Last weekend, I preached at Copper Mountain, Colorado. From there we, Beverly, Hayley, Leasa and I, drove to DayStar Academy. We had a board meeting on Sunday. It wan't an easy board meeting. Unfortunately, the team was divided, not on the principles, but on the implementation of the principles. As a result, there was another change in the leadership of DayStar.
I truly appreciate Chris Anderson and his family. They gave 110% to making DayStar succeed, but in the end Jerry Harris was returned as the leader. I certainly do not appreciate Jerry any less than Chris. The pain that these changes generate tear me up, but we do our best with what we've been given. May the Lord help us.
You may be interested to know that my computer came home. In my last blog, I told of leaving my computer at the Atlanta Airport Security. For seven days, the tracking service reported that they did not find the computer. I assumed it was lost forever, but I must admit to praying agonizingly for that machine. On the 8th day, I rec'd a phone call saying it was found. On the 9th day it was on my desk. Isn't God good. Yes!
I have nothing but gratitude in my heart.
So says the Preacher to his Tribe.
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Lost Times Two
Greetings to all. I'm back home one more time. Arrived last night from Chattanooga. I was at a Wildwood board meeting. I, and I assume many more, have been praying a long time for this board meeting. It had the potential for being an all out battle. Praise the Lord, it wasn't. It was long, it was stressful, but it was a great success.
I left Wildwood around 10:30 AM. My flight out of Atlanta was only at 4 PM. Plenty of time. Right! I figured it would take three hours to the airport and I should be there two hours ahead of flying. So I had a half hour of grace. I decided to pay Steven Grabiner a visit at OCI. I stayed a half hour longer than I had budgeted, but plenty of time. Right!
When leaving OCI, I thought, "I know a short cut to HWY 75. So I took the short cut, but instead of turning south on 75 I turned North. (That is not unusual. I am directionally challenged. Ask my wife.) I thought nothing of it. My mind is always churning over a dozen things at a time. One hour later, (notice, one hour later) I saw a sign that said 42 miles to Knoxville. "Oh no." I had been going in the opposite direction for one hour. That means (I know, you know what that means) that to get to the starting point, I had to drive one hour. I didn't have two hours to lose.
I turned the car around, prayed a prayer of submission and apology, and I asked for a miracle. Surrendered to the inevitable, I decided to do all I could thinking that maybe the flight might be delayed in answer to a knucklehead's prayer. I drove 80 MPH all the way. There were police everywhere, but they seemed preoccupied with some other law breakers. Now if you do the math, you know it was impossible to make my flight. I lost two hours, I had to stop for gas twice--once because I was running low, and once to fill the tank because it was a rental car, I had to return the rental car, I had to take a tram to the terminal, I had to go thru' security, I had to go to ticketing, and I had to find my gate . . . Guess what? I made it with eight minutes left before the flight. Except that the flight was delayed. I praised the Lord for the miracle, but really, the Lord didn't have to delay the flight too. That was a bit overkill.
That was "lost" number one. Lost number two is: I lost my new computer. The last time I saw it was in security. I only realized my loss when I got to work this morning. I made a claim from the airport security, but they haven't found it yet. Because the computer was a gift, I will wait to give the airport a chance to come clean, then I will go out and buy the same model. It was my fault. Bummer! You can pray with me if you care (no, no that's appealing with too much emotion) if you have time.
Talked to my wife this morning. She is in Africa at her project with three granddaughters and her friend, Laural Bates. All is well except that I fill sick at heart for losing my computer. God knows where it is. God can do anything. He can restore it to me if He wills. I submit. It was my fault and it would be totally of grace if the thing should somehow reappear. God is a God of grace, yes?? Yes. So, I hope.
I left Wildwood around 10:30 AM. My flight out of Atlanta was only at 4 PM. Plenty of time. Right! I figured it would take three hours to the airport and I should be there two hours ahead of flying. So I had a half hour of grace. I decided to pay Steven Grabiner a visit at OCI. I stayed a half hour longer than I had budgeted, but plenty of time. Right!
When leaving OCI, I thought, "I know a short cut to HWY 75. So I took the short cut, but instead of turning south on 75 I turned North. (That is not unusual. I am directionally challenged. Ask my wife.) I thought nothing of it. My mind is always churning over a dozen things at a time. One hour later, (notice, one hour later) I saw a sign that said 42 miles to Knoxville. "Oh no." I had been going in the opposite direction for one hour. That means (I know, you know what that means) that to get to the starting point, I had to drive one hour. I didn't have two hours to lose.
I turned the car around, prayed a prayer of submission and apology, and I asked for a miracle. Surrendered to the inevitable, I decided to do all I could thinking that maybe the flight might be delayed in answer to a knucklehead's prayer. I drove 80 MPH all the way. There were police everywhere, but they seemed preoccupied with some other law breakers. Now if you do the math, you know it was impossible to make my flight. I lost two hours, I had to stop for gas twice--once because I was running low, and once to fill the tank because it was a rental car, I had to return the rental car, I had to take a tram to the terminal, I had to go thru' security, I had to go to ticketing, and I had to find my gate . . . Guess what? I made it with eight minutes left before the flight. Except that the flight was delayed. I praised the Lord for the miracle, but really, the Lord didn't have to delay the flight too. That was a bit overkill.
That was "lost" number one. Lost number two is: I lost my new computer. The last time I saw it was in security. I only realized my loss when I got to work this morning. I made a claim from the airport security, but they haven't found it yet. Because the computer was a gift, I will wait to give the airport a chance to come clean, then I will go out and buy the same model. It was my fault. Bummer! You can pray with me if you care (no, no that's appealing with too much emotion) if you have time.
Talked to my wife this morning. She is in Africa at her project with three granddaughters and her friend, Laural Bates. All is well except that I fill sick at heart for losing my computer. God knows where it is. God can do anything. He can restore it to me if He wills. I submit. It was my fault and it would be totally of grace if the thing should somehow reappear. God is a God of grace, yes?? Yes. So, I hope.
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
No Time
Would you believe me if I told you I don't have time to blog. Well, I don't, but here goes anyway.
Three weeks ago, Janet and I left for Florida. It was vacation time. Usually, my vacations consist of taking time off to do a week of prayer or something similar. This time we went to Steve and Carrie Klaus' condo in Bradenton Beach, Florida. It was heavenly. Steve and Carrie treated us like royalty and the weather, the beach and the ambiance was perfect. We had four heavenly days.
While there, we decided to contact Janet's sister, Dale and Sylvio Cristo. We knew they lived in Florida, but we knew not where. It turns out they live in . . . guess where?-- Bradenton, Florida. We could not have been more surprised. We spent two days with them biking, and soaking and talking, and of course, eating. Wonderful.
From there we navigated to Uchee Pines where I Chair an annual board. The board was easy and the fellowship was great.
Then on to the OCI Retreat in Cahutta Springs, GA. That was one of the best retreats I've attended. I had the opportunity to preach one sermon, which was well rec'd. As a matter of fact, I felt the Lord did something special for and thru' me that evening. I've been thanking Him ever since.
We spent three days at Denzil and Donna's house in Clinton TN. (We also spent a night with Don and Rumiko Johnson. Great hospitality.) You can only imagine that kind of home (Denzil's) in a dream setting. Beautiful, rich, immaculate, and relaxing. Denzil offered me his car to drive (once)--a Mercedes 550 sports car. I have never driven a faster car in my life. I hardly dared push it. Anyway, we are blessed.
We then attended the Southern ASI Chapter Convention. I preached twice there. Again, the Lord is very gracious toward me. My whole life is filled with gratitude. What more can I say.
Tomorrow, I go to Washington DC. Ted Wilson invited me to a special meeting on health. A day later, I fly back to Denver only to fly to Rhode Island for the Atlantic ASI Chapter for the weekend.
Now can you see why I don't have time to blog?
Three weeks ago, Janet and I left for Florida. It was vacation time. Usually, my vacations consist of taking time off to do a week of prayer or something similar. This time we went to Steve and Carrie Klaus' condo in Bradenton Beach, Florida. It was heavenly. Steve and Carrie treated us like royalty and the weather, the beach and the ambiance was perfect. We had four heavenly days.
While there, we decided to contact Janet's sister, Dale and Sylvio Cristo. We knew they lived in Florida, but we knew not where. It turns out they live in . . . guess where?-- Bradenton, Florida. We could not have been more surprised. We spent two days with them biking, and soaking and talking, and of course, eating. Wonderful.
From there we navigated to Uchee Pines where I Chair an annual board. The board was easy and the fellowship was great.
Then on to the OCI Retreat in Cahutta Springs, GA. That was one of the best retreats I've attended. I had the opportunity to preach one sermon, which was well rec'd. As a matter of fact, I felt the Lord did something special for and thru' me that evening. I've been thanking Him ever since.
We spent three days at Denzil and Donna's house in Clinton TN. (We also spent a night with Don and Rumiko Johnson. Great hospitality.) You can only imagine that kind of home (Denzil's) in a dream setting. Beautiful, rich, immaculate, and relaxing. Denzil offered me his car to drive (once)--a Mercedes 550 sports car. I have never driven a faster car in my life. I hardly dared push it. Anyway, we are blessed.
We then attended the Southern ASI Chapter Convention. I preached twice there. Again, the Lord is very gracious toward me. My whole life is filled with gratitude. What more can I say.
Tomorrow, I go to Washington DC. Ted Wilson invited me to a special meeting on health. A day later, I fly back to Denver only to fly to Rhode Island for the Atlantic ASI Chapter for the weekend.
Now can you see why I don't have time to blog?
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Fire, Flood and Blond Hair
I beg your pardon,
I never promised you a rose garden.
Along with the sunshine,
There's got to be a little rain sometimes
Life is full of blessings because Jesus is "the orderer of all our experiences" IHP 265. Yet, some of those blessings come in disguise. On Sabbath morning we woke up to our second biggest greenhouse on fire. We lost about one third of it. It appears like the corn burner malfunctioned. It burned the shed down, the $15,000 corn burner and the plastic. We might have put the thing back together quickly except that we need to have a building permit to do that.
On the same day, the basement of the church flooded. The church really does't need anymore messes. It is in state of remodeling and we are meeting in our Village Assembly room.
On top of that, my lover had her hair dyed. She looks good, but as usual her hair had to turn orange before it could be fixed.
We leave in the morning for a five-day vacation in Florida.
Blessings to all.
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Dis-ordinary
I managed a weekend without having to speak. Believe it or not, I enjoyed that. I just went to church like an ordinary person. (As a matter of fact, that's what I am--an ordinary Joe.) I suppose preaching doesn't make me dis-ordinary, un-ordinary, or extraordinary either, but it does keep an extra amount of stress on me. The day was peaceful and dreamy. Janet and I watched a Christian movie after Sabbath called "Faith Like Potatoes."It was about a Scottish African farmer who was forced to move from Zambia to South Africa and to start over again. (The movie is based on a true story.) It was quite moving and realistic. The part where the farmer runs over his nephew with his tractor breaks your heart. Anyway, they exemplified faith where the rubber meets the road.
This week I preach in Copper Mountain. Then on Sunday Janet and I take a six-day vacation in Florida--around Tampa. Some friends of ours are letting us use their house. They are farmers in Michigan. The Sunday after that we have a board meeting at Uchee Pines, followed by the OCI Retreat and the Southern Union ASI Chapter. We get home on the 16th of April.
Our Lifestyle Session ends tomorrow. Very interesting. My wife played the role of Director for the past two months. She made wonderful changes and we wish we could keep her. Unfortunately, she is bent on going back to Africa on April 25 for one month. (Better than three.) She will return with Jason till after the National ASI Convention.
There you have it. Even life on the fast track can be boring.
Our Mission team arrives from Dominican Republic tomorrow. They've had a very successful evangelistic thrust. (I can't give numbers yet.)
I'm trying to prepare a sermon for OCI. Sometimes it just doesn't get easier.
Lean hard on the Lord. When He says, "without Me you can do nothing," He means it.
So says the Preacher to his Tribe.
This week I preach in Copper Mountain. Then on Sunday Janet and I take a six-day vacation in Florida--around Tampa. Some friends of ours are letting us use their house. They are farmers in Michigan. The Sunday after that we have a board meeting at Uchee Pines, followed by the OCI Retreat and the Southern Union ASI Chapter. We get home on the 16th of April.
Our Lifestyle Session ends tomorrow. Very interesting. My wife played the role of Director for the past two months. She made wonderful changes and we wish we could keep her. Unfortunately, she is bent on going back to Africa on April 25 for one month. (Better than three.) She will return with Jason till after the National ASI Convention.
There you have it. Even life on the fast track can be boring.
Our Mission team arrives from Dominican Republic tomorrow. They've had a very successful evangelistic thrust. (I can't give numbers yet.)
I'm trying to prepare a sermon for OCI. Sometimes it just doesn't get easier.
Lean hard on the Lord. When He says, "without Me you can do nothing," He means it.
So says the Preacher to his Tribe.
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Columbia Union ASI Chapter
The weather is unseasonably warm, like summer in Northern Ontario. I'm not sure whether we are suppose to bask in its warmth or to dread global warming. I guess I'll just bask. Why not, life is short.
Janet and I spent the weekend in Vienna, Virginia, just outside of Washington, DC at the Columbia Union ASI Chapter. It was a good weekend. Not too much stress. The meetings were good--Ivor Myers and Henry Wright. I like Henry Wright's preaching. (That isn't to say Ivor Myers isn't good. He digs a lot of information out of the Bible that few people would ever see, but his style of preaching is a bit condescending. Perhaps it is cultural. Henry Wright uses similar approaches, except not so pronounced.)
There were many people and there was strong participation. The offering was weak, but I think the leaders included too many projects for the size of the congregation.
On Saturday night, those who were interested in joining ASI got together and everyone shared something of their ministries. We got to bed at midnight. (Bear in mind, the time sprang forward that evening as well.)
Janet and I don't need to travel for one and one half weeks. Isn't that cool? We get one weekend at home this month. Actually, we don't mind traveling, but it is hard on one's sleep and eating habits. Starting on the 25ft of this month, we will go until the end of April.
Am I making a difference? Only God knows.
It was a blessing seeing David Fournier and Arwyn in Vienna. Too many people around to really enjoy each other.
Janet and I spent the weekend in Vienna, Virginia, just outside of Washington, DC at the Columbia Union ASI Chapter. It was a good weekend. Not too much stress. The meetings were good--Ivor Myers and Henry Wright. I like Henry Wright's preaching. (That isn't to say Ivor Myers isn't good. He digs a lot of information out of the Bible that few people would ever see, but his style of preaching is a bit condescending. Perhaps it is cultural. Henry Wright uses similar approaches, except not so pronounced.)
There were many people and there was strong participation. The offering was weak, but I think the leaders included too many projects for the size of the congregation.
On Saturday night, those who were interested in joining ASI got together and everyone shared something of their ministries. We got to bed at midnight. (Bear in mind, the time sprang forward that evening as well.)
Janet and I don't need to travel for one and one half weeks. Isn't that cool? We get one weekend at home this month. Actually, we don't mind traveling, but it is hard on one's sleep and eating habits. Starting on the 25ft of this month, we will go until the end of April.
Am I making a difference? Only God knows.
It was a blessing seeing David Fournier and Arwyn in Vienna. Too many people around to really enjoy each other.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Joshua, Texas
At the ASI Winter Board in Ontario, California, I spoke on the topic of "It is Time . . . To Be About our Father's Business." The upshot is that we are living in the Antitypical Day of Atonement. In the Old Testament that was the day that everyone of God's children "afflicted his/her soul" before God. They searched their hearts to confess and forsake every habit or hint of sin in their lives. They attempted to present Israel as holy before God through the righteousness of Christ. All this prefigured the state of God's people just before the second coming of Christ.
You know, dear ones, it is really hard to preach such messages and not be influenced by the thought. I'm convinced the time has come to be purified of sin in the fullest sense of the word. It is time to bring every habit into line with God's will. It is time to sacrifice every worldly inducement, every worldly ambition, every worldly aspiration to compete for position, things or money. We can't wait until the national Sunday laws are passed to think of internalizing the word of God. Lord, help us.
Last weekend, March 2-4, Janet and I spent at the ASI South West Chapter Convention in Joshua, TX. The whole weekend was very pleasant. There were many personal friends there that we knew from other places. Cute little Monika Moore was there with her husband, Jim. (Some of you might remember Monika from Dunlap TN.) Her parents were there also. Mike and Teresa Zygmunt were there, Ron Wolsey . . .
The speakers were Ron Halverson and John Lomacane??? John L's testimony was awe-inspiring. Amazing life and guidance from God. I got to share what ASI is about and the new things that are happening. It seemed to me a long way to go at great expense just to talk for a few minutes. But I am assured that my presence, as ASI President, is important. (Honestly, my supposed importance escapes me. Besides, I don't know how to act important, do you?--Please advise.)
All is well, anyway. This weekend, we will land in Vienna, (don't get too green with envy) it's Vienna, Virginia. As far as I know, we will be meeting with the smallest chapter in ASI. I believe some people (those who don't have the privilege of traveling so much), would envy my "privilege", but truly, as much as I appreciate the honor, it sure would be a blessing to stay home to walk the mountains a little more.
So says the Preacher to his Tribe.
You know, dear ones, it is really hard to preach such messages and not be influenced by the thought. I'm convinced the time has come to be purified of sin in the fullest sense of the word. It is time to bring every habit into line with God's will. It is time to sacrifice every worldly inducement, every worldly ambition, every worldly aspiration to compete for position, things or money. We can't wait until the national Sunday laws are passed to think of internalizing the word of God. Lord, help us.
Last weekend, March 2-4, Janet and I spent at the ASI South West Chapter Convention in Joshua, TX. The whole weekend was very pleasant. There were many personal friends there that we knew from other places. Cute little Monika Moore was there with her husband, Jim. (Some of you might remember Monika from Dunlap TN.) Her parents were there also. Mike and Teresa Zygmunt were there, Ron Wolsey . . .
The speakers were Ron Halverson and John Lomacane??? John L's testimony was awe-inspiring. Amazing life and guidance from God. I got to share what ASI is about and the new things that are happening. It seemed to me a long way to go at great expense just to talk for a few minutes. But I am assured that my presence, as ASI President, is important. (Honestly, my supposed importance escapes me. Besides, I don't know how to act important, do you?--Please advise.)
All is well, anyway. This weekend, we will land in Vienna, (don't get too green with envy) it's Vienna, Virginia. As far as I know, we will be meeting with the smallest chapter in ASI. I believe some people (those who don't have the privilege of traveling so much), would envy my "privilege", but truly, as much as I appreciate the honor, it sure would be a blessing to stay home to walk the mountains a little more.
So says the Preacher to his Tribe.
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