Through the efforts of our Jail/Prison team and Chaplain Robin Raider, we, along with two ministers with Joyce Meyer Ministries, ministered to the men on death row and lifers.  In all my years, this was my first occasion in such a setting where the men where constrained and behind bars as we sang “He Touched Me” and “How Great Thou Art”.  The men were so open and so accepting.  At times, they would turn their head toward the wall away from me and the others and weep tears. They worshipped and raised their hands to God and I was so moved to know that even in this maximum security facility where most will not ever leave, there is freedom.  As a matter of fact, God rules in the facility and His presence filled each cell block where I was ushered in to speak to the men.  In each of the three sessions, my message was:

• Mercy is God’s gift to those who ask for it sincerely
• Grace is God’s gift to those who need help to be the person God wants us to be
• Manna falls every day just like God promised and it is enough

My heartfelt thanks to Raymond Wolf, Joe and Lee Ann Kelly and to John who accompanied me and made this come to pass.

My life will never be the same.

“She, greatly distressed, prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly.” (1:10)

In her request to God for the ability to give birth to a son, she made a promise — “I’ll give him back to you!”

I was moved to consider this question…

Is there anything so dear to me that I would give it back to God as an act of gratitude?

This son was an enormously important piece of Hannah’s life and yet when given to her, she decides to give it back to God and I don’t mean she walked up front of the church and had the preacher pray and “dedicate” the baby and give it back to her–she left the boy at the house of God forever and walked away! It was an incredible act of love and sacrifice.

It’s happened before…

• Abraham is commanded by God to bring Isaac, his only son and the son of Promise, to Mt. Moriah and offer him on the altar as a sacrifice to God. He does and just before Isaac is slain, the angel stops Abraham and in essence says “now I know you love me more than the thing you value most!”
• Jesus Christ was offered on Calvary to the Father as a redemptive sacrifice for your sins and mine. No question, God gave what He loved most to prove a love that cannot be understood by human hearts.

So, is there anything so dear to you that would give it back to God as an act of gratitude?

Hannah had more sons and daughters but each time she went to the Temple in Shiloh there was a special part of her heart that was ministering to the Lord.

God deserves and requires our daily best…always!

There is no substitute for the passion of a leader…

Culpepper video from Bill Isaacs on Vimeo.

All her numbers are good and the doctors have determined that following today’s chemotherapy, we will return in 3 weeks for a full round of scans. Then and if the scans are clean, chemo will be suspended and we will begin the next phase of this journey with labs and scans every two months to see how her body will respond without the chemo. We consider this a tremendous moment for us and we rejoice for all that God has done to this point—believing that this new segment is further evidence that God is helping us and securing His plans for Kathy’s future.

It has been a special treat this time to have both Jeremy and Jason, their wives as well as Sadie and Tucker with us on this trip to CTCA. Having Sadie and Tucker has been an emotional boost for Kathy and me. Our four grandchildren are such a gift from God to us. We’ve been able to introduce our family to the many acquaintances we have met here and those who have helped us. CTCA has been so important to our journey and we firmly believe this is the place God wanted us to be. Obviously, hospitals are not the best place for small children but watching Sadie and Tucker today in the waiting areas brought to mind a great spiritual truth…

And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:3)

Amidst all our consternation with Kathy’s illness and the progress toward her complete healing, a few things have consistently enabled my spirit. Among them are four with names– Cooper, Branson, Sadie and Tucker! Because they are young and don’t yet know the trauma of anxiety, the atmosphere around us is oblivious to them. In their laughter that might appear to be out of place, they remind me of how God desires all of us to walk out life’s larger moments.

Cooper’s parents prepared him that some people taking chemo lose their hair and so he has been constantly aware of Mimi’s hair. Remarkably and thankfully, she has been able to keep her hair throughout the process. However, this has not kept Cooper from keeping check on her hair and wondering when her hair may come out like Uncle Jason’s? We prepared two hairpieces for Kathy, just in case and they sit on a bureau in Mimi’s room at our house. Cooper thinks they would make wonderful additions to his wardrobe as a Rock Star, if “Jesus does not take your hair!” Seeing life through small eyes reminds Kathy and me that our “big” moments can be viewed with joy and peace—if we become as little children.

As Sadie and Tucker play in the floor in front of me help me realize that someone bigger is watching over us. Their hearts are focused on the things that bring them joy and not on the anticipation/anxiety of the older adults. Watching Tucker giggle and wiggle on my lap I am reminded that Jesus once asked, “why are you so worried about such things? Your Father knows what you need!”

In simple terms, we are the children in this drama, waiting in the presence of our Father and trusting His love and care for us is always enough. May God teach us all to appreciate the wonder and joy of life as prepared by our Father.

Our family thanks you for your consistent and faithful prayers for Kathy!

Kathy’s January update from Bill Isaacs on Vimeo.

Can you imagine what life must have been like with death as the main topic of every day?

I’m confident that I cannot imagine what it was like for the Israelites and I know I have no idea of what life in Haiti is going to be like in the coming year! While calamities like this 7.0 scale earthquake are precisely within the framework of Jesus’ predictions of the end time, as a human being, I’m at a loss to fully appreciate and understand the death and dying that come to innocent and undeserving people, even in these times?  I probably have no problem with the buildings of Haiti falling on convicted rapists, murderers, thieves and abusers–they seem to deserve a dreaded and painful death–don’t they? And yet, I must admit a sense of self-righteousness to think that I’m any better than they–but for the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and my faith in Him and His daily atoning and redeeming GRACE upon my life.

Randy Alcorn has written an excellent book If God is Good that I am reading this month, in which he attempts to unpack the evil vs. good tension that is within all of us.  Tonight, while reading some, I came upon his retelling of the story of a convicted abuser and murderer who was to be executed for his heinous crimes against innocent children and adults.  In his final moments before he died, witnesses said the criminal remarked, “I had thought there was no peace and no hope. I was wrong. I found hope and peace in the Lord Jesus Christ.” The public outcry was one of angst and anger.  God could not surely forgive and give peace to such a criminal and evil man, could he?

He did to me and you…and we were just as guilty.   Thank God for His redeeming grace and the gift of Jesus Christ to the world.

Tonight in Haiti, the world is very different from what it is here in northeast Ohio and yet God’s peace is in both places, bringing hope to desperate souls and reminding us of how Grace changes everything.  We pray for those who will need such Grace in the days ahead and believe in God’s redemption plan to bring salvation to all who do not know the Savior.

January 2010 Goals

1. Pray 10 minutes every day
2. Fast each Monday
3. Exercise 15 minutes every day
4. Drink no carbonated drink
5. Read Proverbs– one chapter a day for 31 days
6. Read Psalms–five chapters a day for 30 days
7. Lose 10 lbs.
8. Read Ted Kennedy’s bio “True Compass”
9. Read Randy Alcorn’s “If God is Good”
10. Make progress on next book project

My grandfather’s generation was so brand-loyal, they would continue to go to their church until almost everything had dried up and they continued to support their church no matter what.

My father’s generation was also fairly brand-loyal and remained with the church although toward the end of his pastoral experience, you began to see people checking out other churches, running to what were the “hottest’ revivals, “being led to another church now” kind of excuses.

My generation and those behind me are not brand-loyal and will often drive past many churches in their community to find the one that “meet their needs“–as if that is the reason you attend a church– and as such the pressure on pastors and leaders to perform became greater.  This mindset began what I call a consumer mentality in our churches that looks like marketing the difference between Target and Walmart for churches.

“This one has better parking, music, bigger kids programs, etc.”

What makes it tough is trying to pastor and lead in this generation. Pastors who don’t stay “tuned in” will find that people have chosen to leave the church for reasons that are not know and the leadership is at a loss as to why. Believe me, pastors feel this strongly and hardly does one leave a church that the pain is not hard on the pastor and the leaders of the church because it feels like you failed the people who are leaving.

Tim Stevens has written an excellent piece here on how people leave and how they should leave if they come to a decision to change churches. I think you will find it insightful if you are considering leaving your church or if you lead a church where people have left or are considering leaving.

Your feedback is welcomed!

1. Charles Swindoll–Since 1980, Insight for Living radio broadcast has been an influential part of my development as a believer.  I have every book and many of the tapes of this great teacher.  His talk at Catalyst 2009 this year was INCREDIBLE and formed the basis of some leadership training I will do in 2010.
2. John Piper–By introduction through my son Jason, I read What Jesus Demands of the World and the message of this book challenged my faith in many ways and opened me up again to the wonderful message of Jesus.  I returned to this great truth I’ve always believed — when you get Jesus you get all you need and He is enough!
3. Matt Chandler–this young pastor from Dallas, TX has influenced me by his teaching podcasts each week on Luke.  I don’t know that I believe all that his Calvinist leanings seem to imply but I know that his teaching on Luke opened my eyes to glory of the call to full devotion to Christ.
4. Raymond Culpepper–our present General Overseer has been my ‘pastor” for many years since I lived in Hoover, AL in the early 90s. Raymond Culpepper seems to embody the leadership model of faithfulness, genuine humility and compassion that I aspire to.  His acceptance speech at the 2008 General Assembly and his leadership of our church during this transitional season has inspired me.
5. Eddie Lainhart–Eddie and I go back to Kentucky where he served with me on the youth board.  He went through cancer himself and his inspirational faith this year has served to help me in coping with my own fears about Kathy.  Not only does Eddie live it but his life is an example of a caring Christ and for that I love Eddie!
6. Mark Walker–Senior Pastor in Atlanta, Ga and because Jeremy serves on this staff, I’ve had more time to know Mark and see the depth of his character and compassion.  He also is my colleague on the Executive Council.  Mark Walker is the son of a legendary pastor but his own style of pastoral leadership and relevant Biblical preaching has helped me as a believer.
7. Charles Snelling–This is a pastor in a small rural community, so remote my GPS cannot locate his church and my cellphone has no signal within 10 miles of his church.  What strikes me about his impact on my life this past year was the commitment he has for his church to influence the unbelievers in his rural setting. He may not build a mega-church in Kansas, Ohio but his impact on me and the kingdom this year is unmistakeable.

Who has influenced you and why?

Tommy Propes seems to have become a dearer friend this year as we served together on the Executive Council and because our work brought us closer together, he was strategically near when Kathy’s cancer occurred. Some of you know that he went through a family health crisis while serving here in Northern Ohio and was in a position to advise and encourage me from that perspective. He seems to be a person with a “now” influence on my leadership and personal development. I owe much to this good man.

Randy Parris and Pat Wright have been longtime friends and they were especially influential in my life this year both as companions through Kathy’s surgery and in personal connections of encouragement, faith and life investments.  At times they made it their business to make sure I had a proper balance of faith, fun and fellowship.  These men know things about me that I don’t share with others and the trust levels continue to grow more each day. While YCE director work seemed to have been one of the early links for us all, our relationships now are much more personal and more influential. Everyone in life deserves friends like Randy and Pat.

Chad Jordan moved to Ohio with neither of us knowing how influential his life was going to become to me.  As my office partner and confidant, Chad has created a “safe” place in our professional relationship for me to be “me.”  His style of care, compassion and serving inspires me and I know that God prepared him to be near my life for what 2009 was going to be.  I know I will be friends with Chad for as long as we live (or at least until the next Assembly–just kidding!) and that gift from God will remain an important part of who I am.

Doris Fuson is my personal assistant and this year has made huge investments in my professional life as she managed to keep the office running during my often absences. What I’ve learned about Doris this year is that her heart is pure and her serving spirit is contagious. No assignment was beneath her dignity or pride and it is impossible to note how much she has influenced and helped me this year through her work and relationship to the office of State Administrative Bishop. The other women who serve in our office (Barbara, Jennifer, Margaret and Lavonne) have also done so much to help me and this singling of Doris does not diminish their influence but I value all that Doris has done this year to help me.

Rick Fuson, Cliff Hughes, Bob Duncan, Mark Leonhardt, Bruce Philippi, Tony Cooper, Gregory Griffith, Terry McBeath, Francis Burkhart, David Pratt are members of the Northern Ohio State Council and these men have greatly blessed and influenced my leadership in 2009. When I reflect on all that we have done together in trying to care for the Church of God in this region, these men are key influences on me. Not only have they shown great compassion during Kathy’s illness but they have been courageous in tackling the issues of the times and lead with great faith. I’ve served with many leaders but these men have been strategically important to my life in this past year.

Mark Williams is the liaison to Northern Ohio for the International Executive Committee and has been a close colleague in so many ways. He flew to Akron to sit with me during Kathy’s illness. He has advised me and helped me with crisis moments this year that are deeply impactful. Mark always has time for me and that means much. I value the fact that God has linked our lives for this season.

It would not be good to fail in mentioning my family, my beloved sons, two incredible daughters in law, grandchildren, my parents, my siblings Lynn and Tim, their families, Kathy’s siblings and mother who have stood closely to us this year and in doing so have demonstrated to me and others how families operate in love and compassion for one another. I’m sometimes bewildered to consider how God’s grace has been given to me in such measure to consider the gift my family is to me. All my calls are answered and time is always made to accommodate me by my sons and all the family. That means much.

Jesus once indicated that our lives could be lived in ways that would bring glory to God and cause others to find faith through our living. If that is true (and I believe it is) then these, among others perhaps not mentioned, have strengthened my faith by their friendships and intentional acts of kindness, care and love.

To all of you,

Thanks!