Father's Longing

Today I think have a little better understanding of how God longs for His church to come together in love and worship. Each Sunday He must long for those who are not there. He is often longing for you and for me but we don't realize it. We go about our day-to-day lives forgetting that He is waiting and that He is longing.

The afternoon is quiet. It is the first quiet afternoon in this house for over two weeks. For a moment, the quiet is nice, but then I realize it will be quiet for a long time. From time to time, some of the ones we love will be here in the house and it will be grand, but behind the fun and laughter, there will be the realization that some are missing. Some are far away. We will talk with them frequently on the phone, but we won't be able to touch them for a long, long time. I miss them already. I long for them. I long for them all. I long for the day when all twelve of us will once again be in the same room with all the comotion...with all the love...with ability to touch each one.

Luke 11:13: If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!

If I, who is evil, longs so for my children, how much more does our heavenly Father long for us? Let us join together in worship. Let all the children of God come together in love and worship. Don't let Him long for you.

Heart of Mercy

The Daraja Children’s Choir performed at our church a few nights ago. The choir is made up of children from Kenya. The children sing of God’s love and grace. They are a testimony to Him. The children come to show God’s love to us here in the United States, and they come to bring awareness. These children struggle to survive every day. They live in dangerous areas. There is often not enough food. Water is difficult to get. Some eat one meal a day. Most don’t go to school. Those who do usually don’t finish. Yet, they sing of God’s love and grace.




The organization who established the choir is 410 Bridge (www.410bridge.org). 410 Bridge is working to share the love of God with the people of Kenya. They do that by serving the people. They are working to partner churches with communities in Kenya to improve the quality of living and to share Jesus Christ. The best way to show God’s love is to help communities meet the needs of the people.

At the concert, a short video was shown to introduce the purpose of the choir. The video told how the children struggle daily to live and explained many of them don’t have parents. As my six-year-old granddaughter watched the video, she began to cry. She cried throughout the concert. When asked, why she was crying she could not say; however, she didn’t want to leave. Later that night, her mom asked her once again why she cried at the concert. Her answer was, “Because the children don’t have parents.” Mercy—having mercy can be painful. Mercy is a signal to act. The feeling of mercy is God’s call for us to make a difference. Mercy looks into a situation and desires to make a difference. Mercy can take us by surprise. The feeling of mercy at times can’t be controlled, but the decision to act is totally in our control.

We can make a difference in people’s lives. We can act if we choose too. For me, my granddaughter was a wake-up call. When mercy strikes, do I, will I act to make a difference?

Learn more about 410 Bride and the Daraja Choir at: www.410bridge.com

See videos at: www.youtube.com/410bridge

See more pictures of the concert at: Joe McDowell Photography

My dear friend Bill Walton

I met Bill when we moved to Winter Springs, Florida and joined First Baptist of Oviedo in the mid-80s. I knew Bill from a distance. You see, Bill made me nervous. Bill was born with Cerebral Palsy. As a result, Bill didn't have much use of his legs. He moved around using crutches. He was different and so, I avoided him. All this changed when another guy I knew at church invited me to be part of a morning men's group. I was unsure about getting involved in this, especially when he said we would meet at 5:30 AM! I was pretty much a "no go" when I heard that, but he asked me to give it four weeks--just four weeks. So, I agreed. Little did I know this group of men would come to mean so much to me and that we would meet together for almost five years.

I got directions to the house where we would meet each week and on the Friday of our first meeting I arrived pulling into the driveway of a nicely maintained single-wide mobile home located in a retirement community. I wasn't sure if I was in the right place. It turned out to be Bill's house. He lived there with his aging parents. In this first meeting, I found Bill was a nice enough guy and I was totally amazed by his positive attitude toward life even though from my perspective, his circumstances were a real bummer.

Over the weeks, I grew to know Bill and the other guys in the group. We talked about Jesus and about what it meant to be a follower of His. I came to love these early Friday morning meetings and even more so, the men I met with. Bill and I began to go out visiting church guests together--and I enjoyed his company. He prayed for me each time we were together and I was always touched and moved by his prayers. Eventually I began to pray for him, too. We would spend an hour in prayer together. Soon, Bill was invited to my home for dinner with my wife and daughters. Before long, Bill became a fixture. I would pick him up for meals at our house and he would go places with me and my family. He became part of our family.

Bill's crutches are awkward at times. Once when were out and about together, I had walked on a little ahead of Bill when I heard him call my name. His voice sounded a little shaky as I turned to him. His left crutch was slipping as he tried to cross a shallow curb. As I raced to him, I watched as if in slow motion his crutch slid away from him and he landed on the ground. I hurried to him to find him to be physically okay and we laughed together as I helped him back to his feet and onto his crutches. People watching felt sad, I know, but Bill and I saw the comedy in the moment and we enjoyed the laugh. This is Bill--making the most of whatever the situation is. Though he is physically crippled, God has redeemed what the fall of man allowed.

Bill has used his disability for the Kingdom. Through it he has met and ministered to many people. He has shared the gospel with untold numbers of people and he has lifted more prayers for people than anyone I know. He has battled evil in the spiritual world through prayer and his victories are countless. God has used him to ward off evil many times over. Bill may be crippled in a physical sense, but he is healthy where most are crippled. He is a man of God, a follower of Christ -- he is led by the Spirit of the One true God.

Bill is a deeply spiritual man. He is a man who prays for others. He is spiritually wise and yet there is an innocence about Bill. He always sees the best in people and he trusts anyone until they break that trust. He is an instant friend to all people. He loves. He really loves.
Bill is truly a "father in the faith" to me. He taught me much about God's love. He helped me understand the Bible as we studied together. He taught me though the prayers he prayed. Mostly, he taught me by his example.

Thanks Bill! I love you my Brother Bill.

Valley of Harmons, Jamaica

A morning in Harmons. Joy in the eyes of a little girl as she greets the day. Her day will not be filled with shopping, or playing in the park, or swinging in the backyard, or playing with wonderful dolls, or watching Dora the Explore, or sitting in the cool of an air conditioned house. Her day will be spent playing with used toys. She will run and play with other children in the area. She will spend lots of time with her family. Her day by our standards will be simple. Most of our children would be bored with her day and the lack of expensive toys. She will be happy with her day. She will giggle and play. She is beautiful inside and out.

Hoping for work. There may not be any. His build shows he is ahard worker. He can haul maul and rocks, he can mix concrete, he can pour foundations, erect concrete walls -- he can build a house. His greats hope for work today is Won by One. Will he be needed today? He must wait and see – If not today, maybe tomorrow.

Glad to be on the job. She works the greenhouse -- a project of Won by One. The greenhouse project employs local people growing vegetable for the people of the area. Good produce will be available for a good price and more, all too rare, jobs are created.

The village of Harmons is located in a remote area of Jamaica. The people of the area are poor. There is no industry there except an Alcoa mine and it does not add much economically to the area in which it is located. The primary employer in the area is a mission organization, Won by One. This ministry brings missions groups into the area. These missions groups generate the dollars needed to build small houses for those in need and they also provide manual labor needed to build the houses. This mission effort allows Won by One to employ many of the people of Harmons. The love of Christ is shared through service and the relationships built through this mission effort.The people of Harmons are lovely. They are warm and friendly. There are smiles and laughter all around. Though they do not have much from a material standpoint, they have much joy. They enjoy life and they welcome others to enjoy life with them. I hope to return there someday to experience the real Jamaica, to be a part of their lives for a few days, to help build a house, and to experience the warmth of these people.

Dancing with Miriam

During a wedding reception recently, I had the privilege of dancing with my granddaughter, Miriam. We had fun! She was beautiful in her dress and her smile lit up the dance floor. She moved her feet and she twirled and twirled. I would not take anything for those few moments with her. For those few minutes, it was just the two of us and the music that played. We enjoyed each other’s company and we made a memory.

Dancing—why do we dance? Dancing is fun. Usually we dance with someone we know or even love. Dancing is a way to interact with one another and to experience music together. To be a good dancer, one must have rhythm. Rhythm allows one to interact with their dance partner and with the music in a smooth, organized, and even a beautiful way.

Life is kinda like dancing. Though it can be fun most of the time, there are times when it ain’t so fun; however, if we are fortunate, we can experience it with people we know and love. In life, we certainly interact with one another and we experience it together. To be a good life live-er, we need rhythm. The rhythm we need for life is the understanding that life is a precious gift and that it has great purpose. No one understands a music score better then the composer. The composer can explain the rhythm of their piece better than anyone else. The composer of life is God. No one can explain life and the rhythm we need to live it better than Him. In Christ, we can find the rhythm we need for a beautiful life.

At a Spot

Ever find yourself at a spot - a spot where everything seems difficult? You think well this or that ought to be difficult, but this and that ought to be easy, but IT'S NOT! Nothing, nothing seems to be easy. You see great things, desire great things, know they are wonderful things but there is frustration at every turn. Roadblock after roadblock seem to appear. You feel like you could just pull your hair out. Ever been at this spot? What do you do? I wish I knew! I wish I had the grand answer. In the scheme of things, what do I know? I know this, you have to keep at it. Even in the frustration, you have keep pushing. You do what you can do. You venture around the roadblocks in other directions. You do something! You chip away. You accomplish what you can. You believe breakthrough is just around the corner. You never give up. Most importantly, you check you attitude. You find a way to stay positive. How? You remember what's important. You remember why you are doing what you are doing in the first place. See each little step a success. Break it all down. Look for victory in the little things realizing the victory in the big things may come later. AND, give it a rest! Leave it for a while. Do something else. Most of all take it all to God. Pray, put the spot and all it contains at His feet. Remember Jesus. Remember family. Remember blessings. Let it all fall into the right perspective. Before you know it you will look around to find "the spot" is now behind you.

Gazing

A look into the face of a baby seems cause the world to stop just for a moment. To gaze into a little face is consuming. The awesome miracle of life captivates the moment and all fades away except that little face. Praise God for the miracle of birth. Praise God His continual blessings. Praise God for life.

Routine got you down?

At times, probably each of us has hope our life will in some way count for something bigger than the mundane routines of our life. I think, however, it is often in the very routines that we consider mundane emerge opportunities to truly count. Unless we are sluggards, our routines are often productive and beneficial. They are often the very catalyst of growth in our life. They are often the very thing that makes us an "expert" in some way.
It is funny; although we consider our routines mundane, we often get so upset and thrown out of kilter when interruptions occur. How stupid is that? One would think we would welcome some interruptions. Interestingly, interruptions are probably the moments that offer us the greatest potential to do what we hope for—to count for something bigger. The challenge I am giving to myself and to you is to rethink interruptions. Welcome them and actively look for the opportunity to count for something potentially bigger. Let the ordinary lead you to the extraordinary. God may very well send you an interruption so you can count for something bigger. Don’t miss it!

Marriage Takes Three Podcast

Marriage Takes ThreeGod established the institution of marriage at the beginning of time. In the creation account found in Genesis, we not only read about the relationship the man and the woman had with each other, but also about the relationship they had with God. As the man and the woman focused [not only] on each other but also on God, all was well. However, when they lost their focus on God, things began to unravel. In order for a marriage to be all that it can be, it must include God. There needs to be more than a two-way relationship between a man and a woman. There must be a three-way relationship between a man, a woman, and God. Marriage takes three. Join Rev. Joe McDowell in weekly "Marriage Takes Three" podcast lessons on marriage. In the podcasts, we will study the theology of marriage, we will see the biblical principles of marriage, and we will discuss practical applications to help you make your marriage the best that it can be.

For insight and inspiration for your marriage:

iTunes:
http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=184996966

RSS:
http://www.marriagetakesthree.libsyn.com/rss

Together

This Christmas season found our family together. We celebrated Christ together and we celebrated our family. This photo was taken last night. We celebrated Michael‘s and Naomi’s second birthdays. As the wonderful evening came to a close, the realization that we will not all be together again for a year began to set in. I praise God for love that can and does span the distances that separate us. I praise Him that just as “neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” nor can these things separate our family! I pray our family and yours will be a testimony to this verse from Romans. I pray our family’s love for each other and yours for your family will witness to God’s love for us. By God’s grace we WILL stand against all that this world throws at us! My Sons, by the power of God in the Holy Spirit – FIGHT—fight the good fight.

Expression of Joy

Can there be any doubt that Naomi is enjoying her Carousel ride? You know, Naomi isn’t really going anywhere—she is just going around in a circle, but she’s enjoying the journey tremendously. Where are you going? Do you have great plans that you believe will bring you great joy? How specific are they? Can you really cause them to happen? And, what if they don’t happen? Will you be crushed if they don’t come to fruition? That’s an awful big weight to carry, because no matter how hard and how well we plan, most outcomes are just not in our hands. Oh, we occasionally reach goals and make wonderful accomplishments, but we must be careful for if we really think we are in control, we are foolish. We cannot control life. We can only take the journey. The question becomes are we enjoying the journey? As a Christian, I do know my destination. It is in Heaven. However, I don’t know all the stops along the way. There have been some stops that I have planned, but there have been many that I didn’t. I have found no matter how the journey goes, there can and should be joy. For life is truly amazing. Why? Because God is at work and He does have a plan and His plan will be accomplished. So, as best I can, I’m going to journey with Him and stop where He plans. Most of His stops are quite grand. While I know I fall way short, I hope that overall, there will be no doubt that I am enjoying my Carousel ride—my life’s journey.

Miracles. Are there miracles today?

Miracles. Are there miracles today? This is a picture of one. This is Haley. Haley is Brenda’s great-niece. She wasn’t supposed to live past one year. Haley turned three years old on November 28 and there was a party. Birthday parties take on new meaning when a child has Pompe Disease. Each day is a victory and each year is incredible. Haley has come a long, long way. She is able to do so much more than doctors ever expected. She is precious beyond description. She has blessed all who know her and who have watched her life. She has a remarkable mom, dad, and older sister who love her and care for her. Those who know Haley truly have richer lives. One cannot know her and not see the work of God. We praise God for her—she is a miracle. If you would like to know more about Haley, visit: http://www.helpinghaley.com/ Be sure to read her story and a little about Pompe Disease and I promise, you will be amazed and truly blessed by this remarkable little girl.

Thanksgiving

Today in these morning hours, I watch the still lake and listen to the crow call. I think of my girls, my sons-in-law, and my grandchildren. I won't see any of them today, but they are in my heart. I miss them greatly. I long for the day we will all be together and that day is only a little over a week away. Today, I will see my Mom, Brenda's mom, my sister and her family, Brenda's brother and his family. It will be a wonderful day--A day of family and good food--A day of praising my Lord and Savior, Jesus. As I enjoy all of this, my heart of hearts will be longing for those listed above. Those who next to my Lord and Brenda are adore and treasured most. Happy Thanksgiving to the loves of my life. I miss you.

The Daraja Children's Choir

The worship of children is a precious thing to see. Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it” (Mark 10:15). To receive the kingdom like a little child is to receive it in total trust without holding anything back. Last Friday evening a chlidren’s choir from Kenya performed at our church. The choir is called "The Daraja Children’s Choir." Daraja means “bridge.” The children are a bridge from their world to ours. They present to us the needs that are so great in Kenya, but they also present to us a joy that is truly amazing. These children love the Lord Jesus and they are filled with joy and hope. As they led our church in worship, you could see them worship in complete joy. As I fired shot after shot, I zoomed in close to capture their expressions. I quickly realized I was capturing much more than good pictures. I was capturing moments of worship. I was capturing children singing not for the people who were in front of them, but for the One who they adored. With each click of the shutter, I worshiped, too. I became not an intrusion into the moment but a part of the moment—worshiping as I focused and clicked. I praise God for the experience I and many others had as we worshiped with the Daraja Children’s Choir. I pray further that the experience will result in actions. I pray many will be looking for the “good works which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Eph. 2:10). I encourage you to learn more about these children and about God’s work in Kenya. See this link: http://410bridge.org/daraja
If you would like to see more pictures from this worship experience go to: http://macmac.smugmug.com/gallery/6627084_CFSmg#422508944_38x3B
Study their expressions and see hearts pouring out to the Lord Jesus.

Marriage Retreat - Lake Junaluska

One of my favorite and most rewarding things to do is to teach on marriage. Eleven couples joined Brenda and me for a weekend retreat. We had fun playing games, eating meals together, and whitewater rafting. Most importantly, we talked about marriage. We identified strengths and growth areas in our marriages. The couples were lead to discuss these as a couple and they were encouraged to bring some part of their discussion back to the group to share. Marriage is a wonderful institution. It takes constant work for it to be all that it can be. Marriage was designed by God to be an awesome experience and to be a reflection of His love for us. Many marriage do not equal the task, but some do. When they do, they are glorious to witness and they are a glorious experience for the couple. What is your goal (hope) in marriage? Let it be: "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh. The man and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame." Genesis 2:24-25

Change Comes At You Fast

Change comes at you fast

Today, I will turn in my resignation at Hickory Grove Baptist Church. Over the next two weeks I will wind up a twelve year ministry there and I will prepare to begin anew in ministry at Carmel Baptist Church in Matthews.

Hickory Grove has been a marvelous place of ministry. God has allowed me to see great and mighty things—the greatest of which are changed lives. My arrival on staff at HGBC was truly miraculous and my going to Carmel is too. While I am saddened to leave HGBC, I am excited to go to Carmel and minister there as their Pastor of Education. God has allowed me to learn so much at HGBC. I began with no experience and no formal training. I leave a veteran with almost 12 years experience and a Master of Theological Studies. I remain, however, a student, both formally and informally, for there is always much to learn. I take great experience to Carmel, but I go to learn as well. Most of all, I go to see God work in the lives of people and I know He will work in mine too.

I will forever be grateful to Hickory Grove Baptist Church and I will love her people all my life. Change comes at you fast, but God is sovereign! God has a plan. Please pray for Brenda and me as we seek to do that—walk in His plan. I fully expect an Ephesians 3:20 experience at Carmel, just as I have had at HGBC.
Sunday October 5 will be our last day at The Grove. Then, a week’s vacation to rest, refresh, and renew. Monday, October 13 will be day one on a new and exciting field of service at Carmel Baptist Church.

Carmel Baptist: www.carmelbaptist.org

Contact info as of Oct. 13:
Carmel Baptist Church
1145 Pineville-Matthews Road
Matthews, NC 28105
joem@carmelbaptist.org
704-815-1592

Between now and then, you can still reach me at HGBC!

Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think according to the power at work within us. Eph 3:20.

Our fighting men and women are people just like you and me

Marine Captain Nathaniel C. Jaime (Nate) took a few short minutes during duty to stop by the officer’s pool to watch his daughter, Naomi ,play in the kiddy pool. You can't help but to notice the kiss. Naomi stretches up to her daddy ("NaNa") in response to his request for a "kiss-kiss." This uniformed Marine gently holds his daughters hand and he gladly accepted the little yellow duck she offered to him to hold. I watched as my son-in-law stole few short moments out of the middle of the day to be a dad. We think of Marines (Devil Dogs) as tough, well trained, hardened fighting machines and they are. But, they are so much more. They go to work and they prepare to wage war. They come home and they are just like you and me.
We are very fortunate right now. Nate is state-side. He, Alana, Naomi, and new their new little boy, Gabriel, are stationed at Twenty-nine Palms Marine Corps base in the Mojave Desert of CA. Nate has been deployed to the Middle East twice in the past three years, but right now he is training other Marines do to what he does when he is at war. We are very proud of him and of our daughter Alana. Alana has a needle work picture framed that says, "A Marine Wife - The Toughest Job in the Marine Corps."
Remember our Fighting Forces and remember their families. As you watch news reports remember this picture and know each of our men and women who serve in harm’s way love deeply and are loved deeply. Yet, they go. They go for you and they go for me. They go for their/our country - the USA.

Gabriel -- Holding him reminds of what's important

I held Gabriel for about 45 minutes tonight. He was awake, alert, and happy. He looked all around and made little noises.

Perspective -- what is life really about? It is about relationships. It is about giving and receiving. The greatest treasures we will ever have are not in the things of earth, but are of the people of the earth. Who we know and who knows us -- therein lies treasure.

The artist of relationships is the Triune God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit). In Him, we find the perfect relationship. He offers that relationship to us through the Son, Jesus Christ. I desire to pursue relationships. I want to know God. I want to know Brenda, my wife. I want to know my family. I want to know any who would consider a friendship a treasure. I want to know and I want to be known.

"I didn't even have to say excuse me."

Miriam and MacMac had a great time swimming together on Lake Gaston. After everyone else had left the waterside Miriam and I had time to swim with just the two of us. I told her that we were "partners," explaining that we were "working together" to swim and just enjoying being together. Her enjoyment of this alone time with MacMac, came out as she was telling her Grandma about her experience. She said , "I didn't even have to say excuse me." She had my undivided attention--she didn't have to break into a conversation with, "Excuse me MacMac." How precious! I will cherish the swim time that Miriam and I had--"partners"--just us.

For Tips

A crowd must form as tourists in Ensenada, Mexico are drawn the too heavy musical sounds produced by four home-made drums, a home-made xylophone, and a flute. In the midst is a young woman dancing to the rhythmic sounds produce by the musicians. The teens play and dance hoping for tips. They move from street corner to street corner with their high energy show. As the Ensenada police arrive, they vanish into the crowd only to reappear on another street corner to entertain -- all for tips.