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Prayer Request and Tribute to a Life Lived for God

Mark Johnson, the Senior Pastor of Calvary Temple in Springfield, Illinois, called me this evening.  Mark was my pastor and mentor for some very formative years in my life and my faith.  He helped me lay the solid foundation of my own growing relationship with Jesus.  He remains a great friend and someone I look to for wisdom and godly counsel.

Mark was calling to let me know that his father passed away this morning, and to ask for prayer for his family.  His father, M.C. Johnson, was a war veteran who went on to build a very successful business...and then left it to answer God's call to be a pastor.  Mark impacted me first as my youth pastor, but it was in the church that his father had planted years before.  I came to that church because of a friend who had been impacted by it.  I learned to love Jesus in the midst of others doing the same because they were impacted by it.  The ministry of Calvary Temple Christian Center, where I grew so much, was there for me and so many others because M.C. Johnson said yes to God and labored faithfully.  Pastor M.C. Johnson loved God, loved people, loved his family, loved the church, and loved reaching people with the life-changing message of the Gospel.  He dedicated his life to this, and he leaves a great legacy...one that lives on in the lives of so many, including me.

As I've gotten a bit older, I understand more the value of foundations...that they need to be built properly so that many other things may be built upon them.  In the midst of leading people to Jesus, Pastor M.C. Johnson built foundations upon which much will continue to be built.  I give thanks to God for him, and as I write this I'm challenged and encouraged by the responsibility and the great honor I have to build on the foundations others have laid in my life.  It's absolutely God's work.  I'm just so grateful that those who went before me were faithful in doing their part.  Because now I have the great joy of striving to be faithful in doing mine.

Please join me in praying for the family of Pastor M.C. Johnson and in being challenged and encouraged by the legacy of his life.

       Pastor M.C. Johnson
        "A Winner of Souls"
May 11, 1924 - August 22, 2007

Idol Gives Back

I've only caught a few episodes of American Idol this season.  I did watch it tonight, and I was deeply moved...and it wasn't because of the hilarious Simpsons bit, the really cool Céline Dion duet with Elvis, or because they didn't send anyone home tonight.  It was a night of Idol Gives Back focusing on raising awareness and funds for desperately needy children in Africa and in the United States.  Many famous people lent their celebrity and their talents to the effort, along with the Idol crew.

I really think they did a phenomenal job tonight of representing the need in a real way...maybe better than anything like it I've seen, and I've seen a lot of videos and appeals designed to tug at the heart strings.  Sure, there may be a certain irony in a reality show about making people famous taking on this focus, and in such a big way.  Along with millions of viewers, I was still very entertained...but I'm writing this blog because, as I said, it moved me deeply.  So I've really got to say, "Way to go!"  I think it's incredibly cool, and, more than that, it's raising a lot of money for the cause.

I was so moved by the young African boy who works hard to be the "father" because his parents are both dead and he's the only one there to take care of his brothers and sisters.  I fought the tears.  I felt so broken-hearted for the hungy, sick, and dying, who have no choice because they don't have anything close to what we have.  It's staggering to me every time, and I want it to sink in deeply, that what I spend to satisfy a craving could save a child's life.  I'll stop there because I'm sure I'm preaching to the choir, and we know we have it really, really good.

It's amazing what happens when someone makes a determination with their life to make a difference.  Pastor Rob challenges us in this way, teaching us to give and give...not because RVC needs your money, but because we can use it to dramatically impact the world.  For us, the tithe should be just the starting point.  And let's face it, we really could live on less -- we just don't have to.  The principle we need to let sink thoroughly into us is that we, our stuff, our time, and our money should be resouces dedicated to demonstrating God's love on the earth and serving faithfully and consistently to carry out His work.  Our lives offer a great opportunity, and a great resource to bring the opportunity of life to others.

Watching Idol Gives Back, I hurt over kids who need food and medicine just to live.  And I hurt because I want them to know Jesus, Who gives full and eternal life.  I know God hurts for them far more than I am capable of, and I'm quite certain my very fortunate situation is not because I'm more deserving.  I know that I have been entrusted with much, and I have a part to play.  That doesn't mean that it's my job to feed the world, but I am responsible for the determination of my own life, as you are for yours.

If you saw the show tonight and were moved as I was, and maybe even called in to make a donation, I think that's a good thing.  I may blog again to talk more about that, but I'd like to give you a link to a particular organization I love that provides food, medicine, education, and the love of Jesus to children in need throughout the world.  I invite you to join me in sponsoring children through Compassion International.  This is one of many ways to give, but it's a really great way!  Please visit compassion.com for more information.

Counting the Cost

I was at Best Buy in Eagan on Thursday getting some items for the church.  As I went in I noticed a number of small tents lined up on the sidewalk by the entrance.  I wasn't aware of the imminent and much anticipated release of the Sony PlayStation 3.  It was chilly out, and would be even colder at night, and these kids were camping out in order to be among the first to buy a PS3. "Wow," I thought, "couldn't they just be patient for a week or two and save themselves the cold night on the sidewalk!"  But it was worth it to them because of how badly they wanted a PS3.

I started thinking about what we'll do when our desire for something is so great that we'll sacrifice for it, and it made me think about how I live out my pursuit of God.

Jesus said, “If you want to be my disciple, you must hate everyone else by comparison—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple. And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple. But don’t begin until you count the cost...." (Luke 14:26-28 NLT)

We often think about the price God paid for us, as we should with incredible gratefulness, but it's also vital that we count the cost so that we can live our life with the proper perspective.  We are not our own but bought at a high price, and there is something we seek that is without comparison...to know God, to be His, and to do His will.  This doesn't come without laying down our lives daily, and our stuff.  This doesn't come without cost, and nothing is more worth it.

The Apostle Paul wrote, "But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him...."  (Philippians 3:7-9)

So whenever the PlayStation 4 comes out...and we see kids camping out to get something they want really badly, join me in being challenged.  What do those around me see me doing that shows how really badly I want to know Jesus and serve Him?