I knew it was going to be a process, but....

Who could have known things would be so tough along this journey?  I have been feeling sorry for myself lately and singing "Oh, Woe Is Me".  Have you ever sung that song of self-pity?  I have sung it in the past but not this many verses.

Conversations and prayer with some family, friends (Mark and Tom) and our Board have helped me regain perspective...God's over mine.

Mine = problem is too big, resources are too small, life is too short, and the hindrances are too strong

God's = He is bigger than any challenge, His resources are unlimited, eternity is timeless and this life is simply preparation for eternity, and no hindrance can stand against His will and power.

Can you imagine that when my perspective is the place where my thoughts live, I get down (I mean discouraged not "get down" as in dancing..remember I am an older guy)?
But when my Father's perspective rules my thoughts, I get His peace, understand His love, and enjoy great hope in Him (and feel like dancing and sometimes I actually do)!

So, by faith, I say today that my God "shall supply all your (my) needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus", not because I think it is true but because He said it.  That settles it.  Philippians 4:6,7, 19 are some of my 2011 verses to pray for my own spiritual health.

When we started this venture, I did the best I knew to communicate it to my family, but I realize I didn't do a very good job.  I have put Carol, especially, in a very difficult place by possibly moving ahead without her buy in, at least to the degree I should have.  However, here we are, and we are more on the same page, singing the same song, and trusting God for His will to be done "on earth (in our lives) as it is in heaven" as ever.

Our Couple #1 and now perhaps Couples #2 and #3 will receive the best care and love we can give them as we, by God's grace, watch the Holy Spirit move to heal marriages, and then use them mightily to influence 1000's of other couples to exhibit the love of Jesus powerfully at home, in churches, and communities around the world.

• The Problem:  not too big for God to solve and in Christ it is solved already, we await the revelation of His solution
• The Resources: are around us in abundance, "God's work done God's way will not lack God's supplies" - not my original thought but borrowed from Hudson Taylor
• The Life:  though not void of challenges is abundant nonetheless; an eye on eternity keeps this life in true focus
• The Hindrances:  though real, are only temporary and will not stop the will of God from being done!

I look forward to reporting how God does what only He can "take the nothing I see, add the something He owns, so that we have everything we need to ensure all the honor is His".

We're Baaaack!

We didn't quite beat the snow! That made the last 15 miles or 40 minutes of the journey treacherous and exciting; thus, our trip up the slippery driveway was slow (took me 3 attempts to make it to the top) but brought great relief to actually be home and out of the "blizzard". 

Since we got home we've taken more steps toward putting final building blocks in place for TBI.  Couple #1 continues to make progress.  We love them and trust God will continue the miracle work they desire and need. (Don't we all?)  There are now 3 or 4 retreat/conferences in the discussion and planning stages for this year.  Awesome! 

I continue to marvel at how intimately God knows me and us; and I stand amazed to see His miracles of healing relationships, saving souls, providing resources, and delivering lives.  Jesus truly is a wonderful Savior and Friend. 

67 Years in the Same House

Can you believe it?  You certainly don't hear about this very often, but I know a wonderful Christian lady, my mother - Mae Evelyn Lewis, who has lived in the same house for 67 years.  I would tell you which of my brothers was just a few weeks old when Mom and Dad moved there, but that would give away his age.  He looks much younger than that.  :)

As I sat around the table with some of my other family and my Mom, we talked and laughed about old times and memories of Dad.  He has been with Jesus for 34 years this April.  While we were talking it struck me how blessed I am to have renewed relationship and loving fellowship with many of my extended family.  I personally think we've come a long way to this "better place" as a family.

I give the glory to Jesus because He has pursued us, picked us up, forgiven us, taught us, taught us again, and simply produced His love in us and shown us how to give it away.  Love is a great thing(the greatest thing if I remember correctly), but it is hard to consistently demonstrate.

Our sweet Mom has certainly tried to do that in greater and greater ways all her life.  For a 97, almost 98, year old lady, I think she is amazing.  She is happy and free not bitter and hardened as many expect "old people" to become.  Her freedom and growth in love for God and for us are parts of the legacy she is passing to us. 

I leave Kentucky today after celebrating my brother-in-law Sammy's birthday, finding out my only sister may have a spot of cancer on her pancreas (more tests to come), visiting with Carol's brother's family in Paducah, and learning more about my Mom than I knew before I came.  I will pick up Carol and Jeanne in Lexington, KY on the way back home, and hopefully we'll get there before the big snow storm hits north Georgia.

I am more convinced after several conversations here with family, friends, and a timely email encouragement from a friend back in Cumming that the journey we are on with The Basic Idea Ministries is truly about as basic as it gets.  Learning to love, to love again, to know how loved we are, you are, and "letting our roots grow deeply into the soil of God's love" forms the only worthy foundation on which to build our lives.  I am so glad God IS love and that His love is clearly seen in the rising of the sun, the provisions to meet our needs....all of them, and the sure hope of being with Him forever by simple faith in a loving Savior, Jesus Christ, who truly came to offer Himself as my substitute on a Roman cross.  He loves me and you and nothing can ever change that truth.

Last Day - New Day

As 2010 closes, I consider the growth and fellowship I have experienced with Jesus this year through time in the One Year Bible.  I was given this Bible, or one like it, years ago in Little Rock by Linda Simmons, a fellow-member of our church.  What a wonderful gift it has proven to be!


I don't think I have ever been disciplined enough to read every day, but most days Jesus and I have had sweet times in His Word.  What an honor to be loved by Him and love Him back, though feebly at times.

Today, I finished reading Revelation 22, Malachi 4, Psalm 150, and Proverbs 31.

Connections were made as I thought about ...

• Malachi prophesying about the "great and dreadful day" of the Lord and warns that before it happens we will see Elijah (as Luke 1 relates that  John the Baptist had "the spirit and power of Elijah", maybe??) turn the hearts of fathers to children and children to fathers.  
• John writing about Christ's return and warning about the Church being prepared and ready; Jesus returns with judgments and rewards
• The Psalmist having nothing but praise and encouragement for us to praise God
• Proverbs 31 defining the woman/wife/mother who is prepared and makes sure her family is ready to face any challenge.  She is praised by her children and her husband for her character not just her beauty or charm.

This is what I hear:

1. Jesus is coming and His reward is with Him for His Church; Husband of the Proverbs 31 wife will praise her for her work and character
2. The Church, as the wife/bride of Christ, should be prepared for Him as the wife in Proverbs 31 is prepared for whatever comes:  the wife (Church) is to be  wise, strong, industrious, noble, faithful to instruct
3. Her children (those in the Church) should have great things to say about her; see how she has cared for them and how godly her character; my guess is that she loved them and they knew it
4. Jesus will allow us into His city; a wife is to receive praise at the "city gate", most "wives" who work hard but have a hard heart to match aren't praised - but those who lovingly give are praised
5. Families with loving, respectful relationships are critical:  fathers to children, wife/mother; Husband/bride; hearts turned toward each other or consequences will be severe

I strongly believe that the modern day Church has lost its way in building/instructing disciples who are ready for Christ's return and know how to love well at home.  Sunday Schools aren't the answer any more than Community Groups, conferences, websites, or more books.  To prepare the Church/Christ's Bride for His return, we must become "family" - not dysfunctional family but loving family. 

A loving church will be built on loving families led by loving dads and moms...who love God and each other. 

Questions:
Where are people learning to give and receive love? 
Where are they learning how loved they really are by our Father and how to experience that love deeply, personally?

If, in fact, loving churches are going to happen, we must rely on material resources to a degree but intentionally build people-to-people relationships even more.  When we really "love the Lord our God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength", as well as, "love others as ourselves", the Church will change the culture, and those who watch will marvel at Christ's powerful demonstration of love in "real time".  They will be drawn to Jesus Christ.  Jesus demonstrated love most clearly in His death on the cross on our behalf.  What a Savior!  What a Friend!  What a Lover!

The Church built on the "truth" and "love" of God will be a family of believers with great character, great love, powerful life-change, ready for Jesus to return.  He makes it clear that we are to BE like Him as individuals, so we can represent Him to the world as His Church and lift Him up so all will be drawn to Him.

An Idea:
Maybe God wants us Take Back the Cities/Communities:

• Have a relevant church where people will come and participate
• Have relevant, strategic relationship-building (teach how to love) ministries

 I fully believe that if a church did these 2 things, that church would be used of God to take back their city or community out of the darkness of lovelessness into the light of Jesus Christ, our loving Savior.

The Basic Idea Ministries:
Our mission is to "help leaders live loved and give love freely...starting at home".

If we can love our family at home as Jesus loves us, perhaps that is the best place to start changing the world and taking back our cities for God and for the good of our nation.

Back from Kentucky

I am so grateful for my family...not just my wife, children, and grandchildren but also my Mom and extended family.   We continue to see God's hand guiding, drawing, welcoming, and loving each of us into a closer walk with Him.

As we drove in last night I had a ton of mixed emotions.  Being with the whole family was wonderful.  We had fun, meaningful talks, and great interaction.  I can't wait to be back with them again.

I miss being with Paul and Erin, Eli, Clara, and Joanna Mae.  They made it back to Little Rock safely and more quickly than I was able to drive it when we lived in Arkansas.  I think they have the trip mastered and they just don't stop much.  I, on the other hand, like to stop.  I don't enjoy being the guy who has the reputation for the "longest elapsed travel time".

Eli is growing up and is such a great young man.  He is quite the talker and uses words (good words) at 6 years of age that I didn't know until I was much older.  What a helper he is and how he loves to learn things!!

Clara Jayne is such a wit and you need to record everything she says because in there somewhere is another belly laugh.  Of course, we try to listen respectfully, but it's hard to do when you need to leave the room to keep from laughing out loud.  We think her voice sounds like Junior Asparagus in Veggie Tales.  I see kindness developing in her toward her brother, little sister, and others.

Joanna is a quiet (for now) little sweetie, who loves her "babies" and doesn't seem to mind observing others do stuff while she hangs out in my lap.  She is named after my mom, Mae Evelyn Lewis.

I am so proud of Paul and Erin in the way they are growing in love for each other and for their kids.  They are great at looking out for the health and well-being of their family and work very hard to find ways to live better through organics (not chemistry).

For those who don't recognize it, that last sentence was a play on an old commercial where the tag line was "living better through chemistry".  I think it might have been a tag line for Dupont or Dow Chemical.  Not sure.....fyi

Nathan, Suzanne, Evan, and Jonathan were driving back to Georgia with us in a convoy of two autos.  We did make a stop together then parted ways to go to our separate homes.   Evan's arm is healing after his accident, and he hasn't missed a beat.  He still loves to run and jump and climb even if one "wing" is not quite as useful for now.  It will be.  He is learning well how to obey his parents and how to be gentle with his little brother.

Jonathan makes the "more" sign-language move when I come around.  Don't you know that makes Grandaddy feel special!  He seems to be singing, in his little way, all the time and moves to the music. Whenever it goes, he goes.  He is as "full of life" as his mother was/is. 

Nathan and Suzanne are wonderful together.  I love watching my daughter being loved so well and supported in the many tasks she performs.  With each passing year I am blessed to see those two learning and growing in love for Christ and each other.  I am proud of them...both of them.

Jeanne is such a great help to me as we start this ministry.  Her diligence and perseverance are important to me as I get a bit "burdened down" with all the moving parts of starting a new business and ministry.  She probably doesn't realize what a jewel of a lady she is, and even if she does discover it one day, I hope she remains confident in the Lord and grateful to Him for blessing her as he has.  I see her as a woman who wants nothing less than God's best and is willing to wait on His provision.

Carol is without a doubt the "best thing that ever happened to me".  I am realizing a little more each day how much I need her in my life, as God conforms me to the image of Christ as He promised.  Carol is exactly who I need to be my companion and also the one from whom I learn what unconditional love means.  A question I added to my list of good questions this week: 
"How does God use Carol to help me become more of what He designed me to be?"  (and vice versa)
God is good all the time.

Our prayer is that as God has been faithful to us to forgive, to provide, to love us unconditionally, that we will be faithful to Him even when things are tough.  We don't want a fair weather faith.  We want a faith based on a deep "knowing" of His love for us.

Monday, Dec. 6...Wow, lots going on!

      What a great week!  We are watching things come together for the ministry, meeting with our CPA, settling website issues, and meeting with Couple #1.  They are so great, and our prayer and desire is to see them heal, turn toward each other in the love of Jesus Christ, and one day help their church start relevant marriage ministry. 
   
    I met with a fellow today who wants to help us raise some funds.  Fine with me!  I told him that every time we answer some questions more questions pop up.  However, I think that fewer new questions seem to arise with each passing day. We are getting there! 
   
      The financial piece is the item that is the most sensitive.  We are not in this ministry to enrich ourselves ( we do like to eat and live indoors...especially now) but to serve pastors, leaders, churches, and communities wherever marriage mentoring is needed and wanted.  We want to help start relevant marriage ministries and train a bunch of marriage mentors around the world starting locally and going as long and as far as God pleases.  He will provide for our needs in His way, and we are trying to be faithful to do our part realizing that without His part, TBI won't succeed either financially or spiritually.  God changes lives.  He has changed and is changing ours and 1000's of others about whom we know.  We want everyone to know the love of Christ personally and be able to translate His love into their own relationships...especially at home.

     Can you imagine a family, a church, a community, a nation..where Jesus Christ is known, obeyed, and loved?  That kind of vision starts with each of us as individuals loving Christ and others in our own world and setting a loving example for others, so they'll know God "is and rewards those who diligently seek Him". 

December 2....Sweet Day

Carol and I finished our retreat with the Marriage CoMission at WinShape in Rome, GA, near the Berry College Campus.  Besides being an incredibly beautiful setting and pristine accommodations (btw-converted from cow barns...really), the people we met made the 3 days an even greater blessing.  Each of us felt some intimidation knowing that we were around couples who've been doing marriage ministry effectively and publishing materials successfully for years.  I got over myself and realized with help from my friend Ted Lowe that God is doing great things and being anywhere doing anything to help marriages is a precious gift....do all of it for the glory of God and let Him take care of the "reach" as well as the duration of the ministry.  We are working hard to make sure the foundation of The Basic Idea Ministries is strong and our systems are efficient and simple.  We are getting there.
        I discovered another avenue for finding pastor/leader couples who want and need mentoring.  Marriage intensives are 3-5 day deep-counseling environments that have proven very effective for rescuing marriages about to go down for the last count; however, there are very few who have adequate follow-up unless professional counseling is continued.  I met two wonderful counselors who do intensives at WinShape and may be interested in working with us to hand off couples after the intensives so we can befriend them,  help them continue to grow, and perhaps assist as they start relevant marriage ministries from the "top down" of their organizations and churches.  I think that connection alone was worth the investment of the time.
I am also very grateful to the Cathys for making this opportunity available to us and the others who attended. I praise God for allowing us to be there even though I almost blew it with my temporary attitude of "oh, woe is me" and the fear of failure that was its underpinnings. 
      I almost forgot another critical issue we are trying to wrestle through.....
The whole funding deal is a big one because after December 24, 2010, there is no visible funding source.  We have ideas and possibilities, but so far no solid sources .... humanly speaking.  We are trusting that God has spoken clearly, we have listened and obeyed, and that His resources will be brought to take care of our personal needs and the ministry needs.  We have been and will be working hard to serve the couples, churches, and organizations God sends our way and by His grace we'll get to see Him work powerfully in individuals, families, and communities to take marriage and family relationships to new levels of loving abundance.  John 10:10.  The stealing and killing and destroying of homes has got to stop.  God is greater than our issues and He can and will overcome.  We will overcome by our faith in a God who has the power to pull all this off and supply resources at the same time.  He must be ambidextrous.  :)
Dave for Carol and Jeanne....yes, she is helping us get started and hopefully will be an employee of the ministry too.