Jolly Blog

Urgency--do you sense it?

2009-09-09T08:06:00.003-05:00

When I was in college back in the fall of 1979, one of the courses that was required was MI-10 Introduction to Missions. At that time, I remember thinking, "Wow...I'm sure glad that I just have to take this class and not really do anything about it. I'm glad that God is calling others to do this and not me."

My thinking has changed. Now it's not a matter of it being someone else, or if God wants me to be involved, it's how and when. The Lord has corrected my view of missions and what He desires for all of us to do. Don't let yourself off the hook easily. Don't pander to the cop out of "...that's for others to do".

Yes, all of us my not go. But, what is keeping you from going? Is it a God-thing for you to stay home or is it a "me" thing? If you aren't going, then you need to be giving and sending others. Become involved. The needs are trememdous...the cause is an eternal destination and the rewards are out of this world!

Life Applications from an Injured Ankle

2009-09-07T08:54:00.005-05:00

One week ago today my 17 year old daughter, Kelsey, was preparing for the first home volleyball match of their young season. The team had begun the season playing well and was learning how to adjust and learn from their mistakes on the fly. They were beginning to really play as a team, so excitement was in the air, especially for Kelsey in her senior season. But then, something unexpected happened.

About a year ago, while playing volleyball, Kelsey had severely sprained her ankle and it hasn't been the same sense. And this was the day, when that issue would crop up, again. While putting on her sweat pants, she jumped into the air as we sometimes do when attempting to get our feet all the way through the pant leg. When she came down, though, her ankle gave way and she crumpled to the floor in pain. I was upstairs and soon heard Kelsey's agonizing cries and the pleas of help from her younger sister, Kayla, for me to come down and do something. When I got downstairs and was told what had happened, we immediately put ice on her ankle but I could tell from her cries and the pain that she was in that volleyball would not be a possibility for Kelsey for that night...and perhaps, much longer.

She didn't play that night and the next morning my dear wife, Beth, took Kelsey to the doctor. When the xrays came back the doctor said that it looked like a hairline fracture and most likely, she would be in a cast for a while--and that volleyball was out for this season. You can imagine the disappointment that Kelsey felt...not being able to play and help her team during her senior year. As a father, I had compassion for Kelsey and told her sorry I was for this great disappointment. I also wanted to encourage her to continue to be there for her team and to learn from this experience while watching from the bench. Who knew how God might be able to use this in her future and how it might open up opportunities down the road.

I'm sure by now, that you can see some parallels for the Christian life:

1. Often, we are injured--by mistakes that we make or by something someone else does to us or simply by the disapointment of our expectations. And, just like Kelsey's ankle, if the injury isn't completely healed, that pain can crop up again in unexpected ways. Someone might say something that in and of itself was not meant to harm or hurt, but the memory of that previous experience can be a puncture wound to the heart.

2. We want to help those in pain and being there is important. We need to realize, though, that pain is part of life and the growing process. If we could remove the pain or relieve it, we probalby would try, just like I wanted to remove both the physical and emotional pain that Kelsey was feeling. But, I couldn't. Her ankle was injured and needed time to heal. Along with the physical pain was the real emotional pain of not playing volleyball for her senior season.

James MacDonald of "Walk in the Word" said this, just thir morning on his program:
"There is a quality of life that is deeper than avoiding every pain. It's about finding God faithful even in the thorns of life." How true that is and how timely for us all to remember when we get hurt.

Now, my name is not O'Henry, the author who would usually have suprise endings to his stories, but I do have a different ending to this blog post than you might expect. By Thursday afternoon, the day before the volleyball schedule showed a tournament to be played in Cedar Rapids, Kelsey was actually walking around on her foot almost normally. The doctor had decided to wait until Thursday to put the cast on so that the swelling could go down. When we realized that Kelsey was doing more on her ankle than we expected, we called the doctor's office back. After our call, the doctor conferred with another physician and they then concluded that the xrays were not conclusive. In other words, there might be a fracture there or there might not be. So, they were going to leave it up to us to decide what should be done next. Hmmm...

We prayed and then spoke with Kelsey's coach, Kal, and game up with a plan of action. None of us wanted Kelsey to do more damage to her ankle and yet we also saw how well she was moving around and desired, if possible, for her to be involved in the upcoming tournament and the rest of the season. So, we decided that she could warm up with the team Friday evening and then depending upon how she was moving around on Saturday morning, potentially play in one or more of the matches.

Well, to keep a long story from being longer, I want you to know that Kelsey did warm up Friday night, and yes, she played on Saturday. Not only did she play some on Saturday, but she served the final point in the game which clinched third place for her team. God had done something that we certainly couldn't have anticipated less than a week earlier. In fact here is a short video from one of the earlier matches in which Kelsey played (she wears number 7).

As for spiritual correlations, let me say this: God allows pain in our lives for a reson--and He gives grace to see us through the pain. He also heals that pain and desires to give us more than we can ask or imagine. We are so thankful to our great God for victories...yes...and for injuries, because often, they are the best teachers.

One more picture for you--this is the team with their 3rd place trophy!

Trans World Radio

2009-08-29T11:46:00.005-05:00

This past week, I was able to visit the offices of Trans World Radio in Cary, North Carolina and get a feel for their ministry. I have known of TWR for many years, but this was my first time to get exposed to what God was doing firsthand. I want to thank John Summerville, the Director for Radio Partnerships, for hosting me this week. John has a passion for TWR which comes out the moment he begins sharing about what God is doing. Thanks, John! On Wednesday and Thursday of this week I broadcast back to the studios of WDLM from a conference room at TWR. Every half hour, from 6 - 9 AM, John had scheduled a different guest for me to interview. Each guest had a variety of stories of how God was at work in their realm of ministry at TWR--whether it be in Africa, Latin America, Europe, Southeast Asia or even here at home. All of these individuals reminded me of a very simple truth: God is at work all around the world! Now, that seems rather obvious, doesn't it? However, let's think about that for a moment or two. Our perspective is usually so small...we just see what God is doing all around us, in our churches, families and friends and we are so thankful and marvel at His goodness. But, now, let's multiply that by millions and billions! Realize this truth that God is at work...RIGHT NOW...in the lives of people all around the globe! For me, that truth sometimes gets lost. I mean, I do know that deep in the recesses of my mind, but this week has brought it front and center and to be able to share the stories of how God is at work has certainly encouraged me. I hope for those who were able to listen, that it has encouraged you as well. Henry Blackaby, in his book Experiencing God wrote that we are to... find out where God is working and join him there. Often we think that we are taking God with us, almost believing that we are taking Him to someplace that He has never been. How far from reality that is--it is a matter of perspective--the world doesn't revolve around us. The point is, as my friends at TWR have reminded me, that God is at work and He is waiting for us to "get in the game". As you contemplate that thought, simply ask the Lord if you are in the game and if you are in the correct position on the field.

Orphan

2009-07-24T13:26:00.003-05:00

You know, there is a movie coming out today called "Orphan". Now, I haven't seen it but from what I've read, even many in the secular media are saying it's not good. (Notice, I didn't say "stupid" as some people have said about a topic before getting all the facts.) ;)

But, when the Washington Post says, it is a "depraved, worthless piece of filth...a high-gloss horror show about a well-meaning couple who bring home a 9-year-old girl to join their family, only to discover, way too late, that she's a homicidal psychopath.", that to me says very loudly...STAY AWAY!

Instead, let me offer you an alternative. It's not a movie, but a new book by Tom Davis of Children's Hopechest. With over 143 million oprhans in the world and our Lord's command to defend and care for them, we need to be engaged in the spiritual battle for their souls! The Lord says that He is the father to the fatherless and a defender of the orphan, but He chooses to do that through you and me.

So, instead of supporting something "depraved, worthless piece of filth..." let me encourage you to read the book Scared by Tom Davis.

Scared - A Novel on the Edge of the World from Children's HopeChest on Vimeo.

You Just Never Know...

2009-01-07T22:56:00.000-06:00

Well, this is my first blog post so it may take a little while to get into the groove. But, here goes! Actually, this blog was created for me during a Moody Radio manager's conference in December, 2008. The speaker in one session was helping us move into the 21st century, technically speaking, and wanted to demonstrate how easy it was to create a blog. He asked for a volunteer, and somehow I found my hand raised. So, wallah...here is the Jolly blog!

Working for Moody Radio and doing Daybreak on WDLM weekeday mornings is never dull. In fact, you just never know what a day will bring forth. For example, as I drove into the parking lot at the station this morning, I noticed that my co-hosts car was not parked where it usually is. She gets there earlier than I do and today her car was parked directly in front of the door. I thought that was rather strange but then dismissed the irregularity as I pulled into my normal parking area. As I prepared to open the door to get out of my pickup, I noticed what appeared to be a plastic goose sitting not 15 feet away on the parking lot asphalt. My first thought then was, "why would someone come out to the station and leave a plastic goose here?" I continued to open the door and get out. As I did, the "plastic" goose stood up and began to honk at me! Wow...I guess it's not a plastic goose after all! What a bizarre way to start the day. Of course, knowing that geese can be not too friendly at times I made a little cirle around the goose towards the entry into the building instead of a straight line.

We talked about the goose from time to time during Daybreak, especially as other staff members and guests arrived during the day. When I left this afternoon, the goose was still in our parking lot alerting us to new visitors who arrived. So, what did today hold for you? I mean, it might have been exactly what you anticipated would take place...or perhaps, there were things that transpired which you had no idea would happen. I certainly never imagined having my day start with a goose in the parking lot. But my little morning suprise was a good reminder to me that we can plan our days and think we know what will transpire...but often our plans go awry. God may have some divine appointments for us that we hadn't counted on...divine appointments that can change a person's life and destiny for eternity. The question is, do we have enough margin in our lives in order to be ready for unexpected events coming into our lives? If we don't, we may not be ready to take advantage of unexpected opportunities given to us by God.

Proverbs 16:9 says, "The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps."

We do make our plans and planning is a good thing but the Lord is sovereign and He may bring things into our lives which we hadn't planned for. And you know, that is ok. In fact, it's not just ok...it's great! This weekend I will be taking some time away to spend with the Lord and to have some rest and relaxation. I'm not sure what the Lord has in store and what He will show me during the next few days, but I'm excited to see what it is. And, I'll look forward to sharing it with you soon. Dave