Summer camp was tough. Everything about camp was new to us: the year around employees and summer staff, the program, the unfinished facility, the food, etc. Sally Jo began five mornings a week working with campers in the 5 acre garden - tomatoes, potatoes, okra, and much more. With summer camp having just begun, Larry and Barbara Brooks and their daughter, friends from our two years in Murfreesboro, arrived to run the craft program for two months. Larry taught art at Middle Tennessee State University. Bill and Vodie Schwantes arrived. Bill, but he was a highly recommended, recently retired business manager from another Christian ministry. While Sally Jo and our three children remained at camp, early each Monday morning I returned to Dallas for a Sky Ranch Board of Director's meeting and to talk with parents, donors, potential rental group leaders, pay bills, etc. Early each Friday Morning I would head back for a busy weekend at camp, stopping at the Dallas farmers market to fill the station wagon with fresh produce.
The days were hot!! (One summer it never went below 100 degrees, day or night, for 30 days!) Every Sunday afternoon Sally Jo and I met the campers and their families at the entrance of the parking lot. Try standing for two hours on hot black top in the hot sun in cowboy boots, jeans, red and white checked shirts and cowboy hats. The sweat runs down your legs into your boots!
Summer camp was tough, yet rewarding. Most of the campers came from churches which taught the Bible, but many of these same campers did not understand God's plan of salvation. Hearts were open to hear this good news, and without any pressure, it was often a simple process to lead these children to a saving relationship with Jesus Christ, and to encourage their continued walk as God's children.
When September came, the heat subsided, but the work continued. As a family we stayed in Dallas from Saturday or Sunday evening through Friday after school - then back to the ranch to welcome a weekend retreat group, and to work in the garden, the store, the dining hall, or with the horses - whatever was required to support retreat groups from Young Life Clubs and many churches. Sally Jo and I also led two weekend "family retreats" during the school year.
In the midst of the daily operation of the ministry, Sally Jo's diary reminded me that in the fall I left for 4 days to teach previously scheduled Christian Education work shops in West Virginia and North Carolina, and at another time, in Tennessee. We had a steady flow of family, and friends from our days in AL, CT, TN, and IL - over 30, some for several nights. This required keeping our home in Dallas and the trailer at the ranch ready for guests all of the time. Add to this the school functions of three children, caring for a occasional sick child, speaking on behalf of Sky Ranch, participating in church activities when possible, building relationships with immediate neighbors, and going to Sky Ranch board member's homes for dinner - with many enjoying dinner in our home. It was a crazy pace to live week after week.
Our stability and sanity as a family were greatly enhanced by singing in the car going to and from the ranch, and when possible, making a stop along the way for something fun - a salt festival, the largest flea market in the country, a small town rodeo, a unique place to eat. On slow weekends we would swim, take canoe rides and ride horses together. We were able to take a two week family trip to Florida where both of our parents had condominiums and we spent two weekends alone at our pediatrician's cabin.
When we live In Partnership With God, much of life is a daily discipline - nothing dramatic. Noah was considered a righteous man, yet there is no indication that Noah found life any different (Genesis 6). We read that Moses experienced several "God interventions", but it was over a span of 40 years with the Israelites in the desert (Exodus 12 - 40). It is easy to forget that Paul was beaten five times with 39 lashes, 3 times with a rod, stoned and left for dead, three times ship wrecked, and he spent several years in prison (I Corinthians 11). Tradition says Paul was beheaded.
Let us all press on in obedience to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ - regardless.
Monday, December 28, 2009
Monday, December 14, 2009
Moses' Rod - A Valued Gift #84
Randy came to serve as the camp cook for the summer. He was a reasonably good cook, an excellent cook considering the fact that his kitchen consisted of 4 home type refrigerators, 4 chest freezers, and the stove/griddle/oven unit and huge mixer from the old camp in an unfinished building without air conditioning. He had not worked with any of the food vendors and he had no experienced help.
Randy started the summer cooking for 30 staff members under a 12' X 12' tarp. By summer's end he was cooking for 150 in one end of the future craft building. He never complained. I am sure his physical toughness from being a wrestler enabled him to survive - while preparing good food meal after meal, day after day.
None of the staff had ever worked together before. In fact every staff person was new to the situation, including me. I had never directed a camp before. Monty, who was 22, had been program director at the old camp and knew his position well. He was the only staff member who did.
It was a tough summer, as you can imagine. I was not focused on good management technique, but on being sure the campers had a wonderful, safe experience. This was a real challenge with a new staff, unproven horses, copper heads in the camp (we killed 28 during the summer), scorpions in the buildings, and snakes in the lake. We not only survived, but the campers had such a good time that they returned the next summer, bringing their friends.
When camp ended and we were shutting down for a couple months so more of the camp could be completed, Randy asked for a few minutes when we could talk together. Soon we had the one-on-one time he requested.
Randy gave me a carefully chosen stick with a knob on the end - fastened by two leader strips to a weathered board two feet long.
Randy explained that it was to represent Moses' Rod, and was to remind me that there were times when it was not necessary for Moses to hit the rock to bring forth water. All that Moses had to do was speak to the rock. He went on to say, "Chuck, there are times when only a few words are necessary to make your point."
I have kept his gift hanging on the wall of my office - a constant reminder from a gentle servant.
Randy started the summer cooking for 30 staff members under a 12' X 12' tarp. By summer's end he was cooking for 150 in one end of the future craft building. He never complained. I am sure his physical toughness from being a wrestler enabled him to survive - while preparing good food meal after meal, day after day.
None of the staff had ever worked together before. In fact every staff person was new to the situation, including me. I had never directed a camp before. Monty, who was 22, had been program director at the old camp and knew his position well. He was the only staff member who did.
It was a tough summer, as you can imagine. I was not focused on good management technique, but on being sure the campers had a wonderful, safe experience. This was a real challenge with a new staff, unproven horses, copper heads in the camp (we killed 28 during the summer), scorpions in the buildings, and snakes in the lake. We not only survived, but the campers had such a good time that they returned the next summer, bringing their friends.
When camp ended and we were shutting down for a couple months so more of the camp could be completed, Randy asked for a few minutes when we could talk together. Soon we had the one-on-one time he requested.
Randy gave me a carefully chosen stick with a knob on the end - fastened by two leader strips to a weathered board two feet long.
Randy explained that it was to represent Moses' Rod, and was to remind me that there were times when it was not necessary for Moses to hit the rock to bring forth water. All that Moses had to do was speak to the rock. He went on to say, "Chuck, there are times when only a few words are necessary to make your point."
I have kept his gift hanging on the wall of my office - a constant reminder from a gentle servant.
Monday, December 7, 2009
We Are Glad for This #83
Kaleo Lodge was a small, beautiful retreat, located two miles from Sky Ranch. The only time I was there, a 5' tall white haired lady introduced herself: "I am Gladys Lankford. Everyone calls me Glad, and I would like to help at Sky Ranch. I am 81 years old, and as long as the Lord lets me live, I will serve Him." I asked what she would like to do: "I can do most anything you want me to do. My husband, Bud, who has gone home to be with the Lord, and I owned the drug store in Mineola (15 miles away), and my husband was also the Post Master." I promised to give her a call.
During staff training the T-shirts and other supplies arrived for the camp store - a building from the old ranch so small it came over on a truck. I called Glad and she arrived in a tired looking car a couple hours later. I showed her the boxes and the shelves, and soon this feisty lady was unpacking boxes, organizing their contents on the shelves. Glad returned the next day, and the next, until the task was finished. One day when I stopped by to see how she was doing, she asked about Sky Ranch: Its purpose, its history, and its plans for the future. She had heard rumors that Sky Ranch was somehow involved with problem kids - a rehabilitation place, or something like that. I explained that I was aware of this misconception, and we were asking people known in the surrounding communities to run advertisements telling that Sky Ranch, a Christian ministry, was re-locating in the area and they were pleased to welcome Sky Ranch. Glad offered to sponsor an advertisement in the Mineola paper - and assured me that everyone knew her! I asked if she was sure she should do this - each advertisement in a local paper cost about $100. She said she thought she could handle it.
Just before the campers were to arrive she noticed camp did not have a "refrigerated water fountain." She asked me to buy one, and she would pay for it. When camp started, she could see she was no longer needed and quietly stepped out of the picture. I was curious about Glad so went by her home, a small two bedroom brick house.
In the fall she returned to ask if she could sell things in the store. I really hesitated, as Glad had strong opinions which she was very happy to share when she felt it appropriate. But...how could I say no? Young Life rented the facility for the first retreat weekend and, just as I feared, Glad soon lecturing a high school student who smoked!!!!! I cringed! However high school kids loved her, and soon were asking her questions about what life was like when she grew up. Glad told how the first time she drove a car, she drove it through a store window. And how nice girls rode side saddle, but she rode "astride" so she could ride faster. Glad laughed as she remembered, and those around her laughed with the fun, little lady.
After the first weekend retreat she told me to buy a piano. A piano? "Well, you don't have one in that conference building. Buy a good one, and I will pay for it!" Glad...are you sure? "Buy a good piano!" And so we did. A year later she told me to build a maintenance building. "Build what you need. I'll pay for it." We had plans drawn for a building adequate for the future needs of the camp. Glad had no interest in seeing the plans, nor did she have any interest in being recognized for her giving.
Our daughter, Carla, was the first chair cellist with a high school orchestra that was going to Vienna, Austria for an orchestra competition. When Glad learned about the competition, she told our daughter, with Sally Jo and me present, to have her cello teacher pick out a good cello, one appropriate to her ability, and she would pay for it.
Glad, Sally Jo and I became very close, and after six years we took her to see Wheaton College, which she had supported, but never seen. During the hours we talked, she told us she was giving away $28,000 a month! Oil money she called her "unearned increment." Glad enjoyed giving: giving herself and her resources.
Gladys Lankford lived In Partnership With God, and did not need the praise of men.
Glad lived by her favorite verse: "This is the day the Lord has made; I will rejoice and be Glad in it." -- Psalm 118:24
During staff training the T-shirts and other supplies arrived for the camp store - a building from the old ranch so small it came over on a truck. I called Glad and she arrived in a tired looking car a couple hours later. I showed her the boxes and the shelves, and soon this feisty lady was unpacking boxes, organizing their contents on the shelves. Glad returned the next day, and the next, until the task was finished. One day when I stopped by to see how she was doing, she asked about Sky Ranch: Its purpose, its history, and its plans for the future. She had heard rumors that Sky Ranch was somehow involved with problem kids - a rehabilitation place, or something like that. I explained that I was aware of this misconception, and we were asking people known in the surrounding communities to run advertisements telling that Sky Ranch, a Christian ministry, was re-locating in the area and they were pleased to welcome Sky Ranch. Glad offered to sponsor an advertisement in the Mineola paper - and assured me that everyone knew her! I asked if she was sure she should do this - each advertisement in a local paper cost about $100. She said she thought she could handle it.
Just before the campers were to arrive she noticed camp did not have a "refrigerated water fountain." She asked me to buy one, and she would pay for it. When camp started, she could see she was no longer needed and quietly stepped out of the picture. I was curious about Glad so went by her home, a small two bedroom brick house.
In the fall she returned to ask if she could sell things in the store. I really hesitated, as Glad had strong opinions which she was very happy to share when she felt it appropriate. But...how could I say no? Young Life rented the facility for the first retreat weekend and, just as I feared, Glad soon lecturing a high school student who smoked!!!!! I cringed! However high school kids loved her, and soon were asking her questions about what life was like when she grew up. Glad told how the first time she drove a car, she drove it through a store window. And how nice girls rode side saddle, but she rode "astride" so she could ride faster. Glad laughed as she remembered, and those around her laughed with the fun, little lady.
After the first weekend retreat she told me to buy a piano. A piano? "Well, you don't have one in that conference building. Buy a good one, and I will pay for it!" Glad...are you sure? "Buy a good piano!" And so we did. A year later she told me to build a maintenance building. "Build what you need. I'll pay for it." We had plans drawn for a building adequate for the future needs of the camp. Glad had no interest in seeing the plans, nor did she have any interest in being recognized for her giving.
Our daughter, Carla, was the first chair cellist with a high school orchestra that was going to Vienna, Austria for an orchestra competition. When Glad learned about the competition, she told our daughter, with Sally Jo and me present, to have her cello teacher pick out a good cello, one appropriate to her ability, and she would pay for it.
Glad, Sally Jo and I became very close, and after six years we took her to see Wheaton College, which she had supported, but never seen. During the hours we talked, she told us she was giving away $28,000 a month! Oil money she called her "unearned increment." Glad enjoyed giving: giving herself and her resources.
Gladys Lankford lived In Partnership With God, and did not need the praise of men.
Glad lived by her favorite verse: "This is the day the Lord has made; I will rejoice and be Glad in it." -- Psalm 118:24
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Personal Update
Dear IPWG people -
The following is a personal update - totally out of the series.
Recent camping convention - and Sally Jo's unconventional birthday present for my 70th
Sally Jo and I have just returned from the Christian Camping and Conference Association annual Convention in Colorado Springs, Co. We went to my nieces wedding in Wheaton - then went on from there. I was given $ by Deerfoot Lodge and then was able to get a special convention rate ...to decided Sally Jo should come along - a special treat.
I took my partially completed IPWG with me, thinking I would send along the trip. Joke! We were going just about 24/7 from the time we left Greenville until we returned home this morning.
At the convention were 6 DL former staff - I think all had been with us at DL for 10 or more years. 4 are now camp directors - NY, ME, TX, PA. One is retreat manager in PA, and the other is head of wilderness camping and maintenance at a camp in MT. Two wives (+ Sally Jo) were also present.... Incredible experience for Sally Jo and me, as you can imagine. Another Deerfooter, unable to come, is the business manager of a year around camp/conference ministry in MN. And Scott Barnett is in Kenya...did not come. There are other Deerfooters who are also in camping - but there before I came.
I also participated in a seminar with another retired camp director - he of a year around ministry with $7,000,000 budget! Our topic: what would we have done differently? And time was spent with others in camping/conference ministry - have known some of them for 34 years.
One fun contact - a man from Indiana University (Weselyan) interested in developing a camping/conference major.
For my 70th birthday Sally Jo gave me a membership to a glider pilot club which is located 10minutes from our home. The idea: that I will become a glider pilot. Should be lots of fun...
Our 4 acre property is pretty well put to bed - which takes time....lots of time. Last summer we picked and froze 35 packages of blue berries - also lots of rasberries, rhubarb, beans, swiss chard, etc - and picked about 20 acorn and 16 butternut squash. All told we have 1 1/2 freezers full of food.
I dug up, split, and replanted at least 500 daffodil bulbs - This past spring I cut over 1000 flowers, mostly to give away. Yes, sounds crazy. We started buying bulbs after the planting season for half price soon after we moved in 29 years ago. This year I did not buy any more - only tulips!
And...the flower garden was again expanded... While Sally Jo was on her 9 day bike trip in the Czech republic, I worked with friends to put in a 16X20 blue stone patio on the South side of the house. One long term friend is a profession nursery man. He gave very clear instructions of how to prepare....and incredible amount of work. We dug out (help from friends) 11 cubic yards of soil - down 14"-17" to create good drainage and a solid base. We replaced with course gravel topped with 4" of stone dust. Another friend who sand blasts signs into rock went to the quarry and picked 7 ton of blue stone - up to 3' X 5' - the nursery man saw them and simply said "wow" Helps to have friends who know what they are doing - We have started to plant large grasses so as to create the feeling of a room. I have put away the table and two chairs for the winder, but today December 3, I ate an apple there, standing comfortably in a shirt - no jacket.
Anyway...the garden club has asked if our home can be on their tour in 2010. Sally Jo was pleased, though surprised, as most of the garden is no visible from the road...somebody told! So...next spring...I would rather not think about it!
Tis time now to turn my attention to making Christmas presents on the lathe - at least 9. If all goes well, we have an additional tentative list of another 15...will see.
Yes, busy - and "living thankful"
chuck
The following is a personal update - totally out of the series.
Recent camping convention - and Sally Jo's unconventional birthday present for my 70th
Sally Jo and I have just returned from the Christian Camping and Conference Association annual Convention in Colorado Springs, Co. We went to my nieces wedding in Wheaton - then went on from there. I was given $ by Deerfoot Lodge and then was able to get a special convention rate ...to decided Sally Jo should come along - a special treat.
I took my partially completed IPWG with me, thinking I would send along the trip. Joke! We were going just about 24/7 from the time we left Greenville until we returned home this morning.
At the convention were 6 DL former staff - I think all had been with us at DL for 10 or more years. 4 are now camp directors - NY, ME, TX, PA. One is retreat manager in PA, and the other is head of wilderness camping and maintenance at a camp in MT. Two wives (+ Sally Jo) were also present.... Incredible experience for Sally Jo and me, as you can imagine. Another Deerfooter, unable to come, is the business manager of a year around camp/conference ministry in MN. And Scott Barnett is in Kenya...did not come. There are other Deerfooters who are also in camping - but there before I came.
I also participated in a seminar with another retired camp director - he of a year around ministry with $7,000,000 budget! Our topic: what would we have done differently? And time was spent with others in camping/conference ministry - have known some of them for 34 years.
One fun contact - a man from Indiana University (Weselyan) interested in developing a camping/conference major.
For my 70th birthday Sally Jo gave me a membership to a glider pilot club which is located 10minutes from our home. The idea: that I will become a glider pilot. Should be lots of fun...
Our 4 acre property is pretty well put to bed - which takes time....lots of time. Last summer we picked and froze 35 packages of blue berries - also lots of rasberries, rhubarb, beans, swiss chard, etc - and picked about 20 acorn and 16 butternut squash. All told we have 1 1/2 freezers full of food.
I dug up, split, and replanted at least 500 daffodil bulbs - This past spring I cut over 1000 flowers, mostly to give away. Yes, sounds crazy. We started buying bulbs after the planting season for half price soon after we moved in 29 years ago. This year I did not buy any more - only tulips!
And...the flower garden was again expanded... While Sally Jo was on her 9 day bike trip in the Czech republic, I worked with friends to put in a 16X20 blue stone patio on the South side of the house. One long term friend is a profession nursery man. He gave very clear instructions of how to prepare....and incredible amount of work. We dug out (help from friends) 11 cubic yards of soil - down 14"-17" to create good drainage and a solid base. We replaced with course gravel topped with 4" of stone dust. Another friend who sand blasts signs into rock went to the quarry and picked 7 ton of blue stone - up to 3' X 5' - the nursery man saw them and simply said "wow" Helps to have friends who know what they are doing - We have started to plant large grasses so as to create the feeling of a room. I have put away the table and two chairs for the winder, but today December 3, I ate an apple there, standing comfortably in a shirt - no jacket.
Anyway...the garden club has asked if our home can be on their tour in 2010. Sally Jo was pleased, though surprised, as most of the garden is no visible from the road...somebody told! So...next spring...I would rather not think about it!
Tis time now to turn my attention to making Christmas presents on the lathe - at least 9. If all goes well, we have an additional tentative list of another 15...will see.
Yes, busy - and "living thankful"
chuck
Monday, November 23, 2009
God's Plan - Seen in Retrospect #82
I have just worked through Sally Jo?s daily diary from 1975 and found the following:
Each session more cabins are completed - and filled with campers registered months before. During summer over 1000 campers had been at the new Sky Ranch - as many as attended old ranch in a peak year.
As Hudson Taylor said, "God's work done in God's way never lacks for God's supply."
Dr. V. Raymond Edman, President of Wheaton College said: "Go as far as you can go, even if you cannot see how necessary things will happen. If it is God's work, God will keep a step ahead."
God again proved Himself faithful. I kept going forward, and God was continually going before us, providing the resources as needed to do His work. This was true in the area of staff hiring, supply purchasing, building design, site selection, and construction. Living In Partnership With God is a reality we can experience. It takes faith in action.
The Bible gives many examples of how God desires to work through people who take God at His word: building the ark, fighting battles, Gideon's battle, training to be a king, preparing for Jacob's family to survive through Joseph's being sold into slavery, food and water for Israelites in desert, Nehemiah's building the wall around Jerusalem, Esther's intervention, Daniel as prophet.
- February 8 - Dam construction to create 70 acre lake begins
- March 3 - Our family has picnic on lake bottom
- At some time:
- Eleanor Briley arrives in Dallas, stays with friend June Hunt in Dallas, begins staff hiring
- J.C. Hawkins hired - maintenance - lives mile from camp - builds fences, prepares riding trails
- About 30 unproven horses/tack begin to arrive at camp - bought by Lonnie, new wrangler from W. TX. His instructions: horses must be safe for campers to be around, all suitable for trail rides, some must be trained for barrel and other races within rodeo corral - also buy necessary tack & other needed equipment. He had two months - very tight budget! Good horses, great program!
- May 10 - Six repossessed mobile homes (cheap!) pulled in by bull dozer for staff housing & office-1st cabin framed in May 13 - Heavy rain. Concrete truck gets stuck - pulled out by bull dozer - no more deliveries until things dry out. Randy, the cook, arrives - stays with us in Dallas while working on menus, food suppliers.
- May 18 - Stoves from old camp put in temporary kitchen under our 12X12 dining tarp
- May 19 - Staff arrive in rain - sleep in mobile homes - no water, sewer, electricity - staff training in uncompleted barn
- May 20 - Water running off tarp onto burners and griddle. No refrigeration. Only water source across lake. Desperate situation! Decide to pray for 24 hr - set up schedule: "Lord, Please Stop The Rain." The Lord Stops the Rain! - for area of about 3 miles around us
- May 21 - Call general contractor. "The sun is out at Sky Ranch" Calls 7 sub-contractors - no other dry place to work.
- May 22 - 7 sub-contractors/their crews arrive - I have movie of their arrival - workmen everywhere - working together - Larry Brooks, art teacher from Middle Tennessee State U. arrives with wife/daughter to run craft program
- May 25 - Lake full - copperhead snakes into camp up from lake bed (kill 28 during summer) scorpions abound!
- June 1 - workable camp - home type refrigerators/freezers are all we had for 1st summer. - first campers arrive - fortunately a small number for the first session.
- June 3 - Sally Jo and our 3 kids join me in mobile home. Still no electricity, thus no AC - over 90 degrees inside. While swimming with kids in lake sees snake - likely a water moccasin - very sobering.
Each session more cabins are completed - and filled with campers registered months before. During summer over 1000 campers had been at the new Sky Ranch - as many as attended old ranch in a peak year.
- If there had been no intense rain, the lake would not have been filled.
- If there had been no intense rain, the Sky Ranch staff would not have experienced God stopping the rain over the camp
- If there had been no intense rain, the sub-contractors would have had other places to work.
As Hudson Taylor said, "God's work done in God's way never lacks for God's supply."
Dr. V. Raymond Edman, President of Wheaton College said: "Go as far as you can go, even if you cannot see how necessary things will happen. If it is God's work, God will keep a step ahead."
God again proved Himself faithful. I kept going forward, and God was continually going before us, providing the resources as needed to do His work. This was true in the area of staff hiring, supply purchasing, building design, site selection, and construction. Living In Partnership With God is a reality we can experience. It takes faith in action.
The Bible gives many examples of how God desires to work through people who take God at His word: building the ark, fighting battles, Gideon's battle, training to be a king, preparing for Jacob's family to survive through Joseph's being sold into slavery, food and water for Israelites in desert, Nehemiah's building the wall around Jerusalem, Esther's intervention, Daniel as prophet.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Reality Sets In #81
Billboards in and around Dallas featured a beautiful lodge with the words "Sky Ranch." This lodge was to be located on the highest point in the property - with a great view of the lake. This lodge is where the dining room, kitchen, offices, meeting rooms and large deck were to be located. The reality was that there were no significant contributions for the construction of the lodge. Time to swallow hard and scratch the lodge.
Three months until the campers were to arrive - no buildings & no utilities under construction. Campers were registering. Staff was being hired. The old camp was gone. No turning back now!
The re-designed craft building had a loft and a very open feeling. This looked to be the only building of any size which would be built in the first year. It could work as the temporary kitchen and dining hall for 150 people -- tight, but by using the loft, it could work. The barn loft, if fully separated from the barn and properly insulated, could become the location for the craft program. This very closed in, almost windowless area would be just the opposite of the open, bright feeling of the anticipated craft building, but reality was reality.
A building designed for use by small groups was redesigned into one large room which could seat 150 on the floor. The front deck was expanded to handle 150 people. This building/deck would meet the indoor and outdoor program requirements -- it would work.
We had to scrap the maintenance building - not essential for the summer. Ouch - no building to adapt for this purpose.
George Christian became the "go-to" person for the construction of the new ranch. We walked the new property hour after hour, selecting and marking the site for every building and activity area for present and projected plans. To do this we had to keep in mind where utilities would be available, where the trail rides should be located, how people would travel from one building to another in clear or rainy weather, where to park 100 cars, where to locate the road for deliveries to the camp store, kitchen, and barn. Road access to each sleeping cabin was a challenge ? and each cabin, being a duplex, needed two parking spaces for retreat weekends. The challenge was huge -- but we did it!
Don Hill of Tyler, TX was hired as the general contractor for building construction and he blocked off the entire spring to build the fifteen planned buildings for camp. When Don realized the central lodge was not going to be built and that other buildings were still in the design stage, he took on other construction projects. Don Hill had no problem finding work -- he was good! Reality: when the building plans were finalized, Don had his men working on other projects. At least the construction of the dam was on schedule.
To have peace and patience in the midst of this mess was truly a stretch for all of us! Nothing was going as anyone had planned -- except for the construction of the dam. At this point living In Partnership With God was challenging and exciting ? but not fun! Abraham, Moses, David, Nehemiah and many others expressed similar feelings.
The Sky Ranch situation was a great example of Hudson Taylor's words: "God's work done in God's way never lacks for God's supply." Something was not right! Everyone now agreed: the plans for the beautiful lodge had to go - others modified. Insufficient funds!
The result? Sky Ranch was becoming a much more "camper friendly" place. The dining hall would not be beautiful, but it would be functional due to its openness, and bright because of the many large windows. The craft shop would feel "tucked away" - a place set apart, cool and comfortable. And there would be an excitement felt when 150 campers and staff are packed into a room, or sitting on a deck - to laugh, sing, and listen.
Trust in the Lord. Wait patiently for Him!
Three months until the campers were to arrive - no buildings & no utilities under construction. Campers were registering. Staff was being hired. The old camp was gone. No turning back now!
The re-designed craft building had a loft and a very open feeling. This looked to be the only building of any size which would be built in the first year. It could work as the temporary kitchen and dining hall for 150 people -- tight, but by using the loft, it could work. The barn loft, if fully separated from the barn and properly insulated, could become the location for the craft program. This very closed in, almost windowless area would be just the opposite of the open, bright feeling of the anticipated craft building, but reality was reality.
A building designed for use by small groups was redesigned into one large room which could seat 150 on the floor. The front deck was expanded to handle 150 people. This building/deck would meet the indoor and outdoor program requirements -- it would work.
We had to scrap the maintenance building - not essential for the summer. Ouch - no building to adapt for this purpose.
George Christian became the "go-to" person for the construction of the new ranch. We walked the new property hour after hour, selecting and marking the site for every building and activity area for present and projected plans. To do this we had to keep in mind where utilities would be available, where the trail rides should be located, how people would travel from one building to another in clear or rainy weather, where to park 100 cars, where to locate the road for deliveries to the camp store, kitchen, and barn. Road access to each sleeping cabin was a challenge ? and each cabin, being a duplex, needed two parking spaces for retreat weekends. The challenge was huge -- but we did it!
Don Hill of Tyler, TX was hired as the general contractor for building construction and he blocked off the entire spring to build the fifteen planned buildings for camp. When Don realized the central lodge was not going to be built and that other buildings were still in the design stage, he took on other construction projects. Don Hill had no problem finding work -- he was good! Reality: when the building plans were finalized, Don had his men working on other projects. At least the construction of the dam was on schedule.
To have peace and patience in the midst of this mess was truly a stretch for all of us! Nothing was going as anyone had planned -- except for the construction of the dam. At this point living In Partnership With God was challenging and exciting ? but not fun! Abraham, Moses, David, Nehemiah and many others expressed similar feelings.
The Sky Ranch situation was a great example of Hudson Taylor's words: "God's work done in God's way never lacks for God's supply." Something was not right! Everyone now agreed: the plans for the beautiful lodge had to go - others modified. Insufficient funds!
The result? Sky Ranch was becoming a much more "camper friendly" place. The dining hall would not be beautiful, but it would be functional due to its openness, and bright because of the many large windows. The craft shop would feel "tucked away" - a place set apart, cool and comfortable. And there would be an excitement felt when 150 campers and staff are packed into a room, or sitting on a deck - to laugh, sing, and listen.
Trust in the Lord. Wait patiently for Him!
Monday, November 9, 2009
A Rightfully Angry Donor #80
One of my jobs as Director of Sky Ranch became fund-raising. As I visited committed or prospective donors, I come to know a variety of people. Sometimes these visits took surprising turns.
One afternoon I went to meet with a financially successful business man, a Christian. I could see instantly that he was not happy. He welcomed me - then turned away and looked out his window. Nothing was said for what seemed to be an eternity. When he turned back to me, he managed a weak smile. After another quiet stretch I asked him if he would like to talk about what was troubling him.
He then dumped the whole load.
He started his monologue with "It is wrong! It is just wrong!!! I gave $100,000 to a Christian organization, and they act as if I did something special - and now they treat me as if I am a special person. I am not special - that $100,000 really cost me nothing! Nothing!"
"The people who are really special are those who give generously out of what little they have! They are the special people, not me."
His face was so sad. What I wanted to do was to take a step forward and give him a huge hug! He understood. He got it right.
Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two farthings, worth only a fraction of a penny. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They gave out of their wealth, but she, out of her poverty, put in everything she had to live on" -- Mark 12:41-44
This man lived in partnership with God's people - In Partnership With God.
One afternoon I went to meet with a financially successful business man, a Christian. I could see instantly that he was not happy. He welcomed me - then turned away and looked out his window. Nothing was said for what seemed to be an eternity. When he turned back to me, he managed a weak smile. After another quiet stretch I asked him if he would like to talk about what was troubling him.
He then dumped the whole load.
He started his monologue with "It is wrong! It is just wrong!!! I gave $100,000 to a Christian organization, and they act as if I did something special - and now they treat me as if I am a special person. I am not special - that $100,000 really cost me nothing! Nothing!"
"The people who are really special are those who give generously out of what little they have! They are the special people, not me."
His face was so sad. What I wanted to do was to take a step forward and give him a huge hug! He understood. He got it right.
Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two farthings, worth only a fraction of a penny. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They gave out of their wealth, but she, out of her poverty, put in everything she had to live on" -- Mark 12:41-44
This man lived in partnership with God's people - In Partnership With God.
Monday, November 2, 2009
The Reality of Physical Work #79
I believe God provided the home we were able to buy in an excellent neighborhood near a very good school, and a ten minute drive from the Sky Ranch office. God provided the billboards which made Sky Ranch instantly known throughout the Dallas metropolis. God was doing this work, and I was along for the ride, with a very thankful heart. When lunches were arranged for business leaders, my work was to put on a coat and tie, show up, eat good food, and speak for 15 minutes. No physical work.
However, soon after I became the Executive Director of Sky Ranch, I faced a very different type of work - physical work. It was necessary to take what was valuable and movable from the old Sky Ranch in Denton, TX, to the new Sky Ranch, three hours away in Van. This included boats, dock sections, beds, and kitchen equipment. The moving was somewhat urgent as the men subdividing the property wanted to get on with their work. At the new property, the existing road was to be replaced by a temporary road while the dam was being built, and this would take months: the 500’ earthen dam was to 25 feet high.
There was a fork lift to get things up on the flat-bed truck, but each item had to be moved to where the fork lift could get to them. Once on the truck, everything had to be put in a position to tie down. The days were long, the work very hard, but this very physical work had to be done.
I think the only time I have fainted from pain in my life was when I was up on the truck and one of the large, wooden dock sections slipped in the loading process. I was able to get my body out of the way…except for one thumb. As soon as it was squished, my thumb began to swell. I jumped off the truck and ran over to an old drinking fountain, put my thumb under the cold water, and shortly thereafter passed out, flat on the ground!
I remember the challenge of getting a large Hobart mixer out of the kitchen to where it could be picked up and taken to the truck. This was an old army mixer about six feet tall. There was no way the few of us working could lift the machine or even move the machine very much. We figured out that we could tie one end of a strong rope to the machine, take the other end across the room and out a window and tie it to a pick up truck which then pulled the mixer across the floor. When we needed to pull the mixer in another direction, we put the rope through a different door or window. We soon had the monster through the door.
When I was growing up, my father, who was a medical doctor, thought it very important that my brother and I know how to work. I think our first job was cleaning the garage. Our dad cleaned the garage with us so we would know how to do it right. He often said: “if you know how to work, it will help you whatever you do. Soon keeping the garage clean was our responsibility. When I was 12 and my brother was 14, my father and Mr. Van Kampen bought a farm so their sons would have a place to work. I learned to hoe the corn out of the soy bean field – required as there was crop rotation, and the corn picker would leave kernels on the ground. I learned to drive a tractor, back up a farm wagon, and disk a field. I was almost as big then as I am now, and when Mr. Knecht realized I could stack hay bales five high on the wagon behind the baler – this is pretty much where I lived all summer long. And the same baler was used across the road on Mr. Camas’ farm and “somehow” I ended up going with the bailer. Dad always picked us up on his way home from his office. One day, when he came by, I was still out baling hay. He knew someone would bring me home when the job was done for the day. The next morning, when my dad woke up, I was still not home. He drove out to the farm just as the sun was coming up, and I was still on the wagon stacking bales. The rain was coming and the work needed to get done before the rain came. I loved the work – and the fact that I was treated as a man.
It often comes to my mind that Jesus was a carpenter – he worked with his hands. Solomon said “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might” Ecclesiastes 9:10. The Bible is full of examples of hard, physical work – the ark, the temple and its furnishings, the wall of Jerusalem. When we live In Partnership With God, much of life is just hard work, be it mental, physical or both.
However, soon after I became the Executive Director of Sky Ranch, I faced a very different type of work - physical work. It was necessary to take what was valuable and movable from the old Sky Ranch in Denton, TX, to the new Sky Ranch, three hours away in Van. This included boats, dock sections, beds, and kitchen equipment. The moving was somewhat urgent as the men subdividing the property wanted to get on with their work. At the new property, the existing road was to be replaced by a temporary road while the dam was being built, and this would take months: the 500’ earthen dam was to 25 feet high.
There was a fork lift to get things up on the flat-bed truck, but each item had to be moved to where the fork lift could get to them. Once on the truck, everything had to be put in a position to tie down. The days were long, the work very hard, but this very physical work had to be done.
I think the only time I have fainted from pain in my life was when I was up on the truck and one of the large, wooden dock sections slipped in the loading process. I was able to get my body out of the way…except for one thumb. As soon as it was squished, my thumb began to swell. I jumped off the truck and ran over to an old drinking fountain, put my thumb under the cold water, and shortly thereafter passed out, flat on the ground!
I remember the challenge of getting a large Hobart mixer out of the kitchen to where it could be picked up and taken to the truck. This was an old army mixer about six feet tall. There was no way the few of us working could lift the machine or even move the machine very much. We figured out that we could tie one end of a strong rope to the machine, take the other end across the room and out a window and tie it to a pick up truck which then pulled the mixer across the floor. When we needed to pull the mixer in another direction, we put the rope through a different door or window. We soon had the monster through the door.
When I was growing up, my father, who was a medical doctor, thought it very important that my brother and I know how to work. I think our first job was cleaning the garage. Our dad cleaned the garage with us so we would know how to do it right. He often said: “if you know how to work, it will help you whatever you do. Soon keeping the garage clean was our responsibility. When I was 12 and my brother was 14, my father and Mr. Van Kampen bought a farm so their sons would have a place to work. I learned to hoe the corn out of the soy bean field – required as there was crop rotation, and the corn picker would leave kernels on the ground. I learned to drive a tractor, back up a farm wagon, and disk a field. I was almost as big then as I am now, and when Mr. Knecht realized I could stack hay bales five high on the wagon behind the baler – this is pretty much where I lived all summer long. And the same baler was used across the road on Mr. Camas’ farm and “somehow” I ended up going with the bailer. Dad always picked us up on his way home from his office. One day, when he came by, I was still out baling hay. He knew someone would bring me home when the job was done for the day. The next morning, when my dad woke up, I was still not home. He drove out to the farm just as the sun was coming up, and I was still on the wagon stacking bales. The rain was coming and the work needed to get done before the rain came. I loved the work – and the fact that I was treated as a man.
It often comes to my mind that Jesus was a carpenter – he worked with his hands. Solomon said “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might” Ecclesiastes 9:10. The Bible is full of examples of hard, physical work – the ark, the temple and its furnishings, the wall of Jerusalem. When we live In Partnership With God, much of life is just hard work, be it mental, physical or both.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Changing the Image of Sky Ranch #78
In the years just prior to my become Executive Director of Sky Ranch, summer camper attendance had decreased significantly. The camp had been located in Denton, Texas, just north Dallas. This was a beautiful, hilly area, and large homes were being built on the hills surrounding camp. The feeling of going off to camp was gone! When the Board of Directors began to talk about changing the camp location, building maintenance and equipment purchases essentially stopped, and the camp director quit.
An entirely new image to a larger population was essential. I had no clue how to get the word out. Another...”Lord Help!” Though I did not use the phrase then, if this was Living In Partnership With God, it was a very tough challenge, much more than I had bargained for!
Somehow we made contact with the company that owned many of the large billboards in key locations in and around Dallas. They agreed to put a full size Sky Ranch advertisement on every billboard that was not being rented, if we would have a professionally prepared billboard advertisement available to them. It turned out the advertising company had _many_ bill boards that were not being rented. Like overnight there were Sky Ranch billboards all over the city and surrounding area. No question: Sky Ranch had instant, positive name recognition – at no cost to Sky Ranch!!
Another boost came from Sky Ranch Board members and their friends. Many sponsored lunch gatherings at excellent restaurants. Business and professional people would come for a great lunch – and learn about Sky Ranch. The image of Sky Ranch was changing!
I vividly remember that after one of the first lunches, the CEO of a large grocery store chain invited me to meet him at his office. He warmly welcomed me and, after helping me feel comfortable, proceeded to tell me he was very disappointed in my presentation of the purpose of Sky Ranch: to help people come to know Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. He thought I down-played this fundamental truth so as to not offend non-Christians present. He went on to say that whereas some would question the value of this purpose, everyone would have respected a clear statement of what Sky Ranch was seeking to do. He was kind, but very firm. I sincerely thanked him for what he just said to me – and vowed to myself that I would never make that mistake again.
As we pushed hard to have camp ready on June 1, someone arranged to have Miss America present for the opening day. Another person arranged to have professional soccer player Kyle Rote Jr., recent winner of the Super Star competition, teach soccer during the first week at camp. More excellent publicity.
A quality color brochure was prepared. Registrations were beginning to trickle in.
Though wonderful things were happening, the over-all picture was very bleak. June 1 was getting closer and closer, and at the new location all that was happening was the building of the dam that would create a 70 acre lake. Nothing else! Except for the camper cabins, every building was being redesigned and relocated, and this was proving to be a difficult, slow process.
I continued to spend time morning after morning alone in prayer. Living In Partnership with God? Being Executive Director of Sky Ranch was proving to be a personal test of Hebrews 11:1. “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for, and certain of what we do not see.”
A great name without a camp able to function would bury Sky Ranch. We pressed on…and on.
An entirely new image to a larger population was essential. I had no clue how to get the word out. Another...”Lord Help!” Though I did not use the phrase then, if this was Living In Partnership With God, it was a very tough challenge, much more than I had bargained for!
Somehow we made contact with the company that owned many of the large billboards in key locations in and around Dallas. They agreed to put a full size Sky Ranch advertisement on every billboard that was not being rented, if we would have a professionally prepared billboard advertisement available to them. It turned out the advertising company had _many_ bill boards that were not being rented. Like overnight there were Sky Ranch billboards all over the city and surrounding area. No question: Sky Ranch had instant, positive name recognition – at no cost to Sky Ranch!!
Another boost came from Sky Ranch Board members and their friends. Many sponsored lunch gatherings at excellent restaurants. Business and professional people would come for a great lunch – and learn about Sky Ranch. The image of Sky Ranch was changing!
I vividly remember that after one of the first lunches, the CEO of a large grocery store chain invited me to meet him at his office. He warmly welcomed me and, after helping me feel comfortable, proceeded to tell me he was very disappointed in my presentation of the purpose of Sky Ranch: to help people come to know Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. He thought I down-played this fundamental truth so as to not offend non-Christians present. He went on to say that whereas some would question the value of this purpose, everyone would have respected a clear statement of what Sky Ranch was seeking to do. He was kind, but very firm. I sincerely thanked him for what he just said to me – and vowed to myself that I would never make that mistake again.
As we pushed hard to have camp ready on June 1, someone arranged to have Miss America present for the opening day. Another person arranged to have professional soccer player Kyle Rote Jr., recent winner of the Super Star competition, teach soccer during the first week at camp. More excellent publicity.
A quality color brochure was prepared. Registrations were beginning to trickle in.
Though wonderful things were happening, the over-all picture was very bleak. June 1 was getting closer and closer, and at the new location all that was happening was the building of the dam that would create a 70 acre lake. Nothing else! Except for the camper cabins, every building was being redesigned and relocated, and this was proving to be a difficult, slow process.
I continued to spend time morning after morning alone in prayer. Living In Partnership with God? Being Executive Director of Sky Ranch was proving to be a personal test of Hebrews 11:1. “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for, and certain of what we do not see.”
A great name without a camp able to function would bury Sky Ranch. We pressed on…and on.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Living Under Authority #77
Very soon after arriving in Dallas I met with the Sky Ranch Board of Directors. They assured me the engineering for the lake and utilities had been completed and the conceptual plans for the buildings for this camp/conference center were being finalized. The Board of Directors said they would take the responsibility for the funding and construction of the new facility. My responsibilities included the program, equipment, horses, publicity, camper registrations, staffing, the development of the non-existent conference ministry - and to be available for special fund raising events.
Deadline? Five Months!
The specialty of the architect, who had prepared the camp/conference plans, was country clubs. The main lodge was very beautiful, inside and out. Included was a gathering area with a big fireplace, the dining room and meeting rooms. This was a sealed building which required continual air conditioning or heating. It would be an incredible building for upscale weekend retreats, but I could not imagine campers using this building when coming in dirty and sweaty from soccer or horse back riding.
I have a vivid memory of waking up early many mornings and going into our living room and getting down on my knees to open my heart to the Lord. I realized I was a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ, and also realized I was to live under earthly authority unless what I was told to do would cause me to disobey God?s directives. Two examples of this principle from the New Testament: "Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves" Romans 13:1-2 "Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you." Hebrews 13:17
I had to keep reminding myself that I was not responsible for the decisions which the Sky Ranch Board of Directors made. My responsibility was to do what I was told to do with a good attitude. I pleaded with the Lord to give me wisdom as to how to approach the Board, people I really did not know, and tell them I believed the present plans were unsuitable for their intended purpose, thus implying that the time and thousands of dollars spent on them had been essentially wasted. As I shared with the Board my concerns with the present plans, they began the process of coming up with new plans - continually looking to me for suggestions. The days and weeks were slipping by. To complicate the situation, it became obvious there were few significant contributions. Funds available? Essentially $500,000 of borrowed money. The next question became - Chuck, what buildings are essential if camp is to be in operation on June 1? Soon the Board asked me to assume major responsibility for fund raising. I had no experience with fund raising.
I began to struggle with frustration and bitterness. "Lord, I am woefully inadequate to do what the Sky Ranch Board is asking me to. Lord, help me to be calm. Lord, I am totally dependent upon you to guide me, to guide the Board of Directors." I knew that if this ministry was of the Lord, He would have to act and the pieces would come together. If this was not of the Lord - it was over!
We must all live under the authority of God, of the government, and, for most of us, the authority of a person or organization. Living under authority is part of doing God's work in God's way.
Hudson Taylor, founder of the China Inland Mission, said "God's work done in God's way never lacks for God's supply".
Our responsibility is to understand our part in God's work - and how to do this work in a way pleasing to God. These we must do! The supply end is God's responsibility.
Deadline? Five Months!
The specialty of the architect, who had prepared the camp/conference plans, was country clubs. The main lodge was very beautiful, inside and out. Included was a gathering area with a big fireplace, the dining room and meeting rooms. This was a sealed building which required continual air conditioning or heating. It would be an incredible building for upscale weekend retreats, but I could not imagine campers using this building when coming in dirty and sweaty from soccer or horse back riding.
I have a vivid memory of waking up early many mornings and going into our living room and getting down on my knees to open my heart to the Lord. I realized I was a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ, and also realized I was to live under earthly authority unless what I was told to do would cause me to disobey God?s directives. Two examples of this principle from the New Testament: "Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves" Romans 13:1-2 "Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you." Hebrews 13:17
I had to keep reminding myself that I was not responsible for the decisions which the Sky Ranch Board of Directors made. My responsibility was to do what I was told to do with a good attitude. I pleaded with the Lord to give me wisdom as to how to approach the Board, people I really did not know, and tell them I believed the present plans were unsuitable for their intended purpose, thus implying that the time and thousands of dollars spent on them had been essentially wasted. As I shared with the Board my concerns with the present plans, they began the process of coming up with new plans - continually looking to me for suggestions. The days and weeks were slipping by. To complicate the situation, it became obvious there were few significant contributions. Funds available? Essentially $500,000 of borrowed money. The next question became - Chuck, what buildings are essential if camp is to be in operation on June 1? Soon the Board asked me to assume major responsibility for fund raising. I had no experience with fund raising.
I began to struggle with frustration and bitterness. "Lord, I am woefully inadequate to do what the Sky Ranch Board is asking me to. Lord, help me to be calm. Lord, I am totally dependent upon you to guide me, to guide the Board of Directors." I knew that if this ministry was of the Lord, He would have to act and the pieces would come together. If this was not of the Lord - it was over!
We must all live under the authority of God, of the government, and, for most of us, the authority of a person or organization. Living under authority is part of doing God's work in God's way.
Hudson Taylor, founder of the China Inland Mission, said "God's work done in God's way never lacks for God's supply".
Our responsibility is to understand our part in God's work - and how to do this work in a way pleasing to God. These we must do! The supply end is God's responsibility.
Monday, October 5, 2009
God's Guidance - As I Understand It #76
Repeatedly I have changed jobs / God's assignments. In the following I am trying to state what I believe have been the key factors involved in my receiving God's guidance.
My desire is, above all other desires, is to live as God's child. God requires of me openness to His directions. God promises that if I trust Him, and do not totally depend on my own understanding, He will direct my path - just as He directed Joshua to fight battles, David to become king, craftsmen to build a portable tabernacle for the Israelite people and Jesus to be a carpenter for fifteen years.
God requires my obedience to His guidance. What God desires me to do begins with my doing what the Bible tells me to do. God will never direct me contrary to His written truth. In decision making, I believe that God wants me to use the brain He gave to me. If I come to a conclusion which provides His peace - I must move forward. If I make a wrong decision and want to know what God desires of me, I believe that He will re-direct my path. In scripture we read a variety of ways God communicated with His people: His still, small voice, wise counsel, visions, dreams, hand writing on a wall, the voice of a donkey -- whatever it took, God got His message through.
God directed our decision to accept a new responsibility at Sky Ranch through circumstances, brains, wise counsel, and peace. God confirmed His guidance through the provision of our new home, and ultimately, through having Sky Ranch in full operation on June 1.
When I believe I know God's will for me, I must go forward in faith. Without obedient faith I know it is impossible to please God. And so I move forward, regardless of how impossible the task looks to be. I depend upon God to provide whatever is necessary get His work done - in His way! This attitude must not imply that no work will be required. Noah had to build an ark. Moses had to lead God's people for 40 years in a desert. Nehemiah had to direct the building of the wall of Jerusalem in spite of huge obstacles. The disciples were to preach, to heal people. In each case, the person involved was only God?s agent. If I work to obey God, the completion of the work is God's responsibility. I must not worry, must not get up-tight about the task. Jesus said that His yoke is easy, His burden is light. I had to go forward using all of my resources: my abilities, my training, my experience, my personality - all that is me. Just as faith is required, courage is required! I must keep pressing on - and on - until my portion of the task is finished. I believed that God directed me to get Sky Ranch operational again at a new location. To accomplish this in five months, from a human perspective, was impossible.
I believe this is God's plan for how each of us is to live our lives. God gives each of us unique work to do. We are each a bit different - different personalities, gifts, training, etc. We are the body of Christ, with many different parts: hospitality, caring, teaching, giving, administrating, etc. We are clearly told that no one is more important than the other. We are a body - each to do our work under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. God desires to direct our paths.
Our challenge: openness, obedience, faith, courage - no turning back.
My desire is, above all other desires, is to live as God's child. God requires of me openness to His directions. God promises that if I trust Him, and do not totally depend on my own understanding, He will direct my path - just as He directed Joshua to fight battles, David to become king, craftsmen to build a portable tabernacle for the Israelite people and Jesus to be a carpenter for fifteen years.
God requires my obedience to His guidance. What God desires me to do begins with my doing what the Bible tells me to do. God will never direct me contrary to His written truth. In decision making, I believe that God wants me to use the brain He gave to me. If I come to a conclusion which provides His peace - I must move forward. If I make a wrong decision and want to know what God desires of me, I believe that He will re-direct my path. In scripture we read a variety of ways God communicated with His people: His still, small voice, wise counsel, visions, dreams, hand writing on a wall, the voice of a donkey -- whatever it took, God got His message through.
God directed our decision to accept a new responsibility at Sky Ranch through circumstances, brains, wise counsel, and peace. God confirmed His guidance through the provision of our new home, and ultimately, through having Sky Ranch in full operation on June 1.
When I believe I know God's will for me, I must go forward in faith. Without obedient faith I know it is impossible to please God. And so I move forward, regardless of how impossible the task looks to be. I depend upon God to provide whatever is necessary get His work done - in His way! This attitude must not imply that no work will be required. Noah had to build an ark. Moses had to lead God's people for 40 years in a desert. Nehemiah had to direct the building of the wall of Jerusalem in spite of huge obstacles. The disciples were to preach, to heal people. In each case, the person involved was only God?s agent. If I work to obey God, the completion of the work is God's responsibility. I must not worry, must not get up-tight about the task. Jesus said that His yoke is easy, His burden is light. I had to go forward using all of my resources: my abilities, my training, my experience, my personality - all that is me. Just as faith is required, courage is required! I must keep pressing on - and on - until my portion of the task is finished. I believed that God directed me to get Sky Ranch operational again at a new location. To accomplish this in five months, from a human perspective, was impossible.
I believe this is God's plan for how each of us is to live our lives. God gives each of us unique work to do. We are each a bit different - different personalities, gifts, training, etc. We are the body of Christ, with many different parts: hospitality, caring, teaching, giving, administrating, etc. We are clearly told that no one is more important than the other. We are a body - each to do our work under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. God desires to direct our paths.
Our challenge: openness, obedience, faith, courage - no turning back.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Courage Required #75
On Christmas afternoon we took down our Christmas tree. With the help of my sister Pat, brother David and their spouses we began to pack. On December 26 the professional packers arrived. That afternoon my parents took 17 of our family see the Nutcracker Ballet in Chicago. On December 27 the moving van came. We spent the night with Sally Jo’s brother and family. The next morning, after saying good bye to Sally Jo’s parents, we headed for Dallas. Thankfully my brother David was going with us.
At 9:00 pm on December 29 we arrived at our cold house, crawled into our sleeping bags, and were soon asleep. The next morning we were up early, working to clean up the house before the movers came…at 9:00 am. Unexpectedly four young men associated with Sky Ranch came to help us get settled. As boxes and furniture came in through the front door, we told the movers where to put them, while we unpacked as fast as we could. The next noon Clayton and Peggy Bell arrived with lunch. Clayton was the Senior Minister of Highland Park Presbyterian Church – I had served as Clayton’s assistant in Dothan, Alabama eleven years previously. We worked late into the night trying to bring order out of chaos.
On January 1 we took my brother David to his plane. Suddenly, we were alone. As a family we had gone from Christmas celebrations, our extended families and our wonderful church family, nice home, good school, and familiar surroundings – to being just Sally Jo and me with our children, Carla, Jenna and Dirk, ages 9, 6, and 3. Reality: a new house in a new neighborhood in a place where we did not even know where the grocery store was, much less a doctor. It was tough!
The next morning I found my new office and spent the day trying to understand Sky Ranch’s situation, complicated by the fact that it had been without a director for several months. I was no longer a pastor, but the “Executive Director” of a non-profit organization which had one employee, a rented office and a couple hundred acres. On June 1, in five months, we needed to have built a lake, put in the roads and utilities, built and furnished essential buildings – including a barn, stalls and pens for 40 horses, built fences and a rodeo corral, bought 30 or 40 low cost horses in good health and safe for campers to ride, bought the necessary saddles, bridles and other program equipment for the operation of a camp, hired 4 year around staff and 40 summer staff – and helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars – while getting the word out: Sky Ranch was starting over again in East Texas. Oh Lord, what have you gotten me into? Our family into? Yet, we believed this assignment was from God: it would get done...on time.
Sally Jo was busy meeting the needs of our children, for if the kids did not have a reasonably good day, it would have made future days much more difficult. They, like we, did not know anyone, nor did they know where many of their things were – including the games and creative craft materials they enjoyed. The kids had no patterns and there were no places where the house was in order. Sally Jo worked at cleaning, laundry and putting what had been unpacked by five people into the right places. When the games were finally found, our children asked their mom to play with them…and she did.
Jenna’s seventh birthday was January 4th... We needed to be ready with wrapped presents (we brought some with us), a cake with candles – and whatever else could make a party – when there were no friends to invite. After cake and gifts we drove two hours to the new ranch location – then back to Dallas to the Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlor where the staff sang “Happy Birthday” to our Jenna.
Our move was not very different than the move of any family to a totally new situation, apart from the fact that I was essentially changing vocations and starting up a new company – in a multi-building facility, which I was soon to learn, had to be redesigned before being built. At such times we must depend on our God given brains, the God given wisdom we pray for, and the fact that we need Him to go before, often in ways of which we are unaware. No wonder God said to Joshua when he took on the responsibility of leading a great nation: “Be strong and of a good courage. Be not afraid, neither be though dismayed, for the Lord they God is with you, where ever you go”. As God was with Joshua, so God is with us. Courage is required!
When we become aware of new people in our neighborhood, our school, our church – we need to put ourselves in their shoes. What can we do that will make their transition easier? Cookies, flowers from our yard, information about the area, an invite for a meal – perhaps all of the above! It takes courage for any of us to reach out with open hearts and hands to our new neighbor – the family next door, down the street, at church or at school. When we, who live In Partnership With God, reach out with Christ like love and compassion, our love will not be forgotten.
(This Sunday morning I welcomed a person I did not know to church. It turned out this was his first time in the church. He had been born in Dothan, AL – where I served as Assistant Pastor of 1st Presbyterian Church. We had much to talk about – boiled peanuts anyone?)
At 9:00 pm on December 29 we arrived at our cold house, crawled into our sleeping bags, and were soon asleep. The next morning we were up early, working to clean up the house before the movers came…at 9:00 am. Unexpectedly four young men associated with Sky Ranch came to help us get settled. As boxes and furniture came in through the front door, we told the movers where to put them, while we unpacked as fast as we could. The next noon Clayton and Peggy Bell arrived with lunch. Clayton was the Senior Minister of Highland Park Presbyterian Church – I had served as Clayton’s assistant in Dothan, Alabama eleven years previously. We worked late into the night trying to bring order out of chaos.
On January 1 we took my brother David to his plane. Suddenly, we were alone. As a family we had gone from Christmas celebrations, our extended families and our wonderful church family, nice home, good school, and familiar surroundings – to being just Sally Jo and me with our children, Carla, Jenna and Dirk, ages 9, 6, and 3. Reality: a new house in a new neighborhood in a place where we did not even know where the grocery store was, much less a doctor. It was tough!
The next morning I found my new office and spent the day trying to understand Sky Ranch’s situation, complicated by the fact that it had been without a director for several months. I was no longer a pastor, but the “Executive Director” of a non-profit organization which had one employee, a rented office and a couple hundred acres. On June 1, in five months, we needed to have built a lake, put in the roads and utilities, built and furnished essential buildings – including a barn, stalls and pens for 40 horses, built fences and a rodeo corral, bought 30 or 40 low cost horses in good health and safe for campers to ride, bought the necessary saddles, bridles and other program equipment for the operation of a camp, hired 4 year around staff and 40 summer staff – and helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars – while getting the word out: Sky Ranch was starting over again in East Texas. Oh Lord, what have you gotten me into? Our family into? Yet, we believed this assignment was from God: it would get done...on time.
Sally Jo was busy meeting the needs of our children, for if the kids did not have a reasonably good day, it would have made future days much more difficult. They, like we, did not know anyone, nor did they know where many of their things were – including the games and creative craft materials they enjoyed. The kids had no patterns and there were no places where the house was in order. Sally Jo worked at cleaning, laundry and putting what had been unpacked by five people into the right places. When the games were finally found, our children asked their mom to play with them…and she did.
Jenna’s seventh birthday was January 4th... We needed to be ready with wrapped presents (we brought some with us), a cake with candles – and whatever else could make a party – when there were no friends to invite. After cake and gifts we drove two hours to the new ranch location – then back to Dallas to the Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlor where the staff sang “Happy Birthday” to our Jenna.
Our move was not very different than the move of any family to a totally new situation, apart from the fact that I was essentially changing vocations and starting up a new company – in a multi-building facility, which I was soon to learn, had to be redesigned before being built. At such times we must depend on our God given brains, the God given wisdom we pray for, and the fact that we need Him to go before, often in ways of which we are unaware. No wonder God said to Joshua when he took on the responsibility of leading a great nation: “Be strong and of a good courage. Be not afraid, neither be though dismayed, for the Lord they God is with you, where ever you go”. As God was with Joshua, so God is with us. Courage is required!
When we become aware of new people in our neighborhood, our school, our church – we need to put ourselves in their shoes. What can we do that will make their transition easier? Cookies, flowers from our yard, information about the area, an invite for a meal – perhaps all of the above! It takes courage for any of us to reach out with open hearts and hands to our new neighbor – the family next door, down the street, at church or at school. When we, who live In Partnership With God, reach out with Christ like love and compassion, our love will not be forgotten.
(This Sunday morning I welcomed a person I did not know to church. It turned out this was his first time in the church. He had been born in Dothan, AL – where I served as Assistant Pastor of 1st Presbyterian Church. We had much to talk about – boiled peanuts anyone?)
Monday, September 21, 2009
To Dallas to Buy a House #74
We have the dates and other information through Sally Jo’s annual diaries.
October 3: Sally Jo and I made our first trip to Dallas, returning the next day. During this time we had dinner with the only two people in Dallas we knew, met with members of the Sky Ranch Board, visited the new Sky Ranch site, and very briefly drove by houses, particularly in the Richardson school district which was recommended by three Board members who lived in the area.
When we told Sally Jo’s parents that we would be moving to Texas, Sally Jo’s dad, a Realtor himself, recommended another real estate agent to handle the sale of our house – and suggested that we listen to the price recommendation of the real estate agent – the agent worked on commission and therefore wanted both the sale of the house – and as large a commission as possible.
October 15: our house was inspected and three days after we put the house on the market, we had a buyer.
October 16: I returned to Dallas with the specific of purpose of buying a house. It was a bit of a shock to have Mike and Glen now almost laugh at me when I said we would like to buy a house in the Richardson school district. These men lived in the area and knew how expensive it was. Never-the-less, they recommended a residential real estate agent from the area.
As she took me around the school district, I was convinced that this was where we should live – good schools, convenient to stores, minutes for where the Sky Ranch office would be, and an easy 30 minute drive to down town Dallas. The Realtor and I spent the day looking at houses. Mike and Glen were right. Even the most modest house was expensive. The next day I flew back to Illinois – no progress. The real estate agent agreed to send us the new listings. This was 1975, before fax machines, e-mail, and the ability to check real estate listings on line.
When we received the listings we would look carefully for a house we could afford. Nothing! Time was running out!
November 19: we saw a listing for a four bedroom home with 1 ½ bath rooms and the price had been reduced – again. It would be affordable!! We could easily live with 1 ½ bathrooms!! I called the agent and identified for her the house we had found in the listings. I asked if the reason it had not sold was because it only had 1 ½ bath rooms. She said the information was incorrect: she had been in the home - it had 2 ½ bathrooms and the house was in very good condition.
The next morning I was on a plane to Dallas. The house found in the listing was located a block from the grade school and 3 blocks from the junior high school. As the Realtor had told me over the telephone, the house had 2 ½ baths and was in excellent condition – with two pecan trees in the fence enclosed back yard. My offer was accepted immediately, and we had our house. Had God caused the error in the real estate listing so we could get a good home at an affordable price? How could we know? I do know that when we sold the house seven years later, we cleared $72,000
December 7: Sally Jo and I fly to Dallas for a dinner reception with Sky Ranch people, a second look at the new camp property, a meeting with the Sky Ranch Board of Directors - and so Sally Jo could see our new house and we could sign the necessary documents.
December 28: the moving van came, and with it the reality that our family was moving from the security of the Wheaton area, where Sally Jo and I had both grown up and we had extended family, to Texas, a place we had seldom seen and where we knew only two people. I was leaving my walnut desk in Oak Brook to become the Executive Director of Sky Ranch - a ministry represented only by a large piece of undeveloped land near Van, Texas.
Leaving right after Christmas made the move extra tough. This was a huge step of obedient faith, but God continued to confirm that He had guided our decision, that He was going before. We were living In Partnership With God.
October 3: Sally Jo and I made our first trip to Dallas, returning the next day. During this time we had dinner with the only two people in Dallas we knew, met with members of the Sky Ranch Board, visited the new Sky Ranch site, and very briefly drove by houses, particularly in the Richardson school district which was recommended by three Board members who lived in the area.
When we told Sally Jo’s parents that we would be moving to Texas, Sally Jo’s dad, a Realtor himself, recommended another real estate agent to handle the sale of our house – and suggested that we listen to the price recommendation of the real estate agent – the agent worked on commission and therefore wanted both the sale of the house – and as large a commission as possible.
October 15: our house was inspected and three days after we put the house on the market, we had a buyer.
October 16: I returned to Dallas with the specific of purpose of buying a house. It was a bit of a shock to have Mike and Glen now almost laugh at me when I said we would like to buy a house in the Richardson school district. These men lived in the area and knew how expensive it was. Never-the-less, they recommended a residential real estate agent from the area.
As she took me around the school district, I was convinced that this was where we should live – good schools, convenient to stores, minutes for where the Sky Ranch office would be, and an easy 30 minute drive to down town Dallas. The Realtor and I spent the day looking at houses. Mike and Glen were right. Even the most modest house was expensive. The next day I flew back to Illinois – no progress. The real estate agent agreed to send us the new listings. This was 1975, before fax machines, e-mail, and the ability to check real estate listings on line.
When we received the listings we would look carefully for a house we could afford. Nothing! Time was running out!
November 19: we saw a listing for a four bedroom home with 1 ½ bath rooms and the price had been reduced – again. It would be affordable!! We could easily live with 1 ½ bathrooms!! I called the agent and identified for her the house we had found in the listings. I asked if the reason it had not sold was because it only had 1 ½ bath rooms. She said the information was incorrect: she had been in the home - it had 2 ½ bathrooms and the house was in very good condition.
The next morning I was on a plane to Dallas. The house found in the listing was located a block from the grade school and 3 blocks from the junior high school. As the Realtor had told me over the telephone, the house had 2 ½ baths and was in excellent condition – with two pecan trees in the fence enclosed back yard. My offer was accepted immediately, and we had our house. Had God caused the error in the real estate listing so we could get a good home at an affordable price? How could we know? I do know that when we sold the house seven years later, we cleared $72,000
December 7: Sally Jo and I fly to Dallas for a dinner reception with Sky Ranch people, a second look at the new camp property, a meeting with the Sky Ranch Board of Directors - and so Sally Jo could see our new house and we could sign the necessary documents.
December 28: the moving van came, and with it the reality that our family was moving from the security of the Wheaton area, where Sally Jo and I had both grown up and we had extended family, to Texas, a place we had seldom seen and where we knew only two people. I was leaving my walnut desk in Oak Brook to become the Executive Director of Sky Ranch - a ministry represented only by a large piece of undeveloped land near Van, Texas.
Leaving right after Christmas made the move extra tough. This was a huge step of obedient faith, but God continued to confirm that He had guided our decision, that He was going before. We were living In Partnership With God.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Role Models: My Parents, Grand Parents, Aunt #73
It was not until this week that I realized Sally Jo and I are living demonstrations of what Jesus Christ asked people to do 12 times in the New Testament: “Follow Me” (i.e. Mt 4:10). Jesus said: “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” (John 10:27). I never really thought about the fact that we are sheep of Jesus Christ – we know His voice and we follow Him.
Twice we left family, six times we left friends, a nice home, and financial security – and started completely over again in a different area of ministry, and in each case we went into a very challenging situation!! Georgia for seminary, Assistant Pastor in a city Presbyterian church in Alabama, Pastor of a country Methodist Church in Connecticut, Presbyterian Minister to students at Middle Tennessee State University in Tennessee, Associate Pastor of an independent church in IL, a camp director in Texas and New York. Frankly, we never gave much thought to what we were leaving – we focused on obeying the still small voice within us. We never did physically hear the voice of God, or see handwriting on the wall as did Belshazzar at his feast (Daniel 5:5), or have a fleece turn damp, and then dry, as did Gideon (Judges 6:37).
What triggered my thinking this through? A writing of C. S. Lewis quoted in _Devotional Classics_ edited by Richard Foster and James Bryan Smith. “Christ says give me All. I don’t want so much of your time and so much of your money or so much of your work: I want you… No half measures are any good.” And I asked myself “is this me?"
And this is our mind-set: we want God to have all of us. We want the peace that passes all understanding, the promise that God will supply all of our needs. For Christmas, 1959, three years before we got married, Sally Jo gave me a Bible (which I still use almost every week when I write these IPWG). In the front she wrote: “To Chuck – Love in Him – Sally Jo Eph 3:14-20 “For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us”.
This is our mind-set just as this had been our parent’s mind-set, their hearts desire. Here is my heritage: When my dad graduated from medical school, he and mom left all as they went to a 400 bed mission hospital in inland China. At the end of their first furlough, in spite of a cholera epidemic, not knowing that soon the Japanese would come and occupy the land, they returned to China, where I was born. Due to the war, our family was fortunate to get out alive. And what did my parents want to do? Return to the foreign mission field! Mom’s father left his successful lumber business in Kansas to attend Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. He became their dean and then the VP of finance at Wheaton College. My great Aunt left Germany as a missionary to the West Indies. We have the large wooden trunk into which she packed everything she would be able to take with her.
Both of our parents modeled obedience to the Lord – and encouraged us to do the same. When I was in seminary, still single, I remember walking into my dorm room and finding my dad asleep on my bed. He woke up and soon said to me: “Chuck, I want you to know how proud your mother and I are of you. Never forget that only what you do for Jesus Christ will last”. He and mom often said “the safest place to be is in the center of God’s will”.
As Sally Jo and I have lived our lives, we have experienced the Lord going before us. God has met our specific needs over and over again. God has done for us and through us things that have been beyond what we could possibly imagine – everywhere we have served.
There is great joy of living In Partnership With God.
Twice we left family, six times we left friends, a nice home, and financial security – and started completely over again in a different area of ministry, and in each case we went into a very challenging situation!! Georgia for seminary, Assistant Pastor in a city Presbyterian church in Alabama, Pastor of a country Methodist Church in Connecticut, Presbyterian Minister to students at Middle Tennessee State University in Tennessee, Associate Pastor of an independent church in IL, a camp director in Texas and New York. Frankly, we never gave much thought to what we were leaving – we focused on obeying the still small voice within us. We never did physically hear the voice of God, or see handwriting on the wall as did Belshazzar at his feast (Daniel 5:5), or have a fleece turn damp, and then dry, as did Gideon (Judges 6:37).
What triggered my thinking this through? A writing of C. S. Lewis quoted in _Devotional Classics_ edited by Richard Foster and James Bryan Smith. “Christ says give me All. I don’t want so much of your time and so much of your money or so much of your work: I want you… No half measures are any good.” And I asked myself “is this me?"
And this is our mind-set: we want God to have all of us. We want the peace that passes all understanding, the promise that God will supply all of our needs. For Christmas, 1959, three years before we got married, Sally Jo gave me a Bible (which I still use almost every week when I write these IPWG). In the front she wrote: “To Chuck – Love in Him – Sally Jo Eph 3:14-20 “For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us”.
This is our mind-set just as this had been our parent’s mind-set, their hearts desire. Here is my heritage: When my dad graduated from medical school, he and mom left all as they went to a 400 bed mission hospital in inland China. At the end of their first furlough, in spite of a cholera epidemic, not knowing that soon the Japanese would come and occupy the land, they returned to China, where I was born. Due to the war, our family was fortunate to get out alive. And what did my parents want to do? Return to the foreign mission field! Mom’s father left his successful lumber business in Kansas to attend Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. He became their dean and then the VP of finance at Wheaton College. My great Aunt left Germany as a missionary to the West Indies. We have the large wooden trunk into which she packed everything she would be able to take with her.
Both of our parents modeled obedience to the Lord – and encouraged us to do the same. When I was in seminary, still single, I remember walking into my dorm room and finding my dad asleep on my bed. He woke up and soon said to me: “Chuck, I want you to know how proud your mother and I are of you. Never forget that only what you do for Jesus Christ will last”. He and mom often said “the safest place to be is in the center of God’s will”.
As Sally Jo and I have lived our lives, we have experienced the Lord going before us. God has met our specific needs over and over again. God has done for us and through us things that have been beyond what we could possibly imagine – everywhere we have served.
There is great joy of living In Partnership With God.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Living Apart from Family #72
Family is very important to God. We see this clearly in many passages of scripture including these two:
As we have lived In Partnership With God, we have believed we should make each move: IL to GA to AL to CT to TN to IL to TX to NY. Our three years in Illinois is the only time in the past 47 years we have lived near any family! For 3 years we had the privilege of having both of our parents, and the families of our three brothers and a sister, within 30 minutes. When we moved to Texas, gone were the gatherings of extended family for birthdays, Christmas, and New Years. Gone were the opportunities for lunch with our parents/grand parents, to have our children play in my parent’s swimming pool, to spend wonderful days at Sally Jo’s family cabin on a small lake in Wisconsin.
Once again we were…alone – a couple day’s drive from any family member. And we were there because we had no real choice. Yes, from a human perspective, we could have enjoyed staying near family and been financially comfortable with me as the CEO of a successful corporation. But we knew that if we did, we would be disobeying God. God said “go”, and so we went – just as all foreign missionaries do. It is tough! We knew God wanted us to go to Texas to build a camp/conference center – and to build a new life. But this type of obedience is painful!
In 201, the total Gieser clan will be together for several days for the third time in 10 years – now there are 53 of us. It helps that, even though we may be very different people, we all like each other. We will enjoy catching up on each other’s lives. We will play together, share many meals, have some very serious conversations, and, undoubtedly, shed tears together. Life is not easy for any of us all of the time. In the end, if history repeats itself, we will all leave with a new understanding, an increased respect, a greater love for each other.
If you live near family, I encourage you to make time to share life with each other. If you do not live near all of the members of the family, do your best to visit those some distance away. It is wonderful to know that family is willing to make the effort to come for a visit, to see the context of our daily lives. As my sister-in-law said last summer: “Now I understand”.
And if you know people who do not have family in the area, be they students, particularly foreign students, or people in ministry, or new in the neighborhood or church – or for any number of other reasons – consider welcoming these people into the context of your family. Thankfully everywhere we have moved people within God’s family have done this to us.
Even with rapid communication, being alone is tough! Sharing God’s love with fellow believers who are alone is of great encouragement. Sharing God’s love with those outside of the family of God can be a life-changing experience for them, and for us.
“And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.” -- I John 4:16
- “The Lord then said to Noah, Go into the ark, you and your whole family, because I have found you righteous in this generation.” Genesis 7:1
- “Consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty throughout the
land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you; each
one of you is to return to his family property and each to his own
clan.” Leviticus 25:10
As we have lived In Partnership With God, we have believed we should make each move: IL to GA to AL to CT to TN to IL to TX to NY. Our three years in Illinois is the only time in the past 47 years we have lived near any family! For 3 years we had the privilege of having both of our parents, and the families of our three brothers and a sister, within 30 minutes. When we moved to Texas, gone were the gatherings of extended family for birthdays, Christmas, and New Years. Gone were the opportunities for lunch with our parents/grand parents, to have our children play in my parent’s swimming pool, to spend wonderful days at Sally Jo’s family cabin on a small lake in Wisconsin.
Once again we were…alone – a couple day’s drive from any family member. And we were there because we had no real choice. Yes, from a human perspective, we could have enjoyed staying near family and been financially comfortable with me as the CEO of a successful corporation. But we knew that if we did, we would be disobeying God. God said “go”, and so we went – just as all foreign missionaries do. It is tough! We knew God wanted us to go to Texas to build a camp/conference center – and to build a new life. But this type of obedience is painful!
In 201, the total Gieser clan will be together for several days for the third time in 10 years – now there are 53 of us. It helps that, even though we may be very different people, we all like each other. We will enjoy catching up on each other’s lives. We will play together, share many meals, have some very serious conversations, and, undoubtedly, shed tears together. Life is not easy for any of us all of the time. In the end, if history repeats itself, we will all leave with a new understanding, an increased respect, a greater love for each other.
- Remember how Abraham risked the life of his family to save the life of his brother Lot and his family.
- Remember how Paul wrote to Timothy, reminding him of the faith of his grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice – and that now lived in him.
- Remember how God told Jewish family clans to gather together every 50 years.
If you live near family, I encourage you to make time to share life with each other. If you do not live near all of the members of the family, do your best to visit those some distance away. It is wonderful to know that family is willing to make the effort to come for a visit, to see the context of our daily lives. As my sister-in-law said last summer: “Now I understand”.
And if you know people who do not have family in the area, be they students, particularly foreign students, or people in ministry, or new in the neighborhood or church – or for any number of other reasons – consider welcoming these people into the context of your family. Thankfully everywhere we have moved people within God’s family have done this to us.
Even with rapid communication, being alone is tough! Sharing God’s love with fellow believers who are alone is of great encouragement. Sharing God’s love with those outside of the family of God can be a life-changing experience for them, and for us.
“And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.” -- I John 4:16
Monday, August 24, 2009
Opportunity or Temptation? #71
Soon after it was announced I was resigning as Associate Pastor of Christ Church of Oak Brook to become the Executive Director of Sky Ranch, located in east Texas, people learned that Sky Ranch, a summer camp with an 18 year history, presently had land, but no facility, no staff, and very little equipment – not even any horses. I had the responsibility of designing and putting into operation a radically different camp/conference ministry – in five months.
It was in this context that Bernie Cozette asked if I would consider becoming the CEO of his corporation. Bernie and I knew each other well. He was an elder in the church and had been observing my work. I knew that his business was solid and growing. He assured me that if I choose to become the CEO, I could expect to become a millionaire.
Because I was absolutely certain Sally Jo and I knew God had asked me to assume the leadership responsibility of the Sky Ranch ministry, I was able to tell him what we both knew: It was time to move to Texas.
About 20 years later I returned to Christ Church on a Sunday morning. I was warmly welcomed by many friends from years past. I was in the foyer when up walked an elderly man. “Do you remember me? Yes, you are Bernie Cozette. Chuck, do you remember the offer I made to you after you resigned from your position here at the church? Bernie, yes, I remember the offer – but have often wondered if it was a figment of my imagination. Chuck, my request that you become CEO of my corporation was very real. If you would have accepted, today you would be a multi-millionaire. Are you sorry that you didn’t?”
I smiled as I responded: “Bernie, God has worked me hard and used every gift and ability which I have. We have never been hungry and we have always had a roof over our heads. Ours has been a rich life, and no, I am not sorry that I turned down your offer.” As we looked at each other, I could see the tears flowing down Bernie’s cheeks. “Chuck, I am thankful you feel that way. I just had to ask.”
I have often thought back to the offer. I am not sorry for the decision we made, but I have often wondered, had I become the CEO of the corporation, would the Lord have helped me be successful as a corporate CEO, even as He has enabled me to effective in ministry. I doubt it. I do know that Sally Jo and I would not have had the same opportunity to work together that we have enjoyed in Christian camping.
This opportunity to turn from what we know God would have us do for what would likely have been a more comfortable and secure future was very similar to when I had resigned as Pastor of the little Bakerville United Methodist Church. At that time John Kinsey asked “Chuck, how much money would it take to get you to stay.” When I told him that, regardless of the money involved, we would be moving to Murfreesboro, TN, John responded with “I thought that is what you would say, but I had to ask.”
When we serve in vocational Christian ministry we have the opportunity of seeing and of experiencing the hand of the Lord upon us, upon what we do. Those not in vocational Christian ministry also have the opportunity of seeing and of experiencing the hand of the Lord upon them, upon what they do.
God has chosen those in vocational Christian ministry for the work we do, enriching the spiritual lives of His children. God has chosen others to support those in vocational Christian ministry financially, and in other ways. Those in vocational Christian ministry pay a price for what we do – and the believers who work in other vocations “pay a price” for supporting those in vocational Christian ministry. Together we are an incredible team – to serve for the Glory of God. Let us all see this as our privilege. When either does not carry out his responsibility, a ministry or person can be crippled, even destroyed.
Come back to Ephesians 2:10 – “For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Each of us has the opportunity and responsibility to live In Partnership With God.
It was in this context that Bernie Cozette asked if I would consider becoming the CEO of his corporation. Bernie and I knew each other well. He was an elder in the church and had been observing my work. I knew that his business was solid and growing. He assured me that if I choose to become the CEO, I could expect to become a millionaire.
Because I was absolutely certain Sally Jo and I knew God had asked me to assume the leadership responsibility of the Sky Ranch ministry, I was able to tell him what we both knew: It was time to move to Texas.
About 20 years later I returned to Christ Church on a Sunday morning. I was warmly welcomed by many friends from years past. I was in the foyer when up walked an elderly man. “Do you remember me? Yes, you are Bernie Cozette. Chuck, do you remember the offer I made to you after you resigned from your position here at the church? Bernie, yes, I remember the offer – but have often wondered if it was a figment of my imagination. Chuck, my request that you become CEO of my corporation was very real. If you would have accepted, today you would be a multi-millionaire. Are you sorry that you didn’t?”
I smiled as I responded: “Bernie, God has worked me hard and used every gift and ability which I have. We have never been hungry and we have always had a roof over our heads. Ours has been a rich life, and no, I am not sorry that I turned down your offer.” As we looked at each other, I could see the tears flowing down Bernie’s cheeks. “Chuck, I am thankful you feel that way. I just had to ask.”
I have often thought back to the offer. I am not sorry for the decision we made, but I have often wondered, had I become the CEO of the corporation, would the Lord have helped me be successful as a corporate CEO, even as He has enabled me to effective in ministry. I doubt it. I do know that Sally Jo and I would not have had the same opportunity to work together that we have enjoyed in Christian camping.
This opportunity to turn from what we know God would have us do for what would likely have been a more comfortable and secure future was very similar to when I had resigned as Pastor of the little Bakerville United Methodist Church. At that time John Kinsey asked “Chuck, how much money would it take to get you to stay.” When I told him that, regardless of the money involved, we would be moving to Murfreesboro, TN, John responded with “I thought that is what you would say, but I had to ask.”
When we serve in vocational Christian ministry we have the opportunity of seeing and of experiencing the hand of the Lord upon us, upon what we do. Those not in vocational Christian ministry also have the opportunity of seeing and of experiencing the hand of the Lord upon them, upon what they do.
God has chosen those in vocational Christian ministry for the work we do, enriching the spiritual lives of His children. God has chosen others to support those in vocational Christian ministry financially, and in other ways. Those in vocational Christian ministry pay a price for what we do – and the believers who work in other vocations “pay a price” for supporting those in vocational Christian ministry. Together we are an incredible team – to serve for the Glory of God. Let us all see this as our privilege. When either does not carry out his responsibility, a ministry or person can be crippled, even destroyed.
Come back to Ephesians 2:10 – “For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Each of us has the opportunity and responsibility to live In Partnership With God.
Monday, August 17, 2009
God's Orchestration #70
During my second year at Christ Church, Clayton Bell, pastor of 4,000 member Highland Park Presbyterian Church In Dallas, and the minister for whom I was assistant during my first two years out of seminary, called and asked if I would come develop a camp/conference center for the church. This would have been a great opportunity, a fun challenge, but I had to tell Clayton that I could not come at this time as my responsibility at Christ Church was like Jell-O: all the ingredients were in the bowl, but the Jell-O had not had time to set up.
During my third year at Christ Church the men involved with the church’s family camp came and asked me to look for an previously developed facility, suitable for camps, conferences, and retreats. The senior minister gave his approval. Some time later I located what seemed to be an excellent possibility 3-4 hours away near Muskegon, Michigan. When I talked with the men involved, they suggested that I visit the facility and at least one of them would go along. I called the realtor and told him of our serious interest. He became very quiet. Then he said “I wish I had known – it sold yesterday, and the owner had hoped it would be purchased by Christians.”
Two hours later I received a call from Glen Hinckley, a member of Highland Park Presbyterian Church. He was on the Board of Sky Ranch, and they were in need of a new director. Clayton Bell had suggested me, but told them he did not think I would come as he had contacted me the previous year. Glen went on to tell me that Sky Ranch, a summer-only camp for children/young people, had been in operation for 18 years, and was located just North of Dallas. People were moving in around the camp so it had been sold. A large piece of property had been given to Sky Ranch and plans were underway to develop a year around facility, including a 70-acre lake. Young Life had already agreed to use the facility on several non-summer weekends. With no notice, the past director had turned in his resignation. This was November and the new camp needed to be up and running on June 1. I asked how serious he was, and he assured me “very serious!”
I told him that Sally Jo and I had blocked off the next few days to go to her brother’s farm, thus we could be gone and we would not be missed. The next day we were on a plane headed for Dallas. We were soon learning the ministry plans and reviewing the land development and architectural plans for the lodge and a typical camper/retreat/family cabin. Sally Jo and I could both see problems with the building designs which had been developed by an architect who specialized in plans for country clubs. We said nothing.
The next morning we headed out to the new property, located about 2 hours east of Dallas in Van, Texas. The location was excellent, but it became increasingly evident that the camp board did not have a clear picture of the program or what the total facility should be.
I declined the invitation, and explained we were not comfortable with their vision for the camp/conference/family ministry and facility. The next morning, as we headed for the Dallas airport, I was asked if I would develop a program plan with ideas for a suitable facility. If they agreed with my suggestions, would we seriously consider coming? I said “yes”.
We returned to Chicago and that night we went out to dinner as guests of an older couple from Christ Church. They took us to a restaurant with good food, a German band, and a belly dancer! Crazy. Fun! During the evening we shared with them the events of the week. “What did they think?” They knew us and of our love of camping. We respected their experience and wisdom. After some discussion their recommendation was “go”.
Sally Jo and I had some very serious conversations. We agreed that I should develop an extensive proposal. I was very forthright. We wanted no misunderstanding. When members of the Sky Ranch Board called, we talked a long time!
Bottom Line: we agreed to go, believing that God had directed our path. Proverbs 3:6. “We are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Eph.2:10 We experienced God’s peace.
During my third year at Christ Church the men involved with the church’s family camp came and asked me to look for an previously developed facility, suitable for camps, conferences, and retreats. The senior minister gave his approval. Some time later I located what seemed to be an excellent possibility 3-4 hours away near Muskegon, Michigan. When I talked with the men involved, they suggested that I visit the facility and at least one of them would go along. I called the realtor and told him of our serious interest. He became very quiet. Then he said “I wish I had known – it sold yesterday, and the owner had hoped it would be purchased by Christians.”
Two hours later I received a call from Glen Hinckley, a member of Highland Park Presbyterian Church. He was on the Board of Sky Ranch, and they were in need of a new director. Clayton Bell had suggested me, but told them he did not think I would come as he had contacted me the previous year. Glen went on to tell me that Sky Ranch, a summer-only camp for children/young people, had been in operation for 18 years, and was located just North of Dallas. People were moving in around the camp so it had been sold. A large piece of property had been given to Sky Ranch and plans were underway to develop a year around facility, including a 70-acre lake. Young Life had already agreed to use the facility on several non-summer weekends. With no notice, the past director had turned in his resignation. This was November and the new camp needed to be up and running on June 1. I asked how serious he was, and he assured me “very serious!”
I told him that Sally Jo and I had blocked off the next few days to go to her brother’s farm, thus we could be gone and we would not be missed. The next day we were on a plane headed for Dallas. We were soon learning the ministry plans and reviewing the land development and architectural plans for the lodge and a typical camper/retreat/family cabin. Sally Jo and I could both see problems with the building designs which had been developed by an architect who specialized in plans for country clubs. We said nothing.
The next morning we headed out to the new property, located about 2 hours east of Dallas in Van, Texas. The location was excellent, but it became increasingly evident that the camp board did not have a clear picture of the program or what the total facility should be.
I declined the invitation, and explained we were not comfortable with their vision for the camp/conference/family ministry and facility. The next morning, as we headed for the Dallas airport, I was asked if I would develop a program plan with ideas for a suitable facility. If they agreed with my suggestions, would we seriously consider coming? I said “yes”.
We returned to Chicago and that night we went out to dinner as guests of an older couple from Christ Church. They took us to a restaurant with good food, a German band, and a belly dancer! Crazy. Fun! During the evening we shared with them the events of the week. “What did they think?” They knew us and of our love of camping. We respected their experience and wisdom. After some discussion their recommendation was “go”.
Sally Jo and I had some very serious conversations. We agreed that I should develop an extensive proposal. I was very forthright. We wanted no misunderstanding. When members of the Sky Ranch Board called, we talked a long time!
Bottom Line: we agreed to go, believing that God had directed our path. Proverbs 3:6. “We are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Eph.2:10 We experienced God’s peace.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Why Me? #69
Why was I raised in the United States by well-educated Christian parents, never having known un-treatable disease, hunger, war or persecution - when others are born into Christian families and seem to continually know disease, hunger, war and persecution? Why do I have so much – when the vast majority of His children have so little? This question challenges my theology. Life is not fair!
My response to the inequities of life has been to take what the Lord has given me, to take who I am and accept the challenge of Dwight L. Moody’s words: “The world has yet to see what God can do through a man fully dedicated to him. By God’s grace, I will be that man.” I have worked at living In Partnership With God. This is where my heart has been, where it is.
So what did God have to work with? Certainly not the brightest kid on the block! Certainly not the person with the most charismatic personality – that everyone enjoyed being around. And not a great athlete – a good right guard on the football team, but a person that is no good at basketball, tennis, or baseball. A reasonably good singer, but not a musician. Not a great leader - I was not elected to lead anything. My big mouth and boldness continually got me into minor trouble. My driving habits and dating conduct were not always “above reproach”. Why am I the way I am, given the advantages that have always been a part of my life? I can blame it on Satan, but in reality I know that the decisions I make are my own choice.
I remain before Jesus Christ and others, a very sinful person. James 3 describes me well: "We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check. When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. Ephesians 5 does not describe me well: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” My mouth combined with my lack of patience, gentleness, and self-control have always gotten me into difficult situations – and though I desperately try to change, this combination of my sinful nature still spills out, causing myself and others considerable pain! Where is the evidence of the fruit of the spirit in my life?
So why has God chosen to give me the experiences of His reality, to impact the lives of hundreds of young people, often in measurable ways? I could say it is a mystery, and to some degree it is. To stop here is easy, but may not be the most helpful. I believe the following is also true:
My response to the inequities of life has been to take what the Lord has given me, to take who I am and accept the challenge of Dwight L. Moody’s words: “The world has yet to see what God can do through a man fully dedicated to him. By God’s grace, I will be that man.” I have worked at living In Partnership With God. This is where my heart has been, where it is.
So what did God have to work with? Certainly not the brightest kid on the block! Certainly not the person with the most charismatic personality – that everyone enjoyed being around. And not a great athlete – a good right guard on the football team, but a person that is no good at basketball, tennis, or baseball. A reasonably good singer, but not a musician. Not a great leader - I was not elected to lead anything. My big mouth and boldness continually got me into minor trouble. My driving habits and dating conduct were not always “above reproach”. Why am I the way I am, given the advantages that have always been a part of my life? I can blame it on Satan, but in reality I know that the decisions I make are my own choice.
I remain before Jesus Christ and others, a very sinful person. James 3 describes me well: "We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check. When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. Ephesians 5 does not describe me well: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” My mouth combined with my lack of patience, gentleness, and self-control have always gotten me into difficult situations – and though I desperately try to change, this combination of my sinful nature still spills out, causing myself and others considerable pain! Where is the evidence of the fruit of the spirit in my life?
So why has God chosen to give me the experiences of His reality, to impact the lives of hundreds of young people, often in measurable ways? I could say it is a mystery, and to some degree it is. To stop here is easy, but may not be the most helpful. I believe the following is also true:
- God knows my heart – and knows that, deep down, I hate my sin. I live frustrated with the fact that I continue to sin in my thinking, in what I say, in what I do. I do work at confessing my specific sins to Him realizing that Jesus Christ died for my sins. I am living proof that Psalm 103 is true: “for as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”
- God knows my heart – and knows that I really want to please Him – to serve Him however He chooses. To me this includes working at being honest and open, at not being timid when I feel He has a job for me to do, be it seemingly small or large. Sometimes this job seems to be to share the experiences God has given me to encourage others.
Monday, July 20, 2009
An Awareness of God's Presence #68
If someone told me this story, I would be very skeptical of either their integrity, or their sanity. What I share with you happened to me about 35 years ago – yet I remember the experience very vividly.
It was on a Sunday evening, at the end of a very full day. I had led the two Sunday morning worship services, preached at the evening service, and then led career group, which met in a large room adjacent to the sanctuary. My last responsibility of the evening was to turn off the lights and check the sanctuary to be sure the P. A. system and lights were turned off.
When I looked into sanctuary, it was dark, except for some light that filtered in through windows – and the pulpit light. I must have left it on. I was not happy.
Please take a minute to picture the front of the sanctuary. The pulpit was on the right, about 4’ above the floor level. In the center front of the sanctuary was a large table, behind which was a beautiful stained glass window – a collage of color. Before each communion service 12 elders, symbolically representing the 12 apostles came up to the table and sat down, six on each side. At the far end of the table there were three chairs. The center chair was always left empty, to represent the presence of Jesus at the last supper. The senior minister sat to the right of this chair, I sat on the left.
As I walked down the center aisle that night, I suddenly became aware of the presence of the Lord standing at the place of that center chair. I did not see his face, or a bright light. I just became overwhelmed with an awareness of his presence. I was stunned, very frightened. Quickly I went as far as I could out around the table, turned off the pulpit light, and got out of there.
As I stood alone in the foyer, I immediately thought of Moses: “the place where you are standing is holy ground." Exodus 3:5 I left the building, shaken to the core.
When Jesus made his presence real to me, I guarantee I was not expecting it – any more than Moses expected to see a burning bush. Prior to this experience I had often told people that I would like to sit down at a table with our Lord, for I had lots of questions. I have not said this since that evening. Sitting down in the presence of The Almighty God for a chat is not an option.
Moses and I are in very different leagues. I know this. But we did have somewhat similar experiences. God healed my back, and used me to be his agent of healing for Susan Sea, the young lady who had spent the previous 7 years in a wheel chair. God used the disciples, and others, as his agents of healing. We too are in very different leagues. I know this. Thus my hesitation in sharing these personal experiences.
Little did I know how much I would need these, and other experiences of the reality of the living God, in the months and years ahead. Living In Partnership With God is a sobering experience.
It was on a Sunday evening, at the end of a very full day. I had led the two Sunday morning worship services, preached at the evening service, and then led career group, which met in a large room adjacent to the sanctuary. My last responsibility of the evening was to turn off the lights and check the sanctuary to be sure the P. A. system and lights were turned off.
When I looked into sanctuary, it was dark, except for some light that filtered in through windows – and the pulpit light. I must have left it on. I was not happy.
Please take a minute to picture the front of the sanctuary. The pulpit was on the right, about 4’ above the floor level. In the center front of the sanctuary was a large table, behind which was a beautiful stained glass window – a collage of color. Before each communion service 12 elders, symbolically representing the 12 apostles came up to the table and sat down, six on each side. At the far end of the table there were three chairs. The center chair was always left empty, to represent the presence of Jesus at the last supper. The senior minister sat to the right of this chair, I sat on the left.
As I walked down the center aisle that night, I suddenly became aware of the presence of the Lord standing at the place of that center chair. I did not see his face, or a bright light. I just became overwhelmed with an awareness of his presence. I was stunned, very frightened. Quickly I went as far as I could out around the table, turned off the pulpit light, and got out of there.
As I stood alone in the foyer, I immediately thought of Moses: “the place where you are standing is holy ground." Exodus 3:5 I left the building, shaken to the core.
When Jesus made his presence real to me, I guarantee I was not expecting it – any more than Moses expected to see a burning bush. Prior to this experience I had often told people that I would like to sit down at a table with our Lord, for I had lots of questions. I have not said this since that evening. Sitting down in the presence of The Almighty God for a chat is not an option.
Moses and I are in very different leagues. I know this. But we did have somewhat similar experiences. God healed my back, and used me to be his agent of healing for Susan Sea, the young lady who had spent the previous 7 years in a wheel chair. God used the disciples, and others, as his agents of healing. We too are in very different leagues. I know this. Thus my hesitation in sharing these personal experiences.
Little did I know how much I would need these, and other experiences of the reality of the living God, in the months and years ahead. Living In Partnership With God is a sobering experience.
Monday, July 13, 2009
God Healed My Back #67
Two weeks before Christmas I planned to play handball with Jim McCue. When I woke up I did a sit-up in bed. My back felt stiff and sore, so I did another. Immediately I had pain in my back, a little in my right leg. My back had given me some trouble since playing football in college, but nothing like this. Still, I thought, in a couple days I will be much better.
That night my dad was taking the entire family to see the Chinese Acrobats. I called my dad, an MD, told him about my back and that I still wanted to go. He said that he would bring pills that should relax my muscles and reduce the pain. Upon arrival I took the pills - and remained in such pain I had to stand through the program. I did not sleep very much that night, but was determined to keep an appointment with a high school student heading for serious trouble. I managed to drive the few blocks to his home and spent my time with him lying on the floor. When it was time to leave I called my dad, asked him to make an appointment with a back specialist, and Sally Jo, asking her to pick me up and take me to the specialist. I rode lying in the back of the station wagon. Doctor’s visit: three extruded discs. He told me to try bed rest, but to plan on surgery. Christmas I spent lying on the floor. I made enough progress to return to work, but my back was very painful, my right leg felt like it was in a vise, and sometimes excruciating sciatic pain shot down my leg. I soon went to Dr. Frank Ogren, a general practioner and good friend. He suggested I try traction at home. After a few days I was reasonably functional, but the back, calf and the intense sciatic nerve pain continued.
In June we went to Sally Jo’s parent’s cabin on a lake in Wisconsin. To get from lying down to standing up I had to roll off the deck into the water, or to pull myself up on anything I could find. I was miserable!!! Late afternoon on July 4th I had to return to Oak Brook. When I left we were both in tears. As I drove home that night I gave God a piece of my mind! I could care for everyone else’s kids, but not my own. Physically, emotionally and spiritually I was a mess.
I managed two rehearsals and weddings. On Sunday morning I led two worship services, spoke at the evening service, and then met with the “Career Group.” I was exhausted when I got home, but could not sleep. My back hurt, my leg hurt and I was not happy. After several hours, I rolled out of bed - surely a hot shower would help me relax and get some sleep. I emptied the hot water tank and headed for bed.
Why I knelt by my bed, I do not know. I told the Lord that if he could put Jacob’s hip out of joint (Genesis 32:25), I knew he could heal my back, and that I was going to pray until He did. I was desperate. About twenty minutes later I felt a movement in my back. I stood up – the squeeze on my calf was gone, the sciatic pain was gone. As I got into bed, I realized my back itself was sore, but not bad. I remember saying to the Lord,” If you were going to heal me, why didn’t you finish the job” (Gall!) I soon learned that if I did daily trunk strengthening exercises, my back functioned quite normally. This has forced me to continue these exercises almost daily for 32 years.
Why did I kneel down and pray that night? Why did I tell God I would not stop praying until He healed me? What would I have done if God had not healed my back that night, or the next day? I remembered Jesus parable: "Suppose one of you has a friend, and he goes to him at midnight and says, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him.' Then the one inside answers, 'Don't bother me. The door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed. I can't get up and give you anything.' I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man's boldness he will get up and give him as much as he needs. Luke 11:5-13 But what would I have done if he had not healed me?
I have many unanswered questions as the result of that night. What I do know, beyond any shadow of a doubt, is that God has proved to me he can do whatever he wants to do. There are times that I feel God has gone on vacation, yet I cannot deny the reality of a personal, living God, one who hears and responds, but often in ways I do not understand, sometimes in ways I do not recognize. Because I know God is real, I have chosen to live In Partnership With God.
That night my dad was taking the entire family to see the Chinese Acrobats. I called my dad, an MD, told him about my back and that I still wanted to go. He said that he would bring pills that should relax my muscles and reduce the pain. Upon arrival I took the pills - and remained in such pain I had to stand through the program. I did not sleep very much that night, but was determined to keep an appointment with a high school student heading for serious trouble. I managed to drive the few blocks to his home and spent my time with him lying on the floor. When it was time to leave I called my dad, asked him to make an appointment with a back specialist, and Sally Jo, asking her to pick me up and take me to the specialist. I rode lying in the back of the station wagon. Doctor’s visit: three extruded discs. He told me to try bed rest, but to plan on surgery. Christmas I spent lying on the floor. I made enough progress to return to work, but my back was very painful, my right leg felt like it was in a vise, and sometimes excruciating sciatic pain shot down my leg. I soon went to Dr. Frank Ogren, a general practioner and good friend. He suggested I try traction at home. After a few days I was reasonably functional, but the back, calf and the intense sciatic nerve pain continued.
In June we went to Sally Jo’s parent’s cabin on a lake in Wisconsin. To get from lying down to standing up I had to roll off the deck into the water, or to pull myself up on anything I could find. I was miserable!!! Late afternoon on July 4th I had to return to Oak Brook. When I left we were both in tears. As I drove home that night I gave God a piece of my mind! I could care for everyone else’s kids, but not my own. Physically, emotionally and spiritually I was a mess.
I managed two rehearsals and weddings. On Sunday morning I led two worship services, spoke at the evening service, and then met with the “Career Group.” I was exhausted when I got home, but could not sleep. My back hurt, my leg hurt and I was not happy. After several hours, I rolled out of bed - surely a hot shower would help me relax and get some sleep. I emptied the hot water tank and headed for bed.
Why I knelt by my bed, I do not know. I told the Lord that if he could put Jacob’s hip out of joint (Genesis 32:25), I knew he could heal my back, and that I was going to pray until He did. I was desperate. About twenty minutes later I felt a movement in my back. I stood up – the squeeze on my calf was gone, the sciatic pain was gone. As I got into bed, I realized my back itself was sore, but not bad. I remember saying to the Lord,” If you were going to heal me, why didn’t you finish the job” (Gall!) I soon learned that if I did daily trunk strengthening exercises, my back functioned quite normally. This has forced me to continue these exercises almost daily for 32 years.
Why did I kneel down and pray that night? Why did I tell God I would not stop praying until He healed me? What would I have done if God had not healed my back that night, or the next day? I remembered Jesus parable: "Suppose one of you has a friend, and he goes to him at midnight and says, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him.' Then the one inside answers, 'Don't bother me. The door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed. I can't get up and give you anything.' I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man's boldness he will get up and give him as much as he needs. Luke 11:5-13 But what would I have done if he had not healed me?
I have many unanswered questions as the result of that night. What I do know, beyond any shadow of a doubt, is that God has proved to me he can do whatever he wants to do. There are times that I feel God has gone on vacation, yet I cannot deny the reality of a personal, living God, one who hears and responds, but often in ways I do not understand, sometimes in ways I do not recognize. Because I know God is real, I have chosen to live In Partnership With God.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Gifts and Limitations #66
The strikingly beautiful Christ Church of Oak Brook facility stands boldly on the corner of 31st and York road. During my three years on the CCOB staff, every Sunday morning Henry Van Balen stood at the center door of the sanctuary and welcomed, by name, each person who had attended on a previous Sunday morning. As the number worshiping grew from a few to over 2000, Henry remained at his post welcoming each person by name. How did he do this? I have no clue…and I am not sure he did. It was his gift.
Every Sunday morning, at both services, Debbie Hoffman’s beautiful organ music welcomed people into the sanctuary. Every Sunday morning the call to worship and liturgy were crisp, the pastoral prayer carefully prepared to encourage those present to be honest with God. These were my responsibilities. Every Sunday morning Hughes Hoffman directed the choir – outstanding music to lead us in reflection, thanksgiving and praise.
Every Sunday morning the senior minister, Art DeKruyter, opened up the contents of God’s Word. He came across as God’s man, not afraid to proclaim the whole counsel of God. His sermons were clear, challenging, and informative.
Consistent excellence was the objective, not just on Sunday morning, but throughout the week. Take a moment to check their website: christchurchofoakbrook.org This church, which began in a school room in 1964 with six families, now has well over 5,000 members who worship at the five weekly services.
I was responsible for the Christian education program, all of the small and large groups, with specific leadership responsibility of the Career Group. I was the person people called during off hours if a person had a particular need. In the spring and early summer I would often be the officiating minister for two weddings on a weekend, having previously worked to help prepare the couple for marriage and plan their wedding ceremonies. Sally Jo and I led the one week family camp. And I preached every Sunday evening. During my three years on staff, two were added to the pastoral staff, but my responsibilities did not seem to decrease. I knew I was giving 110% day after day. Looking back I realize that my plate was just too full.
God has gifted me in the area of administration: given me the ability to plan, to lead, to inspire…and to lead worship. I am comfortable with, and enjoy using, each of these gifts, these abilities. I feel comfortable in writing this in the context of Paul’s words to the members of the church at Rome: “Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment…” Romans 12:4.
When pastor of the struggling church in Bakerville, I enjoyed my preaching responsibilities – and the church again became a healthy, growing body of believers. And I enjoyed regularly speaking on Sunday mornings to a variety of congregations during my two years as Presbyterian Minister to Students at Middle Tennessee State. But as I have developed and utilized the other gifts God has given to me, the satisfaction and joy of speaking on Sunday mornings has diminished. I now seldom accept invitations to supply preach.
Looking back to my years at CCOB, the area I could most easily have “given up” was speaking at the Sunday evening service. My preparation for this responsibility was often near the bottom of my “to do” list. I am certain this lack of preparation, and probably inconsistent delivery, was obvious to many, particularly the Senior Minister. As the pastoral staff grew, I could have easily relinquished this responsibility to a minister with more time to focus on, and more gifted in, this area. Why did I not step aside, I do not know. Blindness to this reality? Pride? Stubbornness? I truly believe the church, God’s gathered people, would have been better off - and I, and particularly our family, would have benefited.
When living In Partnership With God, I do not believe God gives us more to do than we can do well. Is our plate too full? It can be difficult to recognize this truth, and to take appropriate action.
Every Sunday morning, at both services, Debbie Hoffman’s beautiful organ music welcomed people into the sanctuary. Every Sunday morning the call to worship and liturgy were crisp, the pastoral prayer carefully prepared to encourage those present to be honest with God. These were my responsibilities. Every Sunday morning Hughes Hoffman directed the choir – outstanding music to lead us in reflection, thanksgiving and praise.
Every Sunday morning the senior minister, Art DeKruyter, opened up the contents of God’s Word. He came across as God’s man, not afraid to proclaim the whole counsel of God. His sermons were clear, challenging, and informative.
Consistent excellence was the objective, not just on Sunday morning, but throughout the week. Take a moment to check their website: christchurchofoakbrook.org This church, which began in a school room in 1964 with six families, now has well over 5,000 members who worship at the five weekly services.
I was responsible for the Christian education program, all of the small and large groups, with specific leadership responsibility of the Career Group. I was the person people called during off hours if a person had a particular need. In the spring and early summer I would often be the officiating minister for two weddings on a weekend, having previously worked to help prepare the couple for marriage and plan their wedding ceremonies. Sally Jo and I led the one week family camp. And I preached every Sunday evening. During my three years on staff, two were added to the pastoral staff, but my responsibilities did not seem to decrease. I knew I was giving 110% day after day. Looking back I realize that my plate was just too full.
God has gifted me in the area of administration: given me the ability to plan, to lead, to inspire…and to lead worship. I am comfortable with, and enjoy using, each of these gifts, these abilities. I feel comfortable in writing this in the context of Paul’s words to the members of the church at Rome: “Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment…” Romans 12:4.
When pastor of the struggling church in Bakerville, I enjoyed my preaching responsibilities – and the church again became a healthy, growing body of believers. And I enjoyed regularly speaking on Sunday mornings to a variety of congregations during my two years as Presbyterian Minister to Students at Middle Tennessee State. But as I have developed and utilized the other gifts God has given to me, the satisfaction and joy of speaking on Sunday mornings has diminished. I now seldom accept invitations to supply preach.
Looking back to my years at CCOB, the area I could most easily have “given up” was speaking at the Sunday evening service. My preparation for this responsibility was often near the bottom of my “to do” list. I am certain this lack of preparation, and probably inconsistent delivery, was obvious to many, particularly the Senior Minister. As the pastoral staff grew, I could have easily relinquished this responsibility to a minister with more time to focus on, and more gifted in, this area. Why did I not step aside, I do not know. Blindness to this reality? Pride? Stubbornness? I truly believe the church, God’s gathered people, would have been better off - and I, and particularly our family, would have benefited.
When living In Partnership With God, I do not believe God gives us more to do than we can do well. Is our plate too full? It can be difficult to recognize this truth, and to take appropriate action.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Christian Heritage: Lone Eagle Tim Bowyer #65
Tim Bowyer’s Lone Eagle ceremony was Saturday morning, and I had the privilege of bringing his charge.
In 1970, when Sally Jo and I arrived in Murfreesboro, Martha Sue Carroll was a member of the Presbyterian Student Fellowship. We soon came to know her parents, Burns and Martha Carroll. Burns, an Elder at the First Presbyterian Church, often provided wise counsel to me personally, and as I worked with the leadership of the church. “Mother Martha”, as I called her, was of continual encouragement to both Sally Jo and me, often with a big, heartfelt laugh! Later I learned that both Burns and Martha had both come from solid Christian homes.
Martha Sue earned her Master’s in Christian Education and became the dean of women at the Christian College where Randy Bowyer was the Dean of Students. Randy’s parents and grandparents were also solid Christians, trusting in Jesus Christ alone for their salvation.
Martha Sue and Randy were married and they had a daughter and two sons. These sons, Tom and Tim, became campers and staff members.
As I stood before Tim, I reminded him of this Christian heritage, the solid foundation which had helped him to understand and choose Jesus Christ as his personal Savior, the Lord of his life. The members of the Lone Eagle Fellowship had observed Tim’s living out his chosen relationship with God.
I also reminded Tim that almost 2000 years ago the Apostle Paul wrote to a young Timothy of his Christian heritage.
“I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also…God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.” II Timothy 5-7
Whereas few of us have the name of Timothy, many of us come from a solid Christian heritage. We have the opportunity to build upon this heritage, a living demonstration of the reality of the living God.
Whether or not we come from a Christian heritage, we should continually remind ourselves that it is not God who gives a spirit of timidity, of fear. Rather, God gives to us the spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline – enabling us to accomplish what He directs us to do.
People in every generation since Jesus Christ came to earth have chosen to live In Partnership With God.
This privilege is our choice.
In 1970, when Sally Jo and I arrived in Murfreesboro, Martha Sue Carroll was a member of the Presbyterian Student Fellowship. We soon came to know her parents, Burns and Martha Carroll. Burns, an Elder at the First Presbyterian Church, often provided wise counsel to me personally, and as I worked with the leadership of the church. “Mother Martha”, as I called her, was of continual encouragement to both Sally Jo and me, often with a big, heartfelt laugh! Later I learned that both Burns and Martha had both come from solid Christian homes.
Martha Sue earned her Master’s in Christian Education and became the dean of women at the Christian College where Randy Bowyer was the Dean of Students. Randy’s parents and grandparents were also solid Christians, trusting in Jesus Christ alone for their salvation.
Martha Sue and Randy were married and they had a daughter and two sons. These sons, Tom and Tim, became campers and staff members.
As I stood before Tim, I reminded him of this Christian heritage, the solid foundation which had helped him to understand and choose Jesus Christ as his personal Savior, the Lord of his life. The members of the Lone Eagle Fellowship had observed Tim’s living out his chosen relationship with God.
I also reminded Tim that almost 2000 years ago the Apostle Paul wrote to a young Timothy of his Christian heritage.
“I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also…God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.” II Timothy 5-7
Whereas few of us have the name of Timothy, many of us come from a solid Christian heritage. We have the opportunity to build upon this heritage, a living demonstration of the reality of the living God.
Whether or not we come from a Christian heritage, we should continually remind ourselves that it is not God who gives a spirit of timidity, of fear. Rather, God gives to us the spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline – enabling us to accomplish what He directs us to do.
People in every generation since Jesus Christ came to earth have chosen to live In Partnership With God.
This privilege is our choice.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Forgetting What is Behind #64
Perhaps 55 years ago, I said: “Dad, I know about your successes, please share with me some of your failures.” He responded with “Son, I have tried to forget my failures”. I was surprised by his answer to the place where I remember the exchange. If he could have forgotten his failures, wonderful. But my guess is there were many failures, but remembering them would have been painful.
The Apostle Paul said, in a different context, “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13-14. It seems much easier for me to press on than to forget some of the really inappropriate, really stupid things I have done. Though we seek to live In Partnership With God, we are not always wise! I share one of these painful remembrances, hoping it will be an encouragement to continue to press on, in spite of the fact that we have sometimes done really was in appropriate, perhaps really stupid! Experiences like the one I share have made it much easier for me to forgive, to hug someone who has just blown it, but really did not mean to!
Bev Shea, soloist for the Billy Graham team, came to Christ Church of Oak Brook on a beautiful, warm Sunday evening to sing hymns and gospel songs. He brought with him the team pianist, Ted Smith. (George Beverly Shea, in addition to singing at the Billy Graham Crusades all over the world, made many recordings.) Bev lived 15 minutes from the church, and many people in the area knew this quiet, gentle man. We first met in 1958 when I worked closely with the Graham team at the Washington, DC crusade. We became quite good friends. Because of my relationship with Bev, I was asked to lead the service: welcome him, probably have the congregation sing a few hymns, and then close the service with the benediction.
As the 1200 seat sanctuary filled quickly, the ushers guided people to the choir loft, and then started putting up chairs in the aisles. The large room was packed for this incredible evening of worship and celebration. Those present knew most of the music that Bev sang, and several times during the evening he would sing the verses of a hymn and then motion that we should sing the chorus with him. As the worship service moved towards conclusion, he sang very soft, very thought provoking, very worshipful music. When he finished, no one in the sanctuary moved…it was totally quiet.
Before I motioned for people to stand, I asked that everyone remain standing after the benediction while the ushers removed the chairs from the church aisles, which would take a few minutes. Very quietly everyone stood, I gave the benediction, and again, silence. I motioned for Ted to play something on the piano – and he nodded “no”.
O that I too would have been silent! But instead I told a humorous story about Bev. My story brought some smiles, but the worshipful mood of the evening was gone! I left the sanctuary in sadness.
The next morning the Senior Minister came into my office and asked what I had been thinking. I muttered something about seeking to share something of the heart of the man with the congregation. I am sure he could see that I was very aware of my poor judgment. Thankfully, no one else ever mentioned the incident.
Let’s face it; though we may seek to lives pleasing to the Lord, we still make mistakes, sometimes significant mistakes. May we never forget, “As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.” Psalm 103:13-14
Lord, may we remember that we are but dust – and though we may seek to live In Partnership With God, we will have moments of poor judgment.
The Apostle Paul said, in a different context, “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13-14. It seems much easier for me to press on than to forget some of the really inappropriate, really stupid things I have done. Though we seek to live In Partnership With God, we are not always wise! I share one of these painful remembrances, hoping it will be an encouragement to continue to press on, in spite of the fact that we have sometimes done really was in appropriate, perhaps really stupid! Experiences like the one I share have made it much easier for me to forgive, to hug someone who has just blown it, but really did not mean to!
Bev Shea, soloist for the Billy Graham team, came to Christ Church of Oak Brook on a beautiful, warm Sunday evening to sing hymns and gospel songs. He brought with him the team pianist, Ted Smith. (George Beverly Shea, in addition to singing at the Billy Graham Crusades all over the world, made many recordings.) Bev lived 15 minutes from the church, and many people in the area knew this quiet, gentle man. We first met in 1958 when I worked closely with the Graham team at the Washington, DC crusade. We became quite good friends. Because of my relationship with Bev, I was asked to lead the service: welcome him, probably have the congregation sing a few hymns, and then close the service with the benediction.
As the 1200 seat sanctuary filled quickly, the ushers guided people to the choir loft, and then started putting up chairs in the aisles. The large room was packed for this incredible evening of worship and celebration. Those present knew most of the music that Bev sang, and several times during the evening he would sing the verses of a hymn and then motion that we should sing the chorus with him. As the worship service moved towards conclusion, he sang very soft, very thought provoking, very worshipful music. When he finished, no one in the sanctuary moved…it was totally quiet.
Before I motioned for people to stand, I asked that everyone remain standing after the benediction while the ushers removed the chairs from the church aisles, which would take a few minutes. Very quietly everyone stood, I gave the benediction, and again, silence. I motioned for Ted to play something on the piano – and he nodded “no”.
O that I too would have been silent! But instead I told a humorous story about Bev. My story brought some smiles, but the worshipful mood of the evening was gone! I left the sanctuary in sadness.
The next morning the Senior Minister came into my office and asked what I had been thinking. I muttered something about seeking to share something of the heart of the man with the congregation. I am sure he could see that I was very aware of my poor judgment. Thankfully, no one else ever mentioned the incident.
Let’s face it; though we may seek to lives pleasing to the Lord, we still make mistakes, sometimes significant mistakes. May we never forget, “As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.” Psalm 103:13-14
Lord, may we remember that we are but dust – and though we may seek to live In Partnership With God, we will have moments of poor judgment.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Appropriate Compensation #63
At Christ Church of Oak Brook a church leader said to me in the context of compensation: “He’s only a youth man”. The “youth man” led the very healthy high school youth group of well over 100. The leadership team numbered 30. They met weekly for study and planning. Almost all of the regular 100 also attended the high school Sunday school class. A couple times a year the group went on a well planned retreat. These young people invited their friends, many of them non-Christians. There were equivalent junior high and college groups. Parents frequently asked for time with him. Jim McCue was outstanding! Yet, in terms of his compensation, we needed to remember that “He is only a youth man.” In reality, Jim was chosen by God to be the shepherd for a large flock of young people, and he carried out his God given responsibility in a wonderful way. Jesus clearly said: “the laborer is worthy of his hire” Matthew 10:10
Our first Christmas in Oak Brook, our finances were very tight. We had three children, one car, and an older house in need of repair in a rather expensive town 15 minutes from the church. We were doing everything possible to keep our expenses under control – our only debt was the mortgage on our home. I had painted the house, installed a used stove when the one in the house died – you get the idea. As Christmas approached, our heads were above water, but not by much. We honestly did not have enough money to keep up with necessary expenses and still buy a nice Christmas tree. This was an affluent church with over 1000 attending every Sunday.
What is the appropriate compensation for those chosen by God for a specific ministry? We gain insight through seeing how God asked the Israelites to support the Levites, his chosen spiritual leaders for the Jewish people. God told Moses: "Speak to the Levites and say to them: When you receive from the Israelites the tithe I give you as your inheritance, you must present a tenth of that tithe as the Lord’s offering…to Aaron you must present as the Lord’s portion the best…” Numbers 18:26-29. The Levites were one of the twelve tribes. My guess is that it was not one of the larger tribes. If the rest of the Israelites gave 10% of their income, then the income of the Levites would have been quite comparable to the rest of the Jewish country.
God in the Old Testament, Jesus in the new, did not talk about giving a certain amount of money – with two exceptions I am aware of. The first was the rich young ruler who was told to sell all that he had and to give to the poor. Matthew 10:21 The second was the widow who gave all that she had. Mark 12:42
Jesus said to his followers: "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” Matthew 6:19-21.
Should I have a higher standard of living than a foreign missionary who has the same education, experience, and ability? Should this missionary have to come almost begging for support? Should the missionary family come back and be provided poor housing and a tired car? Or should appreciation be demonstrated to these people who obey God’s claim upon their lives – and leave family and security? Do we have the mental twistedness that says….God will supply their needs…and if they have enough to eek by ….they will be OK. Do we forget that their children arrive at a school with no close friends? With clothes that may be 4 years out of style – and don’t fit quite right?
I write all of the above from the context of being wonderfully cared for these past 23 years. When we came to Deerfoot, it was in serious trouble: low contributions, low camper attendance, buildings and vehicles in need of repair – and the economy (1982) was not good. My salary reflected these truths! As DL got up to speed, the DL Board and family have made us feel very special, very well cared for!! Now Sally Jo and I have been provided the use of a summer cabin on Whitaker Lake. It ours to use all but a month a year. We could never afford this
If all of us Christians gave generously - from thankful hearts - there would be no shortage of funds for His work. If I live “In Partnership With God”, I will give generously. I have no choice. To do so remains a challenge for us.
Our first Christmas in Oak Brook, our finances were very tight. We had three children, one car, and an older house in need of repair in a rather expensive town 15 minutes from the church. We were doing everything possible to keep our expenses under control – our only debt was the mortgage on our home. I had painted the house, installed a used stove when the one in the house died – you get the idea. As Christmas approached, our heads were above water, but not by much. We honestly did not have enough money to keep up with necessary expenses and still buy a nice Christmas tree. This was an affluent church with over 1000 attending every Sunday.
What is the appropriate compensation for those chosen by God for a specific ministry? We gain insight through seeing how God asked the Israelites to support the Levites, his chosen spiritual leaders for the Jewish people. God told Moses: "Speak to the Levites and say to them: When you receive from the Israelites the tithe I give you as your inheritance, you must present a tenth of that tithe as the Lord’s offering…to Aaron you must present as the Lord’s portion the best…” Numbers 18:26-29. The Levites were one of the twelve tribes. My guess is that it was not one of the larger tribes. If the rest of the Israelites gave 10% of their income, then the income of the Levites would have been quite comparable to the rest of the Jewish country.
God in the Old Testament, Jesus in the new, did not talk about giving a certain amount of money – with two exceptions I am aware of. The first was the rich young ruler who was told to sell all that he had and to give to the poor. Matthew 10:21 The second was the widow who gave all that she had. Mark 12:42
Jesus said to his followers: "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” Matthew 6:19-21.
Should I have a higher standard of living than a foreign missionary who has the same education, experience, and ability? Should this missionary have to come almost begging for support? Should the missionary family come back and be provided poor housing and a tired car? Or should appreciation be demonstrated to these people who obey God’s claim upon their lives – and leave family and security? Do we have the mental twistedness that says….God will supply their needs…and if they have enough to eek by ….they will be OK. Do we forget that their children arrive at a school with no close friends? With clothes that may be 4 years out of style – and don’t fit quite right?
I write all of the above from the context of being wonderfully cared for these past 23 years. When we came to Deerfoot, it was in serious trouble: low contributions, low camper attendance, buildings and vehicles in need of repair – and the economy (1982) was not good. My salary reflected these truths! As DL got up to speed, the DL Board and family have made us feel very special, very well cared for!! Now Sally Jo and I have been provided the use of a summer cabin on Whitaker Lake. It ours to use all but a month a year. We could never afford this
If all of us Christians gave generously - from thankful hearts - there would be no shortage of funds for His work. If I live “In Partnership With God”, I will give generously. I have no choice. To do so remains a challenge for us.
Monday, June 8, 2009
And It Was Good #62
I look at the sky. It may be bright, clear, and blue. It may be full of puffy white clouds, seeming to float, hardly moving, but as I look more carefully, I can see that there are several layers of clouds. Or the sky can be dark, with rain pouring down, the landscape occasionally brightened by a bolt of lightning. On a dark night I see the stars in predictable patterns, a few seem brighter than the rest…and there is the milky-way. “When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars which you have put in place…” Psalm 8:3-4 At such moments I may worship God – it just happens.
I watch a doe leap a five foot fence…and a chipmunk running with a nut in his mouth – cheeks bulging. I see daddy long legs – how can those legs work? I wonder at the beauty, sounds, and mechanics of the humming bird, the bee. The hawk soars without a sound. And the butterfly? Perhaps it is enjoying lunch on a bright yellow flower. I see the robin feeding her young. I watch ants working together, and I am fascinated. I hear honking, and hundreds of feet above I see geese flying in formation, knowing that when the lead goose get’s tired, another will take his place. “And God saw that it was good.” Genesis 1:25
When God gave the directions for the building of the ark, the directions were clear, the boat was constructed, it held all it was supposed to, and it floated for a long, long time. The temple Solomon built was incredibly beautiful, down to the last detail. And there God made Solomon a promise: “As for this temple you are building, if you follow my decrees, carry out my regulations and keep all my commandments and obey them, I will fulfill through you the promise I gave to David you father. And I will live among the Israelites and will not abandon my people Israel.” I Kings 6:11-13
God does good work. We too are to do good work, and we can, if we put our minds, guided by God’s spirit, to the task.
Christ church of Oak Brook is a very simple, very beautiful structure. The steel beams that form the pyramid roof remain exposed; the peak is 40 feet from the floor. The ceiling above the beams looks like pine paneling – it is very thick! The contrast between the warm color and smoothness of the wood and the solid, gray stone walls is dramatic. The frosted windows are framed in heavy, dark wood – very simple. As people arrive on Sunday morning, they may talk with their friends or greet visitors in the large foyer. As people enter the sanctuary, they are entering a different world. A true sanctuary: peaceful, beautiful. The carefully prepared bulletin contains the content necessary for a visitor to feel comfortable in this place. When the organ stops, we hear the call to worship…and then silence. When the organ begins again, the congregation really sings. It may be a hymn of reflection, prayer, praise, or commitment. The pastoral prayer has been carefully prepared to put into words the feelings of our hearts, be they praise, brokenness, struggle, or intersession. The prayer will also seek to help us talk to God about things we have not thought about, perhaps would rather not think about. The twenty minute sermon seeks to open a passage of scripture to help those who have come to understand its meaning, and some of the implications for us, God’s people. The message may be troublesome, but when it is over, there will be a strong message of good news. The world brings to each of us enough bad news.
This past Sunday I went to church with Russ and Mary Vought. They had told me the worship service was two hours. Four hundred people filled the old sanctuary, the majority being between 20 and 40 years of age. After announcements were made, an invitation was given: "Let us worship God.” There was instant quiet as people prepared their hearts to participate interactively with the God of their creation. The grand piano, with one guitar and one vocalist, led the singing, though I was unaware of their presence. Several times two hymns were sung, one right after the other – each sung boldly and up to tempo. The prayers, all of them, were very carefully prepared to guide us in our praying. The pastor encouraged us to follow his reading of the chosen passage in our Bibles. He gave the page # in the pew bible. The pastor read the three chapters upon which the sermon was based, with clarity, with power. The back cover of the bulletin was blank “for sermon notes”. As the word of God was opened to us, the pastor clearly identified his outline for us note takers. After the last hymn and the benediction we quietly sat down and had a few moments to reflect upon our experience, perhaps to pray. When I left, though a visitor, I was very aware that I had been with God’s people in God’s house. It was good to be in the house of my Lord.
Is it possible for every church to provide the context for worship, to bring encouragement for those who come? Is it possible for us to leave feeling “and it was good.” I have had this experience in a country church of 25 and in a city church of 4,000. God created the deer, the butterfly – and the elephant, each uniquely suited for its environment, each with its family. Is it possible for the members of the church to work together as one body? God thinks so. Roman’s 12: Because we are sinful, all of this requires work, but the work may be enjoyable when the church body functions in the way designed by God. God has dwelt in Solomon’s temple, in caves with hiding believers, in thatched roofed shelters. God comes where He is welcome. Let us work to remove the distractions so we may worship, and hear from, the one true God.
I watch a doe leap a five foot fence…and a chipmunk running with a nut in his mouth – cheeks bulging. I see daddy long legs – how can those legs work? I wonder at the beauty, sounds, and mechanics of the humming bird, the bee. The hawk soars without a sound. And the butterfly? Perhaps it is enjoying lunch on a bright yellow flower. I see the robin feeding her young. I watch ants working together, and I am fascinated. I hear honking, and hundreds of feet above I see geese flying in formation, knowing that when the lead goose get’s tired, another will take his place. “And God saw that it was good.” Genesis 1:25
When God gave the directions for the building of the ark, the directions were clear, the boat was constructed, it held all it was supposed to, and it floated for a long, long time. The temple Solomon built was incredibly beautiful, down to the last detail. And there God made Solomon a promise: “As for this temple you are building, if you follow my decrees, carry out my regulations and keep all my commandments and obey them, I will fulfill through you the promise I gave to David you father. And I will live among the Israelites and will not abandon my people Israel.” I Kings 6:11-13
God does good work. We too are to do good work, and we can, if we put our minds, guided by God’s spirit, to the task.
Christ church of Oak Brook is a very simple, very beautiful structure. The steel beams that form the pyramid roof remain exposed; the peak is 40 feet from the floor. The ceiling above the beams looks like pine paneling – it is very thick! The contrast between the warm color and smoothness of the wood and the solid, gray stone walls is dramatic. The frosted windows are framed in heavy, dark wood – very simple. As people arrive on Sunday morning, they may talk with their friends or greet visitors in the large foyer. As people enter the sanctuary, they are entering a different world. A true sanctuary: peaceful, beautiful. The carefully prepared bulletin contains the content necessary for a visitor to feel comfortable in this place. When the organ stops, we hear the call to worship…and then silence. When the organ begins again, the congregation really sings. It may be a hymn of reflection, prayer, praise, or commitment. The pastoral prayer has been carefully prepared to put into words the feelings of our hearts, be they praise, brokenness, struggle, or intersession. The prayer will also seek to help us talk to God about things we have not thought about, perhaps would rather not think about. The twenty minute sermon seeks to open a passage of scripture to help those who have come to understand its meaning, and some of the implications for us, God’s people. The message may be troublesome, but when it is over, there will be a strong message of good news. The world brings to each of us enough bad news.
This past Sunday I went to church with Russ and Mary Vought. They had told me the worship service was two hours. Four hundred people filled the old sanctuary, the majority being between 20 and 40 years of age. After announcements were made, an invitation was given: "Let us worship God.” There was instant quiet as people prepared their hearts to participate interactively with the God of their creation. The grand piano, with one guitar and one vocalist, led the singing, though I was unaware of their presence. Several times two hymns were sung, one right after the other – each sung boldly and up to tempo. The prayers, all of them, were very carefully prepared to guide us in our praying. The pastor encouraged us to follow his reading of the chosen passage in our Bibles. He gave the page # in the pew bible. The pastor read the three chapters upon which the sermon was based, with clarity, with power. The back cover of the bulletin was blank “for sermon notes”. As the word of God was opened to us, the pastor clearly identified his outline for us note takers. After the last hymn and the benediction we quietly sat down and had a few moments to reflect upon our experience, perhaps to pray. When I left, though a visitor, I was very aware that I had been with God’s people in God’s house. It was good to be in the house of my Lord.
Is it possible for every church to provide the context for worship, to bring encouragement for those who come? Is it possible for us to leave feeling “and it was good.” I have had this experience in a country church of 25 and in a city church of 4,000. God created the deer, the butterfly – and the elephant, each uniquely suited for its environment, each with its family. Is it possible for the members of the church to work together as one body? God thinks so. Roman’s 12: Because we are sinful, all of this requires work, but the work may be enjoyable when the church body functions in the way designed by God. God has dwelt in Solomon’s temple, in caves with hiding believers, in thatched roofed shelters. God comes where He is welcome. Let us work to remove the distractions so we may worship, and hear from, the one true God.
Monday, June 1, 2009
Life's Tedium, Life's Rewards #61
Last weekend I spent sorting screws, nails, bolts, nuts and other hardware. Not exciting, but it needed to be done, thanks to great help from Dr. Tom Smith (cardiologist who sorts and organizes quickly) and several others!!!
After a long day’s work and a great Deerfoot meal, Tucker Lownes, a Deerfooter now married and with kids, asked me to take a walk with him. We had talked by phone a few weeks previously about an idea he had. We went to the cabin where Sally Jo and I were staying. Tucker thanked me for the help I had been to him through the years, and in particular when we had recently talked by phone. He went on to say that, as the result of our conversation, he had made some decisions, talked with a few other people, and was now headed in a new direction. I had no idea I had said anything that impacted the thinking of this man I greatly respect. God used me as His agent, and I had been totally unaware.
This weekend I flew to Washington D.C. for the ordination of James Swynford into the Anglican Episcopal Church and, that evening, a dinner to celebrate James’s engagement to Anna, whom I had never met. While in DC I stayed with Russ and Mary Vought – I was the minister for their wedding in DC last year. I also had time with James and Katie Boland. I was the minister for their wedding in DC a few years back. A good weekend indeed!
James had been a Deerfoot Counselor and Voyageur leader. After graduating from college he was one of twelve invited by Falls Church, Episcopal to participate in their Timothy Program. Under the guidance of the church, this small group studied together, met with leaders in government and business, participated actively in the program of this outstanding church, had regular jobs, and did other intentional things designed to encourage the integration of their faith into daily living. An intense year! I was privileged to meet with this group one morning. James then taught school for two years before entering seminary.
James had e-mailed me at the end of 2008 to say he would be graduating from seminary in June and had applied for a position on the Falls Church ministerial staff. “Would I be willing to serve as a reference?” He went on to say he did not feel he had much chance of getting the position as he was single. I e-mailed asking him to call me.
He called and we talked about what he had been doing and the church opening. I asked if he really wanted the position…”of course!” So I suggested he find a good woman and get married! He laughed! But then said that in October he had met Anna, a girl that really interested him. She had graduated from Wheaton College with a trombone performance major. She was really sharp! But, she was from the other side of the country - Washington state! Yes, they had gotten together since they met…in fact she was in the DC area right now, auditioning for an opening in major orchestra. I asked if she had met his parents. James laughed and explained that he was not nearly that far along! So I pushed! “James, how long would it take the two of you to drive to your parent’s home?” 2 ½ hours. “When is the next time she will be in the area?” No idea. “So why not drive her to meet your parents, spend the night, and return to DC? You could talk for five hours and she would meet your parents. What can you lose?”
Two days later James called to tell me the four of them had several wonderful hours together. He was sure he had found his future wife. We both laughed. A few months later James went out to meet Anna’s parents. This weekend Anna’s parents came for James’ ordination service, in which Anna participated, and for the engagement celebration. James joins the Fall’s Church ministerial staff in a few months. James and Anna plan a January wedding.
Living In Partnership With God includes hours of “sorting nails” and some very rewarding moments!
After a long day’s work and a great Deerfoot meal, Tucker Lownes, a Deerfooter now married and with kids, asked me to take a walk with him. We had talked by phone a few weeks previously about an idea he had. We went to the cabin where Sally Jo and I were staying. Tucker thanked me for the help I had been to him through the years, and in particular when we had recently talked by phone. He went on to say that, as the result of our conversation, he had made some decisions, talked with a few other people, and was now headed in a new direction. I had no idea I had said anything that impacted the thinking of this man I greatly respect. God used me as His agent, and I had been totally unaware.
This weekend I flew to Washington D.C. for the ordination of James Swynford into the Anglican Episcopal Church and, that evening, a dinner to celebrate James’s engagement to Anna, whom I had never met. While in DC I stayed with Russ and Mary Vought – I was the minister for their wedding in DC last year. I also had time with James and Katie Boland. I was the minister for their wedding in DC a few years back. A good weekend indeed!
James had been a Deerfoot Counselor and Voyageur leader. After graduating from college he was one of twelve invited by Falls Church, Episcopal to participate in their Timothy Program. Under the guidance of the church, this small group studied together, met with leaders in government and business, participated actively in the program of this outstanding church, had regular jobs, and did other intentional things designed to encourage the integration of their faith into daily living. An intense year! I was privileged to meet with this group one morning. James then taught school for two years before entering seminary.
James had e-mailed me at the end of 2008 to say he would be graduating from seminary in June and had applied for a position on the Falls Church ministerial staff. “Would I be willing to serve as a reference?” He went on to say he did not feel he had much chance of getting the position as he was single. I e-mailed asking him to call me.
He called and we talked about what he had been doing and the church opening. I asked if he really wanted the position…”of course!” So I suggested he find a good woman and get married! He laughed! But then said that in October he had met Anna, a girl that really interested him. She had graduated from Wheaton College with a trombone performance major. She was really sharp! But, she was from the other side of the country - Washington state! Yes, they had gotten together since they met…in fact she was in the DC area right now, auditioning for an opening in major orchestra. I asked if she had met his parents. James laughed and explained that he was not nearly that far along! So I pushed! “James, how long would it take the two of you to drive to your parent’s home?” 2 ½ hours. “When is the next time she will be in the area?” No idea. “So why not drive her to meet your parents, spend the night, and return to DC? You could talk for five hours and she would meet your parents. What can you lose?”
Two days later James called to tell me the four of them had several wonderful hours together. He was sure he had found his future wife. We both laughed. A few months later James went out to meet Anna’s parents. This weekend Anna’s parents came for James’ ordination service, in which Anna participated, and for the engagement celebration. James joins the Fall’s Church ministerial staff in a few months. James and Anna plan a January wedding.
Living In Partnership With God includes hours of “sorting nails” and some very rewarding moments!