MAGNUM OPUS

Back in early March of 1987, I made a purchase from Cambridge University Press for about $26.  It was a loose-leaf, three-ring, wide margin, New International Version Bible!  We were living in East Liverpool, Ohio, at the time and I was five years into a thirteen year appointment.  Travis would have been 11, Troy - 7 and Tracie - 6.  :-)

It's difficult to express how excited I was about this very expensive purchase.  I immediately began reading in it daily and adding notes in those generous wide margins.  I had already established a pattern of reading a book-a-week, so I also transferred notes from books I read into appropriate places in the new Bible.  Pretty quickly, I cut copy paper to the same size as the pages in my Bible and punched appropriate holes so that I could add pages (when needed) for additional notes and observations.  Many of these blank pages were in the front of the Bible where I collated data from each year's read-through of the Bible.  These notes and observations often turned into preaching series.  This Bible became a goldmine and treasure to me and I often thought that if we had a fire, I would grab it after I knew the family was safe!  ;-)

Eventually, I had added so many pages to the binder that it would hardly close!  That was when I found a second binder and split the Old Testament from the New Testament.  Woo Hoo!  Now I had tons of freedom for adding more pages and more notes.  Needless to say, this Bible became an invaluable resource to me in preparing Bible studies and sermons.  I even lugged it along on vacations so I could sustain my daily reading disciplines and not fall behind in my note-taking.  

I am so thankful that I was raised in a home where the Bible was honored and used.  My Mom kept a plastic loaf of bread on our table filled with small cards that held a Bible verse on each side.  At our mealtime, we would each pull a card and read it before our prayer of thanksgiving.  My Mom's Bible was well-used;  she had re-covered it repeatedly and added pockets in the front and back to contain her many prayer lists.  I often caught my Dad reading and studying his Bible in his bedroom.  He regularly taught a Sunday School class and needed to be prepared for that role.  He made notes in his Bible of the texts used by the various preachers he heard.  I'm blessed to have those Bibles in my possession to this day!  

I was raised in a culture that was immersed in God's Word.  I remember memorizing lengthy passages in Sunday School and Christian Youth Crusaders (CYC).  Many of those passages linger in my memory even now!  I was taught by people who loved and lived according to this book:

• Betty Paugh - she made the Bible live for me as a pre-schooler!
• Neil Castilucci
• Paul Funkhouser
• Udele Gallagher
• Jim Rudolph
• Joe Douglas
• Chuck Eckles
• Carl Geissinger  [Notice:  in seventeen years I only had one woman teacher!!!]

Then, I went to Roberts Wesleyan College where I immediately fell under the influence of professors like Stanley Magill, Wes Vanderhoof, and Harry Anderson!  They loomed large to me and fostered a deeper understanding and love in me for God's Word (even in the Greek language)!

Then, after getting married, I began my Masters in Divinity studies at Asbury Theological Seminary.  Living in this Christian and educational community was a great privilege.  Again, professors led me into whole new areas of study and research!  I was mesmerized by the instruction offered by Don Joy, Donald Demaray, Gilbert James, Kenneth Kinghorn, John Oswalt and Harold Kuhn.  

After three years (without having attained my degree) we moved to Jeannette, PA, where I assumed my first, full-time role as pastor.  Within a few years, I realized that I should have completed my studies.  Returning to Kentucky was out-of-the-question, so I enrolled at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary to complete my Divinity degree (part-time) over the next eleven years.  Dr. Donald Gowan and Dr. Charles Partee became major influencers in my life during that period (and Hebrew and Aramaic were added to my growing understanding of the Bible).  

Because our family was growing and I needed help with my role as a husband and father, I turned to radio resources almost daily to grow my knowledge and understanding in those areas.  My teachers were:  James Dobson, Dennis Rainey, John Huffman, John MacArthur, Chuck Smith and Charles Swindoll!  

In addition, I quickly realized that I needed ongoing education to be able to effectively lead the churches I was serving.  I began to consume resources and attend events that featured Ted Engstrom, John Maxwell, Rick Warren, Bill Hybels, Larry Burkett, Dave Ramsay, and Andy Stanley.  I also had laymen who taught and influenced me, including Ron Kelly and Jim Stetler (as well as others).  

Thank You, Lord!

Your faithfulness through the years has been utterly amazing!  There have been SO MANY moments of revelation and so many times of deep inspiration!  So many people have left their fingerprints on my life!  I am not worthy of such grace and attention!  I live with gratitude for the constant persistence of Your Spirit in growing me and developing the capacities that You placed within me!  

You've given me so many amazing opportunities over the years!  You allowed me to lead, teach and shepherd the people at Tunnel Hill (Indiana), Jeannette (PA), McClellandtown (PA), Oakland (East Liverpool, OH), Spencerville (Maryland), Cornerstone (Akron, OH), New Middletown (OH), and Kittanning (PA).  

In addition, You also gave us three years to serve Your purposes in Changchun (Northeast PRC).  We will NEVER forget the many friends we made from many countries during that period of service!  

And, my love for Your Word continues today!  I'm still making notes and observations!  I still delight at the things You teach me and show me on a daily basis!  You have been faithful through Your Holy Spirit to show me incredible connections and to reveal secrets to my heart!  Your Word truly is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path!  

Keep it going, Lord, and may my children and grandchildren benefit directly from the generations of faithful that have laid the foundation for them!  AMEN!

MEET MY SON-IN-LAW

Our daughter, Tracie, left home at the age of nineteen while we were living in Akron, Ohio.  It was a sad/happy day as she drove down Kickapoo Avenue in her blue Buick.  She had been a wonderful daughter and had blessed us over and over with her responsibility and fun-loving-ways!  

She was sixteen when we left Maryland in the fall of 1997, and moved back to Pennsylvania.  But, she didn't fight us regarding the decisions we were making.  I've always appreciated that in her.

But, at nineteen, she was ready to spread her wings!  She moved in with her best friend, Allison, and became Tom's third daughter for a few years.  Again, we've always been grateful to Tom Harding for opening his doors to her and giving her a safe launching pad!  

It was during this season of her life that she met Jon at the Montgomery County Fair.  Apparently, they connected pretty quickly and we started hearing more and more about this young man who had been raised on a beef farm in central Pennsylvania.  

It didn't seem like long before he was headed off to Great Lakes (shortly after 9/11) for his experiences at 'boot camp' with the United States Navy.  

Our first time to meet Jon was at a restaurant - without Tracie.  We were anxious about this odd arrangement;  he must have been anxious times ten!  

I confess that I was pretty hard on Jon.  I wrote him a series of about three letters to be very clear with him about how I expected him to treat my daughter.  One of those letters was just before he graduated from Great Lakes.  

At one point, Tracie told me that Jon was afraid of me.  I told her that was ok;  there would be a time when we would be friends - but it wasn't now.  :-)   He also told her - once they were engaged - that he'd never be able to sleep with her if I was in the house!  

They married on January 15, 2005.  Tracie had come home to live with us (in New Middletown) for over a year before the wedding.  She and her Mom had a great time planning the wedding and preparing for the big day!  

They immediately flew to Honolulu, Hawaii, not for their honeymoon, but to live!  He was assigned to a submarine and they resided there for a year and a half.  From there, he was assigned to Groton, Connecticut, where they have lived since.  

Rylie Grace came along in 2007, and Coltin Eugene entered the world in 2009.  

Jon's career performance has been exceptional.  He made 'Chief'' at a young age.  Last year, we drove all night to be able to see him pinned as Master Chief!  Now, he's the Chief of the Boat (COB) on a soon-to-be-christened submarine.  

When we first started visiting Jon and Tracie, I was a little concerned because Jon didn't seem to be taking the spiritual lead in his family.  We noticed that prayer didn't seem to have much of a place in their home.  So, I went home and began praying for him!  Every day, I called him out before the Lord, to become a godly man with a great passion for God.  

I'll never forget the first time that Jon prayed over a meal about a year later!  It was awesome.  He discovered a church that had been planted by a former Navy man.  They are still very active in REV Church and Jon is still close with Pastor Matt.  

Jon's spiritual transformation has been a delight to me.  It pours over into everything that he does.  But most of all, he is a great husband and dad!  He is affectionate with Tracie and the children.  He plays with them on the floor, works with them on their sports, reads with them, and gives them lots of hugs and kisses!

      

It seems to me that he excels in every area.  I am so proud of him!  And by-the-way, we have a great relationship now.  He pulls me more deeply into sports.  We talk about church.  We share resources.  I thoroughly enjoy being around him.  Besides, he grills and smokes meat better than anyone I know! Just two years ago, he fire-grilled a ton of chicken for my retirement party!  

I never worry about Rylie and Coltin!  I know that Jon is on the job.  He is an excellent provider, a fierce protector, and is generous with his time, his attention and his affection!  

On this Father's Day, I thank God, my Heavenly Father, for providing such a good man for Tracie, Rylie and Coltin!  You're the best, Jon!    

IT FEELS GOOD TO SET A BOUNDARY!

Several years ago, a new television show was put forward on ABC.  Because it seemed to have remote connections to the previous show, 24, (in particular the leading character is played by Kiefer Sutherland) we decided to give it a try.

For those who don't know, Designated Survivor was about the sudden, unexpected destruction of the US Congress during a State of the Union address.  An unlikely candidate, (Sutherland) is thrust into leadership of a nation without a Congress and in utter chaos and fear.

The portrayal of these events was realistic and effective.  It was a fantastically plausible plot that allowed for creative, fast-moving development.  To be short, we enjoyed the show and were quite surprised at the end of year two when ABC cancelled it.

However, there was clatter that Netflix might pick it up and produce a third season of ten episodes - which they did.  This third season aired on Netflix beginning June 7.  When we opened Netflix and saw it offered, we were excited and immediately watched episode one.

We were quickly shocked at the changes in language and the general tenor of the show.  Things were clearly "different" under this new guiding hand.  We immediately felt tenuous about this new, edgier presentation of the storyline.

The deterioration was similar to what we'd observed in other shows;  one example was Madam Secretary, which we quit watching after the second season.  In both shows the change was palpable. By this, I mean it was more 'in-your-face', shocking and seeming to embrace as many radical issues as they could squeeze into their available forty-five minutes.

Debbie's sensitivities are quicker than mine.  She decided after episode one that she would not watch anymore.  So, while she was with her mom, I watched the next couple of episodes alone.  All-the-while, I had a growing discomfort that this is not something I should be watching.

Last night, as I was watching, a scene came on that was so vile that I quickly grabbed for the remote to end the stream.  I sat in the silence shocked and disappointed.  I went to bed but couldn't sleep.  I quietly prayed.

I prayed for forgiveness for not picking up on the signs earlier.  I prayed for the producers who created this show.  I prayed for the actors and for our nation.  Then Debbie spoke in the darkness:  "Are you praying?"  My answer:  "Yes."  Her response:  "Good!  I could hear you whispering."  I'm so accustomed to my hearing disability that I tend to forget just how well she can hear!  :-)

I continued to pray until I eventually fell asleep.

This morning I rose and immediately went to my study to read and pray.  Among my sections for today I read the second chapter of Titus (from The Voice Bible).  It includes the following passage (verse 12):

Grace arrives with its own instruction:  run away from anything that leads us away from God;  abandon the lusts and passions of this world;  live life now in this age with awareness and self-control, doing the right thing and keeping yourselves holy.   

It solidified my decision and reinforced my commitment to be on guard for those things and experiences that lead me away from God!

I have drawn a boundary for myself!  It feels good to have done so!

I want to be a good man.  I want to be a godly man!  This is not an easy thing to accomplish in the current age with so many diversions and distractions.

I began driving for Lyft back around Christmas time.  My pattern has been to leave early to catch the morning demand for rides.  I tend to leave anytime between 5:00 AM to 6:30 AM and often drive until late morning.  I've had good intentions to return home and have my Bible and prayer time.  However, there are so many things to do when I get back!  You guessed it.  My well-established disciplines have been decimated.

That is - until this week.  God's voice finally got through to me and I reestablished my priorities - something that we all need to do periodically.  This week, I've returned to rising early and heading straight for my study.  On day one, the restoration of joy in God's Word was immediate!  The channels were clear as I heard His voice and experienced communion with my God!

A peace and sense of balance has quickly been restored.  I am grateful.

Perhaps your time with God has been compromised.  Maybe you need to reevaluate.

Acts 3:19 says, (again from The Voice Bible):

So now you need to rethink everything and turn to God so your sins will be forgiven and a new day can dawn, days of refreshing times flowing from the Lord. 

 You may discover - as I have - how good it is to have this primary relationship restored!

I WAS NEW - AND YOU GREETED ME!

Debbie and I attend the Bethel Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Enon Valley.  We are still quite new to this congregation and cannot be there every Sunday because of occasional preaching assignments that come along for me.  I've always recognized the difficulty new attenders face in acclimating to a new church family. We have experienced this at least twice since my retirement two years ago. I am not a particularly outgoing person anymore, partly due to my severe hearing challenges. It is easy for me to simply slip out after worship and wait for Debbie in the car. This, of course, hampers the assimilation process considerably. I know that I must resist this 'avoidance behavior' and engage with people if I want to genuinely become part of the church family. However, it's hard to do so. If it's hard for me, imagine how difficult it is for a seeker who is not at all familiar with the expectations of participating in a church service. Many years ago (while serving the Oakland Church), I led a couple to Christ through marriage counseling. They opened my eyes to so many things through their casual comments and questions. She asked me once about all of the initials we used in our bulletin: FMY, CLC, WMFI, and LLMI. They helped me realize that these were 'insider terms' that were unwelcoming to guests. She also asked how everyone knew the words to the doxology? After that I printed the hymnal page for the offertory response.

At Bethel, I have pretty quickly learned that we usually stand to sing. When our pastor completes the reading of the scripture, he uses a liturgical statement:  "This is the Word of the Lord";  I now know that the congregation's response is, "Thanks be to God for His Word".  We stand and sing the doxology after the offering has been received.  I enjoy such involvement and find that it opens a way for me to give voice to my gratitude to God.

Learning the ropes of a congregation takes time and effort.  Some practices may be slightly off-putting or (more positively) challenging.  I've never been a fan of need-sharing in worship simply because most of the time you can't hear what's being said.  But at Bethel it is handled nicely by two ushers who hurry to the person with a microphone.  Following this sharing time, Pastor Jerry (Dodds) purposefully prays for every need that has been mentioned as we all agree with him in our own prayers.  It's a connecting time that is a nicely handled expression of genuine concern!

Having been a pastor, I know that the best way to assimilate people quickly and efficiently is to involve them in a small group!  Most churches (from my vantage point) struggle with this challenge.  Therefore, the new attender is often left to his/her own initiative in getting significantly involved.

I always trained leaders to be intentional about connecting with new people.  For instance, they knew that I was not available to them on Sunday morning;  I was focused on the crowd at that time!  I trained leaders to deliberately connect with newer people repeatedly.  They could then help the congregation to also connect!  This was an effective plan because new attenders were honored that a church leader remembered their name and was intentional about speaking to them.

The challenge of assimilating is not going to go away.  A growing church is going to continually see new faces.  If those people are going to become a part of the church community, it will be because someone was persistent in helping them to connect and fit in!  Where no effort is being made in this area, guests will show up for a service or two and then withdraw in disappointment.

Every church needs to systematically asses its plan for assimilating new people.

• What is our assimilation plan?
• Who is responsible for it?
• How will we know that we are being effective?
• Who follows up on the people who are slipping through the cracks?
• How do we keep our congregation focused on this need?
• What is our time-table for evaluating effectiveness at this crucial process?

A 1-2 minute 'greeting time' is a poor excuse for an assimilation plan - especially if guests are left standing awkwardly during those pregnant moments!  

John 13:35  (KJV)

By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

To some extent, the burden for assisting new people to fit in rests on the whole congregation.  There is a man at Bethel Church who worked at Townsend Company (Fallston - New Brighton, PA) with my Dad years ago.  My first Sunday at Bethel, he sought me out to remind me that he worked with my Dad.  You must realize that there are not a lot of people around today who knew my father.  Making this connection meant the world to me!  Even this morning, Lloyd's wife made a genuine connection with me following worship.  It made me feel accepted!  

Ah, how vital that is!  

Maybe each of us who are part of a church family can have new eyes next worship service toward those who may be new attenders.  

While we were attending the Springfield Church of God, I would be greeted by people frequently who would say, "Are you new to worshipping with us?"  Even though I wasn't necessarily new, I was always warmed by the fact that they made a deliberate attempt to greet me!  

We have more power and influence than we realize!  Why not put it to work?  

LIKE A LAMB

Many years ago, when Debbie and I were just getting established in our marriage, we were cheated by a landlord in Nicholasville, Kentucky.  We had only lived in the apartment for a year and took care to leave it in immaculate condition.  However, the unscrupulous landlord refused to return our escrow.  By today's standards it was a small amount;  however, at the time it was a huge amount to us.  We felt so taken-advantage-of.  It was unjust and we felt the pain of it.

Upon returning home, we shared the story of this injustice with Debbie's family in great detail.  After doing so, her father spoke very directly to me.  He said:  "Harold, you shouldn't repeat this story again.  Every time you do, you relive the anger of the moment.  Why do that to yourself?"

To be honest, I was offended at his admonition.  I had been wronged!  Didn't I have the right to share my pain with those I loved?  But, inside, I knew he was right.  The telling of that story raised vengeful feelings in me.  I wanted to get back at the landlord and even fantasized about doing so. This was not appropriate behavior for a seminary student.  It was not appropriate behavior for a Christian couple.  

The Holy Week experiences of Jesus reveal horrible physical and emotional abuse.  The sinless Son of God suffered immeasurably!  This chain of suffering ended with the cross and its cruelties and shame.  It is a week that we presently commemorate and regard as 'Holy'.  It is the pivotal week in the Christian year!  We reflect on this week with the deepest gratitude.  

Robin Mark sings it so well:

  You exchanged the Joy of Heaven

For the suffering of the cross
And the presence of Your father
For the friendship of the Lost

You took on the form of servant
All Your Godly glory veiled
For this broken world submitted
To the cross, the thorns, the nails

Now we know there was no other way
To release this world from sin
You endured the cross, despised the shame
Opened Heavens gates
So that we might enter in

Jesus endured the greatest of injustices as He laid down His life to be our sacrifice for sin!  He did not complain.  He did not cry out against the injustice.  There are many indications that He simply chose silence as His response:

Matthew 27:12

And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He did not answer.

Matthew 27:14

And He did not answer Pilate with regard to even a single charge, so the governor was quite amazed.

Luke 23:9

And Herod questioned Him at some length; but He answered him nothing.

It's easy for us to forget that Jesus could have taken an escape route.  Remember in the garden when Peter drew his sword?  Jesus responded:   [Matthew 26:52-54]

"Put your sword back in its place,…Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?'"

There seem to be three points for us to consider here:

1. It is probable that we have not fully appreciated the depth of Christ's sacrifice!  I will not expand on the details of crucifixion here, nor will I attempt to describe how it must have felt to have His Father abandon Him as He bore the sins of the whole world.  It is sufficient to say that there has been no greater sacrifice made in history - and He did it out of His love for me and you!
2. It is likely that we spend too much time and energy holding on to resentment and bitterness.  We unwittingly punish ourselves for the wrongs of others.  How foolish!  How much better for us and how much wiser to take the path of Christ:  "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."  [Luke 23:34] 
3. Jesus also offers us another alternative to injustice:  accept it as part of God's greater will and plan.  Don't resist it.  Trust the Father for the grace to endure and prevail.  Believe in His persistent love for you and His capacity to see you through the greatest of adversity with a high hand!  

I Just finished watching the Lord of the Rings trilogy with my grandchildren.  Repeatedly throughout these stories I find myself saying, "Well, this is the end;  they're surely defeated now!"  But in each scenario, resources and forces beyond my imagination rise up to deliver victory and freedom!  It is an epic story of good triumphing over evil despite overwhelming dilemmas.  

But, in the end, Frodo drops the ring into the river of fire and then after a brief respite back in the shire, he boards a ship for the enduring land.  

If we capture these truths, we can be certain - because of the empty tomb - that we will experience the same ending!  Trust Him!

RANDOM REFLECTIONS ON WORSHIP

[This is not a researched offering.  Rather it is a description of personal reflections about worship.  Please excuse any aspects of the worship movement that I may fail to comment on.]

My earliest experiences of worship took place in my 'growing-up' church:  the New Brighton Free Methodist Church.  I've gone to church since before I was born.  I suppose my first experiences of genuine worship took place during the singing of hymns.  New Brighton was a singing church with an amazing set of leaders.  Morrison Baker was the consummate song leader.  He was usually accompanied at the piano by his daughter, Martha Smeltzer, and at the organ by Helen Douglas.  Later, Anna Zahn and Larry Zahn (her son) also assisted at the piano and organ.  The congregation was fairly large for that time and so the singing was triumphant.

Music seems to have always been a large component of worship.  The Psalms give ample illustration of the part that music played in the worship of the Old Testament.  Exhortations to sing bleed over into the New Testament as well.  Singing and making music seems to be a natural way of expressing our love and appreciation to God.

Certain songs seemed to have an almost guaranteed ability to allow us to transcend the natural world and gain an increased sense of the supernatural world.  Some that seemed to fall in this category were:

• "And Can It Be?"
• "Great Is Thy Faithfulness"
• "It Is Well With My Soul"
• "Wonderful Grace of Jesus"
• "Grace, Greater Than All Our Sin"

In that early season of my life, manifestations of the presence of God included seeing people weep, shout, walk the aisles, go to the altar, stand with arms lifted or walk back-and-forth at the front of the church holding a Bible high in one hand.  At the annual Camp Meeting, these manifestations would be even more dramatic and pronounced.  Although I occasionally doubted the authenticity of some of these responses, most of the time I felt they were genuine expressions of devotion to God!  They impacted me deeply and made me want to love and serve God more devotedly.

As I matured and became a leader in the church, worship experiences changed.  The more dramatic expressions seemed to occur less frequently.  Our worship (from my purview) seemed to become more dignified and perhaps less potent.  However, there were still times when we collectively knew that something beyond ourselves was happening.  When a holy Presence falls on a congregation, everyone seems to sense it - even children!  The best clarification I can give for these rare times is that you didn't want them to end!  

Two of the churches that I served stand out to me as being sprinkled with abundant times of impactful worship.

The first was the Oakland FMC (East Liverpool, Ohio) where I served from 1982 - 1995.  When I first arrived the worship was led by a song leader with Martha Anderson at the organ and David Kelly at the grand piano.  

This time period encompassed a time of major transition across the church in worship music.  It is often referred to as the 'Praise and Worship Movement'.  Short worship choruses became prolific during the 1980's.  Many churches had photo-copied sheets in the pew for singing these praise choruses.  The guitar was commonly reintroduced to worship leadership as well.  These choruses were easy to learn and often repetitive.  Effective leaders (and musicians) could weave them together in seamless worship offerings to a most worthy God 

During my years of service at Oakland, we transitioned the worship experience significantly in line with the P&W Movement.  Gradually, we developed a worship team approach.  The congregation largely grew in their love and devotion to God!  Sunday morning and evening services were characterized by vibrant and meaningful worship!  Key people - like Ron and Marilyn Kelly - made major contributions to the transitions.  David Kelly's Spirit-sensitivity became a frequent door used by God to bless and minister to our people!  

It seemed that people's worship experience was assisted by the simplicity and directness of these choruses.  The MASTER CHORUS BOOK was published (words only) to accommodate this phenomenon;  many churches added it to their pew racks.  Two music producing companies also rose up to be part of this movement:  MARANATHA MUSIC and INTEGRITY MUSIC.  Cassette tapes (and eventually compact discs) were produced to propagate a whole new movement of worship music.  Along with this came the introduction of the worship team concept of leading worship.  Many instruments began to replace the piano and organ that had held sway for a long season.  

The evolution of the worship team has gradually and increasingly led us to a more "performance oriented" style of worship.  Platforms became stages.  A single microphone was replaced with a sound system.  The song leader became the worship leader.  Words are now projected on a screen, so hymnbooks or chorus books were no longer necessary.  The congregation didn't need lights to read a hymnal, so the lights were projected onto the worship leader and team instead.  The end result of all these changes is significant, but one can question the effectiveness of these changes as related to one's experience of God in worship!  

As the 1990's came to a close, I became part of the leadership team at the Cornerstone FMC (Akron, Ohio), working under Pastor Brenda Young's leadership!  In time, I became the Lead Associate Pastor of this growing congregation, and when our worship leader left suddenly, I became the worship leader for the next several years.  

The Cornerstone Church was unique.  Pastor Charles Young had led the church to significant growth over a long period of ministry with the capable assistance of his wife, Brenda.  When Charlie was elected as the Ohio Conference Superintendent, Brenda became the Lead Pastor!  The church immediately erupted to a new level of growth.  I arrived a year-or-two into that new growth.  The next five years saw the congregation go from 400 to 700 worshippers.  

Brenda openly encouraged people to listen to the local Christian radio station.  She then instructed the worship team to use songs from the radio's playlist and to do them exactly as they were done on-air.  It worked!  

The Promise-Keepers movement was in full swing during this time!  Many Christian bands were creating music that was being adopted by the church for worship.  The Cornerstone Church was clearly targeted toward lost and hurting people.  It's mission was openly announced by Pastor Brenda every Sunday:  "Cornerstone Church exists to help people find the Father, a Family and a Fulfilling Future!"  Remarkably, nearly seventy-five percent of the congregation were first-generation believers!  It's the only church of its kind that I have ever known!  

The ministry (during the time I was there) focused on people experiencing the pain of divorce, the pain of addiction, and the pain of hopelessness!  People could receive counseling.  Classes for growth and better biblical understanding were regularly available!  Tracks for leadership were always welcoming new people!  Worship times were passionate and marked by nearly raucous responses from the people!  Baptisms were punctuated by hoots, hollers and wild applause!  Some gradually slipped away, but MANY were caught in ever-deepening cycles of love for God and service to Him!  

Although I'm now retired and no longer am leading the church, I still care deeply about its viability in the present age.  I think leaders need to continually examine the vehicles being used to minister to its people!  There are clearly perils associated with a consumer-oriented ministry and a performance-based worship style.  Leaders need to systematically ask the necessary questions:

• Are our people genuinely worshiping God?
• Do our systems lead them or do they entertain them?
• Are we investing prayerfully in our planning?
• How do we touch the individual needs of our people?
• What do we need to be doing to help our people connect with God?
• Are we just producing the same thing every week, or are we waiting before God for His agenda?
• Are we willing to hold our structures loosely with an open eye to the Spirit's movement?

During my years at Oakland, God gave me a crystal clear sign that His Spirit was moving!  When I would come to the end of my message and time to end worship, I would sometimes notice that three women in the church would be wiping tears from their eyes.  Gradually, God showed me that this was my sign of His supernatural presence!  As a result, when I would see those three women weeping, I would silently pray for God's direction.  Almost always, people would come to pray at the altar as a result!  

If we ask Him - He will lead us!  Thanks be to God!  May His Spirit continue to bless His Church!

A LETTER TO OUR SON

Dear Travis,

It was forty-three years ago that you officially entered our world.  We had a real scare while your Mom was carrying you and feared you might not make it.  Dr. Dunkelberger ordered your Mom to have complete rest for two weeks.  Every morning, I carried her from our tiny bedroom to the living room with many bright windows and canary-yellow curtains.  At that time we lived in a 40' mobile home in Wilmore, Kentucky.  That's right, you're a true southerner!  Then, in the evenings, I'd carry her back to the bedroom.  The precautions paid off and you startled us on this date all those years ago by letting your Mom know it was time to come into our world!  You were not expected for another five-and-a-half-weeks!  But you were joyfully received!

You continually brought us joy!  We remember taking you with us - late at night - to Pizza Hut and having you sit in your carrier while we ate and marveled over you.  We kissed your little feet and snuggled you at every opportunity.  You slept in a bassinet at the foot of our bed.  The bedroom was so small, your Mom had to climb over the bed to get into it!  Your Mom used cloth diapers, and you kept her busy washing them.  One time, when she was changing you, she saw your face redden.  Not wanting to see you go in a clean diaper, she reacted quickly and caught your disposal in her HAND!  Oh yes, she loved you!  

As you grew, we could see how intelligent you were.  You loved for us to read to you!  The VALUE books we bought were consumed over and over again.  Then, you began reading on your own.  I remember the day that you told me about a book titled "The Hobbit";  you seemed to think I would enjoy it.  You were right!  You did well in school, but always avoided doing too well;  it seems that you desperately wanted to avoid being considered an egg-head.  But your capability remained in reserve, as you eventually showed years later at the Naval Academy.  We were always so proud of you!  

Your socialization skills were off-the-chart!  You clearly got a large personality bequest from your Mom!  You made friends easily and brightened every room you ever entered.  People loved you!  Your friends valued you!  Your family prized you!  Your peers respected you!  You were a near-perfect blend of intelligence, humor, likability and reliability.  It served you well.

You had your down times.  You carried your burdens very privately.  Occasionally, you would ask us for advice - or prayer.  Dark periods visited your soul, but you always seemed to find your way through.  You had grit and determination.  But the wounds left scars to remind you of the lows you'd passed through.  

Travis, it's an understatement to say that you amazed us with your life and accomplishments.  You've done things and been places that utterly astound us.  Aside from your understanding about nuclear reactors, you compiled knowledge and experience in so many areas.  I remember you calling me one time when you were on the mast of the USS Parche.  The sub had just hit open waters and you were the last on deck.  You squeezed the call in for one last goodbye before submerging for 122 days (a record at that time)!  I sat stunned after your call for a long time thinking about you!

We miss you so much, son!  Last night, your Mom was very quiet and kind of grumpy.  She almost went to bed at 7 o'clock, but waited ultimately until 8:30 PM.  I suspected she was struggling;  her puffy eyes were a big clue.  I retired with her and held her as she sobbed for half-an-hour before finally falling asleep.  This happens over-and-over.  It's as though part of her was ripped away when you left us!  We miss you every day!  We especially miss you at holidays and family gatherings.  We miss your laugh.  We miss your fun-loving ways.  We miss seeing you tear into Christmas packages with reckless abandon.  We miss your cooking.  We miss your generosity!  We miss your unpredictable phone calls.  I miss your, "Hey Pops, what's up?"  We think of you every day and wonder how life would be different if you were still with us!  

I hope you'd be happy to know that Josh has truly become part of our family.  We love him as we loved you!  He is fulfilling the role of 'the loving and generous uncle' to Rylie and Coltin!  They love him as they loved you!  Tracie and Jon are doing everything in their power to help them always remember you!  

Our pain runs deep as we move on in life without you!  Troy and Tracie still bring us great joy, of course.  Our lives are good - but different than they would have been.  I hope you understand that I just couldn't let your birthday pass without talking with you a bit.  It's therapeutic for me to talk with you like this.  I miss you, son!  And I love you...

Pops