SOMETHING SPECIAL TO CELEBRATE

This past weekend Melinda and I were at the church her son in law started five years ago in Wilmington, N.C.  They were celebrating the good work of God over these past five years and looking forward to the next five.  Two things especially impressed me as I saw their heart and values.  They were committed to bless their community with grace and generosity.  They identified needs and gave time and resources to impact those needs for the better.  Second they were committed to build a better community by partnering with other churches to make sure Christ got a good name in their community.  

Their Easter Egg Hunt this year is really fun to hear about.  They are joining with three other churches at the Community Park of Leland, inviting all the kids from the neighborhoods, some from very poor areas.  As the kids collect easter eggs, each egg has a number inside which can be exchanged for specific gifts.  People have donated things like new bikes to give to a kid who has never had one.  The intentionality to bless is all over this church.  

In fact they did something last Sunday I am not sure I would have the faith to do.  The offering that morning would all be given away.  None of it would go for the church budget.  The largest offering ever received was given, which included $6900 for a Vietnamese mom and her son, who became Christians last year and now want to return to Vietnam to share Jesus with her Buddhist family.

God’s hand is all over this church.  You've gotta love His imprint.  

The cool thing is that churches all over America are “getting it”.  It is all about getting the beauty of Jesus out into our communities.  His Grace and Generosity are worth emulating.  Let’s do it.

ENDINGS

I have lived 67 years now and though my life has been a continuum of days with the present seeming to be a sensible convergence of the past, the truth is that there have been a lot of endings.  We move and say goodbye to friends.  We graduate from High School and leave the familiar behind for the wide unknown.  We marry and discard the independence of the single life.  We bury and mourn the death of a friend or beloved family member.  There are a lot of ends in life, chapters closing.  But in life, with each end is a new beginning.  Until we are in the endlessness of eternity that is how life works.  There are wonderful new beginnings.  I am at that juncture again.  On April 6^th, Mark Davis, head of our Search Committee, is going to bring a significant update to our church family.  For the past 7 months the Search Team has worked diligently, asking the Lord to lead the process of finding His man to step into the role of Senior Pastor as I step into retirement.

The reality is hitting.  My days at Centerville Community Church are coming to an end.  Our home has a contract on it.  We are scheduled to close on May 9^th.  God is leading the Search Committee to my replacement.  A joyous ending and new beginning is ahead of us.  Let’s get ready to celebrate.  Each new chapter has wonderful surprises and God’s rich blessings.  How good He is.

THE ADVOCATE

Last year at this time my sister was involved in a car accident in which my cousin was killed.  Because there was a death my sister had to appear before a judge for sentencing.  Fortunately she had an attorney who would be her advocate, presenting the facts of the case and asking the court for mercy in the midst of justice.  Her advocate was a veteran lawyer in these types of cases.  The outcome was fair and just and we as a family were so thankful for this man’s representation.

I was reading in I John, that short but uplifting epistle, and came across this verse which starts chapter 2.  “My little children, I am writing these things to you that you may not sin.  And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous.”  What a blessed encouragement that verse is.  Jesus is a veteran presence in the court.  He understands our weaknesses having been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.  Our Advocate is better than any attorney on earth, for no matter what our crime, Jesus did the time.  He took our sins upon Him that we might stand righteous and uncondemnable before our Holy Father.  What an advocate.  Need one?

CAMPING

What were the most spiritually influential places you attended when you were growing up?  Though I went to church every Sunday with my parents, the places where my most significant decisions were made about God were not in church believe it or not.  They were at retreats and summer camps.  I went to my first camp when I was 8 years old.  It was there I prayed with the camp director to receive Christ.  (My mom loved to tell people I was having such a good time I never once opened my suitcase.  It came back exactly as she had packed it.  Must have slept in my clothes and worn the same underwear for a week.  Is that possible?)  

As the years went by I attended camps every summer into my teen years.  The Spirit of God really got my attention during those weeks for I remember going to the altar to rededicate myself to God.  Spiritual maturity seldom outstrips personal maturity so growing in Christ takes a lot longer time when you start out at 8 years old.  But those years were so instrumental in what God was doing in my life and how He was preparing me for the life He planned for me.  I look back with fondness at summer camp.  

But many kids don’t do church camp any more.  Can I encourage you Moms and Dads to consider sending your kid to church camp this summer?  Robb Burt our Children’s Pastor is promoting one in August for 3-6 graders.  Be sure you look for the details as they come your way.  Church camp can make a huge difference in your kid’s life as they grow.  It is a great investment whether they unpack their suitcase or not.

SECOND CHOICE

Our house has been on the market for two months.  We have had about 10 showings and an open house or two, but no offers.  One family really wanted it but couldn’t pay the price.  Two others really liked it, but it was there second choice.  The Realtors that show it all tell us it is beautiful, priced right and was their favorite of all the houses they showed, but we still sit waiting for someone to want it more than any other.

I think of that as it relates to Jesus.  He is beautiful.  He shows well because He is full of love, compassion, sacrifice, all the attributes that are so attractive.  And He is priced right – FREE!  Yet He sits and waits for people to want Him more than all others.  I often wonder why it is that people look at Jesus and yet choose other things as more desirable.  A movie arrived at the theater last week, entitled, ‘The Son of God”.  Our Community Group went to see it on Tuesday.  I watched, enthralled again at the beautiful story of God’s love.  God became a baby so He could live among us.  I watched, amazed at the beauty of Jesus’ tenderness, compassion and power.  I watched his crucifixion and saw the selflessness, sacrifice and incomprehensible love.  I applauded at His victorious resurrection.  But I realized that for so many people it is still just a beautiful story, much like an engrossing novel.  

It’s time to revisit Jesus.  Don’t just embrace the story, embrace the Savior.  He should never be our second choice.

THE BMW EXPERIENCE

Back in November I bought my dream car.  Melinda and I were in Florida and we determined we didn’t need two sedans once we moved there.  We’d keep her Honda CRV and I would sell my Chevy Impala and buy my longed for sports car.  Right before my eyes was the car I was looking for, right year, right mileage, right price.  A gorgeous 2000 black BMW Z3 convertible with only 32,800 miles on it.  Only problem was it was in probate due to the death of the owner.  A few weeks ago it was released, and driven to Melinda’s garage where it waited for my loving care.  This past week I went to Florida for some R & R, planning to get the title transferred, get plates for the car and cruise the beach with the top down just enjoying the sunshine.  With title in hand, along with the bill of sale I was all set to tackle the Bureau of Motor Vehicles.  The first person we talked to informed me that I was short a piece of paper, the certificate from probate showing that the person I bought it from had legal authority to sell it.  The seller had sent the original certificate to the Florida BMV at a Tampa branch.  He was now in Connecticut.  We both figured that the Palm Beach branch could access this from some central computer file.  We had all the storage information.  No such luck.  I had to procure a copy of the certificate and bring it in.

After a couple days effort, I was able to get a copy, but upon return to the BMV was told I needed the original.  I made four trips in all to the BMV but each time was turned away empty handed.  My week ended with no title, no plates and the little beauty still sitting in the garage, never seeing the light of day.

My time at the BMV was interesting.  As I sat with the various clerks, I couldn’t help but listen to other customers talking with the clerks next to me.  I realized that most people come to the BMV uptight ready for a fight if things don’t go their way.  The man next to me was a paper short.  His response was one of frustration, anger and demands.  I realized that the BMV agents probably get blasted a lot.  What a great place to give testimony by our words and actions of how our walk with God allows us to show grace and pleasantness even in the midst of frustration.  Had a bad BMV experience?  What a great place to show the grace of God.   “Let your speech always be with grace.”  Colossians 4:6

SAYINGS

Throughout a life time of listening we will hear little sayings or adages we just never forget.  My Mom had a few pet sayings that I still recall and quote to this day.   Things like:

“A place for everything and everything in its place.”  (It sure saves a lot of time when you are looking for something.)  

“A quick ‘thank you’ is a double ‘thank you’”.   

Benjamin Franklin had a bunch of them.  

“A penny saved is a penny earned”.

“Guests, like fish, begin to smell after three days.”

“We must all hang together, or assuredly we will all hang separately.”   Great advice during the Revolutionary War.

Leadership has its adages.  

“Plan your work then work your plan.”

“When all is said and done, more is said than done.”

Are there any sayings about God that stick in your mind?  How about these?

“Don’t tell God how BIG the storm is.  Tell the storm how BIG your God is!”

“The family that prays together, stays together.

“God loves each of us as if there were only one of us.”

Do you have any favorites?  I know there are plenty out there.