About Time

Let me tell you, if you don't write a blog for a while, it is really hard to get back into the groove. I must force myself. Besides, how can I remember everything that has happened in the last month plus?

One of our staff wondered why someone planted two telephone poles in that middle of his lane. Thank God for air bags. We lost another old van this week. Someone cut Darrell Bates off in town and our van was totaled. Fortunately, the other party was at fault and they gave us $3,429 for the old junker. Leonard suggested that we give Darrell a raise.

Our new education program is well on its way. The Wellness Institute has 10 students, great quality, and the program is wonderful. Last night, we did a Cooking School in Loveland. Between 40 and 50 people came, fourteen non-SDA. I spoke on the Brain and the crew demonstrated brain food.

The Lifestyle Center has enjoyed more patients this winter than ever. Janet and I took in a young 12 year old friend from Cashmere, WA. She has a debilitating disease that no doctor can figure out. We took her for 18 days to see if anything could be done. I believe she was helped, but it is difficult to ascertain that for sure. Our granddaughter came to be her support. Christina has really matured. I am super proud of her.

My wife and my son have both developed bone spurs or ostheo-arthritis in the neck at the same time. There must be something in the water in Tanzania. Today, my Lover is in Denver getting three X-rays. Well, it was six X-rays the last time I talked to her and she had to return for more this afternoon. The X-rays show that all the muscles on the right shoulder are pulling at her spine and all the muscles on the left are relaxed. Consequently, her spine is all crooked and her hips are imbalanced and her neck, which  is her immediate concern, is practically immovable. The way I analyze this is the my wife and our son are under major stress. The stress tightens the upper girdle around the neck and their muscles are so strong that they are threatening to pull them apart. (Is that dramatic enough?) I hope something can be done. She is too young to be put to pasture yet, to say nothing of my son.

I preached a series of meetings on 3ABN. Seven messages one day, and two the next. I haven't seen the finished product yet. I hope they turn out to be Spirit driven and useful to the Lord.

Shortly before that, Janet, Angie and her whole family (save Steve and the twins), Julie with her whole family, and myself enjoyed our time at GYC. What a blessing. The meetings were good, but seeing the excitement build up in Art and Julie and her kids was worth it all. Julie's boys really impressed me. They are growing strait and spiritual. I love it.

Tomorrow, I sit on the Rocky Mountain Executive Board. It's an adventure for me. To watch the dynamics within the church structure is interesting.

Polish ASI and Rosario Beach, WA.

Polish ASI

It isn’t hard to grasp the potential for the advancement of the gospel and for the support of the Seventh-day Adventist Church inherent in ASI. Recently, I was party to something truly impressive. I traveled to Poland in December (not recommended.) It was predictably humid, cold, snowy and gloomy grey. Be that as it may, I did have a wonderful opportunity to speak five times at the Polish ASI Convention.

(Ten times at Springs of Life.)

The convention was remarkable. ASI Poland has only sixteen members, yet they attracted 220 people to the meetings. They managed to host the people on a shoestring by using a church and a school for the venue and church member’s homes for accommodation. The food was excellent, even if we did have to sit on top of each other. The music was uplifting and best of all more than half of the congregation was young people. It seemed at times to be a combination of ASI and GYC. The bulk of the reports were from activity generated by young people, sponsored by ASI. Besides that, this small group raised more than 170,000 ZT (over $40,000) and you can’t help but see the power built into this organization, both for evangelizing the country and for the training of young witnesses.

Poland’s little ASI is so successful that the SDA Union in Ukraine sent a delegation to the convention to learn how they might establish an ASI organization in their country. Where the church allows ASI to harness the power of the business and lay people, wonderful things happen.

Rosario Beach, WA

It's Christmas!!! Well, it's actually Boxing Day. Fortunately, not one of the fourteen people here doesn't like his or her gift. We kind of set that up on Christmas Eve. We told stories of people in our past who were not happy with the gifts they were given. Everyone thought the stories funny and vowed to like whatever came their way. So they did and we had a wonderful time. 

We are spending Christmas at a place called Rosario Beach on the Pacific coast. Wonderful. Wet, yes, but wonderful anyhow. (The Rosario Beach Camp is owned by Walla Walla University.) In Cashmere we had snow to our eyebrows. Well, very low eyebrows. The kids spent every minute available to them sliding down off the mountain. They were soaked all the time, but apparently had great fun.  

Our next adventure will be at GYC in Seattle. The whole gang is going except Steve and the twins. Christina did her best to sign up people for GYC. Apparently, if you sign up so many people you get free registrations. So she signed up a bunch and would give the free registrations to those who couldn't afford to go. In the end, she managed to bring more than sixty people to GYC. 

The girls, Vanessa, Brianna, Christina, Elie, Natalie, and Dakota are singing at GYC. They do a fantastic job of it. (Check out Angie's blog for pictures of our Rosario experience.) 

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Poland

I am in Poland. It's been five days already and I have preached seven times so far. Two more times to go before I preach five times at the Polish ASI Convention. The experience is more than pleasant. I have very good friends here and I am treated like a king. Who can ask for more. Allow me to share some few experiences with you:

1. I didn't sleep on the flight over. I read and read and read in the biography of Dwitght Eisenhower--Soldier, President. Great book. I am living with Robert and Annia Kuczek. Their little girls, Ola and Lilly, are dolls.

2. I preached on the very day I arrived. I was in better shape than I expected. The meetings are very well attended. I often wonder if there is a lack of good speakers in Poland, or if there are few sermons here that deal with real issues. In any case I appreciate being appreciated.

3. I slept until  fourteen hours the first night. The people must have thought I died. They came to check up on me after noon. The second night I slept till 11:30 PM  and then from 3 o'clock to 8. I guess I'm doing well under the grey Polish sky.  I know most of the people.

         4.  Last night, I spoke on Mary and Martha. All the Mary's among us are delighted. They think
              they don't have to work hard, only pray. The Marthas are dejected because they have enough trouble getting the Marys to work. They are begging for longer meetings. I preach for one hour every day, now they want an hour and a half per meeting.

5. I went swimming on day four in a geo-thermal pool . . . hot springs. I'm always cold in Poland, and even the hot springs are not hot enough to keep me happy, but it was relaxing nevertheless.

6. I also saw a dentist. This lady dentist was appalled that my dentist in Loveland wanted to remove two teeth. She says the roots are strong and we ought to build on them. She would take two weeks to do the job and I figure at one third the price. She glued my teeth back in with no guarantee that they will stay put. She used what she called super glue. I'm sure it is dental glue, the best available to her. She charged $20. I gave her $40 just because I like dentists.

7. Today, I toured the building Dr. Grazyna uses for lifestyle sessions. It's a palace. Amazing really. It cost $3.5 million to build and it may be for sale. I wouldn't buy it, but if they can continue to rent it. It wows the guests for sure.

8. I have two more sermons to preach here.  I didn't think I would be asked to speak so much. I brought just enough sermons, but I am now searching my computer for something more relevant. A wealthy man came with his wife last night to the meetings. He, with the rest, was quite delighted with what he heard. I'm trying to encourage him to come to the ASI meetings. So far, he is not coming. I spent some time with the ASI president. Nice fellow. Can't speak English, but he assures me that anything I preach will be wonderful. Well, I don't know about wonderful, but I am not too worried about the situation.

9. Leo Schreven: I knew Leo fairly well. I sincerely feel bad. I surely didn't agree with all of Leo's style and theology, but I liked the man and wouldn't wish him any kind of hurt. I am sorry to hear of his death.  

10. I can't wait to go home. Not that I am unhappy in Poland. I guess there is no place like home, even if things are pretty lonely there as well.  

11. Jed Franklin sent a donation of $20,000 to be split up between India (Bill Dull), David Gates, Janet and Jason. Some friends sent $2500 for my wife's project, as well.  

         12. Walter Veigh is charged in Germany with sedition and anti-semitism. Not good news.
     
         Blessings to all.

Winding Down

Not much to report these days.

Tonight I start in on the last weekend of the evangelism I have been doing for the last month. I've thoroughly enjoyed my time with the people who have come. We've had as many as 80 people come in one night, but now we've come down to 40 or so regulars. The attendants are mostly Adventist. There are a few non-SDA among us, for which we are extremely grateful. The whole series is based on the Sanctuary model and I believe it is as profitable to Adventist as to anyone else. The Sanctuary solution to sin is present truth especially as we investigate the Most Holy Place and its implications in our lives. 

In one week, I leave for Poland. I am a little more relieved about that situation. I am trying, while doing everything else, to have good sermons for the ASI program in Poland. Lord help me. I seem to have my nose in a book practically every hour of every day. (That is an exaggeration, but that is how I feel.) I'd love to sharpen my chainsaw for the purpose of cutting down half a forest. 

John, my brother, and I will be speaking at a Prayer Retreat in Maine next May. That will be fun. Then I am asked to speak at the Pugwash Camp Meeting in July, in Nova Scotia. 

We had two Lifestyle Sessions back to back. Last night was the graduation night. I think everyone is ready for a break. So far this year, we seem to have a higher count of lifestyle guests. We are blessed. 

At Home and Abroad

 I experienced my first Executive Committee with the Rocky Mountain Conference. I was blessed. All the committees in the Rocky Mtn. have to be at least 51% lay members. As a result, I found the people very down-to-earth practical. The President, Gary Thurber, is very spiritual and diplomatic. I predict that this experience will be very pleasant and revealing. The more I mix with Adventist in high places the more respect I have for the brethren. Yeah, I know. I'm naive. May the Lord keep me that way. The picture above is of the ride to the Exec.Comm. at the Glacier View Adv. camp. Awesome scenery.

 This is our own (Eden Valley's) Michelle Perez. Her mother offered to sing with her, but she refused. She definitely could do it on her own. She did a smashing job. No fear.

 Here is a picture of the gang that installed the two hydro electric plants for my wife. They worked hard and got the job done. Nothing could please my wife more than getting work done. 

 

 The problem with sophisticated equipment like this is that my wife won't want to leave it in the hands of the local people. To shut everything down when she leaves will be a perceived and real deprivation. What to do? Would you like to go babysit a hydro plant so my wife can come home?

 I assume this is above the falls. They are damming up the flow so the pipes will never draw air to ruin the machinery. . . I think.

She's the boss. He's her advisor. (Notice the look of determination on her pretty face.) That's why things get done around there.

At home, I've finished my first weekend of Evangelistic Meetings. (Only three weekends to go.) It takes a lot of energy to keep above the stress of it all, but God is my support. All is well. We have approximately 60 people attending regularly. On Sabbath night, we had 80 people come. The non-SDA attendance is lower than the SDA attendance. Anywhere between six and ten nightly. No matter, I'll give what I can and will continue to pray that the Lord will bless whoever is there.

Keeping up with everything else is the problem. I still don't have all my sermons prepared, so I shouldn't be writing a crazy blog. You guys are just too important. Pray for this venture, won't you?

I'll be doing a series of meetings in Maine in May. Come to find out that the other speaker is my brother John. Now won't that be a tag-team of a different color? John also reminded me that I will be the guest speaker at his camp meeting in Pugwash, Nova Scotia, in July/August. It crowds the ASI Convention a little, but I intend to do it. Lord help us.

If you haven't, check out Angie, Julie, and Jason's blogs lately. The style is changing, and it is very effective. Someday, I'll join them. Chow.

Coming Down to the Wire

 Last night's sky. When I left the office the whole world was orange. Surreal.

 Our new sign. Ron Dettman from Michigan built it and an engraver from Loveland sandblasted the logo. Great work. 

Eden Valley hosted a cooking class by Mark Anthony. 57 attended. 

I'm preparing for the public evangelism that will happen starting a week from tomorrow. Some moments are frustrating, like yesterday. I took all day to prepare a sermon, only to discard it at the end of the day. No matter, the Lord will bless. 

This week we will do a Breadth Free seminar. I'll let you know what happens.

The team of men helping my wife with two hydro-electric plants will be with her for another day or two. She thinks they will finish what they started. 

We are losing three staff by the end of the month. I have a short list for the one that needs to be replaced. I guess I should start working on that.

Roger Julian and I walked 10 miles on Friday distributing flyers. On Sabbath, we walked 5 miles. We distributed, door to door, approximately 900 flyers.  

Fall News

I wouldn't let time pass like I do if my life wasn't so crammed with fun things. Well, with things, anyhow. I keep reading Angie's blog and my, what photography. I like to use pictures too, but I forget to take pictures when it would count most, and when it doesn't, I remember. So the pictures in this blog are of trees on the way to DayStar, cars in our church parking lot at Convention time (which you can hardly see), and the Dettman family from Michigan. (Thy came to Convention and did a pile of work. So good were they that we are hiring one of their daughters, Ruthie, to work in our wellness kitchen.

Our Convention was a huge success. As you remember, this year is Eden Valley's 50th Anniversary. For that reason, many, many people came to celebrate with us. Three hundred and fifty people, approximately.

Another reason they came was that Shawn Boonstra was the main speaker. Steven Grabiner did an amazing job with the message he gave also. Twenty five thousand dollars was raised for EVI and its projects on that weekend. A few days later, a check came thru' the mail with another $10,000. The Lord is blessing.

Our board meeting was smooth and peaceful. No issues, no arguments, no reproaches. All was great. We finished early. Out Conference President, Pastor Gary Thurber did the devotional. He told a story about himself, which revealed his genuine humility. I truly appreciate this man. (By the way, I've got another job. I've been voted on the Rochy Mountain Conference Executive Committee. Actually, I'm excited about it. I've always wondered what these Conference employees talk about. What I really wonder is what I'll have to contribute. I should call John for some tips.) 

My wife has her hydro electric engineer and his team at her place. They are going to install two plants, and her kitchen cabinets. My wife, like her mother before her, is in bliss when she has a team of workers advancing her cause. 

The DayStar board went as smooth as the EVI board. As a matter of fact, we finished early there too, and we got home by 7:30 PM. The DayStar farm had an amazing year. They sold $247,000 worth of produce. With that they made $70,000 profit and they still have $80,000 worth of wheat and hay to sell. Wonderful. But it isn't enough to carry a whole academy. Something more needs to happen. They've got great kids this year. I think they'll end well.

Our new sign is up, but it still needs to be engraved. As soon as it is, I'll post a picture. I think it will look great.

Two or our staff resigned last week. They need to find work to pay their school debts. We will miss them sorely. We are suppose to have a new doctor coming in sometime this week. 

In three weeks I start an evangelistic effort based on the Sanctuary. Do pray for us.