The Swing

The Day After 9/11

2011-09-12T12:05:00.000-07:00

Karen and I are in South Carolina babysitting Abby. Our oldest son and wife are in China to adopt baby girl #2. Life is different with Abby but good. She is easy to please. She laughs at pawpaw when he makes funny noises, loves french fries, Elmo, Mickey Mouse, counting things and the tickle spider.

We went to Westminster Presbyterian Church yesterday. It was different but good. We ate at a Mexican food place after church. It was different and not so good.

Anyway I made an effort to avoid all the 9/11 stuff on TV yesterday. I just didn't want to do the 9/11 thing. It's been on TV for a week already and watching more of it was more than I wanted to endure. I'm kind of glad we are out of town because there was a big county wide 9/11 event at the local football field last night and if we had been home I would have had to go. Sounds cold-hearted I know.

Of course I couldn't escape it altogether. There was some mention of it in church though not as much as I expected and I did see a few minutes of it on TV from time to time. As midnight approached I began to feel hopeful that with the start of a new day it would all be over and life would be normal again.

I feel bad about my attitude, even a little guilty. I know we need to remember but...

I really don't need to be reminded that our world has changed since 9/11. There are news stories on TV everyday to reinforce the ongoing reality of it. My family has experienced it in a personal way (though to a lesser degree than many) since my oldest son has done tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan. The present realities of people going through their own 9/11 experience in the hundreds of families whose lives have been impacted by the fires in Texas, those I know who have lost their job, or who are battling cancer, make THE 9/11 seem just a little less important.

There will always be a 9/11 of some sort to deal with. As I get older I find myself growing more weary of it and longing for genuine change. The preacher reminded us that in such a world Christians have good news to share that alone can change the future for ever.

I hope those of you who read this will not think of me too harshly. I have taken a big dose of 1Peter 1:3ff to help restore my soul and I'm feeling much better.

Bin Laden's Death

2011-05-03T12:53:00.000-07:00

I was in my study. The TV was on in the living room. Gradually I realized that someone on TV was very excited. I went to see what was going on. Bin Laden was dead. I watched for a while. I was a surprised that I didn't feel something more than I did. He was dead. I think he got what he deserved. Over the past couple of days there has been an endless parade of news casts, blogs and op-ed pieces about his death. Almost all of them applaud his death as a just end to an evil life. I agree.

I'm proud of our service people. It was a gutsy call by our military to go get him and they are to be commended. We have waited ten years for this moment. I'm not surprised that the celebrations were so exuberant and I don't fault those who were celebrating. But for some reason it bothered me and I am perplexed by that.

I'm certainly not sympathetic to radical Islam. These are dangerous people who want to destroy us. I'm for keeping those we capture in Gitmo forever and if we bring them to trial then do it in a military court. I think Pres. Bush was correct to take the war to them. I don't want a mosque built in NYC anywhere close to the WTC site. But, there is still that uneasy feeling. It's not that we killed him but something about the celebration of it that I was watching.

Death is a terrible, final thing. It seems to me that it should cause us pause, make us feel a little uncomfortable even when it is the death of an enemy or and evil person. Such people are also created in the image of God. The promise of Jn.3:16 is for them as well as me. The death of a Bin Laden reminds me that "the wages of sin is death". That is a terrible thing.

I'm grateful that this man will no longer be able to inflict evil on people any more. He will face the judgement of God and then ultimate justice will be dispensed. I'm glad that there is the gospel promise that "there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus". Otherwise I would be in a world of hurt along with old Bin.

All Men Are Like Grass

2011-04-28T07:45:00.002-07:00

When the Bible says we are like grass withered by the sun south Texas folks know what that means. It's a way of life down here. This past week has reminded me of this.

Last Friday - Good Friday I did the funeral for a friend who unexpectedly died.

Sunday morning I had to help do the "Sonrise" service because the Methodist pastor who was supposed to lead it had experienced a heart attack on Thursday morning while participating in a prayer group.

Tuesday I learned that the lady who cuts my hair has cancer and is having surgery this morning as I type.

My mother-in-law went in the hospital this week.

On Wednesday morning I did a grave side service for a man in our town. He wasn't a believer as far as I know. The only people at the grave side besides myself were two people from the funeral home and the lawyer appointed by the court to take care of his affairs. It was a sad thing. He died alone, unmourned.

This morning I awakened to news about the killer tornadoes in Alabama.

It's been one of those weeks.

Life is fragile - like windblown, sun dried grass.

Thank God for Resurrection Sunday!

Death is certain for all of us and it can come in many ways - but it is defeated by the resurrection of Jesus. Those who are in Christ share in that victory. Hallelujah!

Sadly, not everyone is a believer who shares in this hope.

It struck me as I was preparing for the graveside of the man mentioned earlier that there are at least a half dozen churches in our town. He was even married to a lady that once attended my church once in a while. He had a friend who lived across the street who is a believer. Yet none of us were able to influence him for Christ. I'm not sure any of us really tried to. I know I didn't. Guess we all figured he was a lost cause, a hopeless sinner, beyond redemption. Maybe we were to busy doing other good things for Jesus and just forgot that he needed Jesus.

In these uncertain days we who are believers must be more intentional about sharing the hope we have in Christ. Many of those around us are as the apostle says without God and without hope. I hope I don't have to do anymore gravesides like that again.

2011-04-28T07:45:00.001-07:00

I'm Back

2011-04-21T11:38:00.000-07:00

Some time ago I connected with with an old friend through the magic of modern technology. We hadn't talked in a while and it was good to catch up. Since then we have been able to stay in touch.

Ive been out of touch for a while but I'm back. I hope we can stay in touch. It is hard for me to write but I'm going to try. I just hope I can write something useful that folks will enjoy reading. I guess we will have to wait and see about that.

I hope you have a good Easter weekend. My youngest son and his family will be here for a couple of days. We are going to celebrate our grandson's 16th birthday. Doesn't seem like he should be that old but he is. I'm going to cook him a steak.

My other son is in Kuwait so we won't get to see him or his family this year but this Easter we will be enjoying the same resurrection life and that's what really matters.

Where Did It All Go?

2010-05-12T13:24:00.000-07:00

Ever say that? I have - mostly near the end of the month when money gets tight. I was reading in Isaiah recently and came across something that gave me pause. In chp. 55 vs. 2 the Lord asks "Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy?"

What a vivid description of our world today. We are a nation that loves to spend our money and we have all kinds of gadgets to spend it on. I have a perfectly fine 32 in. flat screen tv. It only has 720p and 60hz but it works great and is way better than the one I used to have. Lately every time I go to Walmart or Best Buy I drift over to the tv area to look at the new tv's with 1080p and 120hz and 48 in. or larger screens. You can buy one of those today for what I paid for mine a few years ago or less. I catch myself talking to self about how I can afford to get a new one especially with no interest for 12 months. I tell myself how it would make my tv experience more enjoyable. I have come close to convincing myself to buy one. Truth is it won't help me draw closer to the Lord or be more like Jesus. It wont help me be a better person. There is nothing eternal about it. It is one of those things in fact that could cause my love for the Lord to weaken.

We hear a lot today about the low quality of Christian life in America. I'm thinking that Isaiah speaks to the problem. We are too busy spending our money and labor on things that do not satisfy rather than laying up treasures in heaven. A christian author recently observed that when he was a child a sermon on the dangers of affluence was common. In today's church you rarely ever hear one. In fact you will more likely hear just the opposite. This may be one of those times when going back to the good old days would be wise.

If you read on you hear the Lord calling out to his people "Listen, listen to me...your soul will delight in the richest of fare. Give ear..hear me that your soul may live".

If only we would.

What Happens To Life?

2010-05-11T20:55:00.000-07:00

If you have been on facebook lately you probably have seen the pictures our new twin granddaughters in the car seats or on daddy's lap or of Abby playing with daddy. In just a couple of months I get to perform the wedding ceremony for a young lady who grew up in or church. She is so happy - as she should be. Life can be so sweet. But somewhere along the way it often turns bitter.

What happens to life? What causes a young couple in love to turn into strangers. Why do kids who are such a blessing when little turn into angry adults alienated from family. What causes a young man with great talents to squander his life on booze. We live in a broken world and sin is the problem. How hard it is for us to admit this. But if we can't admit it and repent of it we are destined to death - not so much physical death as the death of joy, contentment, love and peace both with ourselves, others and God.

All around you are people whose eyes betray their heartbreak. You may be one of them. I wish I could fix them all - but I can't. Sometimes God is able to fix them, but not always. There are days when I ache for the day to come when there will be no more tears or death. Until then I will pray and hope and as much as possible I will try to "encourage one another daily...so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness."

Family Sermon Series

2010-05-10T12:24:00.000-07:00

Synopsis of Sunday’s Sermon - How To Live God’s Plan For Your Family
Text: Gen.1-3

Do you think that God has a plan for your family? If so what is it? Could you verbalize it? If God does have a plan for the family why is it that so many families don’t seem to be doing so good at it?

Let’s answer the question by going back to the basic source – the opening chapters of the Bible. Here is the root teaching about family. Whatever else the Bible has to say about family life is the fruit that grows from this root.

In Gen. 1 we learn that God created man (male and female). The text tells us that the Lord instructed man to subdue and rule the earth as his stewards. Man was also to multiply in number and fill the earth. Here is family life in its basic form. God blessed man and provided all he needed to do this.

In Gen. 2 we see a more personal side of this story. Here we learn about the garden. We see man created by God and placed in the garden to care for it. We also see God create woman to be man’s co laborer and join them together as man and wife. Together they would fulfill the Genesis one mandate. This was the pattern – man would leave his family, cleave to his wife and they would become one flesh. All this lived out in close fellowship with the Lord

So here is God’s simple plan: two people created in God’s image, loving God, working together (marriage/family) in God’s world to achieve God’s purposes. How primal! How beautiful!

So if it is really this simple what has gone wrong?

Gen. 3 gives us the answer. Man and woman sinned. They chose their way instead of the Lord’s way. They decided he wasn’t enough for them. In an instant all the beauty, love, harmony and joy were destroyed. God’s world was perverted. Instead of cleaving there was alienation between the man and his wife and between man and God. Every family since then is dysfunctional in its relationships.

But, God did not write them off. Just as we see him in his role as creator and provider we also see him as redeemer. The Lord promises victory over the serpent and sin through the seed of woman. The rest of the Bible tells this story.

Because of sin your family is always going to be dysfunctional. But it can become increasingly functional, experiencing the joy God's original purpose in greater measure. The only hope for this is God’s grace. Now what that means we will explore in the days ahead but for now let me say to experience the best in your family will take three things: Faith, Hope and Love. All are gifts of grace that we need to make the family experience fulfilling. I hope you will come back in the weeks ahead to see how these three can help your family.

Thank You Lord

2010-02-11T13:28:00.000-08:00

On Sunday Feb. 7 Karen and I began our 29th year at FBCGW. It has been a blessing for us to be here. In the service that morning I reflected on our 28 yrs.

First of all God Led Us Here. The circumstances around our being here were no coincidence but surely were the Lord opening doors for us.

Second, God has kept us here. How else can you explain 28 yrs. in one church. It hasn't always been easy; there have been detractors who would have us leave yet we are still here.

Third, God has used us here. There is nothing special about us but we have been part of a team that the Lord has chosen to use on occassion to advance his work at home - through new ministries, a new church (Brush Country Cowboy Fellowship) - or away (missions ministries in over 16 countries and 6 states). He has called out a half dozen young people to Christian ministry. We praise God for any and all good he has been able to achieve through this ministry!

Finally, I think God still has work for us here. Based on the mercies received the past 28 yrs. and the promise that "He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion" (Phil.1:6) I believe our future together is filled with great possibilities. Thank You Lord!

Ft. Hood Shooting

2009-11-06T09:10:00.000-08:00

We are all aware by now of the tragic shooting that took place at Ft. Hood. My prayers go out to all who have been directly affected.

I'm not equipped to analyze the tragedy but there is one thing that haunts me. It seems like there were several indications that something was wrong with this man. I know that it is easy to miss these - just ask families where a loved one has committed suicide. Usually it is only after the fact that the signs become clear.

Still, I wonder if anyone picked up on his now obvious issues? Did anyone try to talk with him about his concerns? I wonder if some sensitive soul willing to really listen to him might have been able to prevent this tragedy? We will never know for sure? But it has caused me to ask myself if I am perhaps overlooking someone who may need a listening ear to hear their hurts, fears, concerns, anger?

We live such busy lives these days that it is easy to let the customary greetings of "How are you? - I'm OK" suffice. I think I'm going to ask for help to try and live with a little more awareness of those around me just in case someone really needs a listening ear.

Graduation 09

2009-05-30T08:33:00.001-07:00

I don't often attend graduation services anymore but I did go last night because I wanted to hear the guest speaker - class 78 and a member of my church. It was a typical graduation experience with the appropriate speeches, cheering parents and boisterous graduates. As I took it all in a theme began to develop in my mind - suffering. The valedictorian spoke of her mother whom she lost to Lou Gehrig disease a year ago. There was a young man who received his diploma in a wheel chair - he is a paraplegic. One of the more popular students lost all he had as his house burned a couple of months back. The guest speaker is battling cancer that has returned. Her oxygen bottle was by her side. I'm guessing that there are other stories I don't know about.

The young lady who spoke told about her dream to return someday and speak at her school. She wanted to arrive in a helicopter, be whisked to the platform , share her thoughts and then rush back to the chopper to leave because she had somewhere else to go - because she was a rich, famous and important person. We all laughed when she said at least part of that dream had been realized but that she arrived in a Toyota.

She went on to say that dreams often change or don't work out quite like we hope and that one of the tasks of life is to learn to deal with the change. She added that one of the most important things they would need was resiliency. As I listened I reflected that her life backed up her words for she is one of the most resilient people I know. I was hoping that the young adults wearing their caps and gowns were listening - listening like Jesus said "he who has ears to hear, let him hear".

As I left the stadium I wished for them the same kind of courage and resiliency Kim has. If they find it, then no matter what they do or what life hands them they will truly be successful.

Spell Czechoslovakia

2009-05-29T09:31:00.000-07:00

There's a joke about a man who dies and goes to heaven. So happens his former wife is watching the gate. To get in you have to spell a word. Most people are getting words like love and faith. The husband arrives and begins to tell his first wife how great life has been since she passed on what with all the life insurance money and his new younger wife and their trips and all. When he asks for his word he gets - well you know the ending.

I watched the National Spelling Bee on ABC last night. Wow those kids are sharp! Czech. would be easy compared to some of those words I heard them spell. I'm glad I have a spell check on my laptop. I commend ABC for making a rather dreary experience very entertaining. I felt for the kids when they missed a word and was happy for the young lady who won. $40,000 worth of prizes is nothing to take lightly. 11 million kids started out to win and it came down to the final three with one the winner. Amazing!

What I kept hearing from the shows hosts was how hard these kids had to work to compete at this level. It takes dedication to be a winner whether its sports, politics, or spelling. These kids were doing it for money that will soon be used up. I wondered why more of us as followers of Jesus aren't more dedicated since we work for that which is eternal. Imagine if we put the effort into learning the Bible, praying, setting up opportunities to share the gospel with the lost around us, coming with hearts alive and prepared for worship... Being a believer these days is not easy, our adversary is shrewd, the world is often hostile. I think we need to read again and take to heart the apostle Paul's words in 1Cor.9: 24-27. After all no one likes to be disqualified for the prize.

A Graveside Conversation

2009-05-22T11:17:00.000-07:00

I stood at a graveside this week and watched a family say goodbye to a loved one. It wasn't a sad moment for she had lived a good, long life and was much loved. As I listened to the pastor speak I reflected on all my death experiences and wondered at this great mystery.

There are some who claim to be able to transcend the great barrier of death and speak to those who have left our presence. Others have given testimony to their experience of crossing over into that mysterious land only to return and tell us about it. Somehow I have never quite been able to accept their stories of the life beyond as genuine.

But while I stood at the graveside I talked with one who has died and returned to tell about it. His story rings true and I find myself able trust Him. He hasn't offered to answer all my questions about death or what lies beyond but He has told me enough - enough to remove my fears and fill my heart with expectation and hope.

As I quietly spoke with Him by that grave He reminded me that I can look forward to being in His Father's spacious house where there is a place for me and my troubled heart was quieted. He also whispered to me that to be absent from the body is to be present with Him who will remove all mourning, or crying, or pain. Finally He said that my expectations of things beyond this life cannot begin to come close to the reality - for no eye has seen...no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him.

I left that graveside praying for the family in their season of grief, comforted in my heart as I anticipated my own time of death, and grateful for the gift of Life.

I love you Jesus - Thanks!

The Song

2009-03-21T21:31:00.000-07:00

I wrote a song this week. Ok - I really didn't write a song I just made up a tune to go with some scripture verses but if you knew me you'd know this is amazing. I was reading in the Psalms and it just hit me - I started to sing and there it was - an offering to the Lord. I tried to teach it to our little band Wednesday evening but couldn't get it right. My son Jeff is here this weekend and helped me work it out. He gave it a new sound - a little more contempary and not so hicky country. We practiced it tonight and it is good. I think we are going to play it in church tomorrow. I hope everyone will like it - especially the Lord cause it really began as a personal moment with Him in the Word.

I think thats how the christian life has to be lived. It starts in a personal moment with the Lord but you need others to help iron out the wrinkles and perfect it and together make some beautiful music to the Lord. Instead of trying to go it alone why not find a fellowship of believers somewhere who can help you polish that song in your heart.

My Shopping Cart Epiphany

2009-03-19T20:55:00.000-07:00

The wife and I went to the grocery store tonight to get some food. Our kids are coming in for the weekend and despite the fact that they have been away for a number of years and are married they still eat a lot, especially at my house. Anyway, it was in the parking lot at the grocery store that I had my epiphany. I saw very clearly that the problem with America is we are LAZY.

Now I hear some saying this is nothing new but I beg to differ. There have always been those among us who were lazy but we have taken this vice to a hither to unknown level (thus the capitalization of the word).

Why you ask would I say such a thing (if your reading this I'm guessing you might ask). When we came out of the store and went to our car there were two carts right next to it yet there was a cart holder (I'm not sure what the technical name is) right in front of my car - 10 feet away from the where the carts had been parked. There was another cart holder one parking spot to my right - again maybe 10 feet away(I love such places because I don't have to walk too far to dispose of my cart). Both places were almost empty of carts. Now I ask you, how hard is it to walk 10 feet and put a cart in one of those things? I mean even someone in a wheel chair could have done it with ease. Then it hit me - you know the epiphany thing. Were LAZY - that is our problem.

I don't have a solution for this problem but at least I now recognize it. Maybe we should start support groups for people who struggle with this problem. Since the government is giving away money these days why not use some of it to identify the worst offenders and get them some mental help. Perhaps our schools should add a course that will give our children the skills they need to combat this issue. Of course being a pastor I would certainly expect ministers to preach to this disgusting social malaise. Why not start a letter campaign and ask our new president to address this concern before it destroys us all.

Remember, all it takes for evil to triumph is for good people to do nothing (or something like that). That's the problem - we're LAZY!

The Demise of Evangelicals

2009-03-16T16:31:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine ask me to respond to an article titled" The coming evangelical collapse" by Michael Spencer. It's like a lot of other articles I have read that discuss the present state of the church in America. Why he wanted my input is strange. Maybe that in itself is a sign that we are collapsing after all. Anyway, what follows is my response. Read on if you care or dare.

"Wow - there is a lot to reflect on here but I will respond out of my accumulated ignorance.

Whether you agree with this guy in every detail or not you have to agree that the modern American church has come on hard times.

All the recent reports that Ive seen stress this - Willow Creeks Revel, Barna's surveys, Stetzers Essential Church, the book UnChristian, Present Future etc. By most standards our faith is superficial, our doctrine is polluted with heresy, and we are losing our youth. Most of our churches are in decline mode. There is very little significant evangelism going on. Add to that fact that almost everyone is saying that the center of Christianity has shifted to Latin America or Africa. It may be that evangelical movement is on the way out.

What is the evangelical movement anyway? A movement - not the kingdom of God. Well movements come and go. It may pain me to see it collapse but it will not destroy or hinder the KG. Ephesus was once a powerful church in the heart of Asia - essential you might say - now its gone, but has the church disappeared? There were once great churches in England and great men like Spurgeon, Wilberforce and others. They are gone and so are those churches. Has the KG disappeared? It won't disappear in America either, but it may take a new form. Is that bad?

We forget that our way of doing church is relatively new in light of 2000 years of Christian history. Are we so arrogant to think that God has developed the perfect model and that we must fight to keep our brand of church alive. God will do what He wants, how He wants, where He wants. If I'm blessed I might get to be a small part of that.

I'm no doom and gloom person but I do think the American church is in for even more change in the next 10 -20 years. I have already seen huge change in my brief lifetime. It might take the form suggested in the article.

I agree to some degree that we have tried to build the KG in America with politics and have failed. We used worldly weapons rather than spiritual ones and have not been able to tear down the strongholds. We have pretty much lived in ease while so many of God's children have lived in struggle. It may be the time has come for that to change as well. I have had a sense of this for a long time.

That being said - I believe that the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ is indestructible. The gates of hell will not prevail against it - maybe against me or my congregation or my denomination but not against the body of our Lord Jesus. Should I resign myself to the predicted collapse? God Forbid! I am called to serve the church in preaching the gospel, therefore I must, with the wisdom God gives me strive to keep the flock I serve on the cutting edge of the movement of God's Spirit. "The wind blows wherever it pleases". I must turn my sails to catch it and ride it - not sit back and curse the fact that it is moving me to a new place or drop my anchor and try to stay put. The early Christians sat in Jerusalem, indifferent to the Great Commission, until the fires of persecution broke out and scattered them into new places. Was God judging them for not moving out into the world as He had commanded by allowing the persecution to break out. Perhaps. If so then if persecution comes let's take courage in the possibility that perhaps God is once more stirring up his people to move out into new places.

I close with a quote. I found great encouragement from this. It comes from the book George Whitefield by Arnold Dallimore.

" For the past thirty years (the book was first published in 1970) numerous people have been saying, 'There can never be another revival! The times are too evil. Sin is now too rampant. We are in the midst of apostasy and the days of revival are gone forever!'
The history of 18th century revival entirely contradicts that view. It demonstrates that true revival is the work of God - not man - of God who is not limited by such circumstances as the extent of human sin or the degree of mankind's unbelief. In the decade between 1730 and 1740 the life of England was foul with moral corruption and crippled by spiritual decay, yet it was amidst such conditions - conditions remarkably similar to those of the English-speaking world today - that God arose in the mighty exercise of His power which became the eighteenth century revival."

The Green Bible

2009-03-10T18:51:00.000-07:00

I was conversing with my sons the other day and we were laughing about a song called "I Think My Wife Is A Calvinist". It is pretty funny. One of the lines in the song says that she only reads the ESV. That lead to the question had I seen the new "green Bible". Well, Ive read a little about it. It's a Bible for tree huggers. Every verse in the Bible that has to do with nature and the environment is marked in green - like the words of Jesus are marked in red in some Bibles. I think its made out of recycled paper and has some other features that make it eco-friendly. Should make a lot of enviro's happy. Hope it helps a lot of them find slavation in Jesus Christ.

That got me to thinking about all the speciality Bibles on the market today. There are Bibles for kids, teens, parents, couples, pastors, those in recovery, apologists, singles, soldiers, fireman, policeman, cowboys, sportsman, football and basketball players and the list goes on. One Bible for men called the Everyman's Bible had a tag line that read: "Finally a Bible that every ordinary guy from truck drivers to lawyers can call his own. This is the Bible for men with straight talk about the challenges of life..." I began to imagine other kinds of Bibles that might appeal to some of us but I have chosen not to share those thoughts with you lest you be offended or think I'm an idiot. Truth is I am a little put off by all this speciality stuff. I thought we already had a Bible that any man could call his own. And my Bible certainly contains straight talk about the issues of life and faith.

As I see it, the real need is for us to be in our regular Bibles enough that we will know where to find help on raising kids, healing relationships, defending our faith, using our money wisely, being good stewards of the environment and loving God with all our heart. Do we really need a speciality Bible for this? No! But we do need to take the time to read and pray and let the Holy Spirit teach us. I know I don't read my Bible enough and thats the problem. What about you?

Funerals Are Interesting

2009-03-09T19:20:00.000-07:00

I went to a funeral today. Actually I officiated it. There were lots of people I didn't know and some I did. Some people spoke to me while a lot of them would'nt hardly look at me. I figure they must feel guilty cause I'm not that ugly. Anyway it was a pretty normal funeral as funerals go. Before the funeral I listened to people standing around talking - about cattle, business, the need for rain, their kids and such but I didn't hear many talking about the person we were there to remember. Odd. After it was all over we went to the church dining hall to visit and eat. Funerals make people hungry. I sat at a table with a man I know and I learned something important-again. You can't judge a book by it's cover as the saying goes. I have known this guy for a long time - from a distance. I have also formed ideas about him and most of them were wrong. It was embarrassing. I was amazed at the things I learned about him just sitting at the table talking with him. Maybe that's why Jesus spent a lot of time eating with people. Somehow it helps us know each other better. I guess it's a mystical, spiritual thing. Most of all I was amazed at what I learned about myself. I'm going to try and be a little slower on forming opinions about people and a little more focused on trying to get to know them better so I can celebrate their imagio dei (I hope I spelled that right).

Modern Technology and Old Friends

2009-02-10T16:44:00.000-08:00

Well I've gone and done it. Yes I felt pressured to do it and I really didn't want to do it but I caved in to peer pressure and well now I'm glad I did it. What did I do you ask? I opened a facebook page. So what is the big deal about that? Well for a tech challenged guy like me it's pretty traumatic, but I'm surviving and beginning to enjoy it. You see, I've been able to keep up with lots of folks and they can keep up with me. But the really great thing is some dear friends from our younger days that we had lost touch with found us and now were back together again and that's great!

Life is like that you know. Sometimes we need to step out and just do it. Once its done the joys and rewards make the difficulty worth it. That's true in most things in life. Of course I'm not talking about stupid, hurtful or immoral things - just things that we might be unsure of or afraid of like making a new friend,getting married, looking for a better job, or going to a new church. There is some risk but I can tell you it is worth it. I never dreamed that tackling a new technology would have turned out to be such a blessing. So go give it a try. I am - look out Twitter, here I come.

Bruce

Back From Cold Country

2009-02-05T12:35:00.000-08:00

I've just returned from the Desiring God pastors conference in Minneapolis. The weather was cold!!! The conference was great. I believe I was there by God's providence. I had planned to attend a preaching conference in Florida in April. When I went online to sign up they had canceled it. In looking around for something else I happened to find this one. The theme was evangelism. I surely need some help in that area so, well the rest is history. My heart was stirred. Here are some thoughts I jotted down:

passion - that's what I feel, pure passion for the glory of God. 1500 men singing with joy and gusto, many with hands raised, tears in their eyes, one dear young man dancing, singing, kneeling because he loves the Lord. Awesome!

prayer - never have I heard anyone pray like John Piper. He knows God! He would often quote verses of scripture as part of his praying. I kept my eyes open once to watch him. His whole body was alive with love for God. We were on Holy Ground.

Faith - the thing that I keep hearing in my heart in reference to sharing the gospel is trust God to work - in His own time and what often seems strange ways. Believe in the power of the gospel. The story of Luke Short is an example. Not a church going man yet at 100 years of age he came under conviction about his lostness from a sermon he heard when he was 15 years old and was gloriously converted.

courage - we have suffered a noticeable loss in our willingness to offend people with the gospel. We must never be offensive in our witness but we need realize that the gospel offends people. There is no painless way to tell someone that they are under the wrath of God.

ministry - I get to do the greatest work in the world - pastor God's people - the saints of the Most High - those for whom the Lord Jesus Christ shed his blood. How blessed I am.

Yes it was a great conference. I am still processing it and will be for months to come. God was good to redirect me to the cold north country to stoke the flame of love for Him in my heart.

Praise the Lord O my soul and all that is within me bless His holy name!

Bruce

The Swing

2008-12-31T10:03:00.000-08:00

It's a new year, we have a new president and at the encouragement of my oldest son I'm beginning a new experience - I'm going to blog. Why? Besides the fact that everyone seems to be doing it, my oldest son told me I need to. See I'm a pastor and he thinks I should blog. He read an article somewhere that said every pastor should blog. Somehow it is supposed to benefit me, my church and maybe someone else out there in the big old world. So I'm going to try my hand at blogging.

I named my blog "The Swing" because I have a swing in my front yard. I love the swing. It's my getaway place. I go there to ponder, to relax and to talk with God. My favorite thing to do in the swing is to be with my granddaughter. She is 4 now but ever since she was small I'd take her to the swing. We would listen to the birds, watch the cars drive by and sing a little song I made up just for K... and papaw. She still likes the swing and I will always like it. Somehow it seemed fitting to name this place the swing. I invite you join me on the swing as I ponder about life. Maybe Ill even make up a song for us to sing together. Have a Blessed New Year!

Bruce