AN UNBROKEN EGG

Last night three members of our Pastoral Team (Linda Savaet, Liz Sargent, and Laurie Mahosky) led our monthly Team Leader Team meeting (we have twelve teams that lead our church)!

Linda, Laurie, Liz

As we entered, we were offered candy.  The color we chose determined the table where we were to sit.  The others at our table became our team!

Dennis Mansfield, Suzie Wiley, Zonda Haase

All the necessary ingredients for pizza were on the table.  After a brief devotional on teamwork, we were set free to build the perfect pizza.  [They were baked and served at the end of the evening].

Debbie VanArsdale and Debbie Haire

Then each team was given $150 in play money.  We were given the opportunity to purchase items in an auction.  We would use these items to build a recepticle into which we would drop an egg from our 'Eagle's Nest" (sound booth) - a ten foot drop!

VERY COMPETITIVE bidding took place for premium items like a five gallon bucket, some plastic shopping bags, bag of Easter egg grass, an old newspaper, and a box of rice crispees. 

Justin Sargent and Brady Sullivan

When the auction ended, we built our recepticles and moved to the Eagle's Nest where each team - in turn - dropped their egg (two times to eliminate ties).  Only one team dropped it twice without breaking the egg! 

One team resorted to prayer!

Then we went back to eat pizza and discuss how effectively we had worked together as teams.  Prizes were awarded and everyone helped clean up! 

It was a fantastic evening of learning about teamwork!


April Jacobsen, Hal Haire, Karen Sullivan

DO IT AGAIN POPPY

Having just spent a week with my grandchildren, Rylie and Coltin, I am reminded of the value of repetition. 

When they find something they enjoy, they are excited to do it over and over again!  Eventually, "Do it again, Poppy" is just too many words to speak and it gets shortened to "Again".

This happened while swinging at the playground.
It was echoed when I became their play horse.
"Again" was the theme when we rode the four-wheeler.
It also kicked in while we played 'Chase and tickle'.
I don't remember how many times I read them the same book!
It REALLY became a factor with the Where's Waldo? books...

Children are still learning.  They're untainted by boredom.  When they find something that makes them happy, they are unabashed about repeating it over and over and over.  Their enjoyment curve seems to last much longer than ours - as adults. 

Teens still have a remnant of this in them, too.  They will get in line and ride the same roller coaster all day! 

Even as a fully mature man - who just received his Golden Buckeye Card - I have occasional glimpses of this experience.  It happened the other day while playing Wii.  I was having so much fun trying to master the tennis game that I felt like I could have played it all day.

Wouldn't it be cool if we could maintain this kind of excitement and joy throughout our lives?  It might transform our work. 

When I was worship leader at Cornerstone Church in Akron, we had three identical, Sunday morning worship services.  Regularly, while leaving the platform, Judy Haydu would say to me, "Hal, do you believe it, we get to do this two more times?"  Her expression was one of absolute joy!

Let's pray about this:

God,

Renew the child in me today!  Help me to see the world in color!  Help me to hear and marvel at the birds.  Help me to see an airplane trail and thrill at the thought that people are hurling through the air over 500 miles per hour!  Help me to see the character in someone's face.  Help me to have fun today - and to make life fun for others, too!  Help me to be less shy about expressing excitement, wonder and joy today!  Maybe by doing this more openly, I can ignite the same reaction in others!  Renew the child in me today, Lord!

Amen.

MY CUP IS FULL AND RUNNING OVER

It's hard for me to imagine that there could be a man in this world who is more grateful to God this morning than I am!  As I reflect over the last few days, I am overwhelmed with a sense of God's goodness! 

I stood in a small circle after worship yesterday with my brother Ira (and his wife, Joyce) and my sister Beverly (and her husband, Dick).  Together, we thanked God for our parents:  Leonard and Hazel Haire.  We are all well aware of how solidly they launched us into life by their Christian example.

I have an amazing wife!  Debbie was surely designed by God specifically for me!  She has comforted me, encouraged me, served me, blessed me, and shared life with me for a long time!  Her family has been a constant source of blessing to us!  We have fun being together and I'd rather spend time with her than anyone else in this world! 

I spent a whole week with our three kids!  We had so much fun surrounding Troy and Missy's wedding!  It was a week-long party!  I love my kids so much and am so proud of them!  They make my life go 'round!  Probably more than anything else in this world, I want Travis, Troy, and Tracie to be with me forever in Heaven!

Our families gathered around us this weekend to share our joy!  Both the Haire's and the Whippo's set their personal agendas aside to help us rejoice with Troy and Missy.  Some of them travelled long distances and took on significant expenses to participate.  And boy, did we party!

Our friends came from near and far to celebrate with us.  We are friend-rich!  So many connections from so many sources.  We were overwhelmed by having so many of them in the same room with us on Saturday.  It added to our joy significantly.  How we wish we could spend time with each of them individually!

I also had lots of time with Rylie and Coltin!  Feeling their arms around my neck takes me instantly back to when our kids were little - it's like magic!  They bring me so much joy and satisfaction.  There is no better feeling than receiving their innocent, sincere love!  They are precious to me!

And to top it off, I have a wonderful church family!  Our worship time yesterday was off-the-charts!  They also gathered with us to add to the joy over the weekend!  We had an amazing time and I felt the power of their prayer throughout the whole weekend! 

Let it be known to all:  living for and serving God is the only way to go!  God has been so good to me!  And I don't deserve any of it.  It's all grace!  And I will forever live with a desire to express my gratitude to Him!  Thank You, Lord!

THE WEDDING PARTY

If you remember John 2, Jesus was the Life of the wedding feast at Cana in Galilee.  When the wine ran out, He created an abundance of the best wine any of them had ever tasted. 

Jesus went to another wedding party yesterday!  It was in celebration of Troy Haire and Melissa Noel's marriage!  Two hundred of us marvelled as we watched God tie a tight knot between their lives as we worshipped!

Then it was time to PARTY!

Church friends practiced line-dancing for two weeks to prepare for this celebration!  Plans were made by both the Noel and Haire families!  Four thousand cookies were baked and carefully prepared!  Toasts were thought through by Leah (Missy's sister) and Travis (Troy's brother). 

The Best Man (Travis) delivered their luggage to the hotel room earlier in the day.  He also arranged for a cheese tray, chocolate-covered strawberries, and other treats!  He set up candles to create the right ambiance!

Then came the celebration!  The beautiful bride and her handsome groom personally greeted every guest (along with their parents).  We feasted at luxurious tables of food!  And then there were THE COOKIES!  Then cake!

Then the dancing began!  It didn't end till 10:00 PM when the DJ played, "I've Had The Time Of My Life!" 

Two family systems joyfully celebrated!

Family friends came from near and far to participate in the party!

A church family joined the joy!

Why so much hoopla?  Why so much joy?

1. Because these two families have gained the respect of others - largely through their faith!
2. Because Troy and Missy have been open and clear about their commitment to establishing a Christian home!
3. Because we all have seen evidence of God's redeeming grace in Troy's and Missy's lives!
4. Because Troy and Missy deliberately chose to honor God and reserve their physical love for last night - after the wedding!

TROY AND MISSY

True story:  On my first Sunday at New Middletown (July, 2003) we were overwhelmed with a LONG LINE of people who waited to greet us after worship!  So many new names to learn! 

In the line was a mother and her teenaged daughter.  The mom was Helen Noel and the daughter was Melissa Noel.  We spoke to them briefly as they introduced themselves to us.

As they turned to walk away, I whispered to Debbie:  "I'm going to have to tell Troy about that one!"  I did tell him about Melissa, but the timing wasn't ripe yet.

True story:  Most years, after Christmas, our friend Rhoda Swartz has a get-together at her home.  She and others pitch in all the Christmas left-overs and we just have a wonderful time of fellowship and fun!  It's a delight.

Our sons, Travis and Troy, were home for Christmas that year and were staying through New Year's;  so we were planning to attend Rhoda's party. 

The night of the party, Helen Noel asked Melissa if she'd like to go to Rhoda's with her and Mark.  She quickly replied:  "No!  I know what you're up to, Mom.  You're just trying to fix me up with one of those Haire boys!"

True story:  Troy and Melissa had a few friendly interactions over the years.  They had apparently caught each other's eye.

Two years ago at Family Camp, it gradually became apparent that they were migrating toward one another.

At the end of camp, Troy asked Melissa if she would be interested in dating long-distance?  She said "Yes."

That began a series of trips back-and-forth from New Middletown to Savannah.  Most frequently, Missy went to Savannah.  They had some incredibly beautiful dates and special times.  Eventually they announced that they were a couple on Facebook!

Last fall, they found reasons to get together many times - including a Haire Family Gathering at Travis' in Annapolis for the Navy Homecoming!  No doubt about it by this time - this relationship was heading somewhere! 

According to Missy, Troy first told her that he loved her a month before Thanksgiving - when he gave her a ring!  He wanted to get married at Christmas!  She made him wait until today!

BIRTH STORY - I

We were living in an eight-foot wide, forty-foot long mobil home in Wilmore, Kentucky.  We had purchased it for $1,800 - new home owners!  Very proud!

Deb was pregnant and expecting to deliver in April.  She'd had some trouble with the pregnancy during the fall.  Dr. Dunkleberger ordered bed-rest for over two weeks to save the baby!

Now it was February, 1976, the Bicentenniel Year!

She was making me breakfast:  sausage, eggs and toast.  The smell of the sausage made her nautious.  She began complaining of stomach pains.  As I sat at our tiny kitchen table eating, I noticed that she was complaining exactly every-five-minutes.

When I pointed that out, she called her doctor.  He suggested we come in for an exam.  After breakfast, we left for Lexington.  She disappeared into an examination room.

Fifteen minutes later, the doctor came out and sat beside me.  He told me that Deb would soon be coming out and that I should drive her to the hospital as quickly as possible.  He would meet us there - she was dilated six centimeters!

Upon arriving at the hospital, she went for xrays.  As they wheeled her down the hallway toward surgery, the doctor explained that the baby was breach-backwards and they would have to do the delivery as a Ceasarian Section.

We hadn't read that chapter in our 'Birth Book'!

The baby boy was born seven weeks premature, weighing five pounds, two ounces.  He quickly lost weight and had to be kept in the hospital for two weeks until he weighed five pounds again.

We named him Travis Wilson Haire [Wilson was my father's middle name].  That was February 24, 1976, thirty-six years ago today!  He's been bringing us joy for all those years!

OUR WEDDING WEEK

Debbie and I were married on August 11, 1973, (at 6:30 PM) in the New Brighton Free Methodist Church.  The church was packed - including the overflow rooms in the back of the sanctuary!

My 'Best Man' was my boyhood best friend, Bob Creese.  He was a nervous wreck!  I remember taking him out the back door of the church so he could smoke, to calm his nerves!

Dave Eakin was the officating pastor.  He was Debbie's pastor from the Rochester, PA Free Methodist Church.  He wasn't much older than us! 

Our reception was at a firehall in Beaver Falls.  It was crowded! 

Some "friends" smeared my car windows with grease and put limberger cheese on my engine.  I had to drive directly to a car wash before we could leave for our honeymoon!  Some "trusted" family sprinkled rice all through my honeymoon clothes and put big, red, X's on my underwear!  I learned a lot that day about who you could trust and who you couldn't!

We drove to Marienville, PA for our first night.  We stayed at Aunt Dorothy (Whippo's) chalet.  On Monday, we went to Conneaut Lake Park to spend the day.  We ran into Joe Plasmire from the New Brighton Church;  he bought us ice cream cones!  We laid on the beach for part of the day.  Then we drove to 'The Summit' in the Pocono Mountains for a three-day stay at a honeymoon resort!

Debbie and I were awarded a trophy at dinner the first evening for being 'The Best in The Sack'!  [We had won the sack races that afternoon!]  Unfortunately, Deb developed an infection while we were there, but we still enjoyed the heart-shaped tub and the first king-sized bed we'd ever seen!

Then we went back to my folks' home, packed a U-Haul truck and left for Wilmore, Kentucky, where we set up house-keeping in a duplex apartment owned by Asbury Theological Seminary.

Humble beginnings, but may Troy and Missy be as blessed as we were!

HOME SWEET CHAOS!

Our kids are all home!  Woo Hoo!  Troy and Missy's wedding is Saturday!  Yee Haw!  This is PARTY WEEK at the Haire house! 

A home that is usually quiet, peaceful, orderly, and restful (did I mention quiet?), is suddenly transformed into a high-gear, noisy, confusing, chaotic environment! 

Troy got here first on Saturday evening.  Of course he brought Ainsley, his Great Dane.  She walks up to you and looks you right in the eye! 

Tracie came on Sunday with the kids:  Rylie and Coltin.  They brought their Golden Lab, Dakota.

Travis arrived late Monday.  He brought his Saint Bernard, Daffy! 

Full house! 

It's a little crazy, but we're having a ball!  Eating, playing games, going shopping, taking the dogs out for a walk, going out to play, riding the four-wheelers, playing Wii and video games, and shooting some games of pool. 

IT DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER THAN THIS!

The quiet will return - right now there are grandkids to be played with!!!!  "Hang on Rylie and Coltin!  Poppy'll be right there!"

APOLOGY

Dear friends,

About two weeks ago, I lost my internet service at my home.  That is where I blog and Facebook.  I've been working to try to get the service restored, but as yet, it is still not up.  I regret that I have been unable to keep posting.  Please keep checking back - I will eventually get back to posting.  Thanks for reading.  I miss our daily contact!

Hal Haire

FINALLY GOT AROUND TO IT

Every year I think, "In February when things slow down, I'm going to sort through my old four-drawer file cabinets and get rid of the old, irrelevant stuff."  But years have passed and those drawers are still packed so tight I can hardly pull a file from them...

Till this February!

I've begun the process!  Yay! Two drawers down - six to go!  One garbage can in the dumpster - so full I strained my back getting it up and in!

I'm trying to be ruthless - without being careless!  I'm keeping some stuff!  I'll throw it out later.

When I started into the ministry, these file drawers were vital.  No computers in 1976.  Everything of value was kept in real file folders, in real file drawers.  Hard to believe for those born in the 1990's or later! 

Now, almost everything is kept in virtual file folders in virtual file drawers!  On thumb-drives or in external storage devices.  "O Carbonite, O Carbonite, how lovely are thy on-line back-up systems!" 

Soon, I'll be coming to files of couples I've worked with through the years - preparing them for marriage.  I wonder how many of them are still couples?  Then I'll be shredding hundreds of pages of counseling files.  Most names I remember;  some have already been deleted from my mental files. 

Records from my churches.  Conversions.  Baptisms.  Membership classes.  Directories.  Marriages.  Births.  Deaths.  Then come files of sermons - including funeral messages and wedding ceremonies.  Thirty-six years of ministry accumulates lots of files!  "Call the refuse company and schedule an extra pick-up day!"

I pitched a lot of old messages, bulletins, school course notes, and cassette tapes a couple of years ago.  I really haven't mssed any of it, but I do - at times - wonder if I threw away something important?

Anyone needing a couple of old-school, four-drawer, file cabinets - give me a call in about a week!  Anyone needing records of anything I've done for you in the last thirty-six years - so sorry! 

I think while I'm relaxing at home tonight, I'll start in on a few of our 'junk drawers'.  :-)

TRAIN UP A CHILD!

Proverbs 22:6 (NASB)
Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it.

I turned 17 at the end of January, 1969.  I graduated from high school in early June.  I immediately left for Philadelphia to live with my brother and his wife for the summer.  He had arranged for me to be a helper in his father-in-law's roofing and heating business.  While there, I attended the Willow Grove Free Methodist Church with their family.

In August, I drove to Rochester, New York, for orientation at Roberts Wesleyan College, where I began classes in September.  I was assigned to live in Carpenter Hall - a large four-floor men's dorm.  The first Sunday morning, I remember wondering why I was the only one up getting ready for Sunday School. 

I loved breakfast on Sundays at RWC!  They would fix anything you wanted!  I think it was largely because so few came out for breakfast.

I attended Sunday School and worship at the Pearce Memorial Free Methodist Church - a much larger congregation than I was used to (about 1500).  I was surprised that they didn't have a class for college students. 

I was pretty quickly noticed and asked to teach a Sunday School class of fourth and fifth grade boys.  I taught that class (except summers) for two years. 

I loved worshipping with so many people!  It was exciting! 

After graduation, I was hired by Dr. V. J. Mannoia (senior pastor) to be a 'Pastoral Apprentice' for the summer!  I worked under the direct supervison of Richard Snyder (associate pastor and later, bishop).  I went home to New Brighton, Pennsylvania in early August (1973) to be married!

PEACEMAKERS DON’T MAKE GOOD LEADERS – III

[This is the third of a series.  You might want to read the first two articles first!]

I received my call to ministry when I was seventeen.  It was re-confirmed when I was thirty in a way that was so convincing, I will never doubt the reality of my call again!

I have one relative who was also a pastor.  His name was J. O. Archer.  He was my Grandma Haire’s brother – which made him my great-uncle.  However, he was more like a grandfather to me!  I loved him dearly! 

He was honored by the Pittsburgh Conference for fifty years of active ministry in the Free Methodist Church.  He was stepping out of ministry just as I was stepping into it.

Interestingly, Uncle James was also a peacemaker!  In his day, pastors were moved frequently – as often as every three or four years.  The conference leadership had recognized his peace-loving ways.  They repeatedly sent him to churches known for unrest and division.  Uncle James had a way of restoring peace and love among the members of the church.  He was a calmer-of-storms, a healer of relationships.

There is a place in the church for the peacemaker!  Like Uncle James, I have served churches that needed healing.  Two of them had experienced pastors who fell due to sexual misconduct.  One had been torn apart through the pain and tension of a building program.  Another struggled to survive because it was located mid-way between two highly visible mega-churches.  Another was torn over the decision of whether or not to build a new building. 

In each case, I worked hard to restore peace and establish unity.  In each case, the church grew significantly.  In each case, finances were strengthened.  In each church, new people were introduced to the family of God. 

Certain pastors are known to have a healing ministry.  They are solid in their faith and above reproach.  They earn people’s trust and bring people together.  These pastors almost always see convert growth, however, rarely at a level that ignites ‘break-out’ growth.

THE BOTTOM LINE:

Peacemakers don’t make good leaders, but they do make excellent pastors!

PEACEMAKERS DON'T MAKE GOOD LEADERS - II

[To make complete sense, read "Peacemakers Don't Make Good Leaders" first.]

I've come to realize that a big part of my problem is centered in the fact that I haven't fully believed that God would communicate His "preferred future" to me as a leader!

God has always worked through leaders to accomplish His work.  God will likely work through leaders to direct the ministry and future of the church! 

I believe that God has lifted the veil on occasions to let me see His 'preferred future" for the church.  I have failed to act on that vision and knowledge by succumbing to authorites other than God!  [Disobedience = sin.]

There are several factors that can and do impact me in these situations:

1. Low self-esteem makes me think that God would never reveal His "preferred future" to me.
2. Lack of confidence prevents me from speaking up with the dominant message the church needs to hear.
3. Fear of conflict or confrontation causes me to shy away from speaking strongly of what I believe to be God's will.
4. Reluctance to use the power of my office (pastor) to push an agenda - even when I know that God has given me a glimpse of His "preferred future" - deprives the church of God-given leadership. 
5. An over-valuing of the democratic process puts the will of the majority above the will of God.  In the Bible the democratic process is never used with good results.  God consistently chooses to get His work accomplished through leaders who lead!

In reality, no one prays for the church more than I do.  No one thinks about the church more than I do.  No one works as hard in the church as I do.  No one cares about the health and growth of the church more than I do. 

By loving peace and giving it such a high priority, I have robbed the church of effective leadership!  I have deprived the church of God's "preferred future"! 

That's sad!

PEACEMAKERS DON'T MAKE GOOD LEADERS

I am a peace-maker.  I want unity and peace above all.  I work hard to obtain and maintain peace.  I willingly sacrifice to sustain peace.  I want us all to finish the race together.

This is the very reason that I have not been an effective leader.  I have not been willing to make the hard call.  If my decision will anger or disappoint someone, then I back up from it. 

However, reality calls for tough decisions.  What's right is more important than what everyone will like!  I wish I had learned that earlier in life!  It would have made me a much more effective leader!

Dissonance is uncomfortable!  Differing opinions create tension!  Resistance causes fear.  Ideas have to be thought through carefully.  Spiritual discerning must take place.

But, what's right and best must take precedence over maintaining the status quo!  The status quo may be what is most comfortable, but it is probably not what is best! 

An essential leadership quality is courage coupled with justice.  This kind of leadership presents itself not with an "It's my way or the highway" mentality, but with a "This is the way and we must walk in it" attitude!

This leadership is not ruthless, but persuasive;  not insistant, but determined;  not uncaring, but committed to what is right and best! 

God, help me - even at this stage of life - to become more confident in my ability to lead.  Give me courage to believe that You want to work through my leadership to accomplish Your great purposes.

LARRY NORMAN

When I was elected Religious Life Director at Roberts Wesleyan College, I knew I wanted to bring some great, Christian music to the campus.  It was 1971.

I used a large portion of my budget to bring the original Christian 'rocker' to the campus - the late, Larry Norman.  I remember that it cost $1500 to book him (plus airfare and accomadations).  That was an unheard of amount of money for that time!

When Larry arrived, I had him scheduled in classes and at events, with a major concert at Pearce Memorial Free Methodist Church for Friday night.  He was very pleasant to be around and cooperated with our plans 100%.

Friday, after a full day of events, I scheduled some free-time for Larry - thinking he might like to rest before the big, evening concert.  I found out later
that he hitch-hiked into Rochester (with his guitar) and sang and ministered on the streets all afternoon!

That evening, after a big introduction and enthusiastic welcome, he humbly walked out on the platform.  He put his guitar case on the floor, opened it, took out his guitar and stepped to the microphone.  He sang a song and when the applause broke out, he simply stood with his head down and his hand raised - using the famous "One-Way' sign to point to his Lord and give Him the glory.

He sang for two hours sometimes using his guitar and several times slipping to the piano!  It was one of the greatest evenings of my life!  His faith was genuine, his music passionate, and his example was effective!

He's singing in Heaven now:  "Why should the devil have all the good music?"

A GOD INTERVENTION?

My Mom had strict guidelines for observing the Sabbath Day (which she observed on Sunday).  She had been raised in the Reformed Presbyterian Church which - at that time - had very rigid thoughts about the Sabbath Day (think "Chariots of Fire").

She and my Dad refused to make purchases on Sunday.  My Dad was very excited when I got my license because he could send me to Puritan Drug Store on Saturday night to buy his Sunday Pittsburgh Press newspaper.

We rarely travelled on Sundays because they didn't want to have to buy gasoline.  We never ate out on Sunday.  Television was discouraged until after the Sunday evening worship service.  Outside play was discouraged.

One Sunday - before I was born - someone in our family became very sick (I think it may have been my sister, Beverly).  Dad called Dr. Chadwick who called a prescription in to the local drug store. 

Now my parents had a dilemma.  Dr. Chadwick had insisted that my Dad get this medication as soon as possible.  Yet their principles told them not to make a purchase on the Sabbath.

After much deliberation, prayer, and consternation, my Dad drove to the drug store and went in to purchase the prescription.  As he entered, he noticed that a man followed him to the pharmacy counter.

As Dad waited for the prescription, the man continued to stand nearby.  Finally, when it was time to pay for the prescription, the man stepped forward and intercepted the purchase.

He reported that my Dad was the 100,000th customer to the store and that his purchase was free! 

A God intervention?  You decide...

BUZZY'S

I remember my father telling me about his first haircut.  He was a teenager and his father took him.  He said that when the barber touched his head with the electric shears, he felt a shock go through his whole body.

Then came the day that my Dad took me with him to Buzzy's Barber Shop.  It was at the top of Ross Hill Road in Patterson Heights (Beaver Falls).  The shop was located in a small corner of a fire hall, right beside Waite's Restaurant.

Buzzy was an older Italian man whose English I had a hard time understanding.  He was stern and lacked a gentle hand.  The shop smelled of tonics and colognes;  it had a masculine fragrance that I enjoyed. 

It was a male environment.  I heard words there that I never heard at home.  I remember my Dad winking at me when it happened.  I was always the only boy there.  Most men weren't willing to spend $.75 to get their son's hair cut.

My Dad always went first.  It made me proud to be there with him.  This was one of the few things we did together - it felt like a male rite of passage.

When it was my turn, Buzzy threw a booster seat on top of the arms to the barber chair.  He covered me with a sheet and pinned it tightly around my neck.  He mostly used his scizzors and seemed to enjoy making them work fast - whether he was actually cutting hair or not.  I assumed that was just a hazard of being a professional barber!

When he was finished, he put Vitalis on my hair and combed it to look real nice. 

I grew up going to Buzzy's with my Dad.  Later, I drove there by myself.  Then, I went to college and grew my hair long.  When I would go home for a visit, I would often wake up on Saturday morning and find a dollar and a quarter on the corner of the kitchen table.  I knew what it was for!

SHOWING GOD'S LOVE IN A PRACTICAL WAY!

[The following is an excerpt from Steve Sjogren's book, Changing the World Through Kindness, pp.35-36]

The group Ken leads decided to adjourn to Bob's Big Boy restaurant for dessert one evening.  As they ate and talked and laughed, they couldn't help but notice the harried look on their waitress's face.

"Are you ok?" someone asked as she whizzed by.

"I'm ok, it's just that our dishwasher quit tonight in the middle of his shift and all the servers are now serving and washing.  It's a little overwhelming, but it'll be alright."

That was all the information Ken's group needed.  As soon as they finished their pie and paid the bill they sprang into action.  Two guys took on the dishwasher, several young women toted plastic dish containers from table to table, and before long the dirty dish situation was under control.

The waitress walked past the head volunteer dishwasher in the kitchen and with a startled look on her face asked, "Aren't you the guy at table 10?  Why are you back here, doing dishes?"

"Because you needed some help!  We believe God's love is better shown than just talked about.  Besides, didn't you say the dishwasher quit tonight?"

"Well, yes, but I don't think we can let you just do the dishes like this.  I'd better go check with the boss."

Within a few minutes that waitress had begun gossiping the gospel to all the other servers.  "They're doing it to show us God's love in a practical way!"

A few minutes later the boss and a growing number of servers came to watch the small group in action.  "Tell me one more time, why are you doing this?"  the manager asked.  He pulled out a three-ring restaurant policy notebook.  As he thumbed through it he said, "I don't know if you can do this for free like this."

"Well, by the time you find out, we'll be done."

As the group left the restaurant, it was obvious that everyone, including the customers, had heard about the exploits of the dishwashing team from table 10.  Heads turned, strangers smiled and many waved good-bye.

When Ken told his pastor about the evening, he glowed.  "The atmosphere in that place was electric.  You could feel the presence of God right there in Bob's Big Boy!"

CHOOSE JOY!

I just read a really sad fact:  "On average a child laughs 200 times a day, while the typical adult laughs only about four times every twenty-four hours."

We've got to do something about that!  

Why not make it your mission today to help someone laugh today?  Chances are - if you make them laugh, you'll laugh too!  

Norman Cousins believed that there was a direct link between our emotional well-being and our physical well-being.  Essentially, he believed you could laugh your way to health!

I read recently of a man who said, "I'm going to live forever, or die trying!"

I know what some of you are thinking.  "Hal, I've got very little to be happy about.  If you only knew what I'm going through..."  Well, I understand that we all go through hard times.  Debbie and I are facing some major stress (or distress) in our lives right now too.  

The Apostle Paul wrote his most joyful letter (Philippians) from a dungeon!

I would encourage you today to choose joy - in spite of your circumstances!  It has been said that "A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour."  So, if you are on a detour right now - sit back, look out the window, enjoy the scenery!

“Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy” - Jude 24.

PS - Here's one that you can use to cheer people up today:

What do you get if you cross an insomniac, an agnostic, and a dyslexic?

Someone who stays awake at night wondering if there really is a dog.

Have a great life!

Hal's granddaughter, Rylie, a couple of years ago!

Make this your goal!

NOT A QUARTET, BUT...

When I arrived at Roberts Wesleyan College, my dreams were crushed.  That very year, they decided to stop sending a male quartet to represent the school at summer camps, conferences, and churches.  I was so disappointed.

A new director in the music department wanted the school to be represented by a higher quality of singers.  However, he had not yet developed the program to be able to do so.

At the time the school had SOS (Student Outreach Service) groups that formed spontaneously and were sent out by the Development Office to do ministry throughout the year.

I had been recruited by one of these groups.  We had traveled throughout my freshman year on many weekends.  We called ourselves 'The Reflections'.  The core of the group had been a trio of women and a pianist.  They decided to add a drummer, a tenor and a bass. 

As the summer of 1970 approached, the college was left without a plan for representation at camps and conferences across the eastern area.  A reluctant decision was made to choose one of the SOS groups and send them out for the summer.

Yep!  'The Reflections' were chosen!  A folk group.  The new music department director was not very happy about the decision. 

We were a big change from the male quartets that had previously visited the camps.  Our drums were not always welcomed.  Our PA system was not always welcomed.  Having a group of men and women traveling together raised some eyebrows. 

But we loved Jesus and were determined to make an impact for Him!  Youth groups responded very favorably!  We used our creativity to win the hearts of the younger people.  We made a pact that one of us would attend every prayer meeting at these camps.  Usually several of us would do so. 

The college was inundated with letters of appreciation for our ministry!  However, we were the only folk group ever sent out to represent the school. 

Sometimes your dreams come true - but not exactly the way you hoped...