While I know it’s easy to poke fun at those who are simply trying to be stylish in 2011, this is too funny for those of us who vacillate between being trendy and not so much. After watching this I think I better check my faux-hawk at the door. Also, I noticed the shoes “pre-hipster” the guy was wearing are the shoes currently on my feet. I guess I’m only half-hipster (maybe even one-quarter hipster). Naw, probably not even that much. 
HT: Tim Challies
Jennefer and I, ten months before the Towers fell.
Today marks ten years since 19 terrorists infamously attacked Americans on American soil – Pennsylvania, Washington, and New York to be exact. It changed both the nation and the world.
Watching the South Tower fall on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001
One of my wife’s friends called Jennefer and told her something horrible was happening. She then hurriedly woke me up. I rushed downstairs with our baby boy in my arms, turned on the television and heard Peter Jennings’ voice. It was only moments later I witnessed United Airlines Flight 175 strike the South Tower at 9:03 AM. There were no words. All I could do was just watch. Within the hour, the towers, and the world as we knew it, came crashing down.
My middle brother Jodey, then Special Assistant to the President of the United States, was in Washington during the time of the attacks. Not knowing if he was in the White House or not, I remember calling to see if he was okay. With no immediate answer, my mind began to race. What was going on? What would be next? When would we respond? Needless to say, it was a crazy time for everyone. One I will never forget.
With a decade behind us, I still feel deeply about 9/11. I can hardly bear to watch the images (be they still or moving) of the planes screaming through the towers. The carnage, the tears, the horror – it remains a tender wound. But I’m glad, that instead of hopelessness or despair, my eye has found glory for a brighter day. Not because I have faith in the government or even mankind (both can remain inspiring but still deeply broken), but because of the One who has suffered for me so that I might, one day, live without any semblance of suffering…at all.
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more,neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.”
- Revelation 21:3-5 (ESV)
Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus. And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?” And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.
- The Acts of the Apostles 8:35-38
Yesterday we baptized more than 250 adults at my church. To say it was a great day would be more than an understatement. For three weeks we taught on baptism. With nothing spectacular or unique in what we said or how we presented it, the series simply highlighted what baptism means and who it’s for. However, from the beginning we told our congregation, “At the end of this series we’re going to set up a baptistry and baptize anyone who is ready.” And boy, were they ready! When all was said and done, 0ne out of every ten adults who attend our Egret Bay campus on a given weekend went under the waters of baptism yesterday. It was incredibly emotional: joy, laughter, shouts, tears, hugs, hi-fives, and smiles abounded at every turn in a service filled with songs, Scripture and a simple sermon that essentially echoed the words of an Ethiopian ready to demonstrate his union with Christ and entrance into the church, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?” Nothing! Let’s do this!
Reflecting on this experience, a few things surface in my mind and heart as a pastor for pastors:
After my book was published last summer people looked at me with incredulity that I actually wrote a book. While I was “encouraged” by their faith, no one was more surprised than me. The reason is I’m a speaker not a writer. I don’t intuitively write well. Passive verbs, tons of adjectives and poor sentence structure are littered throughout different pieces I write. For example, an editor for my book Tap changed at least one thing in each and every paragraph – and was right to do so! But none of it bothered me. Why? I’m comfortable with the fact I’m a speaker who writes (occasionally), not a writer who speaks.
The same applies to blogging. I realize several weeks have passed since I posted anything but you should know something: I’m very okay with that. Why? I am a pastor who blogs (occasionally), not a blogger who pastors. The last several weeks have been taken up with things like preaching, studying, counseling, etc., all of which are bigger priorities than sitting down and writing down my thoughts on whatever passes through my mind and heart for the blogosphere to see.
As to thoughts which pass through my mind and heart, here’s one: I don’t want my ministry to work backwards. In other words, I don’t want to pastor out of my blogging. I want to blog out of my pastoring (and other things). Consequently, while some feel the pressure to throw something on their blog to keep their readership up, I don’t. Blogging isn’t my calling. Leading a church is. And the seasons where those commitments find themselves on the opposite side of the spectrum, blogging will always lose. Always.
This doesn’t mean you cannot pastor a church well and be a prolific writer/blogger/author. Some men have the bandwidth to do it all (some even to do it well). However, others like to appear they can do it all but can’t. As a result, leading their local church takes a backseat to lesser things (e.g., social media, conference speaking, etc.). Let me be clear: I don’t possess the kind of superhero stamina, intelligence or resources to do all of it with equal intensity or frequency. Which means there will be seasons where I will frequently post and other times not so much. But I’m very okay with that. The pressure’s off. Why? I’m a pastor who blogs. Not the other way around.
So, as for the recent delay in blogging this past month, I’m sorry…but not really.
John R. W. Stott (1921-2011)
I shed a few tears today upon hearing the news that John Stott, at the ripe age of 90, died. A leader among the British evangelical world, Stott was former rector (read ‘pastor’) of All Souls Church in London, author of some 50+ books and one of the sharpest theological minds around. He was a hero in the faith to me.
His book, The Cross of Christ, was recommended by great men in my life. After reading it I could see why. The book plainly yet eruditely expounded upon the importance and centrality of the crucifixion. It has been – and likely will be – one of the greatest, most influential, books I will ever read. If you haven’t read it. Buy it today. Read it as soon as you can and be blessed by it!
I had the opportunity to meet Dr. Stott when he visited Houston several years ago. A friend invited me to hear him at St. John the Divine, and I jumped at the chance. He preached a straightforward, biblically sound exposition of a specific Scriptural passage which blew me away because it was so very unspectacular. No grandiose opening illustration. No bellybusting humor. No riveting narrative. Just clear, accurate teaching from God’s word. It was refreshing and instructive for a young preacher sitting in the pew that evening. Afterward I shared a few words of gratitude with Dr. Stott. He was kind, gracious and left a lasting impression on me.
Only this past May I found myself at his church, All Souls in London. I and my traveling team barely missed the evening service (they had dimissed merely a minute before). However, I counted it a privilege merely to have walked into the church building. For some reason, it felt special to have been in the same sanctuary in which a hero of mine had given his life to the preaching of God’s Word.
So it is with a heavy heart and numerous tears that I grieve my British brother’s death. While I know his is a greater reward at present, Dr. John Robert Walmsley Stott will be sorely missed by many. You can certainly count me among that number.
Thank you Lord for the life and ministry of John Stott.
NOTE: Here is a video in memory of Dr. Stott
