Nick’s Walk

I have had the opportunity to influence three generations of offspring. My influence hasn’t always been great or even positive. I think I’ve learned that the secret is in a proper balancing of Being There and Letting Go. Being There Availability. The most important factor in influence whether it’s children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, friends, or associates is availability. Availability doesn’t mean a constant hovering over but a constant, not always visible presence. It means picking up a phone when it rings, responding to a text, sitting in an intense listening mode when a heart is broken and pouring out.  Listening. I long ago learned I don’t have all the answers. It took me longer to realize that listening to the questions and concerns was more important. In this techno world, many are wondering if anyone is really listening. Listening is the greatest gift and an essential element of being there.  Cheering. While I write this I am watching a Houston Astros game. I’m a fan, but I’m not doing my team much good. I’m not there cheering them on. We need to complement, fist bump, smile broadly, and cheer those we love. It’s not enough to say “they know how […]

I can hear a song dozens of times without the lyrics hitting home. Then, suddenly, they blow me away. Yesterday I was listening to “Lead Me” by Sanctus Real on K-LOVE. The lyrics blew me away:  “Lead Me” I look around and see my wonderful life Almost perfect from the outside In picture frames I see my beautiful wife Always smiling But on the inside, I can hear her saying… “Lead me with strong hands Stand up when I can’t Don’t leave me hungry for love Chasing dreams, what about us? Show me you’re willing to fight That I’m still the love of your life I know we call this our home But I still feel alone” I see their faces, look in their innocent eyes They’re just children from the outside I’m working hard, I tell myself they’ll be fine They’re independent But on the inside, I can hear them saying… “Lead me with strong hands Stand up when I can’t Don’t leave me hungry for love Chasing dreams, but what about us? Show me you’re willing to fight That I’m still the love of your life I know we call this our home But I still feel […]

  Find what God is blessing and do that. It’s easy to fall into the trap of pursuing our own agenda instead of God’s. We struggle at “ministry” convinced that its failure to produce fruit is just a “work of the devil” or our own failure to do enough. The simple truth is that God blesses that which furthers His will. We may not understand the means and methods He has chosen, but that’s not our job.  At this point in my life, I thought sure I would be deeply involved in a traditional ministry complete with abundant fruit. Instead, I’m an Uber driver. Don’t try to engage me with your Uber app. I’m not an employee of Uber. My principal ministry, that which God blesses, seems to be driving people, mostly grandkids,  around town or delivering Covenant Spotlight once a month. Most of my time seems to be spent, driving or waiting to drive. “Driver” is not listed along with apostles, prophets,  evangelists, pastors, and teachers,  in Ephesians 4:11, an oversight by Paul, no doubt.  There is little doubt the driving is blessed. Magazines get in the hands of those who need the words encased therein. My grandkids get […]

A couple of weeks ago I happily accepted an invitation to preach at The Refinery – A Faith-Based MIssion for Men. The ministry holds a chapel service on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Local pastors are asked to preach. At the time I accepted the invitation I was suffering from a summer cold but figured surely I would be better in two weeks. In fact, I got worse. My cough developed into a painful sore throat and eventually, laryngitis. I had to cancel meetings and conference calls because I couldn’t speak. I couldn’t bring myself to cancel the preaching engagement. Yesterday I drank tea with lemon and honey, used throat lozenges then I headed for Opelousas determined to give it a try but planning on cutting back to the bone on my planned sermon.  For the first time in days, I had nearly full voice and was able to deliver the entire message. I had a great time of fellowship and worship with the men. It was another case of God equipping the called.  I was truly blessed. I hope the men got something out of the message. My voice miracle is evidence that God wanted the word spoken. But that […]

As I write this the world is captivated by a group of boys and their coach, trapped in a cave in Thailand. They, frankly stupidly, wandered into the cave and got trapped when the water rose. They were “lost” for nearly two weeks before being found. “Escape” will mean traveling under water for a mile and a half in the dark. That process is going on as I write. I’m not cool with the dark and have at least a touch of claustrophobia. I don’t know if I would have made it through two weeks in the dark. I do know it would take some strong convincing for me to make the dangerous trek out once relative safety was established. I would likely be just fine waiting until October when the monsoons will end and I can take an easier and safer exit.  All this is so much like our walk with Jesus. We find ourselves “lost” in a dark and dangerous place. Hopelessness rises until all of a sudden we are found. There is light and food. We are saved. Life is completely different. It seems pretty great. We are told that there is so much more but […]

I feel terrible today. I failed my wife last night. I awoke in the middle of the night. It was clear my wife had not slept and was suffering from back spasms. After fifty years, I knew I had the ability to help. We have learned that less than a half-hour back massage in such situations will relieve the spasms and relax her enough to allow her to drift into elusive sleep. Last night, however, I was tired and sleepy. I turned over thinking briefly that her situation would resolve itself. When I awoke after sunrise, it was clear it hadn’t. She was still awake and still suffering. After less than a half hour of massage, she was pain-free and asleep, as she should have been hours before. As Christians, most of us talk and dream of doing big things for Jesus. Most of us never do. Usually, it’s because we never master doing the little things.  Giving grandkids rides when mom isn’t available; middle of the night back rubs, babysitting so young couples can get a much-needed date night, visiting those in prison; all seem little.  I can’t help but think when it is all done and we […]

I recently purchased a new recliner. I got it for comfort. I let my wife choose the color. I didn’t care about that. For me, it was all about comfort. Much of what we do is about comfort. We hang around with people we are comfortable with.  Our political and social affiliations are guided by our comfort levels. We go to churches where we are comfortable. Churches are designed to make us comfortable. Now they have coffee bars, comfortable seating, and feel good programs. I don’t think Jesus meant for us to be so comfortable. In fact, we are designed to be UNcomfortable. We grow and learn in discomfort. We are meant to get our comfort only from God. Jesus promised to send us a Comforter, the Holy Spirit. If we make ourselves comfortable we perceive no need for Him. We need to live in challenge. We need to live in recognition of our inadequacy without Him. We need to move out of the comfort and into the discomfort zone.  In Jeremiah 1, we learn how we are designed from before our birth to fulfill a need. That design doesn’t include obvious attributes that make us perfect for our […]

Here’s an article I provided to Covenant Spotlight for Father’s Day. Grab a copy of the June Issue or check it out online for more Father’s Day thoughts. https://www.cspotlight.com/# I think most dads today are grossly undervalued. I count some of these guys as my twenty-first century heroes. Most moms are great; but so are most dads. There are some subpar dads and there are, yes, some subpar moms. Let’s be fair. This latest generation of 20 to 30-year-old dads seem particularly good. The ones I know help at home, take the family to church, are faithful to spouse and God, and work pretty hard in a stress and temptation filled environment. Well done guys. No doubt there are far too many single-parent families, most of them headed by women. There are numerous examples of abandonment and unfaithfulness. Those ladies deserve credit and support. Let’s not forget, however, the men who are doing great. More than ever before men are taking a fatherhood role with children of other men. Often their roles are part-time and their authority often doesn’t match their responsibility. Well done guys. Most men come home to households in which mom is as tired as they are; […]