INSIGHTS INTO OUR NEW PRESIDENT – This morning I was watching a program dealing with the topic of abortion from a Christian perspective. I didn’t had a pencil in hand to record the quote verbatim but my paraphrasing will give you a clear enough picture. Obama said, “I have two girls and we are trying to raise them to do what is morally right, but if they should make a mistake, I don’t want them to be punished …” In other words he didn’t want them burdened by an unwanted pregnancy and an abortion would be acceptable. Then, as one of his first acts as president was to nullify President Bush’s orders that forbade any federal funds to be spent to pay the for act of abortion. Obama has now made it all right for federal funds to be used to pay for abortions. Barack tells us he is a Christian, yet he takes this unchristian stance, manifesting a lack of high regard for the life of the unborn. He certainly does not hold the view of King David when he said in Psalm 139: 13-16, “For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb….”. Keep your eyes and ears open, we are likely to observe a lot of biblical inconsistencies in the days, weeks, months and years ahead.
A TRUE BUT SAD STORY – As I reread Psalm 103:12 “As far as the east is from the west; so far hath He removed our transgressions from us” I recalled a true story. I had included this verse in my sermon and following the service a young man came to me asking if this passage was true. I assured him that it was true and he literally departed, skipping joyously down the aisle. I had had the joy of leading him to Christ and now he was rejoicing in another reality of his new found faith. Some time later this same young man called me on the telephone late one evening from a bar and it was apparent that he was drunk. I asked him where he was and told him I would come get him. I had to ask someone else the location and I finally found him and drove around the city hoping he would sober up and tell me what had caused him to get drunk. It was not long until I heard his confession of a past life that was haunting him, he had murdered a man in a drug confrontation elsewhere. The burden was so great that he had broken under it. It was little wonder he had skipped down the aisle learning his sins had been removed as far as the east is from the west when he had received Christ as his Savior At the same time, during the days that followed I became a bit fearful, not knowing what his reaction might be, knowing he had made such a confession to me. I didn’t have enough details to go to the authorities nor did I feel it was my responsibility to do so in the light of his confession to me as his pastor. Within two weeks God had dealt with the matter, as a work accident had ended his life. My dilemma and fears were ended as God took the matter into his own hands. Still, my heart breaks to know the burden that weighed so heavily upon him even after his confession of faith. I have never had a similar experience and hopefully I never will. Not knowing how to deal with such circumstances it is comforting to know that God does and He watches over His servants. I have left details out of this story, not wanting to be burdensome to those who might be hurt by my sharing it, so please don’t call or write asking for more information as to names, places or further details. I just wanted to share some of the burdens that can fall on pastors as they endeavor to minister to others.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Friday, January 16, 2009
January 2009 #2
POLITICAL PROMISES – I remember when Jimmy Carter run for president, promising whatever was popular with the particular crowd he was speaking to. Now we have Obama with his promises involving the spending of billions of dollars that we do not have in order to turn the economy around. Though I was too young to have heard and remembered what FDR promised, trying to move the country out of the Great Depression by various spending programs, I have read and heard of those efforts. The facts are, they didn’t work and it was entering World War II that finally brought us out of the Great Depression. Will it work this time? Wait, watch and see, we are in for a great ride down the path of spend, spend , spend. The first half of the TARP program started in the fall and the money was misused, wasted. Many think we would have been better of to let those banks and insurance companies go through bankruptcy and saved the money. I am far from being an economist but simple observation is a good educator. The sad part is, that we often fail to learn from our experiences.
UNIONS – I do not consider myself a union man. There were times as a young man when I had to belong to a union in order to obtain or hold a job. Of course all that went by the side when I entered into the ministry. If I were involved in secular work today I would not be very happy about the present discussions relating to “open ballots” the unions are try to get passed in place of secret ballots when it comes to deciding whether or not to become a union shop or business. This flies in the face of a pure democratic process, as far as I am concerned. I feel for those who have to be so involved these days.
REHAB – This week I have started rehab, about an hour twice a week. It’s a long walk after getting into the large building where this is done. I wasn’t too bad going in but coming out after being on one of those pedal and handle machines that work both you arms and legs. I was moving a little slower. Hopefully this will build my strength back up. Next week they have scheduled me to talk to a dietician. That should prove interesting because I have very little appetite. The doctor has given me a pill that is supposed to help that but I really haven’t noticed much difference. So it goes with this old man following bypass surgery.
BUILDING PROJECTS – Last weeks “Musings” talked about home missionaries being involved in building churches and being involved in the carpentry trade, whether they are carpenters of not. I got to remembering back to the first church we helped build. It was all volunteer work and some knew what they were doing and some didn’t but they were learning. I remember one dear brother who decided to deal with the plumbing. He would get instructions from a plumber friend as to how to plumb the toilets and washrooms. He would do a little work and then go back for further instructions. When it came time for inspection we managed to get an inspector that was Catholic and it was apparent he didn’t like Baptists. He really gave our dear brother a hard time and kept refusing to pass the plumbing. Poor Willie would go back to the plumber friend for new instructions to make the proper corrections. In one instance the plumber told Willie that what the inspector was requiring hadn’t been done for several years with new changes in the code. The inspector was simply giving us a hard time based on his personal bias. Of course it didn’t help when an unlicensed and non-union man was doing the work. We did finally get the plumbing approved but it was one difficult task. The next church project we hired a plumber to plumb the kitchen. I remember one day come into the new addition and found the plumber gone and having left the fire on under the lead pot he was using to melt the lead to seal some of the joints. I turned the gas torch off, not wanting to chance a fire while the plumber was finding his way back to finish his project. Even licensed plumbers have their goofs. At least I’d consider that a goof, it could have been a rather disastrous error.
A FAMILY RUN CHURCH – One church I took on had been started by someone else. A domineering family, a father and three married sons controlled every detail of the church and had run off the founding pastor. I was not smart enough to fully recognize the problems in those learning years but soon learned how difficult a situation it was. They had formed a constitution and then didn’t follow their own guidelines when it suited their whims. The constitution clearly stated that all teachers had to be members of the local church in order to teach but they continued to use a lady that refused to join the church. (This was one of many battles fought.) After numerous attempts to get the lady to join us I finally took the matter to a church business meeting. You couldn’t imagine the animosity this event stirred up. The church membership had grown and when we brought this matter up the domineering family lost the battle and we voted to remove the teacher from her class as a teacher. The four families, the father and three married sons, all left that church that night and never returned. (The teacher, her daughter and mother also left.) An interesting side note, this family liked to be seen for their giving. During the building project the father had asked to speak to the church when we had run out of funds to complete the project. He proceeded to have what I called a fund raising auction. “I’ll give the first amount of so many dollars, who will add their gift to this?” What I found interesting, for all their pretense of being major supporters of the church, after they left the church the giving in the church increased rather than being diminished. How do you figure? This is just another of many experiences of a pastor/home missionary. Thankfully most ministerial experiences are more pleasant.
A MIRACLE – What could have been a tremendous loss of life turned out to be a miracle of lives saved when the U. S. Air flight 1549 came down in the Hudson River just minutes after take off The accident was caused by geese being sucked into the planes engines. All 155 lives including passengers and crew were saved with only minor injuries. I’ve heard the testimonies of a number of people that went through the experience acknowledging the miracle. I’ve heard people telling of praying, etc. but I have not heard one person acknowledge God’s miracle working hand in all this. Hopefully, as time goes by, there will be some who recognize God’s miraculous hand in all of this. I’ve heard praise of the pilot, the flight crew and the many rescue workers and boat captains on the river that rescued people, and rightly so. It will be interesting to hear the testimonies of more people as this story unfolds to see if God is mentioned as giving wisdom and skill in what is an amazing event.
DOES GOD WORK IN CIRMCUMSTANCES – I believe so. Once while driving from Camas, WA, a dog ran in front of our car and I hit it. Stopping to see how the dog was it ran off into the woods and we went on our way. As we drove into Vancouver, WA we came to a green light at an intersection and as we were about to go through the crossing a car came speeding through the red light. Had we been there a minute or seconds earlier we would have been broad sided and perhaps killed. I’ve always believed that God caused that brief delay by that dog crossing our path to save us from what could have been a terrible accident. Coincidence? I prefer to believe that God intervened.
UNIONS – I do not consider myself a union man. There were times as a young man when I had to belong to a union in order to obtain or hold a job. Of course all that went by the side when I entered into the ministry. If I were involved in secular work today I would not be very happy about the present discussions relating to “open ballots” the unions are try to get passed in place of secret ballots when it comes to deciding whether or not to become a union shop or business. This flies in the face of a pure democratic process, as far as I am concerned. I feel for those who have to be so involved these days.
REHAB – This week I have started rehab, about an hour twice a week. It’s a long walk after getting into the large building where this is done. I wasn’t too bad going in but coming out after being on one of those pedal and handle machines that work both you arms and legs. I was moving a little slower. Hopefully this will build my strength back up. Next week they have scheduled me to talk to a dietician. That should prove interesting because I have very little appetite. The doctor has given me a pill that is supposed to help that but I really haven’t noticed much difference. So it goes with this old man following bypass surgery.
BUILDING PROJECTS – Last weeks “Musings” talked about home missionaries being involved in building churches and being involved in the carpentry trade, whether they are carpenters of not. I got to remembering back to the first church we helped build. It was all volunteer work and some knew what they were doing and some didn’t but they were learning. I remember one dear brother who decided to deal with the plumbing. He would get instructions from a plumber friend as to how to plumb the toilets and washrooms. He would do a little work and then go back for further instructions. When it came time for inspection we managed to get an inspector that was Catholic and it was apparent he didn’t like Baptists. He really gave our dear brother a hard time and kept refusing to pass the plumbing. Poor Willie would go back to the plumber friend for new instructions to make the proper corrections. In one instance the plumber told Willie that what the inspector was requiring hadn’t been done for several years with new changes in the code. The inspector was simply giving us a hard time based on his personal bias. Of course it didn’t help when an unlicensed and non-union man was doing the work. We did finally get the plumbing approved but it was one difficult task. The next church project we hired a plumber to plumb the kitchen. I remember one day come into the new addition and found the plumber gone and having left the fire on under the lead pot he was using to melt the lead to seal some of the joints. I turned the gas torch off, not wanting to chance a fire while the plumber was finding his way back to finish his project. Even licensed plumbers have their goofs. At least I’d consider that a goof, it could have been a rather disastrous error.
A FAMILY RUN CHURCH – One church I took on had been started by someone else. A domineering family, a father and three married sons controlled every detail of the church and had run off the founding pastor. I was not smart enough to fully recognize the problems in those learning years but soon learned how difficult a situation it was. They had formed a constitution and then didn’t follow their own guidelines when it suited their whims. The constitution clearly stated that all teachers had to be members of the local church in order to teach but they continued to use a lady that refused to join the church. (This was one of many battles fought.) After numerous attempts to get the lady to join us I finally took the matter to a church business meeting. You couldn’t imagine the animosity this event stirred up. The church membership had grown and when we brought this matter up the domineering family lost the battle and we voted to remove the teacher from her class as a teacher. The four families, the father and three married sons, all left that church that night and never returned. (The teacher, her daughter and mother also left.) An interesting side note, this family liked to be seen for their giving. During the building project the father had asked to speak to the church when we had run out of funds to complete the project. He proceeded to have what I called a fund raising auction. “I’ll give the first amount of so many dollars, who will add their gift to this?” What I found interesting, for all their pretense of being major supporters of the church, after they left the church the giving in the church increased rather than being diminished. How do you figure? This is just another of many experiences of a pastor/home missionary. Thankfully most ministerial experiences are more pleasant.
A MIRACLE – What could have been a tremendous loss of life turned out to be a miracle of lives saved when the U. S. Air flight 1549 came down in the Hudson River just minutes after take off The accident was caused by geese being sucked into the planes engines. All 155 lives including passengers and crew were saved with only minor injuries. I’ve heard the testimonies of a number of people that went through the experience acknowledging the miracle. I’ve heard people telling of praying, etc. but I have not heard one person acknowledge God’s miracle working hand in all this. Hopefully, as time goes by, there will be some who recognize God’s miraculous hand in all of this. I’ve heard praise of the pilot, the flight crew and the many rescue workers and boat captains on the river that rescued people, and rightly so. It will be interesting to hear the testimonies of more people as this story unfolds to see if God is mentioned as giving wisdom and skill in what is an amazing event.
DOES GOD WORK IN CIRMCUMSTANCES – I believe so. Once while driving from Camas, WA, a dog ran in front of our car and I hit it. Stopping to see how the dog was it ran off into the woods and we went on our way. As we drove into Vancouver, WA we came to a green light at an intersection and as we were about to go through the crossing a car came speeding through the red light. Had we been there a minute or seconds earlier we would have been broad sided and perhaps killed. I’ve always believed that God caused that brief delay by that dog crossing our path to save us from what could have been a terrible accident. Coincidence? I prefer to believe that God intervened.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
January 2009 #1
JEOPARDY – Betty enjoys watching Jeopardy so I watch it with her, but it is not my favorite game show. As I observe the contestants answering questions so easily makes me feel stupid. The massive number of books they need to have read to be able to give correct answers amazes me. I know their education must be very broad to even be able to get on the program. I understand they have rigid testing to even qualify for consideration. It all makes me feel rather inadequate. Then comes to mind what Paul said (and he was a well educated man for his day), “For I determined not to know any thing among you save Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” (I Cor. 2:2) Then I feel better in all my ignorance. I know what is important to know and it will take me all the way to His glorious presence for all eternity. Then you and I will have a knowledge that surpasses all the human knowledge of this life. REJOICE! / (I much prefer watching Wheel of Fortune as it is easier dealing with words and phrases.)
FOGGY HEADEDNESS – There is something I haven’t talked much about except with family and my assorted doctors. For a long time now I have been afflicted with what I call a “foggy headedness,” that is very frustrating. I have talked with my internist (I have doctored with him for all the years I have been in Ohio) and he had no answers. He sent me to a ear doctor and no answers. He then sent me to a neurologist and they took brain scans but no answers. I went to a homeopathic doctor and she claim to be able to solve the problem with her little remedies at $100.00 a month but she didn’t help either. I’ve mentioned it to my eye doctor but no suggestions. Last month I believe my cardiologist defined my problem for me. He told me that as the heart blockages caused assorted problems for me, it also cut off the amount of blood needed for my brain and this is what has caused this problem. The sad part is that there is nothing that can be done about it and I am stuck with it. This is very discouraging and disheartening. I can still think clearly enough but this fog gives me a boxed in feeling (I don’t know how else to define it). I think it adds to my balance problem that goes with my diabetic neuropathy. I don’t know anyone else with this problem but surely there must be some if the doctor’s explanation is correct. I’d like to hear from others that may have the same problem. Your prayers for grace and enablement to deal with it will be appreciated. One thing is certain my longing for the Lord’s return when all these physical complaints will be resolved is heavy upon my heart. I know I am not alone in this same cry, even the young who lack the physical limitations, but love the Lord and hate the evil days we live in. Repeatedly in Revelation the Apostle John wrote of the Lord Jesus saying, “I come quickly.” May it be so!
ISRAEL HAMAS WAR – This new conflict between Israel and Hamas causes our attention to be drawn again to prophecy. Who can blame Israel for attacking Hamas after years of their lobbing rockets on them? We are told that Iran and possibly Syria are providing the arms to Hamas. Watching the development of all this is interesting and makes the believer wonder how close we may be to the Rapture of the Church. This is something we cannot know but it does turn our thoughts toward the second coming of Christ. So, we keep looking up expectantly, praying for Christ’s second coming
.
NORTH AMERICAN UNION – I don’t know if you get this kind of mail coming to your house or not. “The Conservative Caucus” is endeavoring to inform people about the NAU efforts to create this movement and the development of the “Amero” or common money and coinage for the U.S.A., Canada and Mexico. This is something President Bush was working on at one point. Now that he is about out of office, hopefully Obama won’t take up the same cause. I can only imagine the terrible consequences of merging our money in with the low valued pesos of Mexico. We don’t hear much about this in the news. We heard a little about it the last time President Bush met with them about a year ago. As far as I am concerned we don’t need a North American Union or an Amero dollar like the European “Euro.” We should be praying this never takes place.
REHAB – Today, Wednesday the 7th, I went in to start a rehab program that I hope will help be get my strength back. I will have to go twice a week, I think for about 12 weeks. I am not sure how I will hold up under this but hopefully it will prove helpful. The way things are, I am not good for much of anything so I need to try. Your prayers in this regard will be appreciated.
COMMENTS – I have been receiving a number of comments back on these “Musings” which are much appreciated. This is an encouragement to me, though it seems to me to be such a limited form of ministry. Especially with a partial intent of providing information about my past ministry as requested by my kids. Why they should want to know is a puzzle to me but also a humbling delight. I only hope they don’t prove too boring to the rest of you.. If so, they are easily deleted.
BUILDING EFFORTS – Nearly every church I have started or been involved with have included the need for some building project. Home missionaries are regularly involved in some building effort. I am not a carpenter or builder but thankfully God always provides those who can help us through these projects. As a result, my first church plant included the purchase of land and the erection of a church building. Someone else started my second church but continuing the work required an addition to provide badly needed classroom space as well as a kitchen and fellowship area. One older church I had needed remodeling work in the basement to provide classrooms. The next work required the remodeling of a house to provide a worship area while other rooms provided classrooms. Later in this same work we purchased land and built a church. A fire had destroyed the house we had remodeled for our church. One work we were involved in the initial organization activities and we moved on before the building phase. The next church did not require a building project, as we were able to lease an already existing church that had merged with another. So it was with the next as the building was already in place and we took that work on as a rescue mission. Following that work ended up erecting a church building. So it goes in missionary work, you find yourself using a shovel, hammer, saw and paint brush, etc. A man who once in his ignorance told me that preachers don’t have to work had no idea of what he was talking about.
FOGGY HEADEDNESS – There is something I haven’t talked much about except with family and my assorted doctors. For a long time now I have been afflicted with what I call a “foggy headedness,” that is very frustrating. I have talked with my internist (I have doctored with him for all the years I have been in Ohio) and he had no answers. He sent me to a ear doctor and no answers. He then sent me to a neurologist and they took brain scans but no answers. I went to a homeopathic doctor and she claim to be able to solve the problem with her little remedies at $100.00 a month but she didn’t help either. I’ve mentioned it to my eye doctor but no suggestions. Last month I believe my cardiologist defined my problem for me. He told me that as the heart blockages caused assorted problems for me, it also cut off the amount of blood needed for my brain and this is what has caused this problem. The sad part is that there is nothing that can be done about it and I am stuck with it. This is very discouraging and disheartening. I can still think clearly enough but this fog gives me a boxed in feeling (I don’t know how else to define it). I think it adds to my balance problem that goes with my diabetic neuropathy. I don’t know anyone else with this problem but surely there must be some if the doctor’s explanation is correct. I’d like to hear from others that may have the same problem. Your prayers for grace and enablement to deal with it will be appreciated. One thing is certain my longing for the Lord’s return when all these physical complaints will be resolved is heavy upon my heart. I know I am not alone in this same cry, even the young who lack the physical limitations, but love the Lord and hate the evil days we live in. Repeatedly in Revelation the Apostle John wrote of the Lord Jesus saying, “I come quickly.” May it be so!
ISRAEL HAMAS WAR – This new conflict between Israel and Hamas causes our attention to be drawn again to prophecy. Who can blame Israel for attacking Hamas after years of their lobbing rockets on them? We are told that Iran and possibly Syria are providing the arms to Hamas. Watching the development of all this is interesting and makes the believer wonder how close we may be to the Rapture of the Church. This is something we cannot know but it does turn our thoughts toward the second coming of Christ. So, we keep looking up expectantly, praying for Christ’s second coming
.
NORTH AMERICAN UNION – I don’t know if you get this kind of mail coming to your house or not. “The Conservative Caucus” is endeavoring to inform people about the NAU efforts to create this movement and the development of the “Amero” or common money and coinage for the U.S.A., Canada and Mexico. This is something President Bush was working on at one point. Now that he is about out of office, hopefully Obama won’t take up the same cause. I can only imagine the terrible consequences of merging our money in with the low valued pesos of Mexico. We don’t hear much about this in the news. We heard a little about it the last time President Bush met with them about a year ago. As far as I am concerned we don’t need a North American Union or an Amero dollar like the European “Euro.” We should be praying this never takes place.
REHAB – Today, Wednesday the 7th, I went in to start a rehab program that I hope will help be get my strength back. I will have to go twice a week, I think for about 12 weeks. I am not sure how I will hold up under this but hopefully it will prove helpful. The way things are, I am not good for much of anything so I need to try. Your prayers in this regard will be appreciated.
COMMENTS – I have been receiving a number of comments back on these “Musings” which are much appreciated. This is an encouragement to me, though it seems to me to be such a limited form of ministry. Especially with a partial intent of providing information about my past ministry as requested by my kids. Why they should want to know is a puzzle to me but also a humbling delight. I only hope they don’t prove too boring to the rest of you.. If so, they are easily deleted.
BUILDING EFFORTS – Nearly every church I have started or been involved with have included the need for some building project. Home missionaries are regularly involved in some building effort. I am not a carpenter or builder but thankfully God always provides those who can help us through these projects. As a result, my first church plant included the purchase of land and the erection of a church building. Someone else started my second church but continuing the work required an addition to provide badly needed classroom space as well as a kitchen and fellowship area. One older church I had needed remodeling work in the basement to provide classrooms. The next work required the remodeling of a house to provide a worship area while other rooms provided classrooms. Later in this same work we purchased land and built a church. A fire had destroyed the house we had remodeled for our church. One work we were involved in the initial organization activities and we moved on before the building phase. The next church did not require a building project, as we were able to lease an already existing church that had merged with another. So it was with the next as the building was already in place and we took that work on as a rescue mission. Following that work ended up erecting a church building. So it goes in missionary work, you find yourself using a shovel, hammer, saw and paint brush, etc. A man who once in his ignorance told me that preachers don’t have to work had no idea of what he was talking about.
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