Gospel Grenades and Change Buckets

Posted on September 22, 2014 by Karrick Dyer

“Invite people to church.”

“Bible study is needed so you can properly tell people about Jesus, and why they need Him in their lives.”

True. And simple.

But ineffective because we, as Christians, have not been credible messengers.

And you can’t tell someone what they need if you can’t model for them something that they might want.

I’ve wasted years and opportunities with faulty “tell people about Jesus and invite them to church” mentality.

Failure is measured when our immediate actions don’t result in church attendance or baptism.

We want to lob gospel grenades and hope for immediate results. If we don’t think we can hit a homerun, we just let somebody else bat for us…….preachers, people with better knowledge of the bible……….

I can’t do something big, so I’ll do nothing at all.

It’s a terrible mistake to spend our days believing that Jesus can only be dispensed to an unbelieving world in $1,000 bills.

I’ve never had a $1,000 bill and never spent one. And I’ve never taken action or said the magic words that immediately led someone to accept Jesus Christ as their savior.

But I have a change bucket that I empty my pockets into every day. And it accumulates at least $300……twice a year…….year after year.

Romans 12:6-8 (NIV)

⁶We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us……….. ⁷if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; ⁸if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead,^[b] do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

I don’t even know anybody that’s ever had a $1,000 bill. But we’ve all gone through mountains of pocket change over the years.

For the talents that God has given the vast majority of Christians, there is greater cumulative value in the little things.

Simple acts can lead to amazing things when we trust God with things beyond our sight or reach.

We don’t have to be able to see the last step, we just have to be willing to take the next one…….and we can’t be frozen in out tracks simply because we think we have to jump the whole staircase in a single bound.

Check the direction of your influence. It’s reaching somebody all the time. Good…..or bad?

Dispensing the love and hope of Jesus to the world around us, one penny and one nickel at a time. All day every day.

Little things matter. Every day, action and every encounter has value…..forever.

In a world where Christians tend to be tagged as judgmental hypocrites, live with a determination to be a credible messenger of the story of the hope that Jesus brings.

Invite the character of Christ into all of life’s situations. Make someone take notice, “what do you have that makes you different”.

Before I can offer something to others that indicates something is missing in their life, I must first display something mighty powerful that is present in my life.

Don’t just talk about Jesus. Live like Him.

Living like Jesus….even one penny at a time….all day every day……is a life worth living, a hope and love worth sharing, and a life that make someone seek something that they didn’t even know they were missing.

And if I did have a $1000 bill, I’d probably change it for smaller bills anyway. It’s useless to me since pop machines and concession stands won’t take ’em.

Pretty Is A 4-letter Word

Posted on September 18, 2014 by Karrick Dyer

Raising Strong Daughters Part 3.

….and this one applies to sons also.

My dream is to have kids who don’t comb/brush their hair, aren’t bothered by standing in public with their fly open, and only look in the mirror to practice making goofy faces.

I’d rather hear my kids drop an F-bomb than to ask, “Dad, what will people think?”.

No, I don’t subscribe to the “just be yourself” mentality that becomes a convenient excuse for disobedience to God.

Psalm 139:13-14 (NIV)

13 For you created my inmost being;

 you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

 your works are wonderful,

 I know that full well.
Wonderfully made by our Heavenly Father.
Teach it to our children early and often.  The world teaches something else entirely.
Living to impress people.  Modern culture sells it at an alarming rate.  Parents buy it.  Our kids grow up not knowing any better.
We say stupid things, “You’re not going out of the house looking like that are you?”  (variations of this prase are allowed when it comes to modest dress).
We spend too much time standing in front of the mirror.  Spend too much time taking care of our appearance every single time we go out in public.
We watch garbage on TV that sends a terribly wrong message about what is important in life.
We buy stupid things to make us look better, skinnier, younger, wealthier.
We obsess over “PRETTY”.
Yeah I’m a man and I’m getting into dangerous territory.   It’s important for girls to feel pretty, blah blah blah.
So don’t get me wrong.  I’m not talking about insecurities of teen girls.  I’m talking about small steps along the way before they are teens.
The habits, words, and actions of parents that shape their confidence, strength, and identity.
 I’m talking about overkill….an overuse of the word “pretty” that ties in neatly with an unhealthy approval-seeking quest.
A quest where security in one’s identity only comes to those who possess physical beauty, those who win the approval of others.
The selfie generation.
If you’re concerned as a parent with your daughter’s ability to attract boys…..then I don’t really know what to tell you.
If your hope and prayer is for daughters with a strength that comes from their faith , then I push for a simple awareness.
To know they are wonderfully made does not happen by accident.  And it must go much deeper than constant chatter about appearance.
We should all have more concern with Who made us than with who likes us.
Easier said than done.  But peace and inner strength come when we live to please God instead of living to please and impress others.
It’s not something we can just pass on to our kids when they’re old enough to leave home.
Tell them and show them that they’re awesome every day, “I’m so glad God made me your daddy, and I’m so glad He made you my daugher.”
Give thanks to God (in their presence) that He made them just the way they are.
Don’t start babbling with the “boyfriend” talk when they’re six years old.
Walk around in public occasionally with your fly open to properly demonstrate that “we shouldn’t worry what others think”.
Model for them a life that says at all times, “God matters”.
Avoid innocent phrases degrading yourself that aren’t so innocent when a child hears them in repitition; “I look awful”  “I feel fat”  “I can’t go out of the house looking like this”.
Tell them they’re beautiful inside and out.
Encourage a life of Bible-reading in your daughter.  Let them see you reading……that God’s word is an important part of your life.
The truth is that we all need to feel pretty, wanted, and accepted in some way.
But before our daughters become old enough to worry about it, let”s make sure they fully understand that they are “WONDERFULLY MADE”.
THE DAUGHTER OF A KING 

The Danger of Leading From the Rear

Posted on September 16, 2014 by Karrick Dyer

I’ve always been a “lead from the rear” kind of guy.

A firm believer in letting my kids, basketball players, or co-workers learn from their own missed steps off the beaten path.

I don’t have to choose every step for them. I just have to watch from the rear and make sure they’re safe.

But there’s a big difference in the ones that are simply safe and the ones that are scared or hurting…..those needing guidance or encouragement. I suppose I’ve missed a lot of those opportunities by watching over the whole flock without looking closely at individual faces.

Some lessons take a while to sink in. I learned this one while helping with my church’s VBS this past summer.

I had the easiest volunteer job available (crew leader 4th & 5th graders). This is the age where kids are on the borderline of being too old and cool to attend VBS. My job was simply to follow them around to various craft, snack, story, and worship stations/activities and keep them safe (or just inside the church building)……a shepherd of sorts.

On the first night, my group went from opening worship time into the craft room with me “leading from the rear”, just counting heads. I looked casually around the room during crafts to make sure nobody needed help. It seemed that kids ranging from 2nd to 5th grade were placed together for this activity. My own 2nd grade son was in the room, so I mostly walked around the room fist-bumping kids I knew, small-talking with other adults, and giving little notice to the kids I didn’t know.

Something was different on the 2nd night as we entered the craft room and the kids began working on a slightly more challenging project, a bead bracelet.

Before I ever started surveying the room for kids that might be having difficulty with their project, the voice of a single child caught my attention.

My eyes followed the sound of a voice that seemed a bit deep for a 4th or 5th grader. I spotted a boy whose body matched his voice. He was just a bit larger in size than the other kids in his age group and he was seated at a table next to my 2nd grade son Kal.

His loud conversations with Kal told me that he was probably more comfortable talking to Kal than with the kids his age.

I continued to watch and listen as they began their bracelet project. There was something heartwarming and special in the way this boy interacted with my much younger son…..a kindness and innocence that usually disappears by the time boys reach the age of entering middle school.

I could see that he was having trouble threading his beads onto the string bracelet.

So I just pulled up a chair.

The boy’s name was Gabe. I helped him string his beads and finish his bracelet. And we talked. Gabe was starting middle school in a few weeks. He seemed very nervous about it. I assured him that I had three kids who had recently finished at the school he was starting and that they all loved it there. I told him I had coached basketball there and I knew the teachers there were great. But I doubted that I eased his fears.

As my group of kids (14 of them) filed up the church stairs for our closing worship session in the auditorium, I trailed behind them once again. The first kids through the door sparked and enthusiastic question (a joke of a question because of my reserved personality with kids) from my pastor’s wife,

“Who thinks they have the greatest crew leader here tonight?”

Silence……except for Gabe. He shyly raised his hand. And quietly said, “I do.”

I understand now that my actions that night had little impact on his life.

But this special young man found a place in my heart and perhaps served a great purpose in my life.

To follow Jesus means that we are willing to make changes to our sinful, selfish self in order to be more like our Savior.

Jesus was a shepherd. But I’m pretty certain now, because of Gabe, that Jesus was most definitely a “pull up a chair” kind of guy.

Jesus found the person in the crowd that needed Him most, and met them where they were.

If you’re only looking at the crowd as a whole, you’ll never notice that person that needs you most. The one that may truly need your love, kindness, encouragement, gratitude, or prayers.

Leading from the rear has its value. But just being safe isn’t enough.

You can’t tell who needs you if you aren’t willing to look at the faces you’re leading.

I pray that middle school is kind to Gabe. I’m certain that there are people there who will “pull up a chair” if he needs it.

And I’m certain that I’m thankful for lessons learned in my short time with this special young man.

Getting It Right (by accident?)

Posted on September 14, 2014 by Karrick Dyer

“He never dismisses a parent’s prayer. Keep giving your child to God, and in the right time and the right way, God will give your child back to you.” Max Lucado – Fearless

Parents pray for the health and safety of their kids.

Sometimes we just ask for God’s help in raising them.

“God, please guide us. Help us to be the best mom and dad we can be.”

We may not know exactly what we’re asking for.

And more often than not, we are clueless about what an answered prayer even looks like.

Sometimes we stumble along in the dark with poor decisions and reactions, without purpose or direction.

We forget what we even prayed for.

Every now and then, we remember that our children belong to God.

Just a small dose of surrender and a nudging from the Holy Spirit and cool things happen.

Big sister is into her 3rd week away at college. Little 8 year-old brother decides to start sleeping in her bed (DirecTV in her room).

As bedtime nears, he starts babbling to his mother and me, ” you know how I wake up at 5 or 6 in the morning and come to your bed sometimes……I have a great idea. The next time I do that, I’m just gonna get up and make me some coffee (Macy left a coffe-maker in her room).

What runs through my mind is this, “blah blah blah. That’s about the goofiest thing I’ve heard all day. Sure son, whatever.”

At bedtime, I have dozed off in my recliner. I’m awakened by Kal asking me to help him carry his coffee fixings upstairs to Macy’s room.

My initial irritation fades a bit when I walk into the kitchen and see his efforts that followed his big idea. Coffee scooped into a glass jar. Bottle of water.

“Dad, can you carry the sugar up for me?” (the whole cannister)

A nudging…….and I’m in. “Hey Kal, let’s put the sugar in a smaller container.” More chattering comes about creamer and milk, and I patiently explain that they need to stay in the fridge.

The first trip up leads to another trip back downstairs to search the kitchen for a missing part to the coffee maker.

Once he finally gets everything arranged (for the coffee that most likely will never be brewed), the big moment comes.

“Thanks dad, you’re the best.”

I didn’t do anything. I just went along.

But I realized almost immediately that this is what an answered prayer looks like sometimes.

When that first reaction goes away and the right path is taken.

And the gentle reminders come pouring in at a time when they are needed most:

1) Always listen to the words of your children like it’s the most important conversation you’ve ever had in your life. If you don’t listen to them when they’re small, they won’t bother talking to you when they get older.

2) Encourage them to dream and create. Their ideas don’t have to be great. But if they choose to share them with you with a degree of excitement……….share the excitement.

3) When they invite you into their world, don’t miss the invitation. If we are to influence our children in great ways, we have to find ways to get into their world……..their mind isn’t stirred or concerned with our grown-up world or the stresses of life that distract us. Don’t allow your worlds to be separate. Sometimes this may require parents to learn to carry on an informed conversation about Mario, Pokemon, WWE, or Zelda (no matter how goofy it may seem to us).

4) Don’t forget to pray. Don’t forget what you prayed for.

Be ready to be nudged.

Learn from the things that don’t go right.

Learn from the things that do go well, even if it seems by accident.

Give thanks for answered prayers, even if it takes a while to recognize them.

The Empty Life of Knowing It All

Posted on September 10, 2014 by Karrick Dyer

Five short years ago I had the honor of baptizing my daughter Maddie.

I remember standing at the front of our church asking our congregation to pray for Maddie and her peers,

“These kids aren’t going to hide in the corners. They’re gonna make an impact in their schools and their community.”

I really had no idea what that meant at the time, but I’m learning.

Maybe Maddie’s biggest impact has been on her dad, and she’s already making a difference that reaches far beyond her school and community.

While attending Maddie’s recent high school soccer game, I noticed our goalkeeper leaving the field after a flurry of activity near the goal (I assumed she took a ball to the face and had to exit the game because of the presence of blood).

I looked up to see one of Maddie’s good friends putting on the keeper jersey and gloves, and sprint enthusiastically onto the field.

If you happened to be the opponent or simply didn’t know better, you’d think this was her normal position.(it isn’t)

She took to the goal like she owned it.

A smile spread across my face because this was one of “my own kids”, one that I’d coached for three years of middle school basketball and been around the sidelines for many of her youth travel soccer games.

I turned to another parent who also knew her spirit well,

“That’s what I love about Mandy. She has absolutely no idea what she CAN’T do.”

As adults, we have full awareness of what we can’t do. We revolve our days and our lives around what we can’t do or what we think can’t happen.

I have faith….or claim to.

I believe in the truths of the Bible. I believe in God’s promises for this life and for eternity. I believe in the resurrection of Jesus with all my heart and mind…..but still.

I think I know everything. I live by sight. I analyze everything and put too much trust in the mind that I was given.

If logic says it can’t be done, then I most likely won’t take the first step toward doing it.

Luke 18:17

Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

It pains me to admit that Maddie is no longer a little child, but she possesses a trust in God that adults find difficult to find because our brains are crowded with life experiences and our own “answers” to what comes next.

Maddie returned from a Christ In Youth conference this summer with a determination to become involved with a Christian missionary organization called 1Mission.

1Mission assists severely impoverished families in Latin American countries in building safe homes, and in return, asks that those receiving new homes do service projects in their own communities.

$4000 to put a family in safe housing. Maddie set up her own campaign on their website and was assigned a family.

An ambitious amount for a 15 year-old girl without income. (Gee Maddie, that’s a lot of money…..I thought it but didn’t say it out loud).

But she was determined to make a change. And she had faith.

Her main fundraising idea was an arts and crafts auction.

She announced at our church and on social media her desire to collect at least 100 pieces of donated art for a silent auction at our church’s life center building. (Gee Maddie, 100 donated pieces, that’s a lot, I don’t see you getting that many…….again, I was silent).

As the auction date approached, donations trickled in, one by one at our home, our church, and at my family business. But still, she seemed to have no more than fifty pieces.

The final day leading up to the auction saw a wave of last minute donations.

The scope of her dream was beginning to take shape Friday night as we set up the gym for Saturday’s activities. Volunteers showed up to help Maddie decorate and set up tables to display the donated items.

Not only was it clear that she had well over 100 items, it was clear that there were pieces donated that were of great sentimental value to those who gave. There was something special in the air for sure.

Moments before the scheduled start time, I surveyed the gym with a sense of joy at Maddie’s faith and the display of God’s love by His people.

But my own doubts crept in again.

After all her hard work, her great faith and desire to make a difference:

What if nobody shows up?

The events of the night went well. Maddie was within $1000 of her $4000 goal at the close of the night.

I awoke early this morning, rested and with a bit more clarity in my mind.

And I had an unwelcomed visitor……a burden, that feeling of a need to speak during church…..about raising a generation of true followers of Christ who live by faith…..and adults living with doubts, living by sight.

I cried like a baby on my way to church by myself for a prayer meeting.

I’d been through a 70+ hour work week and battled severe exhaustion along with that poisonous mentality of “nobody better ask me to help with their stuff because I surely can’t even take care of my own.”

And during that drive there was this sudden sense of “when you’re at the end of your rope, God shows up in amazing ways.”

I realized that God’s way of lifting me back up was simply in the pleasure of witnessing Maddie’s faith and the chain reaction of love and kindness that it sparked (and it hit me sorta hard).

When you absolutely can’t take any more…….drop what you’re doing and do something for somebody else.

But that’s not the end of the story.

Our preacher’s sermon today was on David and Goliath.

From beginning to end of Maddie’s vision to build a home for a family, she only saw God.

Each time I doubted ($4,000 is too much, 100 is too many, “what if nobody comes”) I saw Goliath.

She knows how big her God is.

She had faith and her faith grew.

Because of her faith, my faith grew.

She gave me the boldness to speak up in church this morning, and perhaps God helped me find the words.

After church dismissed, our amazing church family picked up the remaining items and the final $1,000 was raised.

God is good.

One more family will have safe housing conditions. We know that for sure.

And faith grew. What will happen from this??

I don’t know……as much as I thought I did.

But I know now that if I stop looking at Goliath, I will be reminded that the only thing that matters is how big God is.

Travel Sports and Sunday Games Are More Satanic Than Kiss Albums

Posted on August 12, 2014 by Karrick Dyer

I’ll admit it. Three of my kids have played travel sports. They even played on Sundays. Sometimes we missed church two Sundays in a row. Shriek!

Their mother and me thought our girls would be the next Mia Hamm and our son is the next Lebron James. And of course, if they are to go to college without paying for it, they need to play anywhere and everywhere and often. Right? No, not at all.

No, this isn’t another lengthy blasting of youth/travel sports taken too far by overzealous parents. It’s more like a gentle reminder of the delicate balance that exists between sports and faith in our children.

Sports teach kids things that words and parental modeling alone cannot. Teamwork, physical challenges, determination, overcoming adversity, and lessons in character just to name a few.
And sports can certainly teach an observant parent valuable lessons along the way (by watching other parents and coaches) in exactly how not to act.

I’ll skip right to what I believe to be the tipping point of that balance: when parents lead or allow their kids to believe that a sports game or practice is more important than their faith or church attendance.

When the traveling is over and your kids are beginning to make more of their own choices, what’s the message they have been hearing from their parents during their travels and adventures? When they make their own choices about church attendance and involvement, what will they choose? Which end of the scale are you pushing them toward?

Traveling time with family during the younger years is golden time. The memories, experiences, and friendships made are priceless. The absence from church services is temporary. But the importance placed on faith must be constant.

That kid that missed 4 weeks of Sunday church service as a 9 year-old will be 15 before you know it. The depth of their faith and the value it has in their life will not be dependent on where they spent those four Sundays. It will depend largely on the message they receive from their parents over the course of the entire 52 weeks.

Teach well. Make sure kids know that you’re not away from church because sports are more important. Keep your eyes open for teaching moments. As your kids get older, the moments become clearer. Are you prepared for them? And more importantly, how well have you prepared your kids for them?

A local basketball tournament changes schedules around and places your son’s team playing on Sunday. Let him know it’s ok to choose to go to church and miss his game. Let the choice be his, but lay out the steps for him to choose faith over sports.

Your daughter’s soccer coach holds practice on Wednesday nights during your church’s youth group activities. Let the choice be hers to make. Make sure she knows that you think it’s awesome if she makes the choice to attend youth group.

Encourage them to take those bold steps that say, “My faith in God is the center of my life.”

Yes, sports are a wonderful part of a child’s development in so many ways. But they are temporary. Parents have to be aware when the balance scales are tipping dangerously in the wrong direction.

“I can’t miss a single practice, no matter what.” The tipping point is when parents adopt this same philosophy.

And like sports are temporary, childhood is temporary. A big part of parenting is simply training up our children to make good choices as they mature.

Pave the way for these types of choices, encourage them:

“Coach, I won’t be at practice tonight. I’m going to church.”

“Coach, I’m not going to soccer camp this year. I’m going on a mission trip.”

“Coach, I’m going to miss some summer league games. I’m going to church camp.”

Sometimes it doesn’t matter where you are on a given Sunday morning. It matters greatly where your heart is and the lessons that your life speaks year-round.

Play hard. Have fun. Watch the scales.

The sports equipment goes to the yard sales and closets sooner than you realize.

Hopefully, most of us won’t wait til then to try to convince our kids how important a Christ-centered life is.

How You Gonna React?

Posted on August 11, 2014 by Karrick Dyer

Even boring, mild-mannered people have sudden bursts of emotion, excitement, and outward joy at times. A celebration of a championship for their favorite sports team or a last second victory (in a single meaningless game?). Tears of joy for the birth of a child or a baptism. When something great happens, why hold back? Enjoy the moment.

But what about when little things go wrong?

How do we react?

My pastor and friend delivered some solid life advice in sermon that has really stuck with me for these situations. I believe the sermon subject was relationships. He simply said this:

“Under-react.”

I don’t recall the biblical context or application that was applied, so I’m forced to provide my own from Colossians 3.

¹²Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. ¹³Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

Since that day, I’ve paid careful attention to what triggers so many conflicts (my own and others).

In almost every situation where senseless or unnecessary conflict arises, there is a common denominator:

One of the involved parties overreacts to the actions of another.

Thirteen hours in a car with mom, dad, and four kids on a family trip……..what causes every conflict? An overreaction! Sure little brother shouldn’t have farted for the 28th time. Conflict arose when big sister acted like her eyes were bleeding and threatened to kill him.

You get the picture. Person A does something they shouldn’t. Person B reacts as if this justifies whatever bad reaction they unleash.

I understand that conflict isn’t always bad and sometimes becomes necessary.

But I think it’s important to think before we speak or act.

Plan ahead. Know what’s important. Know what’s worth fighting for.

When anger rises, ask the right questions, “is this worth getting mad over, worth fighting about?” “Am I about to do something that I’m gonna feel terrible about and have to apologize for later?” “What does my reaction teach my kids or anyone else that’s around?”

James 13 “Bear with each other….”

Be reminded of what’s really important. In the grand scheme of things (especially for Christians honestly seeking biblical and eternal perspectives), most things we get worked up about simply aren’t worth getting worked up about.

I wish:

I’d spoken a little more harshly.

I’d been a little less patient.

I’d never put myself in the other person’s shoes.

I’d make more exceptions when it comes to following God’s commands. But…….

I’d gotten angrier. Reacted like it was a bigger deal than it really was.

No, of course we don’t say these things.

So why do we continue to get fired up and overreact to things that don’t really amount to a hill of beans?

James 1:19-20

¹⁹My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, ²⁰because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.

Kevin Ward, Jr., a 20 year-old race car driver died in a tragic accident last night after he was struck by Tony Stewart’s car. I’m not a racing expert or even a fan, and I’m not going to speculate on who was at fault. But I am certain of this. Two men found themselves in a situation where their anger rose. Neither man “under-reacted”. If only one had done so, a tragic death could have been prevented.

When something great happens…….don’t be afraid to act like something great happened. Share the moment with others.
When the anger, impatience, and irritation begin to stir……..walk away, count to 10 (or to 1000), pray. THINK.
UNDER-REACT.

Just Living…..Or Fully Alive?

Posted on June 30, 2014 by Karrick Dyer

I hear it often: someone is greeted with a “how are you doing?”

The response: “Well, I’m above ground and that’s a good thing.”

Is it?

Is it enough to just be living and breathing? To just exist, floating from one moment to the next with no clear intention.

God calls us to be ALIVE in Him, to serve His greater purpose.

Collosians 3 tells us that we, as Christians, are made alive in Christ.

Guys like me, we stumble along, trying to live out our lives as Christians………..in our mind and on a keyboard. Spending too much time reading and sorting out thoughts.

Seemingly having a relationship with God, but leaving out a large part of that relationship……loving His people. Love doesn’t happen in books, thoughts, theories, or in one’s mind.

Love happens in deed. For all those things (opportunities) that I may claim to “not have time for” because of work and family time obligations, etc, it’s not TIME that I am lacking. It is COMPASSION that I am lacking.

Compassion, being a Christian, is First Baptist Church in Grayson, KY pulling together people and resources to package over 120,000 meals to send to Haiti……… in one day.

A church this size, in a community the size of ours, has no business pulling off something so monumental.

But when compassion and love become action, all things are possible with God.

A mission team from First Church of Christ in Grayson is currently serving in the Dominican Republic, sharing God’s love and the hope of the story of Jesus. Daily, the pictures are shared on Facebook of our youth and adults conducting a VBS at an orphanage, singing praises to God, preaching, and simply loving His people there.

Compassion. Love. Faith. Action.

These are the things that change lives, give hope.

I can’t say that I’ve ever experienced a true life-changing moment because of things I’ve read or words that have been spoken to me.

Life change happens when people are loved and when they witness the love of Jesus being poured out around them. It’s a blessing right now to see God’s people in Grayson, KY pouring it out so faithfully.

Lives are touched. Lives are changed. God’s people are ALIVE here. Bless these fine people and pray that because of their efforts and faithfulness, countless others will become alive in Christ.

Sweat the Small Stuff

Posted on May 28, 2014 by Karrick Dyer

I like to keep things simple. Choose spoken words carefully, avoiding those with no value and speaking only when there is a least some chance that someone is remotely interested in what I have to say. The flip side of this is that I often make the universal sign for “blah blah blah” when someone else is talking too much. I’m judgemental. People spew more words than I want to listen to. And at least once a day, I accuse someone of “making something a lot more complicated than it needs to be.”

Maybe we have a lot of churches that are treading water by doing both of these things at the same time:

1) Making it too simple. “Invite people to church.” “Tell people about Jesus.”

2) Making things a lot more complicated than they need to be. See the two directives in #1. People freak out about their shortcomings and get stopped in their tracks because they can’t see themselves doing “the big stuff” that churchy people speak of. Then think about your own inadequacies, lack of bible knowledge, shyness, less than stellar reputation from a previous life, etc. It becomes overwhelming, hopeless……especially for new believers. BIG STEPS SEEMS TOO HARD AND PATHS FOR SMALL STEPS AREN’T LAID OUT CLEARLY ENOUGH.

Obviously, it’s a difficult matter to balance, but maybe we could be more effective in the true mission of our churches simply by teaching our members to be more like Jesus? (sounds so easy, right?) But I guess poor disciples can’t effectively spread Christianity.

I know I come back to this verse time after time:

Romans 12:2

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

But it seems that new and long-time believers alike miss out on the life that God desires for them because we fail to embrace the concept of daily growth/change/surrender.

We know big changes are needed and fail to seek God’s guidance through the patience of making small changes over time.

It seems hopeless.

We can’t see the end, so we don’t even take the first step. We fail to trust.

Face each day with a willingness to change for God.

Or perhaps worse, we fail to acknowledge the need to change.

We coast, living under the impression that we’re doing ok.

We settle for mediocrity, living only by our own strength and not by faith.

I guess I should really circle to a point since I claim to be a man of few words.

If you are a Christian of one week or 50 years, you have spent periods trying to figure out what the heck your spiritual gift is.

You may be like me and spend years believing you have none. You can’t do anything BIG, so you do nothing at all?

In Matthew 28:19 Jesus says to make disciples of all nations. Sounds like a pretty tall order on the surface.

Now go back to Romans 12:2.

The great commission starts in our mind with our commitment study God’s word, to seek his will daily, to become more like Jesus each day. If we are to tell the world about Jesus, our co-workers, friends and neighbors have to see us living like Jesus.

We have to become credible messengers.

My spiritual gift….and yours…..is small victories.

Daily growth, closer to God. Understanding His word and His will more each day.

Loving others, forgiving, serving, putting others before self.

Modeling honesty, kindness, compassion, integrity, strong work ethic.

Placing value on every relationship and every encounter with every person every day.

I guess it was in the 90’s that the “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff” books were popular.

I think the concept was not stressing or freaking out about small stuff (good idea).

I can’t see myself hitting many homeruns in my Christian walk.

But consider the value of the opportunities that “small stuff” present each day.

When we tackle the small stuff God’s way, time after time, day after day……….that small stuff becomes an absolute jackpot.

Others may actually want to follow who you follow.

Others may place value on your spoken words.

Seek God’s guidance each day to make the small stuff count.

My Brother’s Keeper

Posted on May 5, 2014 by Karrick Dyer

“Mom, Dad never has time to do stuff with me any more”.

Pretty sobering words relayed to me by my wife from my 8 year old son. I responded in typical male fashion- defense mode, “I know, but I just can’t help it right now. There’s nothing I can do about it”.

John 10:10

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁰The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

Life to the full. What’s that supposed to look like for a follower of Christ? Eternity is a long time. Point our eyes toward heaven and do something while we are here and do it well. We’re not on this earth long enough to sit still or to wallow in mediocrity.

I can’t offer the perfect formula for balance in life. Like a training athlete, we have to be willing to push ourselves and to be pushed. We can take on such an overwhelming load that God’s presence and strength obviously carries us through, and our faith grows. Or we can fly around wildly, over-promising ourselves and under-including God and littering our world with a whole lotta C- efforts…..just getting by. Maybe this is the way that many of us truly develep our trust in God, by failing and seeing more clearly our dependence on Him. It’s the logical next step that comes after “I’m about to have a complete beakdown. I can’t handle this”. Either way, we learn of the importance of seeking His will and His strength and trusting Him more each step along the way.

Life to the full. Wife and four kids. Demanding job managing a family business. Involved in church leadership and teaching Sunday school. Coaching middle school basketball and Upward basketball. Two daughters in high school track, cross-country, and soccer. Doing laundry at 2am to make sure everybody has clean uniforms and underwear for the next day. Certainly not taking advantage of all my opportunities but certainly not sitting still.

BOOM! A lifetime of suffering with migraine headaches is taken away. My basketball coaching load is taken away. I have TIME. I have prolonged clarity of thought for the first time in my life. Clarity told me that I’ve been working 40 hours a week at a 65 hour a week job for the last 15 years in an effort to raise children that make a difference in this world (definitely not something I regret, but something that has left a stinky trail of mediocrity in its path). So I’m not only tackling today’s problems with energy and focus, I’m backtracking and fixing yesterday’s problems, and preventing tomorrow’s problems. Sure, now is the best time to do this. It’s ok to work 60-65 hour weeks NOW.

“Dad never has time to do stuff with me now”

“There’s nothing I can do about it”

TRUTH. When we are where God wants us to be, doing the things that He desires for us to do, He provides a way. Satan provides excuses and we can’t wait to grab them and use them. Most likely, the responsible thing for me to do in the short-term is to continue to work extended hours while I have the focus and energy to fix the results of my years of neglect. But as far as finding time to do things with my youngest son, I can do something about it besides make excuses. Claiming to be “tired” in the evenings is not an option. Plan something and do it. And don’t pawn off “dad duties” on mom or big brother.

And that brings me to the greatest point in this long and winding story. When we are faithful (and apparently even when we are just somewhat faithful but willing to admit our failure) God provides a way. When you are living for God, and there just doesn’t seem to be enough of you to go around as a dad (or a mom), He provides a way to fill in the gaps. Special people……grandparents, aunts, uncles, teachers, coaches, youth ministers are there to provide that special something. When that little voice in your head says, “I can’t do it all”, don’t give up. Do your best and trust Him with the rest. Obviously I can try harder as a parent, but I can see clearly now how God has filled in the gaps with an awesome mom and older brother.

My 3 great lessons for the week:

1) It’s not acceptable to make excuses for not having or making time for our kids. Plan it. Do it.

2) Where I have shortcomings as a father, I am so thankful these shortcomings seem to be perfectly offset and overcome by the strengths of my wife. In the case Kal, our 8 year-old son, I’m thankful the God gave him the best mom in the world to do the exact things that I have failed to do (like teach him to ride a bike).

3) Kal is truly blessed to have a big brother that takes care of him when the responsibilities of life call mom and dad in other directions. Saturday, it was truly like seeing up close, the hand of God at work, as Kal’s 14 year-old brother selflessly devoted his entire day (and night) to playing with, entertaining, teaching, and patiently listening to his little brother. He takes care of his little brother, not because he’s been instructed to but because he wants to. That’s not a normal teenage boy thing. That’s a “what God’s love looks like” thing. And it’s pretty cool to see when you aren’t really expecting it.

I can’t do it all. But I don’t have to. But I still have to try. And I have to trust. And mediocrity is not acceptable.

Just A Dad

"Hindsight is always 20/20. Lookin back, it's still a bit fuzzy." Dave Mustaine

Tag Archives: Christianity