It's snowing. We are probably having one of the mildest winters ever. Sometimes, we can be outside in tee-shirts, but today it's snowing.
Last weekend, we had an ASI rally in Denver. The ASI chapter president, Jesse Johnson, could not attend because he's had heart surgery. It fell to me to be the master of ceremony. Do you know how nervous that makes me? It's amazing. You'd think that since I preach all the time that I could wrap myself around the little task of introducing someone without too much stress. Not so. All went well anyway. The Lord is having to help me all the time.
This week we finished another lifestyle session. We had at least 15 people. Wonderful. Actually, we didn't have any guests for January. We took risk and offered the session at a drastically reduced rate, and people just came out of the woodwork. We probably lost a bundle. No matter, we think it better to serve someone than to sit around waiting for the next session. The group was special.
I think next month's intake will be normal.
As we are serving in the Lifestyle Center, we also are doing a one-month LIGHT course. Ten students and all day classes. It's a blast. The Lord is sending us really beautiful people, even from as far as Hungary. Imagine that!
While at the GYC meetings a couple of weeks ago, I was greatly inspired by the energy and creativity of the young people. It got my juices running. ASI needs that kind of leadership. (They got me.) Isn't that a corker. Never mind, I'm not the only one on the team. I believe there are great minds among us. So I am calling a meeting of all the past presidents asking them to come up with solutions to our most pressing needs.
1. We have little trouble signing up members, but retention is another story.
2. How do we make our members feel like they belong to an affectionate family?
3. What kind of project can we invest in that will involve the greater number of members?
I've also asked the past presidents to come up with a new idea each as far as a new project is concerned. It will be fun to see what they come up with . . . if anything. Oh, I hope they do.
Blessings to all,
The Preacher to His Tribe.
Friday, January 27, 2012
Monday, January 16, 2012
Down to Earth
I should have written before now, but I've been traveling (really) and I'm always having to struggle with my new computer. Yesterday, I had to call Angie to get help finding how to write a new post. Turns out my internet connection at home is too weak to accommodate what I needed. So, I am sitting in my office to do this and actually found my way through it easily.
Since last writing, Janet and I have been to GYC (Generation of Youth for Christ) in Houston, TX. It was great. Three of our granddaughters, I should say great-granddaughters, were there with two friends. They camped in our room. It was a riot of giggling and late nights and bathroom delays. The five girls, dressed in red, sang for the Friday night meeting. They sang wonderfully. I couldn't have been prouder.
The preaching was also very good. The young woman from Australia took the prize in my estimation. The others were very good as well. The content of all the sermons was great. I'm a little perplexed with the idea that a preacher needs to bounce all over the stage to make a point. To my "old soul" it seems like a waste of energy and overly theatrical. Perhaps I am too old fashion, but really, didn't the young Australian lady get through to our hearts without bouncing off the walls. I admit she has adopted the questioning Amen at the end of every sentence. Hey preachers, it's an unnecessary crutch. Amen?
The big news is that Brianna was asked to be one of the preachers next summer with Youth for Jesus in Dallas, TX. She will do an evangelistic effort. Can you imagine our little Bree doing that? Vanessa is also moving into a new position of responsibility with GYC. Just yesterday they were only little girls. Am I proud or what?
At Eden Valley:
It looked like we wouldn't have any lifestyle guests for the January session. (It's always like that in January.) On an impulse we decided to offer a special price to anyone who needed to come. Because we need to pay our staff regardless, we chose to do an old fashion natural remedies session without the blood draw and the supplements and the inter-venous vitamin "c" etc. Seventeen people came. Wonderful, needy people. It is better to minister to someone than to sit around waiting for better enrollment. We will lose money for sure, but hey, maybe, just maybe someone will be touched by God's Spirit. So we pray. My Lover is the interim Lifestyle Director. She seems happy to do it and as usual, she is very good at it.
We are also into a one-month Medical Missionary course. I don't know how many students we have, (I think ten), but they are a receptive bunch. It's busy fun.
New Brunswick:
Janet and I went for nine days to New Brunswick. I was asked to speak to my brother's pastors and Bible Workers. We were more than pleasantly surprised. These conference people were very down to earth, common Canadians. I half expected that they, being university educated and all, would be very analytical to the point of being critical. But no, they were genuinely appreciative and wonderfully humble. They were blown away by Janet's African presentation. One pastor is asking about his church supporting her project. I came away from there perfectly burdened for that conference and each person that I met.
The highlight for us, of course, was the time we spent with John and Janice. We had such a good time. They were so hospitable. I'm sure we cost them an arm and a leg. Hope we can do as well when it's our turn. We also learned to play with a WII (wee). It's amazing what technology is producing today. We couldn't have laughed more (mostly at my poor performance) using these toys.
We did learn about Chiaque. Chiaque is the name for the Acadian language. That is something similar to what we call our Northern Ontario french--jual. Jual is slang for cheval. Chiaque is the funniest language I've ever heard. Even the Acadians are embarrassed by it--to a point. We found New Brunswick to be quaint. Moncton, is mostly French. The people seem to be super friendly and it was like visiting another country altogether--somewhere exotic, but filled with down to earth French Canadians. On top of that, we ate enough to come home well rounded, but as usual, I gained nothing. I don't know if my wife gained anything, but she and Leasa started into a fast today. (Probably no connection.)
Ok, that's it. We have an ASI rally this weekend in Denver and I'm suppose to play a part. I need to get ready for that and an ASI board meeting in February. Got to go. See ya.
Since last writing, Janet and I have been to GYC (Generation of Youth for Christ) in Houston, TX. It was great. Three of our granddaughters, I should say great-granddaughters, were there with two friends. They camped in our room. It was a riot of giggling and late nights and bathroom delays. The five girls, dressed in red, sang for the Friday night meeting. They sang wonderfully. I couldn't have been prouder.
The preaching was also very good. The young woman from Australia took the prize in my estimation. The others were very good as well. The content of all the sermons was great. I'm a little perplexed with the idea that a preacher needs to bounce all over the stage to make a point. To my "old soul" it seems like a waste of energy and overly theatrical. Perhaps I am too old fashion, but really, didn't the young Australian lady get through to our hearts without bouncing off the walls. I admit she has adopted the questioning Amen at the end of every sentence. Hey preachers, it's an unnecessary crutch. Amen?
The big news is that Brianna was asked to be one of the preachers next summer with Youth for Jesus in Dallas, TX. She will do an evangelistic effort. Can you imagine our little Bree doing that? Vanessa is also moving into a new position of responsibility with GYC. Just yesterday they were only little girls. Am I proud or what?
At Eden Valley:
It looked like we wouldn't have any lifestyle guests for the January session. (It's always like that in January.) On an impulse we decided to offer a special price to anyone who needed to come. Because we need to pay our staff regardless, we chose to do an old fashion natural remedies session without the blood draw and the supplements and the inter-venous vitamin "c" etc. Seventeen people came. Wonderful, needy people. It is better to minister to someone than to sit around waiting for better enrollment. We will lose money for sure, but hey, maybe, just maybe someone will be touched by God's Spirit. So we pray. My Lover is the interim Lifestyle Director. She seems happy to do it and as usual, she is very good at it.
We are also into a one-month Medical Missionary course. I don't know how many students we have, (I think ten), but they are a receptive bunch. It's busy fun.
New Brunswick:
Janet and I went for nine days to New Brunswick. I was asked to speak to my brother's pastors and Bible Workers. We were more than pleasantly surprised. These conference people were very down to earth, common Canadians. I half expected that they, being university educated and all, would be very analytical to the point of being critical. But no, they were genuinely appreciative and wonderfully humble. They were blown away by Janet's African presentation. One pastor is asking about his church supporting her project. I came away from there perfectly burdened for that conference and each person that I met.
The highlight for us, of course, was the time we spent with John and Janice. We had such a good time. They were so hospitable. I'm sure we cost them an arm and a leg. Hope we can do as well when it's our turn. We also learned to play with a WII (wee). It's amazing what technology is producing today. We couldn't have laughed more (mostly at my poor performance) using these toys.
Adventist Camp in Pugwash, NB, on the Atlantic
Ok, that's it. We have an ASI rally this weekend in Denver and I'm suppose to play a part. I need to get ready for that and an ASI board meeting in February. Got to go. See ya.
Friday, December 16, 2011
Back for Africa and Japan
It's been five weeks. I'm sorry about not writing, but it really was beyond my control.
I spent the first week at Kibidula giving a week of prayer on the Eight Conditions For Overcoming. I preached every morning at 9 AM Then we all went to work demolishing buildings to be replaced by a Kibidula chapel. It was hard work, sometimes dangerous as walls would fall in where some people might be working. I attribute God's generous grace for no one getting hurt. At noon, the cafeteria provided us with wonderful food. I then spoke again every evening. All went well and I believe Kibidula is doing great.
Janet, Deniece, Twalisa, Emily and I went on from there to Mago. My wife's project has really advanced. She has all these beautiful buildings in their proper setting. There are students running around everywhere and lots of work for everyone. Janet gave me the job of dropping (felling) 30 to 40 trees around some of her buildings. It was tricky work. At first I lined myself up determining what I would do with each tree. God had other plans. Janet's workers, with whom I could not communicate had there own plans. It was terribly frustrating for me at first, but in the end it turned out to be a blessing. We managed to fall all the trees without touching one of the buildings. Hard work. I could hardly drag myself around after a couple of days. My wife's container finally showed up while I was there. It took half a day to unload the thing and half a day to cut the welds that held it to the truck platform. All in all, it was a great time. I find that manual labor is far more fulfilling than desk work.
The third week (four days) we spent at Lake Malawi--Matema Beach. Steven Grabiner organized an OCI Retreat for the African projects. Wonderful, and the venue couldn't have been more conducive. We swam, we prayed, we listened to talks, we bonded and we grew in grace.
Going in to Matema, my wife's pick-up blew a tire. Upon inspection, we noticed that the companion tire was in terrible shape. The wires were coming out of its great gashes. So we went to town and paid a fortune for two used, junk tires.
I left Matema on Saturday night, 9 PM, to catch a plane in Dar Es Salaam at 10:10 PM on Sunday. Twenty miles out of camp we shredded another tire. (One of the new old ones.) It was on a prayer that we made it to Mbeya, Tanzania. We manage to find some sleep at 1 AM and at 5 AM we were in town looking for the bus station. From there my wife went looking for new tires and I rode the bus for twelve and one half hours to Dar. Sweat and stink and weariness was all part of the adventure. It was so hot in Dar that I put my jacket in my suit case and boarded the plane without anything warm. Well, only an old sweaty shirt in Zurich in winter is not good. Nor was it good in Washington or Denver. No matter, I survived.
I arrived at home at 9 PM and left for Japan at 6 AM in the morning.
I enjoyed Japan a lot. The people are hospitable, kind, courteous and interested. I preached 13 sermons in the city of Meaboshi??. I believe our project called Mt. Akagi is doing very well. They certainly could use more funding and people, but they are improving their lot every day. The Lord is blessing.
I'm home. Steven Grabiner is here doing a week of prayer on the book of Revelation. Great. I wish I was not so jet-lagged. I think Steven wishes he was not so jet-lagged also. Tomorrow I preach at Copper Mountain to the Veggie Diner group.
As for news: I believe I can announce that my wife is sincerely determined to come home to stay. She must find someone to replace her, and that isn't easy, but if the Lord wants it too, I believe it will happen within the year. (We'll see.)
I was reading in Prophets and Kings about King Hezekiah. It says that the Lord left him to prove him, to show what was in his heart. The Lord did that to me once. Consequently, I made the biggest mess in my life. So did Hezekiah. Only a fool would wish to live independently of the Lord.
So says the Preacher to his Tribe.
I spent the first week at Kibidula giving a week of prayer on the Eight Conditions For Overcoming. I preached every morning at 9 AM Then we all went to work demolishing buildings to be replaced by a Kibidula chapel. It was hard work, sometimes dangerous as walls would fall in where some people might be working. I attribute God's generous grace for no one getting hurt. At noon, the cafeteria provided us with wonderful food. I then spoke again every evening. All went well and I believe Kibidula is doing great.
Janet, Deniece, Twalisa, Emily and I went on from there to Mago. My wife's project has really advanced. She has all these beautiful buildings in their proper setting. There are students running around everywhere and lots of work for everyone. Janet gave me the job of dropping (felling) 30 to 40 trees around some of her buildings. It was tricky work. At first I lined myself up determining what I would do with each tree. God had other plans. Janet's workers, with whom I could not communicate had there own plans. It was terribly frustrating for me at first, but in the end it turned out to be a blessing. We managed to fall all the trees without touching one of the buildings. Hard work. I could hardly drag myself around after a couple of days. My wife's container finally showed up while I was there. It took half a day to unload the thing and half a day to cut the welds that held it to the truck platform. All in all, it was a great time. I find that manual labor is far more fulfilling than desk work.
The third week (four days) we spent at Lake Malawi--Matema Beach. Steven Grabiner organized an OCI Retreat for the African projects. Wonderful, and the venue couldn't have been more conducive. We swam, we prayed, we listened to talks, we bonded and we grew in grace.
Going in to Matema, my wife's pick-up blew a tire. Upon inspection, we noticed that the companion tire was in terrible shape. The wires were coming out of its great gashes. So we went to town and paid a fortune for two used, junk tires.
I left Matema on Saturday night, 9 PM, to catch a plane in Dar Es Salaam at 10:10 PM on Sunday. Twenty miles out of camp we shredded another tire. (One of the new old ones.) It was on a prayer that we made it to Mbeya, Tanzania. We manage to find some sleep at 1 AM and at 5 AM we were in town looking for the bus station. From there my wife went looking for new tires and I rode the bus for twelve and one half hours to Dar. Sweat and stink and weariness was all part of the adventure. It was so hot in Dar that I put my jacket in my suit case and boarded the plane without anything warm. Well, only an old sweaty shirt in Zurich in winter is not good. Nor was it good in Washington or Denver. No matter, I survived.
I arrived at home at 9 PM and left for Japan at 6 AM in the morning.
I enjoyed Japan a lot. The people are hospitable, kind, courteous and interested. I preached 13 sermons in the city of Meaboshi??. I believe our project called Mt. Akagi is doing very well. They certainly could use more funding and people, but they are improving their lot every day. The Lord is blessing.
I'm home. Steven Grabiner is here doing a week of prayer on the book of Revelation. Great. I wish I was not so jet-lagged. I think Steven wishes he was not so jet-lagged also. Tomorrow I preach at Copper Mountain to the Veggie Diner group.
As for news: I believe I can announce that my wife is sincerely determined to come home to stay. She must find someone to replace her, and that isn't easy, but if the Lord wants it too, I believe it will happen within the year. (We'll see.)
I was reading in Prophets and Kings about King Hezekiah. It says that the Lord left him to prove him, to show what was in his heart. The Lord did that to me once. Consequently, I made the biggest mess in my life. So did Hezekiah. Only a fool would wish to live independently of the Lord.
So says the Preacher to his Tribe.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Super-r-r Woman
I leave for Africa and Japan in three days. This will probably be my last blog for one month. Sorry, I'll be having too much fun, or there won't be internet where I am going. Actually, I won't have a computer with me, so don't count on hearing anything. Ugh! Sounds so final like I'm entering the twilight zone.
The paragraph that follows this sentence is from a 16 year old girl working with my Lover In Africa:
Mrs. Fournier and her right-hand woman, Deniece, have probably taught me more in these few short weeks than I have learned in years of ordinary life. By normal standards, I’m smart. I have nearly a 4.0 GDA, but here that doesn’t matter. It means absolutely nothing. Practical experience and hard work are all that counts. These women are incredible. They can fix almost anything, run a school, communicate through the language barrier, cook almost any meal, put up with each other, and show Christ through their everyday lives. It’s like living with a super-hero and her side-kick. They are who they are, and they are God’s. I admire that.
There you are, I'm married to a Super Heroin. I've always known, but do you know how hard that is? Like the girl says, I'm smart but around her, that doesn't count. (Kidding, sorta.)
I spent last weekend in Norway.
The institution in Norway, the Heartgood Foundation and the European Bible School lost their leader several years ago. It's been struggling ever since. It was decided by the last board that the board should all resign "en masse" and that a new group of seven should attempt to find a solution. I was elected to the new group with Steven Grabiner, Erik Somme, Knut Guvstavsen, Nila Teale, Nic Dan, and Jamiek (Somebody).
The first two days were very discouraging. It was like we couldn't get anyone to say anything that would give us hope of rescuing this institution. (Now I must tell you: On my way to Norway, I prayed every half hour on the half hour that the Lord would show us what to do. On the last day, we broke through the negativity. I wish I could tell you the whole story, but I can't.) God works in mysterious ways. In the end, we elected Knut to be President. Knut is one of the original founders of Heartgood Foundation. He is choosing to buy the farm. This will provide the school with much needed money while leaving the farm in proximity to by used. Also, we accepted a young couple's proposal to run a school starting in 2013. This young couple has two weeks to make a decision. Pray for them. (I believe they will accept the counter proposal. God led too beautifully not to.)
Tonight, I speak at Larry Romrell's house to a group of SDA's from Franktown. Tomorrow I do vespers at EVI, and on Sabbath I speak in Copper Mountain. Sunday I leave for Africa.
In the meantime, I have nothing to do but run in every direction trying to gather all I must take to Africa. I hope I don't end up with more than I am allowed to carry.
Monday I am reunited with Super-r-r Woman. Hmmm! I feel like Clark Kent kryptonited.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Heavy Snows, Heavier Responsibilities.
It's winter in Colorado. The temperature went as low as 8 degrees Fahrenheit this morning. I checked Whitehorse, Yukon, and it was 34 degrees. We seem to be the cold spot in North America. The snow was beautiful, but heavy and broke a lot of branches. As many as 15,000 were without electricity last night and still today. Otherwise, beautiful.
We are having a birthday party for one of our doctors today. Dr. Cherne is 85 and going strong.
I went to Washington DC this week. Had an invitation to a North American Division meeting with the Supporting Ministries of which ASI is one. We were a group of about 20. The meetings were very interesting, but I don't know what was accomplished except perhaps to make friends and to spread goodwill toward one another. I did see Pastor Orville Parchment, and a host of other long time friends.
Better still was that I got to visit with John, Janice, David and Arwyn. That was great. The whole trip was worth it on that account. We met at David's new house, cozy and good for David. I read Calvin and Hobbes to Arwyn. Endearing. Did you know that there is no point in debriefing Calvin--he doesn't wear briefs.
We visited for several hours. It is all interesting to us that within the last year we all-John, Jason, David and I are saddled with heavier responsibilities. (You can add Janet to that, except that her responsibilities she's carried for some time now.) For some of us, John and I, the responsibilities were totally unexpected. David is now in management in the Communications branch of the Risk Management Dept. of the GC. We all praised the Lord for the honors, and are praying for wisdom to execute wisely our tasks.
All is well. God is good and the future is bright.
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Love it
Someone reminded me that I hadn't blogged lately. Yea, I know. Not enough hours in a day.
I did run to Chattanooga this week. I hope I haven't already told you. Steven Grabiner, OCI President, Wilbur Atwood, the President of Wildwood and I had a scheduled meeting with David Gates. All I can say here is that the meeting was productive of great good . . . I hope. Time will tell.
I also met with Rusty Mckee of Little Debbie fame. I was blown away. The man was so congenial that I felt like we had know each other forever and that we were the best of friends. My purpose was to raise funds for our new Lifestyle Center. I believe, true to my nature, that I did a soft sell. He assured me that I couldn't have come at a better time. Mckee's Little Debbie had a slump in profits since 2008 and now they seem to be recovered. Besides, we are getting close to the end of the year when these folks need to donate for business purposes. We'll see. For me, the friendship is worth everything. (A people oriented person am I.)
We had a cooking school this week. Breads. It was great. The people didn't leave till 9:30 PM. The people were genuinely grateful for the experience.
Our Lifestyle guests are just the grandest people ever. Eleven women and two men. The laughing-est bunch you ever met. All suffering terribly, yet full of godly joy. I think they'll live forever.
On Sunday, I need to fly to Washington DC. The General Conference of the SDA church has invited me to attend an all day meeting on Monday. They are paying for everything. David Fournier heard I was coming and offered me to stay with him. Love it. Too bad I already had a hotel room. I'll be sure to find time for Davey regardless.
Everyone asks how I am doing with my new ASI responsibilities. Truth is, I'm loving it. I'm way too busy, but I prefer that than having too little to do. So far, I'm keeping out of trouble and I am praying double time so I don't. I have lots of help from my two VPs and my Executive Committee and all the former ASI Presidents. Love it, plain and simple.
Sometimes I get invited to eat with the Lifestyle guests. Oriental day. Super good.
Same table.
Every evening I go to the mountains to pray.
Later.
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Always Rushed.
Since we last talked EVI had its yearly convention. In may respects it was the best ever. We had a great speaker--Chester V. Clark III. The convention was better attended than ever. Leasa sent out invitations to many of our friends and a good number came who would not have thought of it.
The board meeting was done in two and one half hours. Try to beat that. Kevin Hogfeldt was our board chairman this year because Steven Grabiner couldn't make it. Kevin did a great job of it.
We then traveled to DayStar after the EVI board and got there around 9:30 PM. The DayStar board was very, very encouraging. The Lord is blessing them tremendously this year. I am truly pleased with what is going on there. They have 33 students, aiming for at least 35. There farm is on track to profit about $150,000 this year. They have awesome farmers.
We got back home at 9:30 PM that night.
The next day I nearly spent till noon on the phone with various ASI people. In the meantime, I am trying to write an article for ASI and I must start on our Faith Ventures also.
Tonight we have a reception for Philip and Dayna Smith. They were married a few weeks ago in CA., but being as they are staff at EVI, it is only fair that we celebrate with them also. Sorry, no pics. Maybe next week.
Visitor Convention Morning. Not the least nervous.
Aspen gold on the way to DayStar
Sunflower by the side of DayStar road
Castle Rock at DayStar
Ignacio Perez is my farmer. Great Year.
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