Headache

This pretty little flower is growing in my basement window well.

On Sunday I needed to cut a tree down in my neighbor's yard.

Bill Bosko and Leonard Smith picking the remnant of the dead tree.

When I cut the last tree I watched it fall. Just when I was feeling smug about it, a branch, two and one half inch thick and eight feet long, came down and bounced off my hard head.

Happy Sabbath

I am having a happy Sabbath. I preached a sermon on faith today. It was for me. That fact alone is a mystery. If I know the concept enough to preach it, why do I need to preach it for me? I don't know, but it works.

The most poignant point in the sermon came as a result of reading two quotes: DA 300:1 "The Lord can do nothing for the recovery of man until, convinced of his weakness and stripped of all self-sufficiency, he yields himself to the control of God. Then . . ." (At the point of being convinced and stripped) God is able to do for him what he's yearned to do all along.) The other quote says, "What is justification by faith?" The answer comes, "It is the work of God in laying the glory of man in the dust." TM 456.

If you ever wonder why, at certain intervals, nothing goes right . . . That's why. God yearns to save and He can't until we are "convinced of our nothingness and stripped of our self-confidence."

Believe it or not. That gives me huge hope and courage.

Since my Lover left for Africa nearly two weeks ago, I've been praying two and one half hours per day . . . every day. In some respects, everything I do makes things worse. On the other hand, I am convinced that God's promises are true and they are true even for me (and you of course.)

I announced to our church this morning that I will be transitioning out of EVI over the next year. The assumption at this point is that I will join my wife in Africa as soon as I can find someone to replace me. I doubt the Lord has other plans. In the meantime, I will do my best to find my replacement and to push EVI forward. Change to me is always exciting. Frankly, I don't intend to involve myself in leadership any more. I've just realized that I've been doing this for 31 years now. After 31 years, you'd think I would have learned something. On the other hand, if God sees that I need more humbling, then who am I to deny Him. Boy, I hope not. I'd like a twenty-year sabbatical, thank you.

One thing though, God is more real to me now, than ever before. I see myself in darker hues and by contrast, I see God in brighter colors. I am thoroughly corrupt and He is intrinsically pure. In myself I am lost, but He can overcome even that and bring me home. I believe it. Thrilling paradox.

Have a happy week. The Preacher to his tribe.

Our second oldest granddaughter, Brianna at the Spokane Youth Conf. 
Our third oldest granddaughter, Chistina, at the Youth Conf.

This is my oldest granddaughter, Vanesssa. At the Youth Conf. in Spokane, WA. It was a huge blessing to be with our kids again.
Janet and I went to the ASI National Convention in Phoenix. Our booth area was busier this year than I have seen it in a long time. My wife and Deniece did a great job putting the booth together. What you see above is only half of what the booth was at ASI. This picture was taken in Spokane, at the Youth Conf.

Above is a picture of Pastor Steven Bohr. He isn't a bore however. He spoke three times and I was blessed, each time. I had the privilege of speaking five times. I felt like the Holy Spirit was present and blessed our efforts. The singer, Derrol Sawyer and his wife Cindy were there as well, and did a great job of it. I am thinking to invite Derrol and Cindy to be our guest speakers/singers at the EVI Convention on Sept. 25-27. You are all invited.

I wish I had more time to write a true blog. (A true blog, to me, is the expression of an opinion or some research on any given topic.) For sure, I am wonderfully or terribly opinionated and I could probably write on almost any topic, but time is the problem. So, I end up just sharing what is happening in my uneventful little life. Sorry! There is a ton I'd love to share with you. Someday I'll retire and do nothing but blog around. (Sounds blah, doesn't it?)

Anyway, what's new in my little life? 

Oh, nothing! Well, that isn't completely so.  I did get to chair the OCI board at ASI. That was pleasant. While there, I made an important life decision. I chose to begin transitioning out of being Eden Valley President over the next year. I don't know whether it is wise to announce that decision so early, but by the same token, we can't start looking for the next lucky President so quietly as to keep everyone in the dark.  People need to get use to the idea. 

The reaction is mixed 

Some applaud the decision. They feel I shouldn't be separated so much from my wife. True, but I believe the Lord led in it. Others try to persuade me to remain, intimating that our best years may be just ahead of us. Possibly, but I've been praying for a long time. I believe my leaving will be a relief to some people. Don't cheer too soon, however, I may be at EVI for another whole year if we don't find the Great Reliever before then. 

There are several reasons to move on: 

My wife certainly is a big factor. Interestingly, I would have thought that this would be great news for her. It is, I think, but she is practical enough and love me enough to worry about my future in Africa. I appreciate her for that. She knows that I like being involved with the American ministries. I also like traveling the world preaching God's word. I will probably lose all of that by moving to Africa. There is a sense that going to Janet's project is like sinking into obscurity. Not to worry, I have no secret or open ambitions. Obscurity might just be a great sabbatical until I transition from dung to dust. (joke.) Hey, I might just write the book everyone has been encouraging me to write. That would be good, wouldn't it? 

Secondly, God intended for His institutions to be instruments in His hands for the salvation of many souls. Institutions are theoretical more efficient than everyone doing their best singly. But institutions go thru' cycles. They can be powerful, or they can deteriorate into battlefields. Every few years, it seems they face upheaval. The Lord allows all hell to break loose on a place for the purpose of cleaning house. The struggles that lead up to the purge is very hard on the leader, especially if the leader isn't super strong to begin with. 

Thirdly, I think I am not very pretentious. What you see is what you get, I think. (I'm not very good at self-judgment, either.) I guess I could wish to be a strong choleric, but I am not, and I don't even want to try to play the part. I may be too phlegmatic in this respect, but I pretty well accept myself as I am. Can you imagine being comfortable in this skin? I am. Well, I am when I am not failing so miserably or stressed out by different factions wanting me to rule in their favor. When I see I am not able to do a good job, I admit it, and gladly move over. It is time, I am not doing a good job.

Fourthly, I am just plain tired.  If I was choleric enough, I would simply choose where I want to go and only take those who agree to go with me on my terms. I am too relational. I can't please everyone and in the end I will hurt everyone. That is reason enough to move on. Besides, it is time for a rest, like it or not. 

I plan to close the retirement center next month. That will leave EVI with an excess of two, three or more staff. Who will I have to ask to vacate? I know that I wield the greatest influence around here, but I am not good at using power. I'd rather submit than to have others submit to me. Weird, eh? 

Ok, you've got the scoop. Don't say I never talk to you. The Preacher.