Family

November 16th 2007 Part Two

I wrote recently and posted a video of a small gathering that Corinne and I had at our house and how great it was to see everyone again. Well that same night as everyone began to arrive we received word that a video clip of my son Samuel's platoon was posted online, so we raced to the computer and looked it up and carefully watched as face after face panned by. I began to wonder, would I recognize him? When suddenly, there he was, no doubt about it, that's my son.
I can't put into words all that I felt when I saw him, even though the clip only shows him for about two seconds, it meant the world to me. It reminded me that soon we would be seeing him again and I won't go into detail, but it seems there have been a great many changes for the better in his life.
There is a part in the story Jesus told of the prodigal son in Luke 15 where it says "But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him." I have to tell you, I know what it is like to be looking for your son even when he is far off, and hoping to see him again, I understand how everything that was in the past means nothing to the thought of compassion for him and being able to see him, fall on his neck and kiss him.
These emotions became a reality that moved me to tears just seeing him for those two seconds. Oh, and I wasn't the only one who shed a tear that night, many who knew Samuel and saw him on the video were moved to tears as well, and yeah, they were all girls, ...so what's my excuse?

…I'm his father.

For those who would like to see him, Samuel is 4th row second from the right, he appears from 1:06 - 1:08 in the video below.

Friends

November 16th 2007

Corinne and I had wanted to get together with some of the people we had served with in our former college group and so we decided to have a little get together that included food, fun and a great time worshiping together. It was great to see everyone again (miss them so much), and catch up on what's happening in their lives.
Put a little slide show together from the evening.

Facing the real World

Facing the real World

This week I began dog training, very slowly, but a step in a whole new direction. It’s a funny thing to go into a house where you are able to fix the problems they are having, but what’s been eating me is that the problem I am fixing has to do with dogs, not people or their relationships, it’s with peoples pets!
So today as I was home buming a bit, thinking about all this when I received a phone call from someone who let me know that a former friend and co-worker was in the hospital and in very serious condition (It would take too long to go into detail, as his problems go back many years and involve many bad choices).
My friend was surprised and happy to see me and as we began to talk, the gravity of his condition came out. He told me how he’d been in ICU for almost three weeks and was at Loma Linda for almost three months before that, his kidney is failing (he only has one) and because of his drug use and life style, the chances of him getting another transplant are unlikely. His wife has filed for divorce and he had not seen his two children for quite sometime which just added to the overall turmoil he was in.
Now, I will try and clarify what I am about to say in a bit as it may come across rather dark, but the truth is, I would rather have been in that ICU room dealing with all that pain my friend was going through, than in a beautiful house being hailed as a hero for making someone’s dog behave.
You see, as I began to talk with my friend, I was able to bring back into his thoughts the reality of eternity and how temporary all of what WE call “life” is, that he’s not leaving the real world, he’s facing it! He began to cry as we spoke of what really should matter to him most right now, how he, and we all need, forgiveness and grace. He began to talk of his regrets, all that he did wrong and failed to do right. And in his despair I was able to speak to him of God’s unfailing mercy and ability to take and turn around the years that we’ve wasted. I also told him that even in his condition there in ICU, he is still useful to God and those he loves, he can still pray in that hospital bed for his children, and for his marriage, that his prayers can enter eternity and have an impact even after he is gone, that he can still call out to the Lord for strength, wisdom and peace to strengthen the things that remain.
Again through this time, although difficult and sad, I was thankful to be able to be there, thankful to have a part of the eternal work and not just the temporary wag of a tail.
It is worth some thought, when people face death, what matters most of what we call life begins to surface, but we don’t have to wait for that to happen, do we?

Misunderstanding II

Misunderstanding II

John said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw someone using your name to cast out demons, but we told him to stop because he wasn’t in our group.”” - Mark 9:38
Now what’s wrong with this picture? I mean, I don’t have a lot of experience on casting out demons (don’t want it either), but I’m guessing that casting them out would be a good thing, don’t you? Yet those who knew Jesus best wanted to stop it from happening because the people weren’t following them. I believe there is more to this passage than us just seeing how self absorbed the disciples were with the thought of being leaders. I believe it is to warn us of the very same thing, especially those with a leadership role. I wanted to make the point in my last blog how we can move from a position of authority based on tradition that can blind us from what is being said. It seems that some people are so zealous about what they stand for (like the disciples and who should cast out demons), that they are blind to what actually matters most. Mercy and not sacrifice or religious ritual (Matt. 9:16, Hosea 6:6).
Jesus continues in this account and says “Do not hinder him, for there is no one who will perform a miracle in My name, and be able soon afterward to speak evil of Me. “For he who is not against us is for us. Mark 9:39 - 40
Why are we so quick to take sides against those who don’t see eye to eye with us? Paul didn’t care why Jesus was being preached or even if their motives were to harm him, only that Jesus was being preached (Phil 1:18) We should of course rightly divide and explain the word of truth, but we need to be careful that we do not focus so much on how things are done that we lose sight on what is being done, like casting out a demon! (Which is much worse than the flu by the way).
In my last blog I asked, what does the phrase mean in scripture “the word of God” or to “preach the word?” Well a friend commented back with what I thought was a great answer. “The good news that the LORD God would send His Servant to bear our sins, and that this good news was for all people, and that He would die, be raised and return to establish His Kingdom on this earth is all in Isaiah. These were the Scriptures Paul used to reason with the Jews in the synagogues as he traveled and spread that good news. And Jesus is the Word made flesh, so preaching the Word is preaching Jesus.” - Amen
"In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise," (Eph 1:13).
The word, is the gospel message.

If you answered along those lines give yourself an “A”

Misunderstanding

Misunderstanding

It’s pretty sad how things that used to mean something important lose that significance and value because time and tradition change the original meaning. Take for example the word “church” (ekklesia), which means “called out” in the Greek. Throughout the scripture it refers to a group of people sometimes collectively as a whole and sometimes specifically to an area like Galatia, who are called out and follow the ways and teachings of Jesus, but it never referred to a building. You may think this a little thing, but the meaning of church has become someplace you go to get, instead of something you are to give. I think that difference is huge.
Another misunderstanding is the meaning of the phrase “the word of God” as it appears in much of the New Testament. It has come to mean what we know as the Bible, which is traditioanlly what we've all been taught, but we need to ask a simple question, how could the statement “word of God” refer to something that did not yet exist when the phrase was written? In other words, when Paul wrote “Preach the word” how could he mean the “Bible” (as we have today) when there was no “Bible” yet to preach? Yet I have heard so many quote scripture after scripture using the phrase “word of God” to support how they teach when that’s not what those very verses they quote mean.
Now I have to make this point clear so that people don’t come to the wrong conclusion about what I have just said. I believe that all scripture (the manuscripts that make up both Testaments) is “God Breathed” I believe all scripture is profitable and that Peter gives support that Paul’s writings were to be included in "all" of scripture as written in his epistle. I believe that the Cannon of the New Testament scripture is valid because of it’s preservation and circulation when the church (collective body of Christian believers) was formed. I believe that the scriptures or what is called the Bible is indeed God’s revelation of Himself and His will for all mankind and should be taught completely. In fact I just wrote to a friend and encouraged them to read the scriptures daily for help because I believe that they are the primary way that God speaks to us. What I don’t believe is that it’s ok to pull out a phrase and use it to support the traditions of men usually to exalt yourself above others.
So what does it mean when in scripture when we read phrases like “the word of God” or “preach the word”? Well I think it would be worth finding out, don’t you?
So here’s our homework, look up the phrase word of God (specifically in the New Testament) and see if there is a common theme in the context of the passages that will help our understanding on the subject, I believe it will add a great deal of light and be a help to the church,

...oh, but not the building.

Movies, Society and Finding Our Compass

There were a couple of movies that came out the last few years that received a lot of attention from the “Christian” community. One was The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe from C.S. Lewis’ Narnia Chronicles; the second was The Da Vinci Code from a Dan Brown Novel. Now the attention these two movies received was drastically different, but in retrospect I think the movie that actually opened up more valued conversation for me was the Da Vinci Code, the one that was adverse toward my Christian beliefs. I had some great opportunities to talk to people about the fallacy of all those theories.

So, what’s my point? Maybe we need to change the way we look at things that are contrary to what we believe and instead of feeling threatened by them, see them as opportunities to engage others with what we believe. Take for example the up coming movie “The Golden Compass” If we read and know what the intention of the story is, then we probably know more than most who would see it, which gives us the opportunity to answer any questions that might arise from what is being portrayed. I have never pursued a question about my faith, that hasn’t in the end strengthened my faith, it just takes seeking to find, knocking for the truth to be opened up and asking to get the answer.
All this makes me wonder, how did Christianity spread so quickly throughout the Roman Empire one of the most depraved and hedonistic civilizations the world has known? What was the attitude of those early followers when confronted with opposition to their beliefs? Confronted with the intense idolatry, rampant sexual perversions and complete dishonesty. I mean we never read of Paul saying “get out of Corinth, the place is filled with prostitutes!” He did say run away from the immorality, but he also said, ”…I told you not to associate with people who indulge in sexual sin. But I wasn’t talking about unbelievers who indulge in sexual sin, or are greedy, or cheat people, or worship idols. You would have to leave this world to avoid people like that.” (1Cor. 5:10 NLT). It seems to me that he is implying that they should expect to find just that type of behavior in the midst of the world they lived in, shouldn’t we?
What would happen if we as followers of Jesus actually followed in His steps or those of Paul? What if we really knew and experienced the transforming work of God in our lives and believed it would do the same for everyone who would have faith in as well? Would we worry less about keeping ourselves “safe” and more about stepping up and into the heart and heat of the conversation?
It’s interesting that the origin of the word “pagan” which has come to mean an unbeliever or heathen, first came from the Latin word which means, country dweller. You see there was a time when the followers of Jesus did not run out of the cities to keep themselves from all the wickedness that was there (Rome being the very heart and epicenter of the know world), but instead remained there until the only ones left who had not heard about Jesus were out in the outskirts, the country, the Pagans. They too like Paul had this idea in their heads that they could actually impact the entire world. And you know what? They did! Their compass, like God’s pointed toward the heart of the world.

… Paul felt compelled by the Spirit to go over to Macedonia and Achaia before going to Jerusalem. “And after that,” he said,

“I must go on to Rome!” (Acts 19:21)

Seeing and Believing

Seeing and Believing

It is hard at times to hold onto hope when everything we see looks so bleak, and though the words from 2 Corinthians “we walk by faith and not by sight” ring true, often they don’t seem to ring NOW, when we want them to. This was brought to mind today when Pastor Jeff Stewart from CC Pomona Valley shared briefly yet beautifully about his wife Karen and her lung cancer and how the scriptures spoke to them when Jesus was in the boat with the disciples during the storm and they cried out to Him, Lord don’t you care what's happening here! Jesus response was “why are you afraid, how is it that you have no faith” Now we all know they should have had confidence in the Lord, after all Jesus was in the boat with them, but we also know all to well the reason why they didn’t have faith don’t we? It was because of all they could see, was literally all that they could see.
Many of you know our son Samuel is at boot camp to become a Marine, what not many know is that he has become a letter-writing maniac! Before going into boot camp I could count on half a hand all the times Samuel had written, but now he has written to both his grandparents (a couple of times), to many of his friends and to us five times. What has been so neat for us is the content of the letters, things like “please pray for me” or, “I went to church again” or our favorite “I miss you and can’t wait to see you” The reason I mention his letters is not merely to brag about our son, who in just a few months time has become a family hero (especially to the grandparents), I write it to make the point that, what we never could have seen or imagined a few months ago is today a reality written and right in front of us. So then, what is it that you are having trouble seeing? Is it the restoration of a relationship? Is it the return of a wayward child? Remember just because you don’t see it does not mean that it is not there, and even if the situation does not work out the way you would think best, Jesus is still in the boat or maybe more fitting to your situation like Paul when he was alone in prison, it says “But the following night the Lord stood by him” (Acts 23:11) You may not see Him there, but who are you going to believe? Jesus,

...or what it is you think you see?

Changes

Changes

I am going to make some pretty big changes regarding my traveling both to Sacramento for the dog training and to lead the studies up in St. Helena.
As I have shared before it has been difficult driving back and forth. I don’t want to come across complaining or say this to make anyone feel sorry for me, I actually share this in my weakness, I have had quite a bit of internal turmoil regarding this.
I’ve been praying since early July, wondering whether St. Helena is really where the Lord is leading my family and me, or am I pursuing this merely because I have no other choices? My thoughts have been that if the Lord is not leading me in this direction, then will I now end up doing nothing? So then, would I rather do something, than nothing? But then again, would I rather do nothing than something that the Lord is not leading in? Anyway, I hope that conveys some of my mental and emotional struggles.

Again it is in my weakness I humbly admit that I sought and needed counsel, and so I spoke to a pastor who I prayed and believed could help me sort through some of these things without the emotional baggage.
My time with him was clarifying and very healing; as a result of our time I will not be going up to St. Helena for at least the next two months and also cutting back on the dog training. He shared (and I believe it wise) that I needed to spend less time running around trying to make something happen because of fear or worry and more time seeking the Lord for direction, and confirming peace. That it’s hard to hear the Lord’s still small voice when you don’t take the time to be still and your own head is screaming so loud.


Now, I would like to try and make this helpful to others and not just a state of my psychotic affairs. I believe this is true in so many areas of our lives, we often feel we must do something and so that’s exactly what we do, “something”, not necessarily the “right” thing. And though I believe it’s easier for God to steer our lives when they're moving, maybe like me you too forget that waiting on the Lord is actually forward movement, and that praying is really very progressive.
Finally I have to say how blessed I was that as I shared these things with Pastor Bill in Napa and with some of the individuals in St. Helena, they not only understood and sympathized with my situation, but encouraged me in it as well. Which I found extremely comforting, but also very difficult, because really, who wouldn’t want to be with people like that?

I beg for your prayers during this time, that Corinne and I would hear, know and not shrink back from the Lords leading.

Let It Rain

Repost from March 18, 2006

Let It Rain

Have you ever at the end of one those days or maybe weeks wondered "why am I doing all this?" I'm tired, overwhelmed with thoughts and things I need to get done, and for what!? That's what I was thinking last night (more accurately that morning) as I was trying to put some thoughts into my memory for the night's e3. Why am I doing this? Who cares and what difference is it going to make?




It was raining again; in fact a friend asked me "why do you think it keeps raining on Friday's? My response was, "rain is good, it cleanses things we can't see," I was thinking specifically of my attitude. We still had about 30 people come out in spite of the rain and all, but will I continue to do what I believe God wants me to do even if it's a battle and it rains every Friday? Add to the mix a week full of frustrating situations that I have no power over, praying for people who are seriously ill, counseling appointments that just make you cry afterwards, a women who already has had to give up 3 of her children because of bad choices made, who is pregnant again, and figures it best to just have an abortion "this time". Inside I'm screaming it would be best if you would just... sorry, my thoughts weren't kind, and my heart is broken for those kids and her continued bad choices.

A constant fear of mine is that one day I will look back on my life and all the things I have done, with the thought that it made no difference, all that I did was just a waste of time, a waste of life.
After tonight's meeting a couple of people talked with me about some of the things I said and then there was one... a girl who believes she heard from God through the things I shared, a confirmation to something that had been heavy on her heart and mind, she was in tears believing that God spoke to her and so we prayed that God would continue to guide her steps of faith and obedience.
You know, it really doesn't matter what things I accomplish in my life, what really matters is what God accomplishes in the lives of other through me.

I felt better after that, in fact even though I was a bit tired Corinne and I went with a group to grab a bite to eat afterwards, it was a good night.
and as far as next week,

... let it rain

A Day Is as a Thousand Years

A Day Is as a Thousand Years

Well the two days that I spent up in Sacramento were interesting and a little frustrating. I was hoping to get maybe five training lessons in during that time, but ended up with only two because of the weather. On my way back down I was thinking how the rain affects us all, both in good ways (farmers) and in bad (outdoor dog training!). I left for home right after the second lesson around 8:30 and was hoping to make it back by 1:30 or 2 a.m., but the rain came into play and slowed things down quite a bit. That was nothing though compared to the Armageddon that took place on the I-5 involving 28 commercial vehicles and one passenger car and totally shut down two freeways as well as tragically taking 3 lives.

When I came upon the accident I was stuck in between two exits and so it took me almost 2 hours just to exit the Fwy. and another two to make it home finally at around 5 a.m.
It struck me as kind of ironic that my last blog talked about Joseph and Mary’s excursion to Bethlehem and getting over the walls in our lives while here I was on my own excursion to make it home to Upland facing a wall of red lights. I can’t tell you how difficult those last few hours were, and how long those two days seemed (thus the title in jest). I did wonder though what God wanted to do in or with my life at that time and I had plenty of it to think. It also reminded me of a time before when I was questioning the rain and God’s hand in all of these kinds of things. I posted a blog about it and may repost it if I can find it.

On a good note, I led worship at CC Montebello today and although it was 4 services and I had to wake up way early it was great and refreshing leading them (boy those people will sing whether you’re there or not), and it was way kewl to be in front and listen to them all. Singing has a way of pouring out our souls to God and He will never be outdone, He will always pour more into us.
Next week and weekend I am going back up to Sacramento and then St. Helena, appreciate your prayers as this last wall really took a lot out of me.

Blessings,
Sam

I cry out to the LORD;
I plead for the LORD’s mercy.
I pour out my complaints before him
and tell him all my troubles.
When I am overwhelmed,
You alone know the way I should turn.
Wherever I go … Psalm 142