For Vance Crowe

A couple of weeks ago at our midweek worship, Waypoint, we looked at the life of Martin Luther and last week we heard the story of Rosa Parks.  These were significant people who have left major marks on the world.  It’s highly unlikely that any of our stories will be captured in the annuls of history.  In fact, most of the men and women of faith through the ages have lived their lives without leaving even the smallest record for posterity.  Yet, that didn’t mean that God didn’t work through them.  Though their names may be forgotten now, in their own time and place, they may have made an impact that is still rippling out across the pond of time and space into eternity.  Though God at times uses extraordinary people to accomplish his will, more often than not, God works through every day people doing every day things.   

I've been blessed by a number of mentors through the years.  I've learned from ministers and other members of various of churches I've worshiped in.  Many of my school teachers and coaches have had a tremendous impact on my life.  I continue to look up to so many of my college professors, from both my undergraduate and graduate studies.  I've worked in ministry with several amazing colleagues, both older and younger than me.  And obviously, more than anything else, I've been formed by my family - my parents, siblings, grandparents, uncles, aunts, and cousins. 

In addition to all of these mentioned above, one of the most impactful people I've ever had the privilege to know is Vance Crowe.  Vance was the director of Camp Blue Haven from 1987-2003 (17 years).  My first summer to attend camp was Vance's first summer to direct it.  My first summer to teach Bible class at Blue Haven was Vance's final summer to direct.  I camped under Vance's leadership for 10 summers, I worked for him as the dish room manager for one summer, and I was blessed to serve as one of his counselors in 2001.  There are countless Christ-like men and women who've had a hand in making Blue Haven youth camp the amazing ministry that it is, but no one has done more through the years than Vance and his wife Amy.  Though he passed from this life on Saturday, May 14, 2016 – his legacy will continue to impact thousands upon thousands of people!

I have so many fond memories of Vance, it would be difficult to try to recollect them all now, but I want to share a few.  In 1991, during 2nd session, I joined dozens of other campers on the all-day hike to the top of Elk Mountain (11,661 feet).  Vance led the hike and it was the first time a group from Blue Haven had attempted to make the 13 plus mile round trip journey.  We had no problems making it to the snow crested peak of the mountain, but as we descended, Vance decided to take a short-cut that turned out to be a long-cut.  What should have been around 13-14 miles turned into a 26-mile marathon of mythic proportions.  We slept out under the stars and didn't get back to camp until the following morning.  But during the entire journey, no one ever doubted that we'd get back to civilization in one piece.  Vance remained calm, cool, and collected and owned up to his mistake, while simultaneously assuring everyone that we would all be okay.  Later that summer, he had t-shirts printed up and sent to all of us on the hike.  The shirts said, "I survived the Elk Mountain Lost Hike."  I think they must be collector’s items by now.  I certainly lost mine somewhere along the way.

Though he got lost on that occasion in 1991, Vance knew his way around the Sangre de Cristo Mountains like no one else.  In fact, it sometimes seemed like Vance would just appear out of nowhere!  When we used to have devotionals out in the woods, you would look up and there would be Vance!  Where did he come from?  Then you'd look up and he'd be gone again.  It was both comforting and a little alarming – he seemed to be Omni-present around camp.  Our fear of and respect for him kept us all out of trouble. 

When I was a junior in High School in Marble Falls, we asked Vance to be the speaker at our annual youth rally.  The rally was held on a Saturday and I had a basketball game the night before in Belton.  The Crowes made the trip early and came along and watched me and a couple of others on our team who had attended camp.  It was so encouraging for the director of Blue Haven to take the time to watch one of my games! 

Maybe that's what I remember most about Vance Crowe.  He was always an encourager.  I delivered some dreadful devotional talks through the years while attending Blue Haven as a camper, but I remember always being encouraged by Vance.  In part, his encouragement gave me the confidence to pursue ministry as a vocation.  One of my fondest memories comes from my final night as a counselor at Blue Haven in the summer of 2001.  He hugged me and then whispered these words in my ear, "Thank you for allowing the Lord to use you so powerfully this summer."  Those words were few, but coming from such a mentor in the faith, they meant a lot and have stayed with me to this day. 

When I attended his funeral, I discovered many other ways Vance had blessed others.  For instance, he and Amy had fostered dozens of kids through the years.  I only knew him for one small slice of his life – a few weeks out of the year at Camp Blue Haven.  And yet, he got up, day after day and went to work for God in his Kingdom.  While speaking with Karl Jones, the Burleson pulpit minister, a couple of years ago, I discovered that Karl knew Vance from his days of ministering in Oklahoma.  In fact, while Karl was preaching in Davis, OK, Vance had hosted a gospel meeting at the Davis congregation.  So many others in Oklahoma and other places knew the Crowes and were impacted by their Christian service.  Who knows the length and breadth of their impact?!!!   

I could go on and on, in fact, I could write a book about Vance, but I'm not the one to do that.  There are many others who were closer to him and knew him far better than I did.  Certainly, one or some of them should write a book about this fine man's life.  I'd love to read it!  He will certainly continue to be missed, but as former Blue Haven counselor, Jon Camp posted soon after Vance’s death, our cloud of witnesses just got bigger!  And that part of Hebrews really sums up who Vance Crowe was.  He was one who fixed his eyes on Jesus and humbly followed his Master and Savior.  His life and example inspire me to want to do the same. 

Vance, was just an ordinary guy.  And yet, God used him in extraordinary ways.  We all are just ordinary people, but God can do so much through each one of us.  And God has given us this great cloud of witnesses to spur us on to love & good works.  Most of these witnesses are very average, like we are.  Who makes up your cloud of witnesses?  Maybe they are still living, or maybe they’ve passed from this life into eternity.  Either way, we should follow them as they have or are currently following Christ.  And let’s not forget, though we may feel small or insignificant in the grand scheme of the universe, we still have an important part to play.  God has placed at least a dozen or so people within our sphere of influence.  Maybe more?  So, let’s play our parts well.  And as the writer of Hebrew tells us, “Let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us…” - Shay 

Live Out That Story

Have you ever re-watched a movie or re-read a book and discovered that there's more going on in the story than you initially had noticed?  Have you ever looked back on certain points in your life and discovered that there was more going on than your first impressions of a particular episode or event?  One of the reasons we tell stories is to discover the meaning within the mess of our lives.  Because stories, at least good ones, typically have a beginning, middle, and ending (or resolution), they give us the power to perceive connections that might otherwise go unnoticed. 

The more we read, study, and reflect on the story of God and his people, as recorded for us in the Old and New Testaments, the more we discover meaning and purpose within that epic narrative.  And because we're living in the late middle part of that story - after the climax, but before the final resolution - the more we read, study, and reflect on it, the more we will discover meaning and purpose for our own lives.  I often hear people talk about practicality and applicability when they refer to the study of scripture, as if God had simply given us a self-help instruction manual for life.  No doubt, our lives are greatly enhanced when we live within the flow of the overarching narrative from creation to new creation, but to treat this transcendent story as nothing more than a pop-psychology primer or a guide to greater spirituality, is akin to reading Shakespeare to simply increase one's vocabulary.  There may be some value in it, but it nevertheless misses the point.  And just as one's reading of Shakespeare will be greatly enhanced by a cultural and historical understanding of Elizabethan England, so too is our reading of the Bible blessed by Biblical scholarship.  But the point of the endeavor remains: to get inside and live inside the story that scripture tells.

This past week, I was blessed to sit at the feet of N.T. Wright and other Biblical scholars, theologians, and ministry practitioners at the Pepperdine Bible Lectures.  I'm always pleasantly amazed at how rich, deep, and wide is the story of God and his people.  None of us will ever exhaust the riches found in the pages of this brilliant saga, so the best thing for all of us to do is to live out that story through our limited understanding, wherever we find ourselves.  Let's continue to read, study, and reflect, as we get on with the biggest task of all - living it out! - Shay
  

Where it Really Counts

Some of the greatest moments of faithfulness of God's people in the Old Testament occurred, not when they were living in a position of power and control over their own affairs, but rather when they were living under the authority of another kingdom. 

In the early decades and centuries of Christianity, God's people seemed to be more faithful, devout, and sincere when they were still labeled as outsiders and were forced to the margins of society.  Once the church allied itself with the Roman state and became the Roman church, it lost much of its purity in faith and doctrine. 

In the early decades of the 21st century, many have observed that the Christian faith has a smaller voice and a diminished influence in western society.  This may be true, but rather than lamenting this, I believe Christians would be better advised to focus on a grass-roots, ground up mentality.  One of the best ways to insure that the faith is passed onto the next generation, is to make sure the faith is passed on within our individual family units.  One of the best ways to make a difference in our nation, is to make a difference in our local community.  And one of the best ways to make a difference in our local community, is to make a difference on our own street and with our own neighbors.  It all starts with getting to know them and loving them, regardless of where they may be spiritually - now or in the future.

 Much time and energy is wasted on social media and other distractions of our modern world.  May the body of Christ focus its energies on real life, real relationships, and real community!  Despite what may be happening at the national level, politically, or otherwise, we can make a real difference where it really counts. - Shay
 

Breathe and Live Again

The prophet Ezekiel ministered to the exiles in Babylonian captivity between roughly 592-571 BC.  One of his more famous visions, recorded for us in Ezekiel 37, is that of a valley full of dry bones.  He’s told by God that the dead, dry bones, are God’s people, Israel.  He’s asked, “Can these bones live?”  His response, “Lord, I don’t know – you know.”  God tells him, “Prophesy to the bones and tell them that I will cause breath to enter them and they will live.  I will make flesh and skin appear and the dead bodies will breathe and live again.” 

So Ezekiel prophesies to the bones and the bones reconnect, the tissues and sinews reform, flesh covers the bodies, but there is no breath of life in these corpses.  So Ezekiel is told to speak again, and as he speaks, breath, or spirit, from the four winds enters into the dead bodies and they live and stand up on their feet.  The message for Ezekiel and the exiles is that though Israel is dead and buried in exile, God will raise them up from their graves and bring them back to the Promised Land.  When this occurs, they will know that YHWH has spoken and will do what he says! 

This vision had a profound impact on the Jewish people for many years to come.  Though clearly metaphorical in its original context, the idea that God can and will raise up his people from the dead was one of the most important doctrines in first century Jewish theology.  The idea was that when God finally acted to deliver his people from pagan oppression, the faithful dead of all ages would be resurrected to enjoy life with God in a renewed and restored creation.  After the resurrection of Jesus, the early Christians continued to affirm that the final victory of God’s people would include the resurrection of the dead and the renewal of all things.  A poem I wrote several years ago incorporates these ideas.

Resurrection

Lying in the dust the corpse rots through and through.

There’s no more life to live, there’s nothing left to do.

Then the bones begin to rattle, the bones begin to shake.

The sinews and the flesh, new life begins to make.

Gasping deep, lungs expanding, Spirit’s wind, life’s breath.

The living God’s the giving God and life has conquered death!

His body hangs limp, beaten, broken, his side dripping blood.

On the faces of the women, tears stream down in a flood.

He was the one who’d redeem his people, but the cause is now lost.

None could imagine the pain and suffering, no one could count the cost.

And the tomb stands ready to receive his lifeless body dead.

But it’s Sunday morning now and resurrection wins instead!

She’s heard of resurrection, but it seems too good to be true.

Yet in faith her heart believes, so there’s nothing she won’t do.

Her dead body is buried; the grave of water sucks her in.

She’s covered in his blood, and she rises free from sin.

Her old life is behind her, in her new life she looks ahead

To the time when he returns and her body will rise again!

If we ever feel like we’re dead and buried, spiritually speaking, or otherwise, let’s remember Ezekiel’s vision and know that just as God acted on behalf of his people in exile, he can and will act on our behalf, no matter where we find ourselves.  Ask God to fill you with his Spirit so that you can breathe and live again! - Shay

Like a Bird in a Cage

One of my favorite stories in the Old Testament occurs in 2 Kings 18 & 19.  The northern kingdom of Israel has already fallen and gone into exile.  The Assyrian Empire is at the peak of its powers.  They are enlarging their territory southward into Africa and right in the way is the little kingdom of Judah.  Thus far, no one has been able to withstand the might of this growing empire.  For the ancients, this was a clear sign that the gods of the Assyrians must be superior to the gods of the nations they’ve overcome.  So, Sennacherib, the king of Assyria assumes that he’ll role through Judah and Jerusalem just like he’s plowed through the other nations in the area.  But there’s one thing that Sennacherib doesn’t know – the God of Judah, YHWH, isn’t like the idols of the other nations.  He’s not just the God of Judah, he’s the God of the Universe! 

Sennacherib sends a letter to Hezekiah, the king of Judah telling him that resistance is futile.  Rather than trying to sort out the situation through his own ingenuity, Hezekiah goes to the house of the Lord and spreads the letter out before God and, essentially, leaves the matter in the hands of YHWH.  And YHWH doesn’t disappoint.  He sends word through Isaiah that Sennacherib’s days are numbered and that he will not enter the city of Jerusalem.  In fact, that very night, an angel of the Lord descends into the Assyrian camp and strikes down 185,000 soldiers.  The remaining army retreats back home and before too long, Sennacherib is killed by two of his own sons. 

There's historical records mentioning that Sennacherib had Hezekiah penned up in Jerusalem, like a bird in a cage.  But the records don't mention anything else.  Spin is nothing new.  In other words, the best that Sennacherib could do was to surround Jerusalem, but just as God promised, he never entered the city.  The next time we’re faced with a seemingly unwinnable battle, may our first response be like Hezekiah’s.  Instead of seeking to sort out the situation ourselves, may we instead turn to the Lord and trust him for deliverance! - Shay

A Prophetic Voice

Many people equate “prophecy” with “fortune telling” or predicting the future.  But the Biblical notion of prophecy contains much more than foretelling within its meaning.  It does incorporate some aspects of seeing things in the distance, whether spatially or temporally, but the primary way that prophecy functioned in the Bible was to provide a word from God regarding the present situation in which God’s people found themselves.  Prophets generally operated from the margins (those that didn’t tended to be “yes men” more than true prophets) and more than anything, a prophetic voice provided a critique of contemporary culture. 

Both contemporary culture and the contemporary church need to look and listen to the prophetic voices around us.  We need to be challenged and encouraged by perspectives that come from beyond the margins of the mainstream.  Biblical prophecy provided encouragement to the broken and downtrodden and rebuke to the complacent and comfortable.  At different times in our lives, we need the same.  One of the ways that we can both hear and provide a prophetic voice for our brothers and sisters in Christ are through small discipleship groups.  When 2 to 5 people gather for conversation, prayer, study of scripture, and real life reflection, bonds are formed and forms of bondage can be broken.  When we learn to love and trust each other enough to be real, vulnerable, honest, and bold, the Holy Spirit molds and shapes us more and more into the image of Christ.  We can provide that prophetic voice - that voice of challenge, conviction, and encouragement for one another.  Not only is the body of Christ a priesthood of all believers, it can become a "prophethood" of the saints rather than merely a collection of "yes" men and women.  May God give us the wisdom and the strength to both listen to and provide a prophetic word. - Shay

Unity Within the Body of Christ

Division can be a nasty thing.  It seems that as much as ever, we live in a divided world.  In the US, we’re not just divided by political parties, we’re divided within political parties.  One has to be careful when discussing politics amongst one's fellow citizens, as honest disagreements and friendly debates can turn ugly in a hurry.  I find politics to be so divisive that I generally do my best to avoid political discussions if at all possible.  I don't mind discussing societal issues, but I don't root for political parties like I root for college sports teams or soccer clubs.  When partisanship enters into the fray, it sometimes becomes personal and I would rather discover what unifies me with others rather than what divides or separates me from them.  Some people I've met have expressed their frustration with the two main political parties lack of genuine dialogue and refusal to work together for the greater good of the country, while simultaneously refusing to interact with people of radically different political persuasions.  Irony comes in many forms. 

Political division is nothing new though.  As early as the 10^th century BC, God’s people became divided when Jeroboam and the northern tribes of Israel broke away from Rehoboam and Judah in the south.  For the remainder of what we call the Old Testament, God’s people were divided politically, if not theologically. 

Sadly, division is all too common within the church.  Not only are we drawn and redrawn amongst denominational lines, even within denominations, God’s people are often divided.  To be sure, there are moments when different religious communities are forced to go their separate ways for the greater good.  We cannot strip away all of our distinctives and continue to function.  And there are some religious bodies that I cannot be a part of in good conscience.  But there's a fine line between taking a stand born from conviction and stubborn and willful divisiveness. 

Though we sometimes forget it, the Restoration Movement from where Churches of Christ emerged, initially began as a unity movement.  We had a slogan – “We’re Christians only, but not the only Christians.”  Somewhere along the way, a few of us removed the second, third, fourth, and fifth words of the slogan.  And we not only became divisive without, we became increasingly divisive within.  The danger in withdrawing fellowship over practical and theological differences is that before too long, we might find ourselves in a fellowship of one.  A more healthy approach is to continue to humbly kneel alongside our fellow flawed brothers and sisters at the foot of the cross where we all find grace in our time of need.  We don't have to agree with our brothers and sisters to continue to love them and to try to see their point of view.  Another slogan that the Restoration fathers embraced, though didn't invent was, "In essentials, unity, in non-essentials liberty, in all things, charity."  May we within the Restoration tradition put this slogan into practice and may we recapture the essence of our movement and actively work for unity within the body of Christ. - Shay