In just a few days we will be taking another mission team trip to Uganda. It is an awesome thing to fall into the hands of the living God and this is the place God has called and convicted me. I am so entirely grateful for the support to church, friends and family. I am awed by the gift that these visits are to me - I learn and grow as I serve and I delight in seeing the effect it has on team members. How can I describe why I do this? As simply as I can say it is this: I go to serve, to encourage and to be remade into what God wants me to be. Yes, we teach, preach and share our gifts and lives with the great pastors and people of a church which is rapidly growing, but I am selfish... I go because of what I learn - in me, of what God is up to and about a totally different culture. Please pray for our team and then pray that as I stay those extra couple days to retreat and pray with Davis God will reveal God's hand for the future of Nexus Seminary Uganda and the work we are called to do TOGETHER.

Investments

I do not know if we are in the worst economic times since the great depression or not. But I do know that some people are worried and wondering where it is all going. It appears that the government is taking steps to prevent disaster. But there will be some shaking and baking. Louise and I have been through the bankruptcy of a utility company and sadly saw much of an IRA and some stock options disappear. We had also watched the value of that IRA or the stock in it move up rapidly. I remember saying to myself and breathing a little prayer, "Lord, help us not to depend on this more than we depend on you."
We should think long term and remember that values will go up and down. The saddest part right now is those who have stocks, etc. and need them to be healthy to live month to month. So we pray for a quick recovery. I have said several times in the past few weeks (since the weekend that Louise worked most of the weekend when her company needed to assess their risk when Lehman Brothers went under) invest in people. Do some diverse economic investing, but remember that this is life and in life Christians and other good people invest in people. Invest in your family members, your friends, your close associates and invest in people such as mission work, volunteering and serving those who need our help. There is that old Robert Schuller phrase, 'Find a need and fill it."
Thanks to the many friends and family who are investing in Nexus Seminary Uganda. You are investing in eternal matters. You are investing in depth. You are investing in men and women who know nothing of stock, retirement plans and bonuses. they are mostly day to day and as those who do subsistance farming say, "Digging."
"Four things a man must do. If he would make his record true. To think without confusion clearly. To love his fellow man sincerely. To act with honest motives purely. To trust in God and heaven securely." Henry Van Dyke (He also authored Joyful Joyful we adore Thee.)

Not all Lance Armstrong or Michael Phelps

I am just amazed at the skill and accomplishment of athletes like Micheal Phelps and Lance Armstrong. They are almost superhuman. One commentator said that they did not believe that Michael was from another planet(alien) but that he was from the future. Let's remember that the individual is great, but there is a training table, a schedule, a regimen that most of us are not wanting or disciplined to follow.

I just read Lance's team director's book, We Might As Well Win but Johan Bruneyl. Lance is directly quoted as saying he might not have won any Tours De France without Bruneyl and the team that he put around Lance. Not to take away from any star, but this is seldom done solo. It is never done without sacrifice.

You and I are not Lance or Michael. But we can enjoy the achievement and celebrate the big goals and victories they accomplish. We can, through Jesus Christ and his friends, have the heart of a champion and do what we are called to do. Let's also remember to not let good get in the way of great. (collins)

Press on to the upward call of Christ.

A Franciscan Blessing

I ran across this quote from A Franciscan Blessing and felt that it spoke to my heart.

• May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half truths, and superficial relationships, so that you may live deep within your heart.

• May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitations of people, so that you may work for justice, freedom, and peace.

• May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation, and war, so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and to turn their pain into joy.

• And may God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you can make a difference in this world, so that you can do what others claim cannot be done.

This was quoted by a man named Craig Groschel at the Leadership Summit. So I lay it out here for my memory bank and for sharing. Let's get riled up somtimes. Let's bang on the doors of heaven in prayer. And let's be fools for Christ who expect to make a difference through Him is some way each and every day.

Frog foibles

On vacation last month we were at the Jones Falls locks on the Rideau Canal in Ontario Canada. I was talking to the upper lock master. We had just met up with the Wards and Allens who were downbound in a houseboat. As I talked with the lockmaster I noticed a medium sized frog hopping by my feet. It was in the grass and bounce, hop, bounce and then it bounded over the edge of the lock into the waters of the lock below. They had been lowered to receive the upbound boats. I laughed as it flew over and interrupted my conversation to see how it had fared in the 25 foot flight to the bottom. It had managed fine. On many days it would have swam to shore and done whatever frogs do. But, alas, one of the fish in the pool of the lock made it lunch and the last I saw of Mr. frog it's powerful hind legs were dangling out of the mouth of a bass.

Why was the frog hopping that direction? Was it afraid of me? Had it done this death defying leap before and liked it, coming back for more? Did it just not see what was ahead (the frog view is very limited by it's position on the ground in the grass)? We'll never know.

Life lessons? Frog has limited viewpoint, but it hops anyway. Having seen the frog trajedy would that remind me not to take risks? NO! I'll bet it was a glorious flight over the side of that lock wall. God gave me legs, that is what I do.... I jump.

The trouble with Tiger

I was watching the interview with Tiger Woods about his knee right after his victory. Did your knee hurt? Yes. Did you go against Dr's orders? No answer. Why? Because golf is what I do.

Why I do many of the ministry things I do is because it is what I do. More correctly it is what I am called by God to do. Funerals, weddings, hospitals, meetings, meetings and visits as well as some crazy schedules. It is what I do.

Now Tiger gets a better payday and he is extremely skilled and obsessively practiced and coached. He will get a break to get the torn tendon and the stress fractured bones fixed up. But it will not be easy because "It is what I do." It is the game, the competition, the pursuit of excellence.

After a board meeting last night I was around wondering what we as a church were going to do. I was seeking God (and I was watching the Celtics humiliate the Lakers) Okay, God, what next? And the answer was sure to come - "pray like never before" and if I had thought that was a fluke or a mishearing I was hit this morning with Col 4:2 "Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful." And if that message was not clear enough I was finishing the book Just Walk Across the Room and got hit with Col 4:2 again in the final chapter "Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful." let me finish the rest
"And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity."

So, I got the message. You shall find me more in prayer. IT IS WHAT I DO!
Please pray for BUMC and the Childcare program as well as the next Uganda mission trip departing October 19th. 2 weeks, 3 or 4 graduations and of course hours and hours on the planes.

Ripping up bushes

Sometimes you have energy to use that needs to be burned off. Many times I have come upon a serious loss(death) or frustrating life situation. The parsonages I have lived in have had bushes in front that were beyond their prime. I "take it out" on the bushes. When you have to pry and cut and dig and strain to get the bushes out and the roots dug you can burn some calories and drip with sweat. But, the job gets done and you have safely sent your frustration into a safe place.

My son in law's sister was hit by a truck and killed accidentally while walking last week. Total accident. A beautiful and spirited young Christian woman is now with the Lord. She was taken too soon and you have to feel bad. But that is life. We celebrated her life and shared some comfort in North Carolina with family and friends.

I have taken out bushes in Frewsburg, Henrietta - Bob Caskey. Fillmore - Angela Cockle. Hornell - too many funerals there and cannot remember which one. Now here in Brewerton.

What do you do with your stuff? Have you found a safe way to get it out?

The good news is that I can now paint the front of the house without working around them. We also then take the time to carefully select new bushes and give new life to the landscape in front of our domiciles.

Shalom, Truly Shalom.