veracity or criticized for silly inconsistencies. I could not agree more. A man's faith is not so personal that it needn't stand up to the rigors of intellectual analysis. I have often said that the walls of Christianity are not so thin that an honest skeptic seeking truth will somehow poke through and reveal the whole thing to be a fraud. The truths of Christianity have satisfied some of the greatest minds in human history.

Well, I am sad to report that the Downpour Conference scheduled for March 9-10 has been cancelled. Speakers have been informed to cancel their travel plans and registrants will have their tickets refunded. This was to be the fifth Downpour and I was very excited to work with Bob Coy and Greg Laurie, in addition, of course to my good friend, Joe Stowell.

Wanna know why we cancelled it? How about if I totally leveled with you? Would you want anything else? :)

OK, it's Monday a.m. and I am done with another wonderful weekend of ministry at Harvest. I know you have been on the edge of your seat about the second part of this story so here goes . . .

The guy in question is really pretty cool. He helps run a radio network that airs Walk in the Word and I have worked with him many times recording various short features especially for his broadcasts. I don't often do that kind of thing but I so respect this group of stations that I have done it through the years as a favor to him.

That's why I was so surprised when people started emailing me links to his personal site where he criticizes me for some personal decisions I have made. Not sinful decisions, not unbiblical, not even unwise when the whole story is known, so I was pretty offended when I first read what he had written. I wondered why he would come at me so publicly having never sought clarification or deeper understanding.

As the weeks went by, it became clear that this was not going to roll off my back, not even through prayer (as described in part 1). I knew in my heart I would have to talk to him about it the next time I saw him . . .

Hey:
If you have been hanging out here you know I just got back from the National Religious Broadcasters Convention. It really is a gathering of what's right and wrong with western world Christianity. There are sincere, hard-working, humble Christians who are spending their lives in secret places to impact lives through Christian media. Sadly though, there are also weird, poofy-haired, overly made-uped, freaky, self-promoters, pulling out all the sketchy marketing stops to get their name in lights. I guess there is about everything in-between those two extremes too.

Anyway . . .

I always teach and try to live that when offended by a brother or sister you should just let it roll off your back, because "love is patient and kind; love does not . . . insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; love bears all things etc." I Cor. 13:4-7. Why carry around an offense--just 'let it go, man!' That's what I try to do, and have to do pretty often.

But when you can't . . .

I believe you need to roll it off to God in prayer. Agape love, that puts others before myself, is a fruit of God's Spirit (Gal 5:21) which I have no human capacity to create. That's why when offended we go to God in prayer and ask that the life of Jesus might love others through my surrendered will. (This is the essence of Christian living, "yet not I, but Christ lives in me." Gal.2:20)

But when you can't . . .

Sometimes you can't let it go because you're just lame like me and too filled with fleshly self interest
Sometimes you can't let it go because God wants to use you as an instrument of someone else's transformation.

In either instance you're going to need to go to the person and work it out. (Mt. 18) If the person is not handy i.e. living in your state or country, (I guess you could write a letter or call, but face-to-face is the most biblical method),
you need to pray for God to give you the opportunity to reconcile with this person . . .

That's what God gave me at NRB when this guy who had totally trashed me on his web site walked around the corner out of NO WHERE!!!!

But I have to get back to my sermon prep. I'll tell you what happened between me and a brother and how God gloriously, showed up in Part Two of "A Glorious Confrontation at NRB!!!! :) (Wow! Do I know how to keep you tuning in or what? LOL!)

Now back to sermon prep on Acts 10 for this weekend.

james

Hey:
I just got back from the National Religious Broadcasters Convention. Walk in the Word received an award for "Best Radio Bible Teaching Program of the Year." It was really pretty exciting to have the work of ten years and many wonderful people on our team acknowledged by the 1600 NRB members who nominate and vote on this award annually. It was VERY humbling to be greeted and congratulated by so many fellow radio Bible teachers that I love and respect like David Jeremiah, Jack Graham, Nancy Leigh DeMoss, Bob Coy, Hank Hannegraaff, Kay Arthur, and Chip Ingram, etc.

I have to say I really sense a difference in my spirit when I am standing in front of people to preach God's Word and when I am up there for any other reason. I always feel so self conscious when I am outside my area of giftedness. So when I got the award, (picture about 1500 people and an "Oscar like" presentation where they call you up, shake your hand and give you a thing made out of glass with nice words on it). Anyway, I stepped to the microphone and said . . .

Thanks so much for stopping by and visiting my brand new "blog". I'll be posting here frequently so be sure to check back soon for some cool updates and news.

Hey--let's hang out:
I wouldn't know such cool lingo, 'cause I am definitely not cool, but I have cool kids.

Wow! I just came back from three amazing days of ministry at Liberty University in Lynchburg Virginia. I was thrilled to be there with some of our Harvest worship team including Luke, Landon, and Lindsay, and then joined for part of the time by Abby and Kathy.