Uncommon Reading, Writing and Arithmetic!

Here in Jefferson County, students are returning to the classroom this morning, summer break is over. I remember when I was in parochial school back in the 1970’s, our summer break began before Memorial Day and carried through the summer until after Labor Day. Summers were incredible and gave birth to some of the greatest memories of my life.

Those were much different times.

Michele and I have the privilege of being friends with many educators and school administrators. Our son-in-law has been a teacher at Woodford County High for the past two years, he is our favorite teacher!! Our three children were educated in JCPS schools, and we were involved in the PTA, volunteering and extracurricular activities, and I served on the SBDM Board for two years as President at our children’s elementary school. (For those not familiar; SBDM is a Site Based Decision Making Board in each school.)

In many regards, teaching is not what it used to be.

When I was in school, we revered our teachers. I went to Catholic School and we had several nuns who taught in the classroom, so not only did I have the practical respect for their authority, but there was a “holy” respect as well. If you got into trouble in school I had to face both my earthly father AND my heavenly father. It was double jeopardy! But, that is partially the reason why I am who I am today.

However, many teachers are having to “raise” students in the classroom. Parents are not as involved and connected as they used to be, especially once students reach middle and high school. Teachers serve as educators, counselors, doctors, friends, confidants and cheerleaders. One teacher who has been in the classroom for twenty-six years recently told me, it is not reading, writing and arithmetic anymore. I am not judging anyone, just stating a sad and unfair fact.

Our teachers deserve our respect and support. Not only are they teaching our students, many are students themselves, and most are underpaid for the job they do.

Parents, I want to challenge you to be more involved with your student’s education this year. Help with homework, check their work, hold them accountable for grades, volunteer at their school, get involved, and support their teachers. It will go a long, long way in the education process of your child.

At Life Church Louisville, we have “adopted” a neighborhood school and are doing several things this year to show teachers our appreciation and support;

One, is we have provided grant money to newer teachers to help them get their classroom “class-ready.” Many new teachers are carrying student loans and are near the bottom of the JCPS pay scale. Getting a classroom ready can cost hundreds of dollars, and we want to be a part of that.

Second, we are going to volunteer wherever we can whether in the classroom, lunch room or outdoors pulling weeds.

Third, we are going to show appreciation for our teachers in practical ways throughout the year. This morning we are sending breakfast to our school for all teachers and staff.

Lastly, we are going to pray everyday for our teachers and students, for success and safety.

I am reminded of a well known verse of scripture that encourages us to “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” -Proverbs 22:6

Have a great school year!

TO INFINITY AND…just to the corner.

Have you been listening to the news the past 24 hours?

Some extraordinary things have taken place. The problem is, I believe we may have missed it.

NASA says it has received a signal from 540 million miles across the solar system, confirming its Juno spacecraft has successfully started orbiting Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system. Juno was launched nearly five years ago on a mission to study Jupiter’s composition and evolution. It’s the first spacecraft to orbit Jupiter since Galileo.

Betcha missed that little news-nugget.

Why?

Because we are too distracted by other news such as Clinton, Trump, politics, FBI, floods, Brexit, Isis, vacation traffic, how late our neighbors are shooting fireworks…BTW, there was enough firepower blown into the air this weekend in Prairie Village to knock Isis back to the Stone Age.

Nevertheless, Earth reaching Jupiter is huge news. Huge! But we fail to recognize the intelligence, engineering, planning and human-power it took to pull this incredible, near miraculous feat off. Sad.

Can I make a parallel?

Too often we miss what is taking place above us because we are so consumed on what it taking place around us.

God is ultimately in control. If we pay close enough attention, and spend more time tuning into him, we would see his power and magnificent wonders acting on our behalf here on earth.

We woke up this morning! That is God.
We are breathing oxygen this morning! That is God.
My heart is beating, involuntarily, 70 BPM! That is God.
Today, babies will be conceived and many born! That is God.
Today, a single mother will provide for her children. That is God.
This evening, a homeless man will be fed. That is God.
Today, a miracle will take place in someone’s life. That is God.

Too bad we have such the wrong perspective today and we miss all God is doing, and is equipping man to do in our world and in our universe. Oh, and because we miss all God is doing, we fail to give him the worship he deserves because we fail see his magnificence.

Today, I chose to place my focus on what God is doing and is able to do, and trust he can take care of all that we are doing.

It’s all about perspective.

NIP IT IN THE BUD

One of my favorite TV shows is The Andy Griffith Show. How can you not like Andy Taylor, Barney Fife, Opie and Aunt Bee? Who wouldn’t want to live in a town like Mayberry, North Carolina?

Like most, I enjoy the contrast in styles between Andy and Barney. Barney is often portrayed as the hard-charging, uptight, “nip it in the bud” kinda police officer, while Andy is far more kind, methodical and relaxed.

Within the context of the show, Andy’s methods always prove to be more effective, and leaves viewers enriched from a lesson learned.

Great show. We need more like them.

Some of the “Religious Police” showed up at Life Church Louisville this past Sunday morning with their “guns drawn.” They were not looking for a new place to worship, they were there to check-out our theology, and looking for evidence that we are soft on sin. I welcomed them, fully-knowing who they were.

Their visit stemmed from a Facebook post a woman made searching for a church in our community who didn’t make it a practice of bashing sinners. Roughly one quarter of those who responded encouraged her to attend Life Church. (Interestingly, several of those referring her to our church have never attended a service at our church, but had heard so many good things about us they felt compelled to mention us.)

These people came thinking, if so many people were pointing others to us, then we must be preaching a greasy-grace, live life how ever you want, all people go to heaven kind of soft-gospel.

I believe our guests became hopeful when they entered the sanctuary because of the crucifix on the stage, perhaps we would nail someone to it after the offering. I am sure they were disappointed when I reminded the church that had already been done 2000 years ago, and there was no need to do that today.

I will admit, I was a little distracted throughout the service by their presence. I saw them exit the auditorium when I prayed to conclude my message.

At Life Church, we make it a practice to give people a lot of grace. We understand people struggle in learning how to walk with Jesus. There are days when I struggle! The day you believe you have become a pro at walking with Jesus is also the day you can become a religious, Barney Fife.

Recently, these men have thrown bible verse, after bible verse at me trying to shoot down my approach to pastoring, trying to show me how wrong I am, that I need to publicly repent and begin to confront sin more publicly and swiftly, especially on Facebook.

My personal devotion on Sunday morning was from Galatians 6:1 were I was reminded “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any sin, you who are spiritual [that is, you who are responsive to the guidance of the Spirit] are to restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness [not with a sense of superiority or self-righteousness], keeping a watchful eye on yourself, so that you are not tempted as well.” How appropriate!

I believe God used that verse to encourage me and I carried that verse with me into the auditorium as I entered, somewhat late to the service. It was a good morning, despite the distraction.

Late Sunday night, Michele Brent Bissig shared a thought with me. Too many of us use the Word of God as a weapon, instead of a tool.

When we are dealing with our spouse, our children, our family, our neighbors, or others, the bible is a tool to bring healing, hope, comfort, guidance and wisdom.

The Word of God was only meant as a weapon when we deal with our real enemy, Satan.

People are not your enemy, Satan is and he is already defeated.

Wow! How true is that?

I went to bed encouraged. But before I drifted off to sleep, I whispered a prayer for the dear lady searching for a church home, and for those who came to confront me.

Thanking God for his kindness, his patience and his much needed grace. Grateful God is more like Sheriff Andy Taylor, than Barney Fife.

CASTING OUT THE DISORDER-DEVILS

I am a person who has a strong dislike for disorder.
Disorder often leads to chaos, and I find chaos is one tool the devil uses to try to destroy us. If you recall, I wrote about that one day last week.
So how can I battle disorder? It is a relative question, but I wholeheartedly believe in a few, simple steps. Today, we will discuss our morning-prep, which if applied, will really set the tone for the rest of our day. I firmly believe the first two hours of my day are critical for the days success.
One, begin tomorrow the night before. Get in bed at a decent hour each night. Be sure you have what you are wearing to work, your assignments or lunch prepared. This will eliminate being hurried, and set you out the door in a forward-motion posture, rather than trying to catch-up and becoming frazzled during those critical, first two hours of the day.
Two, because you have gotten into bed early the night before, you can get up earlier in the day. Here is a thought; the snooze button is not your friend, it pushes you 10 minutes behind each time you hit it. On Sunday, someone shared with me they placed their alarm clock in their bathroom, ensuring they got out of bed to turn off the alarm. Not a bad idea.
Three, eat something healthy both physically and spiritually. We all know a balanced breakfast is good, but eating spiritually prepares our soul for the day’s events and challenges. It reminds me God is with me, for me and empowers me. According to Philippians 4:13 “I am able do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” That thought alone can keep me powered most all day. I also take time to ask God to direct my steps throughout the day.
There you go. Three, very simple, morning routines that will set my day on the right course. I am prepared, I am sharp, and I am equipped to win the day. Of course this does not mean I will have a disorder-free day, but this puts me way ahead of the curve.
Then I am living, breathing example of order, and the devil has little room to bring chaos into my life.
Happy Thursday, everyone!

Breaking Bad II

Last week I stopped by a hardware store to pick up a few things and couldn’t help but notice a child throwing the “mother of all” temper-tantrums.

This was professional-level; screaming, wailing, hitting and kicking things-including the parents, cart, display and shelves. Shoppers looked on in horror. The parents ignored the situation, and only yelled at the child (at one point) in an effort to reign him in.

Fortunately, the next item on my list took me to the other side of the store. I soon checked-out and allowed my mind and focus to move on from the scene, until I reached the parking lot.

Walking out of the store, towards my truck, there was the child pouring part of a Mountain Dew on a new riding mower, parked on display. Parents? They were fighting with each other like there was no tomorrow. Arms flailing, words piercing eardrums, and hateful glares, hot enough to melt steel. I observed the woman shove the cart toward the man, hitting him as she turned to walk toward a fast food restaurant, next door.

Soaking in the entire scene, I believe the child’s behavior on display was acquired, as probably was his parents. It is a chronic pattern throughout society, and comes in many forms.

While I will give the child a little more grace, I have a much more difficult time offering the same grace to two, grown adults. His displayed behavior was the model taught to him, probably by those two adults.

Heartbreaking.

Nevertheless, even though our environment maybe whacked, we have been given the power “choice.”

Proverbs 25:28 tells us “Whoever has no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down, without walls.” (No boundaries)

At some point we have to take ownership and responsibility for our attitudes, behavior, habits and lifestyle, regardless of the environment we are placed.

If you can’t control your spending, you may find yourself bankrupt.

If you can’t control your attitudes, you may find yourself without friends or promotion.

If you can’t control your habits, you may find yourself in prison, or worse.

If you can’t control your diet, you may find yourself picking up weight, or developing health issues.

The bottom line…you have to make the choice to change… and remember, in the battle for self-control, the enemy is always YOU.

TRUTH DELIVERY

I wanted to post something today, from a different perspective than from what I posted yesterday. I’m not backing down from what I wrote, just broadening it a bit.

Our neighborhood has a wonderful mail lady. Barbara is as sweet as a person can be. Frequently, she takes the time to speak and often asks about the family, even though she has a lot of ground to cover. She delivers the neighborhood mail with care, excellence and efficiency. If I am outdoors and hear her approaching, I enjoy meeting her at the mailbox, collecting my mail in person.

Our family has lived in our current home for nearly seventeen years and Barbara has been our mail lady for as long as I can remember. We appreciate her and consider her a neighborhood icon.

Before we bought our current house, we lived just a few streets over, which had a different mailman on our route. Unfortunately, he was the exact opposite of Barbara. He was snarky, impatient and appeared very unhappy with his job. One afternoon, I tried making brief conversation and he would have nothing of it. He glared at me, closed my mailbox and drove to the next house.

We never became friends and that is fine, I guess, but one thing I cannot argue with is the fact that he delivered the mail.

Regardless of his personality, the phone bill was still the phone bill. Regardless of his attitude, the power bill was the power bill.
Regardless of his lifestyle, the water bill was still the water bill.

Regardless of who delivered the mail, it never changed the contents of what was inside each envelope.

Friends, we may not care for the package in which truth comes to us, but that doesn’t change the fact that it is truth.

Each year as my birthday approached, I looked forward with anticipation to receiving greeting cards in the mail from family and friends. Even though my mailman had an abrasive personality, I still looked forward to the cards. When they arrived, I didn’t ignore the cards because of a mean mailman. No, often I met him at the mailbox and would open the cards before I returned to the house.

The mail is the mail, regardless of who delivers it or how it reaches my mailbox. If I choose to ignore the mail, I just may have my power, water, phone or cable. shut off.

Truth is truth, regardless of who delivers it. If I choose to ignore it, I may find myself lost and adrift in a world of hurt and chaos.

CLEAN HANDS, PURE HEARTS AND DIRTY MINDS

“When gay marriage is brought up, Christians that smoke, drink, curse and have premarital sex are suddenly concerned with what the bible allows.”

Someone made that post this morning and it has burned in my heart all morning. When that happens I usually spend time praying and asking God for wisdom on how to process it and apply it, first in my life and then in the lives of others.

Kentucky has been a hot-bed of attention lately, and it makes me feel ill-at-ease. Primarily because of the things I have read or heard “church-people” post or say. Notice I didn’t use the word Christian, because I believe there can be a difference…a huge difference. 

Just for the record, I firmly believe, support and teach marriage is between a man and a woman. That is not up for debate in this post, please respect that. However, I love, accept, serve and care for all regardless of lifestyle, ethnicity or orientation. All who know my family can attest to that.

My thought this morning, in relation to the picture below, and the bible verse I posted, has to do with our witness to our neighbors and the world. What does our community see when they see Patrick and Michele Brent Bissig? What does our community see when they see or hear of Life Church Louisville, or the Louisville Dream Center? What do they see when they see you? I pray they see people with clean hands and pure hearts. If not, may we stay near the altar on our knees a while longer, before we take the streets.

1 Peter 2:12 Live such good lives [live properly, conduct yourself honorably, with graciousness and integrity], among the unbelievers that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds [honorable behavior] and glorify God on the day he visits us [when He looks upon them with mercy].

ADDING-IN TAKES AWAY

When Michele and I were dating way back in the late eighties, one of our favorite places to go was White Mountain Creamery, a small ice cream shop in the Highlands here in Louisville. They had the best local-made ice cream and I can almost guarantee we ate our weight in it multiple times over.

What made it so unique? For starters all of the ice cram was made on site, with fresh ingredients. The product they served was more than likely made the night before. Additionally, WMC was one of the first places to offer what they called “add-ins” to your order. Not toppings, but “add-ins!” Whatever flavor you ordered came with the option to add-in crushed Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, Oreo or chocolate chip cookies, fresh fruit…the list was virtually endless.

The server would place your ice cream order on a platter, flatten it with a large scoop, and add-in what ever you wanted, according to your taste. The server would then serve it up in a bowl or waffle cone. It. Was. Awesome!

One thing I learned during one of our visits was that all of the many flavors of ice cream made began as one flavor; vanilla. Whether chocolate, butter pecan, strawberry, rocky road, they all began as vanilla and were renamed after the new flavors or ingredients were added. Made sense to me.

Yesterday, at Life Church Louisville we talked about how often we include our own “add-in’s” to God’s Word, the message of the gospel, our worship, our ministry and our serving others…to suit our taste and our lifestyles.

We actually create our own little version of Jesus, just to suit us. It’s nothing new, actually it’s the original sin.

Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” 2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’” 4 “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. (ADD-IN ALERT) 5 “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

In this scripture we learn how the satan took original truth, in a perfect environment, and “added-in” his own lie, his own flavor, to suit his taste and purpose. He promised Eve “her eyes would be opened” and “she would be like God.” What a temptation. What a lie! What an add-in!

What was complete and perfect, was made imperfect because they decided to add-in something, to fulfill what they wanted.

Friends, we are all guilty of doing the same with Jesus. We add-in to him to, creating the Jesus that will suit our lives and how we want to live. We also take scripture and add-in to it, to create a gospel that will accommodate us, our lifestyle and our selfish choices.

But, think about this; once you take pure, vanilla ice cream and add-in something to it, it is no longer pure, vanilla. It becomes something else.

Once you being with something and add to it, it is no longer what you began with…it is no longer genuine.

If you and I add-in anything to Jesus, it is no longer Jesus that we are left with.
If you and I add-in anything to the gospel, it it no longer the gospel, but something else.

I have to question myself as a christian leader, what have I been serving to others? Is it pure, genuine Jesus, or just some cool, powerful, loving guy I have made up?

You have to question yourself as well. What Jesus have you created? What Jesus do you follow? Is he the real-deal…or one with a bunch of add-ins, to suit your taste?
Adding things to your ice cream is great! Do it!

Adding things to Jesus is not. I suggest we get back to the original. Our community needs him!

PLAYING THE BLAME GAME

CNN’s Anderson Cooper caught our attention tonight with his reporting of Harrison Ford’s plane crash on a golf course in California. Eventually the story moved to a phone interview with Janette Wilson, a woman who is traveling and stuck in the snow, along with Jessie Jackson’s wife, on I-65 south. This was the second time I have heard this story today.

In her comments, she blamed the state of Kentucky for motorist being trapped on I-65 for 12 plus hours. She went as far as to single out (actually called-out) our governor; Steve Beshear, National Guard and emergency responders for not coming by and checking on them, offering gas and flying helicopters overhead to check on those trapped.

Really? What does she think the words “WINTER STORM WARNING” or “State of Emergency” mean? I would assume her driver ignored the Trimarc signs along I-65 which warned motorist of dangerous travel conditions and heavy snow…or am I confused?

Should every problem that we find ourselves in always be someone else’s fault? I am taken aback by the arrogance, for painting our leaders as incompetent and unprepared. They are doing the best they can, especially given the extreme nature of this weather event.

That is my rant for tonight…

FAITHLESS INVESTING

Good Wednesday morning, everyone. I hope all are well and warm this cold February morning.

I wanted to share a few thoughts today, as well as ask a very direct question. But first…

Michele and I have been going to the gym since the beginning of the year and finally I am seeing some results. Stamina is up, heart rate is strong, I am down a couple of pant sizes, blood pressure is lower and I am sleeping better. My workouts have become quicker, heavier and more focused. It feels great adding additional weight to a barbell because your body has reached that level, even if it is only 20 pounds.

Back to the gym in a moment.

In 2002 my pastor and friend; Kevin Hamm, invited me to breakfast. We sat at the table and nearing the end of our meal he put down his fork, folded his hands, cleared his throat and asked a direct question.

His question? “If you could do anything, and not fail, what would it be?” My answer was simply to pastor a church. He followed up my answer with a haunting statement; “If you don’t, then you are a faithless coward!”

I was stunned. It was as if someone had poured hot water over my head.

But, he was right.

Being a pastor and helping people had been my hearts desire for most of my life, and at that time I had been sitting at Valley View for nearly two years, doing nothing. I was observing and taking a lot in, but was comfortable just doing that. We had been in ministry since 1988 and had kinda burned out. So, I sat and frankly, I was enjoying not being involved.

In Matthew 25:14-30, Jesus was teaching on the parable of the wealthy man who was going on a journey. He entrusts his three servants with bags of gold and expects a good return when he returns, each according to his abilities. Two men went out and put the money to work and made a nice return for their investment, but the third man buried his bag of gold, returning what had been entrusted to him to his master, with no gain. When the wealthy man returned, he reward the two men who had used the money wisely and punished the man who didn’t.

I knew I was wasting my gifts and abilities, and even had great rational as to why I was not involved. Pastor Kevin recognized God’s plan for my life and began encouraging me to follow it.

The rest is history.

Last night while at the gym, a group of four young men came in. They were fit and muscular, but only one of them began working out. The other three were just checking the scene and watching the UK game. They were very polite and not in the way, they were just there. Occasionally I would hear them laugh, but that was it. Eventually, the young man who was lifting, began trying to motivate his friends to “get busy.” They just ignored him.

They hung out for less than an hour and then left. Never once picking up a weight. Never once tossing out any encouragement to their friend who was working hard. Never once applying their abilities. They were just there, sucking oxygen.

For a while, that was the story of my life. I’m here…but just observing and never applying.

Today, I am working overtime trying to get back in physical shape. At times it is painful.

Today, I am also doing all I can to walk in and maximize the gifts the Lord has trusted me with.

God has assured me that He is with me, for me and will guide me in the tasks that He has entrusted me with. The same promise goes for you, too. God is with you and God will guide you!

So now I ask you this question: If you could do anything and not fail, what would it be?

If you don’t, then you just might be a faithless coward!