One More Thing...

You Never Know

2009-10-27T07:14:00.000-07:00

We spent the weekend in Huntsville, Ontario. It's the Muskoka Region, near Algonquin Park. Les Stroud (Survivorman) lives there. Shania Twain has a place there. Who knows WHO else...

Muskoka Community Church is doing well. Multiple stories of significant life change is an indication that God is at work there.

It's a tough place to plant a church, but a perfect one for a guy like Jeremy McClung, a church like GCC, and the Brethren Denomination.

Folks in Muskoka are tired of tradition. They're tired of ritual and legalism. They're longing for something real, fresh, and life-giving.

That's why MCC is doing well. As hard as it's been to gain critical mass, that's just the thing Jeremy and his wife April are really good at...being real, presenting Jesus without religion.

It's a mission work for sure. For many in his church, they've never read the Bible...at ALL.

It was wonderful to get to speak to them on Sunday. They are quite interested in knowing more of God. Who knew...up there in the Great White North God would lead a guy named Jeremy to introduce so many to the REAL Jesus. Very cool!

Blogger Nation

2009-08-19T06:52:00.000-07:00

I haven't blogged in a while. In a long time actually. Mostly because I've been busy. How's that for an excuse. And because there are thoughts we have as Christian men and women that wouldn't be tolerated if they were shared publicly. So the filter goes on and we either filter them out or we don't write at all. Guess you know the direction I went.

I also have begun to question the value we place on sharing every little thought we have for all the world to see...as if every thought is worth sharing with anyone with a browser.

Truthfully, a lot of what we call online community these days is more a cry for attention. Take Twitter for example. Perhaps I'm following the wrong 'tweeters' but most of them are simply a day by day account of the big names with whom they are having coffee. Frankly...so what?

Facebook is perhaps better in the sense that you get a sense of digital connectedness with your 'FB friends', what they're doing, what cause they want you to sign up for, etc.

The truth is, most of us lead lives filled with largely insignificant details. Details that don't NEED to be shared. It's true. And that's not bad. It's life.

Most of the time we don't find meaning in the details of our lives...well, not unless we can see God in those details. Like the other day when I was out practicing stall recovery in my airplane and inadvertently wound up in a spin. Actually, I spun it three times just to try to figure out what was going wrong (revealing my learning impairment). The fact that the airplane actually recovered from the spins is the significant detail...as its supposed to be VERY difficult to bring them out of the spin. And its actually forbidden (didn't find that out til later).

So sometimes, details are significant. Like the fact that God had his hand on me and the old bird. But mostly they're just that...insignificant.

So...all that to say this...

I'll be a bit like Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens). He once was scheduled to speak at a gathering. But when he got there, he stood after he was introduced and said these words: I have nothing to say. And when I DO have something to say, I will be back!

So...when I actually HAVE something to say...I'll write.

He Maketh Me to Lie Down

2009-05-22T08:44:00.000-07:00

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.

The Noticer

2009-04-27T08:34:00.001-07:00

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!

Life...

2009-04-17T10:04:00.000-07:00

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.

Time Away

2009-03-30T07:09:00.000-07:00

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!!!

Denominations, Movements, and Other Things

2009-03-26T03:38:00.000-07:00

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?!

GCC Mens Retreat Begins!

2009-03-20T19:27:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-03-15T08:58:00.001-07:00

We're home! On the shuttle at Dulles after 21 hrs of flying. Thanks to all who prayed for us. It's good to be home!

2009-03-15T08:56:00.001-07:00

We're home! On the shuttle at Dulles after 21 hrs of flying. Thanks to all who prayed for us. It's good to be home!

2009-03-14T23:19:00.001-07:00

We just landed at Heathrow...tight connection...we have 45 mins to find our gate and board.

Uneventful flight...11 hours

Chilling in Joburg

2009-03-14T11:05:00.000-07:00

We're relaxing in Johannesburg, bags checked for Dulles, hanging out near our gate. Reentry is difficult. From mud huts to the 'City of Gold' as they call it here. We're rested and ready for the two longer legs...8 hours to London, 6 hours from there to Dulles. We're anxious to get home and begin planning the 2010 trip. So...who's up for the NEXT trip???

2009-03-14T06:28:00.001-07:00

We're in rainy Johannesburg! So much for the short flights. Uneventful flight...connected with an Indian man who owns the largest car rental business in Malawi. A number of Americans on this flight who are doing humanitarian work in East Africa.

2009-03-14T03:25:00.001-07:00

Chileka Airport is a miniature study in inconsistency and chaos theory. Procedures change from trip to trip. This time around we were required to exchange our money and take less than 3000 mk's (Malawan kwacha's). Going through a random pat down the young man asked me how much I had on me and tried to get me to exchange the rest (I had to show him my wallet and count the kwacha's I was exiting with). You never know if he really wants me to exchange it or surrender the rest to him to avoid the hassle. We finally made it through. Hey Rick, guess what? No exit charge this time! The gate lounge is a curious mix of languages. It's hot!

2009-03-14T01:28:00.001-07:00

We're at Chileka Airport. A tearful goodbye. Got our tickets, bags are checked to Joburg, sipping a Coke, probably the coldest of the trip, the airport bar has and old-Africa feel. Now for the time of processing.

2009-03-13T22:52:00.001-07:00

It's Saturday morning. It's a mix of excitement and sadness. We all miss our family and friends and consistent hot showers, but we feel like we have friends and family here too. Rogers and his team as well as friends in the villiage. There is such a love for God in these people. Perhaps fueled by ongoing need for the essentials like food, shelter, and health care. Or perhaps it's just that they peed simpler lives out of necessity.

It is an inexplicable thing that these villages in Malawi would be connected with a village in Virginia named Winchester.

We'll head to the airport at 9:00 'American time' (close to 9:00). Chileka Airport isn't a study in efficiency. So we get there very early and then haveca cold coke in the upstairs bar and grill that looks like something out of Casablanca.

2009-03-13T07:47:00.001-07:00

We're making our way back to Blantyre from Magaleta. Our visit was well recieved. The chiefs of four different villages came to welcome us as well as pastors six or eight of our churches. Mike Mountain is still there and apparently stll bears my name. Amazing.

We spent time with the orphans. Almost 100 of them now. They speak some english and are very well behaved. We are still providing them a meal a day. Not enough. But better than starvation.

We worshipped under a tree as we did in Dowa, Masenjere, and Monkey Bay. One of the pastors in Magaleta proposed that if we can buy corrugated roofing, they'll make the bricks. Sounds like a job for Pastor Rick and Scott!

As a whole the village is barely getting by. They will consume the corn crop long before the next growing season. Then they will all go hungry. One pastor said that without help, soon all that will be left will be the mountain...everyone will starve.

It is very hard to look in the eyes of men and woman desperate to feed themselves and their families.

1 John 3:17....James 2:17

"now that I have seen, I am responsible..." Brooke Fraser

2009-03-13T03:12:00.001-07:00

We're on the road to Magaleta in the Mwanza region. Funny, it didn't seem this far last time! We're travel weary. Calculating at breakfast, we have traveled almost 2000 kilometers this week.

Byron stayed at the lodge today: he caught a cold and feeling pretty rough. Pray for him-head colds and air travel don't mix well.

We have an orphanage here, housed in two different buildings.We're just 11 kilometers out now, but the last 11 are rough. And now Rogers is driving!

2009-03-12T22:24:00.001-07:00

This is it...our last full day in Malawi. It's a cool clear sunny morning as we head down for breakfast. Our thoughts are a mix of travel preparation and how we can help GCC Malawi develop a self-sustaining model. As the church here grows by serving the poorest if the poor, we together must help them discover the means to feed the poor. GCC America will never have enough. Father, meet us in this profound sense of need. Amen.

2009-03-12T11:37:00.001-07:00

We're safe and sound back in Blantyre. We left at 7 this morning, it's 8:30 now. We're bone weary, but a very good day. Dinner at a little place nearby called Blue Savannah(somtimes we call it Al Jazeera...we'll explain later). Even Rogers is worn out. Tomorrow we visit Roger's home village...Magaleta, 100 kilometers from here.

2009-03-12T09:13:00.001-07:00

Just had another police stop. THIS guy asked for our passports...very unusual. There was a few minutes of tense silence as he looked through each passport. When he finally returned them and we started moving, one of our Malawan friends Charles remarked, "he was only flipping papers!" I love Charles!

2009-03-12T08:40:00.001-07:00

We're driving the 4 hours back to Blantyre. We stopped at Lake Malawi long enough for a quick swim and to shoot some interview footage. We're driving from one small town to the next, the smell of woodsmoke in the air - dinner's on. Many people beside the road, many goats IN the road. Driving further south along Lake Malombe, the minibus driver blowing his horn to get people to move aside. Then there's the occasional police stop. They are rather emposing, pausing to ask 'where are you going? What are you going there for?

Returning from Masenjere the other night, a policeman/military officer singled me out to ask where we'd been. I answered Masenjere. He asked what for? I answered 'church'! 'What church?' He asked. 'Grace Community' I replied. 'Church' he said, 'then where are your texts (Bibles)?' Jon and I both pulled ours from our pockets. 'Oh...ok' he said. Move along! Byron made the mistake of shooting a photo of a policeman. He warned Byron sternly...NO PHOTOS!! Do you understand!

The sun is going down as we drive. I much prefer NOT to travel at night here due to potential for breakdowns or accidents. This is where faith comes into play. It'll be a late dinner.

2009-03-12T04:27:00.001-07:00

We just left GCC-Monkey Bay. We were greeted and welcomed by the chief of the village, an elderly man with kind eyes and a gentle spirit...he is a Christ-follower. He told us we are welcome to do ministry as we wish in his village...a huge gesture on his part in a heavily Muslim area.

We worshipped, most danced (except for the 'azoongo'- us). I preached from Collosians 1:15, the uniqueness of Christ compared to Mohammed. I hope in the next year they will build a building and launch other churches.

2009-03-11T23:06:00.001-07:00

We're our early this morning for the 4+ hour ride to Monkey Bay on the southern coast or Lake Malawi, a large lake that borders much of eastern Malawi. Monkey Bay is a new work by GCC - Malawi. It is being established in a predominately Muslim area. The roads aren't dirt, but they're not interstate highways either!

2009-03-11T12:41:00.001-07:00

My iPhone spell check miscommunicated in the last entry. I meant to say nearly 100 people die each day at QECH (the hospital) each day

2009-03-11T12:38:00.001-07:00

We're settling in for the night after enjoying dinner at an Indian restaurant nearby. Indian in Africa...who knew?

We're all wrestling with the effects of visiting Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, where nearly 100 people due each day. It is without a doubt the most hopeless place I have ever visited. Patients lie in beds or on the floor for days unattended. When someone dies, the next patient takes their bed without even changing the linen.

The facility holds as many as 2000 patients at a time, men and women in wards together, children in separate wards.

It is purely tragic.

Pray for little Miguel, likely suffering from maleria, little Moses, suffering from pneumonia, and back in the states, long time GCC member Aubrey Smith, recovering from surgery at WMC.

2009-03-11T04:03:00.001-07:00

We just visited Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital. It's a public hospital...we visited the TB ward. Some wards have as many as 80 patients with one doctor. Pastor Bosco was here three days for maleria recently...never got to see a doctor. GCC helped him move to a private hospital where he was successfully treated. Famlies were bringing food for the patients here...the public hospital provides little on the way of food. Their standard treatment for all is an aspirin at every meal.

2009-03-11T02:58:00.001-07:00

We'll visit a public hospital at lunch. Pastor Rogers spent the early morning securing a permit for our visit.

2009-03-11T02:57:00.001-07:00

We've spent this morning exploring the city...we needed coffee and Byron is looking foe a soccer jersey. After 3 days of hard travel, its a day of rest.

Pastor Rogers and I met this morning to review operations. 46 GCC locations in Malawi and Mozambique, and three orphanages where we feed a total of 170 children. Our investment? $.117 per child per day! Less than $.12 a child a day!

GCC you are doing an amazing thing here! Thank you.

2009-03-10T21:41:00.001-07:00

We're safely back in Blantyre. But what a trip! The road was easily as bad as the road to Mozambique or worse. Crossing 14 rivers, deep ruts and ravines. Masenjere is a village of wonderful people, and seriously undernourished children. Rogers is using some of the money from the other orphanages to provide one meal a day for the orphans in Masenjere...not much to live on, but more than they'd get otherwise.

Tomorrow we visit hospitals in Blantyre.

2009-03-10T05:17:00.001-07:00

I'm writing this time from Masenjere, 60 kilometers and 14 river passages from the main road and 200 kilometers from Blantyre. There are many orphans here. This region was recently ravaged by floods and the resulting maleria and cholera. We have a church here but have not begun to feed the children. Pastor Rogers has been using money from the other orphanages to help. Many children here evidence the bloated stomach of malnutrition. It is very hard to see and not act. We must act!

2009-03-10T00:25:00.001-07:00

Africa time being what it is, our 9:00 o'clock ride isn't here yet. We had breakfast (veggie omelet, chicken nuggets, potatoes, and a tomato slice) and headed to a small outdoor market Jon and Byron found to buy African crafts (yeah...souvenirs). Friendly, persistent and open to much negotiation, the vendors are fun to deal with(if you like swimming with sharks in a feeding frenzy). Still, it's how they live. I don't feel bad about the few kwacha's they wind up with...it's not an easy life. We're headed to a new village this morning...Masenjere. I wonder if they got the van repaired over night...

2009-03-09T14:46:00.001-07:00

We're back in Blantyre..water's back on, but cold! Tomorrow another village on the other side of the mountain from Blantyre. Today the Philippians 1:5 passage came to life for me. This IS a partnership. Amazing. We are partners with dozens of pastors and thousands of Christians in Grace Community Churches in Malawi and Mozambique. We serve a BIG God. This is what happens when we're willing to take a risk or two for Him!

2009-03-09T11:27:00.001-07:00

We're on the road home from Mozambique, visited another GCC church, Dawa, Mozambique. Beautiful people. Commissioned two new GCC pastors and another asked to join our team. Had 23 people in a minibus built for 15. Bottomed out on the path back through the jungle. Knocked a hole in the tranny sump. These guys patched it with chewing gum I brought along. Amazing. Thank you God. We left the village close to sunset. If it hadn't been fixed we'd have either stayed in the village or walked to the main road. God is good. And these guys are so used to working with nothing that it was no big challenge! It's dark as we travel back, still 100+ kilometers from Blantyre. I sure hope the water system is back up.

2009-03-09T03:59:00.001-07:00

One more thing...the water system in Blantyre is not functioning. So much for showers...hot or cold!

2009-03-09T01:42:00.001-07:00

We've stopped at the Malawan equivalent to our DMV to get a permit to drive to Mozambique. Guess what?DMV's are the same around the world...slow, inflexible, and SLOW! We went by the bank and exchanged money. Those of us with traveler's checks took a 30 kwacha per dollar hit! An exchange rate of 140 per dollar versus 170 per dollar for American currency. Imagine 5 white people standing together outside the bank, a perfect target for street vendors and beggars. We have yet to leave Blantyre. It's going to be a long day.

2009-03-08T21:58:00.001-07:00

It's Monday morning here. We had a safe trip to Nchalo yesterday. It was very hot there in the valley. Blantyre sits on a mountain so it's cooler. The children were amazing yesterday...approximately 200 there, 50 of which we care for in a makeshift orphange. The needs remain enormous, but we re making a difference. Orphans from other villages are beginning to find their way to Nchalo for food and shelter.

The time with the leaders went well as I shared from my heart about the realities of leading no matter where you lead. They were very receptive. We presented Pastor William, the Nchalo zone pastor, his certificate from GCC. He's a leader of excellence.

Sandy and Claire did crafts with the kids, and spoke with the women. Byron gave the kids their soccer ball. It disappeared quickly. Jon's shooting pictures like crazy.

All in all, a very good day. We're headed to Mazambique later this morning. A long drive on roads that get smaller and smaller. Pray for us.

2009-03-08T04:04:00.001-07:00

We just had worship at Nchalo...LOTS of dancing. Lots of singing. We feed 50 kids here...beautiful children. Children who matter to God. They're not starving any more thanks to GCC USA. Sandy and Claire are doing stories and crafts with the kids. I will be doing leadership training with the local pastors this afternoon. Jon and Byron are recording events with video and digital camera. Our partnership with GCC - East Africa is makng a difference!

2009-03-07T21:25:00.001-08:00

We're up early today for the journey to Nchalo. Our friend James, the cook at the lodge, made us, eggs, French fries, and sausage for breakfast. Rogers was to be here at 7:00am 'American time' meaning 7:00 am sharp. We'll be sharing at the worship service, sharpening our dance steps, and then in the afternoon, we'll do some teaching. Byron will deliver a soccer ball for the kids of the village. It's warm already, mid-70's already at 7:00 am. Sunny, beautiful.

2009-03-07T06:05:00.001-08:00

Kudos to Barbara for troubleshooting from the other side of the ocean to get the mobile blog working. Hey Staples...you were right!

2009-03-07T06:04:00.001-08:00

So here we are in Blantyre...it's definitely the rainy season! We met with Pastor Rogers, his wife, and Some of the Blantyre pastors. Headed to one of our orphanage villages tomorrow, Nchalo. 100+ kilometers on some interesting roads. Pastor Williams is the zone leader for that area. GCC has 46 churches in Malawi and Mozambique.

2009-03-07T05:58:00.001-08:00

Test, test, is this thing on??

Hello Joburg!

2009-03-06T21:45:00.000-08:00

We're in Johannesburg, South Africa after a 10 hour flight from London. I hope everyone got more sleep than I did!

We've had some baggage issues...as in the weight limit per person is reduced. Jon had to pay extra. Oh well, one more reason to leave it all in Malawi!

After going round and round with South African Air over the baggage, we are relaxing with some cold Cokes (thanks Claire!).

We load for Blantyre in an hour. We're really done flying for a while!

Plan B

2009-03-06T08:16:00.000-08:00

Technology is great. Technology is frustrating. It often calls for a plan B.

Exhibit A...my plan was simple...reactivate the Treo...which I 'knew' worked in texting to blog.

Oh the best laid plans of mice and men...

That's not quite working out. SO, new plan. Blog wherever we are and then SEND it when and if I can find wifi in Blantyre (it COULD happen!).

Backup to the backup is to locate an Internet cafe in Blantyre (more likely in Blantyre).

Either way, it'd mean a once a day update which, due to time zones will seem a day behind.

We'll see how it plays out.

We're all a bit bleary-eyed...sleepless nght, up early, and sitting around at the airport. Oh well, we'll board in 45 minutes.

Thanks for your prayers!

hello heathrow!

2009-03-06T04:14:00.000-08:00

We're here at Hearhrow in London. Uneventful flight. Having our second cup of coffee. Not enough time to get into the city so we'll hang out here.

Interesting conversation at brunch about what we expect from the trip.

Awareness. A bigger God. Bigger hearts. A wife for Byron. We'll see.

a small world...

2009-03-05T18:27:00.000-08:00

Guess what? We ran into GCC'er Todd Breem(that's CAPTAIN Todd). He showed us his 'office'. WOW! That cockpit's a bit bigger that the Mooney. And a LOT more knobs and lights!!

Thanks Captain!!!

Boarding for London now.

We cleared security!

2009-03-05T16:30:00.000-08:00

We're at Dulles and Byron has already proved helpful! He knew the TSA guy and got us moved to a SHORTER line! Now...if be can do that at Heathrow, we'll all be really impressed!!!

2009-03-04T13:31:00.001-08:00

Testing my phone for text to blog capability...

My iPhone Won't Text to Blogspot

2009-03-03T16:10:00.000-08:00

So...a few days to go before we leave for Africa and I discover my iPhone won't talk to Blogspot thru texts!!! Am I gonna have to do this the old-fashioned way and go to an Internet cafe? Rats!!! Ideas, anyone? Tick, tick, tick, tick....

Goodbye My Friend

2009-03-02T13:32:00.000-08:00

I hate saying goodbye to friends. Especially when they've been around for years.

Today we said goodbye to our family our cat Jack. Jack was 17 years old. He lived with us in three different houses. Untiil the last few months, he was a feisty animal.

He used to pick a fight with me every morning.I think it was his way of getting attention. When he was quicker than me, he'd bite me. I guess that's why he and I were never close. Still, I can't count the number of times he'd be watching through the living room window waiting for us to come home.

I've never been a cat lover...but I'm really going to miss that guy. He was alright...for a cat.

Marriage for the Long Haul

2009-03-01T12:02:00.000-08:00

It was palpable in the room today. Clearly, people WANT to work on their marriages. They WANT to believe that their marriage has the potential to be fulfilling and enduring. What would happen if couples began to dialogue about their hopes and expectations? What would happen if we really began to pray for other married couples?

For the next 30 days GCC will focus on The Marriage Benefit by Mark O'Connell. Let's see how this lines up with God's Word!

Are Pastors Christians?

2009-01-31T13:37:00.000-08:00

I admit it...for a long time I have struggled with an addiction to people pleasing. Granted...those who know me today would probably say I am better at NOT pleasing people. My response is simply this: everybody's got to be good at SOMETHING!

Actually...I started thinking about this the other day at breakfast with a retired pastor friend of mine from Windsor, Ontario. Chuck's a wonderful guy....35 years in ONE church...one that prospered under his leadership.

He retired a couple of years ago. At breakfast the other day I asked him what he has looked most forward to in retirement. His response shocked me. He said the thing he looked forward to most was NOT DISAPPOINTING PEOPLE EVERYDAY. To tell you the truth...I stopped in mid-bite of my breakfast to ask him to repeat himself. I was incredulous. He had just articulated what I had long felt.

One of the hard parts of pastoral ministry is the constant sense that somewhere, someone is pointing their finger at you and asking WHY you're doing something a certain way or why you are NOT doing something a certain way. In a very real sense...that you're always disappointing someone.

I awoke the other morning with this on my mind. As is often the case, the Holy Spirit uses early morning to speak to my heart before the background noise of the day gets too loud. What He said was surprising. 'Disappointment is the difference between performance and expectation.' What He said next was healing to my soul. 'I can't really control the expectations of others. What I CAN control is HOW I live. And How CLOSE I live to Jesus.' I love how the Spirit speaks to our broken places.

Then a question began to occur to me: when people are disappointed and they express that disappointment hurtfully...are they expressing that hurt to me as a pastor or to me as a brother in Christ. Honestly, I suspect it's more the former...as a pastor.

As pastors, we are open targets for unhappy consumer-Christians. Our sermons are commodities that are compared to other sermons like items in the produce section of Food Lion. Our programs are all compared to other programs at other churches larger and smaller. And if we come up short, we're reminded of the deficiency.

What I've come to is this: unless someone is willing to relate to me as a fellow Christ-follower first, I will no longer be the recipient of their disappointment. To quote St. Mick of the order of the Rolling Stones... 'you can't always get what you want'. From here on out, I will first ask...are you speaking to me as a pastor or a brother? If we can establish the brotherhood first, then the rest will be a conversation of one heart to the other. In THAT we will BOTH find Jesus.

Sadness and it's spiritual clues

2009-01-16T06:30:00.000-08:00

Thinking through this series called Signs(what our emotions say about our walk with God), I came to sadness. Naturally, we think of depression...the poster child of sadness.

But sadness can be less clinical, less chronic, more in the moment. It can be pervasive and persistent, but not true depression.

Sadness is not an emotion we like to hang onto. We typically do whatever we can to rid ourselves of this nasty little cloud that seems to hang over our lives from time to time.

Some people shop to lose it. Other people work to lose it. Some worship. others pray.

In it's essence, sadness says we've been disappointed. Perhaps its been a loss. Or maybe an unkind word hurled our way.

But what does it SAY about our experience with God?

For me...it is a clarion call to go to my Father, to crawl up on His lap, to rest in His arms, and tell Him where it hurts.

We SHOULD have this kind of opportunity with our friends or our spouses, but there's nothing like sharing it with our Father. It's a lot like when we were a child and we skinned our knee. We'd go crying to our mom or dad and they'd pick us up and maybe stick a band-aid on it. But it wasn't the band-aid that made it better...it was their loving attention.

Sadness calls us to that same experience....to run to our Father and climb up in His arms, and feel Him lavish us in loving attention. In those precious moments we tell Him about our sadness and walk through it with Him. He shares it with us. And walks with us til we feel it no more.

Bottom line...it doesn't matter where the sadness is coming from. The very best response is to find our Heavenly Father and draw close to Him...and to rest in His arms...to tell Him where it hurts...and experience His loving comfort.

Try it the next time you're sad. You'll be amazed.

What's Age Got to Do with It?

2009-01-11T14:28:00.000-08:00

Ok...I admit it...I'm a book addict. I read...a LOT. Books are amazing...no batteries, no software, and totally portable.

So when I got the chance to get a free book here in there, I thought...why not?

So...I signed on the Thomas Nelson's book review blogger program. Sweet.

And then I noticed this book...What's Age Got to Do with It?

Having had a birthday recently, I am a bit more mindful of my age. In fact, I just got off of the treadmill after 3 miles. I'm not going down without a fight!

Anyway...the book I chose to review was, in fact, written by a woman FOR women. Yeah, I know...no such thing as free!

Anyhow, I'll have a woman's perspective on aging and h0w to avoid it.

The author is Robin McGraw...name sound familiar? McGraw...as in Dr. PHIL? Yep, she's his wife. Which also means her celeb life is a BIT different than yours and mine. Example...I didn't have a personal trainer to stand by me as I sweated on the treadmill a few minutes ago.

The book was actually interesting. But as Solomon once pointed out, there's nothing new under the sun...OR in this book as it turns out.

That said, there are some transferable principles. Like the idea that fitness DOES help us remain young. And nutrition (specifically no more sugar, dairy products, and peanut butter) was helpful for her. I sorta moved through the whole skin care chapter pretty quick...not exactly a huge concern of mine. neither was the makeup chapter.

The faith chapter, though left to the end and rather brief, was helpful in that it raises the idea that faith really DOES contribute to health and longevity by helping us remain healthy.

Ok...so there it is...a review.

One other thing guys...as incredible as it may seem...a read like this now and then MIGHT even help us understand our wives...and for that I'm grateful!

Me...Vers 5.3

2009-01-01T09:27:00.000-08:00

Yep, it happened. I had a birthday...ANOTHER birthday.

All my Facebook friends seemed to mount a campaign to remind me...one email after another saying happy birthday. Ok...I got it. And thanks. IT's nice to have others think of you...if only it were not as 'gee, he really IS getting old'.

Version 5.3...I wonder if the update got rid of some of the glitches from the 5.2 version...like staying too busy, neglecting God more than I care to admit...trying to do too much. Being involved in too much.

Still, moving into vers. 5.3 feels WAY better than moving to vers 5.2. The future didn't look so good then. In fact, truth be told, I didn't WANT a future then. Everything was dark. Being near people was a challenge, even painful.

I moved the new version while in Philadelphia. I spent that first day of the new version staring in awe at the Liberty Bell and in the hushed silence of the Assembly hall at Independence Hall. The last one to leave the room after the tour.

That visit fueled the visionary in me. I reflected on the risks those leaders took to form a new nation 'under God'. I inwardly wondered...am I still willing to take risks? One of the downsides of vers. 5.3 is that its easier to just let things be as they are.

Fortunately, God continues to birth new dreams in me...uh oh, that's Joel 2:28 '...old men will dream dreams, young men will see visions.

The thing I love about life in the Kingdom is that we don't become obsolete as we age, we gather the wisdom born of LOTS of earlier versions and we offer it up to God...and He uses it as HE sees fit.

That said, I'm excited about seeing how God will use vers. 5.3 for his purposes. It's His call. I'm good with that.

Ahhh...Christmas!

2008-12-25T08:17:00.000-08:00

Christmas is different once the kids have grown. The kids still come. And it's still a blast to bless each other with gifts we've actually THOUGHT about. But it's different.

Last year it was different in that I was struggling with severe depression. I just wanted it over. I struggled to be relational (and civil).

As I move through this Christmas morning, I am more reflective this year. The cloud of depression has mercifully lifted. And I find myself thinking back on the year...and many friends.

The faces of friends from a little village outside Nairobi, Kenya...Gatanga (Robert the prophet, George the entrepreneur, Samuel the pastor, Michael the builder, Jeri -single mother of three, Edwin the pastor, Elizabeth the student, others). The church there. The daycare and it's many wonderful children and care givers. My Kenyan friend Daniel, pstor, prophet, dreamer, who opened the door for the adventure there by 'giving me' land.

The faces of those in Malawi (William, Evans, others) and my dear friend Senior Pastor of Grace Community Church - East Africa, Rogers with whom such a powerful partnership has developed.

I think of others in Africa like Pastor Kofi outside Accra,Ghana with who we have yet to see how the partnership will form.

I think of a young pastor in Germany named Markus and his wife Glady and the amazing work they are doing there around Cologne in spite of much resistance.

I think of friends in New Mexico who I miss terribly today.

I think of my POE brothers scattered around North America with whom I am humbled and grateful to share life.

I think of my boating friends in Houston whom I treasure and miss.

I think of my family in Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia. How blessed I am to be a part of that family that has for decades known God's rich favor.

And I think of the many folks at GCC Winchester and soon-to-be Strasburg. Huge heart...amazing passion for God and people. How very blessed to know them, to serve them, to do life with them.

If Christmas is about gifts (like the greatest...Jesus) then I've listed just a few of my greatest gifts...gifts that have made this year rich beyond compare.

Merry Christmas!

The Gift We Didn't Get...

2008-12-15T15:24:00.000-08:00

Life is full of surprises. And if you're a Christ-follower, I believe there are even MORE surprises. Because the life of faith is the life of being open to whatever God chooses to bring into our lives.

Which means sometimes we DON'T get the gifts we want and we DO get the gifts we weren't looking for. It's a genuine adventure. And to make it even MORE interesting...sometimes the gifts don't LOOK like gifts.

Take the gift of my son being hit by a car when he was in the fourth grade. When I heard him scream and leaped from the bus to see him lying curiously UNDER a car, I could not have imagined that this would be a blessing as his mom and I took turns at the hospital night after night, day after day until he was fitted into a full body cast and brought home only to live in a reclining wheel chair. We developed a heightened sense of humor through it all and I learned that just about everything in life can be put on the back burner given proper motivation...even church stuff!

Or, take the gift of my wife's AVM (arterial venal malformation). For the better part of 3 years we lived with the possibility of a brain aneurysm which could have caused instant death. The gift was that we learned to live NOW...TODAY.

Neither of these LOOKED like gifts, but God taught us plenty in the process.

Maybe the bottom line is simply this: God can make good come from all KINDS of things...sort of a Romans 8:28 thing.

And perhaps with that in mind, I should live less about the gifts I haven't gotten and instead, be especially mindful of the many gifts around me. He's a GREAT God with a GOOD heart. And His gifts are wonderful...even the ones we don't recognize.

Hiding Behind the Hassle

2008-12-10T06:46:00.001-08:00

I'm tired of the way I've done Christmas in the past.

I'm tired of facing the season with fear and dread.

I'm tired of seeing the holiday as anything but holy.

I'm tired of missing out on the mystery and the wonder of a story so unbelievable that only God could conceive it.

So this is the year things change.

This is the year I go back to experiencing it as a child...or at least with a child-like heart.

This is the year I find joy in the small things, the simple things.

This is the year I stop to marvel at the miracle of those around me...all bearing the image of their Creator. All amazing. All precious.

This is the year that I wait in hushed stillness for Immanuel to come anew in me. God with us. Awe inspiring. Humbling.

Immanuel...it makes me a bit self-conscious as I move through my day...God is with us...with ME. Hiding behind the hassle no more. The hassle has become more evidence that this world needs Jesus...Immanuel...God with us.

God is not hiding...He's never hidden. Only from those who refuse to see.

May this be the year that the mystery and wonder dawns anew...to us all.

Weird Days...

2008-12-04T07:43:00.000-08:00

I originally sent this just to staff...but as i thought about it more, I felt like sharing it with all my friends...

This has been one of the weirdest, most challenging weeks I’ve experienced in years. I’m watching various folks struggle and at times act in less than Christ-like ways. I’ve seen the enemy try to strike fear in us and cause us to distrust each other.

PLEASE...re-read Haggai 2 . I am convinced that God is moving among us and honestly, He’s using the enemy to influence some so that what can be shaken will be shaken. Hebrews 12:26-27 “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens. The words ‘once more’ indicate the removing of what can be shaken- that is, created things-so that what cannot be shaken may remain.

I am also convinced that we are moving into a new amazing season at GCC. Not because of our strength, but because of His. I find myself excited. And trust me, I haven’t been excited much in the last 12 months.

In all of this I continue to marvel at His greatness. He is a BIG GOD! I love Him more and more and in all this find myself increasingly clear that there is MUCH I can do nothing about, but there is NOTHING too big for HIM.

I was strumming the guitar in my office this morning and the words came to me, “the darker it gets, the brighter He shines!” I am so in love with Him. So amazed by Him.

We are the people of God. Let us continue to be strong and to work and to trust HIM.

Hearing God

2008-12-01T08:31:00.000-08:00

On the one hand it’s an audacious thing to consider. How arrogant to think one can actually HEAR the voice of God.

On the other, I see passage after passage where person after person did precisely that. Moses, Jeremiah, Job, Paul, Peter, John...need I go on?

What IS the answer? Does He really speak? Does He speak NOW? To PEOPLE? To people like ME? Like YOU?

How do I prepare my heart to hear?

What can I expect to hear?

Recently my wife and I spent time intentionally listening. We took our model from Eugene Peterson’s practice of years ago: Go hiking. And from the time you reach the trailhead until lunch…silence.

At lunch time we broke our silence and compared notes…thoughts. And for the rest of the day we talked about our experience of the morning.

I heard answers to a couple of things I’d been wrestling with. Not exactly the answers I wanted to hear…could THAT be GOD???

The thing is this: God DOES want to speak. We NEED to hear. So…its just so important that we make the time to engage in “active listening”…a term that takes on new meaning in our spiritual life.

It means we intentionally turn down the background noise of our life. WE incline our heart to wait…and to listen. We rest in scripture. We wait.

It never ceases to amaze me how He speaks. Especially to a guy like me. I’m not good at hearing. Thank goodness…HE is good at speaking.

So…how about you? Tried listening lately? What did YOU hear???

A Thankful Day

2008-11-27T06:25:00.000-08:00

Psalm 27:13, "I am still confident of this; I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living".

On this Thanksgiving Day 2008, I find this passage especially relevant. Given the economic uncertainty, it seems that what we must bring to this is faith. Faith that God IS good....that His goodness will find it's way into our lives.

Thanksgiving Day is a wonderful time to celebrate His goodness...and to give thanks.

Thanks for our families. Thanks for our friends, Thanks for His provision. Thanks for His goodness.

At the same time, as I write this, I watch the coverage of terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India. And I pray that God will give the Indian government the power to overcome this tragic attack.

That IS the tension of faith isn't it? That in the face of violence, of evil, that we WILL see the goodness of God in the land of the living.

David believed it. You and I must trust it as well.

On this Thanksgiving Day 2008, let's thank God for His goodness...and watch for it today.

A Week of Experiences

2008-11-21T07:53:00.000-08:00

What an interesting week.

On a plane at 6:40 AM on Monday from Dulles to New York and on to Toronto. First plane was late, barely made the second. Driving north from Toronto the snow went from nothing to 6 inches, the trees completely coated.

Huntsville in the winter has a distinct Northern Exposure feel. Locals say they HAVE actually seen a moose walk down mainstreet. Amazing.

Equally amazing is how God is bringing Muskoka Community Church together...many of the key players are atheists and agnostics...but still, the Spirit of God is drawing them.

I arrived at Jeremy's house before he got there on Monday. I walked around giving thanks to God for taking such good care of Jeremy, April, Aidan, and Kara. What a lovely pastoral setting for MCC's pastoral family. We took a hike through the snow-laden forest behind their house. It felt so much like Narnia. Quiet. Cool.

Wednesday called for us to join other pastors in Barrie for Leadership Village, a best-practices gathering catalyzed by Willow Creek - Canada. Interesting conversation about the merits of church marketing versus NOT marketing.

That evening I met with the executive team and then the whole board of a wonderful Anglican church in Paris, Ontario, pastored by a fellow Jack-Russell-type personality. The church has offered to partner with Ashland Theological Seminary's Sandberg Leadership Center to host our first off-site Pastor's of Excellence cohort...and to even shape their new building design to better host the project.

They were wonderful people. Gracious. Welcoming. Sure blew away my concept of the Anglican church in Canada. These people love Jesus...and each other. AND their community.

Flew home Thursday morning...got up at 2:30 AM to make my 6:00 AM flight back through JFK to Dulles. Drove through snow from Paris back to Toronto Pearson Airport. THAT was a long day.

All that to say it's been a full week. and it's GREAT to be HOME and done traveling for a while.

Travel like this takes me days and weeks to fully process. What did God do in each place? What did He do in ME by taking me there? I guess we'll see.

The Dual Citizenship Thing

2008-11-09T16:41:00.000-08:00

The talk on the reality of dual citizenship was an interesting experience. Clearly a mixed audience.

The truth is that there are more than a few who feel that Jesus HAS to be a Republican. Given President-elect Obama’s stand on abortion and gay rights, as well as many other things, it might be understandable.

The case could also be made that Jesus HAS to be a Democrat since the Dem’s have a reputation for their focus on social concerns. Republicans are known to be business-friendly, while the Democrats are portrayed as being more caring.

What’s the truth? Beats me. Here’s what I know…God is sovereign…Supreme. Omnipotent. HE wasn’t surprised by the outcome. And according to Romans 13, He uses EITHER party for His purposes.

When Israel demanded a king, God spoke through Samuel. He told them that the change from being led by priests to being led by a king would have its consequences. Taxes. Conflict. What this election will mean for us? We’ll have to wait and see.

This election brought an inspiring first…a black man as president. It should make all of us proud; knowing where we were in the 60’s we’ve come a long way.

This election also brought about something we I never thought I'd see…a decorated war veteran who lost. I’m still processing what that means…

What’s ahead for USA? Only God knows. A drift to the left? Higher taxes? Moral ambiguity? Restrictions on free speech?

As a person with dual citizenship (USA and Heaven) I am confident that God intends to use the incoming administration for His purposes…perhaps to prosper us…perhaps to humble us. Time will tell. In the mean time…we pray, we trust, we watch. And KNOW that God is ultimately in charge.

The Power of Vision

2008-11-02T17:03:00.000-08:00

It was summer and I was sitting with Barbara under a hot tent in Frederick , Maryland, the home of AOPA (Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association). The session that had us sweltering under the tent was on mid-air collisions...something every pilot gives more than a little thought to.

The presenter was a physician. He was talking about why we as pilots have so much trouble SEEING our fellow pilots and their birds.

He threw out a term that caught my full attention…empty field myopia: when there is nothing on which to focus the human eye tends to focus about 20 yards directly ahead.

You can imagine how that would affect a pilot approaching an airport. If he or she doesn’t work to identify traffic in the pattern, it’s not hard to fly right into them and not see them until its too late.

I immediately thought of the local church and the value of vision. Show me a church with no vision and I’ll show you one in a slow predictable descent toward death. The same is true of us as people. Without a clear vision for our lives, we’ll just drift ever slowly into nothingness. And just like the optical condition, without a clear, identifiable, ownable vision, churches (AND people) tend to focus on things at hand…survival and personal comfort.

No wonder Proverbs 29:18 speaks to this. “Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint but blessed is he who keeps the law.” The King James used the word vision for revelation, but you get the point.

Without vision, we tend to pursue our own interests rather than the interests of God. The result is that the church loses the power of unity and single focus. We just do whatever WE choose. And we don’t necessarily serve the interests of the Kingdom.

Its true of church, its true of our own lives…if we haven’t thought of what God’s vision is for OUR lives, once again, we’ll settle for whatever WE come up with.

How do we discover God’s vision for us? Micah 6:8 “And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” His vision for us begins in our character…to act justly, to love mercy, and to approach our relationship with God in humility.

Beyond that, identify your passions. What is it in life you get so jazzed by that you’d practically work for free if you could just do THAT? That’s a clue. Something within your wiring placed there by God. Something that points to His vision for you.

If you’ve never given personal vision much thought…let me encourage you to engage two great books…Wide Awake by Erwin McManus, and Life On Loan by Rick Rusaw. Both will keep you awake at night dreaming of what life could be.

This I know…life is too precious and too short to fail to live it to the fullest.

So get out there…discover God’s vision for YOUR life.

Sacrifice

2008-10-27T05:31:00.000-07:00

As I did my research for the talk on the Wall of Sacrifice, I found it sad to go back to the origins of the word sacrifice and find that it was originally meant to be set something apart as holy…sacra-facere …literally to make holy. I doubt we think of it on those terms today.

When we hear the word sacrifice, we think personal cost, even personal inconvenience…and that’s not all bad. Look at scripture and you find sacrifice has always been at a cost, often the loss of life, as in the case of Jesus on the cross.

I believe the reason sacrifice has become so hard is because we have lost the connection between sacrifice and meaning. To sacrifice for no good purpose is pointless. To sacrifice for something of great value…that’s an HONOR.

Think of the young mom who sacrifices her interests, appearance, and a decent night’s sleep in order to care for her newborn child. Think of the single dad who foregoes the boat or Harley purchase in order to provide for his kids.

The truth is…unless we find meaning in it…we won’t sacrifice. Do what the word originally meant…make it sacred…holy…and it changes everything.

When we find the sacred in the sacrifice, then whatever we do, whatever we offer, whatever we sacrifice…it’s an offering to God.

Examples: We have NO problem skipping a meal or a latte’ if the savings feeds someone in Africa or blesses someone in need next door. We have no problem giving up going to a movie or taking a staycation if we know the savings will make a difference for someone else.

So…if you’re being called to sacrifice these days…connect the action with the purpose. The sacrifice might still sting…but it’s the kind of sting you can live with!