May 2022

Each morning Finley, my grand-dog, and I take a walk. We head east for a little over a mile circling the neighborhood, checking out houses, remarking on landscaping (or lack of), and greeting other early risers. Most mornings we see the sun come up, listen to chirping birds and get free strokes (Finley, not me) from the elementary children as they go to school.

In the afternoon we head westward, doing the same loop in the opposite direction. The sounds, views, and kids are less exciting, although Finley enjoys terrorizing the ducks.

Last week Finley and I overheard one side of a very interesting exchange. We came upon a woman engrossed in a loud and intense conversation, “You are mature enough to make a decision about this.” And then she said it again with more force, “YOU are mature enough to make a decision about this.” Then she said. . . “NO! NO! LEAVE CHRISTIANITY OUT OF IT! You are mature enough to make this decision!!”

Well, with that cliffhanger, I did not want to miss the rest of this dialog. What could possibly be going on? Who was she talking to? And most importantly how can you leave Christianity out of anything?????

Unfortunately, this person was not okay with me tagging along and listening. So, grudgingly Finley and I continued. We had a whole lot to think and pray about.

As we meandered, I began to think maybe she was talking about bad Christianity. You know – the televangelists, false leaders, and even churches that are compromising the Gospel and God’s truth. Perhaps this woman had a bad church experience and/or maybe she’s been around so-called Christians who are acting in ways that are less than appealing and spreading false doctrine.

I don’t know.

What I do know is there is at least one person (and I suspect many more) who holds a negative view of Christianity and very likely does not know the transforming power of the Gospel. My friends, I am sad to say that our reputation as Christians is tarnished. Plain and simple, we’ve got issues. I think, and I am generalizing here, so cut me some slack, we are doing a lousy job of making the invisible God visible and we may or may not be speaking HIS truth boldly. The bottom line, we are not conducting ourselves in a manner that looks much different than the rest of this broken world. As believers, we are called to live lives that are holy and set apart, to follow Jesus, and to reflect His love to the world around us.

What I also know – and this is the key to it all - is that everything and I mean everything – every decision, every action, every thought, EVERYTHING we have or want or need or aspire to is important to God. God is the creator of the universe, He is the Alpha and Omega, and God is our number one priority. Period. Every decision we make should begin and end with God and His truth.

Thankfully, God gave us the Holy Spirit and His Word so that we do not have to figure things out on our own. As Tom frequently taught from 2 Tim 3:16-17, all scripture is inspired by God and is inerrant and infallible. The bible, God’s Word, tells us:
what is right – teaching,
what is not right – reproof,
how to get right – correction,
and, how to stay right – training and righteousness.

Here’s a link to Tom’s series “How to Find Meaning in a Collapsing World,” and his lesson from 2 Timothy 3:8-17 https://www.prioritylivingaz.org/audio-archives/2014/6/19/2-timothy-38-17

My friends, as we enter Spring and Summer, how about getting back to reading His Word – not just reading our favorite Christian authors, but opening up scripture and reading God’s Word? And, if you are still “attending” church online, I hope you will physically get back to church, surrounding yourself with Godly men and women.

It’s time to get back to Him and show the world that “Jesus is the way, the truth, the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)

Let’s not leave Him out of anything.

April 2022

How are you doing? No really, how are you? I ask because as I talk with people, young and old, worry, fear, and just all-around concern seem pervasive. Between the horrific situation in Ukraine, rising gas prices, increasing inflation, crazy outbursts, personal family issues, and the residual effects of the pandemic, it feels as though we are at a tipping point. Will things continue to get worse? Will they turn around? Is there light at the end of this tunnel?

Collectively, our overriding level of concern is high as we wait for the proverbial next shoe to drop. To be totally transparent with you, last month I had a couple of weeks filled with overwhelming stress about things that were not life-threatening, earth-shattering, or even terrible, but rather, had been over elevated in my mind. They – the worries and concerns - became HUGE and out of proportion to the situation. My need to control went into overdrive. Yet, really all I needed to do was sit back let things unfold naturally. And, of course, everything worked out better than I could have ever imagined. I share this because I don’t think I am alone. Uncertainty weighs heavily, a lot is happening in the world and our day-to-day stresses continue.

Recently I began taking art classes at the local community college. It has been fun to challenge my skills and learn new things. This week’s assignment is to create a visual picture with unusual scale and proportion. At its core, this means to mess with your head by making big things little and little things super big. It is to step outside of normal and make something abnormal in size. As I worked on my project, I started thinking that this is exactly what I have been doing with my concerns. I made them HUGE while thinking of God – the creator of the universe - as small, tiny, and impotent. In other words, I had the scale and proportion all wrong!

God is in control. God is still on the throne. God is aware of all that is happening in each of our lives personally. God sees near and far. He is omniscient. No matter what is going on, we take solace knowing that God is omnipotent.

As Tom would often say, “Everything that happens in your life is either caused by or allowed by God.” Tom’s statement works not only for our individual suffering and pain, but also collectively for us as members of our families, churches, and communities. God allows hardship, suffering and even pain for a myriad of reasons - ultimately reminding us that we are His children and fully dependent on Him.

For this month’s highlight, Tom did a lesson in 2006 entitled, “Don’t Waste Your Cancer” at https://www.prioritylivingaz.org/young-tom-audio-archives/2022/1/30/life-lessons-learned. On this particular day, Tom’s teaching was prompted by the author and teacher, John Piper. Piper wrote a letter on the eve of his cancer surgery. (I don’t want to spoil it, but John recovers. Piper is 76 years old and continues to teach, write, and share God’s word.) Please note: In the audio lesson, Tom mentions John Piper’s website and letter which can be found at https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/ten-ways-not-to-waste-your-cancer.

God wants to you go deeper with Him. He wants you to know Him better. Let’s get God in proper proportion and perspective in our hearts, mind, and lives. I can’t promise that what is causing your stress and/or suffering will get better, but looking toward, leaning on, and putting your hope in God will give you peace that surpasses all understanding.

PS: During the last couple of months, we’ve added a few of Tom’s early 2000 Priority Living lessons in the archive section on the Priority Living Arizona website. The new section “Young Tom Archives” can be found at https://www.prioritylivingaz.org/young-tom-audio-archives. Enjoy!

March 2022

Think small. These words are the antithesis of our world today. Shouldn’t we think BIG? Shouldn’t we be influencers with tens of thousands of followers? I mean really, if we are gonna do anything, shouldn’t we go for the gusto?

Well, maybe, but, more often than not, it’s probably more fruitful to go the old fashion route. Start where you are, do the slow patient labor of one task, one person, one focus as you form relationships, grow your family, build a career, and live life.

Take a few minutes to reflect back on the people who made a difference in your life. For me, my most profound memories are of family and friends who raised me, taught me, mentored me, and most importantly, rolled up their sleeves and hung with me when it was tedious, boring, and no reward was in sight.

Where am I going with this? Personal ministry. If you are like me, the pandemic altered many things. What I would have said was my ministry before March 2020 is now drastically different. My circles have become smaller, my weekly rhythms are completely new, and my priorities have changed.

Earlier this month I was listening to Tom’s Priority Living 2 Timothy 4:1-22 lesson at https://www.prioritylivingaz.org/audio-archives/2014/6/26/2-timothy-41-22 and it got me thinking. What is my ministry now? Who are the people I am pouring into in this season of life? What am I doing in my sphere of influence to share the Gospel? How am I making the invisible God visible and speaking the truth boldly?

I have a lot of questions and not a lot of answers. Maybe you do too. How did the pandemic change your rhythms? Who are the people in your life these days? Are you ministering to them or they to you? Do you believe that the small, seemingly ordinary, and insignificant moments of life have no consequence? In God’s Kingdom, they are HUGE. He sees everything you do. He knows your heart. He knows YOU – past, present, and future. Inside and out.

In 2 Timothy 4:6-7, Paul gives a quick assessment of his life; “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” Paul fought, finished, and kept. He completed his ministry, and its effects continue to this day. His daily choices led to a life lived for Christ.

I hope you’ll reexamine, refresh, and reorient yourself to the ministry God has given you.

Think small. Be steadfast, consistent, and persevere. It is in the tiny, quiet moments that life is lived. Your ordinary will be extraordinary in God’s Kingdom.

February 2022

I was at the gym the other day and heard the following lyrics in a Hip Hop song,

“I try to be everything that I can
But sometimes I come out as bein' nothin'”

In our world of anything and everything, I think maybe we are ending up, more often than not, with nothing. Many of us have so much. In fact, we have everything; we do everything; we “are” everything and yet it just isn’t enough. We take good things and sprinkle them with the illusion that more is always better. We seek bigger, better, faster, and wonder why we are exhausted.

The good things God has blessed us with – food, possessions, money, hobbies, vacations, etc. have become the ultimate. Again and again, we fall for the trap that once we achieve “X” or purchase “Y” we will be content.

Guess what? We won’t. Usually, we end up feeling emptier than before. We end up with . . .  NOTHING. 

What we need is less. NOT having everything is good.

Limits are good. 

Boundaries are good. 

Since the beginning of time, our gracious and loving God has given us boundaries and a framework to live fully in Him. In Genesis 2:16-17, Adam and Eve were told they can eat from any tree except the tree of life. “And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.”

As the Israelites wandered forty years in the desert, God gave Moses the Ten Commandments.

In the New Testament Jesus gives us parables, lessons, and examples of how to follow Him. “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.“ John 14:6.

Think of the fish in the sea. Yes, they CAN jump out of the water, but they won’t last long. God’s best for them is to stay in and enjoy the water. 

Having everything and being everything is just not going to make us happy. One of Tom’s favorite lessons to teach was contentment. And to be honest, in Tom’s last couple of months, he WAS content.  Tom would frequently tell me that he had no regrets; Tom had done and seen all he dreamed and there wasn’t a thing Tom would change if he had life to do all over again.

Tom had it figured out. Tom was content. His was a life well-lived. I hope you’ll click into one of Tom’s contentment lessons:

• https://www.prioritylivingaz.org/audio-archives/2018/11/7/learn-to-be-content (Recorded a few months before Tom took his first breath in heaven)

• https://www.prioritylivingaz.org/audio-archives/2017/2/23/the-truth-behind-the-see-through-suit (Tom’s series in Ecclesiastes, 2017)
  

In closing, several decades ago I overheard a pastor’s wife commenting on her husband’s new red sports car. She said, “You know, I told my husband, if we are gonna make it through this midlife crisis of yours, you can either get a red sports car or (fill in the blank.) But if you wanna keep ME around, you better choose the red sports car.”

Once again, choices are good. Limits are good. God is good.

Let’s stop the madness. Turn to Him. Prioritize God as the center of your life and be obedient to His word. He’ll show you what you actually “need.”

His best is always better.

January 2022

Happy new year! I hope your Christmas was truly a time of joy. I marvel at the excitement we have, regardless of our age, for the holidays and the “something special” of Christmas. We, as Christians, know that the true something special is the reconciliation, peace, and hope that baby Jesus gifted us that first Christmas.

And now, as 2021 has come to an end, I find myself reflecting on God – not only the loving, caring God that sent his son Jesus to be born and die for our sins - but GOD, the Creator of the universe, the ONE true God – omnipotent, omniscient, all being, all-powerful God.

I don’t know about you, but I think somehow in the last few months (or perhaps the last year or two) I seem to have forgotten how big and powerful God is. It isn’t that I have had a faith crisis, but rather, between COVID, political upheavals, societal changes, unemployment, inflation, supply chain issues, and all the “he said, she said” in the media and beyond, I think I lost touch with the fact that God is in control, He is sovereign, and He reigns over ALL. He is the Alpha and Omega. God is the one true God.

Somehow, amid so many day-to-day things, I found myself relating to Jesus as a person while omitting the fact that Jesus came to earth, fully man AND fully GOD.

I’ve been ignoring the GOD part.

The powerful part.

The sovereign part.

The God, the Creator of the universe part.

I have been making God smaller while making man, our world, and my worries bigger. I have been thinking of God in my image, instead of the fact that I am made in His image. . .

He is the potter; I am the clay.

And so, whether or not you are a new year’s resolution person, maybe you’ll join me this year by getting back to the bigness of God – the awe, the wonder, the “woe to me, for I am undone” praise of God the Almighty. To get us started here’s a lesson from Tom in his Who is This? series is entitled “God, Savior, King” shown below.

January 13 will mark the 3rd anniversary of Tom’s first breath with Jesus. How amazing is it that God is still using Tom’s teaching to share His love and truth with so many? In the last three years, thousands of listeners have clicked into Tom’s lessons on the Priority Living website at https://www.prioritylivingaz.org/archives, countless bible-study and small church groups continue to use Tom’s lesson series for their discussions, and several churches throughout the US are utilizing Tom’s series “God’s Plan for Salvation” to lead their congregations. Is God powerful or what? Amazing!

On a personal note, for me, although the bittersweet acceptance of Tom’s passing eases with each year, I must admit that I miss him more each day. . . and I know many of you do too.

But God. He gives us His peace and comfort each passing day. All praise to Him.

As we begin this new year, I hope you will join me in gratitude and praise to God. He is our Lord and Savior. He is good. Always.

December 2021

It's official!  The holidays are here. 

As of today, Thanksgiving, leftover turkey, and Black Friday are distant memories. Thanksgiving at the Shrader house was a time of family, many, many blessings, and too much food. Although Thanksgiving and Tom’s November birthday are bittersweet reminders of how much we miss Tom, God continues to love, bless, and guide us as His children. All Praise be to God!

I hope that your Thanksgiving was full of family, new and old traditions, friends, and sweet times.

Now that it is December, I find myself grappling with the truth of God sending His one and only son, Jesus, in the form of tiny baby, fully man and yet still fully God, to be born in humbleness and humility and to live on this messy, broken earth with us.

“For God so loved the world that he gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

It is a lot to think about and, from a human perspective, it makes no sense. 

Tom always talked about the fact that you can’t separate Christmas from Easter. God sent His son Jesus to be born AND to die. For us. The very first Christmas, when Jesus was born, was just the beginning. Thirty+ years later, Jesus did the ultimate. His act of self-sacrifice conquered death while reconciling us with God.

Think about that. . . Jesus came off His throne to be born in the form of a human, to live a perfect life, and to die a death He did not deserve. For us.

Okay, if we have been around the Christian block a few times, we know this, so what’s up?

Well, this year, I have struggled to be grateful and content with the MANY blessings God has given. In the last year, I have had more moments of “Really?” “How come?” or “Is that it?” then I want to count. I have been frustrated, all too often, because things aren’t the way I think they should be.

I hope my sharing isn’t too much for you. . .  I know, I am spoiled and ungrateful.

In 2000, Tom taught a lesson entitled “Light of the World #1” at https://www.prioritylivingaz.org/audio-archives/2019/6/8/light-of-the-world-1. In this powerful audio lesson, Tom talks about how as Christians we are to be light in the world, reflecting the love of Christ. We are called to be different and set apart, sharing love, truth, and grace with those around us. I hope you’ll take time to listen and enjoy hearing “young” Tom.   

Back to me. This December, I am setting my heart and mind on God, His truth, His love, and His son, Jesus. Because, without Him, I have nothing. So, whether I am at home with my grand-dog, Finley, or out in the world;    

• Instead of complaining, I’ll thank God.

• Instead of being frustrated, I’ll be content with things exactly as they are.

• Instead of being self-absorbed, I’ll love those around me, finding ways to care and serve.

• Instead of being prideful, I’ll remember Jesus has done it ALL.

• Instead of focusing on me, I will focus on God and His saving grace.

I hope you will join me. This is the perfect season for us to step up and make the invisible God visible for all to see.  Together, let’s be the light of the world and shine brightly!

November 2021

Can you believe it is November already? It seems as if November came immediately after the longest summer ever. And, well, now Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Day and commotion, expectations, and stress!

Oops, I am getting ahead of myself.

Isn’t it funny how time seems to move in fits and starts? Just last weekend (which was BEFORE Halloween) at our family dinner, Harmony, grandchild #7, attempted to convince the whole family to begin decorating for Christmas. In a unified voice, we protested and collectively agreed that the “proper” time for Christmas decorating is the day AFTER Thanksgiving – Right?!?!!!!

The next day, as my dog, Finley and I took our evening walk, our neighborhood association’s lights and decorations were up in full force.

So much for waiting until after Thanksgiving . . . They clearly agree with Harmony.

I am not sure if I understand the fluidity of holidays anymore. Maybe, at some emotional level, we all just NEED an early Christmas, or is it that we are simply impatient? I don’t know.

I could get caught up in all the mess about whether the retailers are prompting us to buy early and therefore more, or maybe it’s the economists telling us to prepare for supply chain shortages, or maybe, just maybe, this is all of us admitting the last couple of years have been REALLY difficult and we are more than ready for some good cheer. I don’t know.

But, hey, what I do know is no matter what time of year, every one of us has a lot in which to be grateful and we need to stop and give thanks.

Yep. Even those of us who have had a really BAD year, or two, or three . . .

Why?

Because God is still God. He is still on the throne. He is GOOD. He cares. He is all-powerful. He is all-knowing. He is Lord and Savior. And He loves us.

As Tom struggled more and more with his health, he resonated more and more with Psalm 23 – not about dying - but rather about God’s complexity, blessings, and assurances, which are written beautifully in this wonderful psalm. Tom loved to teach Psalm 23 because it is filled with the promises of God’s abundance of love, peace, and provision.

You see, we don’t need a new sweater, more lights for the tree, or even an early Christmas.

We need Jesus.

As Tom used to say, “We study the Word of God to know the God of the Word.” Please take time today – maybe right now – to get to know the God of the Word.

He is ALL you need.

Here is a link to Tom’s teaching on Psalm 23 at Redemption Gateway. “Pray to the God Who is Your Shepherd (Psalm 23)” on Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/172350807?ref=em-share

I hope as you and your family sit down for your Thanksgiving meal later this month, you’ll thank God for all He has given you. His blessings are abundant. He cares deeply and He unconditionally loves His children.

And, give a wink to Tom as we celebrate his earthly birthday on November 29. I bet Tom will be having quite the football feast in heaven with Jesus!

Go Hawks!

October 2021

Tom loved to teach. Even in his last few months, when he could hardly walk and mostly slept through the day, Tom looked forward to teaching Priority Living or the occasional Sunday. As Tom walked up to the podium to share God’s word, he would transform into a younger man and his pain became nearly non-existent. Teaching God’s word put him on the mountain top and, oh, how God used Tom in extraordinary ways! 
 
But what about all the other moments in Tom’s life?  What about the daily grind, the boring – the vast majority of his time? Yep, Tom’s life was full of common, everyday minutes of seemingly mundane nothingness. In other words, Tom’s life was pretty ordinary. 
 
Now that I am back in Phoenix and getting into my groove, I find that I am conscious of the obscure, insignificant, little things that make up my days, my weeks . . . my life.  And then, I begin to wonder if they really matter. Do all those million little things that you and I do each and every day make a difference? 
 
Brushing our teeth,
Having coffee,
Putting the dishes in the dishwasher,
Taking out the trash,
Sorting through the mail,  
Glancing at emails,
Clicking into our phones for everything and anything,
Watching TV,
And on and on and on . . .
 
Do they matter?  YES! 
 
Why? Because it is in these moments, the seemingly irrelevant nothings, that God does amazing things. It is in these moments that the Holy Spirit speaks to us in quiet whispers. It is in these moments we demonstrate obedience and faithfulness. It is in these moments we learn endurance and perseverance. It is in these moments we live out our gratitude for all Jesus has done for us. It is in these moments that we are salt and light in the world.
 
The obscure, the insignificant, the mundane – these, my friends, are the moments that show our character and who we truly are, as a child of the One, True, God. And God uses these nothings in mighty ways.    
 
Like when Moses was tending sheep and God spoke through the burning bush.
 
Like when the angel came to Mary to tell her she would bear a Son.
 
Like when in 2004, as I was driving in St Louis, Missouri and Jesus became my Lord and Savior.

Like when Tom went to a lunchtime bible study taught by Larry Wright and God changed the trajectory of Tom’s life. 
 
It’s in the ordinary that we see how big God really is. It is in the ordinary that we live out our faith in Jesus. It is in the ordinary that we show our character - the thoughts, the actions, the choices we make when we think no one is looking. It is in the ordinary that we demonstrate what it is to be an ambassador for God.  
 
This January will mark three years since Tom took his first breath with Jesus. Tom’s teaching is greatly missed. But, for me and our family, it is the million little things Tom did, day in and day out, that we miss the most. We miss Tom’s quirks, his wit, his unique way of seeing humanity.  We miss the ordinary, the everyday that showed Tom’s heart, personality, and most importantly, Tom’s love for Jesus. Tom’s million moments added up to a life lived for God’s glory.   
 
Although I have shared this link before, here’s a link to Tom’s very last teaching in 2018.  It is so amazing to see Tom teach God’s word in the midst of his pain. Tom also talks about the ordinary days of slugging it out; https://scottsdalebible.com/messages/shepherds/  (Jamie introduces Tom at 24:35 mins)
 
How about you? Do your million little moments line up and shout – I am a child of God? Do they all come together in praise for God, His grace, and His gift of life through Jesus? Maybe it is time to start today by;

• taking a minute to respond to an email or text with a simple, “Hey! You are pretty special!”

• sending a card to someone, even if they never send you one back.

• setting down your phone and actually having a conversation.

• calling that friend you haven’t spoken to in a while.

• taking a minute to thank God for all He has given you.

 
You know, if right here, right now, we strive for His kingdom by doing all our million mundane things for His glory, we could transform the world – making it like heaven on earth.

September 2021

How long has it been since you shook up your daily routines?

Tom was a creature of habit. He liked to do the same thing over and over again. He would wake up and have a set routine each day, each week, each season. Tom called it “mastering the mundane”.

Routines take the guesswork away. Routines are good. Routines get us into a groove and simplify our lives. Routines keep us in our comfortable, happy space.  

When was the last time you stepped out of your comfort zone?

Let’s flip this over because many times, discomfort teaches us more than comfort.
Sometimes, routines prevent us from seeing things differently. Sometimes they get in the way of helping others. Sometimes we cling to our routine at the expense of stepping out.

Sometimes they make everything a little too perfect and we avoid spiritual growth.

Often, our comfort and prosperity get in the way of our dependence on God. When we have everything and all is in perfect order, we tend to minimize God’s place in our lives; we fail to flourish as His children. The opportunity cost of staying in our happy little rut might just be preventing us from something better.   

That something better might be just what God wants for you and from you.    

A few weeks ago, I packed up my car and my dog, Finley, and I began a journey to see my family in the Midwest. This trip is a vacation, but not a “drop everything and relax in some beautiful place with no worries or cares” type of vacation. This vacation is a break from my habits and routines. I was in a rut, a rut that was safe and comfy and happy, but a rut, nonetheless.

So, here I am in the Midwest, and it is humid, grungy and I am outside of my comfort zone. It is good.  Very good. I’ve been in communities that can only be seen on a road trip, meeting new people and visiting friends, and I’m gaining an appreciation for simple things – a good cup of coffee, a friendly face, an interesting historic marker. I’ve stepped out, discovered how to be present again, and am seeing God work in me and through me. And, without all my normal distractions and routines, I can see Him more fully too. His nature, His artistry, and His love. God is reminding me to listen (and hear) Him.

Years ago, Tom did a lesson, “Mistaking Control for Ownership” as part of his Dumb Mistakes and How to Avoid Them series. https://www.prioritylivingaz.org/audio-archives/2017/11/2/mistaking-control-for-ownership In this lesson, Tom sheds light on God’s many nuances and our response to Him in our daily lives. Tom reminds us to step back and look to God, knowing He is in control.
 
So, how about you?  Are you in a routine that, although good, may be getting in the way of better? Maybe it is time to clear your calendar, switch up your routines and take some time to do something different (or differently!) and see God anew. Maybe it’s time to:

• take your walk in the opposite direction

• have a day without “screens” - TV, phone or tablet

• change your alarm and sleep in (or wake early and watch the sun rise!)

• call someone instead of texting

• sit in a different seat at church

• just take time to listen

I hope in the next few weeks you’ll step out, linger, look, and listen.

His mercies are new every morning.  

I bet He has a lot to show you. 

August 2021

Tom and I were opposites in many ways.

For example, when Tom wasn’t teaching, he was the KING of doing nothing. He really, truly could do NOTHING for days on end. Tom was perfectly content with no agenda or schedule. Tom always said he didn’t do anything in moderation. He was right. When Tom rested, he was ALL in.

On the other hand, I am not good at rest. When I was little, I despised taking naps. Being the youngest of four in a family that was always on the move, I was convinced that while I was resting my siblings were having the time of their lives! Silly, right?

I like to be busy. I like to be doing something. I like to cram so much into every waking hour that I feel accomplished and exhausted when I go to sleep at night. Clearly, I’ve got a little bit of Martha in me. I think everything is up to me.

You see, while I am on the hamster wheel, multi-tasking and juggling too many things, the first thing that leaves my schedule is my quiet time with God. I begin to shorten prayers. I spend less time reading scripture and I fill my calendar up with a whole bunch of silly stuff. I get caught up in the news, the emails, the trend setters, and the busyness of today’s culture - 24 hours a day, 365 days per year.

It isn’t good. It doesn’t give me an “edge” over the competition. It does NOT make me better or smarter or earn favor with anyone – especially not with God. It just makes me exhausted. I become further away from God, His provision, His blessings, His care, and His purpose for me.

I need to channel a little bit of Tom. He was really good at saying “no” to people and things outside of his God-given purpose and skills. Tom didn’t sit on boards, he rarely travelled internationally and Tom turned down a lot of teaching, speaking and preaching opportunities so that he had time for God, family and friends. Tom knew that saying “no” was better than engaging in things he didn’t do well, took him off focus, or didn’t allow him to flourish. Tom wasn’t about building a name or a vast network for himself, Tom was about consistently sharing God’s truth, shepherding God’s people and loving those around him.

Fifteen years or so ago Tom did a 4 week series entitled “Fundamentals of Faith” https://www.prioritylivingaz.org/audio-archives/2007/7/12/fundamentals-of-faith-part-1 The series is vintage Tom as he puts so many things into proper perspective. I hope you’ll take some time this month to listen to the series. I know you will enjoy it.

Tom knew how to prioritize, focus, AND rest. God gave us rest - Sabbath time - so that we didn’t get all crazy with our schedules, elevate our work or ourselves and fail to remember that all we have is from God. We were made to be dependent on Him.

If you are drowning in busyness, stress and burning the candle at both ends, maybe, just maybe, you have a bunch on your plate that isn’t yours to do. God promises to give us exactly enough time, talent, and energy for what He has called us to do.

Rest. Take a load off and breathe. It is not all up to you. He’s got this.

July 2021

Happy 4th of July! I’ve been in Arizona for 15 years and it still seems surreal that humans can actually live in the desert, especially when temps surpass 115 degrees before July 1. Thank goodness for air conditioning, siestas and fudgesicles.

In a strange way I find comfort in the fact that Arizona summers are still miserably hot. If nothing else, this is a reminder there are still some “constants” in this world. I’m not sure if you have noticed, but in March of 2020 the world shifted and, in one way or another, every one of us has been affected. For some, the last 15 months have been full of loss – jobs, way of life, people we love, finances, or confidence that we have things under control. For others, it has been a season of being overwhelmed with too much work, too much stress and not enough help or supplies to get in front of the curve. For me, I used to feel resilient and strong. I was ready to conquer anything. Now, I am not so sure. I feel a bit unmoored.

I have changed.
People have changed.
Communities have changed.
Our nation has changed.
The world has changed.

But not God. He is still the ONE true God. The more I spend time with Him, the less confused I feel. As Tom would say, “What you know trumps what you feel.” Which is exactly right. What I know is God. “My hope is rooted in the character of God, the promises of God, the sovereignty of God and the faithfulness of God.”

What I don’t know is what tomorrow will bring as I wait for the next shoe to drop. And that is unnerving. Yet, maybe, just maybe, this past year was exactly what was needed to be more dependent on Him and really LIVE out our faith by immediately responding to His promises and commands. And now, it is time to step out and be a “doer” of His word, living confidently because God has saved us, changing our destination from hell to heaven and our designation from sinner to saint.

In Tom’s series in the book of James, Tom did a message entitled, “Faith Without Works is Dead.” Salvation is a gift from God to man and we don’t need to “earn” it, but then, as a response to God’s grace, we GET to show those around us how God has made us new.

Think about that.

How would your micro-world look differently if you really and truly lived out your faith?

Do you live confidently knowing He has taken care of your every need?

God the Father. God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. He has not changed.

His promises have not changed.

His love for us has not changed.

His provision, His daily bread, has not changed.

His Sovereignty has not changed.

God’s truth is exactly what we need as we navigate the new normal of 2021. Let’s show the world in tangible ways how our faith in Jesus sets us apart. I dare you.

June 2021

My grand-dog, Finley, isn’t too bright.

Three months ago, I installed a doggy door. Although Finley goes in and out the doggy door quite a few times each day, he won’t go in or out without my prompting. In my mind, the purpose of the doggy door is for Finley to go inside or outside whenever he wants. In Finley’s mind, not so. Finley sits at the door and whines until I give the command “Finley–Inside!” or “Finley-Outside!” and more often than not, he waits to see me on the other side of the doggie door before he will go through.

I‘ve tried everything!

I have stubbornly left Finley outside/inside hoping he’ll use the door on his own.

I have tried pushing Finley through the door.

I have had the grandkids stand on both sides encouraging Finley.

I have given Finley treats and praise.

Now, more than 90 days later, I have decided Finley is not the sharpest tool in the shed.

Hmmm. when it comes to my faith walk, I might be more like Finley than I want to admit.

God saved me in April 2004. God took my worldly, sinful, depressing, unfulfilled “black and white” life and turned it technicolor. God changed me, my heart, my intentions, my goals, and my destination. With God, everything became SO much better. God gave me life. I was on fire for the Lord!

But since then, how many times do I sit at the door, unwilling to embrace all that He has for me? God sent His one and only son, Jesus, to atone for my sins. He made me a co-heir with Christ. He gives me the peace that surpasses all understanding. He will never leave me or forsake me. But still. . .

How many times do I stop short of His riches and concoct something on my own that is merely good enough?

I fail to trust that He has so much more for me.

How many times do I whine, complain, and rebel as I seek earthly people, places, or things believing they will make me happy and fulfilled?

God has already and will continue to give me everything I will ever need.

How many times do I try to take the easy way out, cut corners and fall for the “get rich quick” schemes?

His ways are always better.

Am I just too dim to get it?

In John 10:10, Jesus tells us “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.” The “they” in this verse is us, you and me, and all who would say Jesus is their Lord and Savior. Years ago Tom did a lesson titled “the Principle of Faith” in his Recovery Our Lost Legacy series that talks about all that God gives us as believers.

The Principle of Faith - From the Recovering Our Lost Legacy Series

Jesus doesn’t just give us life. He gives us life to the FULL. As believers, we have heaven on earth. Right here, right now. Yes, there is brokenness. Yes, there is disease and hurt and pain. Life is hard. BUT God gives us the power to endure, prosper and be His ambassadors in the midst of our crazy world. He gives us His love, peace, and joy.

Will you walk through the door and embrace all that God has for you?

Here and now. God has His best for you. He sent Jesus to give us life, life to the full. Will you accept Him as your Lord and Savior? Will you live each day joyfully knowing God is good and He has you? Always.

May 2021

Tom used to say that he really knew how to do nothing. It wasn’t that Tom was lazy, but rather that he excelled at doing NOTHING. Tom could, for days at a time, do nothing. Really. This is not hyperbole. Tom had a gift for this. And you know what?  God used that gift in way that was extraordinary for you and me. 

Say what?!?

Day after day, month after month, year after year, Tom did the ordinary “nothings” of life.  Each day was pretty simple and straightforward.  Tom taught God’s word and God’s truth to you and me. Tom was steadfast. Tom was consistent. God used this special quality of Tom’s – the gift of being able to remain content and joyful in the midst of the mundane, routine, and seemingly inconsequential moments of life – to teach, explain, and most importantly, to demonstrate God’s love for each one of us.

Think about that. In today’s world of instantaneous everything why would God choose to slowly and steadily woo people to Him through an ordinary guy living an ordinary life? Why not just find some influencers with millions of followers? There must be some gimmick to increase the open rate and convert followers faster. . . right?  Maybe God should just send a tweet?  That would be more efficient and effective.  Get on it!

God is patient.

It isn’t always about the racetrack or mountain top experiences, but rather, the day after day in the valley, in the minutiae, in the mundane. It’s the daily grind.  

God is right there with us.

It is in the boring, repetitive, simple daily routines – the vast majority of our time on earth – that we show the world who Jesus is. We demonstrate to the world that there is something better and someone who is bigger than all the brokenness, disease and pain. 

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

Both salt and light are pretty mundane, yet, when used at the right time, they are extraordinary. God has us here to be salt and light - to share the hope and truth of Jesus.

Jesus is the way, the truth, the life. 

Several years ago, Tom taught a lesson on this from 1 Thessalonians 4:

1 Thessalonians - 11/27/11

It is in the everyday moments that we reflect His love, His grace, His truth to those around us.

Yesterday I had a tender afternoon with an old friend. She was worried about her husband who was having some tests run. It was a real conversation. These were real feelings. This was an ordinary exchange of words. Yet, instead of rushing, swiping through my phone, or moving on to the next ‘important’ thing, it was incredible to just simply sit, listen and share time with a dear friend.

Some might call it nothing, but I call it everything.

How about you? As you are heading back “into” life after COVID, are you making time for the small, unrushed, seemingly insignificant things of daily life? Are you flourishing in the ordinary nothings or standing back waiting to really “do” something?

As the saying goes, most of us overestimate what we can do in a day and underestimate what we can do in a lifetime.

I hope you’ll make time for the nothings.

April 2021

This Easter as we celebrate Christ’s victory over sin and death, I am reminded of past Easters growing up in the Midwest. For me, Easter marked the end of the winter thaw, or more positively, the beginning of Spring. Even if there still was snow on the ground or blustery weather, Easter brought hope of a new season - a season of flowers, sunshine, and warmth. Now in Arizona, Easter is traditionally a joyous morning of celebrating Christ’s resurrection, followed by a big family meal and then, years ago, in the evening, Tom would start working on our summer travel plans. Tom loved to escape the Phoenix heat and relax in a cooler climate. If possible, he would arrange speaking opportunities and vacation days for the full 8 or 9 weeks between July 1 and Labor Day. Once he started planning, Tom could hardly wait to pack up and get out of town!

I love how God gives us natural seasons and rhythms for our lives. Last year as COVID began, I found myself grasping for rhythms and routines. I don’t know about you, but for me, it took quite awhile to settle into what became new habits and schedules. Now, here we are a full year later and things are finally opening and getting back to “normal”.

I have a question for you.

How is your spiritual health? Are you feeling close to Jesus these days? Are you spiritually dry?

I have been contemplating this lately. For me, the many changes that COVID brought about created what feels like a spiritual fast; corporate worship became different, zoom bible studies left me with computer eyes, and my sisters and brothers in faith seemed far away.

And then, it hit me. I realized that my faith walk needs structure too! I need a routine - a habit that keeps me in check and close to Him. And so, this Lent I began a daily study in the bible each day – reading, breathing, and reflecting. What a joy it is to feel the pages and read His words. And, bonus! I get to see Tom’s handwriting on the pages of one of his bibles.

Now back to you. How are you doing? Have you had similar thoughts as you and your family endured the many months of this strange season? What do you think about doing a weekly Tom study again? Or maybe the next best thing?

I think we can help. The Priority Living board and I decided to create a weekly study for you to sink into God’s word through Tom’s teaching. We’ll start today with Tom’s lesson on Philippians 1:1-2. Here are the links to the audio message and study guide.

Philippians 1:1-2 - Session #1

Study Guide

And then, for the next eleven Wednesdays, you’ll receive an email with the featured audio lesson and study guide with questions. Tom’s audio lesson will be full of his wit, Shraderisms and God’s truth. The study guide questions will help you reflect, contemplate, and apply Tom’s lesson to your heart, home life, work life and community. I think it is the best of both worlds – Tom’s lessons and today’s questions!

This study in the book of Philippians is perfect for the season. In this study, Tom focuses on the joy we have in Christ - which is definitely something we all need these days. I hope you will enjoy it as much as we have in preparing the studies for you. In the coming weeks, I pray you will fall into a new routine of listening and interacting with Tom’s study. Please send me your thoughts and comments.

For now, happy Easter! May this Easter begin a new season of joy, peace, and celebration of God’s many blessings for you and your family.

March 2021

Last week Serena Williams lost to Naomi Osaka in the semifinals of the Australia Open. In and of itself, this is not extraordinary news. Simply noting the ages of the players – Osaka, 23 and Williams, 39 – Osaka was favored for the win. Yet, Williams is tough and an amazing athlete by all standards - why let a thing like age get in the way of a win? Here’s what is extraordinary – Williams lost and summed up the competition in this way, “It was a big error day for me today.”  

Wow! I can’t remember the last time I heard such honesty and unabashed humility. Serena’s candid response, “It was a big error day for me today” deserves a HUGE round of applause. Thank you Serena. Thank you for your honesty. Thank you for your gentleness. Thank you for your self-control. Thank you for doing what we should be doing every moment of every day - accurately and humbly assessing, while taking responsibility for, our actions, thoughts, and words. Serena did not blame, complain, or avoid reality, she told it like it was. She had a rough day on the tennis court. Serena’s humble words make her a champion in my book. 

Here in Arizona, the nice weather allows for small outdoor gatherings and a little normalcy. While it feels good to be out and engaging with others, it seems like people are cranky. Rather than being grateful and delighting in friendships and community, I sense pent-up bitterness and hostility. Do you think we are still simmering over the toilet paper hoarding from last year?

Where is the joy?  What happened to living life in harmony with others? Did we become ungrateful creatures during COVID? Has pride and selfishness gone untethered for too many months?

I get it. It isn’t natural to think of others first, to be kind, to show mercy or gentleness. The goal of the world is self-fulfillment, self-glory, self-satisfaction, and all that other “self” stuff.  The flesh – us in our human state- is at war with God. We can’t serve two masters. We are either serving ourselves or we are serving God.  Several years ago Tom did a powerful lesson from the book of James on this entitled, “Warning against Worldliness”. 

If we are honest, we try to serve ourselves first and then ask God to assist us with our plans. I know I do this. I know my heart and motives are selfish, and I also know when I turn to God and ask Him to help me see clearly, He does. Studying His word, walking with Him, and seeking Him gets me back to where I should be, in right relationship with Him, serving and glorifying Him.

Yep. We need Jesus. He gives us the power to be kind, patient, and loving to others when we don’t think we can. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23)

What if, in preparation for Easter, we spend the next few weeks asking God to:

• help us put aside our pride and selfishness and turn to Him, seeking His motives, instead of our own?

• show us the darkness in our own hearts, help us repent, turning from sin to Him and His kingdom?

• give us the ability to be more loving, kind and to display the fruit of the Spirit in ALL we do?

Just think of the joy you’ll bring to those around you!

“How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!” (Psalm 133.1)

February 2021

“God doesn’t want you to be happy,
God wants you to be obedient.”
Tom Shrader

I’ve been reminded of this quote from Tom a lot lately, likely because there just seems to be a whole bunch of people out there that are not happy these days. I am not going to even begin to extrapolate “why”, but I am sure it has to do with this extended period of social distancing, masks, politics, social tensions, remote working, and the general malaise that most of us feel after months and months of stress and disruption.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I am not saying (nor was Tom) that God doesn’t care. God IS caring and is ALWAYS good, but happiness (verses joy, peace, contentment, etc.) was not high on God’s list for His children. You see, God has something much bigger planned for us. He has a role for us in HIS story and His story stretches out over centuries.

We think of our finite lifetime, whereas God gives us eternity.

We think about fleeting and instantaneous happiness, whereas God gives us everlasting joy.

We think about making the most of our lives, whereas God reconciles and redeems our souls into right relationship with Him.

We love our temporal world, whereas God offers us eternal life with Him. “We look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” (2 Corinth 4:18)

Umm, where are you going with this and what does this have to do with anything? I’ve got bills to pay, work to do and well, stuff. . .

Why am I going down this road? I have been listening to Tom’s six-session series on Jonah https://www.prioritylivingaz.org/audio-archives/2015/5/7/introduction-to-jonah and was reminded “there is a little bit of Jonah in all of us.”

Jonah didn’t want to listen to God.

Jonah thought he could run away and hide from God.

Jonah didn’t want to save the people of Nineveh.

Jonah was angry that God was merciful and patient with the Ninevites.

Jonah thought he knew better than God.

Yep. There IS a little bit of Jonah in all of us. We think we know better than God.
News Flash: We don’t!

God is waiting for us. To be obedient. To turn to Him. To seek Him above everything else. And, like God’s call to Jonah, God commands us to share His love, grace, and mercy with a world that is angry and unhappy. God is calling you, His child, to share the Gospel and His grace with those across the aisle, with those who disagree with us, with those who are HARD to love, and even with those we think are beyond redemption.

Yes, with THEM.

You can do this. I am sure. Because I know God. As His children, He gives us the ability to love in every context of our lives, including our homes, churches, workplaces, communities, neighborhoods, financial choices, words, and actions. We can do this because He first loved us, and He profoundly loves us now.

Will you be obedient to what and whom He has called you?

Will you join with Him in His bigger story?

He is exactly what this broken world needs right now. He is the joy you are looking for.

January 2021

Happy New Year! Several years ago, for our anniversary, Tom and I went to our favorite steakhouse to commemorate God’s blessings in our marriage. As we sat down, the waitress said, “Are we celebrating a special occasion?” Tom responded, “I’ll have iced tea.” After she walked away, Tom remarked how unfriendly she had been. You see, at that particular point in time, Tom’s hearing was almost non-existent. Unable to hear, Tom filled in the script with his own version of what was happening. Yet, the reality was very different. As I did my best to explain what had happened, (Tom couldn’t hear me either – LOL) we had a good laugh. 

I share this because I fear we all, during this season of COVID and social distancing, have fallen prey to our own echo-chambers. We pay attention to TV programs, podcasts, news, family, and friends that reinforce our own thoughts, beliefs, and preferences. Say what? No way!

Well, not being a professional in human behavior and social sciences, I will simply give you my impressions of current trends in eliminating unfavorable situations, opinions, and commentaries.  And, I might just sprinkle in some things I have caught myself doing (Ouch!) which contribute to my self-reinforced and very one-sided conversations (with myself): 

• COVID: Successful navigation during the pandemic has resulted in spending less time in community and more time in our own homes surrounded by our selected ‘pod’ of people.

• Facebook and Social Media: Don’t like what people are posting on Facebook? Unfriend and you will no longer have to read their posts anymore.

• Television: Don’t like what you are seeing on Fox News, CNN or the prime-time channels? That’s okay. Change stations. There are a zillion other channels and at least one will share your viewpoint.

• Personalized shopping and web surfing: Looking for a blender? Air fryer? New pair of shoes? Article on how to do things your own way? Have you noticed that once you start looking online, ALL the ads on your feed are suddenly presenting a multitude of choices? Gotta love these new personalized algorithms helping us browse, purchase, and read more selectively.

Where am I going with this? I can only speak for myself, but I think I might have begun to develop my own personal feedback loop. I hear, read, listen, and engage with media that agrees with ME. I am creating my own script of what is happening in this world. I am reinforcing, doubling back, and re-reinforcing my thoughts, ideas, and interpretations. 

This is NOT GOOD.

As a Christian, I know my way of doing things, my way of living, my simple act of being, is fraught with sin. Without God, without the Holy Spirit in my life, I will never choose well. I am simply not able to meet His standards of love, mercy, justice, and grace.  

Oh no.  I need to get back to Him. Pronto.

You see, God is the authority. His Word – the Bible – is what I should be reading, paying attention to, and studying. “Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--His good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:2) His Word is EXACTLY what I need in today’s complex and conflicting times. He is the final authority, and I don’t need to wonder what is right, where to turn or what to do.  

I should look to Him, to His Word, to the Bible for my concerns, confusion, and daily life – whether in quarantine or not. “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” (2 Tim 3:16-17) As I study His Word, I grow closer to Him. I begin to know Him more fully and, with the Holy Spirit, can honor and glorify HIM in all that I do.

The Bible is exactly what we need today and each and every day. In Tom’s series, “How to Stay Straight in a Crooked World,” Tom begins with the authority of the Bible. https://www.prioritylivingaz.org/audio-archives/2012/9/20/the-final-authority. I think you will enjoy his applications in 2012 . 

As we look to the new year, I pray that you and your families remain safe and healthy through the pandemic. I pray that you will spend time studying His Word and grow closer to God.  As Tom would say, “We study the Word of God to know the God of the Word.”

Will you join me in getting back to God - the One True Authority? 

Will you commit to spending more time with Him and His Word in 2021?  

I hope so.

December 2020

Watch Animated Version Here
https://vimeo.com/486454631

The holiday season is here! For our family, the kickoff is turkey, stuffing, and way too much food. The following days are full of Christmas decorations, hot cocoa, peppermint, chocolate chip cookies, pine fragrance, and eventually an extra-special day that begins with BOSA donuts, Velveeta cheese queso, ballpark pretzels, Sonic burgers, and junk food – LOTS of junk food -- November 28 -- Tom's birthday.
 
Tom loved Thanksgiving and Christmas. He enjoyed waking up to the twinkling Christmas lights as he savored his first cup of coffee of the day. In fact, in early January 2019, less than a week after I took down the tree and decorations, Tom asked if I would put the tree back up for him so that he could enjoy it one last time. On that particular day, we had just found out that Tom's time on earth was coming to an end. Little did we know that in less than 72 hours Tom would take his first breath in heaven.  
 
Last year for Tom's birthday I penned him a letter telling the God stories, the progress, the funny and ironic happenstances from life, family, and friends. I told Tom how proud I was of everyone and how well we had done in the midst of our grief and sadness. I told him we missed him, but we were doing okay. I wrote how I hoped and wished that he was seeing us from heaven and smiling.   
 
This year as November 28 drew near, I actually thought that maybe sharing 2020 with Tom was not a good idea. I felt a sense of dread and trepidation because there have been more than a few times this year when I was hoping Tom WASN'T watching from above. I just knew that Tom would be very disappointed, frustrated, and just plain mad about our crazy world -- the changes, the unraveling of so much, the strife, and the depth of our individual and collective sin.
 
But, wait a minute! Who am I to judge? Why am I making God so small and the issues of this world so big? And who am I to think that Tom -Tom Shrader- who gave so freely of his time, his kingdom gifts and himself would criticize? Tom was not that kind of a guy. When Tom gave, he gave without reservation. He shared his faults, his suffering, and his time and energy as he preached biblical truths and grace without condition. He knew that we were all sinners in need of a savior and God sent His son Jesus to this earth to be born and ultimately to die for our sins. Tom knew God could save even the worst of the worst sinners, reconcile the darkest of souls, and redeem unfathomable situations. 
 
Why was I allowing my joy to be taken by the world?  I know better. 
 
In review of Tom's messages, I came across two of my favorites from this season. Typically, between Thanksgiving and Christmas Tom would teach at Scottsdale Bible Church one Sunday each year. Here is Tom's 2013 message entitled, "What you know trumps what you Feel", followed by his 2018 message, "Peace". You'll see the dramatic change in Tom's health, yet, even in the midst of Tom's pain and suffering, his excitement and zest for sharing God's word shines brightly.  Each message is relevant and timely as we continue to navigate COVID and its ripple effects on our family holiday traditions, shifts in the economy, job loss, relational strain, grief, and sadness. I continue to be in awe of how God used and still uses Tom in such a mighty way AND how blessed we are to have known Tom during his time on earth. For more of Tom's messages, please check out https://www.prioritylivingaz.org/.

What You Know Trumps What You Feel

Peace

Getting back to Tom’s birthday letter, I caught a glimpse of how God has been working in me and pulling me closer to Him as I wrote to Tom. 

• God challenged me to sacrificially give more of my (God's) money, time, and talents to family, friends, and the community around me.

• God let me see deep into the crevices of my mind and heart and helped me forgive and let go of angst and bitterness that had been festering for years.

• God pushed me to release possessions, habits, and situations that were barriers to Him, His love, grace, and joy.

• God blessed me through Covid-19 to see the importance of slowing down, spending time in His Word, living simply, and applying a "less is better" mentality to almost every aspect of life.

 
And, even though the world is a bit whacked and seemingly out of control, I can still see God wooing sinners to Him as He loves and cares for those of us who already know Him as our Lord and Savior. 
 
By the way, if you are wondering if I left anything out of Tom’s letter, I did.  I omitted the fact that Tom's favorite spot on the sofa has been taken over by Finley, my furry grand-dog. I thought it might be better not to share with Tom that he has been replaced by a furry, smelly mutt.
 
I hope and pray that as you and your family celebrate the birth of Jesus this year, you can see God’s love and grace shining through the many disruptions and distortions of 2020.  God IS faithful and He IS using all things for our good and His glory.  Thank goodness. 
 
Have a blessed and joyous Christmas season!

November 2020

It is time to get back to the basics. As a former kindergarten teacher, I am a huge proponent of fundamentals – the ABC’s, basic math, please and thank you. John Wooden wrote, “I believe in the basics: attention to, and perfection of, tiny details that might be overlooked. They may seem trivial, perhaps even laughable to those who do not understand, but they aren’t. They are fundamental to your progress in basketball, business and life.”

You see, the basics are exactly what we need right now. The fundamentals – God and His Word – are what we can lean on, trust in, and find peace in the midst of our crazy world. Things are changing at such a rapid pace that it seems what we could count on before is simply vanishing right before our eyes. Yet, God is not going anywhere. He is still on the throne and He reigns forever. How about if we lean into Him and His love for us? “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

During Tom’s three decades of ministry, he periodically did a series titled Christianity 101. I invite you to listen to this hugely important, “classic Tom” audio series. The link to the first lesson, Doctrine, is at https://www.prioritylivingaz.org/audio-archives/2014/3/20/doctrine.

With everything swirling around and the election almost over, it is time for us to get back to the basics. No matter what - whether your guy wins or does not win, God IS still God. He has dominion over all things, and we, His children, are going to be okay. In these troubling times, we can still have peace, for He tells us “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 4:6-7)

I hope in the coming days and throughout this month you will join with me in prayer for our nation, our leaders, our communities, and our churches. Even if we do not agree with the election or our leaders, we need to remember that God is in control and He has either caused or allowed this outcome for our good and His glory. Let us show the world how we, His children, can respond to all that is happening with His love, grace, and kindness.

Have a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving!

Pastor Recollects How Much Life, and Faith, Changed after 9/11

By Ralph Zubiate, Tribune Editor - Sep 12, 2016 Updated Jan 2, 2018
Tom’s recollections of 9/11 drive across country August 31, 2016 in Gilbert, AZ.

Link to Original Article Here.

Tom Shrader was in Virginia that day, having spoken to a convention of executives in New York City earlier that week.

He was like millions of other Americans when he heard that an airplane hit a building.

“I remember we were standing in a gift shop, and a lady was saying, ‘My, that’s a big accident, how did that happen?’

“You didn’t think terror then,” he said. “The world has changed so much.”

Shrader was lead pastor of East Valley Bible Church in Gilbert on Sept. 11, 2001. Now, he’s pastor emeritus for the church, since renamed Redemption Gilbert.

Shrader and his wife Susan were staying at Hot Springs, Virginia during that visit. On a day off, they were being tourists, visiting Appomattox Court House.

“Then we heard what happened, and the park was closed. You had to go.”

In the days after the 9/11 attack, planes around the nation were grounded. Instead of waiting in Virginia or trying to find an empty seat on an Amtrak train, he decided to rent a car to get back to Arizona.

“I was trying to find a map, and I asked the guy at the rental place. He said, ‘You go down here, make a right, and when you get to Flagstaff, take a left.’

“I didn’t realize I-40 was outside.”

On that long, difficult drive, Shrader found out something interesting about the mood of the nation.

“The further you got from the East Coast, the less impact it had.

“That was the way it felt like, driving further away from the pain.”

Shrader and his wife had only a radio on the drive, and heard news bulletins and stories on the way back. It didn’t seem as desperate on the radio. But, he said, a picture really is worth a thousand words.

“We’d get to a hotel, and once you flipped on the TV, it was a totally different scene. Radically different.”

He saw a different world on the road, too.

He remembers rolling in to Henryetta, Oklahoma, to eat.

“The Pig Out Palace. At the center of every table, there was a roll of paper towels.”

Shrader saw many other people there and on the road in pain, trying to make their ways back home in the aftermath. Uncertain of their next move.

“Every car I saw was filled with five or six people in suits.”

At the time, people were seeking comfort and answers. Some sought that in churches.

“Back in Arizona, businesses in the area were calling, asking us to open up the church. They wanted their employees to be able to pray.

“We were helpless and scared. You kind of intuitively kick out to something bigger than you.

“It’s a pattern that follows. Either it pulls you closer to God, or it shatters who you really are.”

Shrader and his wife got back to Arizona on Saturday, Sept. 15.

“The next Sunday was like Christmas. The church was jammed. It was a life-changing experience.

“That lasted two weeks.”

Some commentators at the time were expecting a spiritual revival in the United States. Shrader wasn’t.

“I can be a bit cynical, but I think it was a collective foxhole conversion.

“You survive the moment and it reinforces the illusion that you’re self-sufficient. But it really exposes how needy, how vulnerable we are. It’s all outside of our control, but not outside God’s control.”

Shrader still preaches these days, though not as often. He knows that 9/11 still resonates, but in a different way.

“I have this view that we have our own 9/11s around us. We’re sick, we’ve lost a job. For us, it’s personal, traumatic.

“The comfort we find is in knowing Christ, and knowing that God is sovereign. Faith is assurance that He is in control.”

There were things to learn from 9/11, Shrader said.

“One of the big messages is that we’ll never be the same again.”