I am sitting at my desk just a few minutes after our first official “Praying Pops” gathering at WCCS.  Modeled after the Moms In Prayer ministry, a few dads gathered together early this morning to pray for our school and community.  There were four of us in attendance.  As we sat and shared our praises and requests, I couldn’t help but think the world must really think we are foolish – in the biblical sense of the word.  There were four men gathered together with the express purpose of admitting before God that we didn’t have it all together, that we needed Him to guide and sustain us as husbands, fathers, church-men, and even just as men.  And, we not only gathered for that reason, but we did so in a way to share our short-comings and our weaknesses publically – with other men that we don’t necessarily know very well.  How foolish that must seem to a world that celebrates strength and wealth and independence.  We exemplified none of these traits this morning.  We were weak (although asking for His strength to sustain us, heal the sick, and go before us as we sought to serve Him), poor (begging God to bless – praying specifically that every single senior who graduates this May would be walking with the Lord as he/she receives the diploma), and completely dependent (acknowledging that apart from Him, we really can do nothing)!

After sharing of prayer requests and before we prayed, I read a passage of Scripture from James 1, verses 5-8.  These verses have been a prayer of mine for many years – and have become even more prominent in my prayer life since coming to Westminster Catawba Christian School.  This passage begins with James, the brother of Jesus, offering the first half of a conditional (if… then…) statement.  The “if” is, “If any of you lacks wisdom….”  I get all six words into that sentence and can do nothing but raise my hand exclaiming, “That’s me!  I lack wisdom.  What should I do???  Please help!”  The second half of the condition, the “then” portion of the sentence, seems so simple.  James simply states, “let him ask God…”  Oh yeah.  That makes sense.  But, what does that really look like to “ask God?”  James anticipates this need for further clarity and shares a helpful, yet humbling, description of the process of “asking God.”

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.  But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.  For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”  (James 1:5-8)

There is so much here.  Allow me to just share a few quick thoughts.  God is the source of wisdom, so He is the One who can provide it.  He gives it when asked by those who believe that He will answer.  Doubt, particularly doubting that a prayer for wisdom will be answered, is a very real temptation that presumes upon God.  It must be fought!  If the doubter should not suppose that He will receive anything from the Lord, then the one who prays in faith SHOULD suppose!  In other words, we are called to do what the Praying Pops did this morning – to go to Him as weak, poor, and needy children who believe that He can and will grant us the wisdom that we pray for.  For those dads (or granddads, uncles, etc.) who would like to join this needy group next week, we will meet each Wednesday in the Upper School Chapel from 6:45 am until 7:15 am.

 

It was almost a year ago that I heard about ReFuel for the first time.  I came to visit WCCS on a cold morning in February to have my first meet-and-greet with WCCS parents and to speak in the Upper School chapel.  It was in those few minutes before chapel that a few of the parents commented on the impact that ReFuel 2014 had on their children.  I asked a few follow-up questions, trying to picture it in my mind.  As we have just wrapped up ReFuel 2015, I can say that the picture that I had formed was close, but, the real thing was even better.

For those unaware, ReFuel2015 is the Westminster Catawba Christian School  version of a mid-year spiritual emphasis week on the upper school campus.  A schedule is set to allow for an extended chapel time each day of the week, where we are blessed to have an out-of-town band and speaker share with our school community.  The music was led by Waylove, a very talented band from Columbia, SC, that has been very effective at leading us in worship while allowing us to focus on the ministry of the Word.  The speaker was Jim Thompson, from Greenville, SC, who shared the STORY of the Word of God from the Scriptures in a way that allowed all of us to see our part in the storyline.

I have been a part of many different versions of these spiritual emphasis weeks and, in many ways, this week has been similar.  But, ReFuel2015 has had a remarkable depth to it, especially since the audience included 6th through 12th graders.  The music was wonderful, but the words sung were even more powerful.  The speaker was energetic and engaging, but didn’t short-change the students with a surface message.  He dug deep.  He met us (the students, teachers, administrators) where we were and challenged us to not only understand the storyline of God’s Kingdom, but to see our place in it.  He shared that the Bible is a kingdom story that is moved along by God’s covenant promises with a “happy ending” because of the gospel.  We were reminded that we get to be a part of God’s story by grace alone.  We were challenged to live rightly in the story as we walk in the truth (a point I particularly enjoyed!).  Then, we wrapped up the week with a strong message about the end of the story – and the biblical hope that is sure.

As we listened to the Friday message about the “happy ending” to God’s story of His kingdom, I couldn’t help but think about the current events in our world.  As we met, the city of Paris is reeling from news of death and destruction at the hands of a few men.  Then, even during our meeting, a second hostage situation began to unfold in France.  Closer to home, newspaper headlines scream of the effects of sin on the creation that God called “good”.  Even within our midst, as Jim Thompson spoke of the death of his grandmother, I looked around the gym at those whose lives had recently been altered by the death of loved ones.  I long for the sure hope of a new heaven and new earth as seen in Revelation 21, where death shall be no more!

I praise God that He brought Jim Thompson and Waylove to WCCS this week (and thank Mr. Aylestock and Mrs. Christopher and the rest for making it happen).  I believe that God used them to alter the storylines of many this week and that the new heaven and new earth will have a few more inhabitants.  I also believe that many will walk differently after this week and, I pray, will do so the rest of their lives.  “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.”  (3 John 4)