I love to play softball. Though my love for softball is greater than my skills for playing it, there’s nothing like a summer evening of softball with friends. What is better than one softball game? Two! I love playing doubleheaders. Twice the opportunity to get a hit or make a great play in the field! Twice the opportunity to cheer on my teammates for their great play!

In the middle of April I experienced and enjoyed a family doubleheader. One weekend with Jonathan at the Masters in Augusta (see previous blog, “I talked to Tiger”)! The next weekend in New York City with Debbie and our high school daughter, Bethany!

Arriving at LaGuardia late Friday evening, we were more excited than tired! Awakening early, I took a walk around Manhattan. Policemen and blockades were everywhere – the Pope was in town, only blocks from our hotel, at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. I wanted to meet him and speak with him – but unfortunately, I didn’t have his cell phone number with me at the time. Still don’t! :)

As an additional blessing to us, Greg and Sandy Mundis, were staying at the same hotel that weekend. The five of us walked to Times Square, checking out the shops along the way. Souvenir and trinket stands blanket that part of the city. Food stands abound – including chocolate covered fruit. You’d be proud of us – we abstained!

Just being together – holding hands – putting my arm around Bethany and Debbie as we walked down the crowded streets – that made the day fun and relaxing. Then on to Broadway – the Lion King! Our expectations were immensely exceeded! The costuming, staging, lighting, acting, and music – exquisite, realistic, and nearly unbelievable!

Then came Sunday! Having heard much about the intensity of worship among our Korean brothers and sisters, we were so excited to be part of their worship services. Their singing is celestial – their prayer powerful – their faith and trust in Jesus, enviable.

What makes the Korean church so alive, vibrant, and spiritually powerful? Undoubtedly, their early morning prayer meetings! Every morning except Sunday at 5:30 a.m., many hundreds of Korean believers gather at Full Gospel New York Church (pastored by Nam Soo Kim) for worship, the Word, and intercessory prayer. They take prayer so seriously that six vans/buses are dispatched six mornings a week at 4:00 a.m. to provide transportation to the elderly and others without personal vehicles.

I wish all of us would have the opportunity of experiencing what I experienced that morning! Tired? I’m sure they were! But tired or not – there they were – fulfilling the Scriptural instruction to fervently pray with and for each other!

Sadly and unfortunately, the corporate prayer life of most American churches is absent at worst, and anemic at best. Where that is not the case we see healthy, vibrant churches who are fulfilling the Great Commission in unbelievably creative ways.

Returning from New York City, I remain committed to finishing strong! Hanging out with my family and praying often and fervently with my fellow Christ-followers are two ways to assure I do.

Jonathan and I spent last Saturday in Augusta, Georgia, at the Masters Tournament walking on a lusciously green piece of real estate called the Augusta National Golf Club. When we were not following such notables as KJ Choi and Phil Michelson, we were sitting at “Amen Corner” in our comfortable green seats. From our front row vantage point, we could see the twelfth green, the entirety of the thirteenth fairway, and the thirteenth green, surrounded by a creek and sand traps.

When not watching 300-yard drives or 230-yard second shots to within ten feet of the hole, we feasted our eyes on some of the most beautiful landscape found on any golf course in the world. At Augusta, azaleas are more plentiful than Bibles in a church’s lost and found closet and more plentiful than stitches in the sewing room of the Ladies Quilting Society. We were in “azalea heaven”—more than 1,600 azaleas on this fairway alone.

What a day for two wannabe golfers! We saw all the current PGA greats including Michelson; Vijay Singh; Choi; Iowa’s favorite son, Zach Johnson; Mike Weir; Stewart Cink; and, of course, TIGER.

The Masters—the most prestigious golf tournament in the world—home of the “green jacket,” the signature prize for the winner of this grueling 72-hole tournament. Jack Nicklaus has six green jackets, while Arnold Palmer and Tiger each have four.

Tiger didn’t have his “A” game this time. His normally dependable putter became a sputter. Usually, the Tiger is stalking and prowling on Sunday, finding a way to win. This Sunday he was clawless. While shooting par at a very long Augusta National on a blustery, windy day is no easy task, it wasn’t quite enough to overtake the young South African, Trevor Immelman.

While thousands of people were following Tiger, hoping to get a glimpse of the greatest golfer in the world, I talked to him. I’m not kidding—I talked to Tiger. As he was walking up the fourteenth fairway after a crushing drive, he walked past where I was standing, and I said, “Way to go, Tiger. You can do it!”

I talked to Tiger, I really did—but he didn’t talk to me. In fact, he didn’t talk to any spectators. We cheered, clapped, and whistled as he went by us. He remained focused as a great golfer must be.

Jonathan and I admire and respect Tiger as a phenomenal golfer; but, he is, after all, very human. Isn’t it good to remind ourselves that we know the One who created Tiger (and Phil and Trevor)—the one who created the flowers, grass, and trees which adorn Augusta National? We know Him. He is Jesus Christ. And, the really cool thing is—we can talk to Him and He talks to us. He is a living and loving Lord!

Whatever our situation today—whatever issues we are facing—whatever financial problems and relational challenges—whatever mistakes we’ve made that are causing us serious pain—whatever physical or mental illness—the really good news is, God is living life with us. He really does “walk with me and He talks me and He tells me I am His own…”

Why don’t we take a moment and thank the Lord for who He is, for how much He loves us, and that He cares enough to interact with us so that we’re not living life alone. We can finish strong because of Him.

We’ve heard about Mr. Ed, the talking horse. . . many of us know about the talking donkey that belonged to the Old Testament prophet, Balaam. Thanks to the Royal Ambassador Sunday School class of First Assembly in Des Moines, Iowa, we have a talking quilt.

Dozens of Royal Ambassadors contributed to the design, content, and craftsmanship of this beautifully hand-sewn quilt with scores of blocks connected by colorful, flowery green sashes. Each block contains a message of encouragement. Presented to us in August, 2006, and now smoothly stretched out on our queen size bed, this patchwork quilt quietly and faithfully speaks to Debbie and me.

The blocks of encouragement are all different. Some contain personal words of encouragement and thanks – encouraging thoughts I often used in my preaching are the content of other blocks – some of our favorite Scriptures are part of the patchwork, too.

Our favorite hymns comprise the border.

Earlier this morning the quilt spoke to me again as I sat and read it. Here are some of the messages that spoke most clearly to me.

• What makes life worth living is our giving and forgiving.
• “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and He will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6).
• God orders our steps and our stops.
• “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails” (Proverbs 19:21).
• Prayer is not conquering God’s reluctance, but taking hold of God’s willingness.
• “I will instruct you (says the Lord) and guide you along the best pathways for your lives. I will advise you and watch your progress” (Psalm 32:8).
• While God never promised smooth sailing, He has promised a safe landing.
• “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:23).

Since the quilt talked to me earlier this morning, I’ve been singing one of the songs sewn into the border:

“My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

“When darkness veils his lovely face, I rest on His unchanging grace. In every high and stormy gale, my anchor holds within the veil.”

“His oath, His covenant, His blood – support me in the whelming flood. When all around my soul gives way, He then is all my hope and stay.”

On Christ the solid rock I stand – all other ground is sinking sand; all other ground is sinking sand.”

I’m committed to finishing my life and ministry strong! To do that I need all the help I can get – including quietly talking quilts!

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One other thing – The next time you’re in Springfield, let us know. I’d love for you to see this unforgettable, quietly talking gift.

On my way to work today, I placed an early morning call to one of my good friends, Mark Ford.  As we swapped stories about our children and ministries, I pulled up to the McDonald’s drive-through window and ordered an egg biscuit and a glass of water.

While still talking with Mark, I paid the $1.09 and proceeded forward to the pick-up window.   We continued our conversation for the next ten minutes as I drove north on Kansas Expressway toward the National Office.  As I pulled into my parking spot, it hit me – “Where’s my egg sandwich?” I asked myself out loud.

Though I had not eaten the sandwich, it was gone. The embarrassing truth – I was so engrossed in our conversation I drove right by the pick up window, never stopping to pick up my order.

Maybe multi-tasking isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be!  Perhaps that’s why the great missionary apostle wrote, “This one thing I do. . .” (Philippians 3:13).

I have a hunch I may not be the only one who tries to do so many things at one time that I don’t always do any one thing as well as I could or should.  Honestly, and I hate to admit this –  but sometimes I do the same thing at work – working on one project – then feeling an urgency to do something else, I switch gears. . .  You probably understand.

Based on this morning’s eggsperience, I’m thinking today about the importance of staying focused.

* Staying focused on the task at hand
* Planning my work and working my plan
* Avoiding the temptation to constantly multi-task.
* Using drive time to think, meditate, and worship instead of using the cell phone every time I get into the car
* Finishing one project before beginning another one
* Prioritizing my schedule each day and doing first things first

Living fragmentally tends to produce frustration, missed opportunities, and an unsettled feeling inside. Staying focused, on the other hand, allows me to seize opportunities, stay energized, and live with a great sense of inner peace.  Staying focused is essential to finishing strong!

By the way — the egg sandwich is still at McDonalds on the corner of Sunshine and Kansas Expressway.  I didn’t think it was worth the time and gas to return for the sandwich – so I went to our National Office cafeteria and purchased another one. :)

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Any thoughts on this?  I’d love to hear from you?