Thirteen years ago today (May 27th, at 11:25 a.m.), God blessed Tonia and me with our first child – a boy – Marvin Jr.  He weighed in at 6 lbs and 12 ounces and was 20 inches long. Today, we celebrate his quirky humor, silly and passionate laugh, bottomless stomach (He refuses to eat off the kid’s menu), inquisitive mind, his love for science, his artistic ability, his athleticism, his love for video games and legos, his compassionate heart, his concern for children, his growing leadership capabilities, his love for his friends, and his growing love for Jesus.

This evening some very important men, men who have had a strong hand in Marvin’s life, will celebrate him by sharing scripture, words of encouragement, life lessons, or symbols of manhood. The apostle Paul said the older men should teach and mentor the younger men. This one example of this biblical principle. We believe he will remember this event for a long time to come. We are so proud of Marvin, and we are expecting God to do some special things with and through him.

Though his birthday was yesterday, please join me and Tonia today as we celebrate our first born, Marvin Lewis Williams, Jr. If you don’t mind, please leave a specific life lesson, a powerful word of encouragement, or favorite scripture for Marvin Jr. in the comment section. Thank you very much.

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Yesterday, as I was about to leave the office, my executive administrator brought a beautiful bouquet of flowers in to me. This was a “welcome to the city of Lansing” gift to Tonia and me (mainly Tonia) from Pastor Larry Trice and his wife, Lena, from Tabernacle of David. We were overwhelmed by their generosity. We have always known this, but we are becoming more and more convinced of it – People don’t have to be nice. When they are, we should humbly accept it, gladly enjoy it, passionately thank God and them for it, and quickly pass it (kindness, niceness, generosity) on to someone else.

When was the last time someone was kind to you? How did it make you feel? What was your response?

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When I was younger, back in the olden days (as my kids would say), I was a boy scout – Pack 5 for life, baby!. The funny thing is, I rarely attended the weekly meetings, I did shoddy work on the merit badge lessons and projects, I rarely read the Boy Scout book/manual to learn how to be a boy scout, and I never had an aspiration of pursuing the highest goal of being a boy scout – eagle scout. I didn’t like the work of being a boy scout; I just liked wearing the uniform, saying that I was part of Pack 5, and going on the fun quarterly camping trips. What kind of boy scout was I? To my chagrin, not a very good one.

This started me thinking about our relationship with Jesus. Do we attend the weekly gatherings of believers in worship and growth communities? Are we full of good works that flow out of our relationship with Jesus? Are we spending unhurried times alone with Jesus? Are we reading the book that feeds our soul and helps us survive in our ungodly and turbulent world? Are we daily pursuing the highest goal of every believer – the likeness of Jesus, our Messiah and Lord? Are we really good disciples? Or, do we just like wearing the uniform and doing the “fun stuff” of following Jesus?

What kind of disciple is it that never or rarely loves (John 13:34-35), meets with other believers (Acts 2:42-44), reads her Bible (John 8:31-33), spends time with the Leader of the pack to become more like him (Mark 3:13-15; Romans 8:28-29) or daily shoulders the burden of being associated with Jesus (Luke 9:23-24)? Probably not a very good. But, it doesn’t have be this way. If we have failed, we can begin again today. Start by spending time alone with Jesus in prayer and reading the Bible. Ask him to revive your soul and renew your commitment to follow him more closely. This week, let’s do more than wear the uniform. Let’s truly be whom our uniform identifies us as – disciples, followers indeed!

What impacted you most about this post? What are some changes you would like to make? How can I pray for you regarding these changes?

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As I was reading Mark 12 this morning, I was arrested by this statement:  “Realizing how much the man understood, Jesus said to him, ‘You are not far from the Kingdom of God.’” Not far from the Kingdom of God? The man complimented Jesus on his knowledge and understanding of the greatest commandments. The man knew that there was one God. He knew how important it was to love God with all his heart, understanding (mind) and strength, and to love his neighbor as himself. He knew that following these two commandments was more important than offering burnt offerings and sacrifices required by the law. The man gave Jesus a good answer.

Why then did Jesus give this man a “You are not far from the Kingdom of God” status? I believe Jesus gave him this status because the man understood the right theology, but he had not committed his heart to the right theology he knew. He knew and said all the right words, but he had not fully committed to living the right life. He was a good “talker” of the word who had not yet become a good “doer” of the word. He had embraced the right teaching in his head (I believe knowledge of God and his word is extremely important), but it had not trickled down to his heart and life. The difference was 12 inches away (from his head to his heart). He knew and said he was supposed to do – love God with all his heart, mind and strength, and love his neighbor as himself, but he had not actually committed his life to doing what he was supposed to do.

Is this me? Have I made the great divide even wider (saying the right words, but living the wrong lives) with an incongruous life? Do I just spit good game at God, but have not brought my life into conformity with who he is and what he expects of me? Have I understood much and practiced little? Am I just a “good talker?” Am I guilty of complimenting Jesus for the good that he does, but will not submit my life to him for the God that he is? Do I just love God in theory and on paper or do I really love him with all that I am? Do I see the evidence of my love for God in my deep love for all people?

Lord, help me to close the great divide – saying the right words, but living the wrong life – with a life that is consistent with your character and your values.

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Happy Birthday, Mikayla L’Amour aka “Sweetie” Eight years ago, on an overcast and cool morning, at 10:27 a.m., our Heavenly Father blessed Tonia and me with our third child, a baby girl. We named her Mikayla L’amour (The Love – Thanks grandma Daisy). She weighed 7 pounds and 4 ounces and was 18 inches long.  As I captured this moment that morning, my eyes were filled with tears of joy and heart was exploding with worship, praise, and thanksgiving. The prayer you see written in my journal, is the same prayer I continue to pray today.

After eight years, my heart continues to explode with joy as I am watching and enjoying my “Sweetie” grow up really fast.

As I have watched her grow, her are a few of my observations: She loves Jesus, her Day with Dad, getting her hair done with her mother (getting pretty expensive), reading (The Abbey Hayes series is one of her favs), memorizing Scripture, stuffed animals, cheese pizza, me reading to her at night and tucking her in, playing the Go Diego Go game, I Spy Memory Game, Trouble, and Apples to Apples, trying to hang with her brothers, her friends (Joy, Julia, Nadia, Torrie, and Coletta), her dream of being a Vet, watching iCarly, Big Time Rush, and True Jackson, VP.

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Last week I, along with two of my ministry colleagues from Trinity Church, traveled to San Diego, California. We visited North Coast Church to learn about the effectiveness of sermon based-small groups. On Tuesday, Chris Mavity, Dave Enns, Chris Brown (not that one) and staff spent the entire day with us, giving us the skinny, the low down, and the 411 on the model they have been using for the last 27 years. I was very impressed with North Coast’s ministry simplicity, commitment to see people grow in their faith through relationships, the high value of collaboration, deployment of five hundred pastors (small group leaders) and 80% small group participation. Overall, we gleaned much from North Coast and were affirmed in what we are already doing. Here are a few of my learning and ramblings:

• The sermon-based small group model makes the most sense and is one of the most effective ways to help people develop in their walk with Jesus.
• The vision for sermon-based small groups has to be cast every week and in various ways to have maximum effectiveness.
• Drip the vision of sermon-based small groups into the culture of the church every chance you get.
• Sermon-based model limits groups going rogue.
• It’s surprising what people will let you do to them and where they will let you take them when you tell them ahead of time.
• As soon as you know what and how, communicate the plan clearly. Until you have clarity, don’t communicate the vision for sermon-based groups.
• Simplicity maximizes effectiveness.
• Sermon-based small groups has to be a high value of and championed by the leaders at the top of the organization.
• The experts are still learning and learning from us amateurs.
• If you are going to implement sermon-based small groups, fit it to the uniqueness of the culture of your ministry. There are no cookie cutter approaches.
• Collaboration in sermon preparation makes the sermon better. It helps you to pay your dumb tax before the weekend.
• Open your sermon preparation to staff and the following in your ministry: introverts, females, processors, experienced, extroverts, creators, youth and children leaders, and illustrators.
• Working ahead in sermon preparation on the front end removes the stress from the preacher and the homework writer on the back end.
• Because people are going to talk about the sermon, we might as well make it constructive with strategic and guided homework.
• We make training small group leaders more difficult than we should.
• Publish small groups so people can self-select.
• If sermon-based small groups are going to be effective, you have to commit to it for the long haul.

Does your church have small groups or community groups? if not, how does your church help people to grow and develop in the faith in Jesus? How do you think your church can maximize the weekend sermons? If your church is using the sermon-based model for small groups, what other lessons can you add?

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This past week was a very busy with travel, learning, reconnecting, and being mentored. As I came to the end of this week, here are a few things I learned last week:

1. I love traveling, but I really miss my family when I do.
2. I have to remain curious through asking powerful questions.
3. I need to do a better job treating those who are closest to me as if they are more important than I am.
4. I work with and around some really, really smart people.
5. People cannot grow and be set free until they are honest with themselves.
6. I have an AMAZING wife. She is better than I deserve. I must affirm her in her ministry and calling every chance I get.
7. God surprises me with blessings that I simply don’t deserve. My response? Humility and gratitude.
8. Preach the Bible and love people.
9. Clear communication prevents misunderstandings and misconceptions.
10. TIME really does spell love for our children. My kids really look forward to the Day with Dad time. I do too.
11. Leaders lead.
12. I learned valuable lessons from sons this week – lessons that will save me a lot of time and trouble.
13. People resist change. So, I have to help them love the change they hate.
14. There is something very powerful in people praying with and for one another.
15. Dr. Pastor Ralph West (fellow Bishop College Grad) The Church Without Walls, Houston) blessed me this week. Can’t wait to receive his teaching on preaching without notes. This man can flat out preach.
16. When people do a good job, appreciate and celebrate them.  Encouragement motivates.

What did you learn last week? How did God speak to you in your present situation and context?

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