Plan B

Kopp Disclosure

(John 3:19-21)

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"God is doing something good through everything that happens in the lives of the faithful.

If it seems slow, don't panic.  You will see!  In whatever meantime this is for you,

trust Him.  He has something better than you could ever imagine.  Trust Him!"

Habakkuk and Paul

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    I'll be in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania on May 30 - June 2.

    My mom's birthday is May 30.

    It's been 42 years since I was with my mom on her birthday.

    Come to think of it, I haven't been with my mom on Mother's Day for 42 years...or my mom, dad, and sister on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Easter Day or...for 42 years.

    Vocational hazard.

    Guys like me are supposed to make the season(s) "bright" for everybody else.

    We wouldn't think of missing...if we harbor any sense of job security.

    That's probably why I'll catch some flack for missing two last minute church calendar additions next week; though I've been planning to spend my mom's birthday with her for months...for the first time in 42 years.

    People say, in effect, to guys like me, "We want you to take care of your family; but you better not let any of their needs come before any of our needs."

    Yeah, I know lots of people will say that's not true; but it's true.

    Anybody doing what I do knows it's true.

    I'm not complaining; just reporting...and regretting.

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    I spent one Father's Day with my dad on June 19, 2008...in 42 years.

    I played golf with him on that day and got the only hole-in-one of my holy hacking career.

    Memorable.

    Treasured.

    I wonder how many...I've missed in the last 42 years.

    I'm not complaining.

    My home pastor - The Rev. Harold F. Mante (RIP) - explained all of this to me before college, seminary, ordination, and...

    I knew the script; and now I'm living it.

    I'm just reporting...and regretting.

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KU Law School L1 2016

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    I thought about that while helping Dan move from Coe to KU last week.

    Plan B.

    Law school.

    He had planned and worked so hard to become a professional football player.

    That ended on September 5, 2015.

    You can read more about the particulars by clicking on the September 6, 2015 edition of www.koppdisclosure.com.

    As Habakkuk and Paul predicted for everyone who trusts Jesus, Dan knows he is where he's supposed to be by God's providence.

    He's excited about Kansas University and becoming a lawyer.

    He believes he can honor God by being the best lawyer that he can become.

    He's not complaining about not becoming a professional football player.

    He knows God has something better in mind.

    He knows becoming a lawyer is God's best plan for him.

    Yet, he'd be lying if he said he doesn't muse every now and then about...

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    Regrets.

    Everybody's got 'em.

    When we drove with Dan to KU, some of mine came to mind.

    42 years of never spending any holiday or any...with my mom, dad, and sister.

    I talked about that with one of my newest and bestest friends over pseudo-Cubans not too long ago.

    I said I had...

    Then I said I wouldn't list my regrets for anyone because someone might be...

    After leaving Eugene and admitting I'm just scratching the surface of my relationship with God back in October 2011, I've lost the need to offend anyone anymore anytime about anything anywhere by intention.

    I'm saltier than ever before.

    I want to shine and leavenate for Jesus more than ever before.

    But I don't want to hurt anyone anymore anytime about anything anywhere.

    Winning and getting over and hurting by plan/lust/intention and the like have left me.

    So, for the most part, I'll keep the regrets to myself...or use 'em homiletically or therapeutically as needed/necessary.

    Too many regrets involve people who've been hurt by my omissions/commissions; and just mentioning 'em could tear at scabs and open old...

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    Eric Liddell comes to mind.

    He was an Olympic Gold Medallist at the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris.

    The movie about his life and early years of ministry - the 1981 Oscar-winning Chariots of Fire - continues to inspire so many of us; and I weep whenever I watch the last scenes of that movie as Liddell overcomes enormous odds in the race of his life because God calls and empowers people to be/do what He has in mind for them.

    Indeed, his life incarnates Isaiah 40; like all lives - like Dan's - who trust God in a Habakkukian and Pauline kinda way.

    Rent the film.

    You won't, uh, regret it.

    Anyway, as Liddell was reflecting on his journey to gold and the sacrifices to get there with a foreboding of sacrifices to come as a missionary, a friend asked if he had any regrets.

    He said, "Regrets, aye; but no doubts."

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    I have regrets.

    Many.

    But no doubts.

    That's why I'm more excited for life and ministry than ever before.

    Dan has regrets.

    Not as many as me because I've lived a lot longer.

    But no doubts.

    That's why he's so excited about law school and...

    Everyone has regrets.

    More or less.

    Inescapable.

    Overcoming regrets to doubtless calm comes with trusting God's providence...more than less.

    That's good news.

    Trust Him.

    He always has something better for everyone.

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Blessings and Love!

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Look up!  Stand up!  Speak up!  Act up for Jesus!

Salt!  Shine!  Leavenate!

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