One Year

It has now been one year since Ashley and I changed our facebook relationship status to married. Our first year of marriage has been great. Traditionally the couple is suppose to save the top of the wedding cake and freeze it to defrost an enjoy on the first anniversary. Not wanting to offend the gods of tradition Ashley and I removed the top of our cake and placed it in her parent's deep freeze in Houston. Everything was progressing as it traditionally should when Hurricane Ike decided to make a visit. The power in Houston was out for close to a week resulting in my in-laws freezer defrosting. Needless to say our cake was ruined.

Knowing how much my wife enjoyed our wedding cake we began talking about getting the top of the cake remade for our anniversary. On a recent trip to Houston my wife asked if she could check and see how much it would cost to get the replacement top layer. She reported to me that the baker was to busy at the time and the cake would be to expensive. Wanting to give my wife everything she wants I was determined to find a way to get her wedding cake. When I called the baker and explained what I was looking for she said to me, "Oh, is this the order that was placed by Ashley Wood?" In order to surprise me my wife had lied to me and already ordered the cake. The cake was delicious and our anniversary was wonderful but what made it wonderful was not a pastry or surprise but the fact that we really just wanted to make the other person happy.

Paper...Rock...Thunder. Thunder Beats Rock!!

I hate comparisons. I work in a job and business where pastors are constantly compared to “the last guy.” The funny thing is, after being compared so much we start comparing ourselves, many times we don’t even know. Most everyone wants to be a success, which is one of the reasons why comparisons can hurt so much; we are viewed in the light of another’s actions. The result is an ugly beast that feeds on ministry. But comparison is no new thing in the ministry, you can find it in the Bible between Rock and Thunder.

One fateful day as Jesus was simply going along by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brother’s fishing, Simon (Peter) and Andrew, his brother. As Jesus asks them to follow him and begin fishing for men they leave their nets and lives do just that, follow him (Mark 1:16-18). A few miles down the road the group runs into James and John the sons of Zebedee, they were also in the fishing industry. A similar situation occurs Jesus’ propositioned them with a career change and they accepted. The largest difference between the sets of brothers was what they left behind. Peter and Andrew left behind a boat and nets, John and James left behind their father with his hired servants, who were still fishing (Mark 1:19-20). It is obvious that John and James’ family was better off than the family of Peter and Andrew; already a stage has been set for comparison.

We get a better sense of a competitive nature and comparison of Peter and John the day Jesus asks the three of them to come with him up to a high mountain. The three have become the inner circle of the Jesus entourage. All of the sudden Jesus is transfigured, his clothes are changed and radiating whiteness, Moses and Elijah show up, and Peter sees his opportunity to jump ahead in the race of favorite so he says, “Teacher, it is a good thing that you brought us here, now we can build three tabernacles, one for each of you.” It takes the audible voice of God the father to shut Peter up (Mark 9:2-9). This situation did not help Peter in the running for number one.

Peter is not the only one who takes initiative in the competition. A short time later James and John come up to Jesus and say, “Jesus we want you to do something for us.” He asks them what they want. “Hey…yeah…so, we want to be the ones who sit on your left and right when this Kingdom thing goes down.” There is then a small discussion on if they could handle the job. All parties agree that they could but then Jesus says, “But you two sitting at my right and left isn’t up to me, it has already been reserved for someone else.” After this conversation took place the ten other disciples started getting a little fed up with the Thunder Boys (Mark 10:35-41). This could only make the situation worse. Here are the James and John who are asking to be promoted above everyone else. Jesus then tells all of them that in order to be the greatest you will have to be a servant, not trying to win or be first (Mark 10:43-45).

Skip forward to the Mount of Olives, after the Last Supper (I feel like supper is such a country word. Why don’t we call it the Last Dinner?). It is a pretty tense moment. Jesus has been saying some pretty heavy stuff that really no one understands, something happened with Judas who freaked out and left, and now Jesus has just said “You will all fall away.” Peter, with his same competitive nature speaks up, “Nope. Not Me. Yeah, sure the rest probably will but not me.” Jesus responds by informing him that before the cock crowed in the morning he will deny Jesus three times. Still, Peter kept on insisting that even if it meant death he would not deny him (Mark 14:27-31). Skip forward a few hours. Judas has returned and brought with him soldiers and armed officers from the chief priest and Pharisees. Jesus agrees to go with them and Peter does something stupid and cuts the ear off of the high priest’s slave. Jesus fixes the ear, and reprimands Peter, “Put your sword up! Don’t stop me from doing what God has told me to do,” (John 18:10-11). Jesus was then arrested and taken away.

We don’t know what everyone else did, but Peter and most likely *John follow Jesus who was taken into the court of the high priest. The high priest knew John most likely because of his family and is allowed into the court but Peter was left standing outside and has to have John convince the doorkeeper to let Peter in. The slave-girl at the door then questions Peter as a follower of Jesus. Peter denies. Even in the midst of their world falling apart Peter must of felt that John still had one up on him, he was the one who could get into the courts on his own, for Peter to get in it took the help of John and Peter’s fist denial (John 18:15-17). Peter continues and twice more while in the courts he is questioned about his association with Jesus. Twice more he denies his Christ and immediately he hears the cock crow. (John 18:25-27). Not only did he fail and fall away, he wasn’t even the last one standing. Jesus is crucified and as he is dying on the cross it is John that he entrusts with the care of his Mother (John 19:26-27). John is the one that is there still standing as Jesus is put to death.

Three days later Mary Magdalene shows up to where John and Peter are with news of the empty tomb. The two begin running towards the resting place. This scene literally becomes a foot race. So it seems in spite of everything they had just gone through, this is what it has come to, a foot race. And yet again John wins, and gets there first (John 20:1-8). Peter must have felt defeated. In the light of the glory of the resurrection Peter must have felt some measure of defeat. For the last three years he had given his all and tried his hardest to be the best but it just wasn’t enough.

A few days later a group including Peter and John are fishing, with little success. Jesus shows up and with his help fish are caught. He then invites them to the fire for breakfast. After breakfast Jesus takes Peter aside and asks, “Do you really love me more than these?”
“Yes Jesus you know I love you.”
“Then tend my lambs. Peter do you really love me?”
“Yes Jesus you know I love you.”
“Then shepherd my sheep. Peter are you sure you love me?”
(Discouraged Sigh) “Jesus, you know everything, you know that I love you.”
“Then tend my lambs.”
Peter is affirmed and is told that his commitment, this time, would not fade but be to death. Then Jesus says to him the words that he said three years earlier on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, “Follow Me!” (John 21:15-19). Jesus affirms a beaten man and while Peter felt as if he had lost and failed, Jesus offers him restoration.
Then Peter directly addressed the situation. Out of the corner of his eye he saw John, following them and Peter asked, “What about this man,” and Jesus responded “Peter, what is it to you, Follow Me!” (John 21:20-22). It didn’t matter than John’s family was rich and well known. It didn’t matter that Peter repeatedly stuck his foot in his mouth. It didn’t matter that Peter had failed when John hand not. It didn’t matter that Peter couldn’t run as fast as John. After competing for three years for top honors, after constant comparison, Jesus sums it up, and this time Peter got it, “It doesn’t matter. What matters is what I have called you to do.”

It doesn’t matter. What matters is who God has called us to do.





*In John 18:15 It mentions Peter and another disciple were following Jesus, most likely this was John due to the fact that this Gospel was written by John

...Anywhere You Can Get It

“Life is made up of little things, in which smiles, and kindnesses, and small obligations, given habitually, are what win and preserve the heart and secure comfort”
--Humphrey Davy

When strength and joy seems to be fading you must take hope from anywhere you can get it. When the path we tread becomes overwhelmed with shades of gray it is important to hold on to the things that will get you through each day. For me, today, it is a book, and one that does not belong to me. Several weeks ago I was traveling through Lubbock on my way to a retreat with another youth pastor. The previous week I had lent my favorite Bible away to a student who didn't have access to another at the time. Stopping in Lubbock, to see my parents, I asked my mother if I could borrow one of her Bibles that was the same translation (NASB), she lent me one of her old ones. The retreat was great but when I stopped in Lubbock on my way home I forgot to return the Bible to the bookshelf I had borrowed it from. When I returned home it was with me.

In Tyler I was still without the version of the Bible I like to study and teach from so I continued to use hers. I got the my lent Bible back two weeks ago but I have continued to use my Mother's. As I have entered a time that is proving to be very difficult for me I find comfort in the thin, worn, hand-written-note filled book. Today it is my source for spiritual nourishment, my connection to hope, and the knowledge that I am loved. Thanks Mom...love you the mostest.

"The Man" Has Won!

As I have previously discusses in other post, I am not a fan of corporate America. I don't know If it is my generation's obsession with Indy films, organic foods, and corner coffee houses or my secret ambitions to be an 80's rock star, but I have previously made a committment to myself to never let "The Man" get to me. But as all heroes, zealots, and stubornly cynical people do, I too have a weakness...delicious blended coffee drinks from Starbucks.

Starbucks has become a treat for my wife and I to share with each other when we feel a blended coffee drink is deserved (several times weekly). Tonight after church was such a deserving occasion but tonight we added another item to our purchase...the Starbucks Gold Card.

The card offers a 10% discount on any purchase from a Statbucks store. So now, instead of sticking it to "The Man," I have sold out for 10% off. Sometimes I disgust myself. I think since I have worked so hard disgusting myself I deserve a blended coffee drink.

A Christmas of Firsts

Today has been a Christmas of firsts. I am twenty two years old and in twenty two years this is the first that I have not been with my immediate family. While they spent the day in Little Elm (near Dallas) I spent the day in Magnolia (near Houston). While this was my first Christmas away from the only family I have known on Christmas it was also the first Christmas I spent with my new family, In-laws, nieces, and nephews. Here in Magnolia we enjoyed a wonderful Christmas with good food, and great company.

In Little Elm this has been the first Christmas my parents have truly had an empty nest. Both Cassie and I are now married. There were no stockings to stuff, they even decided not to do stockings for each other. This is Cassie's first Christmas with her husband Curtis as part of our family. Maybe the most exciting for them, this is my parent's first Christmas as grandparents. Laura Kate Wiley enjoyed her first Christmas with many gifts (and more to come tomorrow from Uncle Joel and Aunt Ashley).

Being married for nine months this is the first Christmas I have had the opportunity to spend with my new wife. When she asked if I was sad I wasn't spending Christmas with my family I told her that there was no one else I would rather spend my Christmas with than her. This year I gave her a Christmas ornament that is currently hanging on the front of our tree in Tyler. It has an engraving on it that reads, "Our first of many." This Christmas was a Christmas of first and I look forward to the many more that are to come with my ever growing family.

Were I to Judge Naughty From Nice

It is probably a good thing that I am not Santa Claus. I think that he must be a pretty lenient guy. There were definitely some kids that I knew growing up who should have been on the naughty list yet they would still return to school bragging about what Santa had brought them. In the spirit of Christmas Eve I decided to make my own list concerning who does and does not get presents. Were I to judge naughty from nice:

Naughty List

1. Stupid drivers
2. The people who designed the streets of Tyler Texas
3. Obsessive holiday shoppers
4. People who get in their car to leave but sit in the space while someone is waiting on them to park (often this is women checking their makeup)
5. Holier-than-thou Christians
6. Christians who "hate" anyone (this is a direct reference to #5)
7. People in the service industry who hate their job and let you know it
8. Teenagers who think they know everything (This includes most teenagers and while I still love them, they would receive no presents)
9. People who text message me who nothing to say
10. People who don't like dogs
11. Cats
12. News Channel Analysts
13. Ignorant people

Nice List

1. People who help you move in
2. People who volunteer (preferably in my youth group)
3. People who wait until Christmas Eve to do their shopping
4. People who give you "good deals"
5. People who work on their own cars
6. Parents who care about what their kids are doing
7. Teenagers who can admit when they were wrong
8. Those who listen to you even when they think you are wrong
9. Random gift givers
10. People who agree with me
11. Cute little kids
12. Mark Zuckerberg
13. My wife