Almost midnight Monday night an old nemesis returned...kidney stones. I've had more than 30 in my life time. They're not fatal but sometimes I wish they were. The pain is excruciating. And there's not a lot you can do but head to the nearest ER and get medicated...heavily medicated.
WMC did a great job Tuesday morning...as in just after midnight til 6:00am. Great staff. Attentive. Responsive. When you're in a lot of pain that great care matters more.
I wonder when it happens why it happens. Why does God allow suffering? It's an age-old question. C.S. Lewis said suffering poses the single greatest challenge to Christianity.
Here's what I know...Jesus is closer in my pain than almost any other place in my life. It might seem strange. But it's true.
So...maybe it doesn't matter WHY. Maybe it's simply that He IS present in our suffering. Comforting. Speaking peace. And thats enough.
Friday, May 22, 2009
Monday, April 27, 2009
The Noticer
Ok...right from the start let me say...I DO NOT read fiction. I don't know why. Perhaps it's just time I don't have or don't choose to use that way. Maybe it's that I spend most of my time reading ministry related/God related books....you know, like the BIBLE.
But when I had the opportunity to read the new Andy Andrews book, The Noticer, I thought, what the heck? I stuck in my carry-on for the flight to Houston and thought...who knows, maybe I'll get bored enough to read it and break my 'no-fiction' rule.
I was surprised. It was REALLY good. Readable. Relevant. INTERESTING! Well written, evoking lots of images, as good writing should. And the main character kept bringing to mind Morgan Freeman(when they do the movie, he's a shoe-in!).
The truth is the book makes some great points...about perspective, about love languages, about life and the influence we can have on others.
This would be THE book to take to the beach this summer. Its a quick read. And it gets inside your head. I'll be thinking about it for a long time. It's the the kind of book that feels like a comfy old pair of boat shoes that carry with them lots of great memories...
It's time well spent. Nice job Mr. Andrews!
But when I had the opportunity to read the new Andy Andrews book, The Noticer, I thought, what the heck? I stuck in my carry-on for the flight to Houston and thought...who knows, maybe I'll get bored enough to read it and break my 'no-fiction' rule.
I was surprised. It was REALLY good. Readable. Relevant. INTERESTING! Well written, evoking lots of images, as good writing should. And the main character kept bringing to mind Morgan Freeman(when they do the movie, he's a shoe-in!).
The truth is the book makes some great points...about perspective, about love languages, about life and the influence we can have on others.
This would be THE book to take to the beach this summer. Its a quick read. And it gets inside your head. I'll be thinking about it for a long time. It's the the kind of book that feels like a comfy old pair of boat shoes that carry with them lots of great memories...
It's time well spent. Nice job Mr. Andrews!
Friday, April 17, 2009
Life...
As I write this, I'm sitting in a hotel in Houston mentally preparing for doing the wedding for my nephew. He's a lawyer here in Houston, about to marry a lady with a PhD in Chemistry. (how DO these people FIND each other) They're a cute couple, young and full of life. They are deeply in love and are so excited about their new life together.
Interestingly enough, they MET as he was coming out of a very tenuous period in his life...a brush with cancer. That brush with mortality changed him. I think that kind of experience always has an effect on us. Perhaps more so when it happens when we're young.
Young people tend to live as if they're bulletproof. Impervious to life's gravest onslaughts. But then it happens...the C-word shows up and all bets are off. For him it's caused him to slow down and enjoy the simple things. Like camping...for their wedding they registered at REI, the outdoors store. Could have been Nieman Marcus or Macy's. But no...REI.
Another thought-provoking thing about all this...as I stand to lead them through the service tomorrow, I'll be flashing back to the day when HE was the ring-bearer at MY wedding...and slowly began to undress right there in the wedding party in the MIDDLE of the wedding. Only the stern look from a groomsman caused him to stop with his shirt and pants still in place. So funny.
As a family we've lost some folks since that wedding years ago. My in-laws both passed away 5 years ago. My maternal grandmother passed away 2 years ago. At the same time, my granddaughter was born a little over 2 years ago.
I guess all this just stands to remind me that life passes...quickly. ON the plan yesterday I read a book all the way through. The book was called The Noticer. It caused me to think...if we're smart...we spend our lifes not just doing...but noticing. Noticing others. Noticing God's goodness. Noticing the ebb and flow of life.
So...over the next 36 hours as Jeremy and Marcelle say "I do" I'll be noticing...and marveling at life.
Interestingly enough, they MET as he was coming out of a very tenuous period in his life...a brush with cancer. That brush with mortality changed him. I think that kind of experience always has an effect on us. Perhaps more so when it happens when we're young.
Young people tend to live as if they're bulletproof. Impervious to life's gravest onslaughts. But then it happens...the C-word shows up and all bets are off. For him it's caused him to slow down and enjoy the simple things. Like camping...for their wedding they registered at REI, the outdoors store. Could have been Nieman Marcus or Macy's. But no...REI.
Another thought-provoking thing about all this...as I stand to lead them through the service tomorrow, I'll be flashing back to the day when HE was the ring-bearer at MY wedding...and slowly began to undress right there in the wedding party in the MIDDLE of the wedding. Only the stern look from a groomsman caused him to stop with his shirt and pants still in place. So funny.
As a family we've lost some folks since that wedding years ago. My in-laws both passed away 5 years ago. My maternal grandmother passed away 2 years ago. At the same time, my granddaughter was born a little over 2 years ago.
I guess all this just stands to remind me that life passes...quickly. ON the plan yesterday I read a book all the way through. The book was called The Noticer. It caused me to think...if we're smart...we spend our lifes not just doing...but noticing. Noticing others. Noticing God's goodness. Noticing the ebb and flow of life.
So...over the next 36 hours as Jeremy and Marcelle say "I do" I'll be noticing...and marveling at life.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Time Away
Years ago as I was being trained to be a church planter (I doubt planting ONE church really makes me a planter), I was given a very sage piece of advice: once a month get away and be with the Lord.
It seemed simple enough. Just go away and be with the Lord. So that's what I did...I intentionally blocked off 24 hours in my schedule each month to get away.
It was a time of listening..a time of waiting on the Lord. I'd take my Bible and a legal pad and go. Typically, the first few hours were an exercise in turning down the background news. It's amazing how much noise we live with.
When we owned a boat, it made a perfect place to retreat to. When we didn't, I'd rent a cabin or a hotel room.
Somewhere along the way I got busy. And I stopped getting away. Too many important things to do. So much to attend to.
I never realized how much perspective God can provide in just 24 hours away...until I stopped getting away. Unhealthy habits like workaholism returned. Margins disappeared. Vision, both for my personal life and the church began to get really fuzzy.
Enough is enough. It's time to get back to doing what worked...what will still work if I'll engage.
Jesus made a habit of retreating from his very fruitful ministry on a regular basis. If it worked for him, it'll work for us.
Let the retreating begin!!!
It seemed simple enough. Just go away and be with the Lord. So that's what I did...I intentionally blocked off 24 hours in my schedule each month to get away.
It was a time of listening..a time of waiting on the Lord. I'd take my Bible and a legal pad and go. Typically, the first few hours were an exercise in turning down the background news. It's amazing how much noise we live with.
When we owned a boat, it made a perfect place to retreat to. When we didn't, I'd rent a cabin or a hotel room.
Somewhere along the way I got busy. And I stopped getting away. Too many important things to do. So much to attend to.
I never realized how much perspective God can provide in just 24 hours away...until I stopped getting away. Unhealthy habits like workaholism returned. Margins disappeared. Vision, both for my personal life and the church began to get really fuzzy.
Enough is enough. It's time to get back to doing what worked...what will still work if I'll engage.
Jesus made a habit of retreating from his very fruitful ministry on a regular basis. If it worked for him, it'll work for us.
Let the retreating begin!!!
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Denominations, Movements, and Other Things
I'm in not-so-sunny Ashland, Ohio for denominational executive council. It's here where we wrestle, on behalf of the Brethren Church, with things political, financial, and strategic.
One big question this week: are we a national church with international partners or an international church. The implications are enormous either way.
If we ARE an international church, then our funds get dispersed around the world. If, on the other hand, we simply have international partners, then our funds largely get spent at home.
Given the current economic climate (I know one church where 25 families are now unemployed), it would be tempting to keep the funds at home.
But then I read the book of Acts and I see desperately poor churches giving to other churches simply because there was a need and the Spirit said give!
GCC is an international church. We have chosen to form close supportive relationships with like-minded church leaders around the world, starting in Kenya, then Malawi and Mozambique, and who knows...maybe Mexico.
These relationships, like the Acts relationships are a mutual blessing. We share our resources, they share the ministry opportunity. They get help. We get a cross-cultural experience for our folks at home.
And it does something else...it reminds us as Americans that there is a bigger world our there and that it's not just about OUR needs.
Our position as an international church allows us to experience the Acts story for ourselves...and really, how does it get any better than living in the pages of the book of Acts?!
One big question this week: are we a national church with international partners or an international church. The implications are enormous either way.
If we ARE an international church, then our funds get dispersed around the world. If, on the other hand, we simply have international partners, then our funds largely get spent at home.
Given the current economic climate (I know one church where 25 families are now unemployed), it would be tempting to keep the funds at home.
But then I read the book of Acts and I see desperately poor churches giving to other churches simply because there was a need and the Spirit said give!
GCC is an international church. We have chosen to form close supportive relationships with like-minded church leaders around the world, starting in Kenya, then Malawi and Mozambique, and who knows...maybe Mexico.
These relationships, like the Acts relationships are a mutual blessing. We share our resources, they share the ministry opportunity. They get help. We get a cross-cultural experience for our folks at home.
And it does something else...it reminds us as Americans that there is a bigger world our there and that it's not just about OUR needs.
Our position as an international church allows us to experience the Acts story for ourselves...and really, how does it get any better than living in the pages of the book of Acts?!
Friday, March 20, 2009
GCC Mens Retreat Begins!
Canaan Valley Resort in West Virginia will never be the same...the men of GCC are here! Matt and Todd led us in some awesome worship, Don, the men's ministry director told his story and shared his health challenge of this week. Don recieved healing this week...a genuine miracle!
I shared out of Philippians 1.
These guys are in for a great weekend!
I shared out of Philippians 1.
These guys are in for a great weekend!
Sunday, March 15, 2009
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