Have you ever felt total and complete freedom? Not the legal sort of kind, but a personal freedom from something that has plagued you for along time.

That happened to me several weeks ago and a few times since. Let me explain. I grew up with Tourette Syndrome, ADD, and dyslexia. But i didn’t know what I had until I was 20 years old. What a relief of sorts. TS is an involuntary movement disorder believed to be caused by a genetic defect in the brain. This affects my every waking moment. In 40+ years I have never gone more than 1-2 minutes without “ticcing.”In fact, it often gets to the point of wearing me out physically and mentally.

Several Friday nights ago I sat at my computer listening to Alberto and Kimberly Rivera. They create “presence music”. www.rainingpresence.com.  As I sat and listened for a few minutes, I began to notice something - no tics! I thought to myself - “is this happening?” Could it be true? I continued to listen. Still no tics! This went on for about 30 minutes - tic free.  Never in my life had this happened to me. I experienced a peace - no, a freedom from a physical dungeon that I had never felt before.

“Could this happen again?”, I wondered. Was it a fluke? I prayed not.

The next morning I read an article about Dr. Sachs and a Baptist church in New York that is using music as therapy alternatives to medicine.

Since that Friday night, I have on several occasions experienced this new found freedom.

It reminds me of the time that David the shepherd boy, played his harp for King Saul. The music had a theraputic affect on him, too.

So, I just wonder how many more of these mysteries await us. I don’t know, but I’m going to keep seeking this “freedom” whenever possible.

Kathleen and I had the once in a life time opportunity on Friday night to go see Celtic Woman. If you don’t know what this is check out their website - www.celticwoman.com

Over the last few years I’ve seen their performances on our local PBS station. The group consists of four vocalists, one violinist, back up singers and several band members. But seeing them live was the ultimate experience. They blend in old Irish tunes mixed with a few contemporary classics. The tight harmony in the vocals was unlike anything I’ve ever heard. The arrangements, visual effects, and performances were equally stunning. I truly wished the night would have never ended. If I could have gotten tickets for the Saturday performance, I would’ve have gone to that one, too!

So why am I writing about this? This may sound crazy to some of you, but this was a worship moment for me. During the evening I was drawn to reflect on what God had given us - music in this case - and in turn I blessed him for it.

I wonder how many times we go through our day and witness such creative activity, and because it doesn’t wear a “Christian” label, we push it aside? We stay inside our Christianese construct and fail to see the beauty around us.

Well, I guess that’s okay to a point, as long as we are going to produce the quality that our Lord demands.

I just saw these stats. Kind of depressing isn’t it. Okay, so this is another call to do something. (and thanks to those who have done something)

Are we responsible? To some degree I think so. What can you do? www.bloodwatermission.com is a great place to start.

Africa carries 25% of the world’s disease burden yet has only 3% of the world’s health workers and 1% of the world’s economic resources to meet that challenge.

Those famous words were recorded by U2 over twenty years ago. But here’s where we’re different. For the last decade or so, every Saturday morningI spend several hours hiking in the woods. Rain, snow, storm, wind, heat, cold - all the better. I love packing up my camera gear and just going. One of my dreams while hiking is to find some deer antler sheds. I don’t know why I’m drawn to them, maybe it’s because they are so elusive. I’ve hiked over hundreds of thousands of acres, crossed many streams, wore out countless pairs of socks - and I have still haven’t found what I’m looking for.

But there is one thing I have found - Jesus. He’s not hard to find. In fact, the Bible says that “all creation declares that God exists…” and, “you will find me when you seek me with your whole heart.”

 I haven’t found those sheds yet, but one out of two ain’t bad.

A few weeks ago Kathleen and I visited a local church and they happened to observe communion that Sunday. The service was quiet and subdued, but when it came time for communion it was like a black cloud descended on the auditorium. The servers all gathered in unison without a sound to be heard. As they approached to receive the serving trays they were careful to be in lock step with each other with military like precision. They also made sure there was no clinking of the trays. Efficiently they passed out the elements, returned for a quick prayer, then we partook of the elements and it was over.

I’ve been in more Lord’s Supper services than I can count. And this one was no different than 99.9% of the other observances I attended. As I sat there I wondered - do we have this backwards? Read this passage from Acts 2  “…They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity.” As I remembered all that Jesus did for me on the cross, JOY began to well up within my heart and I began to thank him for paying the sacrifice for me.You see, the early church understood this all too well – they shared this meal with great joy. Why aren’t we doing the same?

A few weeks ago a young woman came into my office crying uncontrollably. I first thought, “What’s wrong and how can I fix it?” A minute or so went by, then I asked her to sit down. Slowly she began, “A friend of ours just killed her husband.” Honestly, I didn’t know what to say. As she began to share some details, I silently prayed, “Jesus what do I say?”

Then His words came, “What will you do with me?” And it made sense! You see we have been taught to ask the question - What would Jesus do? And that’s okay. But I think there may be a better question – What will you do with Jesus? At the end of the day, no matter the situation, we have to respond to Jesus. Will the circumstances around us cause us to become angry, depressed, bitter, and distant? Or kind, gracious, accepting, forgiving, and loving.

How you respond to your circumstances will first be determined by how you respond to Jesus.

What will you do with Jesus?

www.halmoran.com

Sitting here watching a little TV while surfing the net, too, I’m amazed by the “holiday” TV ads that political candidates run.

One of the news channels ran about six ads one right after the other by various candidates. They were all profesionally crafted to tug at your heart and give you a warm fuzzy feeling about the person and their “faith”.

Well that’s all nice and good, but I don’t see any one of them name the name of Jesus. They all talk about the “specialness” of the season, peace and happiness, and even display a cross, (gee -  shouldn’t they come out with that on Easter when they run their ads about the resurrection) but what about Jesus. You know - the Messiah, the Anointed One, the Savior, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the Emmanuel - God with us, THE CHRIST OF CHRISTMAS!

Jesus has some news for you political candidates, “If you deny me before men, I will deny you before my father in heaven. And if you confess me before men, I will confess you before my father.”

I’ll be waiting a long time before that ad runs!

That’s the weight of the Christmas ads in my local newspaper last week - 3 pounds. Although I’m not a shopper by any means, I decided to peruse the ads and see what’s the next latest and greatest thing on the market. It took me about an hour to get through them with only a cursory glance.

And you know what - after all that looking, I realized that I was in need of nothing.  Not that I have everything, mind you - far from it! But, the Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.

As you go about the holiday season remember this verse, “He will give you everything you need from day to day, if you make the kingdom of God your primary concern.” NLT Luke 12:31

Yesterday I had a most enjoyable hike. The air was cold, the sky overcast, and frost covered the ground. It doesn’t get any better than this! As usual, I get up long before daybreak, grab my camo gear and camera, and head for the woods.

On this day I hiked to one of my favorite spots - a beaver pond. I nestled down and sat in the tall grass and just watched for whatever may come along. Soon, I spotted a kingfisher perched in a dead tree in the water. Before too long he took the plunge in search of food. Nothing this time or several after.

Then it hit me, that water must have been freezing, I’m guessing no more than 40 degrees. But the kingfisher kept fishing. I thought to myself, here I am bundled up in several layers of warm clothing, but the kingfisher didn’t look any different to me than kingfishers that fish this spot in the summer when the water is very warm.

What’s the difference? Obviously the Creator knew what he was doing when he made humans and kingfishers. He gave the large beaked bird everything she would need in order to survive any season.

As for us humans - have we not been given even more to meet the challenges of the day?

And how about doing a little fishing ourselves? It’s always in season and there’s no limit?

After three surgeries this year, that’s what Kathleen calls me - the human roadmap! All kidding aside, God has done wonderful things in restoring my health. But the scars will always be there - a reminder of what God brought us through. And I will never forget!

I’m also reminded of Paul’s letter to the Galatians where he says, “For I bear on my body the scars that show I belong to Jesus.” Shipwrecked, beaten, whipped, stoned and left for dead, if anyone was “scarred” it was Paul. But Paul looked beyond the scars and to the surpassing glory of knowing Jesus.

In our gotta-have-it-all generation I wonder if we’re willing to under go a little “cosmetic” surgery.

I don’t know about you, but I’m scarred for life!

… of someone hacking through your roof with pick axes and shovels in order to get in because the place was full of excitement.

The noise, dirt, and debris would be enough to drive most people for the exits. And not to mention what a preacher might think or say.

But that’s exactly what happened in Mark chapter 2. Friends of a lame man wanted to take him to see Jesus so he could be healed, but there wasn’t any room in the house where Jesus was ministering. So the friends carried the man up to the roof and dug a hole through it and lowered him to Jesus. Seeing their faith he healed the man.

Fast forward 2,000 years. How would we have reacted? Do we have the patience  that Jesus had, or at the sound of the smallest distraction are we ready to call in the “guard”? Are we willing to do whatever it takes to bring people to the Great Physician? Are we willing to persevere at all costs and keep digging no matter how “disruptive” it may seem to others?

I wonder.

Not just - “I’m free because I live in America.” But totally, radically, life changing - free.The Apostle Paul wrote, “where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”The application of this verse came to mind within the last two weeks or so. We had the opportunity to visit two distinctly different churches. But even though the expressions of how they “do church” were different, there was such freedom in these places. In one, their freedom was manisfested in the way they went about ministry in their community.

You could see the joy, love, and delight on every red, yellow, black, and white face in the crowd.The other expressed freedom through the creative arts in their approach to worship and presentation of the Word. Many talented artisans from every artistic persuasion acted in unison as the Word of God took form in new and creative ways to point people to Christ.

Both were very dynamic experiences. And I believe it is because of the freedom they have in Christ. If you look around today, be it in a church setting, a community, or even a whole nation, those who are making the most dramatic impact upon their world are doing so because they are free.Do you sense this freedom?“It was for freedom that Christ has set us free.”Now are you free?

If you have ever eaten in a fast food restaurant, you’ve been in a franchise. The franchisor establishes a unique system of operations, then signs up franchisees who deliver those goods and services to the public.As our search continues for a church, I see a lot of franchising going on.

Someone comes along with a novel idea on “how to do church” and they have some success in attracting people (see previous post). Then the next thing you know their holding “franchise conferences” with pastors running back to their local church with the next latest and greatest formula - often disappointed when the “franchise” doesn’t work for them.

A wise old man once told me, “Methods are many and principles are few. Methods may change, but principles never do.”In studying our culture - especially that of the “millenials” - I’ve found that people are craving authenticity. Sometimes that’s hard to find at your local franchise.

Due to distance, the price of gas, and a few other things, we’ve begun looking for a new church home in our area. Each week I usually do a little research on “who” is out there and what “they” are about.To be honest, some weeks are a little discouraging.

In a previous post I said that there was a church on every corner. And that’s still true. But what I’m finding in many cases are irrelevant styles, structures, and focus.Take this verbiage from a website I visited today - “The preaching of God’s word is the focal point of our services.”Maybe as a visitor I’m supposed to read between the lines and know what is meant by the quote, but I’m a little confused. I always thought that God was to be the “focal point” of any service, not the person delivering it.

Stay tuned for more strange quips as the search continues.If you have any recommendations on places to visit, I’m all ears.

Maybe you’ve seen the statistics:2/3rds of all Americans are overweight.1 child dies every 4 seconds from starvation in Africa.

Do you see where I’m going with this…? Good! I really don’t need to elaborate.Go here to help…www.bloodwatermission.com       www.worldvision.org