With all this cold, I've found myself adapting a habit I had in Israel long ago--wearing layers. Long johns and sweatshirts, tights, jeans, and double socks. It gets chilly during the day in the room where I'm working, so I layer up to avoid the chill. Going outside requires layers to combat the extreme cold we've had lately, and playing in the snow on Tuesday really made me layer my clothes.
I'm reminded of the days when I could see my breath in my own bedroom in Jerusalem, and I'm thankful for the heat I've got here, even if I still have to overdress.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Snow Day
Only an inch or so, but it's the first legitimate snow we've seen this year! Livvy is in the yard making snow angels (first she tried it face down, but that didn't work too well!)
Monday, January 26, 2009
It's not Business, It's Personal
I'm sorry that I haven't been posting on this blog like I should. Some days I have nothing going on, and I feel like I have nothing to say. Then other days, I'm really busy and I just don't get to it. Either way, I'm sorry that I'm disappointing my faithful readers!
Last week I spent three days doing contact with my other church, Severn River Church, pastored by the greatest pastor in the world--my brother Ben. He asked me to help him collect surveys about the needs of our local community, and we set up our table at the community college in the Student Union. Wednesday was the first day of classes so it seemed like half of Anne Arundel county was on the campus, walking through the Student Union on the way to the bookstore and financial office. It was a prime spot for our table, but we didn't seem to catch anyone's attention. We only got 12 responses on Wednesday.
We were giving away a $50 gas card in a drawing each day, but we discovered that many of students hanging out in the Student Union do so because they don't drive and are stuck on campus all day. They bus or carpool or have Mommy drop them off each morning. We decided to go with a more "immediate gratification" incentive: a big bowl of candy. Thursday we got 49 surveys, so the candy was certainly a benefit. Friday we went all out and brought four dozen donuts, plus candy and the gas card drawing. That netted us a record of 90 surveys--the most SRC has ever received in one day in any area of the county we've surveyed.
We had a great response in general from the students who took the survey, but even more pleasing were the positive responses from the staff of the college, who complimented us repeatedly on the connection we seemed to be making with the students.
I think that churches can put money and other resources (staff, time, etc) in many areas of outreach, but the personal connection with people is always the best investment.
Monday, January 19, 2009
There was no joy in Mudville
Last night, I watched a football game--from start to finish--for the first time in my life! In fact, I got into it; I cheered and groaned with the rest of Baltimore as the Ravens lost the AFC championship and their hope for another Superbowl appearance.
I wish the game had gone differently, for the Ravens, for the city of Baltimore, and for purely selfish reasons: one of my best friends has a family of major Steelers fans, and I was really hoping to make a little "nyah, nyah" phone call after the game. Now I'll have to endure their boasting instead.
I wish the game had gone differently, for the Ravens, for the city of Baltimore, and for purely selfish reasons: one of my best friends has a family of major Steelers fans, and I was really hoping to make a little "nyah, nyah" phone call after the game. Now I'll have to endure their boasting instead.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Be Patient
When I was a child, there was a popular children's musical called, "The Music Machine." Two children find a music machine that produces songs about the fruit of the Spirit. Long-suffering (or patience) was illustrated in song by a bass-voiced snail named Herbert.
Be patient, Be patient
Don't be in such a hurry.
When you get impatient,
You only start to worry.
Remember, Remember
That God is patient, too,
And think of all the times
That others had to wait for you!
Singing the song is easy, in fact, catchy. But living the song is much harder. I've been thinking about patience for the past week, because someone shared with me a word from the Lord that I needed to be patient. The Scripture says in James 1, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." The King James version says "patience" instead of perseverance, but the two concepts are closely related.
Paul agreed with James, because in Romans 5:3-5, he says "Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us."
It's hard for me to hear someone else tell me to be patient. That's not the word from the Lord that I most want to hear, even though it's obviously what I most need to hear. I'm thankful that God knows my personality; He knows I need the exhortation or else I'll react foolishly to difficult situations. Of all the fruit of the Holy Spirit, patience is probably one of my weakest points.
All human wisdom is summed up in two words--wait and hope (Alexandre Dumas). For now, maintaining patience and hope is my goal.
Be patient, Be patient
Don't be in such a hurry.
When you get impatient,
You only start to worry.
Remember, Remember
That God is patient, too,
And think of all the times
That others had to wait for you!
Singing the song is easy, in fact, catchy. But living the song is much harder. I've been thinking about patience for the past week, because someone shared with me a word from the Lord that I needed to be patient. The Scripture says in James 1, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." The King James version says "patience" instead of perseverance, but the two concepts are closely related.
Paul agreed with James, because in Romans 5:3-5, he says "Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us."
It's hard for me to hear someone else tell me to be patient. That's not the word from the Lord that I most want to hear, even though it's obviously what I most need to hear. I'm thankful that God knows my personality; He knows I need the exhortation or else I'll react foolishly to difficult situations. Of all the fruit of the Holy Spirit, patience is probably one of my weakest points.
All human wisdom is summed up in two words--wait and hope (Alexandre Dumas). For now, maintaining patience and hope is my goal.
Friday, January 09, 2009
Prayer for my Dad
I would appreciate your prayers for my father over the next few days. He went in for scheduled surgery again this morning--the fifth time the doctors have tried to put in the permanent dialysis port. He is going to be on blood thinners over the next few days, since the doctors believe his blood clots too quickly to make the permanent ports usable.
By this time, he is most likely out of surgery, but I still hope that we can agree together for his continued healing in the name of Jesus!
By this time, he is most likely out of surgery, but I still hope that we can agree together for his continued healing in the name of Jesus!
Thursday, January 08, 2009
Prayer
Prayer is such a great way to start the New Year, and I've been pleased to participate in the prayer and fasting emphasis of PAG this week. I went to the District Day of Prayer on Tuesday, even though the weather was not very cooperative; we had a very good time of prayer and encouragement among the pastors and leaders that were there.
The District Day of Prayer is always one of my favorite days of the year. I like the purpose: to consecrate ourselves as ministers before the Lord here at the beginning of 2009, to receive a fresh vision for the work we do, and to renew ourselves in the Lord's presence together as a corporate body. We often have small group prayer at the camp, a time of personal reflection and prayer, a time of worship, and a time of proclaiming God's Word. It's a good way to get victory over the leftover mess of the previous year!
I also enjoy reconnecting with pastor and missionary friends that I haven't seen in a few months, and Tuesday was no exception. My brother and I carpooled, so we stopped at Sister Goggin-Bartles' cabin for a few minutes of blessing. She has been such a huge influence on my life, and I hope I've lived worthy of the counsel she's always given me.
The District Day of Prayer is always one of my favorite days of the year. I like the purpose: to consecrate ourselves as ministers before the Lord here at the beginning of 2009, to receive a fresh vision for the work we do, and to renew ourselves in the Lord's presence together as a corporate body. We often have small group prayer at the camp, a time of personal reflection and prayer, a time of worship, and a time of proclaiming God's Word. It's a good way to get victory over the leftover mess of the previous year!
I also enjoy reconnecting with pastor and missionary friends that I haven't seen in a few months, and Tuesday was no exception. My brother and I carpooled, so we stopped at Sister Goggin-Bartles' cabin for a few minutes of blessing. She has been such a huge influence on my life, and I hope I've lived worthy of the counsel she's always given me.
Friday, January 02, 2009
Hungry?
New Year's Day has now passed. It's time for many Americans to sweep through their fridge and cupboards, tossing all the candy, cookies, junkfood, and rich holiday treats. I heard yesterday that the two major resolutions made every year have to do with food and money. I don't think I've ever made a resolution about money (is that a good or bad thing?), but just about every year, I've committed to diet/exercise--at least for a few days!
I've been reading a great devotional book, Anonymous by Alicia Britt Chole. I've mentioned it before, because I'm really fascinated by the truths the author presents and her writing style as she presents it.
This past week, I was studying the first temptation of Jesus in the desert. The devil appears when Jesus is at a point of starvation, forty days and night without food or water. He's literally dying for food. The devil tempts Jesus to turn stones into bread, a miracle almost insultingly simple for God in human flesh to perform.
According to Alicia Britt Chole, the temptation is one of appetite. I can remember in Israel, my boss Ross Byars, asking one night, "What is it you hunger for?" We all thought about it for a few seconds, and I can still remember very clearly what I thought of. Then he said, "Because that is where Satan will always attack you." Whether we hunger for food, money, sex, or power, the temptation of appetite will be to satisfy ourselves. It's a selfish response to a natural, human desire. Hunger isn't wrong; bypassing God to fix the problem ourselves is where we get into trouble. Our culture of immediate gratification is part of our sin problem, because we don't want to be God-dependent. Jesus would later pray, "Give us this day our daily bread," essentially putting God in the place of provider. He would illustrate birds and flowers in the field all patiently allowing God to feed and clothe them, but our human nature wants to run right out and satisfy ourselves with whatever we can get our hands on.
D oyou remember the Israelites in the desert--the same place where Jesus faced his temptation--whining about the onions and leeks they ate in Egypt. They were willing to trade their freedom to return to slavery just to have something different to eat. Appetite is a powerful thing. Hunger is a feeling, but feelings do not equal truth, in spite of what modern psychology tells us.
Jesus used truth to answer Satan. He didn't deny his hunger; he didn't deny his ability to transform stones into a smorgasbord. He simply put God in the place of provider. "God sustains me" is how Jesus responded, if I can paraphrase.
The Old Testament verse that Jesus quoted comes from a larger context: "Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD. Your clothes did not wear out and your feet did not swell during these forty years. Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the LORD your God disciplines you." (Deut. 8:2-5)
When you read the whole context, you can really appreciate why Jesus chose that passage. It's perfectly appropriate! It serves as another reminder that God is the ultimate Sustainer.
Rather than merely replacing the candy with Kashi this week, a good resolution would be to allow God to provide for us in His way, in His timing in 2009.
I've been reading a great devotional book, Anonymous by Alicia Britt Chole. I've mentioned it before, because I'm really fascinated by the truths the author presents and her writing style as she presents it.
This past week, I was studying the first temptation of Jesus in the desert. The devil appears when Jesus is at a point of starvation, forty days and night without food or water. He's literally dying for food. The devil tempts Jesus to turn stones into bread, a miracle almost insultingly simple for God in human flesh to perform.
According to Alicia Britt Chole, the temptation is one of appetite. I can remember in Israel, my boss Ross Byars, asking one night, "What is it you hunger for?" We all thought about it for a few seconds, and I can still remember very clearly what I thought of. Then he said, "Because that is where Satan will always attack you." Whether we hunger for food, money, sex, or power, the temptation of appetite will be to satisfy ourselves. It's a selfish response to a natural, human desire. Hunger isn't wrong; bypassing God to fix the problem ourselves is where we get into trouble. Our culture of immediate gratification is part of our sin problem, because we don't want to be God-dependent. Jesus would later pray, "Give us this day our daily bread," essentially putting God in the place of provider. He would illustrate birds and flowers in the field all patiently allowing God to feed and clothe them, but our human nature wants to run right out and satisfy ourselves with whatever we can get our hands on.
D oyou remember the Israelites in the desert--the same place where Jesus faced his temptation--whining about the onions and leeks they ate in Egypt. They were willing to trade their freedom to return to slavery just to have something different to eat. Appetite is a powerful thing. Hunger is a feeling, but feelings do not equal truth, in spite of what modern psychology tells us.
Jesus used truth to answer Satan. He didn't deny his hunger; he didn't deny his ability to transform stones into a smorgasbord. He simply put God in the place of provider. "God sustains me" is how Jesus responded, if I can paraphrase.
The Old Testament verse that Jesus quoted comes from a larger context: "Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD. Your clothes did not wear out and your feet did not swell during these forty years. Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the LORD your God disciplines you." (Deut. 8:2-5)
When you read the whole context, you can really appreciate why Jesus chose that passage. It's perfectly appropriate! It serves as another reminder that God is the ultimate Sustainer.
Rather than merely replacing the candy with Kashi this week, a good resolution would be to allow God to provide for us in His way, in His timing in 2009.
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