The story is told that Fridtjof Nansen, the great Norwegian explorer (and Nobel Peace Prize recipient), went north to fathom the depths of theArctic Ocean.  After he found the place he was going to test the depths, he lowered his first line.  It didn’t reach bottom.  In his log book he wrote, “Deeper than that.” 

The next morning he dropped his second line.  It didn’t touch bottom either.  In his log book he wrote, “Deeper than that.”  He continued with all of his lines and he couldn’t find a line that would touch the bottom of this vast ocean.  After each attempt he would write in his log book, “Deeper than that.” 

Finally, he decided that he would tie all the lines together and attempt to plumb the depths of this ocean.  When he had tied them and let them all drop, they still didn’t reach the bottom.  He wrote in his log book, “EVEN DEEPER THAN THAT!” 

The full reality of God’s majestic presence among us is deeper and grander than we can even imagine.  In tonight’s UPLIFT service, we’ll touch on Moses’ request (Exodus 33) for God to “show me your glory” – a request that God partially and graciously granted.

Do you want to experience more of God?  Does God need to become real to you again? Have you been drawing near to God?  Is He important to you?

The good news of the gospel is we don’t have to pretend or be defensive.  We are loved by a great and gracious God who promises that when we “draw near to Him He will draw near to us.”    

A season of renewal cannot be manufactured – there’s no magic pill or kit to buy.  We cannot manipulate the move of God but we can set our sails to catch the blowing wind of the Holy Spirit.  Are you thirsty for more of God than you have been experiencing lately?  Do you hunger for the presence of God in your life? God will show up in increasing measures when we intentionally and intensely draw near.  Renewal doesn’t fall upon casual discipleship but when we humble ourselves before Him to the very last points of resistance, you can expect conviction and renewal from the inside out.

I was in Tennessee over this past weekend for a couple of big family events.  On Friday and Saturday Martha and I were front and center at the wedding rehearsal & wedding of our nephew Ritchie Beard.  He’s a class act young man and he married very well.  We’re really happy for Ritchie and Ashleigh.

I was their wedding minster and Martha actually “directed” the wedding, or, as she says, “I put on my bossypants and told everybody where to stand and when to walk.”  The wedding and reception were held at a Civil War era mansion (it was actually used by both sides during the war) called Rippavilla and it was a terrific evening.

And then on Sunday my side of the family all gathered around my Mom to celebrate her 90^th birthday!  She loved it all and was so appreciative of the many family members and friends who stopped by to wish her well and celebrate this milestone.  If I do say so myself, my Mom has lived a life of depth and not just length.  She is solid gold.  Hats off to my sister Carolyn who took care of every little detail and made it all happen. 

Here are some photos of the party weekend:

“Eagles have the ability to make things happen and stir things up in a positive way.”   — Bob Biehl

Reliable leadership is essential for success in any organization.  Leadership involves influence but it is more than influence.  Leadership may involve some sort of a title but it is certainly much more than a title.  Spiritual Leadership may be defined as the art of mobilizing and energizing believers to act on the priorities of the church.

Citizen Soldier, a best-seller from Stephen Ambrose, chronicles WW 2 from D-Day plus one through the liberation of Europe.  The gist of his book is that the war was won, not because of Generals like Eisenhower and Patton, but because of leadership at the mezzo and micro levels.  Ambrose asserted the U.S. Army had better Captains, better Lieutenants, better Sergeants, better platoon leaders than the enemy.  Granted, we had wonderful leadership at the general levels – but the war was won primarily as a result of high-caliber leadership at the mid-size and small group levels.

Likewise, healthy churches are built upon leadership at all levels and on many fronts.  Healthy churches are built on pillar people who energize small groups and mid-sized groups to act on the priorities of the church in worship, instruction, service, and outreach.   Like the WW 2 platoon leaders Ambrose highlighted in his book, these pillar people are weight-bearing leaders whose dependability and loyalty are invaluable.   Without reliable leaders in mid-size and small groups, it’s only a matter of time before a ministry weakens.

Are you growing as a leader?  Are you influencing for good your small and/or mid-size group?  Are you the kind of person who accepts a measure of responsibility and stirs things up in a positive way?

Martha and I thoroughly enjoy our children & grandchildren and we are quite grateful for the kind of people they are.  This past weekend was a happy moment as our son Ryan graduated with his MBA from the University of Houston-Victoria (Sugar Land campus).  He’s been one busy dude working full-time, being married, raising a child, and going to school but he’s handled it all quite well.  I’m very proud of him.

Here are some photos of graduation day and the post-commencement party thrown by my wonderful daughter-in-law Kathryn:

I recently spent several days in Italy on a tour thanks to the theory of relativity (I have a relative in the travel business — my wife!).  Had a fabulous time touring from Rome to Florence with nearly 35 others and along the way we ate more than we should have in several small Tuscan towns and villages.  Here are just a few photos (click on the photos to enlarge) …

Many of us would really like for God to go ahead and flex His muscles now, today, immediately.  God, don’t wait.  Don’t hold back.  Lord, show us what you’ve got and set things right. God, why not just go ahead and flex your muscles today?  One of the common laments in the Psalms is this one:  how long, oh Lord, must we wait for justice and vindication? 

But Jesus has two words for us:  not yet.  It’s not harvest time yet, but God does have His harvest time.

For the time being, the kingdom of God shares a stage with the kingdom of darkness and although the days of darkness are numbered, for a time Satan has a frustrating and painful presence among us.  One of Jesus’ parables, the story of the Wheat and Weeds (found only in Matthew – it’s in chapter 13), speaks to this reality. In this parable Jesus underscores that indeed the Kingdom of God is here (wheat) but evil is also here (weeds) sharing the same field. 

I’m sure the servants in that parable were thinking, “wouldn’t it be better for the wheat if we just removed all of those pesky weeds?”  But the Master says, “No, not yet.” Jesus wants us to hear that God’s way of dealing with the evil in the world may not be immediate but it is certain and it will be final.  Up until “the day of harvest”, God is patiently waiting for more and more “weeds” to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9, 10).

In the meantime, we accept the fact that we live in a world where weeds and wheat coexist in the same field.  We do not live in a world characterized by the absence of evil.  But we do live in a world characterized by the presence of good, by the presence of righteousness and by the presence of God himself who is more than able to offset and renew what the enemy contaminates. 

And here’s an admonition for you:  don’t allow yourself to give in to despair and despondency because you see weeds in God’s world.  Yes there are weeds in this world until harvest time, but there is also the presence of wheat.  Open your eyes and rejoice in the work of God locally and globally. Our world is not characterized by the complete absence of evil but by the presence of God’s goodness.

You are wheat. You are part of the eternal Kingdom of God. God’s seed of eternal life lives within you and the work of the Holy Spirit is all around you.  I exhort you to not be overwhelmed and discouraged by the presence of weeds, but to partner with God and go on the offensive with the presence of good.

The 61th Annual National Day of Prayer is this Thursday, May 3 and there are several public gathering opportunties in the area.  What’s the history of the NDP?  According to the National Day of Prayer website, here is the historical summary of the NDP:

1775 – The first Continental Congress called for a National Day of Prayer
1863 – Abraham Lincoln called for a NDP
1952 – Congress established NDP as an annual event by a joint resolution, signed into law by President Truman
1988 – The law was amended and signed by President Reagan, designating the NDP as the first Thursday in May

Fort Bend County National Day of Prayer 2012 locations are:

* Your home, office, or closet
• Missouri City-City Hall 10:00 AM
• Meadows Place City Hall 10:00 AM
• Sugar Land Town Square 12:00 noon
• Simonton City Hall 12:00 noon
• Arcola City Hall 3:00 PM
• Missouri City YMCA 5:00 PM
• Sienna Brushy Lake Pavilion 7:00 PM
• Fulshear City Hall 7:00 PM
• Stafford City Hall 7:00 PM
• Katy Merrell Center 7:00PM
•Fort Bend County Courthouse 7:00 PM