THE OCEAN

Headed to the ocean Monday and Tuesday, a belated anniversary time. Bev and I love the ocean, though I love it more than she does.

I'll come back with some fresh thoughts next week. The ocean does that for me...refurbishes me emotionally and intellectually.

are you there?

My stepson, Tim, said to me recently that he liked my blogging but was anxious to see people respond to it so I could know who was reading and benefit from some feedback. He suggested I include some questions, a really good idea!

Alot of my friends and church family say, "Really enjoy reading your blog", but never write anything that lets me know they "stopped by". I think some have expressed reluctance to put their thoughts on a computer for others to evaluate.

I am content, personally, just to use this as an avenue of communciating my daily thoughts and observations about life. But it would be great to get some feedback.

So...here are some questions.

1. What do you think?
2. Are you still reading the blog?
3. Any suggestions?

Maybe that will get you started.

anniversaries

Bev and I celebrated our eighth anniversary yesterday. Well, we didn't really celebrate--it was a work day-- but we will "officially" celebrate after church on Sunday with a short trip to the ocean, reminiscent of our honeymoon destination.

Wedding anniversaries are special days. Someone I know is celebrating their 65th in July, and and some other friends recently celebrated their 50th. Anniversaries commemorating our faitfhul commitment to our wedding vows--"for better, for worse; for richer, for poorer; in sickness and in health...until death parts us"--are noteworthy in a time when wedding vows seem to be more reflective of "as long as we love each other", "as long as we are happy", or, "until I find a better deal".

Beverly is God's gift to me and I celebrate her "until death parts us".

GOOD NEWS ABOUT INJUSTICE

At the recent pastor's conference I attended at Moody Bible Institute, Gary Haugen was one of the keynote speakers. He was the director of the United Nations genocide investigation in Rwanda (for more information about this tragedy see the movie, HOTEL RWANDA) and is currently president of International Justice Mission In Washington, D.C., a corporation he founded.

Psalm 10 is the scriptural foundation for his thought-provoking book( as it was for his challenging message) and he calls Christians to action in defense of the oppressed.

Read it...and maybe you will become uncomfortable like I am with my small-world view and my comfortable corner of the world!

NOTES ON NEHEMIAH

Nehemiah's reforms for the children of Israel conclude with these words in chapter 10, "We will not neglect the house of our God". Verses 32-39 are a summary of what those kinds of responsibilities involve, including the service of the priests, the offering of sacrifices and the storage of food for God's servants.

As a pastor I am well-cared for by my congregation. We have for a congregation fo about 500-600 two full-time staff members and three part-time staff. Each them would testify that the congregation is doing its best to address their needs in ministry.

It is interesting to me that these verses are a part of the road to spiritual recovery and revival for God's people in Nehemiah's day. They have been enslaved, freed to return to Jerusalem, have rebuilt the temple and the city's walls, have retruned to the Word, confessed their sins, and now, spiritual reforms addressed in chapter 10 are being put into practice. And the one which gets the most attention? Care for the house of God and its ministers.

I am not using this to garner more support for our staff; rather, it sems to me the excellent care of our staff is reflective of the heart of our people, who are committed, it seems, to "not neglect the house of our God".

I am humbled and grateful.

THIS IS THE DAY THE LORD HAS MADE...

I AM IN MY OFFICE EARLY AT OUR BUILDING SITE WHERE WE WILL HOST OUR WORSHIP SERVICE.

I AM TIRED--YESTERDAY WAS A BIG DAY--BUT AS I WALKED ON THE PROPERTY I REALIZED I HAD A DECISION TO MAKE ABOUT HOW I WOULD FEEL TODAY.

IT IS THE LORD'S DAY "AND I WILL REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT."

I HOPE YOU DO, TOO.

WORK DAYS

My father once said, "He who chops the wood is twice-warmed".

Forty-plus of our church family gathered on our twenty-three acres for a work day, preparing for our first of four services we call "church on the grounds".

It's not much fun, as far as work goes. Weedeating, mowing, deadheading roses, cleaning the Victorian (church office complex), manicuring the grounds, setting up chairs, taking things to the dump, etc.

But we didn't advertise it as fun. We said it was a work day.

And people came, worked hard...and had fun.

When we sit together tomorrow under the blue sky and on chairs on neatly-maincured grounds, there will be at least forty of us warmed in more ways than one.

out of the pits into the palace

Genesis 37-50 recounts the story of Joseph. It is the story of transformation and growth through crisis.

Joseph, the spoiled son of Jacob--hated by his brothers for his father's overt favortism--is victimized and thrown into a pit to be sold into slavery (crisis #1). He ends up in the home of the captain of the guard where he is honored by God and elevated to control of the household--only to be unsuccessfully seduced by Potipahr's wife. She "sets him up" and he is thrown into prison (crisis #2).

He flourishes there as well and is put in charge of the prison where he interprets the dreams of some of the inmates, but when one is released with the promise to tell Pharaoh of his plight, he forgets (crisis #3). Finally, when Pharaoh has a dream, the former inmate remembers Joseph and Joseph comes to interpret Pharaoh's dream and for doing so, he is elevated to a position of second-in-command, and moves to the palace.

The prophesied famine revealed in Pharaoh's dream comes to pass and Joseph's brothers appear before him for food (crisis #4). Here is his chance to get even; instead, he feeds them and calls for his father. He and his father are reunited, and later, his father dies and his brothers, thinking Joseph's favor to them is only because of their dad, are fearful about what Joseph will now do to them (crisis #5).

The fitting climax is revealed in Genesis 50:20 where Joseph observes, "What you intended for evil, God intended for good." Joseph has grown through crises from a spoiled and arrogant teenager to a faithful and humble servant of God. dispersing the same grace given to him by God in the midst of crises, to his family.

God moves Joseph from the "pits" into a palace, and uses him for the good of a nation.

We would like to skip the "pits", but if we do, we may miss a palace God has in mind for us.

steel and design

It is simply amazing to stand on our 22,000 square foot slab and now to look up and to see a massive red steel structure taking form. Our contractor is a fussy guy, and he is precise in every measurement, the placement of every pre-designed piece of steel. I commented to him today on the genius of the engineer who designs the steel structure, taking into account load stress, connective roof hips and tying together various sections of the building with interlocking steel.

Of course, in today's vernacular where intelligent design is dismissed as an emotional explanation for creation, it occurred to me that no one would suspect that our steel building just happened--that various pieces of steel merged together in the aftermath of a random explosion bringing together the coincidental product of chance--a perfectly fitted framework.

As I look across our beautiful twenty-three acres and all of the beautifully-scultured hills in green covered with multi-colored wildflowers, and gaze up at an icy-blue sky, I have two choices...intelligent design.. or not?

A FULL HEART...AND A FULL DESK

Sometime going away for an extended period of time--I was gone nine days on my recent trip--is bittersweet. It is wonderful being gone from the rigors of routine and responsibility but it is challenging to come home to...a full desk.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time at the Moody Pastor's Confrence in Chicago. The weather was marginal but everything else was just what I needed--personal time with my wife, great messages from excellent speakers, stirring worship with 1499 other pastors, helpful workshops, and time for reflection. My heart was full.

I was so moved by my time at the conference that I found myself reluctant to leave...even though I was headed to Dallas for time with my four children and three grandchildren who are in that general vicinity. But the time with family was beyond description and I found my heart full of love and thankfulness to God for the family with which He has blessed me.

So I found myself reluctant to leave Owen, Camilla and JJ, my three grandchildren.

But my heart was anxious to be home and back on the job with the people God has called me to serve.

Until I saw my full desk--full at home and at my office--with mail, phone messages, e-mails to answer, appointments to schedule, visits to make. And just for a moment...my heart sank.

Now, after over four hours at the office ( I came in about 6:15 a.m.) and four unscheduled visits, WAY BEHIND the schedule I foolishly made, I confess my heart and desk are both full. I have been reminded that this is the ministry God made me for, and I would not have it any other way.

Full speed ahead!

vacation plans

I leave for a pastor's conference in Chicago on Monday and then later on Thursday head to Dallas to see my four children and three grandchildren who live in that part of the country. Needless to say, I am excited about the trip to Dallas, and looking forward to some days of spiritual refreshment in Chicago.

I won't be blogging, but I will be back to brag on my grandchildren!

Men's Retreat--postscript

Forty men gathered together at an overnight retreat and we all left, I think, wishing we could have stayed longer. There was beautiful weather, great food, and an exquisite setting in the greener-than-usual camp area. The camp is nestled between large pines and cedars and encases a beautiful stream, energized by our huge slowly-melting snowpack.

But all of that is secondary to the challenging teaching, wonderful worship, special prayer times, and rich fellowship--something our men seldom get to do together.

I am not so sure that we aren't like men everywhere--busy, distracted and feeling guilty about our undeveloped spiritual leadership skills.

This environment needs to be revisited more often. Separated from our work world and family responsibility just for a night and a day, we get to be transparent with one another and we discover we are all men struggling at some level but truly seeking to grow. We are encouraged by one another, held accountable by our church brothers, and, for the moment, catapulted to renewed hope for spiritual growth.

We called it a Men's Retreat...away from what we are used to doing and, perhaps, being. What it really might better be described as is a Men's Refueling...helping us gear up for the daily battles of life.

I know I feel renewed and encouraged. Hope my buddies do too.

SPIRITUAL PASSION

Only occasionally do I meet someone with true spiritual passion.

Today we visited for the second time.

He has a good job and a great family. But he wants something more... his heart is pounding with desire to share the gospel.

Already at work he is looking for creative ways to share his faith. He is trying to discover his ministry within his immediate sphere of influence.

Who knows what God will do with such an impassioned heart...I am anxious to see.

the gift of encouragement

Someone called me yesterday just to tell me they were praying for me...and then proceeded to pray for me over the telephone.

I cannot express how meaningful those few moments in the middle of a hectic day were to me. It did not lift the burden of responsibility that was almost overwhelming. It did not change the landscape of my day.

What it did do was this. it encouraged me. It gave me just what I needed to work through the challenges before me and to emerge from them with a sense of accomplishment.

I owe it to that phone call.

Men's Retreat

We have a finely-tuned women's ministry at Grace Fellowship.

We also have a group of men at Grace who are active in ministry and Bible studies...but we have this problem of getting organized and getting together for special "men only" events.

We are busy, I know, and some of us are over-committed already. But our annual men's retreat is an overnight opportunity to get together with men juggling schedules and priorities--seeking to be men "after God's own heart"--and to encourage one another.

This weekend's theme is "Extreme Makeover: Soul Edition"(courtesy of Pastor Mark). It's not too late to sign up--we leave Friday arounf 6:00 p.m. and return Saturday around 2:00 p.m. It is located at Camp Golden Valley, just a few miles out of Volcano. Grab a sleeping bag, your Bible and a notebook, and join us. Contact the church office at 209-223-1971 so we can add your name to the list.

NOTES ON NEHEMIAH

Nehemiah 8 presents the continuing saga of the rebuilding and healing of the children of Israel. Our familiarity with the story might cause us to conclude that once the walls of the city were restored, Israel celebrated.

It was not so. Even though the accomplishment of this task was enormous--and even miraculous (the enemy was bewildered and afraid at what he saw)--it was not the end of the story.

The children called for Ezra to read the "Book of the Law of Moses"--the Word. They did this, apparently, after consulting with one another because they came to this conclusion with "as one man".

Note these elements of their response to the reading of the Word.

1. They listened attentively. They stood from daybreak until noon listening to the Word of God.

2. Ezra, reading from a prominent place where all could hear him, praised the Lord, the "great God", in essence acknowledging the author of the Word, or, affirming its divine origin.

3. The people responded by saying "Amen! Amen!", a Hebrew word that can be translated "Surely!" or "Truth", or even, "So be it."

4. Ultimately, they "bowed down and worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground", an expresssion of their humble submission to His divine authority.

5. They would later weep; the text records "for all the people had been weeping as they lsitened to the words of the Lord". They undoubtedly saw their own sinfulness and God's mercy and grace.

Nehemiah, Ezra and the Levites would alll tell the children of Israel not to mourn or weep because "this day is sacred to our Lord." It was sacred indeed as God's people returned to His Word.

And then they celebrated. God commanded it and , and they obeyed and "from the days of Joshua son of Nun until that day (1,000 years). the Israelites had not celebrated it like this. And their joy was very great."

When we ask, as the Israelites did, "Give us the Word", God rejoices--it is a sacred day-- and we can begin to truly celebrate His healing mercy and grace.

SATURDAYS

Sunday is such a big day that I like to reserve Saturdays for myself. Usually yard work is high on the priority list (it helps me relax), maybe a walk and some contemplative reading on my deck.

Today is not such a Saturday. I speak at a Teacher Training Seminar this morning, have a meeting with a member of our Board of Deacons, participate in a birthday party for a close friend, and then attend a Choraliers Concert in which some of our church people perform. I should be done about 10 p.m. tonight.

Which is not how I like to spend my Saturdays.

I realized this morning that my Saturday is like most people's Sunday. It is the day they want to sleep in, rest, go for a drive, take a walk...do what they want to do.

But on Sundays they get up, head for Sunday School and church and worship the Lord.

I decided not to complain about my Saturdays.

A messy situation

Messy situations are daily for most of us, aren't they? They are the kind where things happen--often, over which we have little or no control--and leave us asking questions like, "How did I get to this point?" and "How do I get out of this?"

Rehearshing the history of how we arrived at a "mess" may or may not be productive. I am convinced that we just cannot see some things coming. We may have prayed for God's direction--felt confident we had it--moved ahead, and then experienced "all hell break loose".

What I am left with is the idea that messes are a necessary part of life and God allows them and doesn't cause them to evaporate with a holy "Be gone!" but, instead, looks to see how we will respond.

If we respond by leaning wholly upon God, there is much potential good to be gained, I have learned. When I am angry and rebellious against God for His failure to intervene, things usually get messier.

I have been in the middle of a mess this week, but as the week grinds to a halt, I sense that God is doing something good in me. No, the situation has not gone away. In fact, it remains.

But so does God. That gives me hope for tomorrow...and future messes.

stomachaches

Sometimes I eat too much and pay the price for it later. I have learned, however, the foolishness of such momentary pleasure and can't remember the last time over-indulging cost me a stomachache.

Sometimes I worry too much and my stomach churns within me. I should have learned by now that worry is counter-productive and should have rested in the scriptural mandate from Philippians 4:6, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving present your requests to God."

A situation happened this morning that left me with a stomachache.

I worried...instead of praying.

Do you think I will ever learn?

57 AND 37

I am 57 and Mark is 37. We are twenty years apart, but not so far apart, I guess.

I ate lunch with Mark today and took note of the following.
1. We both like Chinese food.
2. We both look at our watches.
3. We both are thinking about the future.

I am Mark's "mentor", or, at least, that should be my function as an "older" to a "younger" pastor. Mark and I work together at Grace, and he is a friend as well as a fellow-laborer.

We talked alot about issues confronting us today in the midst of a building program and the ongoing challenges of a growing church. Much of that is management-related, heightened by a concern for putting the right people resources in place to meet the burgeoning needs.

We also mused about the future together. That looks different for a man voluntarily facing reduced responsibility or retirement within the next 5-10 years, and a man looking to the productive middle-age years of life.

What is similar, however, is our love for God's work and our mutual commitment to the body of Grace. What will that look like in five years?

At 57 and 37 we are not so far apart.