Erwin

One of my favorite author's is Erwin McManus. I love his books. For whatever reason his books just speak God's truths to me in a very powerful way. In fact his book "The Barbarian Way" is part of our "story"--part of what God used to call us to Cheyenne to plant Element Church. But that's another blog for another day.

Twice I have been blessed to see him speak in person over the last couple of years. Once was two years ago at Willow Creek Church at a small group conference. The second time was just last Tuesday night in Fort Collins. Both times were awesome.

God used both occasions to teach me some things---mostly about myself, but also about people and human nature. What I am going to share, or at least felt led to share, will make one blog too long. So I'll spread it out over a few blogs. At least that way I can have more than one blog a month. LOL

I vividly remember the very first thing I wrote in my journal at Willow shortly after Erwin began to speak. It was this. "Hey, he speaks with a lisp" (Erwin does tend to lisp some of his words when he is speaking but he DOES NOT let that stop him.) I went on in my journal "Here is a guy that has very legitimate reasons, "excuses" if you will, not to do this--not to write books, lead a church, go on speaking engagements, etc. Yet he doesn't let anything stop him. Because the one thing that trumps ALL of his reasons not to do any of this is the one reason to do it---he was called. "Qualified"--maybe, maybe not. "Called"--YES! Since that day I learned even more reasons or excuses or stumbling blocks that could have stopped him. Yet he refuses to let "them" win.

Does Erwin have his critics? Oh, you better believe it. So what? Who doesn't. Once again, he does not let that stop him. In fact(in my opinion) all the more reason he keeps pressing on. My wife reminded me of a quote from one of the Wesley brothers. Can't remember if it was John or Charles but the quote went something like this--"If was able to get out of a town after preaching without at least one person throwing a rotten tomato at me, that told me I was not being bold enough about the Gospel".

So, in summary. PLEASE don't wait until you feel "qualified". If you are called--GO! And really, who cares what the critics say. Don't listen to them.
Grant

How Do I Love Her?

Those of you that know me know that music is very important to me. Though I can't carry a tune in a bucket and have little or no musical ability. I LOVE music. It moves me. God used a song to save me and God is always using songs to teach me.

Some of you also know that my wife Terri and I are leading a marriage Life Group (Love and Respect) Which most of the time I/we don't feel qualified to lead even though we have been married almost twenty years.

Just recently God used both, a song and our Life Group, to teach me a great truth.

Though I have heard the song by Steven Curtis Chapman "How Do I Love Her" many times before, just recently I have learned to appreciate it even more.
The song is basically a prayer to God, a plea if you will, how do I love this wife of mine. How do I love and cherish the most important gift (next to salvation) that I have ever received.

I remember thinking the first couple of times I heard this song : "This is Steven Curtis Chapman! Surely he has this thing ALL figured out" Uhhhh....not so much. Kind of like thinking, that is "so and so" or" such and such"(pick a position or title) surely THEY have this thing called life all figured out. Again, uh...... not so much. At least if they are honest.

Then the other night in our Life Group another profound statement from one of the guys. (I share this with his permission, as long as I do it somewhat anonymously.) "I've been a mechanic for thirty years. I get paid to fix things. Yet I feel like I can't fix the one thing that is most important to me! My marriage." Wow. I did NOT have an answer for that one.

Then the next week at Life Group, I get another personal challenge from the DVD: " Would you die for your wife?" Inside I scream out , "YES!" The next question: " Would you LIVE for your wife?" Again, inside I scream out, "YES!" Then I admit " I just don't know how. How do I live for her? "How do I love her?"

Then, later, I get my "answer" from the Chapman song. At least it worked for me. To me the most powerful line in the whole song is this: "I know it's going to take a lifetime to answer this prayer of mine. But that's OK. Because I've given You (God) and her my lifetime anyway."

And I thought " THAT"S IT!" If have TRULY devoted my WHOLE life to God and to my wife, then so what if it takes a lifetime to figure this thing out. So what if I never figure it all out. Who cares. As long as I keep trying. As long as I keep pressing on and don't quit, I'll win. THAT is how I "live" for my wife. A life-time of devotion and a "moment by moment" devotion for a life-time.

Grant