Funny Thing (Not so Funny)

A funny thing happened to me on the way to the meeting, last night. (A classic way to start a blog in the 50’s.) Here is what happened: I spent an hour or so preparing for a question and answer session on How to Start a Supporting Ministry, and What is ASI, OCI, with a little history and respective purposes.

Shortly after we left home (half hour trip to meeting hall), Andras’ asked, “How do you intend to start the meeting tonight?”

“Oh,” I said, “I’ll start with a little history, and move on to our purpose for being. Then I’ll do Q and A.”

“Oh no,” he said, “That isn’t what the meeting is about.”

“Really?”

“No, it’s about health reform,” he reminded me, “and how to do a lifestyle center.”

“But we’ve already spent an hour on that topic with the people.” (I wasn’t reminded, seeing I never received that message before, I think.)

So the conversation went . . . and left me with, “What am I to say more?” Fortunately, I figured the Lord would understand an honest misunderstanding and He would hear my frantic cry for wisdom. (He always does.) I remained amazingly calm. The blessing of being super phlegmatic.

Two SDA Conference officials attended, and a couple who started a lifestyle center in the western side of Budapest, besides some regulars. I got up and talked for five or ten minutes on my approach to teaching health principles to the un-initiated. Then I opened it up to questions. We were at least a full hour on questions. Afterward, the couple with the LSC invited me to have supper on Thursday with them. I already had an appointment with Andras’ junior to see the town, but everyone thought this was more important. The Lord didn’t let me down. He always hears my prayers.

Tonight, if all goes as planned, I should receive my crown. (Not what you think . . . eye tooth crown.) I saved $700 by having it done here rather than in Loveland.

I am about halfway through reading 1888 Materials by E. G. White. (1800 plus pages.) I read this set of four books 30 years ago, but I am getting a far different picture than what I got the first time. I guess I know much more of the history, the temperament of the various actors, and the drama playing out over God’s move to send a “Most Precious Message” through A. T. Jones and E. J. Waggoner. The battle between the forces of evil and good was intense and gut wrenching, especially for Mrs. White.

What gets me is that nothing’s changed, except that 127 years of water has gone under the bridge, and countless billions have been swept into eternity.

What to do? I’d like to believe that my life harmonizes with God’s will, but my reading proves that I am as lukewarm as anyone has ever been. The intensity of feeling, the love for souls, the sacrificial impulses, the agonizing in prayer that I should experience is not as it would be would I be filled with God’s Spirit. Knowing it doesn’t help a whole lot either, except that I do know to pray about it. Most people haven’t a clue.

I can’t imagine what will have to happen to shake me awake to become truly active in more than these feeble efforts in which I am involved. Nevertheless, I believe that “The work Christ has begun in me, He will finish.” Philippians 1:6. Always, at this point, my conscience says, “Remember Jacob! He was about your age when he finally got fed up with his carnal nature.” For boyhood, he fought for everything he ever wanted and more or less got his way, but always in his own strength, and never did he overcome his tendency to cheat his way to the top. Finally, by the brook Jabbok, while wrestling with an Angel (which he later identified as Christ), he saw his opportunity. Crippled and exhausted and great pain, yet he laid hold on Christ by the promises he had made and wouldn’t let Him go until He (Christ) fulfilled His promise of a new heart to him. That is my answer. (Check out EW 269 The Shaking.)

I need to get serious about this! What about you?

So says the Preacher to his Tribe.

Everyday Tidbits

Still in Hungary: Yesterday, Sabbath, I spoke three times to a packed church. Obviously, the people are more compelled to come on Sabbath than on weeknights, still I am blessed with the interest that is shown every day.

Instead of Sabbath School, I was asked to tell about Eden Valley, especially the Lifestyle Center. I spoke for twenty minutes and opened it up for questions. They had no lack of queries, for forty minutes. Half a dozen of them had relatives that need to come to EVI, and they wanted to know how they could do that. I told them that it was relatively simple: All they needed to do was raise enough money for the airfare and the sessions and they could come. I don’t think that is what they wanted to hear. These people are relatively poor. I did suggest an alternative in Hergelia, Romania. (Actually, Szilard, my host, suggested it. His wife jokingly told me it would be wise not to hire him as my marketing agent.)

I spoke on “The Power of Suggestion” at the eleven o’clock service. After the service I went with Alona??, Szilard’s mother-in-law, to escort a Bible interest home. With that I got to see the heart of Budapest and the Danube. The lady we drove home was full of questions relating to health, the Bible and whether I was ever served pork by an African tribe. She tried to ascertain whether I would insult someone by not accepting what they served. (She has a big hang-up over pork, and her family is pressuring her with the idea that we are a cult and hold to foolish ideas.) The Lord gave me wisdom to deal with the situation. Now, I will get to meet with this lady and some relative on Thursday. I can’t wait!

I’m always amazed that the Lord never allows me to be so cornered that I am stumped. I do pray a lot about these things.

Today, Sunday, I did the Sabbath dishes, the breakfast dishes and the lunch dishes. (A guy has to occupy himself with something to do, doesn’t he?) I picked all the grapes (concords) in the arbor, and then Szilard and I made juice.  Afterward, we went to the church for another lecture. Today, was the last day for a small display of Ancient Bibles at the church. Afterward, they had a reception for those who came and for the curators. When I came in, I was forced (minor exaggeration) to eat three pieces of cake. I did my best to hide what great sacrifice it was.

The sermon was well rec’d again. New people almost every night. I stressed and illustrated how unreasonable it is to think we can be saved by anything we do. One lady, bless her soul, said she could listen to me all night. That is encouraging, but I think all she’d hear “all night” is snoring. The people really are very gracious. Several old ladies, (somehow that doesn’t sound right), let me try again. Several really mature women lined up to talk to Alona, Szilard’s mother-in-law, telling her what they will bring for potluck next week. The idea it seems is that they want me to try their specialty on me. I’d better not eat breakfast that day. I think the impetus came when two sweet “mature women” came with their best this week. It is probably the best lentil-whatever that I ever have tasted, and the other lady’s Hungarian Gulash?? was out of this world. I think I expressed it too heartily and now . . . the race is on.

There are a handful of non-SDAs coming to the meetings, and they seem to be sticking to it. One tall, attractive, 35 year old lady who just went thru’ a divorce, quit her job and started a photography business says she came because she is searching. Eniko is befriending her, and she seems to be soaking it all in. She sent Eniko, Szilard’s wife, an email this morning expressing how thrilled she is because I called her by name. Her name is Anita. It’s about the only name that makes sense around here.

Another: A 50 year-old single man, very good looking and athletic French teacher is looking for a wife. Nearly every day, he tells me he’s figured out what his problem is: Last night he said, he’s had two God’s, 1. The true God, and 2. an unreachable goddess, and he’s figured out that the issue is with himself—too high expectations. My theory is that men are really hard to marry after the age of 30. They know what they want, but she doesn’t exist in this world of sin.

Two ladies of high society walked into the meeting last night. I though, “Oh oh, they walked into the wrong meeting. This should be interesting.” I was sure they’d eventually walk out, but no, they stayed till the end and Eniko’s brother made sure they didn’t get away before he had a talk with them. I even saw him kiss on of them on both cheeks. Maybe he invited them.

SO NOW, HOW DO YOU LIKE THAT FOR A BLOG? ARE YOU STILL INTERESTED IN MY EVERYDAY HUMDRUM, OR SHALL I RESERVE THESE HUGE EFFORTS TO SOMETHING MEATIER? LET ME KNOW.

A Good Week in Hungary

October 17, 2014

Greetings from Hungary on a rainy day.

I’ve pretty decided that if I am to keep a blog going, I will have to keep a daily diary. In the course of a month or two, few daily occurrences, events or circumstances stand out. Therefore, I judge that I have nothing to share. Nevertheless, I understand that people don’t expect great things to happen all the time, but they are interested in normal everyday what’s-in-your-life-anyway sort of things. So with that, here I go again:

For three weeks, I am living in the outskirts of Budapest. In many ways, Budapest is typical of much of what I have experienced of other East European cities (and countries.) Whether my evaluations are correct or not, I do not know, but I feel that the people in Hungary are by some slight degree friendlier. (It’s just a feeling.) The church members certainly are.

The evangelism that I am doing in Hungary wouldn't fit the classic definition in the least. I've had to adapt like this twice before, both in Roatan, and in Ukraine, but it is good that I can. I am focusing more on practical Christianity than doctrinal dissertations. I am more and more convinced that people are dying for a want of seeing the cross and knowing how to relate to it. So, I preach Christ in the context of daily living. The meetings are going well, the people are appreciative and in spite of not addressing large crowds, I believe a targeted few will be well impacted.

The people I live with are wonderfully accommodating. They live in a beautiful house (more than a century old, renovated.) What’s interesting is that the owner, Andrash??, believes in having his yard as close to natural nature as possible. In a country of much rain, that idea leads to a house and property grown in like a jungle, with maple trees and every type of bush you can think of, with fruit trees and grape vines and flowers of all sorts etc. As is all other houses, the properties are surrounded with high fences, iron or brick or wooden walls. Without knowing for sure, I’d say there is a problem here with thievery. Even the gates to the fences are under lock and key.

After the first weekend, which we spent together, I was left alone because everyone went to work or school. I was given a key to the house and fence, in case I wanted to go for a walk, but no-one instructed me that the house door has a five-point security system and I couldn’t figure it out. (Which is good, otherwise a thief could too.) So I couldn’t go for a walk and leave the door unlocked. The next day, I was taught how to lock the door and the security code etc, but then someone forgot to leave me a key. So, I was locked in the yard. I could have jumped the fence, but the neighbors might have thought me a burgler and I would have had a tough time explaining seeing I don’t speak Hungarian. So, I stayed in. On the third day . . . I went for a walk.

On Sabbath last, we spotted a dentist office not four or five blocks for our house. I took it to be an opportunity. My right eye-tooth lost its hard shell on the back side, which was causing it to wear out from the back to the front. In Loveland, they want $1,100 to repair that one tooth. Seeing that I travel a lot, I figured it was just a matter of time and I’d find some less expensive dentist in another country. Voila, I found it in Hungary.  Szilard and I spent three hours with the dentist yesterday. For the same repair (a crown) it will cost me only $280. And, wouldn’t you know it, the dentist is an Adventist of only two years. I asked Szilard to see that she gets a set of the series I am currently preaching in the city.

I read 37 chapters in 1888 Materials by EGW in seven days. That's what you do when you have jet lag and can't sleep at midnight, or two, or three in the morning. I'm really getting a flavor for what the SDA Church went through shortly after the Minneapolis GC Conference in 1888. We've never recovered. What will it take? Who will it take? Lord help us.

Trying to Catch Up

The last time I wrote was before the ASI National Convention. How will I remember all I've done since then? Never mind, let me just work backwards and stop when I'm licked.

I'm in Budapest, Hungary. It is my first time in this country and the Lord is blessing me so far with beautiful sunshine and summer days even though it is October 14. I've spoken four times so far, another 10 or 11 times to go. The situation is a little strange: I really didn't know what I was facing. Leasa told me (she organized for me to preach here) that I would be doing an evangelistic series. But then again, it was to have something to do with some ASI Hungary meetings. Yet again, I could preach whatever I wanted. Hmmm! So I brought fifty sermons in case.

To begin with, I am doing my signature series, the Prodigal Son. After all, who in Hungary will have heard it? You'd be surprised. In the last meeting, a Hungarian French teacher told me that he listened to that series on line, and that my talks, even though I use the same words, have a totally different spirit in person. Ugh! Technology. Another complete stranger came to me and said, why did you stop writing your blog? Really? You read my blogs? Yes, he said, I like them. I have no clue who he is.

The meetings are going very well. The small number who are coming (between 25-50) are noticeably interested. (The jet lag is killing me. It was never so bad when I was younger.)

On Sunday, we went to the farm and picked concords all day. That was the one night I slept like a log. By the way, Hungary has some of the best food in eastern Europe. (It is at least so in the house I live in.)

A couple of weeks ago, I preached twice for It Is Written Canada in Hope, BC. It was a Partnership weekend and I was the keynote speaker. Wonderful time. Janet came down from Whitehorse. I picked her up in Vancouver and after the It Is Written meetings we went to spend two days with Mundalls in Lytton, BC. The highlight of my time there was when I had to climb up a tree (by ladder), tie a rope around a bear's head and pull him out of the tree. (The bear was dead, shot the night before.) I then dragged him to the back forty. Talk about stink. He was only dead one day and yet he nearly made me gag. I helped Merritt to bring in the last of his hay, as well.

That was fun. We then drove to Angie's where I left Janet as I was scheduled to leave for Budapest. We will meet in Denver on the 28th of this month, Lord willing.

The EVI Convention went well for the 52nd time. Shelley Quinn and her husband were the guest speakers. Excellent. Love them to death.

At our EVI board, I handed in my resignation from EVI. I will remain as President till Dec 31. This was not a surprise move. Nearly everyone expected that Janet and I would consider a change once she returned from Africa. Well, it finally happened, she found someone to take her place in Mago, Elisha and Nadege Van der Worth??, and now she is free from that responsibility forever.

When she came home we agreed to pray that the Lord would guide us to our next assignment, if He had a new assignment for us. Shortly thereafter, we rec'd a call to serve at the OCI headquarters again. Janet as the manager of their apartment complexes (120 apts)  and I as the Executive VP. I'm always blown away by what the Lord does. Such important positions filled by such a common everyday Joe.

Robert, my brother, has been spending a few days per week with me, i.e. he's been sleeping at my house. He's been logging with Ben, his son. Except for coming home battered by a tree branch and running over his own chain saw, he's doing great. He looks strong and if he ever shaves, he'll look as young as me.

The ASI Convention was a blessed success. I cannot thank God enough. That convention is a huge logistical nightmare to organize. Good thing the Lord has me surround by very intelligent people, otherwise . . . . The Youth For Jesus program was a huge success also. It wasn't without problems, but God had the right people in place and in the end many were baptized. (I think 54 was the last I heard, and there were more to follow.) Brianna and Christina Ford, my second and third granddaughters, were two of the  speakers at the four sites. They were good, I mean good enough to bring me to tears. Caleb, 15, did plenty of door-to-door work and helped at the sites also. Great experience.

All of us drove north to Canada for a few days following the convention and visited with the Frappiers. We wished we could have gone to Sudbury, but Angie had a plane to catch and it afforded us little time. Next time . . . ya right!

We had a wedding at EVI this week. Not that I was there, but I know it happened. Our farmer, Tony, married our Bible Worker, Ashley. Besides planning a wedding, they managed to sell more produce than anyone I can remember doing in all my years involved with Eden Valley. Great team!
We've got a new doctor coming. Dr.Keith Schliefer and Kathryn his wife. We look forward to working with them. Our Education Dept. has 12 students. They are wonderfully busy doing public health and Bible evangelism. Very good program. And, my VP has a herniated disk. She works anyway, but it is painful to look at, much less walk in her shoes. Lord help her.

Till next time, don't take any wooden nickels.

Weak

Hello everyone, I'm back. Back from nowhere and everywhere at the same time. For quite some time now, I've lost interest in posting. Mostly, I've been super busy and have no extra energy to use on writing. Actually, I'm posting at the most undesirable moment. (I'll explain in a minute.)

The last two and one half months have been same old, same old. I suppose if I blogged daily, I would let you in on some salacious tidbits, but I'm prone to forget them as soon as they are out of sight. Sorry.

So, let's start afresh:

We are having a rainier than usual year in Loveland. This is all good. It's hard on the harvesting of hay, but with the drought in California, all the rain we can produce in Colorado will help to buffer the situation. Our farm is producing well, though I fear we are killing our young farmer. He can't surround the whole thing, and no matter how many times I tell him to cut back, he can't, or won't. It's in a farmer's DNA to plant seed, all seed, any seed. Then it's too late.

Our original farmer is gone to help our Dominican Republic project. We lost the strongest man we've ever had on the team, but that's ok. We get to help someone else.

Our lifestyle center is going half well. Well, what I mean is, we always have lifestyle guests, but we could use more. . . always more. Interestingly, Wildwood has had three months in a row with 30 lifestyle guests. They've never ever had 30 guests, ever. More power to them. May the Lord do as much for us also.

I don't know exactly how many students we will have in our new intake, but it is looking fairly promising. The class starts on August 3 and runs till shortly before Christmas. All welcomed.

I two weeks, my wife will be home on a permanent basis. It's been ten years and it is coming to a close. She is now orienting Elisha and Nadege, and all looks good. Angie, is with Leasa Hodges at Youth For Jesus. She is a girl's dean there. Her two youngest daughters are preaching at YFJ and I am extremely proud of the ability the Lord has given them. Caleb, Julie's oldest is there also. He is participating in door to door activities and helping at the meeting sights. I believe in Caleb, the Lord will use that young man in a mighty way someday, you'll see. (I think the same for his brothers. The potential is amazing.)

I read somewhere tonight that the Youth For Jesus program has already 47 people who want to be baptized. PTL. I'll be leaving for Grand Rapids where YFJ is happening followed by the ASI National Convention, on Thursday. It's going to be a week and a half of high stress. O have at least five board meetings, plus the convention. I have one year remaining as President of that organization.

Now for why this blog is so hard to write:

This week, I decided to fast from Thursday lunch to Monday breakfast on water. I am blown away on how hard this has been. It is Sunday evening as I write. Some years ago, I use to fast often. I don't remember it being so hard. It isn't that I am feeling so hungry, but oh, the weakness and dizziness and confusion of mind. Yuck! Sometimes I felt literally sick. Well, no matter, I said I would and I will.

I'm not fasting because I think it is fun. I really have needed to talk to the Lord about my needs. "From the soul that feels his need, nothing is withheld." DA300. I'm tired of myself, period. It's obvious we have not what it takes to finish this work. Lukewarmness and complacency will not do it. Why can't we have the Holy Spirit in supernatural power. What is it that limits His involvement in our work? Are there Ackans in the camp? If there are I don't know it. Am I the one Lord? An institution rarely rises above its leader, and judging by the institution, well . . . you fill in the blank. So I will have spent 89 hours fasting and praying. Lord help us.

Some thoughts have occurred to me:
1. I've been honestly surprised on how quickly I became weak and how weak I became. One day without food and I feel like I'm dying, and it came to my mind that the food is God's provision. There are plenty of people going hungry around the world. It may be our turn someday, except that God has promised to supply all our needs. And even in this small experiment I am reminded that in one day I am nothing. From strong to dying. (Well, feeling like I am dying.) Friends, the weakness is real, and it is in us. When God says we are nothing, Gal 6:3, He knows what He is saying. I am not superman.

2. Often, I rejoice that God has brought me a long way. Yes, indeed. Many I left behind in my old life have made, or are making shipwreck of life, and the temptation is to think more of myself, or conversely, less of them. This weakness is bringing me to realize that I am not anything more than they are. Unsustained by grace, I'm am reduced to the lowest level of humanity. If I can deteriorate this quickly to nothingness, by missing a few meals, then I must realize that I can deteriorate as quickly otherwise. The distance between the greatest saint and the worst of sinners is immeasurably small. So much so that I doubt that God makes a difference. We all are in need of His help.

3. In the OT God called for the stoning of some people--the boy who gathered sticks on the Sabbath, the people who committed adultery, the glutens, the nations which exhausted their probation etc. Interestingly, this terrible sense of weakness leads me to identify with those poor sinners. Surely, I've done worse than pick sticks on the Sabbath. Are my spiritual adulteries better than their physical ones? Are my neo, pseudo, carefully hidden rebellions more justifiable than theirs? I can't be judgmental when I think in those terms.

4. I also realized how old age is a blessing orchestrated by God. If today's induced weakness turns my heart to God for support, then it's become evident that old age, with its attendant weaknesses, are God last call to prayer. You may be smarter than the average bear, today, but the onset of dementia will certainly disabuse you of any pride in that seemingly bright mind. You may be better than average strong today, but just wait, they'll be putting diapers on you soon. Today's beautiful skin will soon need more help than botox can give.

All our supposed strength is an illusion, but the Bible says, "While we were yet without strength," (that's everyone) Christ died for us. If we recognize and are honest with ourselves about our weaknesses, then "When I am weak, then am I strong."

So says the Preacher to His Tribe.

Have Tongue, Will Travel

I know it’s been a long time since I last wrote. Sorry. I suppose there is some interest in knowing where I’ve been and what is going on in my little existence, but I tell you frankly, the more you do the same-old, same-old the less you feel like you have anything to say.

Since coming home from Africa I’ve been traveling domestically.

1    I attended the ASI Winter Board in Cohutta Springs, Georgia. That  was a pleasant experience. I preached and didn’t get beat up for it. A lot is being done to improve ASI (especially in the accounting dept.) The ASI team is better than ever. We did lose our new Sec/Trea., and our office secretary is new, but she is already proving to be very, very good.

     I traveled to California with Dan Houghton and Harold Lance to interview our new, new Sec./Trea. Kyle Allen is young but truly promising. He will join us by mid May I believe. All these losses and gains have left us behind in our preparations for the National ASI Convention, yet I believe we will do well, regardless, by Gods grace.

3    Leonard, Leasa and I attended the OCI Retreat in Uchee Pines, AL. (And I attended the OCI board meeting.) The whole thing was profitable, not only for all the good reports, preaching and fellowship, but for some of the mistakes that I made that week. (Mistakes teach more than victories by the way.) Curious??

            For instance: I said something on the board about someone who was not present. I was rebuked. I accepted the reprimand as graciously as I could, seeing I was wrong. In turn, I felt compelled to call the individual in question to ask his forgiveness. He was more than gracious. We had an hour-long conversation that I          believe was more than profitable. I think we are not done with our dialogue. Did God allow me to sin for this resultant good? I don’t know, but good is coming out of it anyway.   

Leasa, the Molina family, the Charles family, Betty Atchison, David and Candi Katsma, Barbara Taylor and I attended the Mid-America ASI Chapter Convention in Kansas City, MO. Twelve hundred people were there on Sabbath. I preached twice there also. That convention was fun. (Doug Bathelor was our main speaker.)

     The next weekend, I attended the Southern Union ASI Chapter Convention, again in Cohutta Springs, GA. I preached twice and sat on a panel discussion. These folks raised $151,000 even tho’ the attendance was lower that usual. The Lord has more than one way to reveal His love.

     Now, I am on my way home from the Columbia Union ASI Chapter meeting. I was pleasantly surprised at how well it went. The Columbia Union Chapter is under new leadership and I feared that the new President’s lack of experience might be revealed in a sub-par experience, but it wasn’t. He did a great job. If he’ll stick with it, the chapter will improve year by year.

     I left Columbia early and made my way to Wildwood for a board meeting. All is well there, also.  

One thing I have noticed: God’s work is never out of the woods. The problems and the needs always appear to exceed the provisions and solutions, but it isn’t so. “In every difficulty, God has His way prepared to bring relief . . . a thousand ways that we know nothing about.” There is never a reason for pessimism or discouragement. All that come to us in negative appearance is to be to us as opportunities to test God’s faithfulness. They are lions without teeth, paper dragons, not nearly as dangerous as our imaginations would make them out to be, unless, of course, we lose sight of the problem Solver.

This week, I go to the Pacific North West for another ASI Convention. Heaven knows that is tiring.

In 23 days, my Lover comes home. Ten years of on and off again is a long time. I hope it is over, but you never know what the Lord will ask of us next. Whatever it is, we will give it to Him.

All is well at EVI. We are ministering to a full Lifestyle session this month. Leasa is working hard with the Youth For Jesus program in Michigan. The Michigan Conference is supporter our efforts there very well. Tho’ there are little snags in the way, the Lord is going to give a great victory and He will by instrumental in saving many souls thereby. Our farm is sprouting plants everywhere, and I am hoping to see a full education dept. by August this year. We still meet as a small group every morning at 5:30 AM for prayer. God will save . . .

So says the Preacher to his Tribe.