A Soccerdad’s Love

I have been blessed with a position at Liberty National. I am still trying to develop a new routine in order to maximize my time.

I have not been blogging as of late; yet, I remain focused on becoming the best man that I can be. I am thankful for my quiet time. God has continued to use Max Lucado’s book, 3:16. . . The Numbers of Hope in my life. My hope is to resume sharing the different thoughts God places on my heart as a I read and meditate through that book.

Thursday, March 9, 2008 The Great Conversation: The Great Purpose Behind God’s Great Love

The last few days have been rather intense. I have applied with positions with Liberty National Insurance Co and with National Agents Alliance. The issue of the bar and bankruptcy surfaced with Liberty. I have submitted the background information requested and now must wait and trust God on the outcome.

This morning I reflected on John 3:16 from the perspective that God’s overall arching purpose in sending His Son was to ensure that no one would perish but instead that each person would have the opportunity of eternal life. One thinks again about how those words were received by the gentlemen in the room that night. One begins to get a fresh perspective on the opening dialogue where Jesus told Nicodemus that one must be born again.

Jesus has clearly shared a fresh perspective on a meaningful life with God. It involves embracing that God loved the world in such a way that He gave His Son, and that this relationship God was pursuing is open to whosoever, to anyone.. and the Great Purpose was that individuals have a chance at eternal life with God.

Yep, the God who created the world in seven (7) days, who parted the Red Sea for Moses and the people of Israel, who allowed a shepherd boy named David to lead His people, who used the story of Job to teach about His sovereignty, who gave the story of Jonah and the whale, decided to give you and me the opportunity of eternal life with Him… not eternal life in the abstract, or a place simply to go to avoid hell.. but eternal life with Him.

Yes, that thought must have indeed been gripping on the hearts of those present that nite — God did all this to give me an opportunity at eternal life with Him. That is indeed very humbling.

Tuesday, January 29, 2007 : Jesus Sheds Light on the Comments of Nicodemus: One Condition

Max Lucado’s book, 3:16 . . The Numbers of Hope, puts the popular verse, John 3:16, into proper focus. The verse of course arises out of the conversation between Nicodemus and Jesus. Nicodemus has just indicated why he risked his personal reputation and status by coming to Christ at nite. He had just verbally expressed a position that was out of sync with that of his fellow Pharisees. Simply put, he had acknowledged that Jesus was a “teacher from God” and that God was “with him” (Jesus) (John 3:2).

It is not clear whether Nicodemus sought a similar affirmation from Jesus, … or sought to establish himself as different from his fellow Pharisees and wanted Jesus to know that he recognized and respected Jesus as a man of God.

Jesus does articulate what was required to see the kingdom of God. I like the phrase used by Billy Graham in the title of one of his books, “Peace with God”. The Response of Jesus was to clearly and simply communicate what was required to be at peace at God, “Unless one is born again, one cannot see the kingdom of God”. (John 3:3) There are conditions and requirements before one can be at peace with God.

The articulation of the condition to be at peace with God is an issue we all must address. Each person present must have also wondered what was required to be at peace of God.

Certainly, Nicodemus, as a public teacher of spiritual matters, had developed ideas on what was required to be at peace with God. Jesus does not mention that there are many possible ways or many vehicles for one to achieve peace with God and see the kingdom of heaven. He also does not mention any particular effort or code of conduct… good or bad each man must pursue. Instead, he mentions the spiritual act of “being born again.”

One can ponder long and hard on the words of Christ. This is the context of the Great Conversation where Jesus says the words of John 3:16, ” “For God so Loved the World, that He gave His one and only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him, should not perish, but shall have everlasting life.” (John 3:16).

Saturday, January 26, 2007 - A Final Word on a Great Inquiry from a Good Man

It has been nice to return to my quiet time this morning. It is funny that sometimes, I feel I do not have ten (10) minutes to spare for a short devotional. And then there are times when I realize how much I missed thinking about spiritual matters; and amazed at how much that feeds the inner soul.

This morning, I read about the initial response of Jesus to the opening statement of Nicodemus to begin, what has turned out to be, one of the great conversations in history. The response of Jesus at John 3:3 is itself filled with meaning: “Unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God”. Yet, as conversations go between people there is often a delay or a pause between one speaker and the next. That is particularly true when men are carefully choosing their words and each thought is an expression of the heart.

Of course, that was true when this Great Conversation between Nicodemus and Jesus began to unfold. When Nicodemus had finished saying, ‘no one can do the signs that you do unless God is with him” (John 3:3), there was naturally a pause and a brief moment of silence. To those present in the room that nite, it must have been a moment filled with inner reflection.

Nicodemus was a respected leader. He was a leader in a religious group, the Pharisees. He was known to be a man of character and integrity. In short, he was known to be a man who led a life that tried to mirror what he taught in the synagogues. The role that Nicodemus played in the public life of his day was to teach and lead others in spiritual matters. Nicodemus taught others what the Scriptures said and tried to follow those teachings himself. Nicodemus was a good man.

That fact is what makes the opening words from Nicodemus so meaningful. This good man, who sought to follow the teachings of scripture, had publicly acknowledged before others that God was with this man from Nazareth, one who was born in a manager, and who did not have the formal learning or training in scripture like him and his fellow Pharisees. Nicodemus clearly wanted to know more about Jesus and why God was ‘with him’.

All present in the room that nite understood that Nicodemus was inquiring about this relationship with God that Jesus possessed. This was indeed a great inquiry. Though Nicodemus could stand on his record of being a good man, Nicodemus clearly sensed there was something about the relationship with God that was different with Jesus… and that indeed, God was ‘with him”.

The Great Conversation was now underway. It begins with a inquiry into the relationship that Jesus had with God…. a relationship perhaps that Nicodemus also wanted for his own life. It was in this context that the conversation would end with the now famous words, “For God so Loved the World, that He gave His one and only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him, should not perish, but shall have everlasting life.” (John 3:16).

My hope is that you guys.. Jonah, Josh & Joel.. would be be men of character and integrity. Good men. I also hope that you will make inquiries like Nicodemus into the relationship that Jesus had with God and covet that for your own life as well.

Dad

Thursday, January 24, 2007

The words that Nicodemus initially shared that nite were rather striking. In a moment that was filled with obvious tension and interest, Niocodemus shares comments that tell every person present that his view of Christ was quite different than those held by his fellow Pharisees, the group that would one day recommend and support the crucifixion of Christ.

Nicodemus makes two initial comments, captured by scripture, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God; for no one can do the signs that you do unless God is with him.” (John 3:2 KJV)

Under the circumstances, the comments of Nicodemus were very profound. He openly put aside the sentiments of his fellow Pharisees. He also openly expressed his heart’s belief that “God was with this man called Jesus”. It is clear that this public figure and ruler of the Pharisees was embracing the concept of a living God, and that this God was working thru this man called Christ.

Nicodemus acknowledged that no one could do the signs that Jesus was doing unless God was with him. Nicodemus clearly wanted to know more, and understand more, about the spiritual dimension of Christ. My hope is that the boys.. Jonah, Josh & Joel… will have similar heart-to-heart conversations with God, and with those people they meet whose lives reflect a genuine commitment to Christ.

This initial sentence from Nicodemus set the tone of the meeting that nite. Every person present now knew that Nicodemus was not there on behalf of his fellow Pharisees to make threats, challenge Jesus or anything along those lines. Nicodemus was there for his own spiritual needs. As a leader in those times, of a group not popular with Christ, Nicodemus was humbly acknowledging that the current sentiment of the day that the Pharisees and religious leaders alone had a special relationship with God simply was not true.

The conversation between Nicodemus and Jesus had begun. It would end with a comment from Christ that would mmarize how a man finds God. “For God so Loved the World, that He gave His one and only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him, should not perish, but shall have everlasting life.” (John 3:16).
Dad

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Sunday, January 20, 2008

This morning was a time to think about the first words shared between Nicodemus and Jesus. The first words of any conversation are important.. the tone, inflection of the voice and body language are all communicators. Lucado’s book, 3:16. . . The Numbers of Hope, causes one to think about this.

We also have the advantage of history. We understand that the religious group in which Nicodemus was a leader was called the Pharisees. The Pharisees would later play a pivotal role in Jesus being crucified.
The Pharisees took issue with several things Jesus said and did. Jesus referred to himself as the son of God. The Pharisees took issue b/c of the implied statement that Jesus is God. Jesus said ‘if you have seen me you have seen the Father’. The Pharisees took issue. Jesus told individuals that their sins were forgiven. The Pharisees believed (rightly so) that only God could forgive sins. Jesus healed on the Sabbath.. Another issue.

So, you can see that the initial words from a respected ruler of the Pharisees would carry great meaning to everyone in the house that nite. The initial words of Nicodemus reflected his own personal conviction from taking a good hard look at the life of Christ and how the lives of those who were following the teachings of Christ had changed.

In fact, the words of Nicodemus reflect a great conviction… that was different from the general sentiments of the Pharisees. Nicodemus says quite simply and humbly, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him” (John 3:2 NKJV).

Every word shared by Nicodemus reflects his own great convictions and great respect for this man called Jesus . . and represent a great departure from the general beliefs of his fellow Pharisees. Nicodemus, begins with calling Jesus, Rabbi. . . a term used with to describe men whose role is to teach us about God, God’s ways and God’s expectations. Not a single challenge with Christ referring to himself as the Son of God, or telling folks their sins were forgiven, or healing on the Sabbath.

That one word, Rabbi, communicated ‘great respect’ for Jesus. It came from a man who was trained in the scriptures and deeply respected as a public figure. This was Nicodemus’ way of humbling himself before Jesus.. and it was immediately recognized by everyone present. The custom was to look to a man like Nicodemus for direction and guidance.
In the circles in which Nicodemus traveled, Nicodemus was the Rabbi. Instead, Nicodemus, with one word, communicated that he respected who Jesus was and that the spiritual values Jesus possessed and taught were making a difference in the lives of men.

My hope for you guys.. Jonah, Josh & Joel,… is that you will have a similar respect for Jesus. My hope is that you will be men of great conviction and that like Nicodemus will have the courage to weigh spiritual issues on your own, regardless of what those around you say and do. Nicodemus, was quite right.. Jesus in the great Rabbi, who teaches us about who God is, about God’s ways and how we can have a relationship with God.

Hopefully, you will reflect in the years to come that the verse so often mentioned, John 3:16, was mentioned in the context of a conversation between a respected religious leader named Nicodemus who sought out Jesus for a private conversation about spiritual matters. I hope you go directly to Jesus the way Nicodemus did to get a first hand grasp and your own great convictions. Nicodemus correctly referred to Jesus as Rabbi, one who teaches us about who God is, about God’s ways and how we can have a relationship with God.

The Great Conversation begins with a Great Conviction… Rabbi . . . and eventually ends with the verse that is recognized as one of the most significant expressions of the Christian faith, “For God so Loved the World, that He gave His one and only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him, should not perish, but shall have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

Dad

Friday, January 18, 2008 - “The Great Conversation… Great Men Have Great Qualities”

I could never express enough how much I enjoyed Jonah, Josh & Joel over the Xmas break. For these special times together, I am incredibly grateful to the Lord.

Yesterday, we all went to the ‘Golden Corral’ together for breakfast. My heart was filled with joy watching all three guys in line together, one behind the other, and the jostling back and forth between them taking place. I cannot remember when I have last seen them side by side. For the first time, I really appreciated Joel’s size and growth… and it made me think of the days when Joel was much smaller and younger than his brothers. Now, he is just as tall as Jonah and a tad taller than Josh.

We also had Josh’s girlfriend, Mary Nicholson, with us. She and Josh appeared so relaxed together. It was nice to have Mary with us.

Josh returned to the Univ of So Carolina yesterday (Sat) so this was a nice time together. It made me realize that I hope the boys can spend the summer together in Nashville playing soccer with the Metros and the PDL team. Joel’s personality and inner joy really come out when he is around his brothers. It is clear that the boys have a great love for one another.. and for that I am very thankful.

My hope is that Joel and I can spend more time together this spring, now that his club soccer team’s season is over for the fall. Hopefully, we can eat together more, go to a few movies together and just enjoy each other’s company. Jonah and Josh have both matured. Jonah will never realize how much I appreciate the leadership he shows and the time he takes to spend with Josh and Joel.

I also enjoyed sharing with him about the freebie industry and learning to make money online. My hope is to teach each of the boys that they can earn pocket money by spending 30 minutes a day reviewing emails and ads at a website like the Marketing Pond which has brought some of the top ‘get paid to read’ sites together under one roof.

God has used Max Lucado’s book, 3:16 Words of Hope in my life lately. I gave Jonah, Josh & Joel a separate copy of the book. One of my hopes with my remaining years is to share my quiet time thoughts with them so they can appreciate the thoughts and sentiments God places on one’s heart during a time of reading the Bible and devotional books like 3:16.

Sundays have become a day to relax and reflect on the issues of life that God has brought my way. I have learned to appreciate more and more, the value of a ‘day of rest’ to refresh and rejuvenate the spirit. I look forward to exercising outside today and enjoying the fresh clean air.

Dad