“And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” – Matthew 26:39
On February 22, 2000, at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, Jeff Lewis was ordered to parachute out of a C-130 aircraft. Normally, an army specialist with the Eighty-Second Airborne Division jumping from an airplane isn’t noteworthy. Paratroopers do this all the time. But Jeff was a supply clerk, not a paratrooper. He had no experience with parachutes and had never been to jump school. The order for him to jump was the result of a clerical error.
Even so, the young supply clerk reported for duty, strapped on a parachute, stepped out of the plane on the wrong foot, and began his freefall. Although his equipment got tangled, he was able to open the canopy by kicking with his feet, as instructed in the refresher course he took for soldiers who are already airborne-qualified. That cursory training probably saved his life and, amazingly, he landed unhurt.
When he was later asked what went through his mind during the ordeal, he said he was just doing what a good soldier is supposed to do: following orders. “The Army said I was airborne-qualified,” Lewis said. “I wasn’t going to question it.”
Like Jeff Lewis, Jesus knew how to obey orders. In John 2, when the wine ran out at a wedding in Cana, He showed us how to be obedient to an earthly mother. More importantly, in John 6:38, Jesus states, “For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.” The note from the margin for today’s passage reads, “Jesus knew what it was to be obedient, to please His Father. Despite the brutal suffering and cruel death that would result, He followed orders.”
If we’re going to be followers of Christ, we must learn what it means to be obedient. Confession without obedience is meaningless. Repentance without obedience isn’t true repentance. In James 1:22, the half-brother of Jesus, said, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”
God doesn’t call the qualified—He qualifies the called. When He tells us to live obedient, impactful lives—to leap and trust that our parachutes will open—we need to jump!
Jesus walked the earth and taught 2000 years ago, and today people are still studying, amazed by, and affected by His teachings. Even atheists who reject His divinity can’t ignore the power of what He taught. His impact is undeniable. He was both a brilliant teacher and skilled communicator—the best there ever was.
Our Savior often taught using short, fictional stories called parables. He used about 40 scenes and references that His audience could relate to—agricultural metaphors, household items, and common people. Most are in Matthew and Luke; none are in John. These stories have a way of sticking in the listener’s heart and mind. I’ll read about the prodigal son and then, a week later, wake up in the middle of the night imagining what it would have been like to be the father welcoming home his long lost son. Or perhaps I’ll wonder whether I would have been the good Samaritan if presented with a similar opportunity to help. As the Master Teacher, Jesus gets us thinking.
If Jesus were here today, teaching us in person, what new parables might He tell? What common items or cultural references might He use? Perhaps He would use social media to illustrate the difference between who we really are and the image we like to project. Maybe He would begin, “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a computer virus…” Or perhaps Jesus would reference Peter texting three young ladies for a date. Two of them have him blocked but the third accepts the invitation and reaps the benefits.
“Parable” comes from two Greek words – para (“beside”) and ballo (“throw”). Literally, it means “to place alongside”. To help you understand one principle or truth, I’m going to throw something else alongside it that is alike in some way. I’m going to use a metaphor, simile, or some other word picture to help you grasp a truth from the spiritual realm. As one commentator put it, a parable is “an ingeniously simple word picture illuminating a profound spiritual lesson”.
Don’t be surprised if, at first glance, you find a parable puzzling. Its meaning may not be straightforward and clear, and that’s by design. That can be frustrating if you like clear, concise instructions in as few words as possible. “Just tell me what I need to know! Explain everything! You got two minutes!” Jesus flips that notion upside down and invites us to meditate on the story. He wants our minds to marinate in His wisdom. We should approach the tale as we would a riddle, puzzle, or detective story. As we struggle with the mystery, we learn.
With these parables, Jesus is trying to get our attention and get us listening and thinking. Why? Because He knows we’re generally terrible listeners. When I’m focused on one thing—juggling one tennis ball—I don’t always hear my wife trying to go over our plans for the week. When I have three balls in the air—paying bills, writing, and watching the Cardinals play—I may miss her warning that our house is on fire. Or, while she’s talking, I may mentally rush ahead of her. Rather than listen, I’m formulating my rebuttal. My own thoughts and voice stand out. Jesus knows these listening tendencies. It’s truly difficult to hear Him sometimes. If the story or puzzle is too easy, we may race ahead of Him, finishing His thought or preparing our response. In short, Jesus wants us to slow down, ponder the puzzle, and contemplate the meaning.
For more insight on His approach, consider Matthew 13:10-15: “Then the disciples came and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” And he answered them, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says:
“‘“You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive.” For this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.’
There’s a lot to unpack there. It seems that for those who want to hear and learn, the parables will reveal truth. However, the meaning is hidden from those who lack the desire to seek out Christ’s meaning. We can also ruin the lesson if we try to filter it through our own human wisdom. If, for example, we believe that the prodigal son who squandered his inheritance is a freeloader who should do jail time before being forgiven by his father, we’ll muddle Jesus’ message on repentance and forgiveness. We become the older brother.
To illustrate the above passage by “throwing something alongside it,” consider you’re in a classroom full of students. The teacher divides you into two groups and gives each group the same difficult, unconventional, 2000-piece jigsaw puzzle. There are odd shapes and colors and far too many blue sky pieces. The teacher informs the class that once the puzzle is completed, it can be flipped over to reveal an important message. Group 1 is too tired, lazy and disinterested to solve the puzzle. They just sit there. Their eyes might as well be closed. Group 2, on the other hand, is highly motivated. They attack the puzzle, work it diligently, and eventually complete it. They flip the completed puzzle over and the special message is revealed.
In a sense, Jesus’ approach was a divine judgement against those who met His teaching with scorn, unbelief, or apathy. His self-righteous, self-sufficient hearers closed their hearts and minds to His instruction. They learned nothing and their hardened hearts were revealed. However, the same parables revealed those eager souls with childlike faith. Those who hungered and thirsted for righteousness could solve the mystery, complete the puzzle, and learn the important, life-changing truth.
Let’s set the stage for these parables. Matthew 13:1-2 reads, “That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore.” Jesus has come on the scene and is attracting big crowds. It makes sense that He would go out on boat to create separation in order to teach the masses. The natural amphitheater would allow His voice to carry over the water.
As for his core message, we turn to Matthew 4:17 and 4:23. “From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” … “Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.” Jesus focused heavily on the arrival of God’s Kingdom—God’s reign and rule was happening in the here and now, through Him. The Kingdom of Heaven, or Kingdom of God, was/is a spiritual kingdom and a near-term reality—made up of his followers, the church. Christians are citizens of God’s Kingdom. The Kingdom is also referenced in the Bible as a future reality… “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne…. Then the King will say to those on his right, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” (Matthew 25:31, 34)
So, to recap, God reigns eternally over his entire creation. Jesus arrived on the scene to usher in a new manifestation of God’s rule, the Kingdom of Heaven, with the subjects being his followers, i.e. Christians, i.e. the church. If you want in the Kingdom, you want in the church. And you can’t have Jesus without the church because the church is Christ’s body. There’s also a final/future manifestation of the Kingdom, commonly known as heaven, where Christians will spend eternity.
The parables are not just self-contained moral tales about being kind and not lying and such. Rather, they revolve around a main idea. Something has happened with Jesus’ arrival—with God’s reign and rule over the world; heaven has invaded earth, in the person of Jesus. As a young Christian, I wrongly thought that we’re here on earth and God’s Kingdom is “up there,” in heaven. So, the goal is to survive/get by here on earth, bide our time, and then go to the Kingdom of Heaven.
A better way to look at it is that we are to repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is here. Heaven invaded earth, in the person of Jesus, and He established a spiritual Kingdom, His church, made up of Christians. God reigns and rules in us and His Holy Spirit guides us. We are to be new creations—transformed in His likeness (See Romans 12:2). We’re called to be Kingdom people—while here on earth. We don’t just sit here, waiting it out, quietly biding our time, waiting on heaven. We’re IN the Kingdom now and we ARE the Kingdom now and we need to be about Kingdom business now.
Jesus’ parables, then, are designed to help us think through what life in that Kingdom looks like. We’ll discover that Matthew’s versions are shorter—just the facts. Luke’s accounts give the characters more story and personality. If you notice some differences in the accounts, note that Jesus could have told different versions at different times, with the spiritual message being the same. Also, there’s usually one main point so be careful not to try to find meaning in every detail. For example, in order to repent, I must hit rock bottom in a pig pen. Well, sort of, but not literally.
Your homework assignment for this week: Read the Parable of the Sower — Luke 8:4-15. Consider times in your life when your heart could be described by one or more of the types of soil. Also, consider the different soils (hearts/receptiveness) of the people you have tried to teach and reach.
Over the next couple of months, I hope you’ll join me as we immerse ourselves in Jesus’ parables. I believe that you’ll come away a better person and a more committed disciple by the end of the study. The words of Jesus have the power to do that. And if you ever want to become a Christian, I’ll be happy to talk to you about that as well.
Having Jesus’ feet implies a willingness to go—to be moved by God. Our Savior was willing to go anywhere to teach, preach, heal, and make disciples. We, too, should be willing to go to where lost and hurting people are, even if that involves risk.
Once we get there, we need Jesus’ eyes—eyes that are perceptive to the needs of those around us. We need compassionate eyes that notice the broken-hearted—the ones forgotten. As best we can as mere humans, we need to strive to see people the way Jesus did.
But going and seeing are not enough. 1 John 3:17 states, “But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?” Going to a brother and noticing his need is clearly not enough. That doesn’t get the job done.
Well, what if I just say something nice and encouraging to the person? Will that check the box? James anticipates this proposition in James 2:15-16: “If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, be warmed and filled,’ without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?’”
I appreciate his bluntness although it stings.
So, if going, noticing, and offering platitudes are not enough, what’s missing? What else do I need? In short, the hands of Jesus. Christians, to the best of our ability, we’ve got to address the problem or find someone who can. As Christ’s ambassadors on this earth, we’ve got to do something!
Having Jesus’ hands implies a willingness to work—to get our hands dirty and do whatever is required. Our hands are the instruments of our work. Jesus told his disciples, “But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:43-45). He walked the talk when He washed his disciples’ feet (John 13) and even more so when He gave His life on the cross (1 John 3:16).
What, then, is expected of His followers? Jesus couldn’t have been clearer. “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you” (John 13:14-15). Washing someone’s feet is generally viewed as a metaphorical act of service illustrating love and active kindness.
But it can also be literal. Some of the most meaningful experiences in my spiritual journey have involved washing feet. On most of our mission trips to Honduras, we visit the Didasko orphanage and wash the feet of the young female residents—girls who are looked down upon in that society and treated as second-class citizens. These are powerful bonding moments that send a clear message that God values these “Daughters of the King” and so do we.
During my time as an elder at a church in Florida, 3rd grade Bible class teacher Bob Herkelman invited the elders to visit his classroom each fall to pray with his students and then wash their feet. After we got past the initial giggling and awkwardness, we found the practice to be the ultimate ice-breaker. Year after year, it laid a foundation for cross-generational relationships. A child who learns that a church leader cares about him in third grade is a thousand times more likely to seek advice from that elder at age 20 or 40 or 70. So, yes, sometimes washing feet means exactly that. It’s one way to have the hands of Jesus.
How else did Jesus use His hands? For starters, He worked as a skilled carpenter. Like some Sojourners I know, He blessed people through his trade—through his skills and abilities. Even when His disciples disagreed, Jesus had children brought to him and He blessed them with His hands. He also used His hands to heal, including spreading mud on a blind man’s eyes and lifting Jairus’ daughter from her deathbed. Jesus even touched lepers despite the fear and revulsion of most people around them. Time and time again, we see Jesus going, noticing needs, and then using His hands to address those needs.
The Bible challenges us to get involved and have the hands of Jesus. Hands that will:
Love our neighbors (Mark 12:30-31). Can you help a friend (or stranger) move? Can you sooth a fretful baby so a new mom can listen in worship? Can you chauffeur someone from your church or community to an appointment? (An unbelievable number of people need this!)
Take care of the poor (Deuteronomy 15:11). Can you intercept and pay a former prisoner’s utility bill? Can you mow and trim the yard of a complete stranger in a poor part of town?
Feed the hungry (Isaiah 58:10). Can you assemble food at a food bank? How about distributing ice-cold Gatorade bottles to construction workers in and around Tegucigalpa, Honduras (or St Louis) in the dead of summer? (No, better not do that. That would involve risk!)
Clothe the needy (1 John 3:17). Can you give the poor not just your old, raggedy stuff but some new stuff?
Be hospitable to strangers (Matthew 25:35). Can you have a new person to the community over for dinner? Or change a stranger’s flat tire?
Heal the sick (Luke 10:9, James 5:14). Can you use your medical training locally or on a foreign mission field? Can you hold the hand of a sick friend while praying for their healing?
Care for the captive, the prisoner, and the oppressed (Hebrews 13:3, Matthew 25:36). Can you help a stranger clean up after a storm? What about hugging a grieving friend? Can you give someone who is caring for an aging parent or special needs child the day (or weekend!) off so they can get a much-needed break?
Some final principles:
Remember the “OAR” formula… Opportunity + Ability = Responsibility. We’re not called to do things we can’t do or know nothing about. Focus on what is before you that you can act on. And, where appropriate, involve your children or some other younger Christian in the ministry. Strengthen “the hands” of the next generation.
Your act of service doesn’t have to be some “big” thing. In fact, most of our acts of compassion will be small things. God sees everything and they’re all big to Him.
Be sure to work in some fun, crazy, unconventional things. Life is too short to only do boring stuff. I watched an Instagram video this week of a guy who gave a struggling street vendor $500 for ALL of her hot dogs (and a big tip) and then distributed those hot dogs to the nearby homeless. (I know, can’t do that! Too risky!) Another couple of guys tried to distribute two dozen McDonald’s sausage biscuits to people in the waiting rooms and behind the desks at a local hospital. After distributing 23 of the biscuits to various, quite appreciative loved ones and staff and offering prayers for patients willing to be prayed for, the men were kicked out of the hospital by security. The audacity! The men split the last biscuit on the way out and would do it all again! Being the hands of Jesus doesn’t have to be boring. Every once in a while, try a roundoff from the balance beam!
Strive to be versatile and multi-functional, like the blank tile in a game of Scrabble. Develop new skills. Push your boundaries. Grow spiritually. For example, you may only become a great (or even average) Bible class teacher by attempting it, working at it, and having a mentor show you the way. Try not to go to your grave having only tapped 2% of your God-given potential. (See Matthew 25:14-30)
As added motivation, remember Christ’s words in Matthew 25:40: “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” Whatever we do for someone else, however big or small, we effectively do for Jesus. Let that sink in. He notices it. He feels it. And He gets all the glory! This is one way to indirectly (or would it be directly?) thank Jesus for all that He has done for us.
As I finish my thoughts on having the eyes, feet, and hands of Jesus, it occurs to me that what we really want is to have the heart of Jesus. Because to the extent we have Jesus’ heart—full of love and compassion—the feet, eyes, and hands will follow.
I’ll end where I began, with the beautiful prayer of a 16th Century Spanish nun, St. Teresa of Ávila:
Christ has no body but yours, No hands, no feet on earth but yours, Yours are the eyes with which he looks Compassion on this world, Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good, Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world. Yours are the hands, yours are the feet, Yours are the eyes, you are his body. Christ has no body now but yours, No hands, no feet on earth but yours, Yours are the eyes with which he looks compassion on this world. Christ has no body now on earth but yours.
We begin, again, with the beautiful prayer of a 16th Century Spanish nun, St. Teresa of Ávila:
Christ has no body but yours, No hands, no feet on earth but yours, Yours are the eyes with which he looks Compassion on this world, Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good, Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world. Yours are the hands, yours are the feet, Yours are the eyes, you are his body. Christ has no body now but yours, No hands, no feet on earth but yours, Yours are the eyes with which he looks compassion on this world. Christ has no body now on earth but yours.
— St. Teresa of Ávila
Having Jesus’ feet implies a willingness to go—to be moved by God. Our Savior was willing to go anywhere to teach, preach, heal, and make disciples. We, too, should be willing to go to where lost and hurting people are, even if that involves risk. But going isn’t enough. What happens when we get there?
Friends, we also need the eyes of Jesus. But what does that entail?
I’ll begin with Brandon Heath’s “Give Me Your Eyes”—a 2008 song that has inspired and challenged me since the first time I heard it. In the video, he’s returning from a trip and is about to land.
Look down from a broken sky
Traced out by the city lights
My world from a mile high
Best seat in the house tonight
Have you been there? Flying home. Feeling good. Window seat. The man looks down on his beautiful home city all lit up.
Touch down on the cold black top
Hold on for the sudden stop
Breath in the familiar shock
Of confusion and chaos
All those people going somewhere
Why have I never cared
In an instant, the peace and serenity turn to chaos and confusion. He’s surrounded by humanity. People are scrambling to make a connecting flight or retrieve luggage. Troubled expressions in every direction. Something inspires the man to look at them, to really see them, perhaps for the first time.
Give me your eyes for just one second
Give me your eyes so I can see
Everything that I keep missing
Give me your love for humanity
Give me your arms for the broken hearted
The ones that are far beyond my reach
Give me your heart for the ones forgotten
Give me your eyes so I can see
Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah
The man appeals to God to open his eyes to hurting people—the broken-hearted, the ones forgotten; to see them and love them like Jesus did. He exits the airport with a new set of eyes.
Step out on a busy street
See a girl and our eyes meet
Does her best to smile at me
To hide what’s underneath
There’s a man just to her right
Black suit and a bright red tie
Too ashamed to tell his wife
He’s out of work, He’s buying time
All those people going somewhere
Why have I never cared
The man notices a hurting girl on the street who is hiding something underneath. Who are the people around us who are “hiding what’s underneath”? He doesn’t just notice the distraught man in a suit. He goes deeper, imagining what could have brought the man to such despair. Christians, do we care about these forgotten people? Do we even notice them?
Give me your eyes for just one second
Give me your eyes so I can see
Everything that I keep missing
Give me your love for humanity
Give me your arms for the broken hearted
The ones that are far beyond my reach
Give me you heart for the ones forgotten
Give me your eyes so I can see
Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah
The man is asking God for a second chance and a new perspective—to be able to see people the way Jesus did… to notice them at grocery stores, while waiting for the bus, on the back pew, or just people we pass on the street. He’s asking for Jesus’ eyes.
I’ve been here a million times
A couple of million eyes
Just move and pass me by
I swear I never thought that I was wrong
Well I want a second glance
So give me a second chance
To see you the way you’ve seen the people all along
Jesus’ eyes noticed things. He picked up on big things—the lame, the demon-possessed—but also on the subtleties. When Jesus looked at the people he met, he didn’t judge them by the standards of the day. He looked beyond the outward circumstances of their lives—circumstances that invited condemnation from the religious leaders and the community—and showed them love.
Consider Jesus’ compassionate exchange with the woman caught in adultery or his interactions with Zacchaeus, the tax collector reviled in his community. Or how about when He went to a well at noon and had what for many would be an awkward, difficult conversation with an outcast Samaritan woman who had had five husbands and was living with a man not her husband.
One commentator mentions that Jesus brought “sandpaper” to each situation, but it always had just the right amount of grit. He could love, challenge, encourage, and motivate… all in the same interaction.
We need to not only be willing go to go to challenging places (the feet of Jesus), but notice things once when we get there (His eyes). I’ve got work to do here. I’m not nearly as perceptive as my wife, Janet. While driving home after worship services, she’ll ask, “Did you notice David wasn’t himself today?” I’ll reply, “David was at church today?” While I’m focused on the impressive way the preacher has organized his sermon, my wife is noticing people. I need to do a better job at noticing who’s here, who’s missing, and how the people who are here are doing.
That’s having the eyes of Jesus. Your head is on a swivel. You’re paying attention.
At a recent men’s retreat, I asked the attendees to close their eyes. I then asked them what was red in the room. Only one of them knew. He pointed in the direction of his friend who was wearing a red shirt. I then asked them to open their eyes and look for red. It was all around them! They pointed at a red cup, an American flag, various items of clothing, and other things. You see it’s easy to notice red when you’re looking for it. And it’s easy to notice the needs of those around us—the ones forgotten—when we wake up every morning with the eyes of Jesus.
What if we each took the chorus to “Give Me Your Eyes” and made it our life’s motto?
St. Teresa of Ávila and I don’t have much in common. She was a petite 16th Century Spanish nun and I’m a largish 21st Century American Christian. Doctrinally, we don’t align on some issues. But she wanted to share God’s love with those around her—I identify with that. That’s what I want my life to be about. She felt—as do I—that we are Christ’s ambassadors—His representatives in this messed up world. In 2 Corinthians 5:20a, Paul puts it this way: “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us.”
As such, it’s up to Christians to be Christ’s feet, His eyes, and His hands. Collectively, Christians—the church—are His body. Here’s how a nun who lived 500 years ago put it:
Christ has no body but yours, No hands, no feet on earth but yours, Yours are the eyes with which he looks Compassion on this world, Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good, Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world. Yours are the hands, yours are the feet, Yours are the eyes, you are his body. Christ has no body now but yours, No hands, no feet on earth but yours, Yours are the eyes with which he looks compassion on this world. Christ has no body now on earth but yours.
— St. Teresa of Ávila
How can we do that? How can we love the people we meet, even in the routine circumstances of our lives? How can we be God’s ambassadors here on earth? What does it mean to be the feet, eyes, and hands of Christ?
Let’s start with His feet. Having Jesus’ feet implies a willingness to go—to be moved by God. Our Savior was willing to go anywhere to teach, preach, heal, and make disciples.
In Mark 5, He was willing to travel to the country of the Gerasenes to confront a demon-possessed man who lived among the tombs and had broken the chains that bound him. The scary, pitiful man cried out and cut himself night and day. Jesus was willing to go there, confront the demons, and cast them into a herd of pigs.
Our Lord was also willing to go into a “den of thieves” and overturn tables in Mark 11. The vendors had turned God’s house of prayer into a marketplace and were ripping off their customers. Jesus was willing to go there to say and do some hard things. Are we?
In John 11, Jesus was willing to walk to Bethany, knowing that his friend Lazarus had died. He comforted Martha and Mary and ultimately raised Lazarus to life again.
Most importantly, Jesus’ feet took Him to a hill on the outskirts of Jerusalem, where He died on a cross, paying the ultimate price for humanity’s sin. According to Romans 5:8, “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Do we have the feet of Jesus? Are we willing to go?
We find many examples in Scripture of faithful believers who were willing to go. Abraham was instructed to leave his country and relatives and go to a land God would later show him (Genesis 12:1). He trusted God and “it was credited to him as righteousness” (Genesis 12:6). He had willing feet.
Ruth, a childless widow, was willing to leave her homeland and family and accompany her mother-in-law, Naomi, to Judah (Ruth 1). Her sacrificial actions showed deep loyalty, obedience, diligence, and love. Like Abraham, Ruth had willing feet.
In the New Testament, Jesus called 12 ordinary young men to become his closest disciples, asking them to walk away from their jobs, families, and personal safety to do so. They dropped everything and followed Him. Their willing feet tracked the steps of Jesus.
Jonah, on the other hand, ran from God’s call to Nineveh, fearful of what might come of such a risky venture (Jonah 1). At the beginning of his story, his feet were unwilling to go where God was calling him. Have you ever felt unwilling to answer God’s call?
Christians, if we’re going to be Christ’s ambassadors, we need to be willing to go. Imagine Mike Huckabee, the U.S. Ambassador to Israel, telling the President, “I appreciate you appointing me ambassador. It’s truly an honor to serve. But just so you know, I won’t actually be traveling to Israel. Too risky!” In Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus says, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Being the “feet” of Jesus, therefore, implies that Christ’s followers will actually get up and go.
Don’t get me wrong—sending missionaries to faraway places is wonderful. God needs senders. And due to health, age, or other constraints, “going” may not be possible for some. But, as one preacher put it, “going has to be more than just sending.” Whether it’s in our immediate circles, our neighborhoods, or globally, we are commissioned to share the good news of what Jesus Christ has done, is doing, and will do and not keep the gospel hidden to ourselves.
I’m afraid we tend to want to comfortably stay where we are, surrounded by people who look like us and believe like us, rather than venturing out where needs are. Think about it—it’s possible to live in a gated (or exclusive) community, home school your kids, and hang out and worship with mainly Christians. If you work from home and do your shopping online, you can avoid even more interaction with “the world.”
I’m not knocking any of those things individually. There are upsides to limiting our risk and exposure to the world. I’m thankful for my Christian friends and love being around them. The problem is we can’t be the light of the world (Matthew 5:14) if we’re not around some darkness. We can’t be the salt of the earth (Matthew 5:13) if we have isolated our seasoning from the world.
Jesus ate with tax collectors and sinners, and yet we who call ourselves Jesus’ followers sometimes give the impression we only want to be around Christians like us. How can we reach people who we’ve largely excluded ourselves from? To be effective ambassadors of Christ, we simply must have touch points with our lost and dying world.
Christians, in short, we need the feet of Jesus—feet that are willing to go. We need to be willing to go where lost and hurting people are—prisons, disaster areas, mission fields, homeless shelters, inner cities, and crisis pregnancy centers.
“But that could be risky!”
You bet it could be risky!
How can we read the Bible and walk away thinking our Christian walk—our Christian ministry—doesn’t involve risk? God has always looked for people willing to set aside their personal comforts and interests to follow him and share in His ministry. He’s invested in the growth and transformation of His followers (Romans 12:1-2), and part of that growth involves being challenged and stretched.
Have you been challenged in serving God lately? Have you been stretched? Have you taken on any risk to serve Christ? Have you taught a Bible class for the first time, despite concerns over not being sufficiently qualified? Have you invited a neighbor or co-worker to church, despite concerns that the conversation might feel awkward or somehow harm the relationship?
Jesus warned his would-be disciples that following Him wasn’t for the faint of heart. “If anyone wishes to come after Me,” He said, “he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it” (Mat. 16:24-25). Every faithful servant of God who we read about took risks—many suffered and some gave their lives for Jesus and the message of the gospel. Sadly, many others found the cost of discipleship too much to bear and turned back.
In my all-time favorite YouTube video, Francis Chan pretends to be an Olympic gymnast competing on the balance beam. He carefully crawls onto the beam and then clings to it tightly with both hands for the duration of the routine. He dismounts by carefully crawling off the beam then triumphantly raises his hands toward the judges, anticipating a stellar score. Chan asks, “What are the judges supposed to do with that?” How are they supposed to score the routine highly when the gymnast played it safe and took no risks?
Granted, we can’t earn our way to heaven—my salvation is based on what Jesus did on the cross, not my earthly deeds. Same goes for you. But in response to Jesus selflessly shedding His blood for me, I should be willing to take some risks for Him. I should be willing to go. I don’t want to play it safe throughout my life, gripping the beam, and then stand before the Judge of the Universe one day and hear, “Why’d you play it safe, Steve? How come you never took any risks for me? Didn’t you realize I would have been right there beside you in all those opportunities you were too scared to embrace?”
Following in the footsteps of Jesus is the essence of what it means to be a Christian—a disciple of Christ. Just as Christ was willing to bring light, life, love, hope, and forgiveness to his creation, so Christians today are called to step out in faith, follow Him, and deliver the same message to a world in desperate need of a savior.
Will we answer the call?
Will we assume risk and be willing to bring light to dark and difficult places?
I had the opportunity this week to solo caregive my 3-month-old grandson, Chapman. Over the course of four days—36 hours—my primary jobs were to keep him alive and empty the smoldering diaper bin before the neighbors complained. My wife and I took over this role two weeks ago, but with her out of town on family business, I was flying solo. I had some dated experience, of course, having raised two sons of my own. But Janet did much of the heavy lifting around the house then, while I was out saluting and such.
So, how’d it go? Spoiler alert: Chappie survived the week. I thank God for that! But the week was about more than just survival. I learned some things.
I’m a nerd. Many of you already know that. I kept copious notes, not because Kyle and Laci asked me to but because there was data to be captured. I feared a tricky end-of-day question like, “Did you feed him?” and not being able to come up with a good answer. So, I took notes. I was exceedingly careful, like when Janet asks for my opinion on a new outfit. The tale of the tape? I’m glad you asked!
20 full or partial feedings, totaling 58 ounces of formula
14 diaper changes—11 wet and 3 nasty (“Chernobyl”, “Fukushima”, and “The View”)
14 naps, ranging from 10 to 80 minutes (and those were just mine!)
15+ periods of “playtime” – exercising, tummy time, coddling, bouncy chair, listening to Steely Dan, etc.
1 new song learned—“If you’re Chappie and you know it…”
1 meltdown, 10 minute duration
2 stroller rides to apartment lobby (on one, a roaming woman with dementia referred to him as “she” three times!)
1 penile spray, soaking my right hand, his clothes, and the changing table; followed by a giggle. Well played, Chappie, well played.
2. I am in love with this kid! Chappie and I bonded. There is something about caring for a little one that brings you closer—makes you vested. An infant is totally dependent on you for everything—high stakes. I didn’t think I could love Chappie any more than I did on Monday, but I do. It’s like putting your heart and soul into restoring an old car. The more effort involved, the fonder you become of the ever-evolving, growing product. Chappie and I (not unlike his brother Bradford and I) are buds now. I will be unequivocally in his corner for life.
3. I have profound respect for single parents and others who fly solo as caregivers. I got breaks at night. Some caregivers don’t. Janet and I have our Saturdays-Mondays mostly off. Some caregivers don’t. I only had one child to keep up with. Some have multiple. I received positive feedback from Chappie’s parents and from Chappie himself. The big smiles. The cooing when I laid him on my chest. Not all caregivers get “positive feedback” from the ones they care for. You may care for a special needs child who is unable to communicate appreciation or for a parent who doesn’t recognize you anymore. You may never get a “thank you” or even a smile. Kudos to you folks! God sees and loves everything you do! Don’t give up! I have a newfound respect and appreciation for you.
4. I used to think of a grandparent’s love as something that gets “divided” amongst their grandchildren. Like if you have four grands, they each get a quarter of your heart. I was so wrong about that. A grandparent’s heart doesn’t divide; it multiplies! I didn’t think it was possible to love any child as much as I love my first grandchild, Bradford. That kid is special! His love for animals, especially ducks. The way he puts his hands behind his back when he runs. The way he gorges on scrambled eggs and clings to his mom when she comes home from work. The way he calls me “Bob” because he can’t quite pronounce “Papa Fob”. Then Chappie comes along and, miraculously, my heart has doubled in size! I’m not dividing anything. I’m multiplying. I’m somehow growing capacity. And guess what? Sometime in the next week or so Janet and I will drive to North Carolina for the birth of our third grandchild and first granddaughter! What a blessing! As Rachel’s belly shrinks, my heart will be growing—bursting at the seams. Multiplying, not dividing. More family. More memories to be made. More love. More capacity.
Maybe even a little glimpse at the kind of love God has for us.
If you come to St. Louis to visit us and/or spend some time in the area, there are a ton of things to do! Schedule permitting, we may be able to accompany you on some of these adventures or just provide a comfortable place for you to stay while you’re here. If you prefer a little more room/privacy (or we don’t know you!), our apartment complex offers a fully-furnished apartment for rent for a day, week, or whatever you need. Also, be aware that starting in August, we’ll be caregiving our infant grandson Tues-Fri most weeks, so our availability will be more limited during the day.
You won’t be able to do it all, so choose what works best for you depending on your available time, health, interests, kids or no kids, budget, the weather, etc. For those with limited time, here are some things close by (walkable or a short drive from our apartment) …
Apartment pool (however, guests are not allowed to use the fitness center)
24/7 Coffee bar and internet/fireplace room in the apartment lobby
Excellent, wooded walking/jogging trails – Riparian Trail, Central Park, Monarch Levee Trail, River’s Edge Park Trail, etc. – I’ve done them all!
Amazing, massive new playground – Central Park
Fishing – Central Park
Chesterfield Family YMCA
Chesterfield Amphitheater – concert venue, some free (looking forward to the ELO Tribute band next month!)
Chesterfield Family Aquatic Center
Chesterfield Antique Mall
St. Louis County Library
Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, East Coast Pizza, Chick-fil-A, Kaldi’s coffee, Red Lobster, Brick House Tavern, Annie Gunn’s, 54th Street, Firefly Grill, Syberg’s, GIO Modern + Italian, Buzzetta’s Italian, Sauce on the Side, El Salto Mexican, Mellow Mushroom, French Creperie, Edgewild, Stoney River Steakhouse, Billy G’s, Black Salt & Taj Palace (both Indian), The Old Spaghetti Factory, Siam Thai, Bishop’s Post (best patio in the region), YaYa’s Europ Bistro, MiMi’s Café, The Original Pancake House, Duck Donuts and, if you don’t mind blowing up like a Hezbollah pager… Taco Bell!
Marcus Movie Theater… has those horizontal reclining seats that almost put me to sleep two nights ago… during Mission Impossible!
The Largest Outdoor Shopping Mall in the U.S. – at “The Valley” – Walmart, Old Navy, Golf Galaxy, Target, Dick’s, Kirkland’s, Bath & Body, Michaels, Best Buy, Sam’s, Lowe’s, World Market, Home Depot, etc.… you get the idea. If that’s not enough, we’re 5.9 miles away from the St. Louis Premium Outlets.
Top Golf
The Factory – music venue (Everything from Michael W. Smith to David Lee Roth! Upcoming acts include: Little River Band, Boz Scaggs, John Legend, The O’Jays, and if you want to “do a little dance”, K.C. and the Sunshine Band!)
The District – shopping, restaurants, outdoor big screen TV w/ sporting events
Main Event indoor playground
Go Play! indoor playground
Slick City Action Park – family fun center
All of the above are walkable or within 2.5 miles of us!
If you are willing and able to branch out farther, there are SO MANY things to see and do! You can Google the ones you’re interested in for hours, prices, parking and other details, so this blog doesn’t turn into a guidebook!
Note: I’m not including the area’s best hiking/running/walking trails as I’m systematically working (hiking/running) my way through the book 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles of St. Louis. That’s a blog for another time. I’m also not going to get into the restaurant scene, other than what’s above/very close to us. Again, that lends itself to a separate blog. However, when in doubt, go to The Hill and get Italian food. Or Pappy’s Smokehouse.
Here, then, are 40 things to do in and around St. Louis… a little something for everyone:
Gateway Arch National Park – an awe-inspiring spectacle, towering over the Mississippi Riverbank—STL’s #1 tourist attraction. Features a tram ride to the top, the museum of westward expansion, a documentary movie, and beautiful grounds to walk. The park and museum are free.
Forest Park / St. Louis Zoo – take a leisurely stroll through the 1300-acre park—one of the largest urban parks in the United States. (Nearly 500 acres larger than New York City’s Central Park!) It contains the St. Louis Zoo and its famous polar bear and penguin/puffin exhibits. Both the zoo and park are free, although to save on parking, you’ll want to park at the Turtle Playground across the street (and let your kids play on the giant turtle statues). You can also rent a paddle boat, kayak, paddleboard, or canoe and enjoy Post-Dispatch Lake and Forest Park by water. Be sure to paddle up and stop at The Boathouse for lunch.
Sports Galore! – We’ll start at Busch Stadium with our very own St. Louis Cardinals! Go Cards! If hockey is more your thing, we’ve got the St. Louis Blues! If you prefer soccer, we’ve got the St. Louis CITY SC! We’ve also got the St. Louis Battlehawks (UFL), the World Wide Technology Raceway (NASCAR, Indy Car, etc.), the St. Louis Ambush (indoor soccer), and the Atlantic 10 conference’s St. Louis University Billikens!
St. Louis Science Center – With over 750 exhibits in a complex of over 300,000 square feet, it is among the largest of its type in the United States. Check out the OmniMax movies, planetarium, laser light shows, discovery room, life science lab, and more! Free admission, optional fees for movies and such.
Grant’s Farm – one of the most popular family activities in St. Louis. Hang out with the retired Budweiser Clydesdales and use a skid steer to clean up behind them. There are also 900 other animals including tortoises, cows, deer, zebras and more. Free admission.
St. Louis Art Museum – One of the nation’s leading comprehensive art museums. Its collection includes exceptional art from virtually every culture and movement, and its temporary exhibitions range from native art to French landscapes and global textiles to ancient armor. You can view works from Picasso to Van Gogh, and it won’t cost you any “Monet”.
The Magic House—St. Louis Children’s Museum – Engage your children with hands-on learning experiences that spark imagination, pique curiosity, enhance creativity and develop problem-solving skills within a place of beauty, wonder, joy and magic. Free Family Night every third Friday of the month from 5-8 p.m.
City Museum – at this giant playground made from repurposed objects, you can slide down a 10-story spiral slide, sit in the cockpit of an old plane, climb inside a treehouse, crawl through tunnels, and more. Plan on spending a couple of hours here at least to see it all – there are surprises at every turn.
Theater and Performing Arts – Need a culture fix? Options include the Fabulous Fox Theater, The Muny (outdoor theater), STAGES St. Louis, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Touhill Performing Arts Center, Kirkwood Performing Arts Center, and the Grand Center Arts District.
Riverboat Cruise – take a 2-3 mile ride in a riverboat down the Mighty Mississippi! The tour will tell you about the different bridges you pass under (there are 5 or 6) and the barges on the river along with some other historical facts.
Big Muddy Adventures – want to get even closer to the Mighty Mississippi? If so, this world-class St. Louis-based adventure company and professional outfitter will hook you up with its full fleet of canoes and kayaks. Whether you want to do a riverfront adventure in downtown St. Louis, embark on a full moon float to a beautiful, uninhabited river island or add a bike ride along the Katy Trail to your aquatic adventure, river trips with Big Muddy Adventures are always memorable.
Anheuser Busch Brewery Tour – a deep dive into beer-making, if that’s your thing, and an opportunity to visit the Clydesdales in their state-of-the-art stables. You can also try the toasted ravioli—a St. Louis staple—at the on-site Biergarten Restaurant.
The Old Courthouse – next to the Arch. Now open to the public after a major renovation. The infamous Dred Scott v. Sanford landmark decision of the Supreme Court was held right here in this very courthouse. Free.
The Basilica of St. Louis – aka the Old Cathedral – Tour and admire the beauty of the first cathedral built west of the Mississippi River. Free.
Missouri History Museum – One of the most visited history museums in the nation. Discover the city’s baseball history from the Browns to the Cardinals, see “The Spirit of St. Louis” — sister plane to Lindbergh’s, explore life on the Mississippi River, marvel at the magnitude of the 1904 World’s Fair, learn about the Civil Rights movement, and much more. Admission? Free.
Missouri Botanical Garden – Enjoy, by walking or taking a tram tour, two miles of plants from around the world. Don’t miss the Children’s Garden on the inside, the splash pad, and the hands-on activities and interactive exhibits.
City Gardens – vibrant, urban, free, one-of-a-kind playground for all ages. Enjoy and explore the captivating sculptures, relax by the fountains, watch the kids run through the splash pad or swim in the pool, climb through tunnels, slide down slides, and just simply unwind. The calming paths also light up in the evening making it a lovely spot for an after-dinner walk.
Bellefontaine Cemetery – Some of you creepy people are into cemeteries. I get it. This 276-year old gem has several architecturally significant monuments and mausoleums and has free admission, unless you are dead and plan to stay. The cemetery contains 314 acres and over 87,000 graves, including those of William Clark, Adolphus Busch, Thomas Hart Benton, William S. Burroughs, Rush Limbaugh, and many Union and Confederate soldiers from the American Civil War. (Note: None of the locals are buried there. They’re not dead yet.)
Lemp Mansion – Still not spooked? Test your bravery and tour one of the United States’ top 10 supposedly haunted properties.
South City Hospital – Still not spooked? Drive by this now closed hospital on South Broadway in the Dutchtown neighborhood at night. (Actually, don’t do that.) Previously known as St. Alexius Hospital, the facility was founded by the Alexian Brothers and had a capacity of 178 bed at the time of its closing in 2023. It played a significant role in the (alleged) exorcism that inspired the famous movie “The Exorcist”. The exorcism, conducted in 1949 on a 13-year-old boy, began at his aunt’s house and later moved to the Alexian Brothers Hospital for a month-long period.
Union Station – Ride the St. Louis Wheel, a 200-foot high observation wheel with 42 fully enclosed, climate controlled gondolas that seat up to eight riders each. Wheel passengers will take three to four rotations high over the St. Louis skyline. If heights aren’t your thing, visit the on-site St. Louis Aquarium, play mini golf, view the mirror maze and fire and light show, and maneuver the ropes course.
World Chess Hall of Fame. Whether you’re a nerd or not, this is a cool, free place to stop and check out. If nothing else, get a photo with the world’s largest chess piece!
Purina Farms – Take a short 35-minute drive outside the city to one of the most fun places for kids in St. Louis. The whole family will love watching the dog show filled with super-talented canine friends and walking through the training center. Purina Farms is also home to horses, sheep, cows, chickens, and more that you can interact with. Free.
Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site – Take a short drive across the river and tour the central section of the largest prehistoric Native American city north of Mexico. Occupied from 700 to 1400, the city grew to cover 4,000 acres, with a population of between ten and twenty thousand at its peak around 1100.
Eckert’s Farm – While you’re across the river, go pick your own apples, pumpkins, and such, ride the wagon, shop the country store, and eat at the country restaurant. If you’re with the Johnsons, you’ll also play a pick-up game of Bocci using mild to moderately rotten apples. If you still have gas in the tank, stop by nearby Mascoutah High School, where I played football circa ’80-’81. Go Indians!
World’s Fair Pavilion – have a picnic in this pavilion that was originally built for the 1904 World’s Fair. Free.
Museum of Transportation – Check out the collection of over 300 locomotives, cars, airplanes and other vehicles. Kids will love the ‘Creation Station Express’ miniature train ride and the ‘Throw Mama from a Train’ interactive exhibit.
Grand Basin – A beautiful spot for some photos with water cascades. An ideal place to just relax and reflect. Free.
Museum of Illusions – An interactive experience that will trick your eye, entertain your mind, and show you the exciting science behind illusions!
National Blues Museum – Immerse yourself in the birthplace of the blues genre, discover stories about legendary musicians, and the cultural impact the blues has on music around the world.
The Jewel Box – A greenhouse with vibrant floral displays. Truly a hidden gem. $1 admission.
Laumeier Sculpture Park – A unique and immersive outdoor art experience. Good place to capture artistic photos with the sculptures as your backdrop. Free.
James S. McDonnell Prologue Room – the kids will love checking out the large-scale models of planes found here while learning about the history of aviation. Free.
Loan Elk Park – Scenic wildlife habitat with tranquil drives, hiking trails, and picnic spots where elk, bison, and deer roam. Free.
Moto Museum – rare and vintage motorcycles galore! Free.
Miniature Museum – This is the place for anything miniature. Have a little fun and make this museum into a scavenger hunt or a game of “I Spy”.
Campbell House Museum – Built in 1851, the first house in the elegant Lucas Place neighborhood, the Campbell House was the home of renowned fur trader and entrepreneur Robert Campbell and his family from 1854 until 1938.
Ulysses S. Grant National Historical Site – Also known as White Haven, the site commemorates the life, military career and presidency of Ulysses S. Grant. Five historic structures are preserved at the site, including the childhood home of Ulysses’ wife, Julia Dent Grant. Free.
Soulard Farmers Market – Established in 1779, this is the oldest farmers market west of the Mississippi and is open Wednesday-Saturday. Free.
While visiting St. Louis, you simply must check out one or more of the fascinating, historic neighborhoods. Janet and I pick a neighborhood and go walk it in search of interesting bookstores, coffee shops, and eateries. As an example, we recently went to Cherokee Antique Row and visited Hammond’s Books (straight out of a Stephen King novel), Riverside Architectural Antiques (never seen anything quite like it), Myrtle Haus books (with a fireplace!), The Mud House coffee shop, and Taqueria Hectorito (the best street tacos you’ll ever consume). Maplewood offered a festival, The Book House, and La Cosecha Coffee, featuring a bakery in the back with free samples! Central West End served up Left Bank Books, Northwest Coffee Roasting Company, and The Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis. We’ll update this blog annually as we explore new ‘hoods in the area. For now, though, check out this link for some options: https://explorestlouis.com/plan-your-trip/neighborhoods/
Confession time: while visiting Kyle and Laci a few years ago, they took us on a walking tour at dusk around Clayton, just west of Forest Park. As we walked by the beautiful Concordia Seminary (a primary seminary for the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod; founded in 1839), I noticed a large crowd of people gathered on the upper grounds outside the institution. Curious, and going against the urging of my family, I climbed the hill like the 20th Maine at Little Round Top on Day 3 at Gettysburg. Kyle followed me with the earnestness of a 28-year-old preacher following an aging parent with declining cognitive abililites. At the top, we discovered what appeared to be a freshmen/parent mixer, and I slipped into the back of the line at the large food tent, with my incredulous junior progeny in tow. I smiled, lovingly grasped the back of Kyle’s neck, and gave reasurring nods to other anxious parents. Ten minutes later, Kyle and I descended the hill, each toting a styrofoam container with a brat, french fries, German potato salad, and a packet of spicy mustard! No guts, no glory!
I hope this blog will inspire you to come see us in St. Louis! Did you notice how many things are free? Even the Lutheran brats! We actually live in Chesterfield, a very safe, low-crime city about 21 miles west of downtown St. Louis.
As for St. Louis… yes, like most cities, there are some rough, dangerous, high-crime parts of town, especially at night. We avoid those areas, especially at night.
So come see us! We might even show off our adorable grandsons!
“Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” – Philippians 2:4
On Monday, a 5.2-magnitude earthquake struck San Diego County, knocking boulders onto county roads and overturning groceries from store shelves. What made national news was not the earthquake itself but rather the reaction of a herd of elephants at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. As the ground shook and startled the animals, the three older elephants scrambled to encircle and protect the two 7-year-old calves. Even after the rumbling subsided, the older pachyderms—with their unique ability to detect sounds through their feet—stood watch with their ears spread and flapping. Mindy Albright, a curator of mammals at the park, said that once the elephants form their alert circle, “they sort of freeze as they gather information about where the danger is.”
The instinctive reaction of these senior elephants reminds me of some other “alert circles” I’ve witnessed recently. On the same day as the earthquake, I watched a tiny toddler attempt a dash for freedom at a crowded food pavilion at the Saint Louis Zoo. Her watchful father knew the danger, noticed the attempted escape, and lovingly tracked the child down and corralled her in his arms. Had he not noticed his fleeing child, I—a stranger—would have attempted to rescue her from the menacing pink flamingos eyeballing her.
More seriously, a friend of mine recently tried to pick a member up to attend worship services on Sunday morning, his customary practice. (The week prior, he had found the man unresponsive due to a medical condition and had to call an ambulance.) This time, when a stranger and his two companions answered the door, my friend’s alert level went up. He sensed something wasn’t right. One of the guys, unhappy with my friend’s desire to take the man to church, retrieved a box cutter and threatened my friend’s life. The police were called and the perpetrator was sent back to jail. Since then (and prior to then), several Christians have formed an “alert circle” around our troubled friend to help him physically, spiritually, and emotionally. He is vulnerable—“the least of these” as Jesus calls them—and faces threats all around him.
Why care? Why get involved? As the Apostle Paul puts it, each Christian is called to “look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” In 1 Peter 5:8, Peter reminds us to “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” Christians need to regularly circle the wagons around and try to protect those at risk. Sometimes we’re the ones standing guard and other times we ourselves are the vulnerable sheep needing protection.
Closer to home, my wife and I recently relocated to Missouri to be closer to family—specifically a grandson with another on the way. We hope to be a positive influence on their lives. With threats all around, we’ll stand watch and, along with their parents and others, help form their “alert circle” whenever needed. In conjunction with our move, Janet’s elderly parents, who have been under our care for over five years, moved in with Janet’s middle sister and her husband. Although they’ve always been concerned and involved, now they are on the frontlines—the first line of protection and defense. As the inevitable physical and mental decline of these dear Senior Saints unfolds, Janet’s sister and her husband will offer care and protection.
Parents and grandparents, alert to danger, form protective barriers around their children and grandchildren. Teachers do the same for their students. Church elders (shepherds) do this for the sheep who make up their congregations, and caregivers do so for those under their care. In each case, we see concerned people standing guard, like those senior elephants, ready to mobilize to protect the ones they love.
The elephants’ actions during the earthquake teach us another lesson. Although the video shows the female calf running for refuge between the adults who raised her, the only male calf remains on the outer edge of the circle. The curator said he was attempting to show his courage and independence. The older female elephant who helped raise him repeatedly taps him on the back and face with her trunk, coaxing him to remain in the herd’s alert circle. Sometimes our protective nurturing of those we love may require more than a gentle nudge.
In whatever protective roles God has called us to serve, may we faithfully stand watch—ears “spread and flapping”—with those we are charged to protect close at hand.
“Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.” – 2 Corinthians 11:23-27
Nicholas Moore, like other military warriors and first responders, was trained to “run to the sound of the guns.” Training is necessary because the notion is counterintuitive. Our instincts are to run away from the sound of gunfire. We naturally want to escape the burning house rather than enter it. Putting oneself in harm’s way—a counterintuitive action—requires training and courage.
Nicholas Moore had both. He served over a decade in an elite special operations unit within the US Army’s 75th Ranger Regiment on the battlefields of Afghanistan and Iraq. In Iraq, he “participated in the rescue of Private Jessica Lynch, hunted Iraq’s Most Wanted, and experienced brutal street combat, including 160 night-time missions over one 90-day deployment in the insurgent stronghold of Mosul. While serving in Afghanistan, he was also part of the search and rescue operation for Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell (author of Lone Survivor) and was on the ground again when a Chinook helicopter was shot down resulting in the death of 38 men and one military working dog. It was the single greatest loss of special operations personnel to date.”
Moore tells his riveting and deeply personal story in the appropriately named book, Run to the Sound of the Guns. Readers gain insight on what inspires someone like him to go in the direction of trouble, rather than retreat. Through training and sheer guts, men and women like Nicholas Moore are wired differently than others.
The Apostle Paul, as we learn in the opening passage, possessed similar, counterintuitive instincts. After all the suffering he endured, I wouldn’t have blamed him for wanting to dial back his ministry. I would have understood him curtailing risky activities that brought him pain. Instead, Paul, like Nicholas Moore, repeatedly ran toward the sound of the guns. In 2 Corinthians 12:10, Paul provides his motivation: “For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
The most effective Christians I know are the ones who run toward the sound of the guns. One couple adopted a “high risk” child that no one else wanted. Another couple gives up all that is comfortable and familiar to serve as missionaries in a poverty-stricken, third-world country. Others invest in troubled teens, forgotten prisoners, and homeless addicts—people too often neglected due to the high level of difficulty involved. Instinctively, most would prefer to adopt a healthy, well-adjusted child (and there’s goodness in that). If we evangelize at all, better to do so in a safe, middle-class neighborhood. Less potential for gunfire, right?
I want to live counterintuitively. My goal is to be more like Nicholas Moore or, better yet, the Apostle Paul. I want to be involved in ministries that most are unwilling to do. Like Paul, I want to draw strength from hardship and persecution. I want to take risks and take chances for God. I don’t want to appear before Jesus on Judgement Day and hear, “Wow, Steve, you sure played it safe! Didn’t you realize I was right beside you in all those battles you avoided?”
After all Jesus did for us, let’s be bold and courageous. It’s time to get our hands dirty in ministry. It’s time to run toward the sound of the guns!
Welcome to the Johnson’s 37th consecutive Christmas dispatch! Let’s talk about some beautiful things…
I’ve long made fun of over-the-top, doting, bragging grandparents… and now I am one! Janet and I have joined the club. Out of nowhere, the next generation has arrived! Having a grand has given us a boost of energy and renewed purpose. Little Bradford (actually, thick, muscular, 99 percentile length and head-size Bradford) fills a space in our hearts that we never knew was empty. That is truly a beautiful thing. I’ll come back to that.
As for the older generation, Raymond & Shirley, Janet’s parents, continue to live with us and provide blessings and humor to our lives. He struts into the kitchen each morning, with his pajama shirt tucked into his pants, and his pants tucked into his socks—next level old man gangsta! At 91 and 86, they are doing pretty well physically and can still beat us in cards.
I visited my dad and his caregiving wife Gail three times this year. One visit involved three days with him at a rehab center post-surgery, in order to give Gail a respite. Dad’s short-term memory is diminished and he sleeps a lot, but he’s a dear, sweet man. One morning, I sat by his bedside and said, “Dad, what can I get you? You have plenty of money—want a new TV? Want to go on a vacation? Whatever you want, I’ll get it or arrange it for you.” He thought for a moment and said, “Well, there is one thing, Bull. If it’s not too much trouble… I’d love a grilled cheese sandwich and some chocolate milk.” I smiled and said, “You got it, Pops!” The Greek Stoic philosopher Epictetus wrote, “Wealth consists not in having great possessions, but in having few wants.” My dad gets that. Peace and contentment at age 87 is abeautiful thing.
Hiking the Smokies
Speaking of beautiful, inside and out, my darling Janet had a busy, productive year. She taught several Ladies Bible classes and taught our congregation’s 5th and 6th graders. She loves speaking at Christian women’s events and was blessed to be able to do so this year in Kittanning, Pennsylvania and Houston, Texas. My little lady pours her heart and soul into these lessons and listeners. The college version of Janet I remember would never have envisioned herself teaching a Ladies Bible Class, much less speaking to large crowds of women around the country. Janet also went away with a group of lady friends for a cabin weekend in the woods to eat, fellowship, and watch/discuss several episodes of The Chosen. Seeing her spiritual growth and the way God continues to use her in ministry is a beautiful thing.
My year was filled with writing at coffee shops, doing disaster relief work in Valdosta, Georgia, doing prison ministry, hiking (to Rocky Top, Andrew’s Bald, and Charlie’s Bunion in the Smokies), leading a mission trip to Honduras, and teaching/speaking at Eastside and around the country. I spoke at the Kittanning PA church of Christ, the Camp Wiregrass men’s retreat in Alabama, and taught a 12-week course about my Appalachian Trail thru-hike to a local class of home-schoolers. While subbing at Knoxville Christian School, a first grade girl told me I was, “old, squishy, and 26.” She received partial credit… and remains in time-out.
In February, I published Every Scar, A Story: Act I, the first of a planned 3-part series, telling my life story. This first volume covers the first 25 years of my life—growing up in a military family, traveling the globe, falling in love, getting married, becoming a father, and the various highs, lows, and scars involved in such pursuits. Examining one’s life and capturing it in words is a useful, cathartic experience and a gift to future generations. I think everyone should pass on stories and lessons from their life to friends and family, whether that takes the form of a book or just a long note. I hope you’ll consider doing so. Having my youngest son tear up after reading a never-before-heard story about his late great-grandfather was, well, abeautiful thing.
Didasko Children’s Home, Honduras, with two special girls
Other 2024 highlights include:
Visiting Bradford (and Kyle and Laci) in January, April, and November in Missouri. On the most recent visit, we celebrated Bradford’s first birthday!
Visiting Jason & Rachel and Mount Airy (think Mayberry), North Carolina, and doing an amazing 19-mile bike ride with them along Virginia’s Creeper Trail.
A week vacation in July to Canada with all 7 Johnson’s—Bradford’s 1st visit to another country.
Being visited by Kyle and Bradford in Maryville in September. Bradford (like his Uncle Jas, circa 1994) removed Tupperware from cabinets, pushed them around the kitchen floor, and put pieces on his head and in his mouth. He has a bright future.
Go Vols!
Celebrating our… wait for it… beautiful 36 years of marriage at Maryville’s swanky RT Lodge (courtesy of friends Kevin & Erika!) and then in Hot Springs, North Carolina, one of my favorite stops on the Appalachian Trail. (Sadly, the town was later devastated by Hurricane Helene flooding.)
A wonderful family reunion with Steve’s sibs and their hubbies along 30A in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida.
Going to Tennessee Volunteer football and basketball games with Joe and Jan, our friends from Missouri. Vols baseball–national champs! Vols football–made the playoffs! Vols basketball–currently #1 in the nation! Tis a good time to be a Vols fan!
A family Thanksgiving gathering at a Kentucky Airbnb, where Steve taught Bradford how to catch a 10-lb catfish!
Creeper Trail Romance
Last week, I visited my dad and his wife in Cincy with my sibs and their hubbies while Janet stayed home to look after her ailing mom. We went to a German-themed Christkindl market in downtown Cincy featuring bratwurst, vendors, an ice skating rink, and scores of costumed workers and visitors. As I exited the restaurant’s bathroom stall after doing my business, I looked over and Santa Claus was exiting the adjoing stall. We made eye contact, and in that moment, in the twinkling of an eye, Christmas became real.
Now for our big news. In April of ’25, we plan to move to Missouri—about 30 minutes west of St Louis! We have absolutely loved living in East Tennessee—our house, neighborhood, church family, friends, the mountains, etc. It’s all good. But the magnetic pull of a grandchild is real and powerful—if you’ve been there, you know. When you add a second grandchild on the way, well, we’re packing our bags! Our military lifestyle always kept us from being able to live near family. That’s about to change. As we enter this prime grandparenting window, we want to be present, whatever form that takes. I’m also “wired” to move every 4-6 years for a change of scenery—new jogging trails, coffee shops, bookstores, parks, neighborhoods, and people. That’s a bizarre concept to most, but the “human crop rotation” approach works for us, gives us a reset, and has allowed us to form friendships with people all over the country. To us, that is a beautiful thing.
Cathy (Janet’s middle sister) and her husband have graciously agreed to take in Janet’s parents for this next season of life. We’ve been busy painting and laying flooring in their Bristol VA home, getting a storage unit, and measuring furniture. The move will not be easy for my in-laws (and the congregation here is not happy to lose these sweet people), but we’re confident God will bless and provide for them in Bristol just as He’s done in Maryville. Their time with family in Virginia, like our time with family in Missouri, has the potential to be abeautiful thing.
Gettin’ our Creeper on
Amid this hectic holiday season, may we not lose sight of God sending His only Son into this world to die for messed up people like you and me. Jesus’ sacrifice on a cross and subsequent resurrection gives us hope and, as Andy Dufresne put it in The Shawshank Redemption, “Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things.”
To which I would add… hope is also abeautiful thing. Merry Christmas, everyone!
