Praise

I was kind of off schedule eating today, and the whole family was hungry but I was not. I ran over to the church while they were eating. I was gone maybe 15 minutes. When I came back, I found something awesome: Joseph was reading John 10, "leading" the Bible study! He is really pumped up to find out when Jesus' "time" is.

I really cant ask for more than that, that the boys would know its time to read Scripture after the meal is finished!

Thankfulness

I suppose it doesn't take much to make me happy. I am so pumped to have a two-car garage, I don't know what to say. And, in a fit of un-American behavior, I have both cars in there! When I was a kid, my dad let me start the car in the morning. Of course, it was a trick to get me to be the one to go out in the German winter to scrape the windows... because first we had a 74 VW van, and the heaters were no good; and second, it was so cold it did not matter if you had heat anyway. I have ever since hated scraping ice in winter. Now, no more. Very thankful.

Nadia now says, "Powerbomb." She actually says, "Ba-bom." Then I power bomb her. Its awesome how good a wrestler she is. When I drop her on the bed she groans, "oh!" After she gets out of the bath tub, she asks for power bombs. Like dozens of times. She also imitates something else I do, that cheesy thing where you hold out both hands, with the index fingers pointing. She growls when she does that; not sure where that comes from... She also does the Elvis playing the guitar thing. like I said, doesn't take much to make me happy!

And then there is a great joy lately in our Bible study. We read from the Gospel of John at the dinner table. The boys have noticed talk in the Gospel of it not being Jesus' time. So tonight, reading John 9, Joseph asks excitedly, "is it Jesus' time yet?!?" I cannot wait to get to chapter 12!


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Quotation from Ichabod Spencer

Ichabod Spencer's "A Pastor's Sketches" is a great book. Spencer was a committed pastor, seeking to save souls, and his encounters with people needing the Lord and their various responses, is a great resource. This quotation struck a chord with me.

"I have often thought that a truly regenerate man cannot have any doubt about the total depravity of his heart. If he does not see THAT, he probably does not see his heart. And hence his repentance, his faith in Christ, his reliance upon the holy spirit will probably, all of them, be only deceptions."

Night Prayer

So a few nights ago, I was in my bedroom and Nadia had followed me in there. I was on the side of the bed away from the door, between the bed and the wall. She was right there with me. I turned off the light and realized right away that I should have left it on... not only for me trying to stumble around the bed in the dark, but also for Nadia. I thought she will feel all alone in the dark, not able to see me, trying to find her way out from the corner. I felt her grab my leg and then next thing I knew, her hand was in mine and we just walked like nothing.

I am glad for such confidence in prayer, to stumble along in the night and reach up a hand knowing the Father is there.

We Have Work To Do

Still don't think it's serious?

Still don't think the Gospel is precious and time is short?

I was walking back from the store, cherry pepsi in hand. Walked a back way, a kind of skid row by the hospital where some shotgun houses are. in front of some kind of apartment there was an old upholstered chair sitting in the weather. On the arm rest was an old phone receiver positioned perfectly on a piece of paper. And here is the piece of paper, and what it says:





















If you can't read it, it says, "The first person who tells me 'there is a God,' may go to Hell forever. I don't know, but they don't either."

No one home, but I will find him. Times are strange, Morehead Methodists. Are you ok paying me to hunt these people down? I usually don't do much hunting-- they find me, or letters like this crop up in my life more than I can explain.

I won't be able to sleep tonight. I hope you won't either. Get down on your knees and pray. Lord, break our hearts.

Retreat

I spent Mon-Wed at the Upper Room in Nashville, for the second and final retreat of the Companions in Ministry project. CIM tries to spiritually equip pastors to form small groups to help carry on the work of ministry without burning out.

It was a good time of being away, apart, in an environment suited for reflection. We were led again by Trevor Hudson, a great South African Methodist pastor. I have had time to think about how and why it is that two S African pastors, Peter Storey and Trevor Hudson have had the impact they have had on me...

Trevor Hudson does a wonderful job of opening us up to ways Jesus wants to work in our lives. A good Methodist, he knows that we must be transformed by the love and grace of Christ before we can be any earthly good.

At the end of the day, having some time and some space and having some leadership from Trevor, I got to a place that God has taken me twice before on retreat: a very simple command, a very clear word from Him for my spirit: "Go home and love your wife and children."

I suppose I should want to unpack that; or perhaps you need me to. Oh well. It is what it is.

Staff Meeting

Something just happened. We finished staff meeting... And then everyone just hung out and there was lots laughter and hanging out.

Something good happening when the staff just kicks around


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