Hi Friends,
I made this short video for the heart that needs a word of preparation for Thanksgiving. A phrase came out of this that surprised me: Jesus sits with us at “a table of loss.” This phrase jumped out at me and a few others who watched the video.
Love,
John
Jerome lives up in the Boone area and just started a non-profit with his wife Kellie. The Vining Center is a spiritual formation work to grow the soul and serve the world. The name is based on Jesus’ imagery of the vine and branches in John 15:5.
Here’s their 4 minute video telling more of the story.
Jerome and Kellie will be hosting their work in the high country alongside some occasional gatherings in Greensboro. They do a great job posting their gatherings and online offerings at viningcenter.org.
The Daley’s have been such a support to me over the years. I trust them and the wisdom they offer to people.
In recent days, Jerome has been a particularly special presence in my life. He has this sacred way of listening both to me and to God on my behalf. Our conversations always seem to invite me into the company of Christ.
I can’t wait to see the fruit of the Vining Center. Let me know if this sparks interest in you or if you’d like to go for a walk in the woods and talk about God :).
This post feels like a page out of my journal. I hope this reflection offers grace to you today.
In early January 2021 I wished for a new start and fresh perspective but my soul seemed surrounded by so many difficulties. In all directions I saw shame, fear and frustration.
The shame of not measuring up as a parent.
The fear of being alone.
The frustration of our nation's division.
My soul was besieged.
Defeat seemed inevitable.
I made this video with young people in mind. 2020 is a hard year for teens. The title is Divine Joy Isn’t Found In Winning.
https://youtu.be/Zya_RpDMqEA
On April 22, our dear friend Tripp Kimbrough went home to be with Jesus. If you are local to Greensboro and knew Tripp, you know this has been extra sad in the midst of a heavy world. If you didn't know Tripp, here's one thing I can tell you about him: The legacy Tripp leaves behind reminds us to live with a holy lightheartedness.
Jesus Christ meant so much to Tripp that he was able to have a wider view of circumstances that didn’t weigh his soul down. His radiant smile and delightful interactions gave testimony to God who enabled Tripp to hand lightheartedness around any room he walked into.
Psalm 121:1 has come to mind as I’ve reflected on Tripp’s gift of keeping a light heart.
“I lift up my eyes to the mountains - where does my help come from? (v.1)”
The psalmist is leading a pilgrimage ascending to Jerusalem and at first glance it may seem like he is standing at the base of a mountain saying, “Ah, look at the pretty mountains!”
But I don't think that was the case.
When we moved into our house, we had several giant, heavy rocks in our backyard. They were nice rocks, more like small boulders but they were oddly placed. We wanted to move them from the backyard to the front.
The only problem was I couldn't lift them. Not even close.
These obnoxious, decorative rocks were here to stay. They were stuck and so was I. When I measured the weight of those rocks against my own strength, I lost every time.
But what if I brought in a small tractor? And what if that tractor was rigged with a lift that was perfectly designed to carry and relocate heavy objects?
Measuring the weight of the rocks against the strength of the tractor evened the scales, even flipped them. This is doable! My mindset shifted. Rest and relief would fall upon me and my lower back.
My friend Paula Lynam once shared that God often asks us to lead from weakness. She said, “If you say yes, your limitations will have limitless potential.” Paula spoke from the heart of Jesus and today I hear this truth: no matter the circumstance, measure the weight of what is before you against God's strength, not your own.
How do I move forward when circumstances are too heavy?
Read MoreControl is an illusion, right? It’s confusing for me because there are things I’m doing to face this crises. A grocery run, exercising and staying home are steps to control my well-being but are these things holding my life together? I think not.
A few years ago, that phrase came up while meeting with a mentor. He said, “John, control is an illusion. You could pull out of my parking lot and get hit by a beer truck. Our lives are not held in our hands.” In my head I absolutely agreed with Fil.
“Control is an illusion” was my takeaway from our time together and was my primary thought as I jumped in my car to hustle onward.
Read MoreGreensboro is suppose to get 1-2 inches of snow today and it's our first weather event of the year! We haven't seen something more than flurries in 436 days but whose counting.
The small blast of snow will likely be an annoyance for some but for others could be a welcomed gift of time.
Greensboro shuts down easily at the sight of snow. It's a little embarrassing but nice when the town gives everyone permission to slow down. I enjoy that part but I struggle with entering into rest.
School and work can shut down but my mind keeps running.
In wake of Kobe Bryant’s death, I’m struck by the influence of professional athletes. They carry great weight and clearly, when tragedy strikes we are moved.
Another influential athlete is Patrick Mahomes, quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs. He'll play the game of his life this Sunday in the Super Bowl.
I’ve checked into SportsCenter to learn about this guy and a short news clip grabbed my attention.
Sal Paolantonia, an ESPN National Reporter, shared a conversation he had with Patrick Mahomes and why Coach Andy Reid kept giving to ball to him in their last win against the Packers?
This is us. We come together behind “locked doors” with fear gripped lives. Jesus appears, standing in the “middle" of them (NT Wright translation. They center their attention on Him and we turn our visual mind toward Jesus who says “Peace be with you.” Christ showed them his hands and side and for the rest of their lives they had a visual memory of that and carried that image and even passes that imagery to us. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. That has been the move for us: from fear to joy. Our kids need that. Even thought fear is everywhere we look and every parenting stage we are in, it doesn’t have to rule us.
Read MoreWe unpacked the fear-based system of the Pharisees and how the parents bought into it. The young man born blind listened to Jesus voice, washed and was healed. Jesus sought him out after he was banished. As we become blind to fear’s grip and its system Jesus walks right up to us and listens to us. We can turn our daily “what if” thoughts to “what is” in Christ. To name those thoughts in community and replace them is the first step. Be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Discern and name the fear and be a rebel to its system. Use your holy imagination to no worry but enter the reality of life in Christ (Read Vanhoozer quote from week 1).
Read MoreToday we aren’t talking about marketing but parenting. Fear steps up our parenting game. We are to be responsible parents and have to heed all fears or do we? It becomes confusing for parents to learn how to discern godless fear with healthy concern. Fear projects certain images or scenarios (trailers) on the wall-screen of our mind. Worry has been deemed a form of meditation. Busy lives hinder us from paying attention to fearful ruminating leading to control. Fear leads to control and that is no way to live.
Read MoreTHE MAN BORN BLIND PARENT TALK (Jn. 9) Certain fears that fly under the radar of the parent’s soul. It’s hard to discern thoughts that God does not want you to carry. Why that is? I think part of it over-responsibility. It is my job to protect, lead and provide. Which is true… we are to have healthy concern and intentionally act out of that concern. Often we react out of fear. What’s the difference?! We will discuss this. Another reason certain fears fly under the radar is because of our life-style. We are so busy we allow ourselves to open to all kinds of fearful thoughts and angst. This effects how we relate and parent. Gary Thomas the author of Sacred Parenting even said: “our fears can wound our kids.”
Read MoreI drive a 2007 Toyota Highlander. It is a mid-sized, base model SUV.
When I say "base model" what I mean is cloth seats, smaller engine with less power, factory rims, and a standard dashboard. Base models have no bells or whistles.
Unlike our other car that is a bit nicer, this one is very normal and common.
Not so long ago as I was leaving REI, a really cool sticker caught my eye and decided to buy it. I imagined this REI sticker fashionably placed on the corner of the Highlander’s rear glass.
I got a little too excited to dress up my cloudy-day gray Toyota with a $2 sticker.
In the past few days, I snapped at my kids. Twice. While it was necessary to respond to them in some way, their crimes didn’t match the punishment. I was overly frustrated and didn’t know why.
But God has met me in this frustration and gently revealed a way of joy.
As God transforms my heart, a verse lingers. It's the last phrase of Luke 2:7:
And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
Not much is said about the inn keeper who turned Joseph and Mary away.
This morning I dropped off my twins for their first day of high school. I can't wait to hear how it goes. But if I'm not careful, my curiosity or nervous excitement could curve my ability to listen.
Lately, I've researched the power of listening within the areas of family and discipleship. Jesus listened and his way of asking questions fostered spiritual progress.
Without reducing listening to a formula, I've jotted down some reminders as I approach the question:
"How was your first day?"
Thursday night I will be attending my daughter's last band concert of the year. She has excelled and has been apart of a fabulous middle school band program.
Family will attend the concert, she will do great, we will all cheer, and then it will be over. We will meet her in the hallway and with hugs congratulate her. Friends and family will say words like:
"Good job,"
"Well done" or
"Beautiful performance."
This end will be closure and a relief for everyone.
Then, if I'm honest, I'll look to the next ceremony, party or program to attend.
Read MoreDear Friends,
Many of you already know that on January 12, my sweet grandmother went home to be with the Lord.
She was 104.
Her name was Sarah, but she got the nickname "Budder" from a grandchild who once tried to say "grand-mother" but it came out "grand budder" instead.
One of the last meals we shared with her over the summer was at a steakhouse near Memphis where she lived. We prayed for the food and ended with a word of thankfulness for our dear Budder.
Read MoreI remember a time when Emily was standing in line at Starbucks and bumped into an acquaintance.
The conversation was typical chit-chat for a minute but sensing something more, Emily decided to ask two more questions.
The quality of these questions reflected a willingness to understand what was beneath the surface. She attempted to understand where this person was and to witness what was happening in that woman's soul.
There's too much pain and frustration in our world to keep avoiding deeper conversations.
Ours souls are not made to outrun our pain but embrace it. And we can't do that alone.
We have to be willing to ask those around us two more questions. These are two questions that don't add to small talk but open a door tolarger talk.
Recently I sat down to watch a interview with Dr. James Houston.
I resonate with his books and familiar with the school of Spiritual Theology he began at Regent College alongside of scholars like JI Packer and Eugene Peterson.
I first heard of Dr. Houston through Larry Crabb whom he mentored for many years.
What initially impressed me most about Dr. Houston was that he was a personal friend of CS Lewis.
I began this video hoping to hear stories about the spiritual giant: Clive Staples Lewis.
What I heard in the first 2 minutes of the video really surprised me.
The interviewer asked: "Have you talked much about CS Lewis? Have you made a career teaching about him?"
Read More