“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: … You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first…” (Revelation 2:1, 4-5 NIV).

“… one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14 NIV).

“Put first things first.” (Stephen Covey, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People).

Covey illustrates his “first things” habit with a story about rocks. In the illustration he describes what one of his associates had experienced at a seminar. In the middle of the lecture the seminar presenter pulled out a wide-mouth jar and placed it on a table next to some large rocks.

After filling the jar to the top with the rocks, he asked the students, “Is the jar full?”

Seeing it was obviously full, they replied, “Yes!”

“Not so fast,” he cautioned. He then got some gravel from under the table and added it to the jar, filling the spaces between the rocks. Again, he asked, “Now, Is the jar full?”

This time the students replied “Maybe…”

The presenter then pulled a bucket of sand from below the table and dumped it in the jar, filling the spaces between the rocks and the gravel. Once again he asked “Is it full now?”

“Yes! It’s definitely full now.” The students shouted.

As a final touch, he grabbed a pitcher of water and filled the jar completely. He asked, do you think I could have gotten everything in, if I had started with the water and the sand?

“No way!” They answered.

“You’re right,” he said. “If you want to get the big rocks in the jar, you have to put them in first.”

Have you ever noticed how easy it is to let “sand and water” fill your life? If you don’t choose to pursue what really matters, what’s really important, then the urgent will take over.

Jesus challenged the church at Ephesus to get back to the “first things,” to return to their “first love.” God really cares about what priority we place on our love and worship for Him. I suppose that’s why the first commandment says, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” God wants first place.

The apostle Paul said that he had made pursuing Christ his “one thing.” In a sense Paul was putting one “big rock” in his life’s “jar” first. He made everything else in his life fit in around following Christ.

I’m learning that putting the big Rock in first brings order to everything else.

“Taste and see that the Lord is good…”  (Psalm 34:8 NIV).

Is seafood good to you? It is to me. I love seafood. I think it’s the best.

Some years ago while visiting Rick Warren’s church in California, we found this really good, authentic Italian restaurant at Capistrano Beach named Agostino’s Ristorante.  When we took Stephen and Caroline out to the Saddleback Worship Conference earlier this summer, of course I had to take them to Agostino’s. I was really looking forward to eating this certain seafood dish. I really talked it up.

But after all the anticipation, I ordered the wrong thing on the menu. I ordered the Liguine Al’ Agostino which had shrimp served over pasta, but I meant to order the Liguine Alla’ Pescatore which had pasta covered in a light tomato sauce and topped with shrimp, scallops, calamari and mussels.

The meal I ordered was good. But I was disappointed because I knew that the Liguine Alla’ Pescatore was better. Sure, they are both great seafood dishes and include jumbo shrimp, but in my opinion the one is way better than the other.

I insisted that Stephen order the same thing I ordered, so he did. He kept saying, “It’s OK Dad. I think it’s great.”

But I kept saying, “Yeah, but it’s not what I meant for you to taste. The Pescatore is sooo much better!”

Isn’t it funny how you can think a thing is good, until you discover something better?

I suppose we can be that way in our thinking about God. We think we know what is good and what is bad. We all have our own “tastes,” our own perspectives. We observe the injustice and suffering in the world and we wonder: “Is God really good?”

But how do we even know what is good? We only know what we’ve “tasted.” God is the Creator and we are merely creatures. How do we know what is good unless He tells us?

The origin for the English word “good” and the word “god” are the same. Apparently, the divine name and the divine goodness were synonymous in Old Anglo-Saxon minds.

The comparative and superlative forms of the adjective, good are “better” and “best” (not “gooder” and “goodest” as some would say).

So, is God really good?

Taste and see. God is not only good, He is better. God is best.

“‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.’ So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place” (Mark 6:31-32 NIV).

According to a Greek legend, in ancient Athens a man noticed the great storyteller Aesop playing childish games with some little boys. He laughed and jeered at Aesop, asking him why he wasted his time in such frivolous activity.

Aesop responded by picking up a bow, loosening its string, and placing it on the ground. Then he said to the critical Athenian, “Now, answer the riddle, if you can. Tell us what the unstrung bows implies.”

The man looked at it for several moments but had no idea what point Aesop was trying to make. Aesop explained, “If you keep a bow always bent, it will break eventually; but if you let it go slack, it will be more fit for use when you want it.”

Do you have trouble “unstringing” the bow?

I do. I can get so tightly “strung” that even when I do take vacation, I can’t seem to let go and relax. It takes me a couple of days just to unwind. And in this “wired” age of cell phones, emails, and internet… even a couple of days may not do it. For me to “unstring” I have to unplug too. All it takes is one cell phone call or email to get me wound up tight and working again.

This past week Robin and I spent a few days at the beach. Our two sons and their wives (and our grandson) joined us for part of the time. We played frisbee, threw football, body-surfed, played bocce ball, ate seafood, got sunburned, walked on the beach, caught crabs, stayed up late, held our grandson, and talked.

Now I’m back home. My right shoulder hurts from throwing football and my skin is peeling from sunburn. But my mind and soul are refreshed from the change of pace. It’s good to just take some time to play and recharge (If only I could learn to do it without the injuries).

Even the Son of God took time to rest. When the needs of the crown began to overwhelm, He led His disciples to a “solitary place” to get some rest and to recharge. Jesus understood the need for a balance between work and rest.

Are you taking time to “unstring the bow” this summer?

“My harp is tuned …” (Job 30:31 NIV).

When we started our last day at the Saddleback Worship Conference I prayed that Stephen would receive extra encouragement. Sometimes, being at a conference like this actually overwhelms you. So, I wanted God to let Stephen know His affirmation.

The day began with a great talk from Paul Baloche. Paul started out by talking about getting your instrument in tune.

He asked, “Have you ever broken a string during worship?”

The whole crowd laughed, especially Stephen. Breaking strings is one of his great fears.

Paul really spoke to us about how leading worship is not a “concert,” but a “conversation with a community.”

“When you break a string…” he said. “Just say to the congregation (as you ask the piano to cover you): You know, just like an instrument needs tuning, our hearts need to be tuned to God in order to worship.”

So, we heard a great word from Paul in the morning. But God wasn’t finished. We spent time during the day with Meredith Andrews and her husband Jacob. As you know, Meredith is from Wilson too.

Meredith was very encouraging to meet and hear from. She talked about making sure your worship songs are true to Scripture and also written with guidance from your pastor. This is something that we already practice at WCC, so it was good to be affirmed in this.

At the last session of the day, they announced the winner of the Taylor electric guitar. Everyone applauded as the recipient went on stage to receive this sweet instrument. Sure, we really wanted Stephen (or yours truly) to win it, but the guy who won it seemed like a deserving soul.

That’s when God really went the extra mile to encourage us. As we were leaving the conference, Stephen’s wife, Caroline, saw the guy who won the Taylor.

She approached him and said, “Congratulations on winning the Taylor! My husband really wanted it too. I’m sure you’ll enjoy playing it!”

He answered by asking her if Stephen owned an electric of his own, to which she replied that he didn’t.

He said, “Listen, I already have an electric, so the minute I won this guitar I started asking the Holy Spirit to tell me who to give it to. Where is your husband? I want to give it to him.”

“No way!” She shouted.

God loves it when we ask Him to tune our hearts. In this case, He even gave us a new guitar to help keep them in tune.

“He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God” (Psalm 40:3 NIV).

We’re having a great time this week at the Saddleback Worship Conference! I’m really proud of Stephen and our WCC worship band for having been selected to play this year at one of the venues. I wish we could have brought the whole band, but Stephen and Robin will do their best later today to represent.

It’s good to network with other worship leaders and learn from one another. Musicians are often notorious for their egos, but the worship leaders and artists that we’ve encountered here have been so authentic and humble. Yesterday, Stephen (along with several other song writers) submitted one of his songs from the “Lost” CD to a “Songwriters Critique Panel.” On the panel were Tony Guerrero, Meredith Andrews, Steve Fee, Brenton Brown, and a guy from Song Discovery.

Earlier that day when we heard about the panel, I asked Stephen if he wanted to submit a song.

“Sure.” He said. “But I didn’t know I’d need my CDs today and I left them at the hotel.”

“How long do we have before the panel?” I asked.

“A couple of hours.” He said.

“I’ll be back.” I shouted back over my shoulder as I headed to the rental car.

It was an hour round trip to the hotel, but we didn’t come to Saddleback to just hang out. We came here to learn and grow.

As it turned out, the panel didn’t get to Stephen’s song, but he was willing. The panel wasn’t easy-going either. They really gave a quality critique. And with Brenton Brown’s cockney accent, they even had a Simon on the panel.

Since they didn’t get to hear Stephen’s song, we passed out CDs to most of the panel and to representatives from Song Discovery, Worship Leader Magazine, and Integrity Music. We invited them to Stephen’s acoustic set on Thursday afternoon. Maybe some of them will come.

But what was really fun was just standing and talking with Steve Fee and Meredith Andrews (she’s from Wilson, you know). They were very encouraging to Stephen.

Well, I’d better sign off. I’m just the pastor/dad this week… here supporting my worship pastor/son.

We’re here together, learning some new songs.

“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me” (John 17:20-21 NIV).

We’re in our third week of the “One Prayer” series. I’m really enjoying this time to hear pastors from other churches and join with them in “sharing, serving, and giving” in Jesus’ name.

I was a little concerned about projecting video preaching on Sunday mornings, but the feedback has been outstanding. I’m so thankful to all of our tech people and our visual arts team for the hard work every Sunday that makes this series possible. I’m also thankful to Craig Groeschel for leading us to join together with what has grown to be over 2,000 churches worldwide!

May God answer His Son’s prayer in our generation… that we may be one, so that the world may believe.

“…you do not have many fathers…” (1 Corinthians 4:15 NIV).

My father was an identical twin.

My grandparents named them Claude and Clyde. My grandmother said they were always close. They used to sleep in the crib with their arms around each other. As though they weren’t already carbon copies in appearance, my grandmother used to dress them alike too.

The twins often used this to their advantage. Like the time they fooled a girl friend. Or the time one brother fouled out of a basketball game and switched shirts with his twin in order to stay in the game because he had the “hot hand” that night.

My father, Claude Combs, passed away in November of 1966 at age 39. Yesterday, June 16, 2009, his twin brother, Clyde Combs, joined him at age 83.

For my father time has not passed. Heaven has no clocks. For his twin, 44 years have gone by. But yesterday, time became meaningless for both, as they were twins once again.

When I was a little boy, I used to confuse my Uncle Clyde for my Dad. I’d climb up into his lap and rest my head against his chest. Of course, he’d just go along. Patting me on the head.

Then, my Dad would walk up and say, “Who’s got you, son?”

I’d do a double take, looking from my father’s face to my uncle’s. They’d both laugh as Uncle Clyde would hand me to my Dad, usually while poking me in the ribs and making me giggle.

After my father died, that question, “Who’s got you, son?” held more meaning. Ultimately, I found my answer in our Heavenly Father. I learned to climb into His lap for comfort and encouragement. I have found that praying, “Our Father..” meets my every need.

Today, I pray that my Uncle Clyde’s children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren will be comforted by Our Father.

I also pray that two twin boys named Claude and Clyde are reunited once again.

“How happy are those who fear the Lord— all who follow his ways! You will enjoy the fruit of your labor… How rich your life! Your wife will be like a fruitful vine, flourishing within your home. And look at all those children!  There they sit around your table as vigorous and healthy as young olive trees. That is the Lord’s reward for those who fear him. May the Lord continually bless you … May you live to enjoy your grandchildren…” (Psalm 128:1-6 NLT).

Robin and I celebrated our 30-year anniversary last week. I surprised her with a trip to Niagra Falls (Sorry guys. I know this raises the bar for all of you.).

The whole time we were there I couldn’t get over how much God has blessed us. Our marriage, our children, our grandchildren, our church family, and the opportunity to get away and enjoy one another and God’s creation… I was overwhelmed.

While reading the One Year Bible entry earlier this week, I discovered a psalmist who must have have felt the same. He describes better than I can what experiencing God’s blessings over the past 30 years have been like.

Thank you God for “continually” blessing us!

“For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? Indeed, you are our glory and joy” (1 Thessalonians 2:19-20 NIV).

“Move that bus!” Shouts Ty Pennington, host of ABC’s show, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.

Ty shouts this now famous phrase inviting the crowd to join in each week, as they reveal the new home they have built for a needy family. If you’ve watched this show, it’s hard not to get a tear in your eye. They really do amazing things to give folks their dream home.

But it takes more than a house to make a home. As the Scripture says, “Unless the Lord builds the house the builders labor in vain” (Psalm 127:1).

The apostle Paul told the Thessalonian believers that they were his glory and joy. Why? Because he had labored among them like a parent, caring for them like a mother and leading them like a father. He was filled with joy because they had believed the Word he shared with them. He was overjoyed because they were his spiritual children, his godly legacy.

I’ve lived long enough now to understand how Paul felt. I’m starting to catch a glimpse at the home God is building… in my family and in our church. We have worked and struggled together, sometimes worrying how things would turn out. But our children are growing up. They are having children of their own. And as I listen to them I hear them sharing God’s Word with the next generation, just as we shared it with them.

I’m really starting to focus on passing on a godly legacy. All of my children and their spouses have placed their trust in Christ and are living lives as Christ-followers. Now, I’m a new grandfather and I’m starting to aim at my children’s children.

Would you join me in this? Let’s pass on a godly legacy. So, that someday when God says, “Move that bus!” We’ll stand as a family to cheer and worship Him for the home He has built for us.