Lynn Anderson Smells Like Sheep (a note I posted for Lynn on caringbridge)

I continue to pray for you. When I read Carolyn's post today - well, how can I describe what I feel? I love you Lynn! Carolyn's faith is so strong. God has given you peace and strength to face the most difficult battle of your life. You both are amazing. I can't wait to see the video interview on the Oak Hills Church website. Three times, just this week, I told stories about you. You are so full of Jesus. You taught me, pastored me, guided me through stormy weather. And when the weather cleared, you taught me even more. You opened your heart to me and I'll never forget it - so affirming, encouraging - so wise and understanding - filled to the measure of the fullness of Christ! I will never pastor you like but I am a much better pastor because of you. I smell like sheep Lynn. I smell like you and I like it because you smell like Jesus. I esteem you so high. Paul said to esteem others higher than yourself - well, that's easy to do with you. You are so much better than me in every area. Your leadership, influence and preaching - man, you can preach! You've touched thousands and thousands. There are so many people who feel like I do. We look up to you, admire you and love you. Just look at your guest book - page after page of stories, expressions of love and warm affection. And why? Because you loved us with the love of Jesus. You preach like Apollos, write like Paul, lead like Moses, fight like David and love like Jesus. You are my hero. I knew you before you knew me. I read your books - I ordered your tapes - I guess I've listened to a 100 (no, far more). Whenever I had the privilege to hear you in person, I was on the front row hanging on every word. Then, I met you in CA. Nice restaurant, beautiful view of the Pacific sitting at a table with about 12 preachers. It was so fun. We laughed so hard I thought I would bust. Afterwards one guy said you and Lynn really hit it off. Yes, we sure did! I was so happy to know that it was ok to be normal in the presence of a great man like you. Since that time we've shared more than laughs. You've seen my tears. When I fell into sin and came back to the Lord, you hugged me and kissed me in front of everybody. I walked in five minutes late because I had just finished my session across campus and I rushed to yours. You had already started preaching but you stopped when I walked in. You motioned for me to come down front and hugged me and gave be a big holy kiss on the cheek. I felt like the prodigal son who came home. Then you smiled real big and turned me around to face your audience and introduced me. You told them that I had a story like Joe Beam and you said some other nice things that I remember well but I'm not going to share. But the Holy Spirit filled my heart with such joy and when I sit down I thought "Lord, how could you be so good to me after what I have done. I was ashamed to walk into room but Lynn showered me with your grace (tearful as I write). I've seen your tears too. I've seen them well up in your eyes when you talk about Jesus and God's awesome power. I've seen tears in your eyes when you talked about Carolyn and your children and the people you love. And in that San Antonio hospital where I visited you. I remember what you said about the big "C" word. You explained that the the big "C" was not cancer. The big C's were Christ, Carolyn and Children. God gave you that and I could see how it strengthened you. Right now my heart is so full. Full of pain as I think about your battle with the little "c". But full of faith as I think of your strength and courage and the way you fight. You inspire me. I pray God gives me courage like you. Now, please say a prayer tonight for me and our church. You would love our church Lynn. If you were able to come and preach I know they would love you. And you would love them. Pray that God will keep blessing us and that I will do a good job as I pass on to others what you gave me - Jesus. I love you brother! Jeff

Guilt is only good when it is real

Guilt is good when it is real. Godly sorrow leads to repentance. When I feel guilty for my sin the Holy Spirit convicts me and produces an urgent desire to repent. Paul explained the process in 2 Cor. 7:10-11 when he wrote "Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter. So guilt is good when it is real because it makes you want to repent and turn to God. But, "worldly sorrow brings death." Excessive and inappropriate guilt kills you. Once you feel the pain and make the change you need to let it go. Why do you keep holding on to it? Why do you kill yourself with ongoing thoughts of regret? Did you notice what Paul said? He said "Godly sorry leads to salvation and leaves no regret." It's over. Guilt has served it's purpose and you're back on track - God has forgiven you, your guilt is gone so don't preoccupy your mind with regret - it will kill you! God said "I will remember your sins no more." Now, since God forgave you and promised not to remember it why do you keep dwelling on it? It's "unreal" guilt because it's gone. The blood of Jesus has washed all your sins away. Another kind of guilt that is "unreal" is when you blame yourself for things you didn't do. Some people automatically assume responsibility for other people's problems (e.g. parents are bad about this) and feel guilty for things they didn't do. Now if you you contributed to a problem, apologize and make amends. But remember, guilt is only good when it is real. Stop killing your self with false guilt. Stop beating yourself up for things you didn't do. That's not what God wants. You don't please God when you feel guilty for things you didn't do. And God does not want you to continue to beat yourself up for past sins. Jesus was sufficiently beaten for your transgression - don't beat yourself as if you have something to pay. He absorbed all your punishment. Your guilt is gone and you're making changes gradually by his transforming Spirit - so be free! Your guilt is gone! Blotted out! Totally righteous! That's what God wants you to accept by faith. That's it. Trust Christ! Jesus did not die on the cross to make you feel guilty. Jesus died and rose again to set you free.

If you look at the future it changes and that changes everything else

I just heard a good line from a man - I can't remember his name but what he said captured my attention. He said, "Here's the thing about the future. If you look at the future it changes and that changes everything else." I like it. It's true. When look ahead and change your plans it changes your future. And that changes everything else. You can avoid many problems by looking ahead. Maybe now, as you read this post, is a good time to look at your future. Ask yourself this question: "If I keep heading down the road I am on where am I going to be when I get there?" If you are on the high road following Jesus, stay on it. If not, take the next exit and change directions. When you do this, it may change everything else (relationships, your "station" or place in life, etc) because you do not life in isolation - what you decide affects your family and friends - changing one part changes the whole. I think it could also apply to the past - not that looking at your past changes it but that the linear logic used in blaming all your problems on one event (or person) is a mistake - it's not true. The cause was not the one bad thing, it was many things and that changed everthing, including your reaction to it. The S-R model you learned in Psychology 101 does not fit. It's not billiard ball world. You can't find cause using linear thinking. It's circular, complex and multidiminisional and accepting responsibility for how you think, feel and behave in reaction to the bad thing that happened may be the most important factor. OK. Enough.I need to think about it later. It has captured my attention for too long - I need to get back to reviewing and rehearsing my sermon for Lord's Day morning. But all of the above is related to God. David said "we are fearfully and wonderly made" and that's certainly true of everything he created. All of creation - time, space, everything - all of it is so wonderfully complex. Who can understand it? Who has ever known the mind of God? His thoughts and ways are so high and lofty. When I look up it makes me bow low and worship him.