Everyone arrived early. The sanctuary was full a half-hour before the wedding! It was warm. So we started early. The grandparents were seated. The mothers lighted the candles. The pastor, groom, best man, and groomsmen entered. The bridesmaids came down the aisle. Then the maid of honor. Then the flower girl and ring bearer. Finally, the bride - beautiful! Everything went just as rehearsed the night before!
A proud father gave the bride to the groom. The congregation was challenged. The couple was charged to live in a covenant relationship. A friend read scripture and gave a blessing. The pastor talked about finishing strong - regardless of the circumstances. All couples stood while the promises were exchanged! Vows were made. Rings were exchanged. A new candle was lighted. Music was heard. A pronouncement was given. A kiss! A first-time ever introduction! Applause. Greetings.
A circus-tent reception with lots of cake! The cutting of the cake. Toasts. Pictures! Lots of visiting and talking. A beautiful evening. Dancing. ALL-IN-ALL, A PERFECT DAY!
And somewhere in the midst of it all, a very mysterious thing occurred. At some point in this perfect wedding day.......GOD BEGAN TO SEE NATE AND EMILY AS ONE! May their marriage flourish and always be pleasing to God!
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Wedding Rehearsal
Last evening I directed a wedding rehearsal and today I'll officiate at the wedding.
When I left seminary in 1976, I looked forward to working with young couples to plan their weddings. I expected it to be one of the best parts of my new job! I was anxious to bring my creativity and energy to the role.
But I was quickly disillusioned by couples who deceived me and by the onslaught of couples who chose to live together before marriage. After thirty-five years in the ministry, unfortunately I now dread my participation in marrying couples.
That is until a couple like Nate and Emily come along! The joy returns when you deal with a couple that has chosen to follow God's plan. Two of the men who will stand up with Nate - he led to the Lord! Nate and Emily are committed to following God's plan for their lives and to making the Bible the textbook for their marriage.
Couples like Nate and Emily (and there are others!) renew my hope! They're a testimony to the influence of being raised in a godly home!
So, later today, I will joyfully be tying the knot! The cord will be a triple-braided cord: Nate, Emily, and Jesus!
When I left seminary in 1976, I looked forward to working with young couples to plan their weddings. I expected it to be one of the best parts of my new job! I was anxious to bring my creativity and energy to the role.
But I was quickly disillusioned by couples who deceived me and by the onslaught of couples who chose to live together before marriage. After thirty-five years in the ministry, unfortunately I now dread my participation in marrying couples.
That is until a couple like Nate and Emily come along! The joy returns when you deal with a couple that has chosen to follow God's plan. Two of the men who will stand up with Nate - he led to the Lord! Nate and Emily are committed to following God's plan for their lives and to making the Bible the textbook for their marriage.
Couples like Nate and Emily (and there are others!) renew my hope! They're a testimony to the influence of being raised in a godly home!
So, later today, I will joyfully be tying the knot! The cord will be a triple-braided cord: Nate, Emily, and Jesus!
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Bible Study 2
You might want to pass on reading this; it's probably going to stir you up.
I'm presently reading through Psalms and Proverbs. For some reason, two verses seemed to stand out to me today:
Psalm 11:5
The LORD tests the righteous and the wicked, and the one who loves violence His soul hates.
Proverbs 8:17
I love those who love me, and those who diligently seek me will find me.
This connected to something I read recently in the book, Radical, by David Platt:
...God is a loving Father, but he is also a wrathful Judge. In his wrath he hates sin. Habakkuk prayed to God, "Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrong." And in some sense, God also hates sinners. You might ask, "What happened to 'God hates the sin and loves the sinner'?" Well, the Bible happened to it. One psalmist said to God, "The arrogant cannot stand in your presence; you hate all who do wrong." Fourteen times in the first fifty psalms we see similar descriptions of God's hatred toward sinners, his wrath toward liars, and so on. In the chapter in the gospel of John where we find one of the most famous verses concerning God's love (3:16), we also find one of the most neglected verses concerning God's wrath (3:36).
Most of us have a hard time considering a God who hates. We've been taught that "Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world...". This is most certainly true!
However, God is also a holy God who cannot tolerate the presence of evil! Consequently, He hates the evil-doer because of the evil that the person does! The instant that person turns to God in repentance, however, God's love kicks in with forgiveness and restoration.
One step further: When a believer slips into sinful actions, thoughts, or attitudes, we also begin a process that could lead to alienation from God. His Spirit convicts us of this sin so that we can change our actions, thoughts, or attitudes - and once again become pleasing to Him!
Hebrews 12:6 (TM)
It's the child He loves that He disciplines; the child He embraces, He also corrects.
Comments welcome...
I'm presently reading through Psalms and Proverbs. For some reason, two verses seemed to stand out to me today:
Psalm 11:5
The LORD tests the righteous and the wicked, and the one who loves violence His soul hates.
Proverbs 8:17
I love those who love me, and those who diligently seek me will find me.
This connected to something I read recently in the book, Radical, by David Platt:
...God is a loving Father, but he is also a wrathful Judge. In his wrath he hates sin. Habakkuk prayed to God, "Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrong." And in some sense, God also hates sinners. You might ask, "What happened to 'God hates the sin and loves the sinner'?" Well, the Bible happened to it. One psalmist said to God, "The arrogant cannot stand in your presence; you hate all who do wrong." Fourteen times in the first fifty psalms we see similar descriptions of God's hatred toward sinners, his wrath toward liars, and so on. In the chapter in the gospel of John where we find one of the most famous verses concerning God's love (3:16), we also find one of the most neglected verses concerning God's wrath (3:36).
Most of us have a hard time considering a God who hates. We've been taught that "Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world...". This is most certainly true!
However, God is also a holy God who cannot tolerate the presence of evil! Consequently, He hates the evil-doer because of the evil that the person does! The instant that person turns to God in repentance, however, God's love kicks in with forgiveness and restoration.
One step further: When a believer slips into sinful actions, thoughts, or attitudes, we also begin a process that could lead to alienation from God. His Spirit convicts us of this sin so that we can change our actions, thoughts, or attitudes - and once again become pleasing to Him!
Hebrews 12:6 (TM)
It's the child He loves that He disciplines; the child He embraces, He also corrects.
Comments welcome...
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Dancing Lessons
I read recently that people who dance regularly live longer, are less depressed, are healthier, and sleep better! Scientific evidence supports the fact that those who dance 3-4 times per week have a significantly lesser incidence of dementia! I don't know about you, but I want all of those!
My wife's parents love to dance (and do it well). They're in their 80's and are going strong!
Fred Astair lived to be 88. Gene Kelly lived to be 84. King David lived to be 80.
Dancing burns fat and is good exercise. It gets the blood flowing.
I never learned to dance when I was young. The church labeled it a sin back then.
In Ecclesiastes it says there's "...a time to dance." Jesus said, "We played the flute for you and you did not dance." Psalm 149 and 150 say: "Let them praise His name in the dance." and "Praise Him with the timbrel and dance..." That all makes me think: "It must be OK."
I think it all went bad when Herodias' daughter danced for Herod so that her mother could have John the Baptist beheaded. I think from that point on - dancing has gotten a bad rap.
The only real opportunities for me to dance with my wife are at weddings. She's a good dancer! I feel real self-conscious! I often wish (while at wedding receptions) that I knew how to dance! I admire people who look so smooth on the dance floor!
We tried square dancing once. I can twist. I love the chicken dance and the Hokey Pokey! I can electric slide. I really think there's a dancer hiding somewhere inside me.
Now that science is on my side, I really want to learn! Anyone know where I can get some good dancing lessons?
My wife's parents love to dance (and do it well). They're in their 80's and are going strong!
Fred Astair lived to be 88. Gene Kelly lived to be 84. King David lived to be 80.
Dancing burns fat and is good exercise. It gets the blood flowing.
I never learned to dance when I was young. The church labeled it a sin back then.
In Ecclesiastes it says there's "...a time to dance." Jesus said, "We played the flute for you and you did not dance." Psalm 149 and 150 say: "Let them praise His name in the dance." and "Praise Him with the timbrel and dance..." That all makes me think: "It must be OK."
I think it all went bad when Herodias' daughter danced for Herod so that her mother could have John the Baptist beheaded. I think from that point on - dancing has gotten a bad rap.
The only real opportunities for me to dance with my wife are at weddings. She's a good dancer! I feel real self-conscious! I often wish (while at wedding receptions) that I knew how to dance! I admire people who look so smooth on the dance floor!
We tried square dancing once. I can twist. I love the chicken dance and the Hokey Pokey! I can electric slide. I really think there's a dancer hiding somewhere inside me.
Now that science is on my side, I really want to learn! Anyone know where I can get some good dancing lessons?
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
New Computer
There it sat, in my garage. The UPS man had just left it. My new laptop! How exciting! Scizzors. Unpacking. Opening boxes. Scanning directions. Flip up the lid and press the power button.
No clue how to manuever. What is Windows 7? Everything looks foreign - did I accidentally buy a Mac?
Now I've got to pull out my old desk-top PC and replace it with this one. I must figure out how to get the DSL functional on the new one. Then load Microsoft Office. After that, I'll need to transfer vital information and files from my old Dell to the new Asus. Then mourn the loss of XP and learn to navigate with Windows 7.
Thankfully I have an iPhone to keep me connected for the next month or so. But after awhile, it'll get comfortable too. In the meantime, I'll be tying with one finger...
No clue how to manuever. What is Windows 7? Everything looks foreign - did I accidentally buy a Mac?
Now I've got to pull out my old desk-top PC and replace it with this one. I must figure out how to get the DSL functional on the new one. Then load Microsoft Office. After that, I'll need to transfer vital information and files from my old Dell to the new Asus. Then mourn the loss of XP and learn to navigate with Windows 7.
Thankfully I have an iPhone to keep me connected for the next month or so. But after awhile, it'll get comfortable too. In the meantime, I'll be tying with one finger...
Monday, July 25, 2011
Team
Yesterday our church held worship in our city park with a 'Carry-In' dinner following. The park is 1 mile from our church building.
About five men hauled all the worship team and sound equipment to the park and set it up. Other men hauled grills for cooking burgers and hot dogs. Tables were taken to set the food on. One man built a huge 'ice tray' for food that need to be kept cool. A family put up a tent room to serve as a nursery. Individuals brought games and set them up. Women helped arrange and serve the food. Young fellows helped arrange the picnic tables. And when it was all over, everything had to be cleaned up and taken back to the church!
About 150 people came for worship. About 15 from a nearby church joined us as well. God gave us a beautiful, cooler morning. We had a wonderful time together!
The earliest workers showed up at 8:00 AM. Sacrifices were made! Effort was expended! And at the end of the event - I was so proud!
We have a team that works remarkably well together! And I think God might be smiling...
About five men hauled all the worship team and sound equipment to the park and set it up. Other men hauled grills for cooking burgers and hot dogs. Tables were taken to set the food on. One man built a huge 'ice tray' for food that need to be kept cool. A family put up a tent room to serve as a nursery. Individuals brought games and set them up. Women helped arrange and serve the food. Young fellows helped arrange the picnic tables. And when it was all over, everything had to be cleaned up and taken back to the church!
About 150 people came for worship. About 15 from a nearby church joined us as well. God gave us a beautiful, cooler morning. We had a wonderful time together!
The earliest workers showed up at 8:00 AM. Sacrifices were made! Effort was expended! And at the end of the event - I was so proud!
We have a team that works remarkably well together! And I think God might be smiling...
Sunday, July 24, 2011
First Fruits
Yesterday, Debbie and I picked, cleaned, and froze beans and broccoli from our garden. The beans were straight, long, and beautiful. The broccoli heads were huge, green, and fresh. These were the first fruits from the garden in 2011.
According to Exodus 23, God instructed the people (when they came to the Feast of the Harvest) to "...bring the choice first fruits of your soil into the house of the LORD your God." Teachings similar to this are recorded in Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Psalms, and Nehemiah.
First fruits are the best!
God demanded that the people bring their best and give it to Him!
Don't keep it for yourself; surrender it to God! The best of your crops!
You eat and enjoy the second fruits. You wouldn't have any of it if it wasn't for the goodness of God!
Are you giving God the best? ...the first fruits? Think about it. What would that mean in your life?
According to Exodus 23, God instructed the people (when they came to the Feast of the Harvest) to "...bring the choice first fruits of your soil into the house of the LORD your God." Teachings similar to this are recorded in Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Psalms, and Nehemiah.
First fruits are the best!
God demanded that the people bring their best and give it to Him!
Don't keep it for yourself; surrender it to God! The best of your crops!
You eat and enjoy the second fruits. You wouldn't have any of it if it wasn't for the goodness of God!
Are you giving God the best? ...the first fruits? Think about it. What would that mean in your life?
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Bible Study
This should make you think!
Psalm 7:12-16 (NASB)
[Notice: The NASB capitalizes pronouns that represent God. I've underlined these cases]
If a man does not repent, He will sharpen His sword; He has bent His bow and made it ready. He has also prepared for Himself deadly weapons; He makes His arrows fiery shafts.
[The pronouns in the following refer back to "a man who does not repent"] Behold, he travails with wickedness, and he conceives mischief and brings forth falsehood. He has dug a pit and hollowed it out, and has fallen into the hole which he made. His mischief will return upon his own head, and his violence will descend upon his own [head].
If I understand this correctly, "If a man does not repent," God turns up the heat on that man in order to show him the need for repentance. Therefore, God may be the source of pain in the life of an unrepentant believer!
Oswald Chambers has written: "Repentance means that I show my sorrow for the wrong thing by becoming the opposite." In other words we acknowledge that God's way is best and bring ourselves into alignment with His ways!
Need further evidence? Revelation "Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent.”
Be honest with yourself. When is the last time you repented of anything? Are you really living that perfect of a life? Or is it possible that you've closed your ears to the convicting voice of the Holy Spirit?
Leave a comment - I'd love to know what you think of this. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go and repent...
Psalm 7:12-16 (NASB)
[Notice: The NASB capitalizes pronouns that represent God. I've underlined these cases]
If a man does not repent, He will sharpen His sword; He has bent His bow and made it ready. He has also prepared for Himself deadly weapons; He makes His arrows fiery shafts.
[The pronouns in the following refer back to "a man who does not repent"] Behold, he travails with wickedness, and he conceives mischief and brings forth falsehood. He has dug a pit and hollowed it out, and has fallen into the hole which he made. His mischief will return upon his own head, and his violence will descend upon his own [head].
If I understand this correctly, "If a man does not repent," God turns up the heat on that man in order to show him the need for repentance. Therefore, God may be the source of pain in the life of an unrepentant believer!
Oswald Chambers has written: "Repentance means that I show my sorrow for the wrong thing by becoming the opposite." In other words we acknowledge that God's way is best and bring ourselves into alignment with His ways!
Need further evidence? Revelation "Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent.”
Be honest with yourself. When is the last time you repented of anything? Are you really living that perfect of a life? Or is it possible that you've closed your ears to the convicting voice of the Holy Spirit?
Leave a comment - I'd love to know what you think of this. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go and repent...
Friday, July 22, 2011
Morning Walk
I live 50 yards from the Free Methodist Community Church. Most mornings, I rise and head to the sanctuary to spend time with God.
Essentially, I walk around the sanctuary repeatedly and talk out my thoughts and feelings. I also pray for people who are going through challenging times.
I talk out loud (it helps me to stay focused). I keep a sheet of paper and pen on the altar and make notes of things I want to remember.
Sometimes this morning walk is transformational, however, most of the time it is quite ordinary.
Usually God makes Himself known to me by coaching me. He reminds me of things I need to do and people I need to contact. He makes me aware of my faults (this happens frequently).
All-in-all, this walk affects my day. It's one of the things I do that helps me stay connected to God!
Leave a comment about something you do that helps keep you connected to God...
Essentially, I walk around the sanctuary repeatedly and talk out my thoughts and feelings. I also pray for people who are going through challenging times.
I talk out loud (it helps me to stay focused). I keep a sheet of paper and pen on the altar and make notes of things I want to remember.
Sometimes this morning walk is transformational, however, most of the time it is quite ordinary.
Usually God makes Himself known to me by coaching me. He reminds me of things I need to do and people I need to contact. He makes me aware of my faults (this happens frequently).
All-in-all, this walk affects my day. It's one of the things I do that helps me stay connected to God!
Leave a comment about something you do that helps keep you connected to God...
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Grandchildren!
Last week, my wife and I had the privilege of being with our grandchildren for about five days at Family Camp. Rylie, nearing 4, stayed in the cottage with us. That was fun!
Coltin, 2-1/2, seemed to like me for one day. The rest of the time he preferred his Mom. He's very curious and can be quite independent. Hair style: Mohawk (I don't think he chose it). He likes my glasses; it's a week later, and I'm still trying to get them adjusted. :-)
PRICELESS!
- jumping on the bed
- pouring water from cup to cup
- going to the park to swing
- the kiddie pool
- talking in the dark before sleeping
- riding her 'Barbie' cycle
Coltin, 2-1/2, seemed to like me for one day. The rest of the time he preferred his Mom. He's very curious and can be quite independent. Hair style: Mohawk (I don't think he chose it). He likes my glasses; it's a week later, and I'm still trying to get them adjusted. :-)
PRICELESS!
My Sons Just Left!
Having my sons, Travis and Troy, home for a few days was wonderful! But now they've each left for their respective homes - and I'm feeling the down of their departure!
I'm immersing myself in work to try to fill the hole in my heart. I love being around them! They're fun and interesting. They make me proud!
I miss them being a part of my day-to-day life, as they were when they were younger. But now, at 35 and 30, they're each living their own lives.
Many parents have been here. You bring them into the world, nurture them, and then launch them. And it all happens in a few blinks of the eyes. And suddenly, they don't need you anymore. And it hurts!
God
Keep them safe - not only as they travel, but also as they journey through life! Give them wisdom in their decision-making. Surround them with true friends. Help them to be 'difference-makers'.
And PS - Watch over Debbie and me as we observe their lives from the sidelines! Amen.
I'm immersing myself in work to try to fill the hole in my heart. I love being around them! They're fun and interesting. They make me proud!
I miss them being a part of my day-to-day life, as they were when they were younger. But now, at 35 and 30, they're each living their own lives.
Many parents have been here. You bring them into the world, nurture them, and then launch them. And it all happens in a few blinks of the eyes. And suddenly, they don't need you anymore. And it hurts!
God
Keep them safe - not only as they travel, but also as they journey through life! Give them wisdom in their decision-making. Surround them with true friends. Help them to be 'difference-makers'.
And PS - Watch over Debbie and me as we observe their lives from the sidelines! Amen.
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