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"Old Folks" Can Change!

I continue to be amazed at what God does.  Almost everyday I notice a few things (God does many things everyday that I do not notice...my fault, not God's) that God performs to wake me up to His awesomeness.  One such occurrence happened a few weeks ago and I continue to be astonished.

As many of you know, the church members of Hidden Valley Church, voted on October 8th, to dissolve their congregation as an entity, and to join the vision and mission of New Vintage Church.  They also chose to give NVC their debt-free building and assets.  Wow!

Everyone I tell of this are shocked and amazed!  Who gives away their church, history, authority, building and assets?  Most hang onto those elements as long as they can.  Most want church to be "their way", and not allow anything to change.  We often things "old folks" don't change.  That they are stuck in their ways.  That life has to be done their way!

As I become closer in age to those "old folks" I can acknowledge that it is easy to become stuck in a way of thinking and not want to change.  Human conditioning can often take over so that God and His power move from plain sight.  But what happened in the situation at Hidden Valley Church, was for people to allow God to be seen and move in a powerful way.  The average age of the church membership at Hidden Valley is 64.  And praise be to God for what He has done.

So may I keep allowing God to break my pride so that He may be seen instead of me!  How about you?  What lessons do you learn from this selflessness?

In My Seat - A Pilot's Story from Sept 10th - 11th

 

My Husband Died!

Last evening I heard those terrible words "my husband died."  My heart sank.  I was afraid that was the message I would hear, but the message still stung.  She was my back yard neighbor.  Her husband of almost 31 years had ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease and suddenly took a turn for the worse about a week ago. 

My wife encountered our back yard neighbor a few weeks ago.  The neighbor had been shooting her BB gun in an attempt to kill or scare ground squirrels that were digging holes in her backyard.  The reason my wife encountered her was because one of our back yard windows had been hit and shattered into a few hundred pieces.

When my wife went around the corner to talk with our neighbor, she found out the story of what was going on in the house.  "Craig", the husband, was suffering the terrible effects of the disease.  No pain, just loss.  He first loss his voice about 2 years ago and then legs and then arms.  In the last few weeks everything just began to stop except his mind.  He had full capacity of his mind though none of his body would work.  What a tragedy!

An ambulance came a week before he passed from this life to take him to a local hospital.  They asked her if she had anyone to contact or went to church anywhere.  She remembered my name and the hospital chaplain left me 2 voice mail messages that I did not receive until last night.  I tried calling the hospital but they did not have Craig in their database as a patient.  I left the house quickly and went to her door.  She was home.  Asked me to come in and told me the news, "my husband died."

I apologized for not getting the message sooner, for not being there for her and him.  She told me about their marriage.  Their life.  The closing moments.  We prayed and I went home and hugged my wife for a long time.  Treasuring moments is crucial especially in the midst of tragedy.  Encouraging others is key all of the time, in a time and place in which criticism is so rampant.  Hug.  Love.  Adore.  Speak words of kindness.  Pray for peace for those suffering loss.  God always receives our messages and cares!

Wrestling with Evil as 9/11 Approaches!

I'm watching the TV shows that replay the details of September 11, 2001.  It is amazing the information that is now available as broadcasts have prepared for the 10 year anniversay.  I continue to be shocked at what our country went through on that day.  The planning.  The preparation.  The evil to destroy lives.

It is a day that I'll never forget.  Where I was.  What I saw.  The feelings I can't even describe.  And I was 3000 miles away.  I've been through enough of my own tragedies and difficulties, but nothing like what those in Pennsylvania, New York and Washington, D.C. went through as the jetliners crashed into fields and buildings.  I've watched shows that portray the stories of those who survived in the buildings as the crash occurs.  I cannot imagine their nightmares.

I cannot imagine knowing my loved one was lost in any of those catastrophes.  I've read many stories of those who have to go on after that day...the day of their loved ones passing.  I've heard the reactions of those who received the calls from loved ones in the planes as death was almost certain.  I continue to wrestle with those realities.

Yet, these kinds of situations are nothing new.  Humans have dealt with the reality of evil since the times of Adam and Eve having children.  Anger builds up in human hearts and unbelievable actions take place from that darkness inside people.  Some people will take the life of another because of their belief system and those who watch will develop a hatred for that belief system.

And God watches.  Intervenes.  Stops some destruction and allow other tragedies occur.  I do not attempt to completely understand the mind of God, but know that He is still God regardless of what I understand.  God is greater than the human mind, even though he created the mind we use to comprehend and understand Him.  God is greater than our understanding.  God is greater than any beautiful sunrise or sunset and greater than any hurricane or tornado.  God is God and I am not.  So I humbly submit myself to Him.  I submit my questions and am at peace.  One day he has promised to make all things right.  I long for that day.  And I'm sure that when I see him face to face, all my concerns and questions will disappear.

Hurricane Season Is Here!

Each fall season brings a change in weather patterns around the globe as the sun slips southward.  Cooler temperatures take shape in most areas of the country and storms begin to form in the waters from Africa to America.  The East coast saw it's first major storm of the year last weekend as Irene moved northward and more storms are forming.  Some reach land and others fall of into the sea from which they began.

I am not a meteorologist nor know much about weather, but always love to watch the power of the world's forces God has made.  God put into place as he created the world dynamic forces that came into place as sin began.  God later pinned through his writer Paul, that the whole creation groans in eager expectation for its release as the world finally ceases to exist.  Storms come and go.  Fires and floods occur.  Tornadoes and droughts.  Part of the reminders of God that he is still in control of all things.

May all of us not wait for the storms, though some of us do, to fall to our knees to recall the greatness of His Majesty.  God is all powerful, but must be adored and worshipped.  That is His right and calling.  Not simply because he demands it, but because he deserves it.  We will never completely understand who He is or what He does, but He still IS!

The heavens declare the glory of God.  The stars demonstrate his perfection and holiness.  The sun and moon reflect his goodness and love.  Stop today.  Look up or around.  God is everywhere.  Don't wait for the storm to arrive.  Begin today.

Can Your Church Change?

Can your church change?  I've been a part of a few churches in my life.  Some as a child, teen, college and as an adult.  Some people have been only a part of a single church.  They were born in that church and have never or rarely left.  Some churches change preachers, elders, praise team or song leaders.  Some churches rearrange the seats, stage, lighting, sound equipment and lobby.  Some sell their building and move to new locations.

But when I ask the question about change, what I'm referring to is real change.  Repentance kind of change.  I've been heading in one direction and I alter the course at least 180 degrees.  Some churches go through artificial change.  The change the people who play the game, but the game remains the same.  And the one item I notice in most churches is the way they make decisions and then handle the responses.  In most churches that rarely changes.

There always seems to be a pattern of response to change...conflict.  There is the biblical way to handle conflict and then there is the common way to handle conflict.  The biblical way is to address perceptions directly...face to face with the offender.  The most common way in churches is to gossip or slander (as in all other relationships of life).  Rather than addressing conflict one on one or group to group, most churches don't challenge the conflicting person or group, but instead let it go on, excuse it, not realizing the destructiveness of not dealing with it directly.

Church health is like any relationship.  A church is a group of people who gather together to adore, worship and attempt to live for God...becoming fully engaged believers in God.  A marriage is a man and a woman choosing each other for life.  They choose to tie themselves together in a relationship where growth and change is to occur.  Some things in the marraige are not important and not worth the wrestling match and others are worth fighting for.  Maturity brings about the decision as to which ones are most important.  The same is true in a church.

Maturity handles conflict in a godly manner.  Mature Christians know how to change and how to deal with change.  And maturity does not arrive by age.  It arrives by suffering through trials and circumstances.  Churches must change from time to time.  But can they?  What changes should a church be able to make without much conflict and what is important enough to fight?  For every person the answers are different.  And the real question for most of us, is there ever a point in which I must choose to leave the church to worship with another one?

I have left many churches.  Mainly because of job offers in other churches.  And in making those choices, the healthiness of the current church is compared to the future church.  I also have left churches because of many other reasons.  One main reason overrides them all...the unhealthiness of the way that conflict is handled.  Love demands that conflict is handled correctly otherwise the conflict just continues but is never truly addressed.  One person or group of people cannot be allowed to circumvent the changes that leadership is responsible to make, unless the changes are actually destructive.  But even in that, there still is only one way to handle the conflict.  Personally and directly.  If the direction cannot be altered the conflict must cease!  Either by the person leaving or by the person succumbing to the reasoning.

So can your church change?  Not until the leadership chooses to properly address conflict.  The direction of the church must continue to take the lead as God's glory is the end result.  God always handles conflict correctly.  Growing churches handle conflict correctly.  Growing relationships handle conflict correctly.  So can your church change?

Remembering Michael Paul!

Everyday life begins as newborn babies come into God's world, and each day, others breath their last breath...hearts stop.  Life ends.  As each life begins, history begins to be made.  Pictures are taken.  Memories are made.  Soon language begins to take shape and as a child grows independence begins to occur.  The years pass quickly as soon the child becomes a teen and then an adult.  Adults most often meet a spouse-to-be, marry and begin the process again as a baby is born. 

As life goes on we grow older towards leaving this life to begin a new life either with God or away from God.  I've preached many funerals for young and old.  All are tragic to some.  All bring tears regardless of who has been lost.  We love births and hate deaths.  We enjoy seeing life begin and despise watching life end.

A couple of weeks ago, a wonderful man, named Michael Paul was called home by God.  I've known Michael for 11 years.  I've watched God develop him into an even more devoted follower of Jesus.  I've seen him marry his wonderful wife Carol and have witnessed their combined relationship flourish.  Over the past year or so, Michael was diagnosed with cancer...a kind that was inoperable and could not be stopped.

One of the most fascinating things about watching Michael was how he dealt with this reality.  Michael did not complain as he would come to church or participate in other social events.  You'd never know he was dealing with the reality of death.  He stilled smiled, laughed and carried on as if nothing was going wrong with his body.  The cancer was growing, but he outwardly never showed it.  Amazing!

Not that there is anything wrong with showing grief or pain, but it is amazing to me that Michael dealt with his trauma in a different way.  He accepted the call of God and went home in peace.  Sunday, Michael's life and faith will be celebrated and I will honor his life with many others.  My life was touched by him and I want to pay my respect.

Life begins and ends for all of us, until the moment God chooses to close out the world for a bringing home all his children.  I choose to live my life in that calling...to live for God.  I do not know how I would handle the news that death was quickly approaching.  But I do know that God is my Father and I am his son.  One day he will call me home.

So, for what do you want to be remembered?

How Big Is YOUR God?

How big is YOUR God?  Is he big enough to stop cancer?  Big enough to shut down horrible rebel leaders?  Big enough to stabilize the stock market?  Big enough to give you a better job?  Big enough to heal your broken marriage?  Big enough to raise your children?  Big enough to save your company?  Big enough to save your church?

For me, and the God I read about in the Bible, my God is able to do all those things and much  more.  The God of the Bible is the creator of the Universe...the world...my life.  The God of the Bible flooded the earth, disturbed the languages of his people, bring about the death of his only Son, and bring him back to life.  The God of the Bible is able to stop a sea or river so that His people may cross over on dry ground as well as crush to death those who oppose Him.

But sometimes, God chooses not to perform his glorious acts, at least in the way we desire.  Children still perish.  Ungodly leaders still rule.  Jobs are still lost.  Cancer still exists. Marriages dissolve and children lose their way.  Does that mean that God is small or does not exist or does not care.  NO!

God does care!  He does not only heal, but he also guides us through disease, heartache and pain.  God hates divorce, but marraiges still crumble because one or both parties choose the non-god alternative.  God still exists!  God still acts!  God still cares about every living and breathing soul!

My role is not place God in a box...to try to define him.  He is larger than my perspective can ever be.  Stronger than my mind can imagine.  More powerful than my heart can grasp.  Stoop.  Pray.  Believe in God regardless of what occurs.  Regardless of what happens.  Trust in Him!

Holding On When You'd Rather Let Go!

When I was in 9th grade I was running track as a freshman at Middletown High School in Middletown, R.I.  We did not have that many runners and so many of us had to run or participate in various races.  I competed in the high jump, 220 yard dash and mile.  I was not a long distance runner.  I hated to run any kind of long distance.  My dad was an everyday mile runner.  He’d come home after work, change clothes and run his mile through the island neighborhood.  My brother and I would often get on our bikes and ride beside him as he ran.  My brother runs long distances and has competed in many marathons around the country.  Not me.  I’ll walk long distances, but not run.

In 9th grade, we were having a track meet against a neighboring city.  I competed in the high jump and 220 and did alright.  In a few minutes was the mile.  I tried to mentally prepare myself for circling the track 4 times before the race was over.  We lined up at the starting line and began the race.  I kept up with the leader of the pack for the first 2 and ½ laps.  In my mind was this battle.  I hate this race.  I don’t want to run this race.  I’m not going to win so why am I running.  At a little over half the race I thought, “how can I get out of this race?  I hate this!”  So I faked a leg cramp.  I fell to the ground writhing in fake pain.  The rest of the runners passed me, looked back but kept on running.  My coach and team mates came running towards me and I pulled the fake injury perfectly.  They helped me up and carried me off the track.  Success.  I didn’t have to finish the race.

Now we laugh at that or scoff, and wonder how I could do such a thing, but for all of us, we live that same kind of reality with some areas of our lives.  There are things about our lives that we hate to do.  We may do it sometimes, but often we fake an injury to stop our running that particular race.  We utilize the vast array of excuses and reasons why we did gave up.  It is too hard for us at that moment.  The excuses often then become part of our life story.  For each of us, there are items we are excellent in and others in which we fail.  We give up!

How do we persevere?  How do we get maturity?  How do we not lack anything?  The main ingredient is realizing that we do not have the answers ourselves and ask our Father in Heaven.  The Biblical writer, James gives the answer….”if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault and it will be given to him.” 

What is wisdom?  It is “the ability to discern or judge what is true, right, or lasting; insight.”  Wisdom comes from God and is the ability to know what to do to persevere through the trial or situation that gives heartache or pain.  When the trial comes upon us we often do not know how to act or respond.  We may not know how to feel about the situation or dilemma.  We may not know what to ask for.  We face the situation, ask God for discernment on how to respond.  That is where the joy comes from.  It is not naturally going to arrive in our hearts.  Most naturally, we are going to be pained, depressed, discouraged and only God can help us find a better response, one that brings perseverance, maturity, not lacking anything.

The reality is, issues, circumstances, pain, agony, death, disease, and heartache are going to arrive in our lives.  They will come into the lives of those we love and care for.  The greatest example we can give is to not pray for relief as much as we pray for wisdom so that we can have perseverance that will bring maturity.

Thoughts?

Be Very Afraid!

Fear can capture a heart and mind and cause a person to see and hear things that are not true.  Fear can stop a person from engaging in life.  Fear can keep a person from going out of their home or from wanting to overcome life threatening problems or issues.

Fear can bring about severe OCD issues.  The mind is a powerful tool God gave each of us and fear can bring about deadly destruction.  God does not want us to be afraid of many things he has made.  God does want us to be aware of things that can destroy and avoid them, but many fear issues are not even real.

Fear of God is a matter we do need to take seriously.  Fear or respect for who God is, what he can do to our lives provide each of us the opportunity to bow in reverence of Him.  Understanding and comprehending that the Creator of the Universe made each person and lives inside each of us, should give us pause.  That kind of fear is one that should capture our imagination, hearts and minds to bring about a cognisance and awareness of who we are dealing with.

Too many of us are more afraid of robbers, police, the stock market, banks and other man made institutions than we are of God.  Fear does not have to be a horrible thing when we refer to God.  It is not so much fear of where he can send us if we do not live a life for him, but fear or reverence for all that is in his power to make our existence better.  God loves you and me.  He blessed the world with bringing each of us into it, and wants to receive glory from our life.  Night and day, God is interacting with each of us to help us understand him and bring our lives into his realm of perfection and glory.

Fear God and not man made things.  Allow the God of the universe to enter your heart and life to bring about glorious changes and an existence only he can sustain.