Enjoying ...

We are enjoying a time of relaxation and vacation! No alarm in the morning and no schedule to keep. Even got out tonight to do a little hunting... mostly sitting in a tree enjoying the silence, watching some squirrels, deer, turkeys and praying. Got some organizing done in my hunting section of the garage.

It is always hard taking vacation at home when there are people from the congregation hospitalized and having proceedures... the tug to be supportive and yet the need for a break create a struggle. It is eased however, knowing that the body... the church, especially folks at CoJ, are reaching out and supporting these folks! So glad to be part of a great group of people like CoJ!

Merry Christmas to all!

I am signing off the blogsphere for a few days... but before I do... Merry Christmas! AND Peace on earth!

Christmas Miracles....

The birth of Jesus was indeed a Christmas Miracle! But they don't stop there... miracles still happen....

Two that I have seen in my life this week...

1. My friend Chris' wife Tracy came home from Johns Hopkins on Monday night! Less than a week after surgery... in fact today is one week. They expected the surgery to last up to 12 hours and recovery to be 12 weeks or more. But the miracle in it all is that surgery lasted only 5 hours and she is home and recovery will only be a few weeks and the survival rate of this surgery was 50%. She is doing amazingly well and enjoying the opportunity to be at home with her family at Christmas!

2. God worked through the hands of the docs and pharmaceutical companies this week as my back is so much better!

I am sure you can find a miracle or two in your life to give thanks to God for this Christmas!

Another one gone...

The mail lady just picked up the check! It is such a great feeling! Paying off debt is a good thing! Sharon and I have never had much debt... we believe in paying bills as they come and buying things only when we have the money to do so.

Since we paid the last payment on Emma's orthodontia work a year or so ago, we have been paying that amount as extra toward my truck debt... one day this week, I called to see what the payoff was and it was low enough we could pay it off now... so, I wrote the check today and mailed it. That then leaves us only with a mortgage and a van payment. We need a new roof soon on our house, so we will put the money we would have paid for my truck each month in savings in the hopes that we can save a significant amount of what we will need for the roof by the time we need it! And once we pay for that, we will roll that amount into savings for a while and then throw that monthly amount toward the van payment. Once the van is paid off, we will have a size able amount of dollars to throw at our house mortgage and can pay that down quickly. Then we will put all that money we would have paid toward the house in a savings and get it ready for college expenses.

Debt is mortgaging one's future! Not good to carry too much debt! In these uncertain times, I encourage folks to make wise choices about purchases and accruing debt. Debt also keeps us from going places and doing things God calls us to, because we are encumbered!

Shortest Night of the Year....

That's right.... I said shortest night of the year... I know, I know... Dec. 21 is the shortest DAY of the year, but yesterday was Dec 22 and it was the shortest NIGHT of the year... maybe not for anyone but Sharon and I.

It was about 12:30 when I tried to turn over in bed and the dreaded back pain I felt 11 years ago while camping (that pain was the beginning of my journey with back pain and a herniated disk)... well it returned and was so intense that I spent the next three hours trying to get out of bed so that I could go to the ER. Finally about 3 a.m. I was able to get out of bed and walk some of the pain away. We decided to go to the ER to see what they could do... Arrived there at 3:45, got checked in almost immediately and seen almost immediately and sent home almost immediately. We were home by 4:50 a.m.! WOW... the shortest time I have ever spent as a patient in the ER! And the amazing thing is that when I came home, I had little back pain... thanks to two new pains - in my arms- due to shots of a high-powered pain med and muscle relaxant!

It was almost comical as we crawled into bet at 5:11 and realized that my alarm was about to go off and the coffee pot was about to start brewing and we were just COMING to bed!

Another funny thing is that the doc gave me a note saying I could go back to work on the 24th! But surely I will be working today in between naps and foggy periods due to the meds he sent me home with!

I feel so bad for Sharon... not getting much sleep because of tending to me and taking me to the ER! But she reminded me that a good wife would do whatever it took and besides, I would do the same for her! What a blessing!

It's COLD out!

This cold weather makes me think about our brothers and sisters who are homeless... toughing it out on the streets. The good news is that a shleter for women and children is open and the men's shelter is opening soon. Community of Joy will take a turn hosting the men from February 14 - 28. Various others churches will host them from January 3 through April 1. I am delighted to be part of an effort that is seeking to show the love of Christ to these our brothers.

To support this effort, Hill Street Blues Band and guests are doing a benefit concert on January 30 @ 7 p.m. @ Christ U.M Church. The tickets only cost $10... (I have ten and can get more). The total proceeds will be given toward purchasing more cots for this shelter effort.

Sharon and I attended the concert last year and were awed by the quality music. It was well worth $20 for the two of us! Save the date and get your tickets now.... last year it raised $1700.

What a Difference a Day Makes...

Wow! Re-learned a lesson yesterday!

This time of the year is so BUSY! So FULL! So HARRIED! We have been going full tilt for several weeks now and the condition of the house showed it! It was starting to drive me crazy! So, in spite the fact that yesterday was the first day of deer muzzleloader season, I committed myself to staying home and jumping in to the mess! Sharon and I spent the day together ticking things off our list (getting ready for Christmas) and cleaning, straightening the house. And wow! what a difference it made to the condition of things...and thus made to my spirits every time I walk through our dining room, kitchen, and family room! (that is until this morning when I walked through the family room at 5:30 and the girls were the last ones to bed last night... but that's a different story!)

It got me thinking... about Sabbath. You will remember that one of the ten commandments God established was to "Observe the sabbath day and keep it holy, as the Lord your God commanded you. Six days you shall labor and do all your work. But the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God; you shall not do any work..." (Deuteronomy 5:12) One of the things that happens when we observe sabbath, is we re-orient our lives... shifting the focus from the busyness and harriedness to God! Just as the re-ordered house lifts my spirits... a day of rest and worship renews our spirits as well! Observing Sabbath is a healthy way to ground our lives... to reconnect with God, to refuel and ready ourselves for whatever is ahead. It's not so much a law as it is a reality, a necessity in our lives! When we have sabbath in our lives... so much seems right and good and the fullness of the Lord can be our strength!

Fun at Christmas...

I always enjoy getting the family letters and pictures from people at Christmas! It is especially fun to get them from folks I don't see regularly or haven't seen in a long while.

Just got one of those today... some friends from our last church who came to visit us after we moved here 9 years ago and we haven't seen them since, but stay connected through email. Well, in their letter, they included a picture of their 6th grade daughter. I remember the day she was born prematurely and I held her at Hershey Medical Center and now she is in Middle School and growing up! WOW!

So cool to connect at Christmas time!

The gift of quest...

A quest is a journey of discovery! A journey towards a goal... Thinking about that journey of faith that each of us is on and offering that back as a gift to God.

The Gift of Quest is the topic for Sunday's worship experience! It's the gift God most wants from us!

It's What We DO...

Yesterday a friend and I spent the day supporting another friend as his wife had VERY RISKY surgery! We traveled to Johns Hopkins in Baltimore early in the a.m. and sat with our friend all day while he waited. His wife's surgery was very serious and they told them going in that it could take 12 hours and they had done 4 of these surgeries ever and 2 of the four people died! I am happy to report that the surgery was HUGELY SUCCESSFUL and only lasted 5 hours and she will be coming home sooner than expected if all goes well!

But back to what you do! I feel that as part of the body of christ, we are called to BE his hands and feet... and that means that we rearrange our schedules to share the journey with people we know and don't know. Yes, I am a pastor and as a pastor, I have spent lots of time doing this very thing... but yesterday, I was not a pastor... I was a friend sharing the journey with a friend! Sure I was still a pastor yesterday, but that was NOT why I was there... I was there to uphold my friend as he went through what was a very turbulent time. On the way home, my other friend was remarking on what a great idea it was to do what we did and how good it was that we did it! It meant a lot to all of us... and it is what Jesus calls us to do... to represent him to each other.

There is a hymn in our hymnal that sums it up best for me... by Richard Gillard @ 1977.

"Will you let me be your servant, let me be as Christ to you? Pray that I may have the grace to let you be my servant too. We are pilgrims on a journey, we are travelers on the road. We are here to help each other walk the mile and bear the load. I will hold the Christ light for you, in the night-time of your fear. I will hold my hand out to you, speak the peace you long to hear. I will weep when you are weeping, when you laugh, I'll laugh with you. I will share your joy and sorrow, till we've seen this journey through."

Being the hands and feet of Jesus... it's what we are called to DO!

It's Hard to Believe....

That 20 years ago today, Sharon and I walked the isle together at the Manassas Church of the Brethren and pledged our love to each other before some 400 family members and friends... WOW!

Our wedding was very creative... being seminary students, we had lots of ideas we wanted to test out... we had 7 ministers who were officially part of the service, with Becky and Jerry Baile Crouse and Fred Swartz officiating for us.

We wrote our own vows and here is what we promised to each other... "God has granted you to me as a friend, and out of that friendship, my love for you has grown. As that love has deepened, so to has my desire to be united with you in life and service. As we unite our lives, I promise to share in your laughter and tears, your dreams and despair. I will join with you in your love for your family, celebrating with them as they rejoice and mourning wiht them as they experience sorrow. I will join you faithfully in prayer as we continue constantly to seek God's will for our lives together so long as we live. Let this be our destiny to share our lives together so that we may with one voice glorify God!"

We had that done in calligraphy by a friend for our first anniversary and it hangs in our living room to this day!

It's been a great 20 years and I look forward to the next 20!

Coming in 09....

An increased emphasis on deepening our relational connection with God and each other! Our sign says, "where relationships matter" and we want to be such a place where relationships with God and each other are primary!

We will start the year with deepening our connections with people we don't know... Pastor Sharon and I will lead a number of dessert socials that will be hosted at various homes of people in the congregation... still needing some more hosts.

Fusion....

the process of integrating, connecting, joining together of two different things.... The Fusion Team will help newcomers connect ever more deeply with the ministry, mission and people of Community of Joy! AND the Fusion Team will help newcomers connect ever more deeply with the Lord Jesus Christ!

I like the word Fusion... it promotes an energy... and that is important!

Got 10 books yesterday... still looking for those who God has tapped to be part of the Fusion Team. I have some ideas... but will wait to see who steps forward before doing any inviting.

A new word for....

Trying to get together an Assimilation Team to work at incorporating newcomers into the life of our congregation...

On Sunday, I had several people say that the word "assimilation" had negative connotations, so I asked them to give me some suggestions...

Haven't heard any yet.. but thought of one myself... actually it is the title of the book I just read on the process... What about... Fusion Team?

Did something today that is RARE!

It is RARE that you can mow grass on the 15th of December in 60 plus degree weather.... but that's exactly what I did today. It was weird... but the neighbor who's grass I mow, wanted hers mowed one more time.

Everyone NEEDS a Laugh...

Because laughter is good for you.... and it's Monday morning... watch this.... (the link only is good until January 15.) Thanks to Tri Townsend for this laugh!

http://elfyourself.jibjab.com/view/RTQixmva48hix6IaGGno

Kicking and Screaming....

Yep, that's how I went into the texting craze! I have resisted adding texting to my cell phone plan for a long time now... but when we realized that for $5 more ---all of us could have unlimited texting... I knew the time was now to add it! I didn't think I would use it hardly at all... but I was wrong!

At first it seemed like a major interruption and a very slow way to communicate with someone. I can remember many times telling my daughters to pick up the phone and call someone when they were texting back and forth.... especially when we were needing a fast answer. I still hold think texting is not necessary and a distraction and interruption... however, it is a fun way to pass time, especially when bored. I used it a lot on the deer stand these past two weeks... when I couldn't talk, but needed to communicate or pass time. I also find that it has strengthened my connection with my girls! That alone is worth the cost!

What I have discovered, is that it is the way they communicate most and by doing it, I am entering their world!

Some more thoughts on the stopping the slippery slide...

Here are some quotes from Nelson Searcy's book regarding Assimilation...

"everything speaks to first-time guests -- EVERYTHING!"

"Creating an environment that makes your first-time guest feel welcomed and respected is key to a successful Assimilation System. When God entrusts you with first-time guests, you face an incredible responsibility. Those newcomers will likely make a decision about their return visit before they make it to their seats..."

"the three F's of Follow-up" It should be Fast, Friendly, and Functional."

"If you want second-timers to stick, ... you must understand that relationships are the glue. So, you must create Three Sticky Situations...1. Small Groups, 2. Fun Events, and 3. Service Teams."

Finally, the three R's of retention are Return, Relationships, and Responsibility.

Stopping the slippery slide....

At Monday's leadership team gathering... I noticed that again we are doing the slippery slide in terms of attendance, in spite of the fact that we continue to see new faces on a weekly basis! This reality troubles me greatly!

Yesterday, as I was riding up Rt. 13, I noticed the new Family Christian Bookstore was open for business, so I stopped in. I was perusing the stocked shelves and found a book by Nelson Searcy called "Fusion: Turing first time guests into fully-engaged members of your church." So, I bought it and read it yesterday late afternoon while on the deer stand (didn't see any deer -- maybe because I was so into reading!) I couldn't put the book down today until I finished it. It is an excellent read and has a process and system that I think will help us stop the slippery slide! The process is simple... it has three steps... 1. Turn first-time guests into second-time guests. 2. Turn second-time guest into regular attenders. 3. Turn regular attenders into fully developing members.

It's a process that is all about my favorite thing... RELATIONSHIPS!

I told the leadership team on Monday night that 2009 would be a year of deepening our relationships with each other in addition to deepening our relationship with Jesus! This process seems like it will help us do that AND stop the slippery slide...

I am interested in forming a study group that would read, discuss, and implement the process at CoJ!

We Never Know...

That's right, we never know what the next minute will bring in our lives! One minute everything is going well and you are thinking about retirement in 20 years and the next minute you receive some news that makes you wonder if you will see the end of this year!

I have a friend whose wife recently learned that an aneurysm is growing in her abdomen... and that news alone sent them for a tail spin... now, just yesterday, they went to the ER because she was experiencing some pain... after the scans.. they discovered that it is growing and needs to be dealt with soon! The surgery is risky to say the least but the alternative is just as risky.

Her situation is not really any different than ours, except she knows something that most of us don't. That news makes it hard to think clearly and make decisions. None of us knows what we would do if faced with the situation! I know what I think I would do, but can't fully know until I face it.

But what I do know and what I am praying that my friend will experience is that God is with them in this journey... however it turns out!

Mondays...

I've never really liked Mondays... and the older I get and the more active our kids get and having two worship gatherings on Sunday... I find that I hate Mondays!

Mostly because I want to let down and recover from the weekend, but I feel the tension of all the stuff that is yet ahead. If I can kick back on Sunday afternoon and rest a bit, then Mondays are more tolerable... but if I can't, like yesterday, then Mondays are at the bottom of my list! Yesterday, I got up like usual at 5:15... showered, spent time in studio - praying and preparing for the services, got to the Ministry Center at 8 and left at noon. Rushed to get Caroline fed and to the high school for the parade then ate at Arby's with the rest of us, then home for 45 minutes (tried to put up the tree, but got a phone call) then to the parade then to the Ministry Center to help Sharon set up for evening...then home long enough to eat supper and run to Atria to meet the other carolers and then to the ministry center to carol in the neighborhood and back for tree lighting and then off to Fruitland to carol at two homes then 9 p.m. arrived home ... tried to watch the Skins game, but fell asleep ... in bed at 11 up and 5:15 and it starts all over...

You see why I need Mondays as a down day, but then I have lots pressing me and want to work on, so I can play later in the week!

God was right on when he established a Sabbath idea! It is a necessary thing for all of us!... and I would take one on Sundays, but as some would say... it's the only day a preacher works! Now that is an antiquated idea if ever there was one!

Off to get at my to do list now... will rest later tonight after my leadership team meeting... which will mean 11 or so!

Dreams...

In looking through my files of illustrations and stories in preparation for next week's sermon on the Returned Gift of Risk... I found this quote...

"For broken dreams, the cure is 'dream again.'" C.S. Lewis

If we stop dreaming when one dream doesn't happen... we miss out on so much!

Returned Gifts...

This year for our Advent and Christmas season... I am using the theme of Returned Gifts to guide us. This week... the gift of availability!

The response of availability is 'Here I am, use me/send me!"

Relationships are where it is at!

Relationships are so important! And as important as they are, they take work! We must work at keeping our relationships strong and vital.

Imagine what it would be like without friends to help and help you. Imagine what it would be like not to have anyone to talk to. Imagine what it would be like to go through life alone!

We were created for relationship! Not to go at life alone! I thank God for my friends, family, brothers and sisters in Christ and all those with whom I have a relationship! Because of the relationships I have, life is so much fuller and enjoyable!

An Honor...

It was an honor to be asked to share some thoughts today at my friend Jack Pierroni's funeral. He was such a great guy and a dear friend, who I will miss terribly!

He was Catholic, so the service was at St. Frances and very catholic! (enough said!) At the end, after communion, Jack's longtime school friend and also brother in law, Joe, shared some thoughts as did I.

I always try to tell stories... either from first hand experience or from ones I have heard the family and friends share. I learned a long time ago that stories open windows and doors for us into a new world and stories can be very healing! Today, I could share first hand stories as I knew Jack well! It was affirming to have LOTS of people seek me out afterward and at the meal to tell me how on the mark I was and then to tell me a story or two of their own about Jack. You see stories provoke stories. One of the neatest ones, was from Jack's brother Mike... I had shared about the joy that Jack found in teaching children about nature and hunting.... Mike says that every Saturday, from October 1 through the end of February when they were growing up their father would get the three brothers together and any friends that they wanted to bring along and teach them about hunting. Mike said as I was sharing that... he was reminiscing about how Jack learned that from his dad! So cool!

What an honor to share in Jack's service. My prayers are for the family as they move through these days!

Forgiveness of Sins...

I attended a friends viewing last night. He was Catholic and the viewing was listed in his obituary as a "viewing with prayers." I wasn't sure what that meant, so, when I took a ham to his wife and children yesterday, I asked. And I was told that near the end of the viewing time, a priest would come and lead the group in a short prayer service.

I arrived at the halfway point last night and it happened to be in the midst of the prayer service, so, I stood in the lobby and waited for it to be over. It was fascinating, though, for me a non-catholic to listen in. Near the end of the service, the reader (not a priest, no priest was there!) read a prayer out of the liturgy asking God to forgive my friend's sins. Now that got me thinking... can we ask for forgiveness for someone else? Or do each of us need to ask for forgiveness for ourselves?

I believe that the Bible speaks of the need to seek and extend forgiveness... but I can't recall a place where it encourages us to seek forgiveness of sins for another person. The only way we can experience forgiveness of sins is to confess our sins and ask for God's forgiveness ourselves.

Imitators

I've been spending some time this hunting season with my nephew, Benjamin. On the 15th of Nov. he got his first deer. And Saturday, we spent time together in the a.m. and p.m. hunting... but no luck. I've been intentional about the way I do things because I know that he is watching me and imitating what he sees. Over and over, I go through the same steps as we climb into the stand and get out... that way he knows to unload his gun, use a tow rope, and always wear a safety belt. When I gave him the new safety belt I bought for him, his first response to me was are you going to wear one too? I said, "OF COURSE!" And the case was closed!

I learned Saturday night that I had slipped up a bit and he noticed. Apparently when he shot his first deer and we thought it was dead and walked up to it only to have it jump up and run... I uttered a word I shouldn't have said... he promptly went home telling my parents and his mother (my sister) that Uncle Martin said..."@@@@ and he's a pastor!" Wow! I am sorry I uttered that shocked response! I will have to do better! We DO learn from others!

Paul writes in Ephesians 5:1 "Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."

The Rest of the Story...

I teased this one last week. Shared it yesterday at the end of my sermon. Was called by a friend who reads the blog and couldn't wait to hear the story.

So, here it is... I got lost AGAIN on Monday night while hunting. I was hunting a piece of woods that is about 500 acres and very thick. I was in a climber stand and went deeper in the woods than I normally do. Had 12 does under me in the evening and couldn't shoot any of them, since I have taken the limit imposed by the farm (3). When it got dark, I climbed down, packed the stand up and started out. I was confident that I was headed in the right direction, but suddenly, the forest was getting thicker and thicker... didn't recognize the location at all. Started to panic. Got out my GPS and turned it on... thought I had allowed it time to lock in on the satellites and put in my "goto" location (the field edge) but when the gps told me which way to go, then it would flip to another screen and I would switch it back and it would switch back... thought I shouldn't trust it... so, I got my deer call that has a SMALL compass on it out and couldn't see it too well since I didn't have my glasses. I needed to head North West... walked in that direction but didn't feel right... my bright flashlight died (had a little one)... really panicking now... called my friend Jack, but he wasn't home... so called my hunting buddy and friend Wil who was willing to jump in the truck and come 25 minutes to rescue me. While I was waiting, it started raining... couldn't figure which way to go, so, in fear of going deeper in the wrong way, I stood still... called my friend Bryan in PA to pass the time. (I had also called Sharon to tell her I was going to be late) Thought better about talking to Bryan for fear of using all my cell phone battery, so, I hung up and waited in the dark (didn't want to use up my flashlight either). When Wil got to the farm, he called me and we were talking on the phone as he drove through the woods road into the field that I wanted to get to... I told him that I saw his lights immediately and he said where are you... I turned the flash light on... and he said... you are 50 yards from the corner of the field! Headed in the right direction and almost right where I wanted to be. Turns out, I didn't let my gps lock in ... was too impatient... should have trusted it, because as I walked out into the field, it told me that I was "arriving at destination".

Lessons learned... 1. Be thankful for good friends. 2. be prepared. 3. be patient. 4. Don't panic. 5. When lost, it's okay to call out to God! 6. leave a little sooner. 7. Always carry a gps and a compass and back up batteries.

My impatient friend gave me a gift today... he and his family were at Colonial Williamsburg over the weekend and he saw they had a compass... so he bought it and gave it to me in the hopes that it would help me someday! Thanks Steve!

Thanksgiving Learning...

It's always nice to get away...

Since we live 4 hours from Sharon's family and have most weekends tied up, we don't see the family as often as we'd like... so, we always take a couple extra days to spend there around Thanksgiving. This year we left of Wednesday and got home here in Salisbury on last night. I don't like taking those days as vacation, so, I take things along to work on while I am there. This year, I found it to be a extremely productive thing for me. I got some good planning into the 2009 sermon year!

Something, I've known but forgot, was how productive it can be sometimes to change locations. I get tired of the same environment of my office and going some place new can be just the ticket for getting the creative juices flowing!

I had some other learnings or insights as well that I will share later... right now, I must prep for this morning's worship gatherings.... and that begins with drinking lots of coffee and praying I don't get sick. Seems that Friday around midnight, 3 of the family that was together on Thanksgiving day (Caroline was one) all got violently sick....whatever it is it must be HIGHLY contagious and it includes a terrible head ache... got one of those right now... but then it could also be from not having caffeine yesterday as I don't drink coffee when I deer hunt and I usually get a headache from not having caffeine.

Taking a Blogging Break....

We are headed to my Virginia Office! So, I will be taking a blogging break until Sunday.

This is an important Thanksgiving for us to be together with Sharon's family... it's the first since her mother died.

Thanksgiving will be at her sister Emily's like it has been for years. Then Friday, the girls will get up early for the Black Friday deals... actually it's more just spending time with Sharon's sister Dianna... boy they love getting up early to go together! You wouldn't find me in that crowd for $100. I will work at Emily's house. Then Friday night we will journey back, so that I can hunt on Saturday (Maryland's Gun deer season opens) and the girls will sell Christmas Trees at my dad's tree farm.

Hopefully we will come back with several deer to butcher early next week!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Returned Gifts...

One of the greatest challenges I face as a pastor is knowing how to choose themes for Christmas and Easter seasons... and keep them fresh. I always look for ideas and start thinking about themes way in advance... but it doesn't get any easier!

This year, I decided to use the theme "Returned Gifts". Should be kinda interesting. At least I hope so... lots of people stand in long lines on Dec 26 to return gifts that someone thoughtfully chose for them!

Uncanny Experiences....

It seems that 3 out of 4 weeks or more frequently... as I am working on a sermon theme for that week... God provides some first hand experience that illustrates the themes. These experiences are uncanny! I had one such experience tonight... will share about that experience in Sunday's sermon!

It is truly amazing how this works! I really could have done without tonight's experience!

An Age Related Mistake...

When Emma came out on the stage Thursday night, I thought my mother's age was showing.... Mom made Emma's dress and I thought she forgot to make the bottom part of the apron. I wasn't sure how I was going to tell my mom that she messed up... then I got home and looked in the box that mom sent the dress in and THERE was the apron! Guess it was my age that was showing! Oh well!

Emma looks much better in the complete costume! It was neat to share last night with Mom and Dad and for them to see Emma do her thing as Alice! Last night was the better of the two evenings!

One PROUD Papa!

Last night and tonight, my daughter Emma has the lead role in her school's production of The Adventures of Alice in Wonderland... that's right... she is Alice! She did a fabulous job last night and I expect she will do the same tonight!

The actors did a great job! It was fun to watch and makes me one proud papa!

An interesting note... Hannah plays the part of Emma's sister! And the dress Hannah is wearing has been in every Wi Middle Play since Caroline's days in drama there!

The call that got me thinking...

I received a phone call the other day... a guy was wanting to know what CoJ was doing to help families for Thanksgiving and Christmas. I suspect I will get lots of these calls!

The story goes that he just got laid off and wanted to provide his kids with a nice Thanksgiving and Christmas. So, I told him that for Christmas, we were working through Joseph House and some families there. But for Thanksgiving he and his family would be welcome to have a free meal from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. at our neighbors, Bethany Lutheran Church. I am sure the meal will be a traditional thanksgiving meal with all the trimmings! After telling him that, it was clear that this was NOT what he was looking for and our call ended.

That call got me to thinking... why is there an expectation on the public's part that churches have an obligation to provide a meal at their home or even presents for Christmas. (I am thinking out loud here.) I don't have a problem with helping people with food if they are in need of that kind of help... in fact, that is why Bethany is doing the meal and why we, together, with them are opening a food pantry. BUT, why should the church be expected to give presents at Christmas? And is it a good thing for us to give presents at Christmas? Or are we just buying into the commercialization of Christmas when we do that! Nothing wrong with organizations in the community helping people in that way, but why the church?

I'm not sure what the right thing to do here is... I enjoyed taking the gifts we gave to one of the families last year and seeing the way it touched them... however, there seems to be an expectation that church's do this, yet these same people don't want anything to do with the church the rest of the year! I guess, I am reacting to the expectation that is present more than anything else!

Scapegoating God!

Spoke to a friend today, who had read my blog... and suggested that the best way to care for leaves is to adopt the God produced them, God will remove them philosophy. While it is impossible to keep God from removing some of the leaves, it just isn't too neighborly to let God remove all of the leaves...though these windy days sure do their share!

That philosophy is not one I want to adopt... for a number of reasons... neither does my friend, I just couldn't resist sharing it!

Christmas 08

Yesterday, on our way to the Mall to walk in the early a.m., Sharon and I heard Christmas music being played on Froggy 99! yep... it sure was!

Our Christmas theme at Community of Joy for 2008 will be " Returned Gifts!"

Visitors/Guests WELCOMED, EXPECTED!!!!

After raking gathering leaves today, I decided to mow the grass at the Ministry Center. The new grass is getting long and would look better over the winter if it was mowed... so, while I was at it, I mowed the whole lot!

I was just about done and was mowing on the corner of Smith Street and South Blvd when a car came out of Smith Street and pulled the wrong way on South Blvd, stopping right in front of the Ministry Center. The lady inside rolled down her window and I shut off the mower. She asked me if we allowed visitors! Yep, you read that right! She's been looking at our church as she rides by (and hoping she would see someone out so she could ask), but wanted to know if she would be welcomed to stop in! I told her ABSOLUTELY! We'd LOVE to have her stop in and visit with us! She then said she had seen on our Marque something about a Bible Study... is that still going on was her question and could she come to that! Again, I told her ABSOLUTELY! We'd LOVE to have her!

Then I told her the worship times and the difference between the gatherings. And just before she was going to go, I asked what her name was and told her that I was Martin, one of the Pastors here... and she said, "well it is my lucky day!"

Guests and visitors are expected and hoped for at Community of Joy!

That encounter just might be the begining of the answer to my prayers! It certainly makes all that knee work worth it!

Spent most of the day on my knees!

Yep, you read that right! I spent most of the day on my knees... putting leaves in trash bags at the Ministry Center. Frank Potvin used the blower to put them in piles and I raked them and put them in 26 trash bags. My knees are soiled from being on them... but that is easier on the ole back than bending over to do it.

While I was on my knees, I spent some time praying for our church's growth and impact.

I also spent some time in deep theological reflection! I just love the fall... and yes for more than deer hunting! I love the beauty of the spectacular colors.... but then those beautiful leaves fall to the ground and you have to do something with them. If you don't, you aren't being a very good neighbor! Any ways, while I was on my knees gathering these leaves, I was thinking... how wonderful it would have been if Adam and Eve hadn't eaten the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil! After all, if they hadn't, we wouldn't have to toil so hard to gather the leaves!!!!


It sure looks nice though with the leaves up and the grass mowed! Who would have thought that the brushy lot we bought looks this nice now!

Our first wedding in our new ministry center.

I officiated our first wedding in our new ministry center today! It was real nice. Congrats to Kelly and David Brown.

One PROUD Uncle...

Took my 10 yr old nephew Benjamin hunting this morning in the rain... It was a GREAT time for us. He ended up having three bucks very close and was able to close the deal on one.. his FIRST ever. And the neat thing is that I shot my first deer there in the same spot, when I was 10!

I don't usually show dead animal shots... but I am so proud.. I've got to do it!

Remembering Mrs. Moon....

Going to a funeral today for Mrs. Virginia Moon. She was 95 years old and until recently (last couple of years), she was the organist at my home church. When I think of her... she was FAITHFUL... can't remember too many Sunday's when she was not behind the organ playing away... even when she would rather have let someone else do it... she was there. You see there were few people who knew how to play the organ and fewer who would make the commitment Mrs. Moon did! For years she and Mrs. Stevens played the organ and piano together! That was a beautiful sound!

Mrs. Moon also was Faithful in prayer and she was a strong supporter of youth. When I made the decision to accept the call to the ministry, she was one of my biggest encouragers and prayer partners. She always wanted to know how it was going. No matter how old she was, she always took an interest in the youth! She will be missed!

Prayers for her daughter Barbara and her family!

Hope...

Working on my sermon for Sunday from the great Romans 8 passage. Here is a great quote about hope... "For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience." 8:24-25.

Responding to Evil....

There are two typical responses to evil in our world... 1. IGNORE it! and 2. FIGHT back (respond evil for evil). Paul puts forth another response in Romans 12:14-21. When he says "Do not repay evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all." (NRSV) The third way to respond to evil is to TAKE THOUGHT! Taking thought causes us to pause and opens the possibility of a creative way to solve the struggle.

So, instead of ignoring evil or responding in like manner... TAKE THOUGHT!

The Rut is on...

This is the week that it is anticipated that the bucks (male deer) are rutting (in the breeding mood). It is always a fun time to hunt and usually you see big bucks that otherwise stay out of sight and don't come out until after dark. I plan to hunt as much as I can this week. Have several evening commitments and a wedding on Saturday, that will cut down on the time in the woods... but will get out as much as I can.

It's a lovely time of year to be out observing nature and its beauty. Off to the woods I go!

Dealing with the subject of retaliating evil for evil...

Today in worship we will look at Romans 12:14-21. In it Paul addresses our response to evil in our world and God's response to evil in our world.

It should be a fun time today, as I am offering a "talk back" time after the sermon. I love doing this because it allows us to learn from each other and to ask questions as well as seek answers. Questions are not something to fear... they are the way we learn -- and some questions don't have good answers and in those situations, we must have faith... faith is being certain of something we have not seen.

Great Day!

In spite of the HARD down pours of rain, we accomplished lots of cleaning at our Ministry Center this morning. Most people worked outside, and a few inside. We gathered 3 pickup truck loads of leaves in large bags... TOTALLY cleaning up the downed leaves and now just a few hours later, it hardly looks like we did a thing! Got the flowerbed expanded and mulched, sidewalk edged, new hedge planted, heating system updated so that it will be more efficient and heat the lobby better, closets and cupboards organized, finished insulating the crawl space under the lobby and so much more!

Still had more things to do, but by 4 p.m. those last few were getting tired and all were ready to go home.

Thanks to all who helped out! -- Even had a couple from our sister church in Ridgely, MD come down to help us... what a BLESSING! Thanks Tom and Jo!

Like Old Times Once Again... but we missed Frank

Today, Tri, Jim, and myself spent most of the day at the ministry center working on our to do list. Today we added heat vents in the Library and one bathroom, enlarged the heat vents in the lobby, and began replacing all the downstairs vents that have been painted over and are restricting heat flow. Tri also spent most of the day in the crawl space under the lobby insulating the floor. It was never insulated.

Great day! But we sure missed Frank! I'm told he will join us tomorrow! Then it will be like old times, except we hope LOTS of other people will join us too! Gonna have a clean-up day! Should be a great time for folks to get to know each other and to accomplish the many tasks that are necessary now that we own a property.

Pictures from my Therapy session this morning...

Isn't God's creation BEAUTIFUL!

Headed to Therapy...

Yep, the rain has stopped and the winds settled down... so, I am about to got to the woods to see how the deer are running! It will be my first morning hunt in a spot I've been saving until the wind is right and the rut is on. Should be fun. I love watching the morning light come and the woods come alive! Pooh had it right ... there is nothing more sweeter than the Dawn Chorus!

Surely God Smiles...

When two or more churches work together in mission! I am excited to announce that we are partnering with Bethany Lutheran Church (our neighboring church) to provide a Food Pantry to assist meeting needs that are present in our community. Both Pastor Kevin and I are getting lots of requests! And one day in talking, we decided that it would be awesome to cooperate in an effort to share with our neighbors in need. The location will be in Bethany's house. Both Pastor Kevin and I will have access codes to the Pantry and in it we will have frozen venison as well as non-perishable canned goods.

Community of Joy folks are invited to bring food items every Sunday in November and then the First Sunday of the Month afterward.

Loving our new HVAC system

Yesterday, we got our new HVAC system installed... had no choice. The old one made it 21 years. Went with a York 18 SEER system. It is so QUIET! We hardly know it is running. I am hoping it will help us save lots on our electric bill. Also loving the programable thermostat... can set it to mirror our lifestyle.

Was happy to be able to pay cash for it! Been saving for a new roof next spring. Now, we have to start that process all over, but at least we didn't incur any debt in putting in the system. I don't like debt! In fact in a couple months, I will have paid off my truck early and then will put that monthly payment in an account toward our new roof! And when that happens, the only debt we will have is the house and the van... both are paid ahead a little! Debt is mortgaging your future!

Voted...

Sharon called this morning around 9 to say that there were no lines and she got in and out of the polling place VERY quickly. I went around 10 and had the same experience.... about 20 minutes. But behind me, the lines were forming.... they were headed out the door shortly. Sure was glad that I went when I did! Hope you vote today too!

I have voted in every election since I was old enough to vote! Only once did I vote for a loser who actually won and that is almost over now! Sure hope my vote was part of bringing a great page turn in our country's life!

Props to the poll workers... GREAT job with keeping thing orderly and moving!

Praise Him in the Sanctuary!

Some things fell into place for me today... canceled my men's group because one was sick and I thought I had to pick up Emma from school, but Sharon's meeting was changed and she told me she could get Emma! So,....

I headed to my favorite worship spot! The most beautiful sanctuary ever created! God's sanctuary... the autumn woods. Saw 9 deer... 4 were bucks... took lots of photos of this one spike buck that was under my stand for a LONG time. Even saw two gobblers... will look for them next spring.

It was a beautiful night and a great time and place to pray!

Talk Back

In both worship gatherings today, I had a talk back time after the sermon. I really like doing this... I feel like I learn so much from others and it takes the sermon from a talking head experience to a community experience. It is always good to hear from others!

I never could....

sleep in! It is possible, but RARE for me to sleep past my normal wake up time. So, when the clock read 4:15 this morning... I was awake. Yesterday it was 5:15 but with the time change... it was an hour earlier. Never mind that I could have had an extra hour to sleep. So, I got up and began my routine. Gave me some extra time to pray and prepare for the morning's worship gatherings. I don't like coming into the worship gatherings frazzled! It just sets the wrong tone in my spirit and I fell like it spills over into the gathering!

Looking forward to worship this morning! There is a sermon talk back time... I always like those... love hearing what others are thinking! And then the icing on the cake is the carry-in meal after the second gathering. Love the variety of food and the opporunity to build new relationships.

Enjoying the summer day...

Taking advantage of the heat to get some things done outside...

First, I cut and hauled two pickup loads of pine branches from my pine trees.

Second, started the irrigation at the Ministry Center to water the new grass, especially the part that is taking it's time growing.

Third, winterized the pool, though don't know why... doubt we will put a new liner in this year as it is nearly $3500 and we are getting a new HVAC system on Tuesday and need a new roof in a year or two. Still... disconnected the pump and filter and cleaned them up for storage.

Fourth, filled some holes in the woodwork near the back garage door where mice sometimes come in.

Fifth, put away the window boxes and planters from the summer decoration scheme.

Sixth, getting some arrows fletched so, I can keep hunting.

Seventh, baked some brownies for tomorrow's carry-in.

Eighth, did two loads of laundry and hung them out to dry.

Ninth, made a few church related phone calls.

Tenth, went to the bank for Caroline!

Now, I am tired! If it weren't so hot, I would head to the woods to hunt deer... but it is too hot for that now!

The Ultimate Gift....

This past week as Sharon and I have been doing our daily walk at the mall, we've noticed that the stores and mall are prepping for Christmas. It is really early this year. But then, I guess they are trying to get a jump on the competition in this tough economic time.

One of the advertising campaigns that the mall is using this year - pictures a beautiful lady with the slogan... "Give the Ultimate Gift". It is an ad for the mall's gift cards. I noticed today that not only are there large banners of this campaign around the mall, but on the tables in the food court, there are smaller promotional flyers. Some how, I doubt this is the ULTIMATE gift! It doesn't even come close!

Today in the mail, I received a catalog for one thing that seems more like an Ultimate gift than a gift card to the mall. It is a catalog for Heifer International. (www.heifer.org/catalog). Heifer International was founded by Church of the Brethren leader Dan West with the idea that giving a heifer to a family in a developing country would bless their lives in a huge way and then the expectation that each family would give the first female offspring to another family. What you have then is a gift that gives and gives and gives. Last year alone... Heifer International helped 150,000 families and trained another 250,000 families in farming techniques. It has long since moved from giving only heifers to all kinds of animals. Now this, it seems to me, is more like an Ultimate gift!

I think this year, we will be giving some of these gifts to our friends and family!

Gotta love...

these frosty mornings! I am about to show Caroline how to scrape the frost from her car! A new experience for her and one that will make her get up a bit earlier.

The frost signals the end of mowing, the end of HOT temps, the end of chiggars and mosquitos!

YEAH!

What will you do....

On Sunday morning when my alarm goes off at 5:20, it will really be 4:20 by the new time. That means I will gain an extra hour... so will you!

What will you do with your extra hour?

Most of us will probably sleep it away! But some of us will be creative in our use. I bet some folks will stay up later, knowing they have an extra hour to sleep in the next a.m. Some will get up at the regular time (as I suspect I will -- since I am conditioned to get up 6 days a week at 5:20 a.m.) For me, I expect I will spend that time praying for our church's ministries and growth as we seek to be the hands and feet of Jesus in the world.

A Thought....

When we step out... God steps in! We have experienced that again and again and again at Community of Joy!

I am so grateful that when we step out of the boat and trust God... God steps in!

Timely Advice....

This morning as part of my daily Bible reading, I read some helpful and timely advice for all of us during this financial upheval and crisis our country is having. "Humble yourselve therefor, under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you." (I Peter 5:6-7) (And yes, Stephen, I am a little behind in my readings... got into Ezekial today as well!)

Lesson Learned....

Make a mistake once... learn from it. Make it twice... shame on you! I learned from my mistake last week. Last night when my friend called to say he needed help finding a deer he shot... I took my GPS. AND we turned the lights of his truck on in the field, so that we could always know which way to go. Good thing we did... because we got turned around on more than one occasion. Once (before we turned the lights on) I thought we were headed straight away from his truck and we walked up on a truck reflecting in our flash light beams... after investigating, we discovered that it was his truck and we had gotten turned around. Thick woods, rain, wind, and a gazillion trees that mostly look alike at night sure make it hard.

Decided to pull out til this a.m. and will go back when it is light to find it.

The Numbers are in...

All of us are getting our quarterly statements on investments and finding that we are losing lots of money. I was wondering how long it would take for that loss to effect our giving at Community of Joy. Well, it didn't take long!

We have two main funds.... the general fund and the building fund. The general fund remains strong, though has slipped this month from what it was. The BIG shift has been in the building fund.... in October it was off an average of $250 a week from what is needed.

It has been great up until now, not to need to beat the drum for giving to our church's ministries. I am hopeful that we can turn this around!

AWESOME DAY!

What an incredible energy there was today at Community of Joy! We had great attendance at both our worship gatherings! Lots of neat stories of ways God is working in our midst. Lots of new faces and some faces that we've seen a couple of times. We had 74 unduplicated people today! I pray that this is the begining of a surge to break the 100 barrier real soon!

Last night was a WASH OUT!

Went to see the band competition... and saw one band play in the drizzle! Caroline's band was standing there in it the whole time.... took their positions on the field in the pouring rain and then were waived off the field due to lightning. They said a 20 minute delay... but it POURED, so they canceled it.

Couldn't believe that it wasn't canceled earlier in the day... 7 bands ... thousands of dollars of instruments getting wet... hundreds of band uniforms now need dry cleaning... some bands came from a distance! Too bad! We do need the rain though!

Tonight....

If the rain holds off... Delmarvacade of Bands! Should be a fun night watching the local high school bands do their marching routines. This is the first year that Caroline is not marching... she is in the pit... playing bells and other percussion instruments. She is really enjoying that experience! Sharon and I are looking forward to seeing the whole routine!

Like a needle in a haystack...

That's how it was this morning finding both the cell phone and the deer. We found the cell phone first! It was simply amazing that we were able to find it because we were in the woods deep and in parts we had no idea where. The best way to sum it up is as my friend said when he found his phone... "THANK YOU LORD!".

Then after a lot of searching we found the deer too! Boy was that a great morning!

Kinda felt like the lady in Luke 15 who lost a coin and tore the house up looking for it. My pants are soiled on the knees because in many parts of the woods we were in this morning, we were crawling. It was so THICK! I wish I had taken my camera with me to take a picture, but I didn't want to loose it so, I left it in the truck.

Great day, but time I didn't have.... so, I will be working tomorrow in the office for a while.

A scary feeling...

Went hunting last night and was successful in getting a doe....but when I went with my friend, after dark to track her .... we ended up getting LOST! She wound her way through a tangled thicket of laurel and when we turned to leave, we went the wrong way. Turns out that he didn't have his compass and I didn't have my GPS and the moon was not high enough to see, so we were in the THICK woods lost. We must have walked hundreds of yards in the wrong direction. Called another friend who has a key to the gate and he came to the field edge and blew his truck horn so we had some way of getting direction. When he did, we had to turn around and walk a LONG ways through the thick back in the opposite direction that we had gone. The amazing thing is that when we got to the edge of the woods... it was the EXACT spot where we walked in following the deer trail! That won't happen again in a hundred years!

We both were delighted to get out. Even if we have to go back this morning to get my deer and his cell phone (which we discovered he lost, when he went to call his wife to tell her we were lost!) Hope we find his cell phone quickly and don't get lost again... however if we do, I will have my GPS and should be no problem!

An open invitation....

Every Wednesday night @ 7:15 p.m. I gather with several other people at the Community of Joy Ministry Center for a special Bible Study. It is a rich time spiritually for all of us. We are working our way through the New Testament and currenlty are in Matthew 8. You are invited to join the group.... it usually lasts about an hour and it has been a real blessing to all who have attended. Hope to see you there this week!

Church is NOT a club!

Interesting conversation I had with a fella yesterday!

I was at the Ministry Center doing some advance planning for Christmas and watering the new grass when it was clear that some one was trying to get in the front door-- but it was locked. (I had come in the back door.) It was a middle aged couple... happy to see me... told me that they had stopped by many times and I was never there. (I wanted to tell them I am ALWAYS here on Sundays!, but I bit my tongue and said, "my office is not in this building.") They were seeking some help with food... what Joseph House and Urban Ministries was able to offer them is not enough for their family and work for him will not start until next week. (I bought them 2 gallons of milk and 3 loaves of bread, and some butter.... they had lots of peanut butter and cereal but needed bread and milk. I also gave them two large bags of venison -- one bag of tenderloin and one of burger-- they were pleased!) We made arrangements for them to stop back by in an hour to pick up the food, since I needed to go get it from the house and store.

One thing the gentleman said to me, makes me write this blog... he said, "I grew up Catholic and my mom said that I should go by the Catholic Church to see what they could do for me, since all those years I faithfully gave them money... surely they should be able to help me now!" The Church is NOT a club... we don't pay dues and reap benefits as a result of paying those dues! In fact, someone has said... "the church is the only organization that exists totally for those who aren't part of it!" Sure there are benefits to being part of the body of people often referred to as the "church" but those aren't the benefits. The benefits are found in being part of community where we can support one another and share our struggles and joys. Those benefits are ours regardless of what we give or how much... but they can't be ours if we don't participate!

Another cool thing that happened yesterday was this... the couple also went to Bethany Lutheran and Pastor Kevin helped them too... he and I talked afterward and agreed that it would be a great mutual ministry to have some food on hand to give out. He offered the garage in their house next door as a location for some shelves and a freezer. We will have more conversation about this... but I can see a freezer stocked with some venison and other meats and a shelving unit that is stocked with some canned goods, that we gather from our collective groups. And that would just be the beginning of some valuable ministries for our community!

Awesome God....

I love these cool mornings... today when I walked out to get the paper, it was frosty and cool and the half moon was shining and a gazillion stars were twinkling... as I looked up at the beauty... my whole being was singing a song of praise to an Awesome Creator God who didn't skip the details of this beautiful world he made! I am so blessed to be part of it!

Neat Experience....

Today's experiment in both worship gatherings was a neat experience and enriching. What a cool and inspiring time it was! Very moving!

I really like this Bible Study method... reading a passage out loud three or four times and then asking the following questions... 1. What did you like about the passage? 2. What didn't you like? 3. What don't you understand? 4. What did you learn about God? and 5. If you applied one thing that you learned about God today in your life this week, what would it look like?

It was also very moving to have the special song "Anoint us Lord" sung and to do an anointing for all who wanted it.... most everyone came forward for it. LOTS of tears flowed as God moved in our midst!

I now know that his process works in a variety of settings and in a variety of ages and spiritual maturities.

Something I've never done on Sunday....

I hope we are in for a real treat on Sunday! I plan to do something that is different. Not your usual sermon. I hope it will fly well and be meaningful for folks... it has GREAT possibility! Looking forward to trying something different and new!

What's up with this....?

I went away for a two day trip to get some much needed R and R... and I come home BUSHED! While it was fun being in the middle of acres of marsh land, with no cell signal and bugling sika deer, I am exhausted. We got up on Wednesday at 2 a.m. to head up... sat in the stand ALL day with no lunch on Wednesday... saw my first and only deer at 11:45 a.m. and then again at 2:20 p.m. Only saw it for a second each time. Was bowhunting and had no opportunity that day. Got back to Cambridge at 8:30 p.m. for supper, then showered and into bed by 10. Then up on Thursday at 3:45 a.m. and off again. Only saw one deer on Thursday when walking in to the stand from the argo. My good friend, Wil, took the stag of a lifetime on Thursday... they estimate him to be 15-17 years old. It was an exhausting and expensive two days... but over all it was fun. Now I am tired and itchy... LOTS of mosquitoes. In fact as dusk comes each day, the drone of mosquitoes is deafening!

The pics are Wil's stag and the area I hunted last night.

Off to Crapo....

Tomorrow a.m. bright and EARLY... 3 a.m. early, I will leave my house with a friend and drive to Dorchester Co... to the marshes in search of a trophy sika stag. This will be my first ever paid hunt with a guide. I am really looking forward to it. Should be lots of fun, if the mosquito's don't carry me away!

We will be hunting on Wed with a bow and Thursday with a muzzle loader. It will be my first ever ride in an argo... an amphibious vehicle that can travel across the marsh.

So Moving...

Yesterday's funeral was a true testimony to a life well lived, even if short! Cindy touched so many people in profound ways in her 46 years! It was standing room only at the funeral home and somewhere close to 20 or more peices of fire equiptment for the procession. And then the ladder trucks forming the arch at the cemetary was beautiful. It was also heartwarming to see the firemen at Fruitland along the roadside with a truck and in uniform at attention as we drove by!

But the most moving part of the whole service was at the very end. And I confess I was a bit cynical when the funeral director mentioned the possibility... I thought not another way to take money... but boy was I wrong... and I even had to confess my error to the lady who did it!

At the end of the committal service, there was a lady who brought some white doves... they were in a white wicker basket... three in one and 1 in another. T.J. -- Cindy's son released the three (after the lady read a informative piece and psalm) the three represented the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then as they circled the crowd in the bright blue, cloudless sky, to the song "Wind Beneath My Wings", Glenn released the lone dove -- symbolizing Cindy's spirit... and when it joined the three and all four circled and circled the crowd... what a breathtaking picture. And if that wasn't moving enough... on the third circle, all four doves, swooped down just above Glenn and T.J.'s heads... I almost lost it at that moment! What a fitting final piece to the service!

I was so wrong about the doves.... I would highly recommend anyone doing that as an awesome and moving end to a very difficult service!

A Long, busy weekend!

It's been a really BUSY weekend... left yesterday @ 9 a.m. for a family wedding in Martinsburg, WVA and returned home by 11 p.m. Went to bed at 12 midnight up at 5:20 and getting ready for worship today... left for ministry center at 8 ... had 9 and 10:30 worship gatherings... grabbed a bite to eat at Quiznos, then changed clothes and went to funeral home...there from 12:40 - 3 ish and then to the cemetary and community hall til 5:30 and @ 6 p.m. had youth group... I was to provide the leadership for the spiritual component... got home from that aroun 8:30 and then chilled a bit.. just now Sharon remembered that a window was open at the ministry center... so heading back there to close it! THEN to BED!

A very moving weekend... will blog more tomorrow about it!

New Pastor @ CoJ....

Yep, it's been confirmed... CoJ has a new pastor!

Got a phone call from a lady that drives by our ministry center each Sunday on the way to her church and really appreciates having the pastor wave at her!

Won't Walt be surprised that he has a new title!!!

Just goes to show that a simple thing as waving to people as they pass by on Sunday mornings or whenever can have an impact!

Soon...

It's been one of those weeks... running at all ends and still can't keep up.

I will post something tomorrow I am sure. Right now I am headed to bed... really tired!

In Loving Memory....

This morning as the sun was rising... Cindy Costa completed her journey here on earth and arrived safely in the arms of Jesus! What an inspiration Cindy has been to so many people as she stared cancer in the face and thumbed her nose at it! Cindy taught many of us about facing death with dignity, honor, grace, and the peace that passes all understanding-- the peace that only God can give!

What a blessing she has been to so many people! Today, I thank God for her life and faith! I also am thankful that I was privileged to call her friend!

My prayers are with her family, Glenn, T.J. Carol, Bev, and Tom.

So, sorry...

that more people don't avail themselves of the worship experience that we call "Love Feast"! It is such a spiritually rich gathering!

It was so cool last night... a junior high youth brought a friend and the youth's mom asked the friend how her first love feast experience was.. and she said... AWESOME! That was neat to hear!

Another movie recommendation...

WOW! It is RARE that I recommend too many movies... but Sharon and I watched one last night that was worth recommending... August Rush.

So many spiritual themes in the movie... totally awesome... you won't regret watching this one!

Love Feast on Sunday Night

A worship experience that is often a highlight for me is our semi-annual Love Feast. It is modeled after Jesus' last supper with his disciples in John 13. There is some singing, praying, reflecting, a simple meal, an opportunity to wash feet, and a time to receive communion.

It is especially meaningful to humble myself to wash someone's feet. Sounds gross, but it really is a cool thing because it helps me understand the attitude and posture that Jesus wants me to have.

Looking forward to Sunday night... 6:30 p.m. !

Another Divine Appointment...

Talked to another friend yesterday who called to share the good news of finding a job... she was most excited about telling me how she got the job... it was a Divine Appointment!

She stopped at a "See You at the Pole" prayer gathering at her kid's school. When it was over, she was getting ready to get into her car when the lady in the car next to hers began talking to her ... in the course of the conversation, it came out that she was job hunting... the lady walked to her car where her husband was waiting... told her husband that my friend was looking for a job... he asked a few questions... turns out that both he and his wife had just prayed for God to send them a manager for a new business they were opening.... long story short... my friend was the immediate answer to that prayer and has the job!

Divine Appointments...

I believe in Divine Appointments! No question about it! No coincidences here!

I had a friend call me last night to tell me about an amazing happening ... a first for him. It was a Divine Appointment for sure... he has been on a spiritual quest for a couple years now... which he blames on me! He says that I made him read the bible and that has made all the difference in the world to his faith and life! (Reading the Bible can transform our lives! -- that's why I try to get more people to do it!) Part of the journey has been a deepening of faith for himself and his wife... they were invited by some friends to go to a DC church over the weekend to hear J.I. Packer... then took the opportunity to got to a "Talk Back" time with Mr. Packer in a small room at the church... the church held thousands for worship, but the talk back time only had about 10-15 people in it, so they his wife got to ask a question that she's been wrestling with... Mr. Packer responded but also said that he would encourage her to read a certain book of his that would address the topic in much more detail. My friend tried to get the book, but it is out of print!

Yesterday, I was at Ollie's briefly, because Emma wanted a small Bible that she could carry in her purse... while there, I couldn't help but quickly browse the other inspirational books that Ollie's carries... and you probably guessed it, I found a book by J.I. Packer. I tried to call my friend to see if he wanted me to buy it... but couldn't get him... so, I didn't buy it. BUT I did place it in a strategic location so that when he called me back, if he wanted it, it would be easy to find.

He went to Ollie's found the book in less than a minute and wouldn't you know that it is the SAME book that is out of print that Mr. Packer suggested his wife read!

When he called me back later to tell me that... I asked him if he was going to stay up all night to read it. I am doubting that he did....

There is NOTHING coincidental about that! It was simply a divine appointment... you see when we open ourselves up to God, he really does guide us!

A Day of Twos....

Ever have one of those days where everything seems to happen in twos?

Well, that was my day...

Went to the hospital TWO times to visit TWO friends of mine, who are courageously battling cancer... both have defied the doctors pronouncement!

Spent TWO times in the day buthering the TWO deer that I got the other day. Once deboning all the meat and the other time grinding and packaging the meat.

Found TWO tiny little deer ticks sucking my blood... boy did those things hurt!

Had no choice... after several days of rain and a Sunday (which I refuse to do yard work on!) had to mow TWO lawns... mine and the neighbor's.

My Life Transformation Group that usually consists of three guys... was only TWO today!

Several times in the day, I had TWO phone calls coming in at once and one time on TWO different lines!

At the end of this day of TWO's I am looking forward to my TWO sessions of sleep... one before Caroline gets home from work (she is there till close tonight -- which could mean midnight) and the one after she opens our door and lets us know she is home safely!

Rain, Rain and More Rain....

Gotta love this rain! It has come in such a gentle way. Not much of it running off... most of it is soaking into the parched earth...and that is great!

I spent some time in the deer woods the last two nights and I gotta tell you... the deer and turkeys are loving the rain. They were out early Friday night and last night not as early. If you listen, you can even hear the earth singing praises to God for the rain!

Thanks God for the awesome rain you provided!

A Franciscan Blessing...

I saw this recently and realy like it....

May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half truths, and superficial relationships, so that you may live deep within your heart.

May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, so that you may work for justice, freedom and peace.

May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation, and war, so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and to turn their pain in to joy.

And may God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you can make a difference in this world, so that you can do what others claim cannot be done.

First Board Meeting...

Got an invite to be on the Board of Trustees for The Hazel Farm Property Foundation and today was our first meeting. I am very honored to be on this board.

The task of the board is to use the property and funds that Mr. Richard (Dick) Hazel and his wife Pat Hazel left to create a place where kids of all ages, especially youth, of all races and socio-economic backgrounds can experience the great outdoors and all that it offers. We are really in the begining stages of helping Dick's vision bloom and I think it will be exciting to see what it becomes. The property is about 500 acres of trees, foodplots (for the wildlife), ponds, nature trails, a residence, and a very nice building that serves as a Meeting Place. It is open to groups like, churches, boy scouts, girl scouts, 4-H, wildlife groups, etc.

Looking forward to seeing this great thing become a reality and bloom in Eden, MD!

(the picture is Mr. Hazel and a young man who in 07 while at an event at the Hazel Farm, came up to personally thank Mr. Hazel for allowing him to come to the farm-- he did this without his parents!)

And what's a pork roast with out a chef?

Here is Master Chef, Walt Townsend, with his famous pulled pork! (notice the apron!)

And Roger Jones of Jones Signs (our sign guy!) getting set to sample some of the pork.

And then there are the Dessert Servers, who appear to be advance tasting! Thanks to Mimi, Fran and Connie.

And the results of all the hard work... our neighbors and friends enjoying the food!

Some Fun and a Funny....

It is no secret that I love to play the corn hole game! It is similar to horshoes, but much more fun or so it seems.... so, I thought we ought to have a set or two at CoJ, especially for the Pork Roast and for the youth. It was a hit on Sunday... the only time I saw them not being used was when most folks were eating and when the sun got around and was shining straight down on them. Otherwise it was the magnet I thought it would be.

The funny is... Miss Tami -- who knows LOTS of people-- almost as many as Waving Walt!, she emailed me one day last week and said she had gotten us an offer to have an antique tractor there too. She said, "Can't have corn hole without an antique tractor!" So, I emailed her back and said "that's great... BUT it can only come if it is green and yellow!!!!" I never heard back from her at all! So on Sunday, when I was welcoming folks to the pork roast, I was looking toward Bethany Lutheran Church and here coming up Camden Avenue was a John Deere Tractor! YEAH green and yellow!!!! Thanks to Miss Tami and especially to Mr. Tom and Mrs. Patti Miller for bringing their BEAUTIFUL John Deere tractor. It was an AWESOME addition to our corn hole game set up!

Couldn't have turned out better...

We served a little over 200 people yesterday in addition to the ones at the Christian Shelter, hospital, and a few other people that benefited from the left overs. The food was DELICIOUS and PLENTIFUL! The weather was spectacular. The day was lots of FUN for all ages... even those who worked so hard and were dead tired at day's end are saying what a GREAT Day it was! Thanks to all!

We sowed many positive seeds in our neighborhood and even those that drove by noticed something was up... the only way you could miss that something was up ... was to be sleeping!

I'm praying that God will water and grow the seeds we planted on his behalf yesterday! Only time will tell!