Memorizing Scripture

Several years ago now my wife convinced me to join her in a Spanish language immersion course at the Baptist University of the Americas. She has a minor in Spanish from college days but wanted to refresh her skills before beginning a ministry to Hispanic children in our area. Nevertheless, she wanted to improve her writing and the good folks at BUA had courses for all levels of folk interested in learning the language, and at my wife’s insistence I agreed to go and enter what I would call the “remedial” class, the one for those whose Spanish is limited.

After the first day our professor would not allow us to speak English. I am still amazed at her patience, because we mumbled and bumbled our way through one lesson after another. Yet, I was surprised by the fact that when we went to a worship experience one Wednesday evening I was somewhat able to keep up with what was being said.

During my time there I decided that I would try to memorize some Scripture in Spanish. I started off by working with the Lord’s Prayer. Each morning during my exercise I would work on putting the text to memory. After a few days I had it. I could recite the prayer over and over again without missing a word. One of the interesting things I discovered about this discipline was that learning the text in another language pushed me deeper into the prayer itself. And over the years, it has been part of my morning devotions to pray the Lord’s Prayer in Spanish. The discipline makes me slow down and think about the individual words and how they are connected. In doing so, this prayer has become even more important to me.

This experience of getting into Scripture has also made me realize that Scripture wasn’t given so much to be read as it was to be heard and learned. The people in Jesus’ time had to memorize the Torah since the written texts were not available to them on individual bases. By the time of their bar mitzvahs a majority of the Jewish young men had committed the texts to memory. As they dealt with the texts the words began to take on an organic feel, having texture and weight and significance. I can’t help but wonder if such a discipline might give Scripture more meaning for us. I mean, I am always a bit bewildered at how a particular text memorized years ago comes from “out of the blue” to give me instruction and guidance. With that recognition, I am going to pause and pull out a text to add to my “spiritual files.” I invite you to join me.

Thursday: Long Walk

Today is an exciting day for me.

I have spent the last few days preaching a Youth Camp in the Colorado mountains. We have spent a great deal of time sitting around a camp fire talking about Sabbath, prayer, and the Year of Jubilee. I believe Sabbath is the most important spiritual discipline for our times. The last few days have been filling and wonderful. I have loved being here.

Today Abby and Blake will pick me up from camp and we go to my grandparents cabin in Breckenridge. There will be family everywhere- aunts and uncles, grandparents, cousins, nieces and nephews, basically everyone.

We love this time together.

Tonight we will have dinner together and then divide into groups. Some will go out in the jeep to look for moose and bears. Some will go walk beside the river at the back of the cabin. Some will play a board game.

I will be joining the walking group. For me there is nothing better than being outside near the river looking at the sunset on the mountains surrounded by the people I love most.

I hope you find a place you can do this today with the people you love.

It will deeply enrich your day.

Tuesday: Fasting in the Car

Silence is so difficult in our world. It rarely happens.

I heard a documentary filmmakers one time quote that if he wanted to record 30 seconds of pure silence, it would take him at least 9 hours in the middle of nowhere.

It's hard to find silence, even in the middle of nowhere.

Our world is really loud. Actually, sadly loud.

I have a friend who calls her car her mobile monastery. She spends a lot of time picking children up, running errands, and sitting in traffic. This is her world and she has decided that she can improve it by creating a quiet space.

There is no radio, no talking heads, no music, and no cell phone. She uses this time to talk and listen to God.

On several occasions I have tried her plan and I confess that I love it each time I do it.

I will warn you it will seem odd at first, settle into the oddness, and let God speak.

Today as you start your drive, turn off all noisemakers and say "Speak God for your servant is listening."

Take time today to create a mobile monastery.

Mom Clark

My grandmother was an amazing woman. She raised eight children and ran a home without the conveniences of modern appliances – no washer, no dryer, no dishwasher or even disposal in the sink. Everything was negotiated by hand. In addition, she provided three meals a day, made from scratch. Looking back I think she was able to do more things and manage more schedules than any CEO of a 500 Company. What’s more, she was a cornerstone at her church, one of those faithful souls who did jobs that no one else seemed to want to do – keeping the nursery during church service, cleaning up the kitchen, volunteering for all those many occasions that marked Baptist life fifty years ago. In fact, when she passed away, her pastor, a rather stern individual not given to sentimentality, openly wept at her funeral. People were amazed and I was moved at realizing what a model of faith my grandmother was.

She played an instrumental part in my rearing. I spent a lot of nights in her home, sitting out on the front porch and hearing stories of the family and opinions of politics and other things. She shaped my faith in many ways, telling me stories of the Bible with her own interpretations. She was especially good on heaven, making me realize that it was more than angels plucking their harps on clouds overlooking golden streets. I remember on one occasion she was talking me about heaven and she leaned into me and said, “Don’t remember how I look; remember how I sound.” I must have looked confused. She went on, “When I get to heaven, God is going to give me a new body that will replace this old thing that I’m wearing now. I’m going to look 21 again, but even better!” While I didn’t understand all of the nuances of that then, I never forgot her words.

She was a wonder in so many ways, but her work in the kitchen can only be described as amazing. In fact, I would go so far as to describe it as an “amazing grace.” She spent most of her day in the kitchen, preparing breakfast to get people off to work and school, lunch for everyone who came home, and then the evening meal. The meals were not of the Martha Stewart collection. It was primarily the basics, with several meals being red beans and rice and rolls. (The rolls, by the way, were homemade and would melt in your mouth.) But what I remember most is how, after everyone was served, she would take her place just off the main table, grab a bowl for herself and sit back and enjoy her family. I remember her commenting one day, “This is the best part of the day for me. Sitting back and watching my family be family.”

That is where the grace comes in. There is something divine about putting a meal together that puts a family or group together. I have discovered that again here in Baton Rouge. As we have been moving in, various neighbors have dropped by to introduce themselves by bringing one of their delectable staples for us to enjoy. The food has been delicious, but the thoughtfulness even more so. I can’t wait for our pots and pans to get unloaded so that we can return the favor and become even more a part of the neighborhood family. You might think of someone who needs to be fed today – physically and spiritually. It is amazing what a few morsels of food does for the soul!

Sunday: Praying for Us

Today we want you to do something a bit different, we want to ask you to simply ask a question and then listen.

Praying involves listening.

Today we want you to ask the following question and then listen to what God has to speak to you.

"God, what do you want from me in regards to your church, University Baptist Church?"

Listen..... and then obey.

Public Service

I am always intrigued at why people get involved in public service. Their great desire to serve overcomes the necessity of having to engage in the politics. To run for any office means the candidate has to make him/herself vulnerable to public scrutiny and sometimes even intentionally false accusations. It takes a great deal of character and a thick skin to involve oneself in this venue of calling.

I have two friends who are involved in city government. One is a Muslim woman who has been active in all sorts of civic activities in Houston. She is a lawyer and is well respected in the community for her intelligence and fair-mindedness. What’s more she is eager to build bridges between cultures and faiths. This past year she invited me to join her family at the annual Ramadan feast along with the mayor and several other civic officials. She was a most gracious host, making us feel at home and welcome. However, when she made the decision to run for the city council all kinds of mean-spirited accusations were hurled at her, the main one being that she was the lawyer for a well-known terrorist with Al Quaida. Even though it was obvious that this was dirty politics – she didn’t represent the terrorist because she wasn’t even in criminal lawyer, but she had no connection whatsoever. Nevertheless, the things said about her would lead someone to think that she had direct involvement in 9/11. I felt so sorry for her and ashamed for the fact that such negative politicking could take place in the city where I lived. And sad to say, this woman lost her race by a narrow margin. The political scientists and pollsters all said that the negative campaigning was the reason for her loss.

My other friend heavily involved in local politics was for three terms the Mayor of Tyler. He, too, is bright, just and kindhearted. His tenure as mayor marked a time of great progress for the city – new schools were built, roads were improved and taxes lowered. He is one of the most popular city officials I have ever known. He was also a member of our church. I counted on him for insight and wisdom in church and civic matters. And he was always more than helpful when I called on him. However, he told me that he had some troubles with the church, and the troubles weren’t theological. He said that every time he came to church, invariably someone would take him aside and complain about something in the city. His experience at church was punctuated not from biblical insights but civic complaints. And sadly enough, this became so regular that my friend would wait until worship began before he came into church and then he would leave on the last verse of the invitation.

I write all of this because our civic leaders need our encouragement and assistance. Why not think of some city official and write them a note thanking them for their work. Public service can be very demanding, and we need to make sure the good and diligent public servants know of our gratitude and appreciation. Better yet, why don’t you ask them about issues and projects they are working on that could use your gifts and assistance. After all, isn’t that the genius of democracy? And isn’t that also the genius of the church?

Friday: Friday Night Dinner

I am going to be honest and confess that I will be skipping this task this evening, or better put delaying it until tomorrow night. Abby and I are leaving this morning for Baton Rouge. We will be there this weekend and then we fly out on Monday so that I can preach a youth camp followed by a little bit of time with our family.

I am delaying the Friday night meal with friends until tomorrow night when Abby, Blake and I will get to break bread again with Mike and Lisa. We are really looking forward to this. In case you did not see this during our Call weekend, the Massars and Martins are really good friends. Our friendship and mutual respect and admiration are foundational to the co-pastorate model. We can share the pastoral role because of our friendship.

So tomorrow night we all have lots to catch up on including what Blake has been up to the last few weeks, what we have been reading, what all we have recently cooked or eaten (we are all big food people),  some of the projects we have all been working on for University Baptist Church, and just general life.

I can promise that the table will be full of laughter, affirmation, gratitude, and Christ. It always is.

I hope sometime this weekend you can find a table and share this experience.

The table plays a most important role at the heart of Christianity.

Thursday: Hoarding....

One of my best friends is an attorney in Houston. Before his legal career, he took a seminary degree at Union Seminary in New York City. Consequently, we have had many stimulating conversations about theology, life and golf (which is also one of our shared habits).

My friend is an avid reader, devouring books in record speed. Over the years he had collected quite an eclectic library, one ranging from classic novels to history to philosophy to various forms of non-fiction to theology. I loved roaming through his collection, more often than not discovering new authors and subjects.

One day my friend called and told me that he was paring down his library and wanted me to have any books I so desired. I was befuddled but journeyed over to his house to see what he was doing. He had sectioned off his library into two sections – the smaller one which contained only about a hundred books or so, and the other literally hundreds of books. He pointed me to the larger section and said, “Have at it. Take what you want.” 

Overcoming the urge to dig in and gather some of these treasures, I turned and said, “What gives?” He looked at me quizzically, “What do you mean?” “I mean, why are you giving all of these away.” He smiled and said, “I think it is what you might describe as good stewardship. A month or so ago I decided it was not right for me to have so many books that others might be using. After all, I don’t think I’ll ever read most of these again. They will just sit here in my study, gather dust and be a prideful temptation to think that I am a well-read man.” I looked at him in slack-jawed wonder. He went on, “So, I happened on a plan that I think is a good discipline for me. I am going to limit my library to one hundred books, and every time I buy a new book, I have to give one of those one hundred away.”

As an addicted bibliophile I must have looked shocked. He said, “Now, I know that in some professions you need to keep a lot of books around for resource material. Take, for  instance, you preachers. You have to keep the books around for proper footnoting, acknowledgement and documentation. I don’t need that. So, I have reduced my library in hopes of giving some of these other books a new home and hopefully a new life.

Over the years I often ask how he is doing with his library. He always smiles and says, “I buy a lot of paperbacks that I read and just leave in conspicuous places.” As of late, he has informed me that God has looked down on him and blessed him with the invention of the Kindle. I laughed out loud at that remark, but remain impressed with his model of stewardship.

Making a move has brought my friend to mind. In the midst of all the boxes of things and treasures that I have collected over the years, I have come to the conclusion that a lot of these things just sit around and gather dust. They need new life. They need a new home. So, still with a bit of reluctance, I have made a box or two of things that I am giving away.

I’m not sure why, but in the midst of this a quote from Hammarsjold came to mind: “For all that has been – thanks; to all that shall be – yes!” This spiritual discipline of downsizing does have about it that rare combination of thanksgiving and hope. I recommend it to you. It is one I learned from a good, good friend.

Wednesday: Neighboorhood Walk

One of the things I have realized recently is how little I know my neighbors. By neighbors I literally mean the people next door. When I moved out of the home in Sugar Land,  I cleared out my cell phone contacts to help simplify my life a bit. I found the following contact: Neighbor and then a number. I think this is the gentleman who lived to my right, but I am not positive.

I actually am not even sure how I got the number. I think it happened during Hurricane Ike. We lived in a neighborhood that did not get electricity until almost three weeks post storm. I think one day in the midst of that, this gentleman and I exchanged numbers.

I don't have a name, thus this number would probably do no good.

It's sad that I lived next to this man for 3 years and literally know nothing about him.

If we take the Gospels seriously, then we take people seriously. People are important in our souls because people are important in God's soul.

In the Gospels we are commanded to love our neighbors. I imagine that most days Jesus is shaking his head, crying out to us, "Don't you get it? By neighbor, I meant everyone.... and this does actually include your neighbor, the person you live life right beside."

You are all probably better at this than I am, but if not begin to make an effort to know your neighborhood. Know the people who live life around you. In sharing life with them, you might just be able to share your heart as well.

Tuesday: Cooperative Baptist Fellowship

Last week while attending Doctor of Ministry seminars our co-hort got into a discussion of conventions and all that goes with that heavy word. We are a generation that has been raised after all the convention issues. In some ways we are the first generation of pastors after the battle.

One of our professors was most intrigued by our comments regarding conventions, in particular the important role we all felt these played in Baptist life today. All of us in the room knew the vital importance of Baptist conventions, fellowships, and associations. These things matter to us because Baptist matters to us.

Let me explain this with a few statements:

Being a Christian is more important to me than being a Baptist.

Although I can point out some faults within the Baptist tradition, esp. the extreme sides, I think there is great good in the Baptist heritage.

I have chosen to stay a Baptist. I understand that it is part of my heritage and the great influence here, but I have made a conscious decision to choose to be part of the Baptist tradition.

I think each of us needs to know a great deal of Christian history, in particular our Baptist history. It will greatly enhance your understanding of our journey.

Finally, I believe community greatly matters. Thus I believe in conventions, fellowships, and associations.

The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship is holding our annual meeting this week. This is an important fellowship of Baptist who are similarly minded to our community. They will be looking at the future of this fellowship and how we will reach the people around us and support one another.

As part of this fellowship, please spend some time today praying for this group.

Monday: VBS Help

The words Vacation Bible School take me back to felt boards and fudgesicles. I told Mike this and he laughed saying he had no idea that felt boards had lasted all the way up until when I was in VBS. I can testify that they did indeed endure. I would guess that today the days of felt board are gone though.

Why Vacation Bible School?

I think this is one of the more important ministries in the church. A study came out a few years ago that was quite alarming to those of us in ministry. It was a study of teenage spirituality and what the study resulst showed was that most teenagers believe in a god who looks like a genie in a bottle. This god is there to grant their wishes, to meet their needs, but is largely irrelevant to their lives.

The study also showed that our Scriptures are lagerly totally irrelevant to the average teenager, even those who were raised in the church.

It means that somehow we have missed the mark. We have let the ball drop when it comes to properly teaching our children about God.

It is my opinion that teaching children about God is one of the most important duties of the church. We are called to educate- not indoctrinate- our children about God and the matters of faith.

Today we are blessed with some truly brilliant new ways to do this. There are some wonderful souls who have dedicated a good amount of time looking at proper ways the church can teach a child about faith through big questions, play, and even silence. I am excited about looking into this opportunies with our community.

Vacation Bible School matters because we are essentially teaching children what matters.

It's an activitiy that is near and dear to my heart because I want Blake to have wonderful memories of Vaction Bible School like I have.

So this week there are going to be children on our campus. Find a way you can support this ministry- pray for them right now, take some snacks over, call and see if you can offer any help to this ministry because this ministry matters.

Sunday: A Prayer for Univeristy

Three years ago I began to see a spiritual director to work on my prayer life. I told her I was not good at prayer. She simply responded, "Griff you are not good or bad at prayer. You either prayer or you don't pray. Answer that question." It took some time for me to realize I did not pray because I did not know how to pray. She has taught me how to pray. 


One of the disciplines she gave me was using other people's prayers as my prayer. I found a book of prayers and allowed them to guide me, so that the prayers of another could become a prayer of my own. This has greatly enhanced my prayer time. 


This morning, I am praying this prayer as a collective for us, the congregation of University Baptist Church and the body of Jesus Christ. This prayer is from one of the my spiritual heroes, Saint Francis. 

          Lord, make us a instrument of your peace;

where there is hatred let us sow love,

where there is injury let us sow pardon,

where there is doubt let us sow faith,

where there is despair let us sow hope,

where there is darkness let us give light,

where there is sadness let us give joy. 

O divine master, grant that we may

not try to be comforted, but to comfort,

not try to be understood, but to understand,

not try to be loved, but to love.

For it is in giving that we receive,

it is in forgiveness that we are forgiven,

and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Amen.

Saturday: Technology Free Day (So You Should Not Be Reading This Today)

We’re going to try and practice what we preach. Therefore, we’re going to turn off our computers and spend more time with God and our families. Hope you will do the same!

Friday: Dinner with Friends

The past 2 weeks I have been in a seminar for my Doctor of Ministry degree. For me this basically means that I will spend the majority of the day in a classroom with 9 other pastors discussing the books we have read and presenting papers we wrote for this seminar. At times it can be quite exciting, but it can also be extremely draining for this many days.

While I am in Waco I stay with one of my best friends, a guy who really defines the phrase found in Proverbs "there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." This friend is more like a brother to me. We have shared a large portion of life together and he has truly blessed me by challenging me to be better. He is one of those people I could simply not do without.

Most nights I am in Waco we share a meal together. It's never anything too fancy, usually just a few vegetables out of his garden and some bread. It's quite good. Our conversation typically follows the same routine. We start off talking about our days, what we each learned, the high points, and our frustrations. Since we are both in ministry and interested in theology, it typically turns into a theological discussion of some sort. By the end of the meal we have usually turned to laughter over something quite ridiculous. 

I set outside an hour for the meal before I go back to studying, but it seems that it often runs close to 2 hours. I never regret these meals going over their time limit. Not only does the food nourish me, the conversation does as well.

It is life giving for me. It is grace. Last week I wrote about the two walking on the road to Emmaus to discover that Jesus is with them all along after they see Jesus break bread. Once Jesus is gone, one says something close to this, "Surely he was with us this entire time and we did not even know it?"

I often fell the exact same way after a dinner with this friend. Surely Jesus was with us the entire time and we did not even know it.

I think meal time is often like this, Jesus continues to show up at our table, in our conversation, in our laughter, and in the breaking of the bread. 

And there is something about a meal with Jesus that changes everything. 

Thursday: A Day Without Sarcasm

Humor is a funny thing. I mean, it’s not really funny sometimes. I remember hearing a story about Dr. Robert Baird, who taught philosophy at Baylor for so many years. When Dr. Baird was at Southern Seminary he had a classmate by the name of Grady Nutt. And Grady’s last name fit him to a “t” – he was a nut! In fact, he became a professional comedian who was extremely popular in Baptist life in the 70s. Grady was constantly touring campuses and churches, creating hilarity at each stop. He would often stop in my office at 7^th and James and before long have everyone in stitches. In fact, I once had him do a college retreat. At the end of a long night, Grady was holding court in the men’s side of the cabin, telling one funny story after another. I was worn out by it all and finally begged off and found a place far away to go to sleep. The next morning I woke up, and Grady was still joking and the guys were still laughing. They swore they didn’t stay up all night, but they were all in the same places wearing the same clothes. But back to Dr. Baird . . .

I am told that when Grady was in seminary he assumed the position of class/campus clown, always making fun. Occasionally it was said that Grady didn’t just make fun, but sometimes he made fun of . . . His gift of insight and sarcasm could produce some biting comments, sometimes even painful ones. That is where Dr. Baird came in. He went to Grady and told him how much he enjoyed him and his humor, but that he had to say something as a Christian brother. He told Grady that Grady’s humor could sometimes be interpreted as being mean, hurting and injuring people. Grady, who respected Dr. Baird immensely, took his words to heart and disciplined himself to make sure to use his humor in positive and redemptive ways.

Maybe that is a spiritual discipline for all of us. Granted, sarcasm in its proper place can poke fun in clever and insightful ways. But if it is used on people, then it can easily degenerate into a weapon of cruelty and pain. I think I need to take some time with God and learn to weigh my words. May they be seasoned with a humor that creates heavenly laughter and not hellish delight.

Wednesday: Encouragement (Two Takes and Insight)

 (Griff's Take)

I love you.

You are a great mom, dad, husband, wife, friend, grandparent, or roommate.

Thank you for doing such and such. You have no idea how much this means to me. 

You are the best. 

You mean a great deal to my life.

I am pretty certain that we all enjoy hearing those things. It means a lot to us to discover that we mean something to someone else. 

It's amazing how often we forget to tell those we are closest to that they matter in our lives. We just assume they understand this. 

Take time today to let them know how much they matter. If you can, write this down on notecards and hide it throughout the house. At the very least pull out your cell phone right now and send 5 text messages to let people know you care.

Last Christmas Abby and I started a new family tradition. We bought an Advent calendar and filled each day with a notecard telling Blake something we loved about her and then a piece of candy. We thought she would go straight for the candy and never notice the note. We were right for the first 2 days. The third day everything changed, Blake did not want the candy but instead wanted to carry around that day's note card. She could not read it, but somehow she knew that this card told her how much we thought of her. 

Being encouraged matters to all of us. 

This is one of the times we get to be the voice of God speaking to one another. We get to help God continue to call each of us Beloved Children by speaking grace, truth, and love in encouragement to one another.

It's a challenge given time and time in the New Testament letters. It seems that being part of the Christian community at times means offering encouragement to one another. This is part of being the church.

So take time to be the church and today take time to offer some encouragement. 

(Mike's Take)

 For someone who tends to be more spontaneous in his approach to life it is good to be married to a “list maker,” one of those people who gets up each day and creates an organizational plan. My wife is a master at that, creating lists for all of us so that the structure will bless us with a clear path to effectiveness, while at the same time patiently providing time for creative randomness!

I can remember the first time she left me with the children for a few days. She was scheduled to go to Nova Scotia to do a conference for Smyth and Helwys, and there was simply no way to make a daily commute. Thus, she was forced to entrust me with the family. What a courageous leap of faith she was forced to make! In preparing for her presentations, planning the trip and packing, she also made to-do lists for me and each of the children. It was amazing how detailed they were, down to the daily tasks inherent in running a household. The boys had garbage and lawn duties, Meredith was to pick up her room and make sure the guest room was presentable in case there was an unexpected guest, and I was given a detailed list that would have made a NASA space flight seem rudimentary!

But here is the great thing about all of this – not only did she make lists for us, she made post-it notes for places we needed to visit to make good on our lists. All over the house there were little slips of yellow squares with hearts and smiles and other expressions of encouragement. The kids and I got so tickled at her quality care. In fact, I’ve often thought this wouldn’t be a bad thing to occasionally do just for the fun of it. That is, place post-it notes in places where loved ones frequent, notes that are sources of affection, joy and encouragement. Not only would that be a lot of fun (for giver and receiver), just think of what a difference that would make for your family and others.

Well, I am going to do that myself, but where is it that I put those post-it notes?

Tuesday: Shared Meals and Lives

Several years ago our daughter Meredith informed us that she was required to take her last undergraduate class in Italy. I love the requirements of modern day academia. In my university days, study abroad was a foreign phrase (all pun intended!). At any rate, Meredith went to Italy to study Italian art, and as her graduating present, we gave her cooking lessons at the Florence School of Culinary Arts. She loves to cook, and this was a real hit for her, and as it turns out, a real hit for us because we get to enjoy her cooking. In fact, I like to quip that it is one of the few graduation gifts that have ever paid off for me!

But then again, our entire family likes to cook. The boys have their specialties – Matt creates a mean gumbo, Patrick takes pride in his chili and jalapeño poppers (The mere mention makes me sweat!). Meredith goes Italian, Lisa is a whiz at just about anything, and I like to occasionally dabble myself. Because of our culinary interests, it is not unusual for all of us to be gathered in the kitchen, working on dishes and enjoying the banter around the stove.

I have to admit that I thoroughly enjoy those times. The food becomes the medium for the swapping of stories, mostly hilarious, and catching up with issues in the family. I like to think that those times have a bit in common with Jesus, who had an epicurean bent Himself (Remember his providing of the wine in Cana, his trademark breaking of the bread with friends, and the breakfast He whipped up in Galilee?). I do think food is a wonderful ingredient for community as it pulls folk together in such positive ways.

I remember seeing that happen in a graphic way. I had attended a retreat at the Church of the Savior in Washington, D.C., a church that has been on the “cutting edge” of religious life for decades now, and is still serving as a helpful catalyst in so many ways. The retreat took place at a Maryland farm, and after we had gathered for introductions, our retreat leader informed us that we would begin our time together with a 24-hour period of silence. During that silence we would listen to Scripture, walk the environs and each share in preparing at least one meal. When my assigned time arrived, I reported to the kitchen, read the menu and then turned quizzically to my four fellow “chefs”. In non-verbal ways we all took assignments and began our work. It was strange not to hear the chatter of voices as we worked, but I was amazed at how the preparation of the meal pulled us together, getting to know each other through chopping, dicing and cooking. It was a strange but enjoyable experience.

I’ve not had another experience like that one, but I have had times of working on a meal that allowed us to get together in ways that transcend most conversations. I’ve also read about and even experienced ministries built around meal-making – from food kitchens in Harlem, to Sara Miles’ kitchen in a San Francisco Episcopal church, to campfire breakfasts in a Colorado mountain meadow, to fellowship meals in a Baptist church. While in the story of Jesus’ visit to the home of Mary and Martha, Mary gets most of the accolades for being with Jesus, there is something to be said for the Marthas of this world who find their way to the kingdom by putting things together in the kitchen.

How hungry are you . . . physically or spiritually? The place to get nourishment is oftentimes found in the kitchen. Why don’t you get some people to put a meal together? Chances are that you will find what you need in the preparation!

Monday: Gratitude List

In other churches I have served we began each staff meeting with a time of devotion. Usually the staff members shared that responsibility, with each person taking a turn. On one occasion our Minister of Recreation talked about what he had learned about prayer from his four-year-old son. Each evening my ministerial colleague would go in and have prayer with each of his children. What he began to notice was the changing tenor of the prayers as his children grew older. He said that his older children’s prayers were more and more punctuated with needs of intercession or statements of contrition. However, his four-year-old’s prayers were primarily ones of thanksgiving. He began with a “Thank You, God, for . . .” which would be the first line of a whole litany of gratitude. My ministerial friend said that his son had taught him much, because he came to realize how little he exercised thanksgiving in his own prayer life, and that he now began his day with his own litany of “Thank You, God . . .”

After hearing that devotion I started paying attention to my own prayer life and noticed how lacking it was in gratitude. It almost seemed that I came to God with my own list of things that needed to be done. I had so many issues that required divine intervention, not to mention relationships that were in need of repair, or even health problems in the family or congregation that needed a divine touch. But how little did I stop to consider the many blessings that came my way on such a consistent basis.

Therefore, I changed the pattern of my prayers. Taking a cue from my four-year-old teacher, I began my prayers each morning with an extended time of thanksgiving. Even using the Lord’s Prayer as a model, I would begin “hallowing God’s name,” acknowledging the incredible majesty of God. Why, just wondering at the amazing complexity of the universe  – from nighttime gazes at the Milky Way in the heavens to quiet little observations of a square foot of ground in a flower bed, I began to see how delicate and intricate and amazing God’s world truly is. Each day is a gift of wonder if we would just pay attention.

The same thing is true for people. Have you ever stopped to think how each person in your life is a gift, that each person has a mystery of grace about them that makes the world so much more interesting? In that regard I began praying differently for my own family. Each morning I would look at a particular family member and thank God for the ways he or she had blessed me. And my prayers helped in our relationships. Why, by taking time to pay attention to family members, I began to appreciate them all the more. Their interests, their peculiar quirks, their senses of humor, their hopes and ambitions all became insights into the creative artistry of God.

This discipline became so enlightening that I started using it with folks outside the family. I began to pray for colleagues at work and even cranky people I had the habit of bumping into on a regular basis. Looking at them from God’s perspective helped in giving me a new way to look at them. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the gifted German theologian, once said that a pastor’s primary job is to intercede for his congregants and others. I think Bonhoeffer is right, but it’s not just a pastoral thing. The community of faith becomes infinitely richer when we are praying for each other and thanking God for each other. 

On this Monday morning, why don’t we all construct a list of people, things and issues that we want to thank God for? Then, throughout the day, let’s review the list and just spend some time in gratitude for the many gifts God has given us. Why, it could transform this ordinary day into a holy day, one that invites us into the sublime divine! Thank You God for that . . .

Pentecost

Prayer: Pentecost Sunday

Today we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit just as Jesus promised.

If we are honest, there is much about the Holy Spirit that is mystery. 

Today is not a day we try to define and understand, to be honest we spend way too much time doing this anyway, but instead today we echo the prayers of the disciples, "Come Spirit Come."

To help us do so, here is a prayer from Saint Augustine to guide us all. 

Breathe in me O Holy Spirit
that my thoughts may all be holy;
Act in me O Holy Spirit
that my works, too, may be holy;
Draw my heart O Holy Spirit
that I love but what is holy;
Strengthen me O Holy Spirit
to defend that is holy;
Guard me then O Holy Spirit
that I always may be holy.

Saturday: The Movie Task (2 takes today)....

Mike's Take on the Movie Task....

Several years ago I spent a summer at the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts studying the art of screenwriting. A grant from the Lilly Foundation provided the opportunity for me to study similarities between the writing of screenplays and that of sermons. It was a fabulous summer in so many ways.

One of the eye-opening things for me was the realization of the enormity of the movie-making industry. My fellow students regularly saw a minimum of four to five movies per week. And when they weren’t seeing them in theaters (Without exception they all said that a movie is meant to be seen on the big screen!), they were attending smaller showings. If worse came to worse, they would watch a movie on DVD or VHS. The bottom floor basement of the USC library is totally dedicated to movies. Students can go and check out any movie ever made and watch it in a private study carrel, each of which is equipped with screen and recorder. Needless to say, I spent many afternoons and evenings just browsing and viewing!

As I learned at USC, there are myriad movie genres. I also came to realize that people go to the movies for a variety of reasons – some go to escape, some to laugh, some to be frightened, some to be entertained, some to be intellectually challenged. In addition, people choose the movies of their favorite locations or actors or directors. I enjoy all kinds of movies, but if I were pushed to choose one movie or even a genre of movies, I would probably turn to the work of screenwriter Robert Bolt.

Bolt was a rascal of a man, given to all kinds of debauchery in real life, but when he separated himself away to write he was in a world all by himself, literally and figuratively. He wrote magnificent screenplays like Ryan’s Daughter, Lawrence of Arabia, Doctor Zhivago, The Bounty and finally The Mission. In these screenplays and movies Bolt takes us to the important questions of life and character. (It is sadly tragic that he didn’t let the character displayed in the movies become more a part of his own life!) Each movie deals with individual struggles of faith. Perhaps that is why I am so taken by them.

If I were pushed to select just one of these movies to watch, I would have to choose The Mission, the story of Jesuit priests in the 1750s who travel to South America to take the Gospel to the native Guarani Indians. Their work is made all the more difficult by   profiteering Spanish slave traders who ransack families and villages as the church seems to look the other way. The struggles between calling, nation, church, and even ministers in the church are ones that continue to be instructive today. Actors Jeremy Irons and Robert DeNiro are magnificent in this movie whose overriding lesson (along with all of Bolt’s works, for that matter) is that God doesn’t necessarily call us to be successful as the world understands success, but rather to be faithful. This point is made graphic by the on-screen reference: “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:5)

For me, watching a movie is an effort to take myself to a better place . . . emotionally, creatively and spiritually. I think I am going to stop typing and pop in The Mission one more time. Hopefully it will not only entertain but inspire me to do noble things, even in the small matters of life.

Griff's Take on the Movie Task.....

Huh? These new co-pastors decided that one of the tasks that would help us to become the church we are called to become is to take time to watch one of our favorite movies? This seems a bit random to say the least, maybe they could not think of a task so they just came up with something simple? Maybe they just wanted an excuse to watch their favorite movie? 

Trust me, it was none of those things and yes we do believe this activity is important in the process of Called to Become.

Why? Sometimes we get so wrapped up in this faith journey that we forget God wants us to take delight in life. God wants us to enjoy moments of laughter, pleasure, and pure delight. 

And sometimes it is healthy to sit down and allow our mind to rest while we get lost in a movie. 

I am not sure what movie Abby and I will be watching today. If it's up to Abby, we will be watching Pride and Predjuice and I will have to endure another conversation, better put, lament on why Mr. Darcy is not a real person and how I need to try my hardest to become more like him, including the accent. If it's up to me, we will probably watch The King's Speech. I think it is the finest movie I have seen in 5 years. I have learned quite a bit about voice and the pulpit from this movie. If I am honest, we are both going to end up watching The Little Mermaid or Mary Poppins because Blake will decide the movie.

I don't know what we will watch, but I trust that it will allow our minds to rest and allow us to get lost in another world for a few hours. 

And sometimes that is exactly what we need.

Friday Dinner

Friday, June 10: Dinner with Friends

Why do we keep repeating this task? 

It's really fairly simple. It's the story of the road to Emmaus. Following his resurrection, Jesus travels with two to a village named Emmaus. At dinner that evening, during the breaking of the bread, these travelers realize that it is Jesus who is with them. This happens time and time again in the New Testament, through a shared meal Jesus is experienced. 

There is something about the breaking of the bread in a community that calls forth the very presence of Jesus Christ. 

There are two tasks that we repeated time and time again in this journey of Called to Become, praying for the church each Sunday and sharing a meal with friends each Friday. These two tasks are foundational to what we see as the role of the church, a community that prays, worships, and shares meals together. 

We could both tell you of various supper experiences where the presence of Christ has become tangible. These would include times around youth camp cafetria tables, wedding banquets, dinner tables in Mexico and Kenya, and many experiences in the kitchen of someone from the congregation. 

We truly believe that Christ is often present during our meal times. 

Take time today to share a meal with friends and while doing so realize that you are doing church. 

Encouragement

One of the interesting things about my ministry in Tyler was having eight or nine former Baptist pastors in that congregation. I tried to take them all out to lunch periodically, just to listen to their stories of ministry as well as to ask their opinions on how they perceived things going in that congregation. For the most part they were given to being positive members, wanting the church to succeed. But occasionally one or two of them would lapse into “Well, when I was preaching I would . . .” where they would give more than a full-blown description of their ministry methodology. I tried to file those comments away in my mind for the time when I would be a congregant in a church with another pastor as things I didn’t want to say! However, in this group of ministers there was a man who became a pastor to the pastor. His name was Ron Prince, and he had pastured several churches in northwestern Louisiana. He was bright, eloquent, humorous and flamboyant in the best sense of that word. In short, his name fit his character, because he was a “prince” of a guy. What endeared him to me was the fact that he was a “low maintenance” church member, one who did not demand or require a lot of attention; but one who was faithful in quiet, positive ways. Each Sunday he would come out the door where I was shaking hands with people who were leaving, lean over and pull me close, and say something specific and positive about the sermon I had just preached. He not only paid attention, but he paid a pastoral compliment. On several occasions I went to him for advice, and he was always thoughtful, reflective and wise. He made the pastor a better pastor. Why, if I could have, I would have nicknamed him, “Barnabas,” which means “son of encouragement”, because he was such an encourager to me and so many other people.

By the way, I have always been drawn to the biblical Barnabas, that leader in the early church whose magnanimous grace blessed so many people. His original name was Joseph, but he will always be remembered as Barnabas because of the way he looked for the best in people. He was, in fact, responsible for the rehabilitation of at least two of the early church leaders – John Mark and Paul – and who knows how many others. Paul gets most of the accolades in those beginning years of the church, but I think it was the quiet encouragement of Barnabas who went behind Paul, graciously interpreting Paul’s sometimes direct and pungent words, pulling people together, and constantly exuding a Christ-like spirit.

This Barnabas model, it seems to me, has always been a foundational way the church is built. People are pulled together by grace and for grace. Barnabas understood that in such positive ways. I think we would do well to do the same. Today, consider someone you know who could use a sincere word of encouragement for what they mean to God’s kingdom. Paul’s life and letters are testimony to the quiet encouragement he once received from a man called Barnabas.

College....

Prayer Walk on the LSU Campus

There were three moments that we carry with us from the journey to becoming co-pastors at University Baptist Church. They both involve feelings of immense possibility and potential. The first occurred during our first meeting with the pastor search team. We left that meeting and said in the car, "this church has a great future ahead." The second occurred when we walked into the Sanctuary for the first time. Our spouses were with us along with members of the pastor search team. All four of us left there and stated: "there is so much possibility in this place." The third moment occurred when we were on the LSU Campus. We all love a college town and have desired to work in a college setting. When we set foot on the LSU campus, we were overwhelmed with the possibility of all that could be done on this campus.

One might say these three moments were burning bush moments. If we had been listening closer, we might have heard the command to take off our shoes for we were standing on sacred ground.

The LSU campus is full of possibility for the University Baptist Church. There are students there who are beginning to ask really honest and serious questions about life and faith. It is our desire to be the pastors to those students. We want to walk beside them through these large questions and help them find the answer rooted in something much larger than self.

We both believe that today's college students are beginning to ask really wonderful questions of faith and life. The students in today's world truly desire to matter. It is our responsibility to help them find their meaning in a much greater story.

Today as you prayer walk part of the campus, pray that we can do just that. Pray that the students who will be walking where you walk today will encounter the congregation of University Baptist and allow us to lead them to a great story.

Tuesday: Tell Someone

The year was 1970, and I was in Dallas as one of Baylor’s student representatives to the Cotton Bowl. (Baylor always sent representatives to the Cotton Bowl, but up to that time, never a football team!) We were given rooms in the old Adolphus Hotel where it just so happened that the Campus Crusade for Christ organization was holding its annual meeting. With my schedule I was never able to attend one of their meetings, but as it turned out their meetings spilled over onto the rest of the hotel. What I mean by that is that every time I rode up or down in an elevator, every time I stuck my head in the coffee shop or convenience store in the hotel, someone proudly wearing their Campus Crusade for Christ nametag, would approach me and ask me if I knew the four spiritual laws of Christ. I would always smile and say, “Yes. I am a Christian. I go to Baylor, for goodness sake!” They would usually then go on to someone else. Over the few days I grew irritated at their intrusions into my life and became leery of every elevator trip or coffee shop excursion.

That experience, along with others such as evangelists preaching hellfire and brimstone sermons seeking to scare the hell out of me, or people showing up on my doorstep asking me if I were really saved, made me question evangelism during my young adult years. Perhaps that is what has happened with the church-at-large, and it could be the reason why so many mainline churches are in decline.

Years later I visited China and re-examined the life of the mother saint of all Baptist missionaries, Lottie Moon. In China I marveled at her ability to come and live alongside the Chinese, befriending them with her care and kindness, and then explaining why she had come. I had heard some of the same stories from the saintly old gentlemen, M.O. Cheek and Buford Nichols, who were some of the last missionaries in China before the Communists expelled them. On my visit to China I discovered that the models employed by Moon, Cheek, Nichols and others had taken hold. I met an old pastor by the name of Ming, who at that time was probably over ninety-years-old. He told me that he had preached through several revolutions, and in the last one he was taken from his home and family and placed on a commune where he was given instructions not to say one word about Jesus or Christianity. I remember Pastor Ming smiling a large, toothy grin when he said, “It was there that I did my best witnessing.” Seeing the question mark on my face he went on, “I couldn’t talk about Jesus; I just tried diligently to live like Jesus.” It must have worked, because the style of evangelism of Ming and other Chinese ministers birthed a Christian movement in China that is still sweeping that country today.

I am so taken with that model of evangelism, but it seems that I am constantly needing to remember one thing more about their ministries. That is, all of these folks were intentional about bringing Christ to people. While they did it in quiet, subtle ways, these men and women were diligent in thinking about effective ways to express God’s love. We in the 21st century church need the same kind of impetus.

One of the things Griff and I have noticed about University Baptist Church, and even on occasion have expressed, is that University Baptist is one of the best-kept secrets in Baton Rouge. I think a large part of that is derived from a thoughtfulness and sensitivity about imposing on people and from a wish to respect people’s privacies, and those are good and noble things. However, I can’t help but wonder whether Christ might be challenging us to become more intentional about sharing what we know to be true. I’m not talking here about going out and hammering people with the four spiritual laws, but rather praying for a holy boldness to look for and even create opportunities to have meaningful conversations about faith with people we know to be honestly searching.

Today, why don’t you set aside part of your prayer time to ask God to direct you to someone who is a sincere seeker. This could very well be someone you already know, but maybe it is someone you don’t. Whatever, ask God to give you wisdom, insight and creative courage to engage in a conversation about faith and University when the opportunity presents itself. This kind of evangelism doesn’t result in huge crowds, but it does build the church, one person at a time. I happen to think that is why Jesus said, “As you go. . .”

Monday: Youth Camp

Monday June 6: Pray for Youth Camp

Before coming to Sugar Land Baptist, I served three years as a youth pastor. This was my church training grounds, it was better than seminary, mentoring, or any ministry program I participated in. It was here as youth pastor I realized I wanted to become a pastor. A youth pastor truly is a pastor in every sense of the word, he or she lives every moment with a group of students, learns to relate to them in a most unique way, and shares life in a way that can only be described as pastoral. To be honest, I miss my youth ministry days a great deal. They were utmost formative in my pastoral calling.

Mike and I both believe that University Baptist Church has an excellent youth pastor in Mikeal Dasch. We have been extremely impressed with him. Additionally, we were were truly impressed with the youth of University Baptist Church. They were the first group to meet with us during our call weekend. They asked wonderful questions that showed a true desire for spiritual depth and participation in the church. We were so encouraged by this ministry. This is a church that understands youth ministry. 

Our youth are on their way to summer camp. Take a moment and think back to your experience of summer youth camp. Most of us have incredible memories of those weeks. Some of us began our spiritual journeys during a youth camp. Many of us had our relationships with God changed as a result of youth camp. 

Today we are asking you to choose one youth to pray for during the next week. Mikeal has sent an email with the names of the youth and sponsors for camp this week. Allow yourself to be drawn to one name and spend some time this week praying for them. 

Our youth are the future of this church, we must make sure that we are providing them the best tools we can to lead us into the next era.

Sunday: A Prayer for University

If this is not a place where tears are understood,
where can I go to cry?
If this is not a place where my spirit can take wing,
where can I go to fly?

I don’t need another place for trying to impress you
with just how good and virtuous I am.
I don’t need another place for always being on top of things,
ev’rybody knows that it’s a sham.
I don’t need another place for always wearing smiles,
even when it’s not the way I feel.
I don’t need another place to mouth the same old platitudes,
‘Cause you and I both know that it’s not real.

If this is not a place where my questions can be asked
where can I go to seek?
If this is not a place where my heart cries can be heard
where can I go to speak?

I don’t need another place for trying to impress you
with just how good and virtuous I am.
I don’t need another place for always being on top of things,
ev’rybody knows that it’s a sham.
I don’t need another place for always wearing smiles,
even when it’s not the way I feel.
I don’t need another place to mouth the same old platitudes,
‘Cause you and I both know that it’s not real.

If this is not a place where my spirit can take wing,
where can I go to fly

(If This Is Not A Place, Ken Medema)

Friday: Dinner with Friends

I wrote recently about doing my Uncle Val’s funeral service. In preparing for funerals I invariably learn things I hadn’t known before. Uncle Val was a distinguished World War II veteran, having received two purple hearts and the bronze medal. Following his tenure in the military he came home and became a rocket scientist, designing some of the rockets for the Apollo Project, which took men to the moon. In so many ways he could be considered an American success story for what he accomplished with his life.

Interestingly enough, although he had done quite well in the military and business, he and his wife chose to continue to live in a small three-bedroom house that they had purchased after getting married. That is pretty remarkable in this day and time where “bigger is better” is the common mantra. But even more amazing is that my aunt and uncle had seven children . . . that’s right – seven! Over the years I couldn’t help but ask how they negotiated the simple tasks of family life. For instance, how in the world did they all get ready to go to work and school with only one bathroom?!?  Tight, disciplined schedules they told me, usually with a snicker of laughter.

However, one thing I discovered just a couple of weeks ago was the family tradition of having dinner together on Saturday evenings. It was a command performance for all nine of them. All dates, activities and plans were postponed until after the meal was finished. Interestingly enough, this rule didn’t have to be enforced much. You see, the children all loved those times together and look back at those meals as holy times. Those times around the table were the setting where they all caught up with one another, where they laughed and cried together, where they recognized the joy of being family. It was so good that their friends often asked to be included, just to catch some of the spirit of it all.

Meals can do that, you know. I guess that is why so much that we learn of Jesus’ teaching comes from occasions around the table. He knew that the table could become an invitation to share what is good and rich and important with one another. Thus, His last evening before the crucifixion was spent where? At a table. And even after the resurrection, where does John locate Jesus’ final teachings with Simon Peter and the others? Around a breakfast table.

Here’s hoping you find yourself at a table today where the nourishment is spiritual as well as physical.

Thursday: Walk Outside

Today's task seems so minimal compared to some of the others this week, to simply take a walk in your neighborhood and clean up any mess that needs cleaning. We believe this task is of utmost importance.

We are both outside people. We walk while praying. We stroll while problem solving. We start our days with walks and runs. We spend time with our family on our porches and backyards. The streets and sidewalks around where we live provide a wonderful grace for us.

We don't think we are alone in these feelings.

One of the names you are going to hear time and time again from the pulpit is Wendell Berry. He writes poetry, essays, short stories, and novels. He would tell you he is a farmer, more importantly a local farmer. He has stayed on his land in Kentucky for decades now working the land and allowing the land to move him to his art of words.

Here is a poem from one of his more recent collections:

Breathe with unconditional breath
the unconditioned air.
Shun electric wire.
Communicate slowly. Live
a three-dimensional life;
stay away from screens.
Stay away from anything
that obscures the place it is in.
There are no unsacred places;
there are only sacred places
and desecrated places.

It is fairly obvious now that we have not done a great job taking care of our land. Simply walk around your neighborhood and observe the small liter near curbs and intersections.

This task seems so minimal, but it is not. Paying attention to the area where you live and cleaning up the mess is an essential Christian truth that works in every area of your life. Today we are asking all of us to do this on the street we live, but perhaps it might inspire you to do it a few more places as well.

Do Something Nice for Your Staff

By any standards it was an unusual friendship. He was the church organist; I was a sixteen-year-old high school student who lived on the margins of the church. He was at home in the world of Bach and Beethoven; I was at home in the world of basketball and baseball. He was the consummate dresser, always looking dapper with expensive ties and complementing handkerchiefs; I wore jeans and wrinkled polos. He was always appropriate; I enjoyed being a bit “off the wall.” He had a reverence in worship and life; I had an unmistakable irreverence about nearly everything except sports. And yet, we were friends.

I observed him early on from afar. I was in the youth choir, ostensibly to placate my mother. However, the truth was that I enjoyed the music and the fellowship I found there. I watched him as he patiently played through rehearsals; I watched him as he took direction from several different sources – the Minister of Music, all sorts of soloists, and, of course, the Pastor. I was amazed at his ability to make worship flow smoothly. Sometimes, he would merely catch a subtle nod of the head by the Pastor, who wanted to extend an invitation; sometimes it would be an unnoticeable glance by the Minister of Music to speed up or slow down, and sometimes he would cover a soloist’s gaffe in his/her singing by simply improvising a chord or two to get them back on pace and pitch.

Looking back, I find it strange that we became friends. It would have seemed that the last person in the world I would have wanted to be associated with would have been the church organist. I ran in a pretty fast crowd, known for its rough and tumble nature, always a bit too bawdy, and most certainly conscious about fitting in with the rugged independence of West Texas. And yet, he became my minister. I tested him early on, sharing with him some raw descriptions of life in high school. He didn’t blanche at some of my statements, nor was he judgmental. He just listened. I had to push him for his thoughts. And when he shared them, he had a sensitive wisdom that allowed me to consider his ideas on my own. Over the final years of high school I found myself going to him on a regular basis for insights and guidance. He was, in essence, my pastor.

Over the years I have observed how different people are drawn to different ministers on a church staff. Some gravitate toward the Pastor, but some are drawn to other ministers. I have always thought that to be a gift of genius from our magnanimous God. Different personality types require special attention and spiritual guidance. Isn’t it good to know that one person doesn’t have to be all things to all people?

My initial encounters with our UBC church staff have been good ones. Each member of our ministerial team has unique spiritual gifts and a winsome personality. I am quite taken by their sense of calling in wanting to flesh out the character inherent in a Christian community. However, my hunch is that we often take our staff for granted, simply nodding our approvals at their work and worship. Let me offer you a gift. Take some time today and pray for a person on staff. Better yet, go out of your way to do something nice for her/him. It will make a world of difference. Most good ministers I know will tell you that one little “atta-boy” or “atta-girl” can fuel a week of ministry with grace. And here’s the gift: your small act of kindness will be multiplied on staff to dozens of acts of grace, the kind of grace that is truly amazing.