How will it turn out?

I am working on the church calender for 2011. As I look through the months ahead, it seems to compress the year. Even though the year hasn't even started, I am mentally already at Easter. I have taken note that Cinco de Mayo will be on May 5th this year and that Independence Day will be on July 4th. I think Thanksgiving will be on a Thursday. (I have a firm grasp of the obvious.) I am already counting the weeks until we reintroduce the completely revamped Sunday School department (only 36). It is energizing to look at the year ahead and plan. It is exciting to think of how many different ways that the living and active God we serve can completely obliterate those plans when He chooses to do so. Which week will be the one when I get to announce the sale of the south campus building? What other exciting announcements will there be? That's for God to know and for us to find out!

On Any Given Day

We are coming quickly to the end of another year. Each year has its own story, but the big story for me for 2010 is the new chapter that began for Carole and I by becoming pastors in October. This exciting and daunting calling has easily eclipsed my Inca Trail adventure as my top story of the year.

Pastoring is never dull. I noticed Sunday that the sink in the men's bathroom was draining much too slowly and I made a mental note to check on that later. This morning I was reminded of the slow sink again, so I immediately began to disassemble the p-trap to see where the clog was. When I removed the tailpipe extention I saw something dark and slimey looking. I grabbed it and gave a yank. Imagine my surprise when I pulled a dead frog out. Apparently it had come through the drain system and was looking for a place of  escape. When it made it to the end of the line, I guess it gave up or didn't like the soapy water. It couldn't have been there for more than a couple of days, but it had already begun to stink pretty badly. I gave it a proper burial in the dumpster, reassembled the drain and now the sink drains fine. The bathroom smells better, too.

You never know what opportunities await on any given day. It was better to be the plumber than the frog.

Will Blog for Books

I have once again scored a free book. Mark Batterson, who wrote Wild Goose Chase, (and who benefitted greatly from my cashews and jerky on the Inca Trail) has finished a new book, "Soulprint". And once again I have signed up for a free copy of his newest by agreeing to read it upon receiving it and then posting a review of it on my blog. That is like the best deal ever. I get to read new books. I don't have to pay for them. I get to talk about them on my blog. What's not to love about a deal like that?

Challenges

Yesterday I went to the gym for the first time in several months. A year ago I went several times a week as I prepared for both a 5k run and my Inca Trail hike. I developed a pretty good level of endurance and completed both goals. After my return from Peru, however, I didn't have any goals ahead of me. And as a result, the whole motivation to continue the workouts kinda slipped away. The fact that I felt really good and had a lot of energy didn't seem to be enough to cause me to continue the physical discipline of regular workouts. Now, I am again soft, my energy level is much lower, and it is more difficult to concentrate than it was when I was fit. It would appear that I need another challenge ahead to motivate me toward improvement.

Spiritual fitness is just like physical fitness. If we are just going along in life with no goals or challenges, we will not maintain the disciplines of prayer and Bible study that we do when we are facing something that appears to be daunting or beyond our capability. As a new pastor, I have plenty of spiritual challenge to keep me on my knees and in the Word. But as a soft middle aged guy I need to find a new physical challenge. I'll keep you posted.

Rejoice, Rejoice!

Sunday night our worship team did a breathtakingly beautiful rendition of the Christmas hymn, "Oh Come, Oh Come Emmanuel". I have heard that song many times; even sang choir arrangements several times in Christmas programs, but I had never really paid attention to the words of this verse-

Oh, come, our Wisdom from on high,
Who ordered all things mightily;
To us the path of knowledge show,
and teach us in her ways to go.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!

In this day of confusion, uncertainty and disappointment, it comes as a great comfort to rest in these lines. When we realize that the events of the world are not random and not haphazard but are ordered by Him who is ultimate wisdom, and ultimate love, then our natural response should be to ask God to lead us to the path of knowledge of Him and to teach us to follow that path. Then we can truly and honestly rejoice that God is with us, and that in Him we find protection, provision, and power.
I love the deep and powerful theology of those ancient hymns.

Things You Find In Church

Today I was spending some time in the church auditorium. I was up on the platform, thinking, praying, and straightening. I noticed a small book underneath one of the chairs. I picked it up and looked at it. It was an old book about revival. I like old books, so I opened the cover to see when it was published and to see if the original owner had put his name in it. I found the name of the owner and immediately recognized it as one of Oklahoma's pioneer preachers and pastors. Brother "Doc" Woodell spent his last years at Lakeside, the church where I grew up. I was fortunate to grow up in a church that was populated my many heroes of the faith from his generation. I was overwhelmed as I held the book that had once been in the library of someone I respected so much and realized that it now lay in the church I have been called to pastor. A flood of emotion came over me as I realized that I have now assumed the mantle from those pioneers who paved the way for the great things we are able to do today. A sense of great responsibility washed over me as I realized that I now serve a significant church with a great future that is here today because men like him were faithful when times were hard and progress was slow, but they sowed seed that is still being harvested today.

I took the book up to my office and looked at it further. As I turned a few pages to look at the table of contents there was a stamped message that this book had also been owned by the pastor of my teenage years. Pastor Lacy is a very important part of my spiritual formation and I am forever grateful for his imput into my life. Once again, my pulse quickened to realize the significance of my find. The legacy of these ministers now resides in me, and I have purposed to be faithful with the calling that has been laid upon me.

I don't know who the book used to belong to, but it belongs to me, now.

Naomi- Steadfast in the Bad Times

In our study of the book of Ruth last Sunday we saw that Naomi went through an extended bad spell. She moved to a different country and her husband died. Her two sons married and died as well leaving her no grandchildren or money. When all of this had happened, she learned that the famine that had caused her family to move in the first place was over and things were much better back home. If anyone ever had a reason to be bitter, it was Naomi. But even though her situation was very bitter, she stayed true to her faith, and a result, one of her daughters in law saw something attractive in her. Ruth decided that a God who could sustain Naomi in the toughest of times was a God who was worth giving up everything for. Our response to adversity says much more to the seeking world than our proclamations ever will, because it shows that our faith is real and not based only on good outcomes. Come this Sunday and hear more about this wonderful story. I can't wait to tell you about it.

Our Everyday God

This Sunday I begin a series from the book of Ruth I am calling "Our Everyday God". The book of Ruth, just four chapters long, is a wonderful story of loyalty, trust, innocence, purity, and love. There are no larger than life characters in the story. There are no national crisis moments. It just tells the story of a normal lady, Naomi, who goes through a tough time in her family life. There are no amazing miracles, but you can see God's faithfulness throughout. I am looking forward to unpacking this really interesting story over the next few weeks on Sunday mornings.

Also, be sure to come to the Fall Feast this Sunday night. We will enjoy a time of good food and fellowship, and, as promised, I will display a hidden talent as I sing what is in my estimation, the greatest country song ever written. You'll have to come to see which one it is. Be here at 6pm Sunday night. We'll have a great time!

Sparks A'flyin!

Today Carole and I went to visit the new camp facility that the Oklahoma District is constructing near Sparks, Oklahoma. I have been hearing about the Sparks property for several years, now, and until today it has all been conceptual talk. Progress seemed slow, reports were sparse, and, I suppose, obstacles were in abundance. (An outsider's perspective). Today it was easy to catch the vision of an enlarged, up-to-date, well-designed environment designed especially to lead our children and youth closer to God in a safe and attractive setting. It is clear that today's young person attaches no romance to the idea of attending a worship service in an open air tabernacle, no matter how many fond memories their parents might have of such a setting. Cramped musty smelling cabins aren't selling points for the camp experience. Truth is, a great Spirit-led camp experience was necessary to get young people to go to camp. It had to be good to overcome the condition of the facilities. It was clear to me that the plans that have been developed are well thought out and meet the requirements of our 21st century American realities. The safety of each student is paramount in the plan. Keeping them well fed and as well rested as they are willing to be are priorities. As you can imagine, a facility which can accomodate 1000 people is an expensive proposition, and it is incumbent on our many churches in the district to each do their part. A lot of work remains to be done if the facility can be used next summer. Our children and youth are the most precious responsibility we have. I believe that this camp will be a tool used for years to come to bring young people to Christ. There is no way to know how many lifelong relationships will be built; how many ministry callings will be identified, and how many will look back to a camp experience as the event which solidified their relationship with God.

Will He or Won't He?

Brett Favre has the NFL just where he wants it- focusing on him. Favre, of the Minnesota Vikings and holder of the longest streak of continuous starts has a bad ankle, a sore throwing elbow, and has been playing badly. But there is no talk of what the Vikes need to do to have their best chance of winning this game because it is all about Brett and his streak. His coach, Brad Childers isn't really a great coach. He's probably not even a very good NFL coach but he is still the coach. However, he must wait, along with the rest of Favre's teammates, and the breathless sportswriters and fans to see an hour before the game if Brett and Brett alone feels like playing. Childers doesn't dare scratch Favre from the lineup because he (Childers) would be the story of the game instead of his team. So, skilled teammates, coaches, trainers, and even owners are pushed into the role of supporting cast members for Brett the Invincible. I'm sick of it. I've been sick of it since the second fake retirement years ago. I never like it when one person elevates the pursuit of his personal satisfaction above his entire team's success. Put Brett Favre out on the field without the other players and see how he does. Then no one would have to ask his friend, "Which one is Brett Favre?" He could have the spotlight all to himself. And in one play he would be finished.

Reaping the Benefits

It's now official. I have been extended the great honor of serving Living Water Church in Guthrie, Oklahoma as their pastor. I am really excited to begin this new opportunity. I have been here at the church today preparing for Sunday. As I have walked the hallways and corridors of the church building I am continually awestruck that God and the good people at Living Water would entrust me with the responsibility of serving them here.

At lunch a while ago, I was reading my YouVersion bible on my iPhone because I forgot to bring the book I am reading. I was reading in John 4 about Jesus' interaction with the Samaritan woman. After that interchange, the disciples came back and were wondering what was was going on. A verse jumped off the screen of my phone. Verse 38 says, "I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor."

I realize that this verse is for me today. Many years ago people plowed the hard ground and sowed what seed they had available to start this church from scratch. Faithful people for many years have worked and given faithfully of their talents and resources. People are currently working joyfully in many different areas of ministry even though they have gone through a tumultous season. So much has already been done.There is so much already happening.  And there is so much yet to happen because God has been faithful through the decades. I will willingly give of everything God has given to me to use, and count myself privileged to be a contributor to the Living Water story.

Decision Time

I haven't posted much in the past couple of weeks. It's not because I haven't had the time and it's not because my mind isn't working. It's because I have been consumed with something that will come to a climax this weekend. I have been asked to be the pastoral candidate for a church this weekend. This invitation could turn out to be the assignment that God has been preparing me for over the past several years.

This Saturday evening I will have the opportunity to meet with the church congregation at large in an informal setting so we can get a sense of one another. They will have the opportunity to ask whatever is on their minds as we begin the important process of determining if this is the direction God is leading all of us. I will preach in the the Sunday morning service and in the Sunday evening service I will share from my heart my vision for pastoral ministry. A vote will follow. If the congregation votes to ask me to become their pastor, and Carole and I accept the invitation, We all begin to write a new chapter in the church's history. Pretty much the usual way things are done in this type of situation.

I have been involved in this sort of thing before, but never as the candidate. I have been the member who is required to discern in a very few hours something with long-lasting consequences. I have been the leader of a pastor search committee who spent countless hours praying, talking, and researching while waiting to hear from God. I have experienced the uneasiness of knowing in my heart that I have heard from God but knowing that the final decision wasn't mine, but was entrusted to the votes of people who would just have a brief opportunity to discern what I had found over the many visits. And I have been a staff pastor who was hired by the person who is no longer in place. I have known the uncertainty of wondering what the new leadership structure would look like and if I would be invited to be a part of it.

Pastoral transition is difficult on everyone even in the best of cases. The stress that results from the realization of the importance of the decision can cause us to question the motives of others. All of us need to pray for more grace as we approach the coming climax on Sunday night. For me, the situation is simple. Is this where God is calling me, or is there another place He wishes to use me? For the local church, the situation is a little more complex. Pray with me that this local church can come together in unity and trust in God and in one another. I am confident that they will. Then, whatever the outcome Sunday night, the Kingdom of God can go forward.

Banquet Season

Well, banquet season is in full swing. Tonight Carole and I are attending the Light For The Lost Banquet and next Tuesday evening is the Reach the World banquet and auction. I have invitations to four more banquets which I haven't responded to yet. They are all for worthy organizations that I support. I will try to attend as many as possible, because I know that they involve a tremendous amount of work to put together and it is disheartening to have empty tables. They do seem to be effective awareness and fund raisers, but I can't help but wonder why we as supporters require these big events.

The Evil Empire

Twice in the past 48 hours I have been dinged by new friends who have learned that I am a Yankees fan. People aren't neutral about the Yankees. You can tell someone that you are a Braves fan and they will say, "I'm a Cardinals fan." But when you tell someone that you are a Yankees fan, they will either high-five you and say Go Yanks! or they will look at  you in disgust and say, "I don't know how you can pull for the Yankees." That's pretty funny because I am not an obnoxious fan like say, Red Sox fans are. I am a generational Yankees fan. When I was a boy back in the 60's, boys from Oklahoma routinely were Yankees fans because of Mickey Mantle. Later, Bobby Murcer continued the tradition of Oklahomans who starred for the Bronx Bombers. In the 70's the Yankees were still my American League team, but the Big Red Machine of Cincinnati was my National League team because of Johnny Bench. (It didn't hurt that they had one of the most impressive lineups in major league history.) Baseball was big important stuff. Back then, World Series games were played during the day, and it wasn't uncommon for a teacher to allow a radio in the classroom so we could keep up with the progress of games. But starting with the 80's baseball just faded away. LIfe got complicated with marriage, children and career taking up my emotional energy. I stopped looking at the box scores and I went for weeks not knowing who led the various divisions. If I watched any baseball at all, it would be World Series games, but only if I was at home.

It took an empty nest, a son-in-law and a couple of friends all of whom were avid Yankees friends to reengage my interest in baseball. The past couple of seasons I have followed baseball from opening day through the Series and it has been fun. (Did I mention that the Yankees won their 27th World Series last year?) And I really like being a fan of the Evil Empire.

Go Yankees!

The Yankees have been a pleasant surprise so far in these playoffs. The last couple of weeks of the regular season they played mediocre baseball. The pitchers couldn't seem to get critical outs and the batters couldn't seem to deliver the crunch-time hits they had been hitting. The last weekend of the regular season they went from division leaders with home field advantage to the wild-card team with the most difficult path to the World Series. Honestly, I didn't think that they would make it out of the divisional playoffs, regardless of who they played. But surprise, the Yanks have awakened so far in the post season, taking the first two games at Minnesota. This series isn't over yet, but it looks a lot more promising. The bats have reappeared, and it was really good to see CC Sabbathia get run support when he didn't have his best stuff. It was even better to see Andy Pettite pitch the kind of post season effort he has become known for after some lackluster appearances following his injury time off. It would be really nice if the Yanks could sweep and get the starting rotation at full rest for the next round. We'll see what happens. It will be frustrating and fun. I'm not ready to declare them the AL champs, but they sure do look a lot better than they did.  Let's Go Yankees! (clap clap clapclapclap)

It's a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

Today I went for a walk. No need to alert the media. I walk often. But walking in the fall is the best walking of the year. I am beginning the process of regaining my endurance after a hot summer and surgery put me out of commission for a while. Today's walk at the Lake Hefner trails was so pleasant. I am not ready to circumnavigate the entire lake, yet, but I'm gaining on it.This has been a bi-polar week; a mix of good and not so good. In the past week, I have learned of illness being suffered by several friends. Some of the illnesses are nagging and painful and some of the illnesses are life-threatening. Some close to me have lost precious loved ones and are dealing with a new void in their family circle. I have also had conversations that have me giddy with excitement and anticipation about what God is doing and the crazy ways He goes about His business. I do some of my best praying while on these long walks, and today it was really good. I don't do anything demonstrative on these walks. No arm waving or any gestures that would make passers-by avoid eye contact with the crazy guy. But for most of my walk today I had a steady stream of tears. My sleeves were drenched as I tried to stay ahead of the flow so I could smile and greet others who were on the trail. As I carried heavy needs to the Lord, I was reminded that many others were also presenting these needs, so it didn't all rest on me. I'm not carrying these needs by myself. As I brought my praises to Him, I felt especially singled out for an outpouring of His love. I hated for it to end. A beautiful early fall mid-day walk. The sun was bright, and the wind was slight. I was talking with the great Creator in the midst of His creation. It was a beautiful day in the neighborhood.

Thanks, Mom

I've been one who for years have felt that the church spends much more time and prayer trying to keep Christians out of Heaven than we do trying to get unsaved people into Heaven. After all, if we really believe that at the end of this life the believer inherits eternal life with no sickness or tears, then death is not a defeat; rather the departure of the believer is a graduation and a reward. Now I understand that we miss those who go on before because in this earthly body the relationships we have with one another as we live in community with one another are the best approximation we have at our disposal down here. So, when my mom passed away several years ago, sure I was sad, but after seeing her live her last few years with sickness and disability, I was also happy for her since I knew that she was now in the sweet presence of God, something she spent her entire life preparing for. Most of the time when I think of Mom I think of the times when she was healthy and full of fun. I don't really spend much time missing her; mostly I just think fondly of the many good memories.

But today something happened that caught me unexpectedly. Today I was visiting with some new friends and one of them had a picture of a church gathering. The picture was taken in 1954, which was two years before I was born. My mom was in the picture, but what got me was when I turned the picture over and the names of the folks in the picture were written on the back. In my mom's unmistakable handwriting she had written her name. I was surprised at the effect this had on me, but when I thought that I was holding a picture that my mom had held in her hands and written on some 56 years ago was a little overwhelming. Later, as I sat alone and reflected, I thought of the heritage that was delivered to me. The picture was of a Vacation Bible School held in Guthrie, and my older brother Greg was also in the picture. Before I was born, Mom was giving herself to ministry in the ways she could, and she always modeled that for us boys. I am over the emotion of it now, but I am still overwhelmed with the great gift I was given by parents who made their relationship to God as something that was a priority in their lives and who stressed to their children that it should be a priority in theirs.

A Pretty Good Year

All in all this has been a pretty good year, so far. And it's only the end of the third quarter. Early in the year I was telling the guys at Highpointe that there were two guys I would like to hang with. Having read their books, subscribed to their blogs and listened to their podcasts, I wanted to hang with Mark Batterson (pastor of National Community Church in Washington DC) and Earl Creps (academic turned church planter in Berkeley, California). Back in June, my Inca Trail adventure was scheduled because Mark Batterson was to be the trail mentor. Got to hang with him on the trail and I wasn't disappointed. Earlier this week I was in Branson for the District Ministry Retreat where the guest speaker was Earl Creps. I hadn't ever attended the DMR and probably wouldn't have this time if Earl hadn't been the speaker. I didn't technically get to "hang" with him and his wife, Janet, but I did get to have a couple of conversations with them along with three really enjoyable sessions that they presented. They are really good people and I enjoyed being around them.

In addition, I got to hear both of my favorite preachers and good friends preach at Highpointe. Gary Davidson and Jim King both came and both did reallly good jobs, as they always do. I turned my position as administrator and facilities director over to Matt Stomprud, who is proving daily what I said all along; that he would do much better in that role than I ever did.

Now, I'm having conversations that may ultimately lead me to what God has been preparing me for over the past several years. Like I said. It's been a pretty good year, so far. And there are still three months left in it.

Opportunity

A few weeks ago my friend Grady Smalling introduced me to Mark Elam, who is director of the OATH Coalition. The OATH Coalition is a non-profit that is in shining light on the evil of human trafficking. One of the many things that Mark does is to hold awareness seminars on this topic, because even though human trafficking is a huge worldwide business, most Oklahomans are unaware of the level of trafficking activity that goes on everyday in our communities right here. OATH (Oklahomans Against Trafficking of Humans) has received a grant to do CLEET continuing education meetings in every county in Oklahoma. I have been learning much about this topic with the intent of helping Mark to do these awareness seminars. What I learned today while at a CLEET training in Chickasha is that these meetings can be hosted by any organization; even churches. The local church just needs to provide a room and be willing for anyone in law enforcement to attend. Actually, anyone who is interested can attend these events. They last approximately from 8:30 - 5:00. It seems to me that this would be an awesome way for a local church to be involved in their community and to show to community leaders the church's commitment to affect the future of the helpless and victimized who are in our midst. If you are interested in hosting one of these training events or just in having a shorter awareness seminar, let me know and I will put you in contact with Mark. This issue is bigger than any of us know and it isn't going away. This is the time for the church to be the church.

The Best Report I Ever Got

This morning I went to my three week post surgery doctor appointment. The surgeon examined the incision area and asked a few questions. She told me what to expect in the next couple of weeks as the healing of the incision continues. Then I asked, what about physical activity? What can I do now? She said that I could do anything I want to do. I take that to mean that I now have the orders from a medical professional that I can play golf, but not move furniture. I can work out at the gym but not pull weeds. I can pick up my grandkids but not lift heavy bags of groceries out of the car. In short, this morning I got the best report I ever got. Life is good.

A Partial Answer

A little over two weeks ago I underwent surgery to repair an umbilical hernia. The only misgivings I had about having the surgery was that I would have to give up golf for a while. I had originally scheduled it during the really hot weather we had back in July, but due to some insurance issues I had to delay it until the beginning of the best time of the year to play golf. But, life goes on. I had the surgery, and the recovery has been pretty easy. Two weeks out I am nearly back to one hundred percent. About a week ago, Carole and I resumed walking in the evenings. One of our favorite places to walk is at the Lake Hefner Trails, and the section we walk most frequently takes us through part of Lake Hefner South golf course. All of the trail is out of the bounds of the course, but it is not unusual to find a stray golf ball here and there.
My favorite golf ball to play is the Titleist Pro-V1, but I won't buy them. They're $48 dollars a dozen. That's roughly $4 per ball, so I've never bought any. But when I find one in the woods while looking for my errant shot, I play it. I generally will have a couple of them in my bag, because apparently guys who can plunk down $48 for a dozen golf balls, don't have time to look for them if they land in an inconvenient place.

Carole and I have walked out at the lake 3 times in the last 5 days, and on those walks I have found 4 golf balls; all of them Pro-V1's. That's $16 worth of golf balls. I have been praying a lot in the last few months about what God has in store for my future. I feel that I have received two clear parts of the puzzle- It looks like I am supposed to continue walking with Carole, and that I am supposed to continue playing golf. I can go with that. Until I get the big picture cleared up, I will go with what I know.

Project Square Mile Harvest Time

What is happening over the next several weeks with Highpointe opening its doors to James Dennis Elementary while they are repairing their storm damaged classrooms is awesome. The response of the congregation last Sunday morning was exceptional. The amount of work that it will take to see this done successfully is unimaginable. But the opportunities are limitless.

As I sat in the congregation Sunday morning during the introduction of the principal at James Dennis, I reflected as I am fond of doing. Although the storm which caused this collaboration came up suddenly, this is not a new story in the history of Highpointe. It is a point in the story of Highpointe which was begun several years ago.

Remember a few years ago when Project Square Mile was announced with the intent of offering the church as a resource to our community? We discussed at that time the question each church should ask itself; If our church burned to the ground today, would anyone but the members miss it? The project started slowly with some confusion , as is common when a new direction is charted. But without planting the seeds of reaching out to and resourcing the community that were sown into the membership of Highpointe, this opportunity would not have come our way. The teacher's lunches, football breakfasts, opening the FLiC for testing of students all were signals to the school that Highpointe cares and is available to help. If we hadn't been doing that, Dennis Elementary wouldn't have even thought to call to see if we might be able to help with this emergency. They would have assumed that we wanted to keep our clubhouse to ourselves. So those small gestures which seemed as though they weren't accomplishing much were working underground so they could bear fruit at the appointed time.

We overestimate what we can do in a year, and we underestimate what we can do in five. Planting and reaping don't happen on the same day. Many are present for the harvest who weren't present for the planting and that's okay. That's the way of the harvest. This harvest work of allowing 2nd and 3rd graders to use our classrooms will be much harder than anything Highpointe has done in quite a while. It will be aggravating and messy. Our rooms might not look quite as nice as we are accustomed to. But it is incredibly important. Because to plant seeds and then not harvest the fruit would be inexcusable. And there is no way to estimate where this harvest time will end.

Never despise small beginnings. Project Square Mile didn't seem like all that much while it was going on, but the harvest from the seeds planted then are just now beginning to bear fruit, both in us at Highpointe, and in the community.

I feel sorry for Terry Jones

Hopefully the brouhaha caused by the ill-advised Quran burning event has subsided and that we will not hear from Terry Jones at the national level again. A guy who probably for most of his life has labored faithfully for his small congregation with no notoriety and almost no pay was suddenly known around the world and was put into a situation which was well out of his depth. When I saw him on the national news, I didn't see a fame-seeker glorying in his newfound celebrity status. I saw a guy with a "deer in the headlights" look who couldn't really believe what was going on. I believe him when he says he just wants to do what God tells him to do. I just don't believe that God really told him to burn Qurans and then changed His mind when He saw the world outcry.

God, I'm sure, has gotten used to be being blamed for all kinds of crazy behavior. The "God told me to do it" argument has been used as a trump-proof argument for marital affairs, splitting churches, bombing clinics and many other things which directly contradict God's Word, revealed in the Bible. What I suspect happened, happens in churches and ministries everywhere; not just in small independent churches in rural America.

I am a total outsider in my suppositions, and I could be totally off-track with what I think happened, but knowing what I know about people and church culture, I will guess that this is what happened:

Pastor Jones and several of his friends were talking over a several week period. Being of similar backgrounds and interests, they seldom disagree on important matters, so the conversation built over time. One expressed frustration about the national media's failure to point out the shortcomings of Islam, while consistently railing about the perceived shortcomings of Christianity. Another recounted how images of Christ can be subjected to gross desecration under the guise of free speech, but images of Mohammed are sacrosanct. Eventually, one expressed the desire to stand up to the Muslims and try to square up accounts with them. One guy said he knew where he could get a Quran and they ought to burn it. The idea resonated. They remembered that 9/11 was coming and, being on a Saturday, would be a great time to do it. Over the days, the idea grew until they found that many like-minded friends could accumulate quite a pile of Qurans and they could make an event out of giving a black eye to Islam. It came together so easily, and they were so much in agreement, it had to have the hand of God orchestrating it, didn't it? And shortly, what began as a conversation among friends had morphed into a direct order from God. And a few days later, God changed his mind because of a phone call from the attorney general and a plea from the president to do so.

And now the imams look like smooth intelligent voices of reason and tolerance, and the Pentecostal preacher looks like a hateful, fame-seeking doofus. I feel sorry for Terry Jones. I know he is bewildered and humiliated. He thought he had a good idea but it wasn't.

Be careful what you blame on God.

It's a bad deal

Each week, in thousands of churches across America, (not to mention around the world) in cities large in small, in rented schoolrooms and in magnificent palaces, pastors shepherd their people with the intent of bringing them closer to God so more people can be led to Christ. But those ministries receive no media airtime, because there is no story there. People giving their time and talents to lead people to Christ is not a story, so it goes on unnoticed to the those who are not part of a community of believers. But let a little group do something outrageous and the cameras will appear as if by magic and broadcast it around the world. The group planning to burn Qurans this Saturday is a prime example of this. I could go many different ways with this post at this point, but I will just say this. To many in the world, this is the only glimpse of Christianity that they will see this week. Have people been brought closer to Christ with what they see from this church, or does it confirm their susupicions that Christianity is only for bigoted, hateful, unkind, politically conservative people? We have a much higher responsibility to the unsaved than what this group is trying to accomplish. I grieve for those who are driven farther from Christ because of the antics of a group no one had heard of before this stunt.

The waiting is the hardest part

The great theologian (jk) Tom Petty of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers once wrote a song with the following chorus:

The waiting is the hardest part
Every day you see one more card
You take it on faith, you take it to the heart
The waiting is the hardest part.

I am not one who enjoys waiting. Combined with my genetic predisposition to arrive early for appointments, I find myself regularly in situations that I must endure if I can't find a way to enjoy. I am in a waiting season at the present time. I enjoy the extended devotion and prayer times that this season has afforded, but I am someone who needs to know what I am supposed to be doing. I am also a man, and as such, form much of my feelings of self-worth by what I do. I don't like not having a ready answer when I meet someone new and they ask me what I do. I can get a chuckle from some by saying, "out of work preacher", but that doesn't really cut it in most instances. I know that my complaint is shallow and that my identity is formed in my relationship with Christ, not by the organization name on my business card. But realities being what they are, I am ready to find out what is in store for me, whatever or wherever it is. But until I get clarity, I choose to pursue trust. I trust that none of the experiences of my life which have combined to bring me to this time and place are wasted experiences. I trust that God has prepared good works in advance that I am just now ready to do. I trust that He who began a good work in me will be faithful to complete it until the day of Christ's return. And I trust that when I know my next assignment, He will lead me and give me wisdom to do all that he calls me to do. That's plenty for now. But I still don't like waiting.

Confluences

Several years ago I went on several amazing fishing trips to Alaska with some friends. We fished on many different rivers, but the place that produced more consistently than any other was a place known to us only as "the confluence". Confluence is a really good word. It refers to the place where two rivers come together and one larger river continues. It can be messy at a confluence because the momentum of two distinct currents of water come crashing into each other, causing turbulence. With the turbulence, a lot of mud and debris gets kicked up and the water isn't usually very pretty for some distance until the newer, wider and more powerful river current settles down and goes about its unending task of delivering the contents of the rivers to the ocean.
The turbulence caused by the confluence of two rivers does more than stir up mud and debris. It stirs up underwater bugs, sculpins and minnows and exposes them as food for the fish of the river. The fish will accumulate just below the turbulence, instinctively knowing that food is coming their way. The fish understand that the messy and turbulent places are places of great opportunity. So out in the seeming middle of nowhere is a busy intersection where life and death activities are carried out. There is no reason for the fish to stay in the clear quiet pools for more than a brief rest because the food is at the confluence.
We encounter confluences in the spiritual realm as well; places where the streams of the world and its pursuits comes crashing together with streams of Christ-centered lives. It is in those messy interchanges of life where we find people who are most hungry and who are actively looking for answers. The quiet pools of life don't offer the opportunities to share the gospel in the way that the turbulent confluences do. We can't wait in the beautiful, quiet places if we wish to encounter people who are looking for answers. We must position ourselves in the turbulent, murky places if we want to find those who are truly hungry.
These confluences occur at work, in neighborhoods, and in the marketplace. They happen at tables and in cars. They happen in living rooms and driveways. They happen in the aftermath of disaster. They happen in bad parts of town. That's where we need to be if we want to live Christianly and share our faith. Confluences are opportunities. They are rarely appointments.

Sermons We See

Sermons We See

Edgar Guest

I'd rather see a sermon than hear one any day;

I'd rather one should walk with me than merely tell the way.

The eye's a better pupil and more willing than the ear,

Fine counsel is confusing, but example's always clear;

And the best of all the preachers are the men who live their creeds,

For to see good put in action is what everybody needs.

I soon can learn to do it if you'll let me see it done;

I can watch your hands in action, but your tongue too fast may run.

And the lecture you deliver may be very wise and true,

But I'd rather get my lessons by observing what you do;

For I might misunderstand you and the high advise you give,

But there's no misunderstanding how you act and how you live.

When I see a deed of kindness, I am eager to be kind.

When a weaker brother stumbles and a strong man stays behind

Just to see if he can help him, then the wish grows strong in me

To become as big and thoughtful as I know that friend to be.

And all travelers can witness that the best of guides today

Is not the one who tells them, but the one who shows the way.

One good man teaches many, men believe what they behold;

One deed of kindness noticed is worth forty that are told.

Who stands with men of honor learns to hold his honor dear,

For right living speaks a language which to every one is clear.

Though an able speaker charms me with his eloquence,

I say,I'd rather see a sermon than to hear one, any day.

A Milestone

This week I passed a milestone of sorts. I received my third passport in the mail. That means that I have been travelling internationally for twenty years. I applied for my first passport in 1990 so I could go on a mission trip to Monterey, Mexico with Bill Mash to help with the construction of a medical clinic. That opportunity changed the trajectory of my life. As a boy I watched with eager anticipation when missionaries would come to church. They would have strange and exciting items on display; snake skins, masks, spears, and colorful robes and clothing. They would set up their slid projectors and show pictures of huts and dugout canoes surrounded by exotic and frightening looking people. I always loved looking at the maps but never had any idea that I could be involved in any way personally.

But that first 5 day trip to Mexico started me on a journey that I hope is far from over. God has allowed me to visit some 25 countries since then, and many countries I have visited multiple times. My travel started slowly, but in 2000 it really picked up steam. I spent two years travelling internationally at least once a month and staying gone more than half the time. My expired passports are a record of those travels. The entry and exit stamps and the colorful visa stickers form a tapestry of memories of excitement, anxiety, joy, aggravation, pain, fulfillment, victory and defeat. In short, they are a record of life. The old passports are worn, messy, and marked up. I love them. The new one is fresh and the pages are empty. It holds a promise of many more countries to see, many more missionaries to encourage and come alongside, much more work to do, many more hotels and homes to stay in, and many more local dishes to sample. For the first time in a long time I don't know where my next international adventure will take me as I wait for my next assignment from God. But if the Lord delays his coming and allows me to do so, I plan to take more people for their first view of world mission, come alongside more missionaries, sample more good food, share the Gospel with more people, sleep in more wierd places, fly to more new locations, and thank God everyday that I have been blessed to get to do it.

A poem I found

And now, O Lord--
When I've done drunk my last cup of sorrow—
When I've been called everything but a child of God
When I'm done travelling up the rough side of the mountain--
O--Mary's Baby—When I start down the steep and slippery steps of death—
When this old world begins to rock beneath my feet—
Lower me to my dusty grave in peace
To wait for that great gittin' up morning.
--James Weldon Johnson

Sometimes Things Go Right

This morning I attended an adoption proceeding. It just took a few minutes and was light-hearted. The room was full of people who were there to celebrate this expression of love by a couple who made the choice to change the trajectory of the lives of four siblings; three girls and a boy. There are few human expressions of love as pure as that of adoption. Child rearing is difficult and to begin the process in the midst of previous difficult circumstances makes the job even harder. Four adolescent children are not an attractive option for many people, so it takes a couple who is specially called to step up to plate. It also requires community and I saw that in abundance at the hearing.

In many ways, this was more than an adoption; it was a redemption story. Four children, born into a bad situation, faced an uncertain future. But a redeemer found them and took them in. The children have a new name and have permanence that they can rely on. They know who their family is and they know that their family loves them, because their family chose them.

The judge did a great job of keeping the atmosphere light in the courtroom, but the proceedings carried a great weight of responsibility. The children came into the room as wards of the state. They left as members of a loving family. The parents came in with one child and four children they were caring for but left with five children with all of the attendant lifeling responsibilities.

There is a full day of celebration today. Sometimes things go right.

Oh The Times They Are A'Changin'

I went with Carole this morning to visit the Chickasaw Heritage Center near Sulphur, OK. One of the rooms featured an 8-10 minute video recital of the history of the Chickasaws. I was very interested in the way they portrayed their history as a progression of seasons. They began with summer, which included the origin and development of the Chickasaw nation and its culture. The period of the westward expansion of the Europeans was described as the autumn of their history. Autumn is a transitional season and they were forced to adjust to the influx of people who came from a different worldview. The time of relocation and the period when their nation was under the greatest time of outside control was portrayed as winter. In winter, there is seeming death as the cold temperatures bring dormancy to the world. But they say that since the reestablishment of tribal sovereignty and self governance, the Chickasaws are now in Spring, a time of growth and renewal of life. The Chickasaw nation looks much different than it did in its Summer, but there is renewed excitement as they look toward the future.

I couldn't help but think that the analogy of the seasons is very fitting for our local churches. Churches begin with very little and as they grow they establish traditions and develop a culture. This Summer season can go on for decades if the leadership is stable. But inevitably there comes an autumn season where change comes unasked into the story of the church. Some event triggers a time of change and uncertainty in the congregation. Leaders change. The personality of the church morphs into something that is different. It is nearly always followed by a winter season where to some, the church as it exists today is "dead" because it is so much different than what it once was. People leave. The giving drops. The facilities suffer. When long established programs and traditions are dropped, many see this as evidence of the imminent death of the church.

But, just as with the Chickasaws, there will be a few that are able to look beyond the current situation and they never lose their determination that there will once again be a vibrant growing community of believers. And sure enough, it always happens as this group turns their focus on what is essential; moving in the Spirit of God. The church renews and remakes itself in a way that brings new growth. It reconnects with its neighbors in effective ways. The history that once served as an anchor, keeping the church from moving on is still valuable as a rudder to guide the church to its future. And Spring is naturally followed by Summer, a time of great influence and strength. And Summer is naturally followed by.... All churches today are in one of these seasons. And, should the Lord delay his coming, every church will continue its inexorable shift to the next season. Winter never stays forever. Neither does summer.

Broken Stuff

If you look closely at many of the items displayed in our house, you will find evidence of damage. Little lines will betray a broken place which has been glued back together. Each of these glued places have a story; a child, grandchild or house guest has bumped, dropped or knocked something over, resulting in a break and subsequent repair. Pulled threads in furniture or carpets tell a tale of a snag, or a game gone wrong. But you know what? We're okay with that. Those are the risks that come with hospitality, and we decided years ago that hospitality is more important than maintaining a museum quality house. Proverbs 14:4 says, "Where thre are no oxen the manger is clean, but abundant crops come by the strength of an ox." When Carole and I come to the end of our time here on earth, we aren't hoping that people will say, "I hear they had a beautiful house." We hope they will remember good times they had in our house. We've had a lot of "oxen" in our house and it doesn't always look its best. But there is great strength in the friendships formed in the evenings spent in someone's house. If you don't currently host a small group, consider doing it. It will take a toll on your stuff, but the strength of the friendships formed is a greater reward than the accolades you might receive for having an immaculate house.

Baptismal Plumbing Part 2

Last week I posted about efforts to get the baptistry at Vida Victoriosa functioning. It has not been used in several years because of a leak. Last week we found the leak in the circulating heater assembly. Yesterday I went back to remove the assembly so I could search for a replacement. Some time back, someone had attempted to put solder on the upper conpression fitting in a failed attempt to fix the leak. I was concerned that the solder would make removing the heater very difficult. After all, the area where this assembly is located is cramped and dark. The lower fitting looked as though it would not be difficult at all.

As is the case with most of my projects, I miscalculated. When I put my pipe wrench on the top fitting, it came undone really easily. The solder had not adhered to the piping, so it just peeled off. The lower fitting was a different story. What I thought was pipe sealant on the threads of the that fitting turned out to be "Liquid Nails" construction adhesive. It was never intended to be used as pipe sealant and that fitting was very difficult to remove.

A search on the internet revealed that, of course, the circulating heater I need no longer is made, but I found one which will work with a little creative plumbing. Now I need to find $750 to purchase it. When that has happened and the baptistry is up and running, I will expect to be invited when Martin baptizes new believers in his church for the first time. It will be a great day!

Ties or no ties?

Now and then I will find myself involved in a conversation with someone and the matter of wearing ties in church will come up. Some are ardently in favor of wearing ties, and some are adamantly opposed to wearing ties. I wonder if all of the conversation is really worth it.

A few years ago I worked with a really nice guy who belonged to a denomination which would not allow the wearing of ties or short-sleeved shirts. They believed that ties and short-sleeved shirts were a display of human pride and as such were an affront to God. I am convinced that because they believed in salvation by grace through faith in Jesus I will see them in heaven one day.

I have also known people in my own church who will not set foot in the church sanctuary without a tie. They believe that present themselves in such a casual manner would show disrespect to a Holy God and be an affront to Him. I am convinced that because they believe in salvation by grace through faith in Jesus I will see them in heaven one day.

I believe that God, who was around long before anyone even thought of the idea of neckties doesn't even notice. He is too busy looking on the heart. That is where he is looking for the pride which is an affront to Him.

Baptismal Plumbing

Today I spent a few hours at the Vida Victoriosa garage sale. I enjoy hanging out at V.V. because it is so, well, uncomplicated. What you see when you get there is what you get while you are there. Nobody gets paid for what they do; they do it because they want to.

Today Martin asked Michael Samuelson and me to look at the baptistry because he has some of his church people asking about being baptized and he would love to baptize them in the church where they were saved. I know a little history about that baptistry because when the building where Vida Victoriosa meets was occupied by Inner-City church I learned that the baptistry has a leak, but they didn't know where or how bad it was. They covered the baptistry with plywood and used that area for their drums. We removed the plywood cover from the baptistry and found that the tub itself is in very good shape. That was good, because if it was cracked, repairs would have been really difficult. Michael found the access panel, and an excursion under the platform revealed a poorly done attempt at soldering a joint which should not be soldered. It appeared that all pieces of the circulating system were present and connected, so the next step was to fill the baptistry with water and see where the leak was. We also needed to determine if the circulating system would work. When the tub had water in it, we found the leak right where we expected to find it. It was leaking at the joint with the bad repair attempt. The pump circulated water, but we didn't get to run it long enough to determine if the heater was working.

The next step will be to remove the circulating system and see if it can be dismantled without destroying it. A closer look at the unassembled leaky joint will determine if it can be made to seal. Most likely it is cracked, meaning that the whole circulating system will have to be replaced. A quick search on the internet revealed that a replacement system will cost $600-$900 depending on which one fits. Of course, Vida Victoriosa doesn't have near that much money, so we will have to figure out something. I'll know a lot more after I remove the old system.

I'll keep you posted

Quality or Quantity?

In the Essential Christianity class I am teaching we have been talking about having the confidence to have conversations with non-Christians about our faith. We have been stressing that we do not have to have overwhelming knowledge of every topic and the ability to make impeccable defenses of our theology. However, it is crucial that we know what we believe and why we believe it. It is not our responsibility to convince others of the validity of our beliefs. It is our responsibility to share our beliefs in a rational and respectful manner. I was listening this morning to a podcast of Alistair Begg and he said something I thought was good. He said something to the effect of, "People are more concerned with the quality of your life than with the quantiy of your words." I think that says it very well.

Getting Stronger

I went to the gym for a workout for the first time since my Inca Trail hike. I started out on the elliptical and something interesting happened. The setting and speed which had taken my heartrate to 140 prior to the hike now only took my heartrate to 115. Apparently the difficulty of the hike with its ascents and descents at high altitude strengthened my cardiovascular system.

Okay, you've read enough of my posts to know where this one is headed. The struggle, although difficult at the time, served to make me better and stronger. I have to work the machine at a higher resistance level to acheive the same heart rate as before the struggle. I am stronger now after the hike than I was prior to the hike.

Easy application: When we endure struggles in life, remember that the other side of the struggle brings greater strength than we had going into the struggle. Don't leave the trail early. Finish the task and you will be ready for even greater tasks.

The story

Those of you who read my blog on a regular basis might have noticed a common theme in many of my recent posts. I have talked about people who have left comfort to plunge into the unknown or have done things which appeared to be contrary to conventional wisdom. Those stories have been at the forefront of my thinking because I have been following those same leadings. Yesterday morning I announced that I was leaving my post as business administrator and facilities manager at Highpointe. I would have preferred to have announced that I knew what was coming next, but for the second time in five years I am stepping out without knowing where my foot will land.

In 2003 I first began to feel stirrings toward ministry. I was convinced at the time that I would always be involved in lay ministry, but a hunger began to grow to preach and to lead. In the fall of 2005, I felt God stirring me up to leave a wonderful well-paying job. The only instruction I was given was to "serve humbly". I quit the job and began to look for opportunities to serve. I stayed busy, because someone who is willing to serve will always find something to do. Then in the summer of 2006 we were in a tight place as a church and I volunteered to step in as business administrator and facilities guy until the crisis was passed. God was faithful and in a few months the church was back on its feet again financially. By that time I was realizing that I needed to pursue ministry credentials and I received my license to preach in 2007. Two years later I completed the requirements and was granted ordination.

I have never enjoyed the details of administration. My strengths are more aligned with leadership, communication, and encouragement; all conceptual. The nitty gritty of check requests, payroll, budgets, and thermostat settings, although important, have always been something I have forced myself to deal with. Although I felt an increasing desire to preach and to lead, it came increasingly clear that my future in that type of ministry would not be at Highpointe. As I have said to many of my friends, "I didn't work to receive ordination so that I could write better checks."

So when Pastor Jerod arrived I had a frank conversation with him saying that I was waiting for God to reveal his next assignment for me, and that I most likely wouldn't be around for long. We made a committment to each other to be honest and transparent in our relationship and in a conversation at lunch we both realized that Matt Stomprud was the right guy to do what I had been doing. Pastor Jerod would have been willing to wait as long as I asked for to make the change, but it would have been selfish on my part to delay this good plan.

So here I am again, without a job, waiting on God's next assignment. I'm really don't have any idea what or where it will be but I know that the desires I have are from him, and he will give me an outlet for this pressure of annointing that has been building up within me.

The story contnues....

Counterintuitive

A few weeks ago when we went whitewater rafting on the Urumbamba River in Peru, we went through the obligatory orientation prior to entering the water. Standing on dry land, the guide told us about rowing motions, the orders the guide might give, and the importance of obeying instructions immediately without trying to figure out the reason for the instruction. Standing firmly on the ground, I half-listened, much the same way as the way I listen to the flight attendant tell me about in the unlikely event of a water landing blah, blah, blah.

Moving water has a lot of power. A knee-deep current can sweep you off your feet if you aren't paying attention, and the power of a river is relentless. No one can turn it off and allow you to reset. The unfortunate fact is that the exceptional safety record of rafting companies gives the impression that what we are doing is not really dangerous, when in fact, any river can kill in the right circumstances.

One of the most important rules of rafting in whitewater is also one of the most counterintuitive. If your raft comes broadside against a boulder, the rule is for everyone to converge on the side against the boulder. The normal way of thinking would be that if we want to get away from the boulder, get on the side of the raft away from the boulder, but that thought will turn your raft over and spill you out into the fast moving icy current. By concentrating all of the weight of the passengers near the obstacle, the current will catch the lighter side and gently sweep the raft around the boulder. If you lean away from the obstacle, the water will pour into the raft and cause it to flip. So hugging the rock gets you away from the rock. Avoiding the rock puts you in the drink.

Sometimes serving the Lord is counterintuitive. We see an obstacle or challenge in our lives and our natural inclination is to move as far away from it as possible. Many times, however, God wants us to move toward the challenge and to allow Him to sweep us around it. When we insist on trying out our own efforts and ideas first, it just makes it more difficult for us, and can cause us to have many unecessary scary swims.

When the theoretical becomes reality

A couple of weeks ago I stood in line with the others in our group, awaiting entrance to the Inca Trail. Each of us had the required permit and were waiting just to check in. Beyond us lay a suspension bridge which crossed the Urumbamba River and then, .... the unknown. Until that point, hiking the Inca Trail was a concept; an idea. It was easy to visit with friends and casually mention that I planned "To hike the Inca Trail from Cuzco to Macchu Picchu." It sounded so exotic and awesome. But as I stood in line, looking across the river to the trailhead, suddenly the reality of what I was about to do came crashing in around me. I had paid the money, bought the plane tickets, packed the gear, and traveled to Peru, but the reality is that I had no idea what was going to happen next. I had the stuff on the list of stuff to have. I had spent significant time training as best I could. I arrived in Cuzco a day early to have an extra day to help with acclimatizing to the altitude, but all of that was theoretical. I could have stopped all of that at any time. But across that bridge lay reality. Once across that bridge there would be no turning back. What ever realities were over there had to be be faced and I would not be coming back to that trailhead. I would be emerging from the trail some 47 kilometers away and four days later in a place much different from the starting point. And the reality was much different than my concept. The path was steeper and more uneven than I had imagined. If I knew at the beginning what I know now, I would have prepared differently. But that is the way of life, isn't it? We enter the reality of life with only theoretical preparation. Some decide to return to the hotel and wait for the group to return; content to hear other's stories of adventure. But to those who cross the bridge to reality and stay on the trail, there are undescribable vistas to be seen, and triumphs to be won. There were times on the trail when the strength of my will had to make up for deficiencies in the strength of my legs. There were times when I viewed with tear-filled eyes the grandeur of God's creation and marvelled at the intelligence that God placed in the Inca people hundreds of years ago to build structures which have survived earthquakes and conquistidors. And I thanked God that a goofy middle-aged goober such as I would be blessed to take part in an adventure such as this. The theoretical was good, but the reality was amazing.

I made it back!

I made it back from my Peru adventure Saturday afternoon. The trip home was long and tough even though each individual flight went smoothly. Mark & I got up Friday morning and checked out of our hotel in Cuzco. After having one last breakfast with friends at "The Meeting Place" cafe, we went to the airport and checked in. We flew on TACA, which years ago jokingly stood for "Take A Chance Airlines". Now, however, they fly new, very clean and professional planes. When we landed in Lima, I knew that we faced an 11 hour layover, but I wasn't worried. I have had extended layovers in Lima before and I had been introduced by my friend Matt Wilkie to LarcoMar, which is a large, three level American style mall with everything you would expect to find in a mall. We even had the taxi situation nailed because Joel, who organized our adventure called a taxi driver friend of him and had him wait for us with a sign with our names on it when we came out of the baggage claim area. We felt like VIPs when Luis, in his black suit, whisked us away from the unwashed hordes who were resigned to flagging down cabs. We even arranged for him to come back and pick us up at 8:30 that night to take us back to the airport.

We had lunch at Chili's and went to a movie, Crazy Heart (or Loco Corazone). It was in English with Spanish sub-titles. Ok, as an aside, I am accumulating too many of these stories to be funny any more. When I bought the tickets, the young lady asked me if I qualified for the senior discount. I said, "Yo tengo cinquenta y tres anos. " (Which being interpreted means, "I'm fifty freaking three years old. If that qualifies for a senior discount, then sign me up. I just hiked the Inca Trail, for pete's sake.) She just smiled and said that I owed for a full price ticket. Anyway, it served to use up more than 2 hours of our layover time. Neither of us are much in the way of shoppers, so we wandered around until we had time to eat supper and meet Luis for our return to el aeropuerto. He was there right on time and there was no tension in the cab ride, unlike many I have experienced in Peru.

When we were reunited with our luggage, which we had stored at a paid storage area at the airport, we found that our flight had been delayed from 11:55pm to 2:25am. Before it was all over, departure time was closer to 3:45am. I sacked out for an hour or so in an airport chair, but It was still rough to get around when flight time came. On the flight I just wanted to sleep, so I did that as much as I could. When we arrived in Houston, we went through passport control and customs without any problems. The only problem was that we had nearly three hours to wait for our plane to OKC, so I ended up laying on the floor in a hallway for a couple of hours while I waited. The flight to OKC was only an hour long, but I smelled bad, my teeth need brushing, I needed a good meal and a good night's sleep. All of them were waiting for me at home. After a hot shower, a meal, and good conversation with my favorite person in the world, (Carole, in case you were wondering) I enjoyed a great night's sleep. And to top it off, I got to see my church friends this morning. What a great trip!

I saw something I liked today

Today I saw something I liked. As I have traveled around the world it is very common to see children on the street selling something or begging. It is also very common to see those same children treated rudely or ignored. I know that they suffer every kind of abuse imagineable as they scrape together a living, sometimes under the pressure of an adult who takes advantage of them. By necessity, I have to say no to the vast majority of their requests to buy something or to let them shine my shoes, but I always try to be kind in the way I say no. Many times my kindness means that they persist much longer than if I were rude, but I cannot bring myself to send them away rudely or just ignore them. Several times on this trip I have purchased trinkets or had my shoes shined. I guess I have a yes face.

Today I seated myself on a window ledge outside of a store while those I was walking with were inside. It was a beautiful clear day and people were everywhere. I watched them come and go. Across the street from where I was seated there was an upscale panaderia, or bakery. The folks who entered this bakery wore the uniform of the well to do. I was not paying any particular attention to the panaderia until I heard someone whistle the type of whistle used to get someones attention. I looked for the source of the whistle and saw a man in white, wearing a bakers hat emerge from a side door. He was whistling at a couple of boys, maybe 10 or 12 years ole. The boys stopped and looked at the man. I saw him hand the boys a couple of baked items, bread of some sort. One boy took the bread, and handed a piece to his friend. The man disappeared back into the door, the boys began to eat the bread and the whole episode was over in much less time than it took to tell it.

A smile crossed my face as I watched that simple act of kindness. I thanked God that I had the opportunity to sit on a window ledge in Cuzco, Peru and observe grace in action. Tears ran down my cheeks as I reflected on what I saw. They are welling up again while I type.

Still in Peru

Today we watched parades in the Plaza de Armas here in Cuzco. June is a month of festivals which will culminate tomorrow with Inti Raymi. It celebrates the Winter Solstice. (Remember it is winter here in the Southern Hemisphere.) This afternoon I went to a fair which felt very similar to our State Fair, albeit much smaller. There were cattle, with the requisite dairy cattle, there were sheep, and there were pigs. What reminded me that we were not in Oklahoma were the stalls of llamas, aplacas and vicunias. There was a large building with booths where vendors did their best to gain your attention by shouting, amigo! amigo! so they could try to sell you their version of soya chicharrones or herbal tea.

Tonight we are attending a music concert which will feature bands of many different genres of music. It has been great. I have several ideas for posts concerning the early activities of rafting, trekking and paragliding, but I want to wait until I get home to do those. But I am anticipating my return home. I have loved every minute of my time here, but home is where Carole is, and she is not here. I also know that God has some new and challenging things in store for me and I cant wait to find out what they are.

Saying Goodbye

This morning I said goodbye to the rest of the team. This group was really great. Each guy had something to contribute to the effort and to the conversation. Some were really fit and some were like me, but no one really got in someone else's way. Yesterday we went paragliding. I had anticipated that it would have an initial 10 to 15 seconds of terror before it got awesome but I was wrong. The wind filled the paragliding sail, I ran in tandem with my pilot and we were lifted into the air and began to fly without any noise save the sound of the wind rushing past my face. We caught thermals and rose. We turned and dropped. We flew over rivers and fields surrounded by mountains. Much too soon we headed down toward terra firma where some cattle were grazing. We passed just a few feet above a cow and came to a stop about five feet from a grazing bull. Niether seemed to be bothered by the close proximity of a duo of humans followed by a bright red cloud of nylon. We gathered up the equipment and walked a few yards to the road where I met up with Justin, one of the other team members. We recounted our experiences to each other as we waited for the van to come and pick us up.

This morning as we shared breakfast together, I realized that in the course of a week these guys who I ate chicken with just a week earlier (whose names I thought I would never get straight) had become friends. We have a shared struggle and shared victories and laughs. The members of this group are the only people who will ever be a part of this group ad I am richer for having been part of it.

More than I expected

Well, we finished the hike on the Inca Trail. It was the most difficult physical challenge that I ever encountered. Three and a half days of hiking uphill and down on uneven terrain at altitudes approaching 14000 feet may not sound like a lot of fun, but I had a blast. We had really good guys in our group with ages ranging from 14 to 53 (me). I will tell the tale in much more detail when I get home. The views were unimaginably breathtaking, the nights were cold but the sleeping bags were warm, the food was good and the conversation was great. Today we are relaxing and that's a good thing. My legs are sore. I just had my first straight razor shave in a Peruvean barber shop to scrape away a 5 day accumulation of whiskers. Tomorrow I am doing perhaps the scariest thing I have done to date when we go paragliding over the Sacred Valley. I will strap into a winged contraption with some guy I have never met and run off of a perfectly good cliff. Hopefully I will get to tell you how that went. :)

Anyway, I am missing Carole and everyone else, but so far this has been one whale of a good adventure.

Cuzco day 2

I have been here a full day now. The rest of the team is arriving today and i am feeling better about my place in it. My fear was that everyone else on the team would be 25 year old marathon runners, but there seems to be a good mix of age groups and personalities. There sooms to be real opportunities for great conversation on the trail, assuming I can breath enough to walk and talk at the same time. My vision is not so good up close this morning, which I expected. It always happens when I get to high altitudes, so I will apologize in advance for any typos that may occur in my posts from here.

Last night I attended The Church at San Blas. Pastored by Joel Malm, the guy who organized this trip, it was a really interesting and enjoyable experience. I will talk about it more in detail later. Tomorrow we are going white water rafting. It will be freezing cold, but thoroughly exhilarating.

More to come......

I made it to Cusco

Well, we made it to Cusco. The trip went as smoothly as it could. All three planes were on time, there was no bad weather, and all luggage arrived on the same planes as we did. We met our friends and the guide, checked in the hotel, had breakfast, and after a shower, will lay down for a nap. There is no place to lay down in the Lima airport, so I was up essentially all night. The weather here is clear and cold, and spirits are high. I will post again, soon.

Ready to go

Well, I'm tidying up loose ends in preparation for my Peru adventure. I have made it through the time I have before every international trip when I think things would be a lot easier if I just didn't go. I am now to the point where I am ready to head for the airport and get started.

I plan on posting pictures on facebook and I expect that I will able to blog from Cusco. Since we are staying a few extra days to visit friends of Marks, I am expecting to get the opportunity to eat all of my favorite Peruvian foods, and maybe even find some new favorites. I'm looking forward to lomo saltado, anticucho, and ceviche. I want to sip coffee in local streetside cafes. I want to buy souveniers from the interesting looking ladies from the hills, with their straw hats and brightly colored shawls. I wish that Carole could come. Carole wishes she could come. She loves this stuff as much as I do. But the hike is a guys only event.

I expect each day to have a moment where I wipe tears away as I reflect on how blessed I am to get to do stuff like this.

Aren't these newfangled phones something else. I now have mobil blogging capability. I could blog from the golf course now if I wanted to. But I wouldn't want to because I get aggravated at guys who won't stay off their phones while playing. If you're that important you should have stayed at work. Ok, nice rant. Now back to our regularly scheduled program.

Which one is best?

I began daily Bible reading back in 1991 and have kept it up ever since. It has become a part of my day that I really don't want to do without. Over the course of the nearly 20 years of daily reading, I have read the Bible through more than 15 times and in 7 different translations. I am currently reading it through in the English Standard Version.
I'm not saying any of this to brag; I'm saying this so you will understand the point I try to make about Bible translations. I have gained great comfort in reading these different translations because I find that different scholars in different eras have gone to the same texts and have translated essentially the same story. I will never be able to read Greek, Hebrew, or Aramaic, so I have to trust in the pure motives of scholars I will never meet to translate accurately. When I see that I am led to the same God in the same way in translations as varied as the King James and the Message, I take comfort that the translations are accurate in conveying the story of God's love for mankind and Jesus' substituionary death and resurrection.
I hear people champion different versions and it's fine to have a favorite. I have one version I prefer to read, a different one I prefer to study from, and another one I prefer to preach from. It is true when people say that the best translation is the one that you will actually read. Get started today if you don't currently do daily Bible reading. You'll be the better for it.

Discipline Frustration

Recently I have been having meals with pastor friends. I always like to hear their stories of how they came to be pastors. Most of them had no plans to pastor until God arrested their heart and mind and they couldn't be satisfied doing anything else. Their stories are charmingly similar. I think these stories reveal the wisdom in the saying that if someone can be happy doing something else, they should do something else. Pastoring is tough. It is so much more than preaching twice on Sunday and eating fried chicken the rest of the week.
I also like to hear what pastors say about their churches. What a pastor says about his church reveals a lot about himself. It is amazing how these pastors I have been visiting with love their churches even in the midst of sustained frustration. The frustrations aren't typically with the size of their church although they all want more people to come. They aren't frustrated with their facilities even though all of them have dreams of expansion and remodeling. Their frustrations lie with the fact that people today won't let their pastor love them enough to allow him to discipline them. In our consumer driven culture, if something happens that I don't like there is another church around the corner that will allow me to attend and they will be happy to cash my contributions. As a result, we have many churches where people stay as long as nothing bothers them. They are looking for a warm fuzzy, not spiritual growth. They will pay well for a good service. The pastor feels that he is faced with a dilemma; either cater to the desires of the congregation and know that he is falling short of what God has called him to do, or to preach the whole counsel of God and risk a churning attendance of people who won't stay for the unpleasant parts of the Bible instruction. Some churches churn pastors instead of people.
Church is people. Without people there is no church. But preaching is a high calling. There are eternities at stake. Both in the church and in the neighborhood.

About You, or About God?

Do you read the Bible regularly? Do you find it interesting, or do you do it because you think you are supposed to? I have found that many people read the Bible to see what it says to them or about how they should act. When they read it in that context, most of the Bible doesn't apply to them. The result many times is that most of the Bible remains unread. Either the person loses interest in daily Bible reading, or he just stays with the parts that apply to him. In either case, the individual is missing out on the great living and active power of the Bible.
If we read the Bible to see what it says about God, then every word is applicable. Even the long geneologies and all of the details about measurements and ceremonies speak about God's personality and His love for us. As we learn more about the nature of God, we learn how we as individuals should live. Rather than looking for a snippet of scripture that speaks directly to our situations, we look into the entire body of scripture to find the consistent themes that run through both the Old Testament and the New about God's desires for us and His relationship to us. Then when someone comes to us with some teaching or doctrine, we can weigh it against the whole counsel of God instead of relying on a verse or two that may be taken out of context. And we will not be "carried away by every wind of doctrine".
Read the Bible to see what it says about God instead of what it says to you. You'll never get tired of doing that. And it will speak to you.

Getting Close!

I'm getting down to the last couple of weeks until my Peru adventure. Last Saturday I made the walk around the lake and during the last three miles the ends of my toes started hurting. When I got home my toes were really sore to the touch. I decided that my boots must be just a little too small, so I bought a new pair. With a new pair comes a new break-in period, so I am wearing the new boots most of the time. So far, so good. My goal is to do the 10 mile walk around the lake at least 5 more times before we leave. I haven't lost as much weight as I wanted to, but I feel pretty good. I know I will be huffing and puffing at the high altitudes, but I plan to keep a positive attitude through it all. I did have a moment of panic a few days ago. I began to wonder if there would be coffee at breakfast on the trail. I don't want to go through caffeine withdrawl at the same time I am battling the altitude, so I e-mailed the outfitter. He said there "should be", and I thought, "Of course, there should be. My question is Will there be?" So, I plan to bring an emergency supply of instant (gag) coffee just in case. After my oilfield years, I no longer get a buzz from coffee. It is just a matter of not letting my caffeine level drop.

Anyway, I'm really looking forward to the trip. Don't hate me because I have excellent adventures.

Succor or Sucker?

Succor is a word that is not used much these days. It means relief, aid, or assistance. In the hours following last Sunday night's hailstorm my neighborhood was inundated with companies who professed to offer succor. They all promised to be my best friend, my advocate, and the repairer of my home. I couldn't help but wonder about some of them. I wondered if they were at my door to give succor, or were they there looking for a sucker? I prefer to give my repair work to someone I already know and have a level of trust with.

We should not think it strange when we meet someone who is skeptical when we make the offer of salvation. If we just show up offering a best friend, an advocate and the repairer of their lives, they may wonder if we are offering succor, or looking for a sucker. That is why preachers constantly hammer on the topic of relationships. When someone reaches a spiritual crisis moment, they are most likely to turn to someone they can trust to give succor. A stranger might just be looking for a sucker.

No Problems

This morning I had breakfast with a pastor friend of mine. We were commiserating about the same things pastors always talk about at some point: We have good people but would like to have more.
We could do more ministry with more money.
We love our buildings but they sure can be trouble some times.
God is faithful despite our own shortcomings.

My friend showed me an article in this morning's newspaper about a state budget agreement that addresses a projected $1.6 billion deficit. He said, "I guess we don't really have any problems, do we?"

Are You Willing?

I don't know how many of you know who Francis Chan is but he pastors a significant church in California. This Sunday he announced to his church that he feels God has led him to resign and go in a different direction. There is no moral failing, no unrest in the church. As a matter of fact, things were moving along extremely well, but God called him in a different direction. He said that he would have been a hypocrite if he had ignored God's call and remained doing what was easy and effective.

A few years ago, Earl Creps left a life of influence and impact as a leader in the AGTS (Assemblies of God Theological Seminary) and took a US Missions assignment to plant a church in Berkeley, California. He and his wife sold their comfortable house in Missouri and moved to a market where houses are insanely expensive and are following the call of God in their late 50's.

If God were to ask me to leave the comfort of Highpointe and do something completely different, would I do it? Would you? It depends on if we really believe what we say about God.

One Person's Impact

Thursday evening Carole and I attended a reception for a good friend of ours, Matt Wilkie. We met Matt through Book of Hope (now One Hope) several years ago and I have been on a number of trips in several countries with him. Matt currently heads up the intern program for Convoy of Hope and takes these young people to incredible places where they do personal evangelism and compassion ministry. My mind boggled as I thought of the impact this one young man has had for the Kingdom because he was willing to be used. There is no counting this side of Heaven to know how many people have received the Good News, how many people have been helped in practical ways, and how many people on teams he has led now have a greater understanding of the worldwide scope of God's love for His creation through Matt's availability.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: Only a living God can cause an otherwise normal person to pour out his life on behalf of others like God is doing through Matt Wilkie. You go, God!

Oilfield Savior

Back in my oilfield days I did directional drilling. I had the knowledge and equipment to make a wellbore go in any direction and direct it to a target thousands of feet below the surface. I was involved in doing that on hundreds, if not thousands of wells during the 20+ years I worked in that business. I certified the legal bottomhole location of those wells without ever actually being at the bottom of even one of them to see if it was actually where I said it was.
I used to tell people that what I sold was faith. When I certified a result, it was not based on my actual visit to the bottom of the well; it was based on our industry proven methodology, the known accuracy of the instruments as they underwent calibration on the surface, and the best practices of the drilling operation. In other words, I could describe what we did. You had to believe that what we did actually acheived the results we certified. By being consistent and transparent in the way we did things we earned the trust of our customers.
Leading people to Christ is much the same way. I can tell them what the Bible says. I can give them instruction. But there is a point when each person has to believe that what the Bible says is true. That point where each person believes that by saying out loud that Jesus is Lord and believing in the depths of your heart that Jesus is the resurrected Savior is enough to receive complete forgiveness from sin. I can't take someone to that place in my heart where the evidence resides. I can only make sure that my life lines up with my words and that I am consistently and transparently living what I say I believe.

Thanks, Pointe Men!

Wow, the Pointe Men work day at HIghpointe was a great success! We had over thirty men, many with their sons, come to have breakfast and then work on the church facility. I saw young men working with older men who they might not have known prior. I saw guys using their vocational skills to help the work, and I saw men working far out of their normal area of expertise. As a result we got much more done today than I thought was possible. I am continually blessed and amazed at what is going on at Highpointe. Thanks, Pointe Men, for a great day of work for your church!

Pointe Men stuff

This Saturday we will be having a Pointe Men breakfast and work day here at Highpointe. Guys who show up at 9am will be treated to a hot, high cholesterol breakfast. Then we will work for a while. Some will help Nelson Alfaro change the light bulbs in the parking lot so they will all be working again. Some will help Michael Weed put in a door and frame up a wall for a new closet. If there are any men left, I have several things around the church which could use some attention, none of which will require much skill or specialized tools. Donovan Dufrene, our new Pointe Men director (Yay for Donovan!!!) will be officially installed in his new position at this event.

We are really blessed to have many guys like Nelson, Michael, and Donovan attending Highpointe. Even if you can't stay and work you should come to the breakfast and enjoy being around some of the best guys around!

Average is okay

I have always thought of myself as being adequate at many things. I often joke about eating being the only thing I do really well. But I don't stress over that too much because since I am willing to use my adequateness in many situations, I get to do a lot of different things, and since I do a lot of things, people think that I am above average.
By the very definition of the word, most of us are average. But many average people do many spectacular things every day. Very few extraordinary people do roofing, but a well installed roof will protect a house and its occupants for years. What goes wrong with average people is that we judge ourselves against the above average people we see. If we allow our comparison to the above average people to keep us from participating, we will miss out on a lot of experiences. I will always be a high handicap golfer. But just because I can't play at the level of the guys I see on television on Sunday afternoon, it doesn't mean that I can't enjoy playing golf.
Here is how us average people can become above average: Since the average person allows his averageness to keep him from participating in something that he is average at, participate. Just get involved. That alone will move you out of the average ranks into the above average ranks.
Stop using the thought that you aren't exceptional to keep you from doing something you want to do. By overcoming that average tendency, you will become exceptional. You don't have to be the best. You just have to give your best.

My Brief Running Career

Early Sunday morning I got up and headed downtown to participate in the Memorial Marathon Relay. As I have been fond of saying recently, I don't enjoy running, but I entered at the request of my daughter, Elizabeth. She put together a team and asked it I would participate. I had two stipulations: I had to run one of the shorter legs of the relay and I had to be finished with my leg in time to go to church.

I ended up running the second leg which is 5k (3.1 miles). The runner of the first leg made excellent time and I received the microchip (not the baton) at 7:20. There was a large crowd at the transfer point and it was kind of funny for them to be cheering for me as I headed into the mass of runners. All along the way people were in their yards as I started running. They were cheering, encouraging and offering high fives. At one place they were handing out cups of Powerade. My mouth and throat were dry from all of the panting I was doing so I grabbed a cup. I have seen marathoners on TV who take a drink and throw the cup aside. I got some of it in my mouth as I attemped to drink while running, but most of it went down my chin. I tossed the cup aside. It felt cool to "litter legally". Then I saw the trash cans. I'm not all that. I should have thrown it away properly.

Thirty six minutes after I began I came to the transport point where I handed the microchip to the next runner. My part was over. I collected my medal, grabbed a bottle of water and headed to the place where the shuttle bus was to take me back downtown so I could get back to my car. There weren't enough buses, so I waited two hours to get on a bus. When a bus would appear, the hundreds of runners who, like me, had just finished their segment, would crowd toward the door. All of the encouragement, cheering and high-fiving was over. It was now every man for himself.

I finished running a few minuted before 8. I got home at 10:30. The morning worship service starts at 10:30. I dashed into the house, changed clothes without showering and headed for church. I got there at 10:50.

I'm glad I did it, but it didn't wake a new passion for running in me. I'm pretty sure I won't do it again, but who knows?

The Church that didn't change has changed

My dad lives in the house I grew up in. We moved in in 1959. It was a pretty new neighborhood then. Just up the street from that house a church was built. It must have been around 1962 or 63 because I remember when the foundation was being dug, there was a large hole in the ground and all the kids in the neighborhood played in that hole for a day or two. When finished, it was an attractive and modern looking building. It wasn't our brand of church, so we never visited there. A boy I went to grade school with was the son of the founding pastor. I have never been inside of the building, but I have ridden bicycles and minibikes for miles and miles on its parking lot. That building is one of the constants in the neighborhood. It always looked the same. The only changes were a new pastor's name when the founding pastor died, and sometime in the late 80's a rock garden was put on what was formerly a flower garden.

Now when I drive by it on my regular visits with Dad, I see a tired old building that is in disrepair. The fascia boards are rotted and falling off in places. The rock garden is filled with weeds. It doesn't look attractive and modern any more. It is depressing to me, because I remember when it was built. It's younger than I am. Buildings are supposed to last longer than that. As I said before, I have never set foot in the place but I can tell you its story by what I have seen over the years.

The church was built in the early 60's by a group of people who saw the need for a church in the neighborhood. Vision was cast, pledges were made, money was raised, and a building was built. With great excitement the folks began worshipping together. Their kids grew up and attended functions. They had lifelong friends at the church and they loved meeting together. They liked the way things were and never changed a thing. When their kids grew up, however, they didn't stay in the neighborhood or the church. They moved on. The original members, in their twenties and thirties back in 1962, are now in their seventies and eighties. Many have died off or moved into assisted living centers in another neighborhood. Attendance declined and finances dwindled. Now there are not enough people in the church to maintain the facilities, much less to upgrade them. And now a building, lacking maintenance, is deteriorating rapidly. Because they didn't change, the building is changing in a way that reflects what is going on inside.

I can tell you with certainty that not everyone in that neighborhood is going to a church. There is still a need for a gospel presence there, but the vision is not there. Vision was replaced with comfort and the enjoyment of long-time friends instead of building the Kingdom.

I am grateful that I don't see that kind of future for Highpointe. Our seniors are wonderful people who realize the need to "give the church" to the next generation. Our middle aged folks continue their financial and spiritual support of current vision. Our young people are passionate and gifted in ways that astound me. As we again begin to grow in excitement and numbers, our facility will reflect it. We are already talking years ahead about ideas to keep the outside appearance of our facility as an accurate representation of the spiritual heart which is beating inside. Stay encouraged and excited. Great days are ahead!