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Tuesday, October 7, 2025

MAINTAINING FORMS

While reading II Kings 22 this morning, I observed something that had previously gone unnoticed.

But before we go there, let’s review what’s going on in this chapter:

·         Amon only reigned in Judah for two years. He was an evil king like his father, Manasseh.

·         Amon’s son, Josiah, became king at the age of eight [639-609 B.C. It is likely that he was advised by the priests.] He was a good king and lived as his ancestor David had lived. (v.2)

·         After ten years as king, he instructed one of his leaders to go to the Temple and have him empty out the money the gatekeepers had gathered from the people. (v.4)  [Although a figure is not reported, there was apparently a significant amount there to buy timber and cut stone to repair the Temple. (v.6)]

·         As this work was begun, “Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the royal secretary, “I’ve found the Book of the Teachings in the Temple of the LORD. He gave it to Shaphan, who read it. Then Shaphan…went to the king and…read from the book to the king. When the king heard the words of the Book of the Teachings, he tore his clothes to show how upset he was.” (portions of vs. 8-10).

·         This initiated a massive restoration of order and the purging of all the evil that had become part of Judah’s practice! “There was no king like Josiah before or after him. He obeyed the LORD with all his heart, soul, and strength, following all the Teachings of Moses.” (23:25)

I find it interesting that although Judah had become very evil and had actually misplaced the book of the Law – the people still visited the Temple and paid the gatekeepers to do so!

It was SO BAD that the high priest had lost the Book of the Teachings!  😳

We discover (chapter 23:4) that they had filled the Temple of the LORD with idols made for Baal, Asherah, and all the stars of the sky! The kings of Judah had chosen priests for these gods. These priests burned incense in the places where the gods were worshipped in the cities of Judah and the towns around Jerusalem. (v.5) 

Josiah had all of this dismantled and destroyed! He purged the land of all these objects and practices!

No one – not even the king or the high priest – had realized that anything was wrong!

___________________________________________________

The Temple was still there! 

They still had a high priest!

People still visited the Temple!

They paid the gatekeepers!

Then they went out and did whatever they wanted to do! 

This reminds me of a verse I discovered way back when I was a college student. I was reading Psalm 106. At that time, I was still reading the King James Version, but here is the passage from the New Century Version:

Then the people believed what the LORD said, and they sang praises to him.

But they quickly forgot what he had done; they did not wait for his advice. They became greedy for food in the desert, and they tested God there. So he gave them what they wanted, but he also sent a terrible disease among them.  (vs.12-15)

 The KJV stated it a bit more abruptly:

…He gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.

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I frequently get the sense that we [the American Church] have become good at maintaining forms but have lost our direct connection to God through His Holy Spirit! 

Are there those who give God a couple of hours on Sunday morning and then go out and live the rest of the week as though He doesn’t exist?

Are His priorities our priorities? Do we care about the spiritually lost – which was Jesus’ highest priority?

Have we lost our Bibles? Is His Word really a ‘lamp unto our feet’?

Is our only prayer when we recite ‘The Lord’s Prayer’ on Sunday morning? Or the occasional “Oh, God!” when crisis interrupts our lives?

Are our pastors and worship leaders using spiritual discernment as they plan our Sunday mornings? Is liturgy our guide or the Holy Spirit?  Is consideration given as to how HE might want to direct our time together?

Do we faithfully give of our finances to the Lord without the joy or hilarity that the scripture references? Do we really live as though it ALL is HIS and we are just stewards of the resources HE has made available to us?

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During our years in China, we worshipped most Sundays with an International Church that met in an ‘approved Chinese church’. We were unhindered in the expression of our worship, but Chinese people were not allowed to attend.

Usually there were from 40-100 people who came from many nations. We had a pastor who – like all of us – was in China for some reason. The worship was alive and genuine!  Every Sunday, those from African countries would plead with us to pray for their home countries!  Prayer requests were shared and prayed over. The singing was jubilant – sometimes hearing a number of different languages being used! We were NOT a homogenous looking group! Testimonies interrupted the services frequently! Appeals for urgent prayer were also common!

The bond we experienced was not because of ethnic commonality, shared national allegiance, language, vocational connections, or regional familiarity. The bond that brought us together was our love for God and the connection we had with Him through His Holy Spirit! AND IT WAS WONDERFUL!

 

ALMIGHTY GOD: Father, Son and Holy Spirit,

May we see these same dynamics at work in our churches here in America! FOR YOUR KINGDOM’S SAKE.

AMEN

Monday, October 6, 2025

SIMON PETER'S CLOSE CALL!

Many are familiar with the story of the Apostle Peter being arrested and thrown into jail. We delight in the miraculous intervention by God to set him free:

[That night] Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains. Other soldiers were guarding the door of the jail. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord stood there, and a light shined in the cell. The angel struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Hurry! Get up!” the angel said. And the chains fell off Peter’s hands. Then the angel told him, “Get dressed and put on your sandals.” And Peter did. Then the angel said, “Put on your coat and follow me.” So Peter followed him out, but he did not know if what the angel was doing was real; he thought he might be seeing a vision. They went past the first and second guards and came to the iron gate that separated them from the city. The gate opened by itself for them, and they went through it. When they had walked down one street, the angel suddenly left him.[Acts 12:6-10]          

[All quotes are from Acts 12 in the NCV]  

I don't know about you, but I giggle as I read this! What an experience! Poor Peter wasn't even sure it was happening!

Of course, most of you will remember that this miraculous escape was brought about - at least partly - due to the prayers of Peter's friends and family!


[Immediately] ...he went to the home of Mary, the mother of John Mark. Many people were gathered there, prayingPeter knocked on the outside door, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer it. When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so happy she forgot to open the door. Instead, she ran inside and told the group, “Peter is at the door!”

They said to her, “You are crazy!” But she kept on saying it was true, so they said, “It must be Peter’s angel.”

Peter continued to knock, and when they opened the door, they saw him and were amazed. Peter made a sign with his hand to tell them to be quiet. He explained how the Lord led him out of the jail, and he said, “Tell James and the other believers what happened.” Then he left to go to another place. 
  [vs.13-17]

Now, I'm more than giggling - I'm full-blown laughing! This is hilarious! It doesn't say much for Rhoda's faith! She's been praying for his release, but when he shows up at the door, she can't believe her eyes!  

[For those who might wonder about the James mentioned by Peter: Since the Apostle James had been killed, we can assume that this James is the brother of Jesus. This James gave us the Book of James in our New Testament! He also became a prominent leader in the New Testament Church (See the first NT Council recorded in Acts 15.]


BACKSTORY!

But to gain a full and rich appreciation for this historical event, we must go back to the first verses in this chapter.

This new church has been growing in numbers and influence since Pentecost!  So much so, that it has caught the attention of King Herod!  He became SO UPSET about this spiritual uprising, that he “began to mistreat some who belonged to the church.” [Eventually] “…He ordered James, the [Apostle] brother of John, to be killed by the sword. [vs.1-2]

There’s little good that can be said about Herod!

The King Herod in Acts 12 is actually King Herod Agrippa I – grandson of Herod the Great! He is a ruthless ruler who has no regard for God or human life. Notice that he has the guards at the prison killed for allowing this miraculous escape by Peter and the angel! He also kills several family members whom he suspected of trying to undermine his ruler ship.

When Herod saw that some of the people liked this [James’ death], he decided to arrest Peter, too. (This happened during the time of the Feast of Unleavened Bread.) [v.3]  Those who were pleased were probably Pharisees whom Herod viewed with some fear.  Pleasing them would be a wise political move for Herod!

It is crystal clear that Peter’s life was in real peril. Without a divine intervention, it would have been highly likely that Peter would have been killed during this feast!

 

A SURPRISE ENDING!

This same chapter continues by telling us of a day [not very long after Peter’s escape] when Herod celebrated a political victory after negotiating a peace arrangement with the people of Tyre and Sidon.

On a chosen day Herod put on his royal robes, sat on his throne, and made a speech to the people. They shouted, “This is the voice of a god, not a human!” Because Herod did not give the glory to God, an angel of the Lord immediately caused him to become sick, and he was eaten by worms and died. [vs.21-23]

 

THE END RESULT

 God’s message continued to spread and reach people. [v.24]

Saturday, October 4, 2025

LOVE IS…

Are you old enough to remember the ‘Love is…’ black-and-white comics that appeared in magazines and newspapers back in the 1970’s?

After having dated during high school, Debbie and I got back together while attending Roberts Wesleyan College. After her sophomore year, she returned home to work. I hitch-hiked nearly 10,000 miles over the next couple of years - mostly between Rochester, NY and Beaver Valley, PA. I've brushed several inches of snow off my shoulders in Buffalo, NY. I've also slept in wooded areas near Route 79, waiting for traffic to pick up again in the morning [traffic flow was different in the 1970's]! 

The two years that we were apart prompted us to write lots of letters! Debbie often included a ‘Love is…’ cartoon in with her correspondence! 

We're the couple on the right representing the class of '73 
during Homecoming of our sophomore year!

We kept the flames of our love alive and were married in August, 1973, after my graduation.  😊

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Have you ever heard the story behind these much-appreciated cartoons?

A New Zealand artist-cartoonist, Kim Casali, began to travel around the world when she was 19 years old.  Six years later, she settled in California where she met an Italian man named Roberto Casali.

She began drawing short scenes of them portrayed as a chubby naked girl and boy. Her efforts drew on her feelings at the time. 

 

First, she drew a little girl to represent her. Then she drew a little boy to represent Roberto. Her feelings for him became the basis for her drawing.

 

Roberto decided to produce the output of comics, and so “Love is…” was released on January 5, 1970.  In 1974, the boy calls the girl Kim. Even before that, in the comics [1971], the girl draws the letter R in the sand!

 

In a 1981 interview, Kim said: “If I had a choice, I would be an author of romantic love songs…But I don’t know how to write beautifully, so I had to choose another way to express my feelings.”  The comics became very popular!

 

After the birth of two sons, Roberto became the business manager of their corporation – ‘Minikim’.

 

Eventually even animals appear in the comics, too: a dog named Samson and a reference to Fido. In 2005, the couple has two cats, and in 2009, the girl is crying over a dead cat.

 

Sadly, in 1975, Roberto was diagnosed with an incurable cancer. Kim stopped working and turned the artistry over to Bill Espirit. This is when the comics became color and the characters began wearing clothes.

 

In 1976, at the age of 31, Roberto died and the comics showed only a little girl and a tombstone. Sixteen months after his death, Kim had a baby by using the frozen sperm of her husband.

 

Sadly, this love story finally ended when, at the age of 55, Kim also died of bone cancer.


[Information largely copied from:  https://pictolic.com/en/article/love-is-history-of-creation-of-cute-comics-about-love]

Wednesday, October 1, 2025

OUR REFUGE

My computer occasionally changes my opening page picture. This morning it featured a picture of the Rupea Fortress in Romania. I found myself entering into the picture and imagining the security that the people must have felt during the feudal days when systems of government were weak, local and threatening. How comforting it must have been to know that this fortress was nearby where the locals could flee in times of attack or fear! It sits high on a hill where it can be easily defended. Its walls are high with multiple areas of protection and security. It was carefully designed to be defended against any enemies.

I imagined the feeling of relief and safety enjoyed immediately upon gaining entrance to this refuge. The collective strength and resources of the people could be fully realized.

[https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/medieval-fortress-on-the-hill-in-brasov-county-rupea-romania-gm1283282225-380748803]

Of course, it immediately brought to my mind the words of the sons of Korah recorded in Psalm 46:

God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear though the earth give way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling.

Selah
[A Hebrew term that beckons us to stop and reflect on the message.]

[The scene switches to Heaven – our eventual, eternal home!]

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High.

God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
God will help her when morning dawns.
The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
he utters his voice, the earth melts.
The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Selah

[An appeal is made to give God greater influence in our lives. A message directly from God is given!]

Come, behold the works of the Lord,
how he has brought desolations on the earth.
He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the chariots with fire.
“Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!”

The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Selah

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Thank You, Lord for being a safe haven,

a secure respite

One who provides us a place of rest and security.

 

Sometimes life can be overwhelming!

 

At times like this, You welcome us to run to You!

Like a mother hen, You shield us from all harm.

 

We need to learn to run to You more often.

We try so hard to make it on our own!

You must be bewildered by our failure to turn to You…

 

Teach me to realize that You are my greatest resource!

Train me to turn to You with greater frequency!

Show me the depths of Your love for me

and the persistence of Your pursuit of me

when hard times stress and discourage me.

 

Help me to overcome my self-reliance

and learn to cast all my cares upon You!

 

AMEN!

Tuesday, September 23, 2025

WHO DO I TURN TO FOR PRAYER?

It’s a good question. We all periodically go through challenging times when our patience is tested, our faith is questioned or life just throws us a bluster of pain or disappointments!

First  -  PRAY!

At times like this, we know that we need help and we would prefer Divine Help!

For the Jesus-follower, crises and complications should drive us to prayer.

Annie Johnson Flint gave us a wonderful hymn back in 1930, that states clearly the reason for followers to pursue God in prayer:

When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
when our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
when we reach the end of our hoarded resources,
our Father’s full giving is only begun.

Therefore, believers should pray when they face obstacles or opposition. Doing so helps us to clear our hearts of clutter and remind ourselves of the proper order of things. For us, turning to God for answers or help is not our LAST RESORT, but our FIRST!

But there’s more to it than just the motivation or ability to remember to pray.


Second  -  Pray in Agreement With Others!

We must fully realize something that frequently seems to slip the minds of believers. Jesus clearly taught us that there is added influence when we pray together! I’ve always referred to it as ‘agreement prayer’. We learn about this from the Master in Matthew 18:19-20.

Also, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about something and pray for it, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. This is true because if two or three people come together in my name, I am there with them.  [NCV]

This is VITAL news for married couples! When it comes to the trials of raising a family and navigating the constant changes in our culture, we must capitalize on the benefits of praying together as a couple!  Twenty-eight years ago, when Debbie and I walked through our most desperate days, we learned to pray! We spent hours at the side of our bed or at the couch in our living room - on our knees before God!  Little did we know that it would be seven years before we would see the answer to our prayers, but we stayed faithful, and God honored our agreement prayers!

Therefore, praying with a few other believers strengthens our prayers! Somehow – mysteriously – it brings us into the very real presence of Christ! Jesus clearly recommends it to us as a more effective way of praying!


Third  -  There are Those Who Have Made a Deep Commitment to Prayer!

I can best introduce this idea to you through a story:

My first full-time appointment was to the Jeannette Free Methodist Church [actually relocated in Harrison City, PA]. The congregation was greatly reduced in size due to a split while building the new structure.

 

Immediately we met Goldie Nesbit. She was 78 years old and had been a faithful attender for many years. She was still an attractive woman who dressed immaculately and exuded a grace that drew you to her.

 

Debbie and I had a little 6-month year-old in our home [Travis] and we had no experience. Our parents each lived two hours away, and so Goldie became our ‘go-to’ person. When we called and told her that he had a fever, she told us to wrap him in a cool towel and kept calling to see how he was doing.

 

We turned to her repeatedly for advice and prayer. She was an old fashioned prayer warrior! She lived downtown with her cousin, Alice. I stopped one afternoon to visit them and Alice informed me that Goldie was in her prayer closet from Noon to 2:00 PM and that I should stop back later if I wanted to talk with her.

 

This was a first for me! Goldie had a more important appointment from noon to 2:00 PM. She was meeting with Jesus! She was interceding for family, friends and her community! No wonder she was so loved and respected!

All through the Old Testament the kings of Israel and Judah are sent to certain prophets to hear from God! These prophets were the spokesmen for the Almighty!

John the Baptist was a man who clearly enjoyed a close relationship with God through prayer. He had grown up with our Lord as a cousin and friend and together they integrated spiritual connection into their lives. John – like Jesus – lived an austere life, owning no home, and depending on God for all his needs. John – again like Jesus – drew disciples around himself to train for effective ministry! As a matter of fact, some of John’s disciples became Jesus’ disciples!  [Read John 1:35-51]

In Luke 2:25-35, we read of an elderly man – Simeon – who lived so close to God that he was told that he would not die until he had seen the Christ promised by the Lord.

The Spirit led Simeon to the Temple. When Mary and Joseph brought the baby Jesus to do what the law said they must do, Simeon took the baby in his arms and thanked God. (v.26)

 After praying over Jesus, Simeon blessed Joseph and said to Mary:

God has chosen this child to cause the rise and fall of many in Israel. He will be a sign from God that many people will not accept so that the thoughts of many will be made known. And the things that will happen will make your heart sad, too. (vs34-35)

 In the very next verses we find the following report:

There was a prophetess, Anna, from the family of Phanuel in the tribe of Asher. Anna was very old. She had once been married for seven years. Then her husband died, and she was a widow for eighty-four years. Anna never left the Temple but worshiped God, going without food and praying day and nightStanding there at that time, she thanked God and spoke about Jesus to all who were waiting for God to free Jerusalem.  (vs. 36-38)

Clearly, there are certain people who either have a special calling to prayer, or who are so in love with Jesus that they commit large portions of time to engaging with Him!  Some have referred to these individuals as saints or prayer warriors; whatever you call them, it is good to have them available!

I met one of these men while teaching in the People’s Republic of China!

The son of a Baptist minister, Samuel Lamb first began preaching in Eastern China at the age of 19. A little more than ten years later, Lamb was arrested under the Communist regime of Mao Tse-tung for “anti-revolutionary” activity before being sentenced in 1957 to 19 years of hard labor. Pastor Lamb spent the majority of his sentence working under extremely difficult conditions in a coal mine but continued to teach Christianity. Despite the death of his wife while in prison and harsh treatment by prison authorities, Pastor Lamb never lost faith and only a few years after his release restarted his house church in Guangzhou.

[https://persecution.org/2013/08/06/heroic-chinese-house-church-leader-samuel-lamb-dead-at-88/#content]

I was privileged to visit his church which was located on a back street and would never have been recognized as a church. It was a normal looking building with multiple floors and a small sanctuary on the top floor that opened to a rooftop garden area. The ‘pews’ were narrow benches set closely together. Possibly thirty Americans could be seated in this space, but the Chinese are far more comfortable with close contact. Every Sunday, this building would fill its multiple floors with Chinese Christians.

I had a friend at the time who had grown his church to nearly five thousand people. They had built a large mall-like structure surrounded by parking space and a rural setting that was simply beautiful. Samuel Lamb’s church packed the same number of people into this tiny structure five or more times every Sunday!

When we met him we were struck with his humility. He sent us away with gifts of books and pamphlets! He prayed over us after our half-hour conversation. His people were kind and gracious in the ways they treated us foreigners.

__________________________________

I got some news yesterday that rattled me. I was tender and feeling very raw. I had already turned to God in prayer, but felt the need to have others praying with me. I’ve always told Debbie that if I’m in a situation where I need prayer – please find as many children as you can who will pray for me! I believe they have a simpler faith and I know they have access to God!

But my list of ‘prayer warriors’ has been shrinking!

o   My mom – who was the most committed person to prayer that I have ever known – was always my first ‘go-to’! But, to my dismay, she died in 1981.

o   My great-uncle, Rev. J. O. Archer, was my next ‘go-to’!  He told me repeatedly through the years that he prayed for me “every Sunday morning”! I believe he died during the 1980’s.

o   Of course, Debbie has been my faithful prayer partner through the years! She knows me best and is very familiar with my weaknesses, moods, and vulnerabilities. Most of the time, she’s already praying for me before I even ask! How can you express gratitude for that kind of gift?

o   My sister, Beverly, was a great deal like our mom! She was so committed to prayer and faithful in its practice in her daily life! After Debbie, for many years she was my first-and only other ‘go-to’ for prayer. But she died earlier this year!

o   I have one other. We became soul-friends with Randy and Jessica Facklar during our three years in China! Randy and I worked to encourage and support one another through those three years. He and Jessica are still there serving effectively for Christ! He and I texted this morning – though without spiritual references [you eventually get the hang of this]. I know that I’ll be lifted up daily by these precious friends in Christ!

Having people like I’ve been discussing as a part of your ‘contact list’ is of inestimable value!  There are those who have cultivated a connection with God that exceeds that of the average believer. Perhaps they have the gift of ‘faith’? They are always persistent! They have a deep relationship with God through His Holy Spirit!

Do you know someone like this? Do you call on them when you have a need?

Are YOU this kind of person? Do people trust you with their most personal requests and needs? Are you trustworthy?

I’ll close with a quote that hangs on my study carrel:

Sunday, September 21, 2025

THE HARDEST THING I EVER HAD TO DO!

PART ONE - BACKGROUND

In 1995, I made a change in our family's plans that had a massive impact. I initiated a move from a church that I had led for thirteen years. I was exhausted! It had - in many ways - been a wonderful appointment with many conversions, significant growth, and a fully transitioned church! But I had been ground up in the tension between an older, guardian group and a younger, passionate group. I was the buffer between these camps and had paid a dear price for a long time. Consequently, I created a change. My parents had died and I lost trust in the conference leadership, so I sent resume's out across the church – as far as (remarkably) the Pacific northwest! I ultimately accepted an appointment to a small congregation in Spencerville, Maryland. 

This was NOT the hardest thing I ever did! That is yet to come.

The move was a challenge for our family. Spencerville is just outside the Washington, D.C. beltway and was a fast-growing cosmopolitan area. We had to learn shortcuts to go anywhere because the traffic was thoroughly congested [Sometimes we waited 10 minutes just to get out of our driveway!]. Troy and Tracie were part of a small minority group in the public school with the general population being fairly equally split between Asian, Hispanic and Middle Eastern students.  .

Having moved from Appalachia, we were now living in one of the most affluent counties in the country! We felt the financial shock IMMEDIATELY!  Leaving Ohio, family and friends had been hard; Troy and I suffered significant depression throughout that first summer as a result of this relocation. The fact that it was a summer of record-breaking heat - with no air conditioning in our new home - added to our stress.

We lived in the parsonage - on the church property - which was several acres of flat land with a pavilion. Travis had just begun his four years at the Naval Academy in Annapolis - 26 miles away. Consequently, we got to see him during a lot of Saturdays after he qualified for 'leave'. 

The church received us with kindness after having just said "Good-bye" to a very long-term pastor and his wife! They were somewhat wounded as a result of this pastoral change, but their leadership was very gracious to us and we were well received. 

The congregation averaged about forty. This was quite a change from leaving a church that was running around two hundred! The pace was slower and I was given time for respite and healing. 

___________________________________________________________________________________

It’s important to note that my ‘Call’ to ministry has never been easy for me. I found leading churches to be frustrating because of slow-adaptors and resistance to change! I had nearly left the ministry in 1984, during a time when I was vigorously pursuing my education and burning the candle at both ends!

 

I had become fascinated with the concept of planting a new church. I believed that this was one way to avoid the chronic resistance to change. I had spoken with our denominational leadership about this possibility and had read scores of books on the topic.

 

Making the leap into this venture usually required being bi-vocational. It takes a special kind of person with unique skills to start a new church. This became a dream of mine that grew largely out of my frustration with leading plateaued churches that had lost their sense of mission and vision. Most churches – it seemed to me – had come to a comfort zone of inefficiency and settled there. Any attempt to disrupt that homeostasis was met with resistance – sometimes stringent!

 

I had resolved that the challenges of church planting would be more favorable than those that I had faced in transitioning a church. Transitioning a church from complacency to passion is one of the hardest things to do! I’m grateful to God that He enabled me to lead through this process in East Liverpool and later in New Middletown. I also was part of this process in Akron, Ohio, - although not the key leader.

__________________________________________________________________________

The Spencerville church had a strong reputation and had been a solid church throughout its history. The building was a very traditional, colonial-style with adequate parking and room for expansion. The congregation was a mix of younger couples with children and a heavier balance of older members – including many shut-ins.

They had managed to maintain themselves by renting the facility to a Korean congregation every Sunday afternoon. I quickly became friends with the people of the Korean congregation who often came in colorful clothing for their festivals. They served a meal every Sunday and always left our building smelling like an Asian restaurant! 😊 I enjoyed eating ‘kimche’ with them many times and thoroughly enjoyed their fellowship!

The people of the Spencerville congregation were faithful! In spite of their pain in losing a long-term leader (and spouse), they embraced us generously. Having come from a transitioned church, I was not as patient as I should have been and immediately began to challenge their thinking through my preaching and teaching. Troy and I had been gifted with wonderful guitars by a friend from our East Liverpool church. We began using them to lead the Sunday evening service – teaching the congregation new choruses and trying to grow a more energetic approach to worship.

I was forty-three when I arrived at Spencerville with a plan and hope to make this a long-term pastorate – possibly from which I would eventually retire. But, the best made plans of mice and men…

PART TWO – THE PAINFUL PART

Troy and Tracie were teenagers when we arrived in Spencerville. As they eventually made friends, these friends came from families considerably different than ours. Many of them came from broken homes and complex histories. The church property became a gathering point for them because of our four-wheelers and the wide open space. The quads rarely cooled down. Eventually, I put an above-ground pool in our backyard. At any given time, it looked like a youth group activity was going on in our yard!

Troy and Tracie invited these kids to come to Sunday School and church with them – AND MANY OF THEM CAME! Our youth leader was a young woman who embraced and accepted these kids. I constantly warned Troy and Tracie that they needed to be the influencers – not the influenced! Debbie and I became quite close with these kids. I had long conversations with one young man who had a brilliant mind. I later found out that ‘Bob’ wasn’t even his real name! 🙄 One of these young men – we discovered later – was living in a semi-trailer on a landscaping lot nearby.

We eventually removed the kids from the public school and placed them in a Christian school some distance away. That threw us into the fiasco of traffic and congestion every morning! It also stretched us financially to the breaking point!

________________________________________

The church began to slowly respond to our leadership! Hope was born! Several new converts were made in new families! Those who had been dancing on the periphery began attending with regularity! Several new families became contributing participants in the congregation! Children’s and youth ministry numbers went up! Sunday worship attendance increased significantly! Although there was still some mild resistance [there always is in transitioning a church!], this congregation was beginning to experience new life!

It was the fall of 1997, when the wheels came off the Haire wagon. We faced a family crisis that rocked our boat like it had never been rocked before! We were thrown into a frenzy. The crisis had a backlash on us financially [big time], as well as emotionally! Our problems were of a nature that did not encourage transparency. A few parishoners became aware of the nature of our problem because of snippets they had read in the newspaper. A few spoke to us with reassurances of their prayers.

Between September 4 [the day our crisis presented itself] and mid-November, we had massive choices to make. I often refer to these days as the period when Debbie and I learned to pray! We spent hours on our knees at our bedside or at our living room couch! We poured our hearts out to God! We asked for His wisdom, guidance and provision! We asked Him to bless our kids! Every day-to-day activity became hard to perform! I was distracted from leading the church! Our family system was so far away, and my parents had already left for Heaven! We felt SO ALONE and DESPERATE!

Our crisis involved a lengthy hospitalization and regular counseling appointments; even psychiatry appointments – which were VERY expensive. We fell significantly behind in the Christian school bill [which was later paid by a leading layman]. We began selling whatever we could to try to stay solvent!

During these short months, we were so preoccupied with our family that everything else slipped into second place! I still feel badly about that!


Finally, we had to make a decision!

After saturation in prayer, we decided that if we wanted to save our family then we needed to return to Pennsylvania and surround our kids with our family system who would offer them unconditional support and love!

This was a horribly hard decision for us to make!  Because of our pain, shock and the privacy of our need, we chose not to be open with the Spencerville congregation. Our departure was very suddenly announced. We were given permission to pack all of our belongings in the parsonage two-car garage – and we left!

It was abrupt and without explanation! People were shocked and offended. Just yesterday – while going through old files in my garage – I read angry letters that I received from parishoners who didn’t understand our motivation for leaving. It was hard! They were certainly justified in writing them.

Instantaneously, we were homeless and without income – yet with significant debt.

We moved into the farmhouse with Deb’s parents for several weeks. We withdrew Troy and Tracie from school. Troy and I tackled jobs together on the farm to try to ‘pay our way’ a bit. Daily, we poured our hearts out to God for His provision and direction.

I sent out emails to all of our family and friends every week detailing what we were going through and desperately trying to recruit their prayers. After several weeks, some East Liverpool friends provided us with an apartment in Chester, West Virginia. We moved in with no furniture and only the supplies that we had left Spencerville with. We ate lots of Ramen Noodles because we could buy them for $.10/package.

I should note that the Spencerville Church extended our pay through the end of the year – which was an unmerited grace that we deeply appreciated!

As Christmas approached, we managed to buy one gift for each of our three T’s. Upon Travis’ arrival from the Naval Academy, he took Troy and Tracie out to buy a ‘Charlie Brown’ Christmas tree and a few ornaments.

I scoured the newspaper daily looking for job opportunities! With a college degree and two master’s degrees, I was ‘over-qualified’ for every position I inquired about. We were constantly with Troy and Tracie! We tried to envelop them with our love, encouragement and support.

Remarkably, during this time I received letters from people that I had counseled over the years.  Repeatedly, they included a financial gift expressing appreciation for the way I had helped them redirect their lives. I was asked to preach one Sunday by a church that had been founded by a layman who had been under my influence at Oakland. They gifted us that morning with $700!!!!!!!!!!  We were overwhelmed with God’s grace and goodness as well as their generosity!

In short: God provided for our needs! We spent nearly four months in this condition of dependence on God!

To end this story, I eventually turned up a classified ad from a social serving agency in Akron, Ohio. They were looking for parents to operate a licensed ‘Shelter Home’ under their supervision. I called and made an appointment with a representative. He agreed to meet us at a ‘Spaghetti Warehouse’ in Akron. We were SO EXCITED about this interview because we hadn’t eaten out in nearly five months! 😁

We were hired a week later and moved into one of their homes in Cuyahoga Falls three weeks later. Within several weeks we retrieved all of our belongings from Maryland. We worked for Shelter Care for six years. I also eventually joined the staff of Cornerstone Church which was a pivotal period of growth and development for our family!


AN APOLOGY

Five years later, a true friend [Chip Poole] passed away. Chip and Debby had felt like lifelong friends upon our arrival in Spencerville.  Despite an age difference, their kids and ours connected. Chip and I encouraged and cultivated one another. In recent days I have come across numerous letters from Chip encouraging and thanking me for my ministry! I was invited to speak at his funeral. This was my opportunity to finally address the real reasons for our abrupt departure in late 1997. For many, this was the first realization of what we had actually been going through when we made our ‘hard decision’. One family took us out for dinner and thanked us for filling in the blanks.

I want to use this opportunity to thank the Spencerville congregation for their grace and support through this STRESSFUL period of our lives! Your loving support left a deep imprint on our lives!

I really did intend to retire after leading your church for a season! God was at work and you all were adapting to my radically different style of leadership! Although we had a fast-growing, contemporary church one mile to our east and a massive mega-church four miles to our west, we were beginning to carve out a unique, loving, caring, creative ministry that was preparing us to enfold many who were searching for a Savior and a Christian home!

I’m sorry! It’s only now – so many years later – that I am comfortable speaking about this period! I simply want you to know that leaving you was truly THE HARDEST THING I EVER HAD TO DO!  Our love was genuine and our commitment sincere!

Thank you for your love, prayers and support! Our two-and-a-half years together fostered many fond and loving memories for us!

By the way:

·         You probably know that we lost Travis in October, 2015. Our hearts were permanently damaged by his sudden death and we miss him daily!


·         Troy is a healthy, happy man today with a lovely and capable wife, Missy. He is a fire-fighter in Boardman, Ohio, and is active in one of the last churches I served: Free Methodist Community Church, New Middletown, Ohio.


·         Tracie eventually moved back to your area when she turned nineteen and lived with her friend, Allison.  During this period, she met Jon Kerstetter, and they were married in 2005. Jon had a twenty-three year career in the U.S. Navy, retiring in March 2024. They have given us two grandchildren: Rylie (17) and Coltin (16). They are all living out their faith in significant ways in Rockledge, Florida.

If you care to correspond, you may write to us at 190 Rusty Trail, Enon Valley, PA 16120. Our combined email address is halinasia@psmail.net. I am also on Facebook every day at Facebook.com/HalHaire. 

Thursday, September 11, 2025

WHY DIDN'T YOU STOP THIS, GOD?

Like many this morning, I'm in utter shock at the assassination of Charlie Kirk yesterday. Such a brilliant mind, capable leader, confident Christian and competent apologist!  Clearly he was already a major influencer through his Turning Point USA organization! This husband and father of two's voice was going to be heard and his impact was sure to make a difference - until yesterday afternoon.

Interestingly, yesterday I wrote a Facebook post titled: "Can Good Come Out of Bad?" And yet this morning I find myself asking God: "Why didn't You stop this?" 

I doubt that I'm alone in the query.

As a pastor, I've spent an adult lifetime answering questions about God and His action or inaction.  I've studied the Bible for answers and been trained by my counseling degree how to guide people in the throes of pain and loss. But this morning, I feel the pain of the loss of a good, good man in the prime of his life who was clearly destined for a great role in our country. His senseless death leaves me sad, angry, and feeling hopeless. The condition of our country feels irreparable!

Over the years, I have prayed regularly that the Lord would help me to never be responsible for taking the life of another person. I have also prayed this prayer over my wife and children!  

Obviously, I've known people who have faced this peril. I've prayed with them and ministered to them. Some were veterans who carried horrible burdens in their memory-banks. Early in my  ministry I made a friend of a younger man who had an accident with a friend in his car who was killed on impact. This young man's life was indelibly affected! I'm thankful that there is grace for situations like this, and I have always been comforted to be able to extend that grace on God's behalf!

However, we now have people filled with anger and mental instability who are eager to act out their violence by taking the life of another because of disagreements or differing opinions! How did our world become so evil and hateful? It certainly didn't happen overnight!

I feel paralyzed by Charlie's death! I can't get motivated to move on with my day. Discouragement and disillusionment hover over me! I need to think. I need to pray. I need God's gracious restoration. I desire to hope again.

American culture is disintegrating. Riding metros and light rails is no longer a safe activity. Remarkably, cities resist the help of the federal government's resources to restore peace in their streets - all because of political alliances. The recent murder of a young woman on a light rail was witnessed by many others who failed to assist her against her attacker and then walked around her lifeless body to exit the train!  

And in the midst of these horrific reports the church continues to divide itself and shrink its influence on our culture. The population has lost confidence in the church as an arbitrator for justice and equity!  Although vibrant and effective churches remain, the church is shrinking in size as well as influence! The denomination I've served in my entire life has shrunk by 34% over the last twenty years!

The facts are real and we all know them! But what about the question raised above: "Why didn't God stop this senseless death?

____________________________________________

There are just a few things that I'm certain of.

ONE is that God is also mourning with us today!

I refuse to believe that Charlie's death was God's plan or desire! God gives life! Life is sacred to God! 

SECOND is the assurance we can have that God will - in some way - bring good out of this horrible act of violence! It may take time for us to see it. Now is a time for shock, grieving and sorrow; but in time, we may be able to see evidence of God using it for good!

THIRD is the reminder that this world is just the warm-up or testing ground for an ultimate world where justice, peace, and a common love for God and one another will reign for all eternity - unhindered by violence or fear!

[I have a strong expectation that Charlie Kirk is there.]

FOURTH, God's interventions in this world are rare and beyond our understanding. We pray regularly for Him to intervene. When He does, we express our gratitude with thanksgiving. However, His sovereignty is beyond our scope of understanding and His purposes beyond our knowledge or expectations. Our walk is a walk of trust in Him!