My 25

I'm still a newbie in the world of Facebook. It's been tons of fun reconnecting with both old and new friends alike. One thing that seems to be all the rage is to post various lists of "25 things about yourself." While I've read plenty of these by other people, I haven't done one for myself. Instead I thought I'd post this...

My 25 Reasons I Believe in God

1. I believe in Jesus because He forgives me of my past, helps me with my present and assures my future. I read that thought in a devotional several years ago, and it changed everything. It's just too true, too promising, too awesome not to want to believe. The fact that Jesus loves me, despite all the mistakes, failures and mis-steps I've made in the past is humbling. The fact that he cares about my daily struggles is reassuring. The fact that He has a place for me in eternity is joy beyond any words I can cobble together.

2. My mom. The woman is an angel here on earth. No one has done more to help me on my faith journey, or put up with more BS from me (see ages 13-17, specifically) along the way. Plus she is the greatest cook on the planet, which doesn't hurt either.

3. My kids. Ever since they've been born it's made more sense to me about how God must feel about us as His children. No matter how crazy my two wild things might drive me on a given day, I could never, ever stop loving them. And I believe that's how God feels about his kids, too.

4. The Book of Psalms. Definitely my favorite book in the Bible. It began to mean so much more to me when (at the suggestion of author Bo Cox) I began to read it in terms of my internal demons. It makes all the bits about "killing my enemies" and "gnashing of teeth" much more meaningful. It also shows the incredible highs and gut-wrenching lows of one of my favorite people in the Bible, King David. A man whose failings and struggles I can identify with all too well.

5. Church Street UMC. It's where I married my wife, baptized my kids and play hoops every Wednesday. Whether I am welcoming a new child or losing my job someone from that Church has been there to help me, support me, pray for me and make me laugh.

6. The Story of the Prodigal Son. It's like the North Star, if you get off track you can always read this story and get back on course. I'm amazed at how God still loves me no matter how many times I go off the rails and end up in the ditch.

7. Johnny Cash. Bono once said that "Every man knows he's a sissy compared to Johnny Cash." How true. And, to me, what makes him a real man isn't the deep voice, the wearing of black, or the bad-assness of "Folsom Prison Blues" (although all those don't hurt) it's his foundation on faith and a God that loves those who have made a mess of things.

8. "By the Mark" - by Gillian Welch. A song so beautiful, it about brings me to tears even though I've heard it 1,675 times. And I could listen to it 1,675 more. I want this song played at my funeral.

9. My Silas. In the Bible, Silas was the ultimate wing man. He kept Paul in check (no easy task) by helping him through his various trials and tribulations. My Silas helps me make sense of my life (no easy task) by talking me through everything from getting fired, being a good dad and the disasterous 5-7 season the Vols had last year (much more troubling to me than it probably should be.) My Silas is a tremendous man of faith that gets me through everything life throws my way.

10. Matthew 6: 25-34. One of my favorite expressions is "no worries." This passage is why.

11. Basketball. It's my favorite sport, to quote the great Kurtis Blow. And for me it has become a type of mission. Not that I'm doing any great things because of my game (my J is way too broke for that to happen) but because of the incredible friendships and shared experiences I enjoy every week in my weekly pick up games. We compete, share each others burdens and joys, and try to perfect the art of the high pick and roll. Sweet!

12. Manna from Heaven. The story from the Old Testament that always inspires me is the one about the Isralites complaining about the wilderness. It kinda reminds me of Goldilocks (this one is too hot, this one is too cold) but none of them are ever just right. Despite their nagging, er, complaining, God is faithful and promises to give them exactly what they need to get through that day. A promise he keeps for us today.

13. Silent Night. Is anything more beautiful than the singing of "Silent Night" at a Christmas Eve service?

14. Rob Bell. Simply the most gifted and engaging preacher I've ever heard. If you don't know his stuff start with nooma.com and his first book Velvet Elvis.

15. Psalm 34: 5. Words I aspire to be...

16. The Ocean. It's beauty and power are and endless source of inspiration. Especially the little slice of it my family visits every year in Tybee Island, GA.

17. Amazing Grace. A song hundreds of years old that's been sung thousands of different ways that never ceases to inspire.

18. The Alps. For those who would say there is no God, I would suggest you take a train ride through the Swiss Alps at daybreak as my wife and I did several years ago. Witness that level of natural beauty and then try to convince yourself that it was all created by a "big bang." I don't think so.

19. I'll Fly Away. Another classic song that means more after each listen.

20. Max Lucado. Simply a fantastic writer. I have a dog earred daily devotional of his that I have read and re-read too many times to count. His book Just Like Jesus is a must read. It had sentence that changed my life: "Jesus loves you just the way you are. He just doesn't want you to stay that way."


21. Dr. James Flemming. A Biblical archeologist that has given a yearly presentation at my church for the past 10 years or so. A wealth of information about how things were in the times of Jesus. While he's ALWAYS the smartest guy in the room, he never comes off like it.

22. Easter Sunrise Service At Radnor Lake. This was a yearly tradition in my hometown of Nashville, TN. I don't get back for them now as much as I'd like. That needs to change.

23. The Lost and the Least. Time and time again in the Bible you see Jesus having compassion on those whom society deemed unacceptable at the time (prostitutes, the poor, the diseased, children, etc.) while he reserved some of his harshest criticisms for the fat cats of the day. I love this.

24. Psalm 23. You can't go wrong here...

25. February 12, 1994. My "road to Damascus" moment. They say God will do what it takes to get his wayward childrens' attention. He went pretty far to get mine. But I'm so thankful he did. Eternally so.