So Very Blessed

September 30, 2015

It seems rather fitting that on the last day of September I finish the last big project of the summer. The entry room is not only tiled and enclosed; it's grouted too, and I am very much relieved to have that job behind me. I like tiling, but there is immense satisfaction in looking at the finished product. I have some trim to replace around the door where the water leaking in rotted what was there, but apart from staining the wood, that should only take a few hours. This afternoon, Linda discovered in the woodshed some extra tan flashing that we can use to enclose the brick molding on the door, so we are smiling tonight.

Before band practice today, Harry and I were talking with a couple of the other brass guys. One uses a walker to get around. Bill has had some pretty significant health issues over the years, but even he commented on how grateful he is for the health he enjoys. Larry, one of the trombonists talked about his older sister who was born with cerebral palsy, has never been able to speak more than a few words, but who at 86, tools around in her wheelchair, setting the table at the nursing home in which she resides, and communicating with people through her computer. She never misses church, to which Larry remarked, "If she can do it, I guess we don't have any excuse to miss just because we are a bit tired in the morning."

This evening I watched part of the evening news. They were reporting on the increased tension and danger posed by Russia's entry into the Syrian civil war. As they reported, they showed scenes of the wholesale destruction of cities which are just piles of rubble through which a few stalwart souls picked their way. The percentage of the population displaced and seeking safety in Europe is staggering. With human suffering on this scale, about what could we possibly have the right to complain? I am grateful tonight for the strength and ability to finish my tile job, for the health and resources enabling me to play in the band, for the peace and security we take for granted here in the USA, and for God's grace which has enabled me to see life in this way.

Who is the Fruit For?

September 29, 2015

For more than two years I've been unable to attend our area pastor's prayer group. This morning that changed, and I was given an insight to a Scripture text I've not had before. The test was the familiar passage from John 15 where Jesus says he is the vine and we are the branches, then goes on to talk about abiding in him so that we might become fruitful. Aaron Bjork, the devotional leader for today asked this pointed question: "Who is the fruit for?"
Every community seems to have certain people who make the circuit from one church to another, moving on whenever they become irritated with something or come into conflict with someone. There is always a church within driving distance ready to welcome them in without question. These people can be quite toxic to the life of a church and are as every pastor knows, a pain in the neck (although some of us have a much lower opinion of them). The excuse for leaving one church for another is usually the tired old line of, "I'm not being fed," which leads us to pastor Bjork's question of the day.

If Jesus is the vine and we are the branches, the fruit is not there for us, but for those outside the church. The pastor and the church don't exist to "feed" anyone, but to help us stay connected to Jesus, the vine. If someone feels they aren't being fed, they are missing the entire point. It is their responsibility to simply remain connected to the vine. If they do that, they'll receive all the nourishment they need to be fruitful. The fruit of the Spirit will be produced in them, blessing others. I've never known church hoppers to be particularly fruitful. How can they be, when their focus is so inward? Narcissism is like cannibalizing yourself; pretty soon, there's nothing left. So I've pondered the question all day. "Who is the fruit for?" It's for others, and for God. The firstfruits always belonged to him.

This Sunday, I'm not going to worry about whether or not pastor Joe's sermon feeds me. That's not his job. I'm going to focus on being connected to the vine. Actually, I'm not waiting till Sunday for that. It starts now. Thank you, Aaron, for your question, and for its insight into the mind and heart of Christ.

Quiet Prayers

September 28, 2015

The rain came softly today. Barely a mist, it silently put a shine on the grass and the leaves of the trees as it hung in the air and finally touched the ground. I was working on the tile in the front room, finishing up the few pieces that had to wait till the door was set. Tomorrow God willing, the grouting begins. It's a messy job, but once it's done, the only thing left is to rebuild the trim around the front door. It's a good feeling finishing a job, and although I'm not quite there, it's close enough that I can almost taste it.

It was a quiet day with no people at all except Linda until worship practice and men's group tonight. Almost a Sabbath, I took time to read and pray before tackling the tile. A friend recently lent me a little book on prayer by David Jeremiah, in which he mentioned how difficult prayer is for him. I was more than a little surprised, as I've always imagined that these guys who have national presence with their radio and video productions wouldn't struggle with the same things that plague me. I've always thought it a bit embarrassing to have to admit that the very disciplines in which as a pastor I ought to excel were where I feel like a novice. But I learned something: if I dwell on the discipline, that's all I get, and it remains a task to be completed, a burden to be borne, the sort of thing we just grit our teeth and get through it. But if I use the time to focus on Christ--who he is, what he has done, and being in communion with him--then it ceases being something I check off on my daily to-do list, and becomes what it was meant to be: connecting with the living God. I'm still working on it; still after all these years very much a novice, but I'm not giving up, and someday what is done by faith will be reality seen and experienced on an entirely new level.

Kids 'n Stuff

September 27, 2015

Tonight it began in earnest. Our church sponsors music/worship leadership training for our kids. Beginner and intermediate guitar, bass, keyboard, box drum, and worship leadership are offered to kids free of charge. In most cases, we even supply the instruments. Over twenty kids show up for an hour before youth group to learn and practice, followed by a short time of worship, all led by the kids. Adult volunteers teach the classes, but the kids do all the rest, with the goal of raising up new worship leaders for the future.

I had the privilege of teaching the bass classes, which is a bit of a hoot considering how much I need to learn myself. I'm pretty much of a novice, but I guess if I can stay one step ahead of the kids, I can still teach them. Some have a pretty comfortable familiarity with the bass, while others are starting from scratch. We'll see how they do after a week's practice.

Our Park church people have continually surprised me with their innovative thinking. From community youth outreach that brought in unchurched kids through such venues as our annual New Year's All Night AD Free party to hoops and dogs in the village park, our leaders have shown their heart for our kids and their passion for Christ. Not everything we've tried has worked, but our leaders just keep churning out the ideas and the kids keep coming.

If it's not music education for our kids, it's Gunday Sunday that pastor Joe started at the beginning of the summer as a way of reaching out to men who like to shoot but aren't likely to step inside a church. Next week he's planned a bike ride for which he already has about twenty bikers lined up. Sometimes I get tired just thinking of all the stuff we have going on, which makes me plenty grateful to have turned over the leadership of Park church to a younger and much more energetic pastor. It was the right time, and Joe is the right man for the job.

Pastor Joe had been away at seminary all this past week, and didn't get home till about 4:00 am, so he had asked me to preach for him, which I did. He introduced me with far more praise than I deserve, and I did my job. People asked me how I liked preaching again, and I can truthfully say it was good to do it, but I am also grateful that I don't have to do it all the time. I felt a bit out of practice, and am more than happy to relinquish the role of pastor to one younger and at least as capable as I. I had my turn, and have no problem yielding the right of way to Joe. Tomorrow I will put the hardware on our new front door and lay the remaining tile in the entry room while Joe will be conducting staff meetings and getting started on next week's sermon. Yep, I'm in a good place tonight!

Simple Pleasures

September 26, 2015

You know you're getting old when such simple things bring such pleasure. I don't need my motorcycle to do 150 mph. I'm not quite up to another hair-raising ride down Zoar Valley in my canoe (Wait...I can't do that anyway since my boys wrapped my canoe around a rock!). Linda and I like to catch the occasional ball game on tv in the evening; I don't think I'll dive for a fly ball anytime soon.

So what pleases me today? Being outside to behold the beauty of a dazzling fall day as the colors are just beginning to change. Being able in spite of a nasty cold, to serve a family grieving the loss of the family patriarch. Having my son come over to help me install our new front door. Linda gets to choose all the accoutrements of our home, and she outdid herself with her choice of a door. People have often complimented us on our home. It's all her; I would be living in the equivalent of a college bachelor pad if the decor were left up to me. She brings civilization into our home.

Tonight I'll go to bed early, suitably greased up with Jessie's essential oils in hopes of beating off this cold so I can preach tomorrow. Pastor Joe heard about my sniffle issues and offered to preach, but I'll decline. How can you beat having a pastor who volunteers to relieve his relief pitcher after a seven hour drive? I am surrounded by people who give and bless in various ways, and am looking forward to serving them tomorrow, not in my own strength, but in the power of the Holy Spirit. As I lay my head on my pillow, I thank God for the many people he has placed in my life, and pray for my friends in Canada who recently lost three of their dear ones in a senseless shooting, for those battling cancer, and those brothers and sisters halfway around the world who are remaining faithful in the face of unimaginable persecutions.

Sick and Tired

September 25, 2015

The stuff that's been going around stopped by our house. Tonight I'm sick and tired, but with a funeral tomorrow and preaching on Sunday, I'm grateful it's not worse.

Christ Conversaations

September 24, 2015

One of the things I've learned from disciplining myself towards gratitude is to see God's hand in the simplest of everyday experiences. This morning I had breakfast with a friend, during which we talked of our concerns as fathers of grown children. We are both learning to walk that fine line between being the protector that we were when our children were young and stepping back as they make their own way in life. Any father of teenagers knows that feeling of wanting to stand between our children and all evil, yet knowing that there comes a time when we must finally yield them to Christ. It's rarely an easy thing to do. We talked, I heard his heart, then did the only thing we could do: we prayed together.

A bit later I stopped by Germaine & Poppalardo's to cash in a gift certificate for a bassoon reed. The proprietor is a soft-spoken man named Bill, as honest and genuine a man as you'd ever want to meet. I chose one, whereupon he gave me two additional reeds. "I told my supplier to not bring me any more of this brand. Their quality is spotty. You'll get a good one, then one that just won't play. See if you can make them work." As he was about to make change for the balance of the gift certificate, I told him I figured we were even.

He commented on the progress my grandson is making with his guitar lessons and we talked about music theory and me of all people giving bass lessons to the kids at church. I'm not too many steps ahead of them even at the start, but Bill is an encourager and told me the biggest thing the kids need is a basic foundation and lots of encouragement. No wonder he is such a good teacher himself. I stepped out of his shop into the sunshine, grateful for these two men who in ordinary conversations revealed the glory of Christ who lives in them. Nothing unusual or spectacular, but it's in conversations such as these that if we recognize it, we see the hand and heart of God.

At the end of the day, we had a small celebration for granddaughter Mattie's tenth birthday. Her joy and enthusiasm for life is infectious and rounded out the day, blessing upon blessing. Happy birthday, Mattie!