I have a family member that is always in a hurry but has no where to go. She is retired, doesn't have to go anywhere and yet she is always rushing us to the next thing. She will be chewing food as she is washing dishes, never finishes her meal at the table. I'm not that different, it seems like I have a habit of rushing through things for the next "adrenaline rush". I have become an expert at short conversations, I know how to cut conversations . . .you know - never ask deep questions unless I'm counseling someone. As a pastor, I perfected the art on Sunday morning, "how are you? Great . . . I have to go to the next service, great seeing you". I use to hate that part of Sunday mornings in a large church, the superficial pastoring of hundreds, the permission to care from a distance, the forcing of relationship only when absolutely necessary. The burden of relationship was on the parishioner not the pastor, they were to call the church if they were in trouble but otherwise, I have tons to do, lots of programs to run. Eugene Peterson says, "Impatience, the refusal to endure is to pastoral character what strip mining is to land - greedy rape of what can be gotten at the least cost . . ."
Its been a relief not not do that every Sunday now but my strategies to avoid "caring" continues, my ambition to succeed overtakes my heart for relationships.
Its interesting that in my 20s, I valued relationships way above anything else. Then ambition for ministry success took over as I "matured". Balance is something I speak about but struggle to actually do. Lord, give me balance . . . help me love you and people more than the task.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Lent, the Garden and Life
Lent and Easter are great times to get back in tune with Him. I like Spring and seasons of life, they bring change, newness and freshness to a crazy life.
The time of Lent is one that I began taking seriously a few years ago. It has become a yearly ritual of getting up early to read the bible, read devotionals and pray. Last year it was amazing but as soon as Easter Monday hit, I went back to my old ways of undisciplined devotions. Honestly, I was burned out. I spent about two hours reading, journaling and blogging. It was too much for my status of life. I should have cut out the blogging. Blogging can seem so self-focused and so here I am doing it again. No, not this Lent. I will only blog once a week but try to focus internally, not externally.
I started working hard on my garden, planted sugar snap peas, tomatoes, cucumbers, watermelon, cantolope, squash, cilantro, Serrano peppers, basil and broccoli. Who plants broccoli? Gardening is really hard work, so much preparation of the soil and garden before you even begin to plant. My biggest challenge was to plant early not late. This year I accomplished it. There are so many analogies to life in gardening, planting seeds, weeding, bearing fruit, etc . . . more on that later but I want to focus on one, "seeds". I think of the words of Jesus, "you reap what you sow". From attitudes, words and actions there is always reap time.
Reap Time: The father who is upset that the kids won't talk to him but he sowed anger, distance and independence; the lonely girl that is perplexed on why others don't want to be in her life after years of selfish, self-centered living. The person that can't understand why God won't answer his prayers yet he is the ruler of their own life, never submitting to God's plan. . .
we will reap what we sow.
God help me sow good seeds in good ground in my family, my work and my relationships.
The time of Lent is one that I began taking seriously a few years ago. It has become a yearly ritual of getting up early to read the bible, read devotionals and pray. Last year it was amazing but as soon as Easter Monday hit, I went back to my old ways of undisciplined devotions. Honestly, I was burned out. I spent about two hours reading, journaling and blogging. It was too much for my status of life. I should have cut out the blogging. Blogging can seem so self-focused and so here I am doing it again. No, not this Lent. I will only blog once a week but try to focus internally, not externally.
I started working hard on my garden, planted sugar snap peas, tomatoes, cucumbers, watermelon, cantolope, squash, cilantro, Serrano peppers, basil and broccoli. Who plants broccoli? Gardening is really hard work, so much preparation of the soil and garden before you even begin to plant. My biggest challenge was to plant early not late. This year I accomplished it. There are so many analogies to life in gardening, planting seeds, weeding, bearing fruit, etc . . . more on that later but I want to focus on one, "seeds". I think of the words of Jesus, "you reap what you sow". From attitudes, words and actions there is always reap time.
Reap Time: The father who is upset that the kids won't talk to him but he sowed anger, distance and independence; the lonely girl that is perplexed on why others don't want to be in her life after years of selfish, self-centered living. The person that can't understand why God won't answer his prayers yet he is the ruler of their own life, never submitting to God's plan. . .
we will reap what we sow.
God help me sow good seeds in good ground in my family, my work and my relationships.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Day Nine - Final Day in Peru - Awesome!
Its bitter sweet to wake up knowing it will be your last day on a mission trip. For me its been three years since I have traveled abroad for a trip, so I will savor it. One year I traveled to Kenya, Peru, Ethiopia and Mexico; children bring so much joy but really help ground us at home. I miss Micah and Bailey dearly. Being at the orphanage brought a flood of emotions, I pray that a godly spirit of adoption will grow here and around the world.
After bringing our luggage downstairs, we walked to the Maranatha church in Cusco. Since it was a service in Quechua, the preaching had to be done in Spanish and therefore left me to do the preaching. The Quechua service was packed even though it starts at 8:30 AM and the cool thing is that the majority of attenders are young families though there is plenty of diversity. This is my sixth trip to Peru but the first time my sermon was translated in Quechua. The church was so responsive and passionate about worship. The team
really enjoyed the worship and experience. See pic on left and click on video here. The pastor made and invitation and four young men came forward for prayer as they trusted in Christ that morning. It was amazing!
After the service we rushed to the airport to fly to Lima. We boarded the plane but there was a major problem, the plane was too heavy. They kept asking for volunteers to take the next flight and they could not get enough. The TACA flight attendant began picking on me . . .not sure why. She kept pleading with me to get off and they would give me a voucher for another flight plus put me on the next flight. I was open to it but told her about my previous commitment to preach at a church in Lima at 5 pm but she insisted. The plane could not leave and we were stuck. Finally they had a few more volunteers and the plane left an hour early. Not sure why she chose me . . . maybe my scary terrorist face is softening . . . nope. We arrived an hour later than e
xpected.
The team shopped but I went to Emmanuel Church (click for website) in Lima. Its one of my favorite churches in Peru, I have preached there before and I was asked to preach at their 5 PM service. Our host David Quispirocca (see pick on left) is a pastor there. It was packed again, they have six services on Sunday and it is always full. I preached on John 4 and focused on how God chooses anyone he wants to serve. I called on them to get out of their comfort and launch forward to serve Him. As I asked for those that needed prayer for strength to serve to come forward for prayer, the stage was so crowded that we could not pray for them individually, I had to pray for the whole group and then send them back to their seats. David asked for those that trusted Christ to come forwar
d after the stage was cleared and about six people came forward, they were prayed for and helped.
Another cool thing was that Anthony Diliberto (current LCMS missionary in Peru) was able to attend and sit with us. He will be working with Mark and Sandi Eisold in Lima.
(Pic on left: my friends: David, Mary, Jorge, Jonathan and Juana plus boys)
Our team and our Peruvian hosts ate our last dinner together. We exchanged toasts, thanks, gifts and great food. It was a great day, great mission and great trip!
After a six hour flight to Miami, damaged luggage - thanks American Airlines and a three hour flight to Dallas, we made it home on Monday afternoon. It was AWESOME to hug, hold, kiss and talk to Bailey and Micah. Micah kept grabbing my cheeks and kissing me. Thank you Lord that we are home safe and to our children - one of my constant prayers.
This is my last blog on Peru. We managed to be away from the kids for 10 days. My sister and all our family did an amazing job take care of our kids . . . huge thanks. I also thank those that financially supported the mission . . .last but not least I thank our team that was just amazing. To our future Peruvian Missionaries Mark and Sandi Eisold; Pastors: James and Martha Rockey - Florida, John and Cindy Dawson - Ohio, Kirk and Tina Miller - Colorado. I also thank POP Carrollton for collaborating with us in Lima - Go Rosaline and PLI for sending us on this mission - Thanks Steve and Rita!
I especially thank my dear wife and partner with whom I am more than privileged to serve on so many adventures around the world and at home!
GLORIA A DIOS!
Picture here is Cindy and John Dawson, Sandy Eisold and Tina Miller at over 13,000 feet range.
After bringing our luggage downstairs, we walked to the Maranatha church in Cusco. Since it was a service in Quechua, the preaching had to be done in Spanish and therefore left me to do the preaching. The Quechua service was packed even though it starts at 8:30 AM and the cool thing is that the majority of attenders are young families though there is plenty of diversity. This is my sixth trip to Peru but the first time my sermon was translated in Quechua. The church was so responsive and passionate about worship. The team
really enjoyed the worship and experience. See pic on left and click on video here. The pastor made and invitation and four young men came forward for prayer as they trusted in Christ that morning. It was amazing!After the service we rushed to the airport to fly to Lima. We boarded the plane but there was a major problem, the plane was too heavy. They kept asking for volunteers to take the next flight and they could not get enough. The TACA flight attendant began picking on me . . .not sure why. She kept pleading with me to get off and they would give me a voucher for another flight plus put me on the next flight. I was open to it but told her about my previous commitment to preach at a church in Lima at 5 pm but she insisted. The plane could not leave and we were stuck. Finally they had a few more volunteers and the plane left an hour early. Not sure why she chose me . . . maybe my scary terrorist face is softening . . . nope. We arrived an hour later than e
xpected.The team shopped but I went to Emmanuel Church (click for website) in Lima. Its one of my favorite churches in Peru, I have preached there before and I was asked to preach at their 5 PM service. Our host David Quispirocca (see pick on left) is a pastor there. It was packed again, they have six services on Sunday and it is always full. I preached on John 4 and focused on how God chooses anyone he wants to serve. I called on them to get out of their comfort and launch forward to serve Him. As I asked for those that needed prayer for strength to serve to come forward for prayer, the stage was so crowded that we could not pray for them individually, I had to pray for the whole group and then send them back to their seats. David asked for those that trusted Christ to come forwar
d after the stage was cleared and about six people came forward, they were prayed for and helped.Another cool thing was that Anthony Diliberto (current LCMS missionary in Peru) was able to attend and sit with us. He will be working with Mark and Sandi Eisold in Lima.
(Pic on left: my friends: David, Mary, Jorge, Jonathan and Juana plus boys)
Our team and our Peruvian hosts ate our last dinner together. We exchanged toasts, thanks, gifts and great food. It was a great day, great mission and great trip!
After a six hour flight to Miami, damaged luggage - thanks American Airlines and a three hour flight to Dallas, we made it home on Monday afternoon. It was AWESOME to hug, hold, kiss and talk to Bailey and Micah. Micah kept grabbing my cheeks and kissing me. Thank you Lord that we are home safe and to our children - one of my constant prayers.
This is my last blog on Peru. We managed to be away from the kids for 10 days. My sister and all our family did an amazing job take care of our kids . . . huge thanks. I also thank those that financially supported the mission . . .last but not least I thank our team that was just amazing. To our future Peruvian Missionaries Mark and Sandi Eisold; Pastors: James and Martha Rockey - Florida, John and Cindy Dawson - Ohio, Kirk and Tina Miller - Colorado. I also thank POP Carrollton for collaborating with us in Lima - Go Rosaline and PLI for sending us on this mission - Thanks Steve and Rita!
I especially thank my dear wife and partner with whom I am more than privileged to serve on so many adventures around the world and at home!
GLORIA A DIOS!
Picture here is Cindy and John Dawson, Sandy Eisold and Tina Miller at over 13,000 feet range.
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