Lions, Tigers, & Bears…O My!

1 Samuel 17:37 NLT

As David hears the taunts of Goliath his heart is instantly dismayed that the Philistine giant would mock the armies of who David called “the living God.” what reverence he felt for God & His holy honor!

But what I love hear is the faith that had been stirred up in David’s soul well before this impossible contest. David reminds his king Saul that God had miraculously helped him fend off (plural form) lions and bears. This deserves more reflection. Goliath was nearly 10 feet tall. But he ain’t no lion or bear. A lion in Africa country, a young one at that, once killed 9 warriors at one time among the Maasai tribe just a few years ago. Translation: To rescue a lamb from a lion’s mouth is nothing short of the miraculous. Yet David tells his king God had done this more than once in his short career.

To David Goliath is nothing because he has seen God’s faithfulness in his past with obstacles and situations that were just as adverse if not more. How else could a boy run towards a 10 foot professional warrior without one trace of fear? How did he do it? Because he’d seen God’s ability to rescue him before. He had no doubt God would rescue him again and prevail.

When no one else was watching, when no one else cares, God was taking care of David miraculously. Now that he was on the world stage, all the pressure mounted, David understood that God was no less capable and willing.

What’s the lesson? Remember the lions and bears that God rescued you from when no one cared or was watching. This will equip you with the assurance that God will do no less on a world stage. God has been whipping lions and bears and giants since the dawn of time. He’s good at it too. Trust Him.

Micah’s Idols.

I’m reading through the Bible and today fell upon Judges 17.  The caption above the passage reads, “Micah’s Idols.”  Immediately I thought to myself, “Hmm, I don’t remember reading about a dude named Micah with idols in the book of Judges.”  So my interest was peaked.  The passage introduces us to a miscellaneous guy named Micah.  He’d stolen 1100 pieces of silver from his mom but apparently when he learned his mother had placed a curse on the person who stole it he confessed.  What’s interesting (at least later on) is that his mom responds, “The LORD bless you for admitting it…”  Now what’s important here is that his mom says, “the LORD”.  Everytime you see LORD capitalized in the Scripture it’s a reference point to tell us that the person saying it understands God enough to use His covenant name of Yahweh.  This was the personal covenantal name for God used only by the children of Israel.  In other words, this woman has heard the stories of God graciously redeeming her people.  She must have some knowledge and understanding of the law.  She knows who God is.  

But as we know when we come to the book of Judges, we know this was a topsy turvy time when folks did what was right in their own eyes.  Not sure of a time when folks didn’t do this…but more so in Judges.  So just when I think this story is about to end well, the mom (for the life of me I cannot remember ever reading this story and I’ve read Judges a few times) says, “I now dedicate these silver coins to the LORD.  In honor of my son, I will have an image carved and an idol cast.”  Did y’all hear that?  She says, “I’ll do something for God” but “In honor of my son I’ll create an idol.”  Unbelievable.  So the story goes that she takes some of the silver, has an image made (direct disobedience to the Law), and puts the image in her son’s house.  Micah follows by setting up a shrine for the idol, making a sacred ephod and some more household idols, then goes as far to ‘ordain’ one of his sons as his personal priest in this brand new religion.  

It gets worse.  Long story short, Micah’s idols end up becoming the center of attention and affection for a Levite priest and eventually the entire tribe of Dan who sets up this carved image to be worshiped for hundreds of years even until the Exile.  WOW.  One seed of idolatry soiled the hearts of thousands of descendants.

I didn’t write this blog to preach.  Heck, I’m afraid I don’t even have solid answers.  Other than this:  Idolatry is real and all of us have some household idols.  Idols like our kids…we love them…but their good things can make us a little ‘too’ happy and their mistakes can make us a little ‘too’ sad.  We have idols of religion and narcissism.  If you don’t think so, at the end of the day ask yourself how many times you “judged a person in your heart” for “not being ‘this’ or that’” or how many times you said to yourself, “Why doesn’t he/she just do….then fill in the blanks.  That’s called thinking yourself more highly than you ought.  That’s a religious spirit and we all struggle with it.  There are more idols out there right under our roofs…money, materialism, being popular and liked.  No wonder the church fathers said our hearts are idol factories.  

The Bible doesn’t call Micah stupid or a loser.  In fact it doesn’t even cast ‘an opinion’ so to speak on him.  Doesn’t say, “he was foolish” or give us the lesson.  So what is the lesson?  It’s the grace of being made aware of how we can be and how we are.  It’s the gift of exposure.  Exposure to the trouble that sifts through every man’s heart. It is the exposure of understanding how desperate we are for Jesus Christ; who saves and redeems and sanctifies.  God gave me a catch phrase years ago.  Here it is:  The beginning of the end of Satan’s attacks in your life is exposure.  

Truth is y’all some lessons take us years to learn.  Truth is sometimes stuff has to wear off instead of being kicked out.  You know how Micah helps us?  He helps us say, “Dang.  This guy apparently had a knowledge of God but went at it a totally off way.  Now where am I doing that?”  

Monday I learned officially that the Lord has now made me a cancer survivor.  And the question I get a lot is, “Man what’s it like and what have you learned?”  Heck y’all I don’t claim to be wise enough to know how to answer this question.  But this much I can gather thus far:  When you get a little closer to death (I was close…but it wasn’t that bad…could’ve been so much worse) you pray some prayers you didn’t know to pray before because you’ve never been in that kind of spot.  Seeing how helpless I could be, how weak I was after surgery, how immobile I became, and dependent upon others I was…I was reminder how ‘just in need’ of salvation I am.  I realized that I’m truly dust and the only hope I have is the Lord.  In essence, God exposed just how much more I need him than what I had thought before.  We’re weak y’all.  We’re needy.  But here’s the win:  The Lord is here.  And He’s close.  Before my surgery, a couple of nights, I woke up in the middle of the night plagued with fear and anxiety.  There I was weeping in bed, crying out to Jesus, begging Him to help me…I had to cry a lot.  I wrestled with the thought of not being here to love my future wife and big brother my siblings and be with my family and my church.  I wrestled with the thought of being in treatment and suffering for years to come and the thought of a much ‘different’ life.  But the good news?  Jesus was there!  Every step of the way, I never felt alone.  I knew he was there.  I knew He was in control.  And I felt the truth that He knew what He was doing…and still does.  Glory to His name.  He is the way maker where there is no way.  Yes.  He is the truth and the life.  

So if you’ve got some household idols you struggle with…and…trust me…you do.  Know this.  It’s hard.  It’s crazy how you can so easily get yourself trapped all over again…Micah did it easily and so do we.  But in the midst of this stuff rehearse the truth.  God has been gracious enough to let you see the problem.  That’s called a reason to praise and shout.  He didn’t have to let us know how much we need Him.  Secondly, know this.  Jesus is here.  He knows what you’re dealing with.  He knows the cycles you struggle through.  And He simply says, “I get it.  And I’m here.  Bring them to me.”  

My surgery went great.  In fact it went better than expected.  For all intents and purposes I’ve been surgically healed (trust me I know who did the healing).  I remember in the hospital feeling a little bit of “whew…glad this one’s done.”  And the next night the nurse explained that some of my bodily functions weren’t working and if I didn’t improve they’d have to do something drastic.  Well all of a sudden I was reminded, “Ah…you see you’re never ‘done’.”  You always need me Ricky.  That’s what I learned y’all.  We’re never done.  God graciously continues to exposes areas of our heart uncommitted to him.  I pulled out that bible that night, and prayed, and repented and asked for His help. And wouldn’t you know He came through again.  

We get what Micah didn’t  As I look at the story it doesn’t seem like he ‘took’ the exposure given Him.  But we have a risen Savior who is always calling us.  Winning in this case is not beating the idols ourselves….winning is calling upon the only God who can help, heal, and deliver.  So call him…I’m a witness he’ll answer.  Love y’all.  And GLORY to His Holy name. Amen.

What Kind of Jesus Are You Looking For?

Luke 2:22-35

What Kind of Jesus Are You Looking For?

While describing details surrounding Christ’s birth, Luke mentions a righteous man named Simeon who was looking for the consolation or the comfort of Israel. God revealed to Simeon that he would see the Messiah before his death. Perhaps he imagined the Messiah would be in a prestigious family amidst influential people. Surely God’s Messiah would be there!

However, Simeon discovers Jesus elsewhere. He finds Jesus in the poorest of families. Jews were required to make a sacrifice for their first born. The Law required a lamb but permitted two turtledoves or pigeons if you were poor. Luke implies here that Mary and Joseph used either turtledoves or pigeons meaning this: Jesus’ family was very poor. Insignificant. Easily overlooked.

Yet in the power of the Spirit, Simeon embraces the baby Jesus and rejoices! What’s more, Simeon prophesied concerning Jesus’ life in that many would fall and rise on account of Him. During His lifetime He would be opposed. As if this isn’t enough, the result of His life would be comparable to a sword piercing the soul exposing people’s hearts. Simeon is saying those who believe will rise! Those who fail to believe will fall. He’s saying that Jesus’ message will be opposed by many. Yet his life and message will expose what’s really inside our hearts.

What kind of Jesus are you looking for this Christmas? Are you looking for a Jesus amidst promising and positive circumstances or are you willing to accept the Jesus that comes in less than packaging with a more than benefit? As the culture begs you to accumulate more stuff will you rather open your heart to seek the greater gift? It is the gift of salvation. It is the gift of humility. It is the gift of a heart that is centered on the gospel and not on things. This gift is replete with persecution and challenging times. But this gift, the gift of Jesus, is truly one that keeps on giving.

Happy Birthday Dad…

In some ways he’s been to me a giant of a man. As a boy I was amazed by him. He seemed to me a hero. He had muscles. He worked as a Phone Company service tech for 28 years…so I felt privileged to be the son of a guy who drove a cool work van with a ladder on it and who occasionally climbed poles for a living. Couldn’t tell me nothin’.

My father celebrates 59 years of life today. As a 34 year old man I remember my Dad when he was actually younger than I am today. At my age my father provided for a large family, loved well a beautiful God-fearing wife who at the time was beginning to struggle with illness, and never missed a Sunday of church service. As I look back over the years, I realize times, chapters, moments where I was enamored by his example, his wisdom, and his provision. There are also times where I was underwhelmed, disappointed, or even angered. What I have learned, if nothing else, is that our fathers teach us in what they do well and what they’ve done not so well. And for ALL of it with my Dad, I’m eternally grateful.

My Dad took care of us. Because of God’s grace in his life, his relentless work ethic, and his code of integrity and honor, I can say that I never experienced one day of hunger, or doubt in who I was. Even if I did experience doubt, in some way, whether he spoke or remained silent and spoke through his example, I was affirmed.

Dad loves laughing, making jokes, and working the room. I’m the same. When Dad preaches, he’s relational, funny, and matter of fact. I’m the same. When dudes need ‘fathering’ in their life, they run to my Dad and he charges them up. I’m hoping I’m the same. When Dad struggles or is in a tough season or is extremely happy, he sheds a tear. I’m the same.

He loved my Mom so well. He took care of her when she was dying of cancer. He bought nice things for her and lavished her with affection and laughter. He made no apologies when on some weekends he’d park us at our Auntie’s so he and Mom could get away for the weekend to Monroe, LA…that’s where the outlet shops were where Mama liked to shop. They’d talk on the phone sometimes an hour or two a day and as I’d eavesdrop I could hear that they were talking about the Lord. They built churches together and loved young kids and adults together. They took Sunday School kids on fishing trips and let those kids spend time in our home and discipled them and taught them how to be men and women of God. He protected her so well. He laid down his rights THOUSANDS of times for her. I know…I was there. He was her greatest friend. She was his greatest support. They were inseparable. Because of his example, I waited until I was 34 because I wanted the same thing in my own life…and prayerfully I’ll love April as well as he loved Jackie Jenkins.

He’s a handy man. He can fix anything. I don’t remember us hiring too many folks to do ‘what nots’ around the house. Never saw a plumber come to our house. Never saw a landscaper or a handyman. Never saw an electrician either. He was the family mechanic too. He did all that stuff. He was a Proverbs dude. A true Boaz.

He made mistakes. Some of them let me down a good bit. But not one day did he ever not bring his best. Sometimes our best still falls short. I learned finally that ‘that’s okay’…just get your heart in God’s hands and keep moving. But he not one day didn’t love us and care and provide for us.

Saying all this to say,…he’s still a giant of a man to me. My only hope is that I’ll serve my family as well and maybe even better…that’s what he wants I know. I’m proud of my Dad. Some folks call him Pastor Jenkins. A bunch of kids in Indianola, MS, call him Principal Jenkins. A few grandkids call him Papa. Grandad calls him “Brother.” Others just say “Richard”. I call him Dad…and he’s been all that and then some.

From the bottom of my heart Dad…Happy Birthday…most of my friends didn’t have somebody like you in their life. Most kids today will never know what it means to have a father. So I’ve been GRACED to say the least. You’re a man among men. A champion and a hero. They may never write books about you…but one day I will…Lord willing..

Your Oldest and Proudest Son,
Richard Earl Jenkins, JUNIOR

Moved…

I’m guilty.  The West Wing was a TV series that fictitiously chronicled the life and service of President Josiah Bartlet and his staff as they led the country.  Well for those who know me it’s no secret that this TV show, which hasn’t aired in years, is my favorite piece of television.  Why you ask?  It’s about leadership.  It’s about imperfect people, who are unmatched in their preparation and scholarly training, who’ve been giving a chance to serve a country they love and live out those ideals coined by the Founding Fathers over 200 years ago.  In fact, it’s my hush hush church planting methodology.  Bartlet had the right people around him.  Looking forward to the day when I look for a Mrs. Landingham, a Leo, a Josh Lymon, and a Charlie Young…sorry if you’re not a West Winger…but they know what I’m saying.

I just watched an episode, from around 2002 I think, where one of the side stories featured an 80 year old African American man whose letter he wrote to FDR as a 9-yr old finally made it to the White House.  In walks the proud man with his son whom he makes no hesitation to announce is a doctor, and meets the President of the United States.  We West Wingers call him POTUS.  Anyways, the scene was picturesque as only TV can produce.  The music was perfectly complimentary.  The look of pride on this man’s face was sheer pageantry.  And of course the fact that an African American man who worked hard all of his life with no apparent fanfare other than the bragging rights of having a Dr. for a son meshed with my heart in numerous ways.

That stuff moves me.  It reminds me that the ideals…the dreams…the confidence…the promises…the heritage…and the expectations that were placed in me as a child can be realized.  What do I mean?  Well…I live in a new school world but I was raised old school.  I believe…perhaps too much…in a simple world that celebrated the integrity of a handshake to firm up an agreement between two sides.  I believe my word should be my bond.  I believe if you treat others well eventually others will do the same for you.  I believe when you work hard and serve the community eventually things turn around.  Do these beliefs ever fail?  All the time.  And that’s what drives me towards desperation for those age old truths that I know will never fail.

The Bible says as believers we should thirst and hunger for righteousness.  I confess.  Though I ‘know’ I should that thirst is not always present in me.  And to be honest it’s sometimes replaced with simpler desires for a lifestyle filled with honor and integrity…courage and discipline.  Sometimes I replace that biblical thirst with those seemingly achievable ideals I mentioned earlier.   In other words, sometimes that thirst is replaced with performance.  A few years in my 30s is teaching me to be grateful when my efforts crash and burn.  I guess that’s because my efforts get better, more well-planned, smarter even.  So the crash and burn crashes harder and burns hotter.  So I’m learning what Paul wrote, oh I guess around 2 Cor. 12…in my weakness then am I strong.

Honor.  Integrity.  Courage.  They’re all the right things.  But they  are yet simpler things that sprang from the tree of righteousness that I can never achieve.  So my RELIEF this morning is that this righteousness has been given, imputed, and sustained by Christ.  I do not deserve it.  Truth is I still manage to prove it in my perpetual shortcomings. Yet it has been given and sustained anyways.

I love my Grandad.  He’s a giant in these eyes.  I marvel at my Dad.  I’ve never heard him lie.  And I’ve never really seen him be afraid.  These are the guys that taught me about honor and integrity.  But I’ve also seen them cry.  I’ve seen them struggle in some of life’s biggest challenges.  I’ve seen them weak…and every time…yeah…every time…they turned in desperation to the only help they knew to be constant…their Savior.

And so may the pageantry and the chills I get when I watch the West Wing as a fearless yet imperfect leader navigates his way to pursue those ideals that read something like…”we hold these truths to be self evident that all men are created equal and are endowed by their created with certain inalienable rights”…may those chills be realized in my own life…in my own simple, perhaps never to be published on front page life…for far better promises recorded not in Independence Hall but recorded by the pen of the Holy Spirit. May those moments be marked by the pursuit and subsequent fullness of life in Christ Jesus.

Father would you stretch me out in ways I refuse to permit myself?  May I model your apostles who died for your glory?  May I live out with purpose the fullness of this gospel…Help me…make me…to live for thee.  Amen.

Why We’re Prayer – Walking (Fellowship Downtown)

Loving Others.  It’s the value that Bryan, JB, & Ben felt compelled to celebrate when they planted our church nearly 9 years ago.  The gospels echo this value in the ministry of Jesus.  They remind us that when Jesus saw the broken and the hurting that he “had compassion on them.”  Here at Fellowship we’ve always said “should God cause our church to disappear” our hope is that the city of Memphis would miss us.  In other words, we dream of a church that doesn’t merely live out the gospel vertically but also lives out that gospel horizontally by making differences in the lives of others.

When we launched a vision of one church in two locations a couple of years ago we did so to spread our DNA in strategic areas around our City.  Downtown is the region of our city where artists create, musicians serenade, business people innovate, and Memphians play. But it’s also the side of the city where one sees the pain of others when we walk outside of our meeting place on Sundays. Hurt can’t hide here.  We see it all over downtown.  This neck of the woods was an obvious choice for Fellowship’s 2nd Outpost.

How does Fellowship DT Love Others corporately?  We enjoy partnership with the Memphis Union Mission & Habitat for Hope Ministries.  One is a safe haven for the Homeless that serves meals, provides shelter, and equips men who are in a tough season of their lives with a tangible gospel.  The other is an innovative team of volunteers who minister to families in Downtown Memphis who are facing the serious illness of a child.  Our outpost invited the leaders of these ministries to visit with us over the past two Sundays in an effort we called DT Neighbors.  These leaders told us about their work.  They offered ways to get involved.  And together we casted a gospel vision for Downtown Memphis.

We’re excited about rolling up our sleeves and growing deeper with our partners.  But we’re convinced that every movement of God has been precipitated by the prayers of His people.  This Sunday we’re prayer walking.  We’ll gather at DT Elementary School.  We’ll then send teams of our people to strategic areas of DT.  One team will pray for city leaders just in front of City Hall.  Another will pray on Beale St. and believe God for a gospel presence there.  Some will visit near the Children’s hospitals and pray for those families.  Others will walk over to the Mission and lift up the Homeless…and so on.  We’re calling all Downtowners to join us.  Rain or shine we’ll be there…because we love Downtown Memphis…and we believe in a God who answers prayer for the city.  See you Sunday (September 25) at 9:30 am at DT Elementary School!

In the Cool of the Evening

It took 34 years.  That is, it took 34 years for me to realize that repeating, without hesitation, those pearls of wisdom invested in me from the previous generations is just what I do.  A recent personality test told me that I treasure historical pedagogy and precepts with which to understand my world and explain it away.  What that means for poor parishioners are oft repeated stories about my home in Pearl, MS, lessons my parents taught me in those ‘unfortunate’ moments, and the one-liners only my Grandparents could’ve crafted that have never left me as an adult.

I was home this past weekend for a wedding.  I brought along a friend.  A good friend.  You know what I’m sayin’?  Every time I’m home I bunk at my grandparents’ place and along with the delicious eggs, grits, and bacon were me, my friend, Grandma & Grandad.  Good times to say the least.  My Grandfather has a way of simply speaking in a manner that compels you to listen as it becomes immediately obvious that it’s everyone’s turn to shut up and listen.  Trust me, we don’t mind.

The old man began to speak into our lives.  He knows by now that this friend of mine and I are pretty serious and so he took a sweet moment to make a deposit into our relationship.  I won’t forget his words…haven’t forgotten any of the others.  He said, “Always remember that communication is the most important thing.”  I remember thinking, “I know that Grandad.  That’s what they all are saying to us.”  But as the old man continued, in a way only he can, similar to that of a Jewish carpenter from Nazareth who spoke in parables as He sat by the seashore, we listened with intrigue.

“Communication is important but just as important is ‘the way’ in which you communicate” he added.  ”You see, there will be plenty of moments when you will have something to say but because you’re so fired up if you were to say it at that moment there ain’t no way it’s going to come out right nor be received the way you really meant it.”  We giggled as he said this.  Pretty much because we were both (me more so than her) kinda guilty of communicating when the thermometer was over 100 degrees.  Grandad said further, “You see the Bible says not to let the sun go down on your wrath. But know that a little time can pass in order for you to calm down, collect yourself, and say something to your spouse in a way that will be heard.”  He looked at us both and asked us, “You ever wonder why God, on the day Adam sinned, decided to talk to him ‘in the cool’ of the evening?”  We both smiled hard.  That was enough of a picture to sell the point to us.  Story after story he began to paint layers of truth on his point.

We have a room in my Grandfather’s house that we call “The Back Room.”  All us grandkids know about it.  You don’t want to go back there.  Needless to say, if you’re there you’ve done something that needs reprimanding.  Grandad told us the time years ago when my Dad got caught driving the school bus (his old job) too fast around town and word got back to him.  To give you a little context, driving a public school bus too fast in Pearl, MS, as a 17 yr. old black kid in 1970 was UNWISE.  Grandad says, “I sat Richard (Dad) down and asked him if he were Dad what would he do?”  My dad responded, “I’d whip me!”  Grandad then told us how he said, “Richard I’m not going to whip you.  Because I trust you enough that this will never happen again.”  He then told us how my Dad, so gripped with disappointment, wept sorely as he embraced my Grandad and left the room.  But to Dad’s credit, the bus speeding was never an issue again.  And that’s when the younger kids starting calling it…”The Back Room.”  His point was obvious…just because someone transgresses doesn’t mean we punish them.  In subtle and picturesque ways, the old man was telling us…”Not every offense needs a reprimand.”  What pearls of wisdom!

He painted a few more pictures for us that morning.  But the message was heard loud and clear.  In relationships conflicts will come.  Those moments are not the indicators of everything that is wrong with the relationship.  They are key opportunities to express the virtues in our heart that make the relationship so right.  They are the opportunities for patience, grace, understanding, and…turning the other cheek.

Keep reading the books.  Keep getting the counseling.  But if you can find an old man or an old woman with 60 years of marriage under their belt, do whatever you can to sit at their feet, grab a pen and paper, and write like crazy…See ya in the cool

Genesis…

The other day I found myself walking the halls of my seminary, saying hello and goodbye to trusted friends and professors, and pausing a moment at the Receptionist Desk where a dear friend and fellow church member works.  We were speaking briefly about a prayer need for a friend of hers and that’s when she asked, “Well Ricky how can I be praying for you?”  It was the question that touched me.  As a pastor, you get that question here and there but it’s honestly one you want to hear more.  Perhaps I would hear it more if I wasn’t always asking it myself.

It took me a second to figure out how to advise her in her request.  You see, for 3 years, my answer to that question has been an immediate one:  Pray for me while I’m in school!

I preached a message on Sabbath resting last week which really forced me to take a look at my routines and rhythms of labor and little rest.  Now I know how hypocritical I’m about to sound as I offer you my excuse for inconsistent resting but here goes, “I just didn’t have much of a choice!”  Though my excuse is not an acceptable one…as I prepared that sermon…I thought to myself that the last 3 years, however much appreciated, have been perfectly insane.  I figure about 20 hours a week has gone to class and study and another 40 hours per week have been devoted to the pastorate.  It doesn’t help of course that I hardly ever say no to requests and even when I do make time to rest, I typically do a poor job.

So now that I’m preparing to slide into home on the Seminary journey, that question of, “How can I pray for you?” needed a new answer.  What do I need?  What’s the biggest concern in life now that a big hurdle has been jumped over?  I pondered this right there at my receptionist friend’s desk.  I quickly thought about how excited I was becoming in that, for the first time in 12 years of ministry, I was about to be a true full-time pastor!  You see I’ve always had ‘something else’ other than vocational ministry whether another job or, in recent months, another job plus Seminary.  In preparing sermons recently I’ve begun thinking, “Wow…this time next month I’ll be finishing this sermon on a Thursday or a Friday instead of working through the weekend.” …”This time next month, I won’t have to meet with this guy or couple on a Saturday…it’ll happen during regular office hours!”…for the most part.

So I said it…”Pray for me that with this ‘new’ life, that I’ll steward it well.”  I continued to tell my friend that I don’t want to overdo or underdo.  As I figure out what the new rhythm looks like; what time do I wake up now, what time do I go to bed, how much can I read (what I want to read), how many trips will I take, etc…I want God to prescribe what this new beginning looks like.

I love my dad.  That’s who I learned hard work from and for that I’m grateful.  But no one really modeled what true rest, true balance (if there is such a thing), and true God-centered calendaring looks like.  And that’s what I want.  As I think about loving a wife some day, and raising children, and leading churches and pastors, having a gospel-centered rhythm of work and play is something I’ll hope to be able to model as well as teach.

May 20 is graduation.  May 21 is a new start…a Genesis of sorts.  And it’s my prayer that my schedule, my tasks, my time,…..my heart…will be centered on and rested in my Savior.  Amen.

Sweet Interruptions…

You’re probably like me.  Or to say it more humbly, I’m probably like you.  I spend an ample amount of time (maybe too ample) dreaming about finishing well.  I’d be lying if I didn’t say I was ‘somewhat’ afraid of death…who isn’t…somewhat?  But to be sure there is one thing I’m more afraid of.  I pray about it often…that is the fear of dying with potential that I’ve not realized in this life.  I fear approaching the throne of God empty-handed.  My perpetual shortcomings have convinced me that I won’t approach the throne mistake free.  Of this I am certain.  But deep down, I just don’t wanna miss out on being the best Ricky God made me to be.  I realize the best Ricky is not a rich one nor is he popular and influential per se.  But that guy for sure is one who is sold out.  He’s the guy who’ll give his shirt off of his back to help even a stranger.  He’s the guy who’d rather be known for helping people than preaching great sermons.

Last week Paul hit me pretty hard.  He usually does.  There in 1 Cor. 2:4, 5 he admitted that his speech and his message weren’t impressive so that the people’s faith would rest not in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.  For the first time…and I mean the first time ever I prayed, “Lord if my preaching has to suck that your power would be made known…let it suck.”  I ain’t gonna tell you I enjoyed that prayer…but I could never stomach my so called success should the hearts of men go unchanged.

And so the other night, while heading home, after listening to my Pastor’s sermon on the Compassion of Christ, I stopped at a gas station to fill up.  It was cold, damp, and dark.  The last thing I wanted to do was get out and pump gas let alone be bothered.  But more so than that I was thinking about how awesome and compassionate Jesus Christ is.  That’s when Will came up.  He was obviously a homeless brother and asked me for fifteen cents.  I asked, “Will are you hungry?”  He said, “Yeah man I’m just trying to get a chili dog over at Sonic’s.”  I said, “I’ll be right back doc.”  He said, “Aw man, you’re like my god” to which I quickly replied, “No sir, I’m not.”  While waiting at the carhop on Will’s food, a white driver pulled up next to me somewhat bewildered and desperate.  He told me his story of running low on gas and trying to get home.  What’s funny is I’d just gone to the ATM and had a fresh $20 next to two crunched dollar bills.  I asked the Holy Spirit, “What should I do?”  I’ll be honest…I didn’t wait for an answer.  I just folded up the $20 and passed it to my brother and said “Man have a good night.”  After that Will met me at the corner and we talked a lil while.  Thankfully, Will acknowledged that “God” must’ve been watching him and how he was so encouraged.  And so was I.

Well now I’m hungry.  So I’m driving around downtown hoping that Wendy’s wasn’t the only thing open.  And that’s when I passed my friend Tracy and his mate.  Tracy is a homeless brother that goes to church with us every Sunday.  To know Tracy is to know a loooong conversation if you know what I mean.  But I’m grateful for the opportunities he gives us to remind us how we are to lend patience to one another in that Christ does the same for us.  The two needed a ride to the outdoor nook that they would sleep in that night some 2 1/2 miles away or so.  Of course those last 2 crunched up dollars were Tracy’s to have along with some quarters I scrounged in my glove compartment.

Jesus was interrupted.  Not many, save predicaments like the Woman at the Well, of his miraculous encounters seemed like appointments etched out the week before.  Yet in these stories we see the awesomeness and brilliance of how the gospel lives itself out.

I’m akin to praying for wisdom.  I’ve prayed and asked God for wisdom more times than anything else.  But recent lessons are reminding me there are other things to pray for.  And atop that list I believe I’ll begin praying for a spirit that embraces interruptions.  For in them, we get to see the fruit of that longing prayer that hopes that we will not live a life that misses out on our potential to be the best ‘us’ that God created us to be.  In the interruptions, we are reminded about the splendor of the image of God that every human being has housed within them. When you pause long enough, you can see sparks of His image twinkling in their eyes.  I saw it in Will’s eyes.  I saw it in that driver’s eyes.  And Lord willing this coming Sunday, I’ll see it again in Tracy’s.

Interrupted,
Ricky Jenkins

He is jealous for me…

“I’m always doing great.”  Those are the words of a neighbor of mine EVERY time I say hello.  He’s an older dude who lives in our condo building who has 2 beautiful dogs he often walks several times a day.  I don’t even know his name but I’ve yet to see him not wearing a smile.  I’ve lived there now a few months and I remember the first few times that I spoke to him he’d always respond this way.  He even says it, to the unadapted heart, in a seemingly rambunctious way that would feel practiced.  But I was wrong.

About a month or so ago, I was walking across the parking lot and noticed my neighbor was in a wheelchair.  I remember thinking, “what happened to this guy?”  Perhaps he had a surgery or an accident.  But this particular speaking opportunity was perfectly perplexing.  And this is so because the old guy responded that afternoon like he always has.  I said, “How are you?” to which he responded, in that same seemingly rambunctious tone, “I’m always doing great.”

I was so floored I couldn’t bring myself to inquire as to why he was in a wheelchair.  I was enamored with his response in that his response was the same meaning it was perfectly opposite of what his day looked like.  I put my head down as I walked.  I thought immediately, “Why am I not like him?”  This guy, for all I know, may not even know the Lord of course, but for what it’s worth, his words say more about his character than what my words had been saying about mine.  Philippians  4 was screaming at me, “I have learned no matter what state I find myself in to be content.”

Since then, and through a dozen other gracious eye openers from the Spirit, I’ve become hungry with knowing and owning what I believe my neighbor has…contentment.

We’re seekers by nature.  We’re worshippers.  We’re worshipping God or we’re worshipping something else.  We’re never not worshipping.  But I know when I look for contentment in things other than Christ and seek fulfillment in those ‘good’ things I find myself most miserable.  I’m guilty of this of course.  I’ve plunged myself into my work, into my education, into my reputation, into my performance, and have been found wanting more times than I care to admit.  But deep down I desire the contentment that Paul knew, and perhaps my neighbor too.  It’s that contentment that finds its center safely grounded and buried in the Savior’s love.  So my prayer has been, “fill me with you.  Show me what it means to be at peace with only you in my grasps.  Teach me the essence of the ‘your will be done’ prayer in that above my desires, my true satisfaction is you alone.”  And of course this often graces me with storms…problems…conflicts.  It’s been that kind of summer for sure.

Yet my praise is fixed on Him this moment…because, I can look back over my life…specifically the past two months…and I can truly say I’ve been blessed.  I’m so thankful for those crucible moments that I have experienced.  Because every situation, every challenge, every tear and fear, have turned my heart more towards God.  I’m in awe of the Savior.  I’m rejoicing at just how much in control He is and how desirous He is to make His glory and our peace known in the world.  What a privilege it is to know Him and be His child.

I’ve got a ways to go..an eternity’s worth for sure.  Yet tonight, while I’ve got some good sense, I am grateful to the Lord for life and the opportunity to know Him more.  The lyrics to How He Loves Us have penetrated my heart all week, “He is jealous for me…loves like a hurricane I’m like a tree.”  What joy!

Not sure if this post makes sense.  Don’t think I care either.  I just stopped to say, “I love you Jesus because you have FIRST loved me.”  Make your glory known in the world I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.