Charisa Stories

Tag: Jesus

  • Spiritual Growth Can Be Found in the Roots of Redwoods

    Real growth in relationships, faith, and maturity doesn’t just happen. I have to be intentional about confronting my own heart and shortcomings. Change is hard. Sharing my need to change with others is even harder. 

    Several years ago I took the risk to trust three men with everything about me. We called ourselves the Redwood Brothers based on a unique characteristic of the Coastal California redwood trees. A redwood alone in a forest might look magnificent but the first strong wind could destroy it. The Coastal Redwoods have shallow root systems and cannot survive a storm alone. Their roots extend over one hundred feet from the base but just broadening the root base is not what makes these beautiful trees capable of surviving the worst storms. They stand strong by intertwining their roots with the roots of other redwoods. The winds are now taking on an entire stand of trees and not a single redwood. No matter how majestic those trees might appear God designed them to need other trees to survive the storms. 

    That is exactly how we are designed. That describes the relationship I have forged with the three other men who gather every year to share weaknesses, fears, and frustrations. We are men who desire to follow Christ faithfully and love our wives and families well. Yet we can have shallow root systems, and we need the strength of one another as we go through strong winds and storms together. Sharing our imperfect journeys in a safe space has resulted in remarkable breakthroughs. We have experienced what my friend John Lynch wrote about in The Cure.

    “What if there was a place so safe that the worst of me could be known, and I would discover that I would not be loved less, but more in the telling of it?” 

    Dropping the pretense and engaging in real conversation about the difficulties of this journey with other honest wayfarers is a real way to become more like Jesus. After several yearly gatherings with powerful results we invited our spouses to join us in this vital journey. The impact as couples continues to grow our roots deeper and more connected with fellow believers and with Jesus.

    The need for church community is clear. But it’s even more important to look at what Jesus modeled. Jesus knew hundreds of people. He traveled with dozens. He sent out seventy. He discipled twelve. And He invested deeply in three. Jesus’ inner circle consisted of Peter, James, and John. He confided in these three men on a deeper and more profound level than any of the other disciples. I’ve found the same results in my own life. My greatest growth has taken place since I risked trusting a small group of fellow believers.

    Legendary professor Howard Hendricks of Dallas Theological Seminary described Paul’s friend Barnabas as the type of friend that will help you grow in your faith. He noted that Barnabas was a soul brother who loves you but is not impressed by you. Somebody who’s willing to keep you honest even if it creates a moment of discomfort.

    What a great description of a true friend. Someone who loves you but is not impressed with you. These men love me. They want the best for me. They tell me the truth because I trust them with my story and I have given them permission to speak truth with grace. I keep emphasizing the grace part. That is how God desires our community to look. I can only receive real love from you to the extent that you know the truth about who I really am. We all have blind spots in our hearts. I need a person who loves me enough to gently and gracefully point them out. 

    I hope you will find the courage to carefully trust others with everything that is true about you. We need each other. These scriptural passages are great reminders of the importance of being honest and loving in community.

    “Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.”
    ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭10‬:‭24‬-‭25‬ ‭NLT‬‬


    “Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.”
    ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

    We need Jesus. And we need a community of brothers and sisters who share our desire to follow Him.

    Portions of this article from my book Stay: Lessons My Dogs Taught Me about Life, Loss, and Grace.

  • Jesus Showed Us Why a Room Full of Bobbleheads Doesn’t Work

    We often wonder how to get along with a group of people who have very different personalities and backgrounds. Should we surround ourselves with people just like us so we can feel safe and unchallenged? Many leaders choose only those who agree with them. My friend Clint Hurdle shared why you must have different voices in the room or every meeting is a narcissistic waste of time. Here is Clint’s comment.

    “I would tell my staff that I could simply surround my desk with bobbleheads and tap their heads if I wanted blind agreement in the room. I would offer my plan and the bobbleheads would nod yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. I’ve been that guy nodding while my heart shouted no! I’ve also had colleagues agree with me hoping to gain my favor instead of helping me make the best decision. I can’t be surrounded by bobbleheads. I need people who are going to tell me the truth. This was the consistent mantra in the room when I was the manager.”

    “Tell me what I need to hear, not what I want to hear.”

    Clint is releasing a new book on February 11th entitled Hurdle-isms: Wit and Wisdom from a Lifetime in Baseball. I highly recommend you purchase and enjoy the wisdom of my friend as he tells stories of life and faith.

    So what should we do when putting together a leadership team? I think we have a pretty good leadership example in Jesus as He chose his Apostles. I always tended to rush through the list of the names to get to the stories. Last week I dove into the unique group of men Jesus assembled to follow Him.

    These are the twelve he chose:

    Simon (whom he named Peter),
    James and John (the sons of Zebedee, but Jesus nicknamed them “Sons of Thunder”),
    Andrew,
    Philip,
    Bartholomew,
    Matthew,
    Thomas,
    James (son of Alphaeus),
    Thaddaeus,
    Simon (the zealot),
    Judas Iscariot (who later betrayed him). (Mark 3, NLT)

    The first observation is that Jesus completely obliterated our tendency to be drawn to people of power, financial status, and educational prominence. If you were launching a crucial three year training program to spread the Word of God would you pick ordinary and unrefined followers to make up your team? That is who Jesus is. His choice was not defined by their status but their hearts and willingness to follow Him. He needed a different and unique skill set from each one in the group. The choice of Judas Iscariot seems so wrong but Jesus knew that the Father’s plan needed to be finished. Let’s look at the other eleven to see the how challenging this room might look without the unifying love of Jesus.

    Peter: Passionate. Impulsive and often unable to keep his mouth shut when he should. Jesus loved His heart and made this often frustrating follower a key element in the building of the church.
    Andrew: An early disciple of John the Baptist who became the first to follow Jesus and willingly introduced his older brother Peter to Jesus.
    James and John: They were sons of Zebedee who were known for their intense passion that sometimes played out as pride and anger. Wonder why Jesus tagged them the Sons of Thunder? This might be a clue.

    He sent messengers ahead to a Samaritan village to prepare for his arrival. But the people of the village did not welcome Jesus because he was on his way to Jerusalem. When James and John saw this, they said to Jesus, “Lord, should we call down fire from heaven to burn them up?” But Jesus turned and rebuked them. (Luke 52-55, NLT)

    Jesus looked past the impulsive mouth of Peter and the ungodly anger of the James and John. He saw their hearts. He loved them. And they got to witness the miracle of the Transfiguration outlined in Luke 9:28-35. By the way, that was another time that Peter popped off awkwardly.

    Phillip: Not much is known about him but he knew that this was the Messiah the prophets had foretold and he shared that with Nathaniel.

    Nathaniel: He dissed the community of Nazareth (John 1:46-51, NLT) yet Jesus recognized his heart as a man of complete integrity.

    Matthew: How about this addition? A man hated by the Jews for abusing his fellow countrymen with unfair taxation and loyalty to the Romans. Again, pretty sure that would not happen if I were assembling a team but Jesus saw his unique potential to spread the message of the Gospel.

    Thomas: When you bring in a person nicknamed “Doubting Thomas” you have obviously not secured a bobblehead. His tough questions and seeking of truth were invaluable to the trust of others.

    James the Less: Probably not the title I would desire but He was chosen by Jesus. We will find out some day exactly the impact this humble servant had.

    Simon the Zealot: A passionate activist is the kind of person that many of us avoid today. Jesus knew if he transferred that passion to the message of redemption and forgiveness he would be an invaluable asset.

    Judas, Son of James: We don’t know much about him except he grew impatient with the Lord sharing His truths (John 14:22) with the Apostles and not more openly with the world. I am sure he figured it out after the Resurrection.

    What a group! Would you think this odd mix of men would be the kind of leadership team that could lead well and make a difference for eternity? My view from afar would be absolutely not. What caused this ragamuffin group to begin the revival that is still changing the world?

    The love of Jesus.

    And the unity they shared when they saw God’s plan for salvation completed with the trial, crucifixion, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. These common men unified by Jesus proclaimed the Gospel fearlessly.

    Jesus showed us how to love and get along with a challenging group. You need honesty, trust, love, the willingness to listen, and accountability. That is incredibly difficult without a point of unity. Paul told us what that point of unity must be.


    “I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose.”
    ‭‭(1 Corinthians‬ ‭1‬:‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬)

    We have that ability to be unified in Christ. Can those of us who differ on some issues focus on that? I wonder what a difference we could make. Those eleven (plus a later addition) made a pretty good difference.

  • How Can We Apply Jesus’ Healing Promises In Our Lives Today?

    I love this story from the Gospel written by Mark.

    “A man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus, begging to be healed.”

    The suffering man approached Jesus in such an honest way. He begged Him to be healed. I can relate to that. How many times have I begged God for something without trusting His sovereignty in the process? The answer is too many times. I should respond more like this man who understood Jesus was able to heal but He had to be willing. Here is that exchange.

    “If you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean,” he said. Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!” Instantly the leprosy disappeared, and the man was healed.” (Mark‬ ‭1‬:‭40‬-‭42‬ ‭NLT)‬‬

    Jesus was moved by the sincere and trusting heart of the leper. Jesus responded with deep tenderness. The leper believed Jesus had the power to heal. But he also believed he himself did not have the power to demand that Jesus heal him. He showed faith, revealed his heart, and trusted the results to Jesus.

    When our request is not answered does it mean Jesus isn’t willing? Part of understanding these moments is putting them in context with other Scripture. What is Jesus willing to do in other ways? A few examples…

    • Jesus is always Willing to Forgive our sins
    • Jesus is always Willing to Love us
    • Jesus is always Willing to be our Advocate
    • Jesus is always Willing to be present in us through the power of the Holy Spirit
    • Jesus is always Willing to show us the way to grow in faithfulness and love

    Perhaps the most incredible thing Jesus was willing to do was take our sin upon Himself to the Cross. He was willing to suffer and die for us. That gave us the resurrection and forgiveness of our sins. But Jesus had to make the biggest willingness decision ever.

    “He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”” (‭‭Matthew‬ ‭26‬:‭39‬ ‭NLT‬‬)

    Jesus wished there were other options but He was willing to endure the pain of crucifixion for you and for me. His willingness to love us is undeniable. So I am learning to trust God when my prayers are not answered in the way I hoped for. Jesus loves us. God is sovereign. We won’t know why things happen until we are together with Jesus. I heard a preacher say this and I have not forgotten it.

    ”I believe I will spend the first 10,000 years in Heaven saying now I understand why that happened. Oh, I see why that occurred. That makes sense now.”

    I have lost friends way too early in my opinion. But then I see the impact of how they were a light to those around them even in those dark valleys. Their example made an eternal difference as God used their testimony for His glory.

    One of my great spiritual epiphanies came while ­listening to a Garth Brooks song. I know. Garth may not be a go-to theologian but his song called “Unanswered Prayers” resonated with my heart. He sings about things that he fervently begged for God to provide. Now, years later, he can see how much better things are because those prayers were unanswered. I have shared the same experience many times. I would suggest that unanswered is an answer, but I guess that would not make a catchy lyric.

    I remember praying for a particular job that would give me prestige and allow me to climb the ladder in the broadcast world. It looked like the offer was about to come, and then it did not. I was disappointed. Confused. What happened?

    In retrospect, I believe that God moved in that situation and firmly slammed the door shut. I can see now that it was not even close to being a good fit for me. It was a ­high- pressure position where performance was often more important than people. Instead, God put me in a place where my relational gifts could be used to not only direct good sports telecasts but also to invest in the lives of those I work with every day. Today I thank God that He said no to my prayer.

    Jesus is willing. I trust that means things will be redeemed for eternity even when the short term results aren’t what we desire.

  • Wait! Don’t Pack Away Your Joy in the Attic!

    This is the week we finish one of my least favorite tasks of the year. Taking down the Christmas decorations always fills me with melancholy. I love Christmas and the message of hope and joy it brings. That God entered human form and gave us hope in a Savior who understands our struggles.

    We packed up a treasured Nativity creche that has been a part of our family tradition for decades. That miracle in a Bethlehem stable is where I place my joy as I head into a very unstable New Year. I find my joy in the Messiah, the Lord – who was born in the city of David. It is so easy to remember the reason for hope during Christmas. It also easy to forget that when things turn dark. 

    We also packed away a decoration that spells out JOY. Now that we are past this wonderful season it would be easy to pack away joy in the attic and concentrate on cultural concerns. The twenty-four news cycle feeds on negativity. Hearing the message of gloom and doom over and over has its effect on even the most steadfast believers. Social media sites peddle darkness and fear and I choose not to be paralyzed by it. The angel of the Lord told the shepherds not to be afraid. Jesus talked a lot about fear.

    “But don’t be afraid of those who threaten you. For the time is coming when everything that is covered will be revealed, and all that is secret will be made known to all. What I tell you now in the darkness, shout abroad when daybreak comes. What I whisper in your ear, shout from the housetops for all to hear! Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. (Matthew 10 – NLT)

    And these words from Jesus could have been in response to the negativity and anxiety we hear about every day.

    “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food to eat or enough clothes to wear. For life is more than food, and your body more than clothing. Look at the ravens. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for God feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than any birds! Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?…Don’t worry about such things. These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world, but your Father already knows your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need.”  (Luke 12, NLT)

    So I have made some decisions. I don’t make vows because I know I will fall short at some point. Choosing a direction allows me to stumble off course but then get back on track.

    I want to spend less time watching and reading the news and more time reading and meditating on God’s Word. I want to Bipartisan pray for our leaders in Washington but I am going to trust God to provide my hope. I want to live joyfully in each precious moment that God gives me and not live in paralyzing fear of the future. I agree with C.S. Lewis when he wrote these words. “There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind.“

    I want to continually unpack the joy that Christ can give me every single day in 2025. You can do that too. May you have a joyful New Year by remembering where your true hope resides.

    Happy New Year!

  • What is Christmas All About? Linus Had The Best Response!

    A familiar song popped up on a Christmas music station from the original soundtrack of A Charlie Brown Christmas. Jazz musician Vince Guaraldi’s score is simple and brilliant. Listening to the vocal version of “Christmas Time Is Here” brought back some wonderful Christmas memories.

    Christmas time is here
    Happiness and cheer
    Fun for all that children call
    Their favorite time of the year

    A Charlie Brown Christmas is one of my annual delights. In many ways Christmas has become an economic and not a religious holiday. One of the most powerful reminders of the message of Christmas came from the genius of the late Charles Schultz. One simple and elegant scene captures it all. Charlie Brown has failed miserably in his attempt to find the true meaning of Christmas. But then Linus recites the following passage from the King James version of the Bible.

    “And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”

    And then Linus turns and says this powerful line to Charlie Brown.

    “That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.”

    Without a doubt this show would be different if produced today. A documentary produced about the making of the show revealed that Charles Schultz received substantial push back even in 1965 from network officials who did not want to have the Christmas story read from the Bible. But Schultz demanded it be included with this simple declaration.

    “If we don’t tell the true meaning of Christmas, who will?”

    And for nearly sixty years Charles Schultz has had a hand in telling millions of viewers the true meaning of Christmas. The lyrics from “Christmas Time Is Here” continue with this wish.

    Oh, that we could always see
    Such spirit through the year.

    Wouldn’t that be wonderful? Charlie Brown’s heart was changed by the simple story of Christmas. An often overlooked moment in the show is particularly relevant this Christmas. Fans of the show know that Linus is permanently attached to his blanket. His dependence on it for comfort is ridiculed by sister Lucy and others. He never lets his blanket go. But while Linus is reading the Biblical account a remarkable and subtle action occurs. He reads these words from the angel. (About 38 seconds into the video)

    “And the angel said unto them, Fear not”

    At that point Linus simply drops his blanket as a sign that the birth of Jesus overcomes fears and becomes our comfort. Brilliant.

    There is a lot of fear in the world this Christmas season. That is why we need to focus on the message of the angel. 

    “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. 11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! (Luke 2:10-11, NLT)

    Author Paul David Tripp summarized the miracle of that announcement. 

    “The Advent story is the most beautiful rescue story ever. The Son of God leaves the Father’s side, becomes a man to save us from us.”

    That is my hope this Christmas. The child announced by the angel is why I can approach an uncertain New Year without fear. Because of the miracle of the incarnation I can experience peace and forgiveness. 

    Peace on earth and mercy mild
    God and sinners reconciled

    I pray you will open and embrace the gift of salvation and grace announced by the angels that night. Because that’s what Christmas is all about.

  • A Guilt Free Gift to Open Before Christmas Day

    Every follower of Jesus is offered the gifts of grace without any strings (or ribbons) attached. All of us have full access to these gifts. Paul writes that we are brought into right relationship with God entirely as a gift of His radical and amazing love. 

    When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, He saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. Because of his grace he made us right in his sight and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life. (Titus 3:5-7, NLT)

    Grace is the best deal ever offered and yet we often resist opening this gift from our Lord. We can’t believe it is true. We fear it can’t be possible that we can be loved, accepted, and adopted when we know our behavior doesn’t deserve such love. 

    But that is the miracle of grace.

    A humorous Christmas song gives a clue to the mindset that makes it so hard to open the gift of Grace.

    The song “I’m Gettin’ Nuttin’ for Christmas” sums up the lie that Satan sells to every seeker of Jesus that your rewards are tied directly to behavior.

    I’m gettin’ nuttin’ for Christmas
    Mommy and daddy are mad
    I’m getting nuttin’ for Christmas
    ‘Cause I ain’t been nuttin’ but bad 

    That seems about right to our performance based mindset. I have not done what I should have. God has to be disappointed and maybe even a little ticked off at me so I don’t deserve this grace. I need to buck up and try harder and THEN I will earn God’s love. What a sad misunderstanding of how God wants to relate to His children.

    The Christian life is a life of grace from beginning to end and it is all based on what Jesus has done for us and not on anything we have done for Him. We enter into this journey with Jesus by grace, we live it by grace, and we enter God’s eternal presence by grace.

    During the Christmas season children learn that they get good things when they are good. Santa is pleased (and we later substitute God) when we obey. So we learn early that we had better be good. Or least fool everyone around us to think that we are being good.

    I remember (vaguely) the tension of the Santa Claus years. I knew I hadn’t really changed much. I tried to modify my behavior for a week or two leading up to Christmas but I knew I had failed to really be good. 

    I carried that Santa process into my relationship with God. I need to behave better. Just like Santa we think that Jesus is making a list and He is checking it not once or twice but every moment of every day. God knows if you’ve been bad or good so if you want to be blessed and loved you had better be good or you will get nuttin’ from Him.

    Satan sells the lie so convincingly. And we buy it for months and years and even decades. I did.

    But God and Santa are very different in their approach. God does not keep a list. He is not impressed by our hernia inducing straining to control sin.

    God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.  Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.  (Ephesians 2:8-9, NLT)

    Jesus offers us so many gifts. Sometimes it seems we have the hardest time unwrapping the gift of grace. The stunning radicality of grace is that what seems to be too good to be true is more true than we can imagine. This unconditional love from God is unrelated to the emotions, expectations and desires that taint our human love. I am choosing to believe that truth this Christmas. I am going to allow God to love me and not attempt to earn that love. I am not going to remind myself why I am not worthy. I am going to open my arms and my heart to His love. My feelings ebb and flow. God’s feelings for me are a consistent fountain of grace so I am going to jump in the fountain today and splash around with joy. 

    Receiving this gift is based simply on coming to Him in humble need. Go straight to the gift of grace that Jesus left under the Cross. Open it. And clothe yourself in His salvation, acceptance and love. It may be the best gift you have ever given yourself. Unwrap the gift of grace without guilt this Christmas and rejoice in it everyday. It was left there just for you.

  • The Island of Grace Welcomes Misfits!

    Christmas really is the most wonderful time of the year. I love the music, the memories, the traditions, and the chance to annually think about Burl Ives.

    His memory returns with the annual airing of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Ives is the voice of Sam the Snowman who narrates the “enhanced” story of Rudolph.

    Rudolph and his elf buddy Hermey don’t fit in with the others. Rudolph looks different than his peers. Hermey is not interested in making toys. In an odd plot twist, Hermey wants to be a dentist. Not surprisingly, his elf supervisor is upset with the unproductive Hermey. So the two outcasts set off to find their purpose and a place to be accepted.

    The part of the story that resonates with me these days is when Hermey and Rudolph find their way to the Island of Misfit Toys. All of the toys on this island are castoffs because they are flawed and deemed worthless. There is a “Charlie in the Box” and a train with square wheels. A boat that sinks in water and a squirt gun that shoots jelly. All of these flawed toys are banished to the Island of Misfit Toys simply because they are different.


    That is how I picture so many sad and tired followers of Jesus. They see themselves as misfits. They believe they are flawed and not worth much of anything. They have allowed a perceived idea of what a “good” Christian should look like to cause them to feel like they don’t measure up. The doubts overwhelm them.  Discouraged followers of Christ start thinking thoughts like these.

    I don’t have theological training.
    I can’t sing well.
    I am not a good teacher.
    I am afraid to share my faith.
    I feel awkward in groups.
    I am not a leader.
    I don’t have much to offer.

    But that is not how the Bible describes a follower of Christ. Every Christian is described as being part of the body of Christ. Scripture makes it clear that every part of the body of Christ is vital to the healthy function of the church. Henri Nouwen wrote that every follower of Jesus has a God designed role.

    “We seldom realize fully that we are sent to fulfill God-given tasks. . . . We act as if we were simply dropped down in creation and have to decide how to entertain ourselves until we die. But we were sent into the world by God, just as Jesus was. Once we start living our lives with that conviction, we will soon know what we were sent to do.”

    So if you are feeling like a misfit toy this Christmas season you can trust this truth. You have a divine purpose. God does not make misfits. He creates people in His image with value and great worth. Satan would like you to retreat to your own island of misfits to feel sad and worthless. But God has another gathering place in mind.

    The Island of Grace. On that island you are not a misfit. You are a beloved child of God. You are a saint. And in this wonderful place there are no misfits. Every blemish makes you more valuable, not less. Brokenness makes you more beautiful. The miracle of Christmas makes us friends to the King. Paul made that abundantly clear with these words of encouragement to the Church in Rome.

    So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God. (Romans 5, NLT)

    Friend of God? Hard to feel like a misfit if you believe that is true. Open that gift this year and keep it close to your heart.

    Merry Christmas!