RISING HOPE MINISTRIES (formerly Soul Artist)

Punch. Slap. Ouch. Thank-you.

2012-01-11T19:52:00.000-08:00

My normal response to pain is not ‘thank-you’. I have discovered, with increasing clarity however, that some of the deepest most precious spiritual stuff grows out of pain. The Bible teaches this most plainly...but there is something about His words invading our routine multitasking everyday lives, that makes us sit up and take notice. When we go through something that really hurts, and at the end look back on the situation and see the great things God has done, it is hard to describe the wonder for a God who can use even terrible things and bring glory to Himself.

In Luke 24:26 we read the words of Jesus as He spoke on the road to Emmaus: “was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?” (emphasis mine). Necessary for the Son of God, the creator of the universe, to suffer…now, that is a weighty thought. God, who can do anything, is all powerful, and knows everything still deemed it necessary for His Son to suffer in order to bring about peace between Himself and you and I. In the gospel of Mark 8:31 Jesus says that He must suffer many things, and then He foretold His rejection and crucifixion.

Our normal reaction when problems surface is to think - "why can't things just be smooth...why does this have to happen...why can't life be easy? If we know God is all powerful then the concept of suffering just doesn't seem logical - at least on the surface. After all, God could, if He chose, sweep His almighty hand and clear up any problem we are having.

It’s hard to understand that even with the King of Kings, some painful things He has ordained as necessary. He chooses not to wave a magic wand, even with His Son. He chose to have His life, death, resurrection and ascension to be flesh and blood real, including the pain. If the greatest act in Jesus life had to be accomplished through suffering, it’s really not a surprise that great spiritual victories in our lives often surface as the result of pain. Only a great and sovereign God could make good out of bad, light out of darkness, and sweetness out of bitter.

Life slaps...life hurts...but there is tremendous hope in Christ and He has the power to transform that which is hard and difficult into something incredibly good. There is hope for today and even more for tomorrow by placing our faith and complete trust in Jesus Christ.

Evidence of Existence

2012-01-11T19:30:00.000-08:00

Some will try to claim there is no evidence that God exists. But take a look at Romans 1:20: “From the time the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky and all that God made. They can clearly see His invisible qualities – His eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse whatsoever for not knowing God.” (N LT) The marks of the Intelligent Designer, His order and design in the universe and His “fingerprints” all over humanity point to a Great Creator. Albert Einstein said: “My religion consists of a humble admiration of the illuminant superior Spirit who reveals Himself in the slight details we are able to perceive with our frail and feeble minds. That deeply emotional conviction of the presence of a superior reasoning power, which is revealed in the incomprehensible universe, forms by idea of God.”

The Bible tells us that two of the amazing attributes of God is that He is totally loving, and at the same, time totally just. While it is God’s desire that all acknowledge Him, receive Him as Lord, and accept His free gift of forgiveness, He still gives people the free will to choose. “…He is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to perish, so He is giving more time for everyone to repent.”(NLT) II Peter 3:9b

God has continually, throughout history, reached out to communicate with people. He uses nature, He uses circumstances, and He uses believers in the world. Jesus commissions us with the responsibility to compassionately go search out to the lost and tell the good news of not only a God who exists, but a God who loved the world so much, that He gave His only Son (John 3:16). God extended the ultimate plan of love in sending His Son, Jesus Christ to live among us, suffer, die, and come back to life, so that we might have the opportunity to connect with the living God. Even with that amount of sacrifice, God gives each person the free will to choose. And we all know, every choice has it’s consequence. The consequence of acceptance or rejection of God’s Son, Jesus Christ, extend into eternity.

"Oh, Grow Up!" (Maturity is Beautiful)

2012-01-11T19:21:00.000-08:00

“Oh, Grow Up!” (Maturity is Beautiful)

Speaking to a group of Jr. Highers about the concept of spiritual maturity brought the lesson to a point where I told each student to turn to their neighbor and tell him or her, “Oh, grow up!” Pandemonium broke out! These students relished the opportunity to get in each others face and shout, “Oh, grow up!”

When I think of people whom I look up to as heroes, I think of some of my older friends in the faith. One of the meanings of “hero” is someone who is a conqueror. My older friends in the church have conquered many of life’s obstacles. They have seen the expanse of the ages and how each stage of life, lived in concert with God’s Spirit, has deep value and meaning. Some have wrestled with great loss and grief, and come through shining. They understand just what it means to walk with the Lord during every era of our existence. My senior brothers and sisters in the Lord have lived through aspects of life that still puzzle me and they can counsel from having traveled the road previously. Some have navigated through life’s ‘curve balls’ and whether they scored a hit or swung and missed, they have learned much that they can pass on from their experience. There is a depth of understanding, a sense of patience and ‘how to take the long view.’ They understand now, from their unique perspective on life, exactly what the big things are – what is worth standing firm on and which items are insignificant and can therefore be let go. It’s the beauty of wisdom that I hear and see in them and even feel in their presence. Sometimes it’s just a knowing look, a mention that they are praying for me, or a hug when I really need it. It is concrete evidence to me of the Holy Spirit working in their lives. Yes, truly, maturity is beautiful.

Not Perfect, But Very Beautiful

2012-01-11T19:13:00.000-08:00

I find it fascinating that when the ascended Jesus gave the apostle John ‘The Revelation’, John then communicated this vision to the seven churches. Jesus didn’t tell John to communicate his message to individual giants in ministry like Billy Graham or Mother Teresa. Jesus didn’t focus these messages to one person at a time. These messages were given to the churches - groups of believers bonded together to share the love and message of Jesus Christ. The people of the church were to live life together in such a way that the world would sit up and take notice.

True, most of the churches had problems. Jesus had some very specific and stern directives toward believers who were getting off track. Consider these strong words to the church at Laodicea from the Message (Revelation 3:15-16): “I know you inside and out and find little to my liking. You’re not cold, you’re not hot – far better to be either cold or hot! You’re stale. You’re stagnant. You make me want to vomit.”

Whoa! Strong words…changes needed to be made! But Jesus also gave great affirmation and love to the church. Throughout history, the church has been chosen to communicate God’s message of love and reconciliation through Jesus Christ.

In our very individualistic society there are a lot of people – self proclaimed Christians – who prefer to try to live the Christian life away from the church. Our culture has decided to be cynical of “institutionalized religion”. Yet the hunger for the spiritual dimension in people’s lives remain. I recently ran across a blog where people, disillusioned by something about the church, tried to justify how they could supposedly live in community with believers and grow spiritually away from the church. However, one would be hard pressed to make a good case for that view point from Scripture. From the book of Hebrews: “And let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging each other; and all the more as you see the day drawing near. Hebrews 10:24-25.

The churches from Revelation had some problems. Churches throughout history struggle with problems because each church is made up of imperfect human beings. But the church is still God’s chosen instrument, and what God has chosen, I surely wouldn’t want to discard.

Wheaton professor, Dr. Gilbert Bilzekian explained the early church to a group of young students, which included Bill Hybels, who became the Senior Pastor of the Willow Creek megachurch in Chicago.

“Students,” he said, “there was once a community of believers who were so totally devoted to God that their life together was charged with the Spirit’s power. In that band of Christ- followers, believers loved each other with a radical kind of love. They took off their masks and shared their lives with one another. They laughed and cried and prayed and sang and served together in authentic Christian fellowship. Those that had more shared freely with those who had less until socioeconomic barriers melted away. People related together in ways that bridged gender and racial chasms, and celebrated cultural differences. Acts 2 tells us that this community of believers, this church, offered unbelievers a vision of life that was so beautiful it took their breath away. It was so bold, so creative, so dynamic that they couldn’t resist it. Verse 47 tells us that ‘the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”

The early church wasn’t perfect (check out Acts 5 and the sudden death of Ananias and Sapphira) but it was very beautiful.

There are great reasons to stand up for the church in a culture that wants to dismiss it’s influence. We use the term “family” for the way we relate to each other in church because a church family really mirrors what happens in a traditional family. The closer we get the more there is opportunity for bumps and bruises. There are misunderstandings to work through and relationships can be tough. But there is nothing like a family working and loving each other in harmony. It can’t be replaced and the church can’t be replaced. The church is close to the heart of God, and when lived out by His design truly is very beautiful.

Our culture changes, our circumstances change, our seasons of life change, but none of these things preclude us from experiencing what Christ offers the world through the church – “a vision of life so beautiful that it took their breath away…so bold, so creative, so dynamic that they couldn’t resist.”

Please Come Home to God

2012-01-02T06:40:00.000-08:00

Troubles in life are many. Some happen to us, some we create. But there is hope, because God knows all about that and is waiting for you, dear one, to come back to Him. He wants to take your bruised and bleeding heart and heal and comfort you and give you a new life. The Bible says, "...that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!" (II Corinthians 5:17 NLT)

You may have practical issues. You don't know what to do next or how to overcome the bad situation you are in. Life may seem confusing. The one thing you can count on is God. He never changes and is always faithful to you - ever waiting for you to come home to His arms. He took the punishment that each of us deserve when He gave His Son, Jesus to a world that mistreated Him and crucified Him. When that happened, He willingly took all our wrong upon Himself, and He was the only One that could do that for He never did anything wrong. He did this so we could be made right with God. It is a free gift. Come home to God. He will show you what to do next - but first, just come home.

Perfect Peace in a Frenzied World

2011-12-30T19:59:00.000-08:00

Christ followers have access to something that isforeign to the rest of the world. It issomething for which people greatly yearn. It is something so remarkable thatpeople without Christ in their life would consider it “not normal.” Yet it issomething they would love to have. It isa true and deep human need, however this something cannot be achieved bynatural means, for it is supernatural. That something is peace and specifically innerpeace in a turbulent world.

The truth is that our world has not been a place ofpeace since Adam and Eve chose to rebel from God’s perfect love in the gardenof Eden. We see a world almost frenzied in a desire for peace but with no enduringway to achieve it.

Even within our immediate families and extendedfamilies and with friendships there is conflict, disagreement anddivision.

Like a Christmas song says, “peace on earth, goodwilltoward men, every year we sing it again, such beautiful words, they’ve got tobe true, but down deep admit it, you’d like to know when?”

Yet, the Scriptures talk about a “Perfect Peace.” Isaiah 26:3 Says, “You will keep in perfectpeace all who trust in you, whose thoughts are fixed on you!” So what is this inner peace theScriptures talk about?

1. First we haveto recognize that peace comes at the point of surrender. Inthe spiritual realm, we end our private war with God.

2. Secondly, to pursueGod’s peace we “put on” behaviors and practice those things that help keep ourminds on God. TheScriptures teach us to “lay aside” things and “put on” things. Kind of like changing clothes.

3. Third, we choose tocarve out time for God. To keep our minds on God we choose to remind ourselves to think about Him. He will help us on this, count on it. He wants to spend time with us more than we can imagine.

4. Fourth, we pray prayersof victory focused on who God is, rather than our current circumstances. Perspective is everything.

5. Fifth, we grow in ourtrust of God. A growing trust in God allows us toexperience His perfect peace, in fact I would say that the amount of peace wehave in a situation has a direct correlation to the amount of trust we place inGod as we go through that ordeal. Trustis not an automatic response. It’s anact of the will, and it is a process. Welearn to trust.

Inner peace in a frenzied world - what an incredible gift!

Ten Ways to Help a Discouraged Friend

2011-12-30T19:19:00.000-08:00

1. Be a goodlistener. Restrain the urge to tell yourown story. Let it be about them.

2. Use gentle words - and only a few words - to help your friendgain perspective. When we are discouragedwe tend to lose sight of the whole picture.

3. Affirm your friend’s feelings. Sometimes we just need to be heard or to knowwe are not alone.

4. Pray for your friend. Then write them a note and tell them you prayed.

5. Let your friend know you are thinking of them inmoments they would not expect to hear from you.

6. Sometimes a thoughtful (not expensive) gift canconvey feelings that words can’t. Somethinginformational that they are interested in, something made in the kitchen, asingle flower, an offer to go out for latte or a smoothie, are small ways toconvey that you care.

7. Encourage your friend by pointing out theirgifts and talents and remind them of how they have influenced your life.

8. Share your favorite Bible verse with your friend.

9. Be worthy of the trust your friend has extendedto you by sharing their problems. Consider that trust a compliment.

1 10. Point your friend to hope – not empty words but the true source of hope that God has expressed through His Word. A few examples are: “Casting all your anxiety on Him, because Hecares for you.” I Peter 5:7; “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted andsaves those who are crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18; “I will lift up myeyes to the mountains; from where shallmy help come from? My help comes fromthe Lord, who made heaven and earth.” Psalm 121:1-2; For I know theplans I have for you says the Lord, plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah29:11

Parenting Style

2011-12-30T12:53:00.000-08:00

She sat at the stair step by my computer nook and drew happily, occasionally explaining in detail about the flowers and beginnings of alphabet letters she drew. I was amazed at how unbelievably content she seemed - this "just being together" time. The moments reminded me of my own childhood as I would spend hours drawing at the desk my father made me. In fact some of my most treasured memories are of the times he and I would sit at the desk and design projects and dream of good ideas - drawing them all down on paper. We had both times of togetherness and times of unstructured drawing - of creativity, brainstorming and exploration. Part of the wonder of childhood is just that "dreaming time".

As now a grandparent I appreciate anew how my parents provided both a loving stable structure for me, yet gave me the freedom of expression crowned with praise and encouragement for my efforts. What a blessed child I was. Because of how they treated me, I always knew children were special.

When Jesus, "God in the flesh," walked planet earth - He demonstrated to a rough and adult-oriented world the great worth and value of children. In the way Jesus treated others, and in particular - children, He shows us a parenting style that leaves no doubt that He delights in us, enjoys our company and loves us more than we can comprehend. ""Taking the child in His arms, He said to them, "anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes not only me but also my Father who sent me"" (Mark 9:36-37 NLT).

Surprise packages

2011-12-26T07:29:00.000-08:00

Some of the best surprise gifts come in unassuming packages. I'm reminded of the story of Ruth who had a mother-in-law who was elderly. Ruth chose to lovingly care for her mother-in-law in her old age rather than seeking her own desires for love and romance and the financial security of a new marriage. It meant that life was hard and she didn't have time to think of herself. She worked and listened the the wise advice of her mother-in-law. In a turn of events, Ruth ended up with both a loving secure home for her mother-in-law, and an incredible new marriage, and then a child. But this all was accomplished in turn as Ruth choose to do the unselfish thing - step after step. By putting her own desires on hold, she received more than she ever could have ever dreamed. Ruth's new life was a surprise gift in a package she never would have considered previously. The people of her village remarked to her mother-in-law, "Praise the Lord, who has now provided a redeemer for your family! May this child be famous in Israel. May he restore your youth and care for you in your old age. For he is the son of your daughter-in-law who loves you and has been better to you than seven sons! Ruth 4:14-15 NLT). In that culture, that was the supreme compliment.

And so as this time of gift-giving unwinds, sometimes we find the best gifts are the unexpected remnants of unselfish choices. Can you think of something that made you smile because you put someone else's happiness first? Bingo.

When This Christmas is "Different"

2011-12-25T06:48:00.000-08:00

As the years go by our Christmas celebrations undergo change. Even though there are treasured traditions that we often cling to, change is inevitable. People who were once an intricate part of our Christmas time that are gone through death, divorce, a geographical move or estrangement can leave a cavernous hole in our hearts, especially this time of year. Our culture, as a rule, doesn't grieve very well. Yet, as much as that hurt can be we can probably think of someone in our lives who is having a much harder time than we are this season and just the thought of extending some comfort their way can disengage us, in a small way, from our own loss.

But truly, as strong as all those memories may be, today is a day set aside to focus on someone else. It's the celebration of Jesus' birthday. "For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on His shoulders. And He will be called, "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6 NLT)."

It's uplifting to consider, what kind of gift can I give to Him? It may be a commitment to be more engaged with people this year and reach out where we normally wouldn't. It may be to pray more often and more fervently. Perhaps our gift will be in the area of trusting God more and taking to heart that He does have plans for us and rely on His promise that His plans are good. Perhaps there has been a nudge in our hearts - something we believe God wants us to do, but it is inconvenient, so it sits on the back burner of our minds. Perhaps this is the year to turn up the flame and take a bold step of faith. Maybe that gift will be a resolution to take God's Word more seriously and notch up time spent reading the Bible and asking each day, "how does this effect me, and what would God want me to do today? Maybe it's forgiving a grudge or showing someone grace that reflects the love of God, even if they do not deserve it - keeping in mind when it comes to deserving grace, none of us qualify.

The legend of the Little Drummer Boy asks what kind of gift do I have to offer a King? Gifts of wealth or possessions did not propel Christ's mission on earth. It was the gifts of the Spirit and the heart that changed the world.

It IS A Wonderful Life

2011-12-19T08:28:00.000-08:00

Finally finished the movie, yet again. This Christmas season my husband has been recuperating from surgery while I had the normal busy ministry pre-Christmas schedule. And so we "fit things in" differently. We didn't decorate or bake much and I certainly didn't keep up the house like I should. But we enjoyed every minute of visitors, phone calls, those who came to help and dear hearts in crisis....people. Like George Bailey we found that God does answer prayer, sometimes in mysterious ways. We found that the love and companionship of the people in our lives means much more than any type of material possession. And we definitely learned, yet again, that our perspective is so limited. Adversity, a seemingly common thread in life, is the thing that really has opportunity to change us for the better. Conquering life one step at a time often means coming out of the most recent storm stronger and better than when we went in. And so as I think of all God has brought us through, despite my failures and missteps along the way, I can rejoice in some things that never change, like God's faithful love for people like you and I. Yes, it IS a wonderful life.

Christmas Blues

2011-12-15T15:03:00.000-08:00

Christmas – just mentioning the word can cause intense images to fill our imaginations. It’s a season laden with memories. For some the mental pictures are rich and sweet. For some, Christmas is a painful time of remembering, and the memories hurt.

There may be those in our midst who are mourning the loss of a loved one taken by death, or divorce. People around us may be experiencing the loss of love or attention from a friend or family member. Individuals may be lonely, suffering from rejection, feeling the heartache of a child going astray, or reeling from the revelation of bad news about their health, finances or marriage. Christmas can fan the flame of a memory one would rather forget.

How can we offer the hope and healing of Christ during this season that for some heightens painful emotions? Here are three things to consider:

1. Help resolve the immediate pain. Perhaps there is some practical help we can offer to someone around us experiencing the holiday hurts. Whether it’s an extra visit or offering assistance in an area of physical need, or being a sensitive listener, timely attention can help take the sharp edge off the loss.

2. Encourage growth. A natural response to pain is to withdraw. We can encourage a friend to stay strong in church by offering a personal invitation. This kind gesture helps him or her to stay connected to other people and to the Lord.

3. Help increase the coping mechanisms. The thought of normal traditions may be painful. It’s okay to start a new tradition or do something new and creative during the holidays. Offering our friends a fresh perspective or a shoulder to cry on helps him or her process the heightened emotions. ’We can help our friends discover the ways that God shows His goodness by helping us each step of the way on our journey of hope and healing.

Most of all we need to remember that God is the God of hope. His Word is the book of hope. Through the pages of the Bible we find help for our deepest needs, especially when we’re hurting. Jim Cymbala, in his book, Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire, says “ I discovered an astonishing truth: God is attracted to weakness. He can’t resist those who humbly and honestly admit how desperately they need him”.

“The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18

2011-12-15T14:47:00.001-08:00

2011-12-15T13:39:00.001-08:00

"and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6b

2011-12-15T13:36:00.001-08:00

Feeling Thankful. http://ping.fm/2TjKX

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2011-12-15T13:30:00.001-08:00

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Positive and Optimistic and (gulp) Troubles

2011-12-11T08:11:00.001-08:00

Uhggg...troubles again. Seems like some troubles are like what they used to call a broken record that plays over and over. Now, they may be likened to that skip on a CD that messes up the song every time it is played, never goes away and is very annoying. That's what trouble is like.

Along come this guy named James. He grew up with a perfect brother, and even though Jame's brother never did anything wrong, a lot of trouble came his way. And to James, the whole thing was annoying - at least for a long while.

Later in life after he had been through a whole lot of things, James tells us that is the exact opposite of our normal experiences. He ways, "Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy". Huh? What's good about trouble. The first thing we do when trouble comes normally is to pray or at least wish it would just go away and leave us alone. James goes on to say, "for you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing (James 1:2-4 NLT).

Sometimes the hardest thing to do is to stay put and endure something that is indeed troublesome. This Scripture passage acknowledges that troubles come our way and not for the purpose of teaching us to dodge them or be in denial about their existence. Then again we don't want to be so focused on our troubles that they tend to define us...so what is James talking about? Just hanging on until our troubles go away seems senseless. So what is "joyful" about all of this?

The joy isn't due to the bad things that have happened. The joy is in what is happening to our faith as we are being tested. Endurance, patience and maturity are beautiful things and they do not happen unless we are put through hard and difficult things. That's just the way it works. The people whom we love and admire for having great characters probably became that way because they have suffered in some way. If we can find even that small seed of faith to offer to God some trust when something bad happens, then He grows our faith and we become stronger - and more positive and optimistic. This stronger faith allows us to see the hand of God working in even the strangest of circumstances. The blossoming of our faith is precious to Him, and He delights in our growing trust of Him. And when we have found that the next time trouble comes and we are not shaken we realize our faith is stronger, we are more confident that God is going to faithfully take care of us no matter what, and that is reason for joy.

And, by the way, did you know that the "perfect brother" of James was Jesus? Yes, James learned these words from his life experiences. James saw great and fearsome trouble turn into joy because of the outcome of Jesus' life.

Go Home and Tell Everybody

2011-12-11T07:47:00.001-08:00

He was the picture of torment. "Day and night he wandered among the burial caves and in the hills, howling and cutting himself with sharp stones." From a slice of history, this man is not unlike some anguished people today. It may be mental illness, it may be something amiss in the spiritual nature, or perhaps it is the effects of years of drug or alcohol abuse and the tragic choices that tend to accompany the lifestyle. Insomnia was his constant companion. He was indeed miserable and without a sense of hope, and people were afraid of him. Even those with a touch of compassion didn't know how to deal with him, so alone he stayed. Cut off from the warmth of social contact, finding strange familiarity among the tombs, and injuring himself. Some say cutting eases the pain. But more pain comes as a result. In every conceivable sense, he was a mess.

And then it happened. Jesus found him and dealt with his issues. Jesus was not afraid of his condition or appalled at his choices. Jesus showed tremendous compassion, dealt with the man's heart and healed that which was terrible injured, physically, mentally and spiritually. And that's how Jesus works. By the time the bystanders encountered the man they found him described as "fully clothed and perfectly sane." In fact the change was so dramatic that the bystanders became afraid, because they knew this was beyond human. It was miraculous.

Jesus then had to leave, for He had much to accomplish. The man who had just been through a remarkable transformation begged to go along with Jesus, but Jesus gave the man something of his own to accomplish. "Go home to your family, and tell them everything the Lord has done for you and how merciful He has been (from Mark 5, NLT)."

Even when we make bad choices...God is the compassionate Heavenly Father ever searching for His wayward children. Be saved, be healed, be transformed. Go home and tell everybody.

Mary, Sweet Teenager

2011-12-07T15:50:00.001-08:00

Mary sweet teenager, called upon by God
Mary, so vulnerable, what tumult did you go through?
The presence of the angel
The radiant warmth of God’s undeniable love
Must have been of such a magnitude
That it obliterated all fear and doubt.
Such faith.
Such conviction from someone so young.
She pondered this visitation, and obediently responded.
Her magnificat revealed a soul that yearned for God.
Did your heart skip a beat as you thought of the wonder?
Did your stomach knot at the thought of fear?

"Hating" and "Occupying the Land"

2011-11-25T07:35:00.001-08:00

He's right, you know. Having kicked a meth habit, he sat in my office and politely recoiled at my words of congratulations for his strength of will to overcome the highly addictive drug. "People say that - but really it's that you have to hate what you are doing so much that you say, that's it. I'm done."

'Hate', hmm, I have to admit, I hadn't thought of that motivation. But he's right.

I got up and actually ran around the block today. And, although I had a delicious Thanksgiving dinner last night, I didn't gorge. The reason? I hate the way I feel being "out of shape," having packed on a few extra pounds over the last few months.

When my child was young and she would use the word "hate" I would say, "hate is a strong word - use the word 'dislike.'" But sometimes a genuine change in ourselves has to come about through a hate of the choices we have made and a real grieving over not doing that which we know to do. James, the brother of Jesus, told us if we know the right thing to do, and don't do it, then it is sin.

We tend to relate easily to the physical realm - things like the effects of abusing our bodies with destructive substances or even overeating or a lack of exercise or sleep. But that which is true in the physical realm also has application in the spiritual realm.

The choices we make everyday - whether to not to pick up our Bible and read what God would say to us, or whether or not we seriously make a focused effort to pray have an effect on our souls - just as real as the choices we make for our minds or our bodies.

In Deuteronomy 32:47 we read, "These instructions are not empty words - they are your life! Be obeying them you will enjoy a long life in the land you will occupy when you cross the Jordan River." At this point in history God was speaking to the children of Israel before they crossed over into the promised land. But the principle of what He said is just as true today. If we do what the Bible tells us to do, we will have a full and meaningful life full of purpose and meaning. Do notice that I did not say an easy life - but a very good life.

So, sometimes hate can be good - good in the sense that hating to do the wrong thing - whether it affects my body, mind or soul - can propel me to do that which is right and good and all the great experiences that come along with those life-giving choices. And ultimately those choices affect all those around me for whom I care deeply.

Captain of Our Soul

2011-11-18T14:06:00.001-08:00

"Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken. My victory and honor come from God alone. He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me. O my people, trust in Him at all times. Pour out your heart to Him, for God is our refuge." Psalm 62:5-8 (NLT)

We live in a world that subscribes to the theory that we are the captains of our own destiny. While there is certainly consequence for our actions and we are responsible for our own choices and decisions - to think that we create our own future is false. If we are blessed with health, a nurturing family and prosperity - it is by the grace of God. Our good choices along the way certainly help but no one has control over to whom we are born, and what country we are raised. We do not control a million circumstantial elements in our lives that impinge upon us. We can only control our response to such circumstances. All of this is stated as a precursor to dissecting the cultural thought process that if were are the captain of our souls we must make things happen. Such an attitude can easily lead to selfish pursuits like pushing our way to the top for the sake of being number one and a host of other self-centered things. In other words, if we are the "captains of our souls" then it is all about us. And that where that line of thinking goes haywire. It is never all about us.

What I love about the above Psalm is that it models quietly waiting before the Lord and understanding that the battles in our lives will be won by the strength and power we find in Him. There is such great relief when we realize our destiny is not all about what we do, but what He does from within us as we trust in Him, wait on Him and seek His direction. He is a God of refuge who can be trusted with every hope, dream and desire in our hearts. Oh, Jesus, the captain of our souls.

"Yes, He knows what is best for me. My environment is of His determining. He means it to intensify my faith, to draw me into nearer communion with Himself, to ripen my power...Yet let me believe that , if difficulties remain, it is that I may learn to trust Him all the more implicitly - to trust and not be afraid." - Mrs. Charles E. Cowman -

Morning Reflections After Surgery

2011-11-13T07:29:00.001-08:00

"But as for me, I will sing about your power. Each morning I will sing with joy about your unfailing love. For You have been my refuge, a place of safety when I am in distress. O my strength, to You I sing praises, for You, O God, are my refuge, the God who shows me unfailing love." Psalm 59:16-17 (NLT)

My husband has been enduring an increased amount of physical pain in his back for the past couple of years. He underwent a series of medical procedures prior to the decision of surgery, for other methods needed to be exhausted before the risks of surgery were considered on a man in his "vintage" years. Although he was in tremendous pain, especially the last few months, I would have to name that section of our life together as "the best of times and the worst of times." Of course when someone is hurting so much, it is just terrible to watch and not be able to ease the physical suffering. That is the worst part. But the best part is the sweetness of spirit and genuine appreciation that was shown and expressed toward God and for one another and the people in our lives. My husband's faith in the Lord's goodness stayed strong. There are some great memories of walks we took in a garage sale wheelchair we found and he restored (complete with oak arms). The walks and little inclines in our neighborhood sidewalks gave me some much needed physical exercise. He benefited from getting out in the fresh air and we explored streets and cul-de-sacs we hadn't visited since the houses were built some years ago. The encouraging words and short visits with people along the way brightened those days and we thoroughly enjoyed our time together. Since we were new to this wheelchair thing, we looked pretty silly on one trip to a large grocery store as my husband had me push him in the wheelchair, and he put his feet up on the shopping cart and reached up to steer it. It made kind of a long train to which one six year old looked upon with wonder and said, "ah - awesome!" Each time I felt a little self-conscious about looking a little out-of- place (not about the wheelchair, but about the "wheelchair train") I'd look at my husband and he was just smiling and enjoying being out and exchanging cheerful words with the other shoppers. I just love him, I thought, and then we'd move on. That was the "best of times" part.

And so when surgery was imminent, we realized things could go really well, or not. We acknowledged that God is good, whatever way this goes, holding on to His promise to be with us always. Our dear family helped us with many practical things and our circle of family, friends and spiritual family held us up in prayer and we definitely felt that reality. The surgery going well was a real gift. I was made mindful that others who at a similar place in life do not have the same outcome and sometimes the mystery and workings of God are hard to grasp. I was reminded of the Scripture that tells us to "rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep." I have to say the people in our lives do this very well. Being in ministry we often are in the place of weeping with others for life has many challenges and difficult times. But for now in this time and this place, it is a time for rejoicing and we are appreciative of this gift of health at this time. Recovery in such matters goes on for some weeks and months, but each day is a present and we can say with the Psalmist, "O my strength, to You I sing praises, for You, O God, are my refuge, the God who shows me unfailing love."

Thankful

2011-11-09T14:59:00.000-08:00

On Halloween night I watched, with my husband, a film about two strangers surviving a plane crash is the extreme north and how the survival skills of the young native woman saved her pilot’s life. Her acts of kindness using her life skills of surviving in very low temperatures and blizzard conditions given for this man who hadn’t been, until this point, very nice to her, were very touching.

I awoke the next morning, thinking, I am waking up in a warm house. Many people wake up in places where they are cold as soon as they wake up. Many people live in locations where it is hot and muggy and sweaty when they start that day. The experience of waking up made me thankful. Furthermore I didn’t wake up with the flu that is going around. Nothing like feeling terrible to incite thankfulness for feeling good, don’t you agree? And so I realized, in the big scheme of things, this is a great day. I’m comfortable and I am not throwing up.

That movie was a very little thing, but, as I have discovered that in cultivating a heart of thankfulness we often learn that the little things in life are really the big things.

And when we realize little things are actually big, our capacity to become more thankful expounds.

The coffee that someone else prepares for us smells better, the snuggle from a child becomes sweeter, the mere voices of people that we love – even, or especially the wailing of a baby can be the sweetest music on earth. Things did not change – we changed. Our ability to appreciate our circumstances and be thankful has been increased.

And, as we are considering how we can become more thankful, what I have really become cognizant of is that the brightness of something good in my life is often brought to light by the juxtaposition of something either dark or bland right next to it.

There is a wonderful painting by John Singer Sargent of young girls lighting a candle inside of paper lanterns. The colors in the paper lanterns absolutely glow - it is very apparent there is a flame inside. If you put your hand over those lanterns, however, one notices how dull and drab the color around them really are. It is precisely those somber colors that make the colors in the lanterns come alive. If the whole canvas were bright and colorful, the lanterns would not appear to have fire in them. They would lose their brillance, there would be no vibrancy.
And so in this context, I’d like us to dare to think, what good things – things for which we can become truly thankful, have been brought to light by the somber, drab or boring things in life? Put another way, what good things (that we can now be very thankful for) were brought about through something difficult?

No doubt the joy we feel over the good in our lives is made possible by going through the hard stuff. Experiencing that contrast can make our capacity to be thankful go through the roof!
So while I thank God for all the good in my life I am reminded that my perspecitve has been shaped by the pain He has allowed me to undergo at times. This strengthens my faith, helps me trust Him more and gives me hope. Because nothing that I go through is merely random. It may take awhile for me to see good coming out of a bad situation. But God is the great conductor of life's orchestra and someday every note will fall into place and we will all stand and listen and the magnificence of it all will take our breath away. Thankful.

Compassionate Shepherd

2011-10-29T14:50:00.000-07:00

This is a detail of a painting I finished today and you may be wondering why I painted Jesus crying. Well, even though Jesus certainly experienced all the emotions that we do while He walked planted earth, including laughter and joy, it is His tears of compassion that touch me most. In fact, I tend to be a cryer when I pray. I think that God gave us tears to express those deep emotions that just can't be expressed in any other way. The shortest verse in the Bible is simply "Jesus wept." Here we see the most strong and powerful being that ever existed. And at times, He cried. Most notably, He cried over us. We tend to weep over those we love most. The love in those tears are more than I can comprehend. May you feel the mighty and compassionate love of God wrap around you today.

"NO WAY!" "Well, O.K...."

2011-10-29T08:15:00.001-07:00

"Son, go out and work in the vineyard today. The son answered, 'No, I won't go." but later he changed his mind and went anyway. Then the father told the other son, 'you go,' and he said 'yes, sir, I will.' But he didn't go. Which of the two obeyed his father?" They replied, "The first," Then Jesus explained His meaning. "I tell you the truth, corrupt tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the Kingdom of God before you do." Matthew 21:28-31

We human beings tend to look at the outside of a person to make an assessment of another person's attitudes and motives - or what we would call 'the heart." I'm so thankful that we have a heavenly Father that sees far deeper to the inner core of our being, knows us in intimate detail and truly "sees our hearts."

Jesus in the above passage was addressing some religious leaders. These leaders were strict, legalistic, and did much of their pious works for show and attention. Jesus saw right through them. While they may not have engaged in what we would consider "big sins," their pride and arrogance was offensive to God.

Jesus had an overwhelming compassion and desire to reach out to those who "had really blown it" in life. In the people who were regarded the least in society - "corrupt tax collectors and prostitutes," Jesus saw souls who had certainly made bad choices and even caused others pain - but also saw a humility that was redeemable. For Jesus saw that the person who has really messed up by the world's standards often times recognizes their humble state before God and has no quarrel with the fact that they have sinned.

It was to these that Jesus said, "come" - do leave behind that lifestyle - but come now, come as you are. You can be a brand new, forgiven and amazing creation with a fresh start. For through Christ God forgives completely and He is all about the attitude of the heart. He simply asks us to "come."

And so, ultimately, it's not about the mistakes we have made or having a 'clean track record.' No, rather it is about the condition of our hearts. And truth be told, sometimes we human beings have to go through a lot of bad stuff before our hearts are willing to become humble and soft and able to see our desperate need of a Redeemer.

Looking for a merciful and compassionate "Shepherd of your soul?" Come to Christ. Express your belief in Him, ask Him to forgive your past and accept His free gift of life. And, if you let us know that you did, we will celebrate with you. For a brand new start on life is cause for joy and celebration and open to anyone.

This Little Child is the Greatest...

2011-10-22T07:52:00.000-07:00

"About that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, 'Who is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?'" Jesus called a little child to Him and put the child among them. Then He said, "I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven." Matthew 18:1-4

Is there no thing so tenderly precious as the honest expressions of a child's heart? True, children "have their moments," because they are human and we all share that nature, but when a child exhibits their humility, trust and love, there is nothing like it. When children trust and confide in us, we have the most solemn obligation, the responsibility to nurture that child's heart and this includes their spiritual training. Minister-singer David Johnson sang "children are precious, they have the right to know...teach your child about the King of Kings, teach them how to pray..."

Of all the Kings, authorities and kingdoms of the world, when Jesus was asked about true greatness, He pointed to a child.

At that moment when we come to the end of ourselves and do the honest act of turning from our sins and humbly receiving the forgiveness of Christ, we become spiritual children - babes in Christ. As Jesus said, we become "born again." Everything is fresh in new. We can trust and hope as a child does and place our complete faith in our Heavenly Father.

The Gift of Presence

2011-10-22T07:41:00.000-07:00

"When three of Job's friends heard of the tragedy he had suffered, they got together and traveled from their homes to comfort and console him...Waling loudly, they tore their robes and threw dust into the air over their heads to show their grief. Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and nights. No one said a word to Job, for they saw that his suffering was too great for words." Job 2:11a; 12b-13

We know from the rest of the story of Job that after Job's comforters started talking they made his suffering even worse. But for the first seven days they got it right. They stopped whatever they were doing and traveled to be with their friend. The joined Job in his grief and expressed their deep sadness over his situation - wailing loudly.

Grief shared brings a measure of comfort. It means so much when we know we aren't alone - when others hurt for us.

Job's comforters showed sensitivity to his plight. They understood (at that point) that their words could not make the situation better and were wholly inadequate to express the depth of grief required.

Sometimes words aren't enough.

Job's friends gave him the gift of their presence. They were there just staying close - expressing great care just by being there.

Maybe Job would tell us something like this:
The person in grief doesn't need to be fixed, to get their mind off the tragedy, to be told to get over it, to look at the bright side or any other cliche statements. That person needs time and space to process grief and the best comforters are those who allow them that and just stay by their side without shallow commentary.

The gift of presence - emotionally, physically and spiritually is what it means to "be there."

Keeping Perspective

2011-10-22T07:39:00.000-07:00

"Now I am deeply discouraged, but I will remember You." "Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise Him again my Savior and my God! Psalm 42:5b, 5a

Everyone has discouraging days. I am comforted by the Psalmists wise words that instructs us what to do when those times come. Even though his feelings are honestly expressed, he ends the sentence with , "but I will remember You." It's o.k. to tell God our gut-level feelings, but how important to add what we know, by faith, to be true.

When we remember what good things God has done in our lives it puts that sense of discouragement back into perspective. The fact is that we each have much for which to be thankful - despite the times of overwhelming problems.

"...but I will remember You." It was most likely a discouraging time that led most of us to realize our need for a Savior. In turning to Christ as we realized the depth of our own wrongdoing we received undeserved mercy. In confessing our sins to Him and asking Him to come into our lives and become our Lord and boss, we receive a rush of deep peace and relief that only forgiveness can bring.

Our lives have worth and purpose in Christ. Even on discouraging days we can remember how much God has done for us and place our trust in Him anew."

Fighting Against Discouragement

2011-10-16T07:34:00.000-07:00

But the Lord is in His holy temple; the Lord still rules from Heaven. He watches everyone closely, examining every person on earth." Psalm 11:4

When troubles get me down I must remember this verse. It does me no good to fret about wrong doing or camp on my troubles. The night is most likely the time when negative thoughts either wake me or bombard me if I wake. I have lost too much sleep in entertaining the "what ifs." It helps nothing to do that. Instead, the nights of victory are won through prayer and bringing to mind the promises in God's Word. Rehearsing troubles can only rob me of sleep and faith. Trusting that the Lord still rules from heaven gives me spiritual power whether the circumstances change or not. It's a discipline. This turning to God is often going against my natural feeling and choosing, as an act of my will to trust. All the people I look up to in the faith, past and present, have won such skirmishes by faith and trust. It is hard fought battle in the mind, the will and the spiritual realm. Author Mrs. Charles E. Cowman reminds us, "Let us give ourselves no liberty ever to doubt God or His love and faithfulness to us in everything and forever...Let us refused to be discouraged. Let us refuse to be unhappy....Let us rejoice by faith, by resolution, by reckoning, and we shall surely find that God will make the reckoning real."

2011-09-14T12:16:00.001-07:00

"You were made by God and for God - and until you understand that, life will never make sense." R. Warren

Prayers and Tears Together

2011-09-10T08:35:00.000-07:00

The Lord is a shelter for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. Those who know your name trust in you, for You, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for you. Psalm 9:9-10

Unless we go through trials and suffering that are excruitiating in heart and experience God's grace through those times, we really have nothing to say to those who also suffer. When people hear words of comfort they have to know that those true-to-life words have also come from a place of deep pain. Otherwise the words will seem empty. When we know that the words of comfort come through those who have experienced horrendous things in life and found God to be faithful and good even during those times, we are uplifted and have hope. Hearing how God brought about good, even through tragedy, helps our faith to be strengthened and our outlook brightened. There is hope in Christ - real hope. It is the kind of hope that helps people get through the toughest unimaginable things that life may throw at them - and come out better than before. They are more confident about life, they have a sense of perspective, they can keep the long view in mind, and stay strong in their faith in Christ, smiling even as life roars. In that place of pain when we come to know that nothing - nothing can seperate us from His love and that His plans for us are ultimately good, no matter what we are experiencing us in that moment, there can be a sense of peace of heart and mind. The Bible defines good as that which forges our character more into someone like Jesus. Things that forge character are usually not easy things. Character is usually built in the difficulties and heart-rendering "unfair" brutal realities of life. Tears are ok. They are the workings out of our faith - prayers and tears together. Like the Psalmist we get out our tears and complaints and then place our faith and trust in God all over again. We are told, "when He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold. (Job 23:10). It all ends well for the child of God, who promises a future and a hope. Hold on. There is true hope in Christ.

An Odd Invitation

2011-09-07T09:36:00.000-07:00

…but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace…” II Timothy 1:8b-9a

An invitation to suffering? Uh, thanks, but no thanks. I’ll wait for a better offer.

But the problem is, invitations from God always come with an R.S.V.P. “R.S.V.P. stands for a French phrase, "répondez, s'il vous plaît," which means "please reply," Yes, God’s invitations, like this one “join with me,” always come with the expectancy of a reply. The invitation to suffering is a difficult R.S.V.P. with which to respond. Curiously, like some wedding invitations might read, the R.S.V.P. to suffering is more like a “R.S.V.P. regrets only”. “Regrets only mean “we will assume your response is positive, unless we hear from you”. It’s more of an automatic. Because we live in a fallen world, we all are going to suffer. The question is, are we going to suffer for the sake of the gospel?

We know that Christians in foreign lands suffer mightily for the gospel. Westerners seem to be isolated from the perils that our brothers and sisters in Christ endure over seas. Their suffering is outright persecution. Our suffering is often in the more subtle realm of our spirit and emotions rather than the physical and mental torture some Christians in other countries endure. Yet, the invitation to suffering is given to all Christ-followers. Ephesians 5:1 tells us, “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma”. If we seek to imitate Christ and become more like Him, we are going to go through some times of suffering. Christ suffered. We don’t have to go looking for suffering. It finds us. The distinguishing mark between “having a difficult time” and “suffering for Christ” is often in the nature of our response; our reaction to the R.S.V.P. sent our way.

If we entrust our lives to God and live by faith, then every difficulty that comes our way can have spiritual purpose and meaning. Our suffering can be “for the gospel” as we live out real genuine lives that point people to the hope we have in Christ.

Psalm 40:1-3 tells us: “I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined to me and heard my cry. He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay. And He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; Many will see and fear and will trust in the LORD.” It’s not that the Psalmist’s life was all roses. On the contrary - his life was “in the pits.” But it was in the process of seeing how he handled things that caused people to put their trust in the Lord. It was in David’s public suffering that others were won to the Lord, for they were able to see that God was the source of David’s hope.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834-1892) was the most popular preacher in London by the ripe old age of 21. He preached to crowds of 10,000 (talk about a mega church!). Spurgeon was used by God in mighty ways, and the process that God used to hone Spurgeon’s character and ministry was through suffering. The R.S.V.P. that was sent to Spurgeon went like this: “The Royal Surrey Gardens Music Hall, a popular amusement hall that Spurgeon’s congregation rented when they had outgrown their building and had not completed a new one. On Sunday night, October 19, 1856, Spurgeon’s first service there was interrupted by false (probably premeditated) cries of “Fire!” In the ensuing melee, 7 people were trampled to death. Spurgeon, only 22 years old, was so distressed he was unable to preach for several weeks and later said the experience was “sufficient to shatter my reason” and might have meant his ministry “was silenced for ever.” Spurgeon went on to recover, but suffered from bouts of depression. “Spurgeon felt great anxiety, but it stemmed not so much from the multitudes as from the awesome responsibility of being accountable to God for the souls of so many. This remained a hearty source of spiritual suffering throughout his career. He remarked in 1883: “I have preached the gospel now these thirty years and more, and … often, in coming down to this pulpit, have I felt my knees knock together, not that I am afraid of any one of my hearers, but I am thinking of that account which I must render to God, whether I speak his Word faithfully or not.” Spurgeon realized, difficult though it was, that his suffering equipped him to minister more effectively. He said, “It is good for me to have been afflicted, that I might know how to speak a word in season to one that is weary.”

The invitation to suffering also comes with the ending, “according to the power of God.” For He is the One whose power transforms something terribly difficult into a source of purpose and meaning and hope.

Tremendous Hope

2011-04-07T09:21:00.000-07:00

“So Jesus was saying to those Jews who believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free”. From John 8:31 John 3:16 tells us that “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life”. It is in the act of believing – of placing complete trust in Jesus Christ for our salvation that we are what the Bible calls, “saved.” We are saved from our sins by receiving the forgiveness that the sinless Christ offered us when He died on the cross, willingly taking on the sins of the world, and dying in our place. Unless we are on earth when Jesus Christ returns, we will all experience physical death. But believers in Jesus Christ have the blessed hope of the resurrection. We do not grieve the death of another believer in the same way the rest of the world grieves death, for we have the sure hope of seeing this loved one again. That hope makes all the difference in the world! Although we in North America tend not to focus on heaven so much, heaven is a very real place. But, what about the here and now? Does this one time act of placing trust in Christ make for an exciting faith-filled existence while we reside on planet earth? Not necessarily. There is a difference in being eternally saved and of being a disciple – a true follower - of Jesus Christ. And although a person in either category will go to heaven one day – the person who is saved, but continues to live like everyone else in their society (the Bible calls this being pushed into the worlds mould), will live a very different and much less satisfying life (to put it very mildly) than the person who day-by-day chooses to run after God and be Christ’s disciple. Does being a disciple mean that there will not be problems in life? No, definetly no. The difference is when we face those problems we not only have the assurance that Christ cares for us in all circumstances and will help us to get through our situation, still firmly rooted in His love and that He does have purpose and meaning in and thorugh our lives. That gives us tremendous hope.

Wait in Faith

2011-04-07T09:05:00.000-07:00

“To Thee, O LORD, I lift up my soul. O my God, in Thee I trust. Do not let me be ashamed; Do not let my enemies exult over me. Make me to know Thy ways…teach me…lead me…For Thee I wait all the day. Remember, O LORD, Thy compassion and Thy loving kindness,…do not remember the sins of my youth…He leads the humble in justice…He will instruct him in the way he should choose…Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. The troubles of my heart are enlarged; bring me out of my distresses. Look upon my affliction and my trouble, and forgive all my sins. Guard my soul and deliver me; do not let me be ashamed, for I take refuge in Thee…Let integrity and uprightness preserves me…For I wait for Thee.” Excerpts from Psalm 25 The Psalmist, David, brings out the character of God and David becomes an ‘open book’ about his own struggle with his personal character traits and shortcomings. David pleads with God, and at the same time expresses trust and confidence in God based on who God is and the relationship God has with “those who fear Him.” What does mean to “fear God?” The top word choice I would make would be “reverence.” Therefore I can have trust and confidence in God because of the character traits this Psalm brings to light. He is: powerful, trustworthy, just, a teacher, a leader, my salvation, compassionate, loving, kind, forgiving, good, righteous, truthful, a guide, the Savior, gracious, a guardian, a deliverer, a protector, and redeemer. Since the Lord is all those things to me, why would I ever stress? Lord forgives the times we focus on little things when you are so big and able to perform all that you have promised! When David pleads his case before God he: lifts up his soul, expresses trusts in God, is teachable, is willing to be led, waits upon the Lord, confesses his sins, asks forgiveness, receives instruction, is humble, never forgets the depths of his own sin, asks for God’s grace, admits his loneliness and affliction, asks for help, talks about the enormity of his troubles, asks for deliverance, asks God to guard him and waits in faith. The Bible is absolutely reliable and trustworthy. This Psalm of David has treasures to help us to navigate successfully in everyday life. These are not little suggestions. They are life-saving and life-changing aspects of faith! In times of doubt, confusion or discouragement, this list of David’s should keep us very busy and in the right frame of mind to face our challenges. Don’t give up! Wait in faith for the Lord.

That's Not Fair!

2010-10-29T13:48:00.000-07:00

Even though we know that life is not fair, there is something within us that is convinced that certain things ought to be just. The one who follows Christ is to be committed to justice for others. Micah 6:8 tells us, “He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”
However, despite our efforts, we live in a fallen world. Sometimes we have a hand in making something unfair for someone else. Sometimes we are the ones who are handed the “unfair” card. When we think of the sweet psalmist of Israel, David, we can see he walked into an “unfair” situation with a significant person in his life.

David was in a tough spot from the beginning in his relationship with King Saul.

Transition in governments are more typically problematic than not. It was hard for Saul to accept that a young king from an unexpected source was anointed King from Israel’s revered and respected prophet, Samuel. And although David was anointed, he was not at liberty to exercise his authority until the current king was removed from power. As a “man after God’s own heart”, David knew this transition of power was “God’s deal” to accomplish – not his. Author Thomas Rodgers related, “Being anointed king and becoming king were two different things.” Although David had the right to the throne an ungodly man sat in power and would do so for the next fifteen years! There was intense rivalry between the two, “but David patiently waited for God to work out His program so that he could sit on the throne with honor”. Saul tried hunting down David and attempted to kill him. David dealt with these overwhelming circumstances by trusting in God, acting in bold faith and being incredibly patient. David had a very mature understanding of God’s heart in the area of authority. Even though the man that occupied the office of king was an ungodly man, David would neither demean nor trivialize the office in any way. What typified David’s nature in his relationship with Saul was patience and outrageous (from a human stand point) trust in the sovereignty of God. David’s conscience was tender and it was important to him to do the right thing.

Saul’s attitude toward David was characterized by jealousy and insecurity. Conversely, David’s attitude toward Saul was characterized by a gracious, forgiving spirit and a magnetic sense of security that was anchored in his relationship with God.

Although life was not fair for the fifteen years for David from the time he was anointed King until he was officially honored as king, David’s character was honed and refined by the “unfair” process. As in the case with much adversity, the time in which he had to bear under the weight of injustice proved to be a time that sweetened his spirit and forged him into that man that was “after God’s own heart.”

Are you in a situation that is just not fair? Take courage. God is still working. God is sovereign and makes possible that the oven or your adversity will form in you a gentleness and sweetness that makes people want to be around you, because you are becoming “Christlike.”

“For He knows the way I take; When He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” Job 23:10

The Book of Hope

2010-10-28T12:28:00.000-07:00

We meet together on Sunday mornings. For some getting up early on the one day they have to sleep in is a sacrifice. A couple of them come even through they suffer chronic physical pain due to injury and a mysterious illness that promises a headache every day - for years. Two are from military backgrounds and one works through the night, then comes. One has a Ph.d. Some have young children and complicated schedules. A couple are staff members with many responsibilities. Yet they come faithfully for one reason - to be trained to help others by immersing themselves in a year long study of the Bible - the book of hope. Through the Bible we find hope for overcoming significant and massive problems in life. A small list would be self-belittlement, self-exaltation, self-pity, envy, jealousy, greed, preoccupations with self, anger, bitterness, the need to forgive, communication, troubled marriages, difficult parent-child relationships, depression, fear, worry, and anxiety, among others. We learn the sufficiency of this amazing book to address our deepest issues. We find that by studying it's content and taking to heart it's lessons we don't become merely educated or informed. No, there is a greater hope - that of transformation.

The Love Motive

2010-07-19T19:36:00.000-07:00

"If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn't love others, I would only be a noisy gong or clanging cymbal." I Corinthians 13:1 NLT

Knowledge and talent separate from love are annoying. A person impressed with themselves comes across like a discordant violin or as the Scriptures say - a "noisy"..."clanging" sound. It is the opposite of pleasant. We wince inwardly when they start talking.

"If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God's secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn't love others, I would be nothing." I Corinthians 13:2 NLT

The person of faith - possessing all spiritual giftedness, yet lacking in love adds up to someone who has no value for the cause of Christ. All of these gifts - insight, prophecy, knowledge and faith mean nothing unless we expend them for the uplifting and faith-building of others.

"If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it, but if I didn't love others, I would have gained nothing." I Corinthians 13:3 NLT

God's chief concern is not our sacrifice - He wants our obedience (I Samuel 15:22). This is the true test of our love for God.

We can work ourselves into the state of burn out, but if we do, we've missed the boat. What the Lord puts before us to do we are to perform from an attitude of love. The needs will never let up. Does God appreciate a good work ethic? Absolutely! (II Thessalonians 3:10) But 'hard work' is not the acid test. The acid test is love.

Discovering our spiritual gifts, developing our spiritual gifts - using our spiritual gifts has absolutely no value unless these things are done with a focus, mindset and attitude of love.

Cancer, Depression and Hope

2010-07-15T08:25:00.000-07:00

As reported in the Humboldt Beacon on July 15, 2010:
North Coast Group Offers Hope for Cancer Victims Dealing with Depression

The Relay for Life, took place Saturday, July 10th at the College of the Redwoods stadium raised awareness for cancer and for good reason. The American Cancer Society tells us that in this next year approximately 569,490 Americans are expected to die from this disease. While the survival rate has improved significantly with the advances in early diagnosis and treatment, the war to fight cancer continues. The National Cancer Institute tells us that 15-25% of cancer patients experience depression, making their personal fight with their disease even more challenging. A local group to support and encourage cancer victims points out that if you or a loved one has cancer and are experiencing depression, you are not alone, and there is hope.

Depression itself is so prevalent in our culture, but is often unspoken in social circles. There are some stigmas and myths associated with depression. Now, everyone experiences some depression sometime, that is normal, but it is not normal to stay depressed. Having cancer can trigger depression. What does depression look like? Authors Harold G. Koenig, M.D. and David Bieble, D. Min. in New Light on Depression give us a picture. There is difficulty in relationships. People with whom one normally interacts with may feel some awkwardness with a cancer diagnosis. One may not know what exactly to say, so they withdraw, leaving the person with cancer wondering why they are not being supported when they need it the most. Normalcy in social relationships can be altered as the cancer patient may have to leave the workplace, or not feel well enough to attend regular social functions. A sense of loneliness can develop. There may be irritability or anger. The cancer patient may fear death or be dismayed at the interruption of life’s plans. There may be some strong feelings about the changes in body image and self-esteem. Changes in social role and lifestyle may be forced upon the cancer patient. There may be money and legal concerns that add insult to injury.

In addition, there can be problems in sleeping. Depressed people have a lot on their minds, even the fear of losing one’s mind. There can be a complex of new physical ailments, loss of energy, diminished sexual drive, impaired memory and thinking, and a change in eating habits. If the dietary nutrients are absent in the depressed person’s diet, then that too can add to the downward spiral of depression. A depressed person often struggles with feelings of worthlessness.

Jan Dravecky, wife of baseball star and cancer victim Dave Dravecky, fell into the pit of depression as a result of exhaustion, pressures and multiple stressors over an extended period of time. Even though the Dravecky’s had launched a ministry to help other cancer victims, Jan’s determination to stay strong worked against her as she denied the signs of depression that her doctor saw developing.

Clinical depression is a physical condition to which the cancer patient can be susceptible. Depression affects the whole person and responds to a “whole person” approach to treatment. The four areas of one’s humanity - physical, mental, emotional and spiritual addresses depression at all levels.

Steps to overcoming depression start with telling somebody. Having at least one friend – an intimate friend who knows us and loves us is an important part of mental and spiritual health. There is a release in just sharing that burden, and once it is spoken it doesn’t seem quite as dark.

Do see a medical doctor. If there are physical reasons for the depression one needs to address the physical aspects of this condition. A medical doctor can help make decisions about the treatment that is best. If there are questions, seek a second opinion. As depression is unique for each person, the treatment may be unique as well. But there is help available. Do see a medical doctor.

Speak with a counselor and consider joining a support group. Author Carol Lessor Baldwin writes, “We are social beings. We have spiritual, emotional, psychological and physical needs that can be met only within the context of our relationships…Our need to be loved, to be affirmed, to be valued, and to be a part of a group are met in relationships to other people. Relationships are vital to our emotional and psychological well-being.”

Local residents Mary Lou Fisher and Becky Johnson, both who are fighting their own personal battles with cancer, lead a cancer support group through the Hydesville Community Church. Fisher relates, “we share together the often difficult process of coping with the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. We are not a group of experts who offer advice on the treatment of cancer. We are a group of people who are eager to listen, to share honestly our own struggles, fears and joys. We have the freedom to rejoice together and to weep together. We will support one another spiritually and emotionally on our journey with cancer so that we can live each day to its fullest”.

Another facet to battling the depression that can result from a cancer diagnosis is to consider one’s thought life.
When we aren’t feeling well physically we can get in the habit of focusing on the negative. Some ways to strengthen one’s resolve include: making a “thankful” list,. release the bitterness, make a choice to forgive, and determine to hold fast to hope. Love the people in your life and receive their love for you. Get involved with the needs of others. There is nothing like immersing oneself in the needs of others to put into perspective one’s own problems.

The following resources on depression and cancer were used in this article and more information may be obtained by contacting the American Cancer Society (cancer.org) and Relay for Life (RelayForLife.org). Book resources: New Light on Depression by David Bieble, D. Min & Harold G. Koenig, MD, The Overload Syndrome, Richard A. Swenson, M.D., Margins, Richard A. Swenson M. D. and A Joy I’d Never Known by Jan Dravecky. For the local cancer support group led by Mary Lou Fisher and Becky Johnson call Hydesville Community Church at 768-3767.

Moving

2010-07-09T05:48:00.000-07:00

"And if you were free when the Lord called you, you are now a slave of Christ. God paid a high price for you, so don't be enslaved by the world. Each of you, dear brothers and sisters, should remain as you were when God first called you." I Corinthians 7:22b-24

In our mobile society the thought to pick up and leave a locale,a job, a church, is pretty common. It is an option for many reasons and as an American in this day and age, we pick up and move a lot.

In Christian service in our desire to serve the Lord, whether as a volunteer or a paid vocation the thought of moving is an option as well. We can sometimes think, "will our service be more effective somewhere else? Will our lives be better and would some of the problems we face be solved by leaving?

Yes and no.

God plainly told some of His children to leave.

"The Lord has said to Abram, 'Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father's family, and to to the land that I will show you.'" Genesis 12:1

"One day as these men were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, 'Dedicate Barnabus and Saul for the special work to which I have called them.' So after more fasting and prayer, the men laid their hands on them and sent them on their way." Acts 13:2-3

However in I Corinthians 7:22b-24 we are finding the Apostle Paul imploring the Corinthians to stay - "remain as you were when God first called you."

Again, in the city of Iconium where Paul and Barnabus were preaching a division came about. It is recorded that some people there poisoned the minds of others against Paul and Barnabus. That turn of events might cause many to leave their current situation. One might think that their time of effective service was over in that place because of these false accusations. How did Paul and Barnabus respond?

"But the apostles stayed there a long time, preaching boldly about the grace of the Lord." Acts 14:3a

Although Paul and Barnabus eventually had to leave (a mob attacked them), until the circumstances became crystal clear that they should leave, they chose to stay. They stayed even while under adversity and continued to serve the Lord.

Child of God, if you are wondering whether to stay or leave your current situation and your desire is to serve the Lord, know that God is able to make Himself very clear on this matter.

The important part in all of this is to be actively serving the Lord - giving Him service from one's whole heart. Unless God is very clear about a move or a calling, stay. Stay and serve the Lord where you are with all of your heart..."remain as you were when God first called you."

Pure Ministry

2010-07-09T05:39:00.000-07:00

"When I first came to you, dear brothers and sisters, I didn't use lofty words and impressive wisdom to tell you God's secret plan. For I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified. I came to you in weakness - timid and trembling. And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit. I did this so you would trust God not in human wisdom but in the power of God." I Corinthians 2:1-5

The Apostle Paul was an impressive man - well educated, passionate about ministry and responsible for the establishing of many churches.

But Paul knew his success did not come from himself. From his conversion on he was able to focus on this important truth: It's all about Jesus.

I'm sure Paul could have used "lofty words and impressive wisdom" if he chose - but he deliberately decided to focus on Christ alone. He purposely relied on the power of God knowing that human wisdom does not change people's hearts. Only the power of God is able to perform this true miracle.

Paul evidently didn't come with an aire of authority to this group of believers. He didn't use any means that the worldly person would to impress others. Rather it was Paul's goal to point people to Jesus Christ and not himself. That is pure ministry.

Refining Faith

2010-07-04T16:18:00.000-07:00

Job 1

The recognition: Have you noticed my servant Job?
The taunt and the challenge: Job has good reason to fear God...take away everything...he will surely curse you to your face
The permission: All right, you may test him.
The disasters: All his livestock (wealth) and his children were killed.
The grief: Job stood up and tore his robe in grief - he expressed his grief.
The worship: Job's response to grief was worship.

"I came naked from my mother's womb,
and I will be naked when I leave.
The Lord gave me what I had, and the
Lord has taken it away.
Praise the name of the Lord."

"In all of this Job did not sin by blaming God." Job 1:22

Job's loss was monumental. His life would never be the same. His love for his children and concern of their spiritual welfare was a 'regular practice.' Something that is a regular practice defines our lives. It shows what is most important to us. Job was hit - targeted by Satan in an area that was most precious to him - the lives of and his relationship with his children.

It seems as though his 'testing' was uniquely crafted to try to hurt his faith the most. Job's relationship with his children was intricately woven into his faith fabric. It was his regular practice to interceed for them. He knew their frailty - where they could fall spiritually. That kind of knowledge comes from familiarity. He was their father and understood his children's weaknesses. They were on Job's heart continually.

Because Job was truly a blameless man with complete integrity - as God knew he was - Job's response to tragedy was an expression of worship and trust in the sovereignty and goodness of God. He offered praise at the worst time in his life.

What can we learn? Our testing may well be uniquely crafted to try to hurt our faith the most. God in His goodness would not allow this testing if He did not consider our character of such a nature that it could be refined through the process. One doesn't put junk metal through the refining process for silver or gold. It would have no value in the end.

The most God-honoring and healthy response for us to the personal tragedies in our lives is that of worship. To give God praise in the worst times of our lives lifts us beyond our circumstances.

Lord, thank you for considering our character and faith of such quality that they could be refined. Thank you that our faith is that precious to you. Blessed be the name of the Lord.

In Honor of Those in "Vintage Years"

2010-07-04T16:05:00.000-07:00

"I tell you the truth, when you were young, you were able to do as you liked; you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will dress you and take you where you don't want to go. Jesus said this to let him (Peter) know by what kind of death he would glorify God. Then Jesus told him, "Follow me." John 21:18-19

As I age and as my loved ones age I realize some of the toughest passages to climb come near to the summit. It's later in life that we deal with our bodies breaking down. We lose more friends and relatives to death. Our independence is given up little by little - as we must become more dependent on others.

But to the one who has placed their trust and faith in Christ and has determined to follow Him, the journey also becomes sweeter.

Some of my loved ones up in years are at the "Vintage" time in life. Life has mellowed and sweetened them. There is incredible wisdom and depth to their counsel. The wrestling with ego has been set aside and they are able to revel in the building up of others.

At the edge of eternity the important things in life have come into sharp focus. They know what is important and what is not.

There is generosity, good humor, perspective and loving admonition if we are willing to listen.

Most of the greatest heroes of my life are up in years. They deserve such honor. Thank you Lord for the years you have given them - and the treasure that is ours by spending time with them. Amen.

Fellowship of Suffering

2010-07-04T15:49:00.000-07:00

"Standing near the cross were Jesus' mother, and his mother's sister, Mary (the wife of Clopas), and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother standing there beside the disciple He loved, He said to her, "Dear woman, here is your son." And He said to this disciple, "Here is your mother." And from then on this disciple took her into his home." John 19:25-27

John, three Mary's and Mary's sister stood at the foot of the cross. There is a fellowship in suffering. I cannot imagine the shared agony of this small group of people as they watched and heard the suffering and death of Jesus. Others had betrayed Jesus and fled in fear. Others no doubt watched from the shadows from a distance - fearful to be associated with Christ. But John, Jesus' mother, his aunt and two other Mary's were right there - not leaving His side in His worst hours. John took care of that which was on Jesus' heart - to watch over and provide for His mother.

"Early on Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance" (vs. 1) "Mary was standing outside the tomb crying as she wept, she stooped and looked in." (vs. 11) "Dear woman why are you crying? Jesus asked her. (vs. 15a) "Mary!" Jesus said. She turned to Him and cried out "Rabboni!" (which is Hebrew for teacher)" (vs. 16)

Mary Magdalene - one who was at the foot of the cross was the one whom Jesus chose to reveal Himself first after He had risen from the dead.

We feel a strong kinship with those who walk with us during a time of suffering. It may not be the words they say, nor a particular action but that they are there.

Being there in presence - being there in non-judgmental support - being there in tender-hearted mercy and compassion...

Like John, the three Mary's and Mary's sister, our fellowship of suffering as we surround one who is hurting has great significance. It may be a physical injury or illness - it may be a wound from the battles of life. But our non-judgmental tender-hearted support means much.

Truth Spoken with Potency

2010-07-04T15:34:00.000-07:00

"Jesus replied, "If I said anything wrong, you must prove it. But if I'm speaking the truth, why are you beating me?" John 18:23

Jesus spoke truth. While the character of Jesus is absolutely loving and kind, He spoke the truth with potency. Truth by its nature can't be just hinted at and expected to reveal itself fully. There are times when truth must be boldly stated to be genuine to its nature.

Jesus speaking the truth with potency is not contradictory to His lovingkindness and His grace-filled and merciful nature. Love has a soft side but it is also tenacious and tough. Love propelled Jesus through the torture of the crucifixion.

In John 18 Jesus would in short order be sentenced to death. It wasn't the time for gentle soft-spoken words. It was appropriate for truth to be spoken with potency.

Sometimes our hearts need to hear that clear direct potent word from the Lord - because we are so prone to distraction.

When He speaks in this manner, it is never out of anything but love - for love to be real has to be truthful. Sometimes the truth hurts - but those wounds are the kind that can heal and make us stronger.

When I married I was very shy, soft spoken and found it painfully difficult to confront anything. My husband, a great communicator, encouraged me to come out of my shell and learn to articulate my thoughts and emotions. Even as I wrote, he would point out my passive voice and say - "take off your gloves!" Come out and say it. He wanted to see my communication blossom from dancing around a tough subject to someone who could state an issue with potency and clarity. God orchestrated such an influence in my life, for some day as a counselor there would be times I would have to do so.

Jesus always spoke the truth with potency with absolute perfect love that was willing to sacrifice all for our eternal salvation. Truth spoken with that level of love changed the world.

When Dreams Die

2010-07-04T15:13:00.000-07:00

"I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels - a plentiful harvest of new lives. Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity. Anyone who wants to be my disciple must follow me because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me." John 12:24-26 (New Living Translation)

Jesus was talking about his death and resurrection. The thought occurs to me this morning however - how about when God allows a dream to die - a dream for good, God-honoring purposes? It is devastating when the dream dies. Perhaps it was a dream for a loved one - the once good relationship has ended. Perhaps it was a dream for the potential we saw in someone and they made choices that ensures that the dream exactly as it was will never come to pass. Maybe it was a dream for a ministry. Our prayers seemed right in line with what we thought was the will of God. When that dream dies it can throw the child of God for a loop.

But, we serve a God of resurrection.

Jesus can make that which is dead come back to life and multiply. We learn to give our dreams up into His hands and trust His sovereignty knowing He is able to do far above what we think or imagine. God is able to give us new dreams - of things we never considered possible. God is able to resurrect hope and faith and multiply the death of that initial dream into many dreams for the future.

There were several times in Joseph's life that looked like his dreams had hit a dead end road. Yet, it came to pass that God preserved multitudes of people in part through what Joseph learned through the death of his dreams. And the ultimate answer to his many years of prayers, some spoken from a pit and some whispered in prison, were far beyond what Joseph ever could have imagined.

God raised Joseph up, and His plans for us are for good, as well.

Courage and Assurance

2010-07-04T15:02:00.000-07:00

"My purpose in writing is to encourage you and assure you that what you are experiencing is truly part of God's grace for you. Stand firm in this grace." I Peter 5:12b (New Living Translation)

The Apostle Peter in writing to "God's chosen people who are living as foreigners in the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia."

He knew they were going through some hard times so near the end of his letter he states the purpose of his letter - encouragement and assurance. Interesting that part of "encourage" is the word "courage."

When we encourage someone we want to inspire courage to face their life circumstances.
And Peter wants to assure his readers that what they were experiencing "was truly part of God's grace for them."

In the middle of a situation where the obedient child of God finds himself or herself suffering, it is of great comfort to know that this one has not been forgotten by God and not out of the realm of His grace. His grace covers and enfolds the suffering believer. The child of God can look forward to restoration, support, strength, and a solid foundation in life.

What's the suffering believer to do in the middle of the fiery trial when the winds of adversity blow so hard that one can hardly see or imagine the next step to take?

Stand - stand firm in God's grace. Remember God's proven love for you demonstrated on the cross. Hold fast to Him. He will never never leave us or forsake us.

The Patina of Restoration

2010-07-04T14:46:00.000-07:00

In times of suffering sometimes the greatest fear is that we just won't be able to cope with the situation. We really can't imagine the magnitude of what life has handed us nor conceive that we have the ability to bear up under life's load.

Here's a wonderful promise from God's Word:

"So after you have suffered a little while He will restore, support and strengthen you and He will place you on a firm foundation." I Peter 5:10b

One of God's promises for the one who has placed their complete trust and faith in His Son, Jesus Christ is:
Restoration - being made complete, repaired, made functional again - polished and shined to an original (or perhaps better than original) state.

I love antiques. I'm reminded that something that is restored afterward looks even better than it was originally - it is in great working order, every detail has been meticulously attended to, but there is also an added wonderful patina of age that makes the piece even more lovely than its original state. Somehow in being restored after it has been used and worn, it is better than before. There is a richness, a depth, a deep beauty.

That's a small picture of the hope we have in God's restoring process of our souls. Life sometimes beats on us. We brave the elements and get weathered. Some rust starts to form. We don't work as well as we should. Under the firm but gentle hand of the Master Restorer our lives are attended to and shined as never before. We are restored for useful service and in the process become beautiful in a way something brand new can. Restored.

THE I.N.S.P.I.R.E. RUN

2010-06-03T12:24:00.000-07:00

An article from the Humboldt Beacon tells about the I.N.S.P.I.R.E. Run in Fortuna. http://www.humboldtbeacon.com/ci_15219834

Student's Inspiring Outlook on Life Celebrated

2010-06-01T17:43:00.000-07:00

His name is Jalen Thayer and he is 14. "Life can throw everything and all sorts of things at you." Jalen Said. Indeed, life has thrown Jalen some curveballs. He said, "I thank God and hope everything will be okay, and I'm sure it will be. If it doesn't turn out then I am in God's hands and it is his decision." Here is a link to an article about this inspiring young man.http://gazettes.com/articles/2010/05/21/community_news/doc4bf6d6f60d622285937453.txt

The Sweetness of God's Word

2010-05-28T09:38:00.000-07:00

Psalm 19 is a psalm that proclaims the sweetness of God’s Word even describing it as “sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.” (vs. 12).

In this Psalm of David’s we find his personal life story as relating to how much the Word of God has meant to his life. In church language it’s called a testimony.

There are so many descriptions of what the Bible is, and for me the phrase that resonates in my life is that it is the “book of hope.” When considering my own struggles, issues and life problems (we all have them, don’t we?) it has been in my quiet communion with the Lord, reading His Word that has invariably brought me through. It is in seeing again and again that God loves me, has a plan for my life, has significant purpose in the things I go through and promises for me to act upon that renews my sense of hope. Artist that I am, I am prone by creative temperament to the ups and downs of intense emotions that can color my sense of optimism for the future. The Word of God has been a constant source of equilibrium in my life. My focus on my problems are lifted to a sense of relief that God has not forgotten me or has allowed something in my life that would be an agent of destruction with no way out. The precious things I have learned about God in these times have given me courage for the day and hope for all of my tomorrows, as many as the Lord chooses to give me on earth. Yes, I can concur with King David that in my life God’s Word is sweeter than honey, and if I may, sweeter than chocolate, peppermint, coconut, and all the other favorite flavors that define sweetness to me. The Bible is delicious to my soul. Yum.

Grief's Journey

2010-03-20T20:01:00.000-07:00

I'm reading through a great little book by H. Norman Wright called Experiencing Grief. I'm very familiar with it - having read it before and offering it to many. But in the weeks after losing my Dad I'm reading, pondering and praying through the book yet again. There's a quote I especially appreciated today. "I cry from time to time, and often find myself swallowing this strange lump in my throat. But I am learning not to apologize for my tears since they are God's gracious gift to me to express my loss, and a sign that I am indeed recovering. As I continue to feel, God continues to heal."

Though I have had moments of intense sadness because I miss my Dad, my most overwhelming emotion is gratefulness. He imprinted my life in so many ways. I am so thankful for my Dad. I walked all over the house today looking at cards he had sent, seeing his handwriting in books he had given me, and looking over his handywork in things he had made which we display proudly in our home. I was blessed. I still am.

For Dad

2010-03-02T15:03:00.000-08:00

I’m dedicating I.N.S.P.I.R.E. to the memory of my Dad, John Farris, who passed away this past week on February 22, 2010. My Dad inspired me. He always believed in me and was a great encourager in my life. Every area of I.N.S.P.I.R.E. makes me think of my Dad. Education was very important to my father. He was a lifetime learner. At the age of 90 he still read three major newspapers each day. When we discussed I.N.S.P.I.R.E. this past November (photo) he expressed to me how important he thought the skills of writing and public speaking were for people to develop. We talked about my work in counseling, and he asked meaningful questions about showing people compassion in hearing and responding to their problems in life. My Dad encouraged my art from an early age. I spent many happy hours in his workshop, drawing on pieces of wood. If he needed that wood to build something, he would not paint over the drawing or sand it off. He would put a coat of clear finish over it and just use it on the bottom of a piece of furniture where it was preserved. He treasured the things we made. He had a love of music and encouraged his children (six of us) to play musical instruments in school. From his efforts the beginning sounds of piano, clarinet, cello, accordion, recorder, guitar and two violins were heard in our home. I played violin, and then the guitar for many years. It was enough to give me a great appreciation for those who can play music well. Dad was a believer in physical fitness and rode his bicycle on 100 mile rides into his 70’s. We were big on walking in our family, and he took us on mountain hikes in the nearby mountains. I think he would have enjoyed watching the run/walk event. The following week after this picture was taken, my Father sent me a check of support for I.N.S.P.I.R.E. There will be an additional award in art given out at the Gala Celebration in his honor. Thank you Daddy for inspiring me. I hope I can pass it on to others. Until I see you again in heaven, I will miss you more than words can express.
Your loving daughter, Penny
John 14:1-3

The I.N.S.P.I.R.E. Story

2009-10-26T18:02:00.000-07:00

I.N.S.P.I.R.E. is fifteen days of individual creative challenges, competitions, and performances culminating in the INSPIRE Community Awards Gala Celebration at the River Lodge in Fortuna, California.

The vision of I.N.S.P.I.R.E. is: “Inspiring women, in all seasons of life to fulfill their calling intellectually, artistically, physically and spiritually.”

The name I.N.S.P.I.R.E. is an acronym for the values of I.N.S.P.I.R.E. which are: integrity, nurture, service, passion, intentionality, risk and endurance. These values are expressed in the following individual creative challenges, competitions and performances of: running, writing, public speaking, music, visual art, and compassion.

RUNNING: There is a 2-mile and 5-mile race scheduled to run through the streets of Fortuna on the morning of the I.N.S.P.I.R.E. Gala Celebration. The I.N.S.P.I.R.E. value associated with running is endurance. Endurance requires patience, stamina and fortitude – important ingredients for a strong and stable life. Running is representative of the physical aspect of life and in many ways our lives mirror a race. There is a starting line and a finishing line for each person’s life, and those moments are individual. We each have a moment of birth, and we are each appointed a final time to finish our race. What happens in between those two moments and how we run our individual race determines much to the world and people around us. There are many roads to choose, and many things that can get us off course. Running the race of life with endurance means to keep our eyes set on the goal in front of us, and to keep on going.

WRITING: There is an essay contest on the subject of integrity. The I.N.S.P.I.R.E. value associated with writing is integrity. Writing is a powerful form of communication. The written word can transmit truth or untruth – but either way it has the ability to influence phenomenally. The value of integrity in our writing means we seek to express through the written word things like honesty, truthfulness and honor. History holds volumes which have influenced the world for good or for evil by the power of the written word. Words can be compelling and convincing and when combined with integrity can be instruments of noble and worthy causes to change the world for good.

PUBLIC SPEAKING: A public speaking competition in conjunction with a music performance will be held at the historic Winema Theatre in Scotia, California on Saturday, April 17, 2010. The I.N.S.P.I.R.E. value associated with public speaking is risk. There is a great power in public speaking – great speeches have literally changed the world! Yet, there is great fear of speaking in public. There is personal risk involved with standing before one’s peers and expressing ideas and thoughts verbally. The fear of being open and vulnerable in public is not easily overcome. Speaking in public remains an untapped avenue of potential in many because of fear. There is the fear of appearing stupid; of rejection; of not coming across well; of bungling the message and fear of the awesome responsibility in influencing people. There is always a risk associated with speaking publicly, but the ability to influence others for positive purposes is well worth the risk.

MUSIC: A music performance and competition in tandem with the public speaking competition will be held at the historic Winema Theatre in Scotia, California on Saturday, April 17, 2010. The I.N.S.P.I.R.E. value associated with music is service. We live in an entertainment oriented culture. Music is a powerful way to communicate thoughts, ideas, emotions and memories. Our culture tends to idolize talented people on stage - hence the popular television show, “American Idol.” But what happens when someone who is talented musically decides to humbly serve others with their musical gift that absolutely inspires and uplifts people by their beautiful performances? Great music can lift our mood, encourage the downhearted and give us a way to express all that is admirable and wonderful in life. Music is an universal language that can stir the soul, impart meaning, be a rallying cry for positive purposes and communicate heartfelt emotion.

VISUAL ART: A painting display, critique and competition will take place at the Scotia Inn on Thursday evening, April 22, 2010. The I.N.S.P.I.R.E. value associated with visual art is passion. The stereotypical artistic personality is synonymous with passion. In Irving Stone’s The Agony and the Ecstasy, whose main character is the artist Michelangelo, we read of the constant stormy employer-employee relationships he had with the popes. We half-way expect artists to be flamboyant, eccentric or hot-headed – and we call that passion, but that is not artistic passion – that behavior is more about personality and character issues that need some work. Artistic passion is having the sensitivity, desire and willingness to develop innate talent into visual images that interpret the world differently, inspire people and touch their emotions deeply by creating beauty.

COMPASSION: Community Compassion Award nominations will be made available to the public in newspapers, places of business, and churches, so that nominees that exemplify compassion with acts of kindness in the community in which we live can have an opportunity to be recognized for their work. The I.N.S.P.I.R.E. value associated with compassion is nurture. Dr. Francis Schaeffer in his book How Then Should We Live? opens with these lines: “There is a flow to history and culture. This flow is rooted and has its wellspring in the thoughts of people. People are unique in the inner life of the mind – what they are in their thought world determines how they act.” Compassion and nurture are what sets a society apart. Hubert Humphrey said, "The moral test of a government is how it treats those who are at the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the aged; and those who are in the shadow of life, the sick and the needy, and the handicapped."

INTENTIONALITY: For each of the areas represented by I.N.S.P.I.R.E., it is intentionality in each case that sets one on their course. It is not enough to be gifted by the circumstances of one’s birth, upbringing or education. In order to excel in any of these areas and provide inspiration to others, one must intentionally take steps to develop one’s talents and abilities, take the risk, step out of one’s comfort zone and act upon their hopes and dreams. I.N.S.P.I.R.E. provides a way for women of the Eel River Valley (aged 15 an over) to intentionally take a step in the direction of one’s calling. Justice Clarence Thomas in his Commencement Address at Ave Maria School of Law said on Sunday, May 16, 2004: The vocation is a calling, it is not an ambition. God calls you to do something – you do it. It doesn’t mean you will like every bit of it. But when you are called you answer the call, and you live up to the call as best you can. …Some years from now, I may have grandkids who ask me whether all is good or all is bad. “What did you do when the going got tough? What did you do? Did you quit? Did you lose faith? Did you try or did you give up? I want to answer in the same way that you should answer: “I did my best; I lived according to my principles and to my faith.”

Support Groups Reach Out

2009-09-13T17:08:00.000-07:00

The Humboldt Beacon newspaper and the Times Standard printed a great article about the Support Groups through Hydesville Community Church. Here is the link: http://www.humboldtbeacon.com/ci_12905889?source=most_viewed

Remembering

2009-02-09T09:37:00.000-08:00

When life is challenging...remember. The Bible tells us often to remember what the Lord has done for us. Reading His Word causes us to recall again the character of God and His great love for us. Communion is all about remembering. When we bring to mind the things God has helped us through in the past, it gives us hope for the future. He will never never leave us or forsake us His love endures forever.

Evergreen

2008-11-25T14:34:00.000-08:00

On Sunday, December 7th at the River Lodge there will be a rock musical that deals with the real issues of life this Christmas. I'm so excited about this presentation. It's not a sugar-coated message with easy answers to complex problems. It's about real life and real hope. There are two performances at 9:00 & 11:00 AM. It's called Evergreen. Hope you come.

25 Years of Fruitful Ministry

2008-10-21T08:24:00.000-07:00

Congratulations Pastor Mike and Joan for 25 years of fruitful ministry here at Hydesville Community Church. The whole North Coast region has been blessed by your faithfulness to the Lord and His call upon your lives. Here is the Times-Standard article: http://www.times-standard.com/ci_10754197?IADID=Search-www.times-standard.com-www.times-standard.com

Here is the article from the Eureka Register: http://www.eurekareporter.com/article/081018-pastor-to-be-honored-for-25-years-of-service

Standing Firm

2008-08-30T19:42:00.000-07:00

"Thank God because He's good, because His love never quits....Pushed to the wall, I called to God; from the wide open spaces He answered....Far better to take refuge in God than in people;...Hear the shouts, hear the triumph songs in the camp of the saved? "The hand of God has turned the tide! The hand of God is raised in victory! the hand of God has turned the tide!" From Psalm 118 - The Message

Do you ever pray and pray and pray for an answer and then one morning the heaviness lifts and without knowing the specifics, you know God has answered your prayer? Ephesians 6 :11-13 tells us, "Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything to stand firm." Until the veil is pulled back from the heavenlies, we will not know all the spiritual battle done in prayer. But in faith we know that much is taking place. Don't be discouraged by the trials in your life. Be honest, work through them. Cling to God. Immerse yourself in God's Word. Know by faith that God is more real than your own breath. There may be hard issues in life, but also know God is sovereign and as we pray He fights the battles. "Thank God because He is good, because His love never quits."

Seasons

2008-08-30T19:25:00.000-07:00

Psalm 138:8 "The LORD will accomplish what concerns me; Thy lovingkindness, O LORD, is everlasting; Do not forsake the work of Thy hands."

A popular song on the radio from back in my teenage years said "precious and few are the moments we two can share." How true...the moments fly by. This summer I've purposed to savor the moments in this season of life. When I return home from the church office I scoop up this precious one and we have our afternoon walk. We hold hands, or rather she holds my fingers. We look at flowers, we talk, and when she gets sleepy we sing. As some of our wise saints say, "we are never promised tomorrow." For the sweetness of these moments I thank my Father in Heaven. Life often isn't easy, which makes tender moments even more significant. May God especially bless you during this season in your life.

The Big Fish and Forgiveness

2008-08-10T18:15:00.000-07:00

Jonah 2:1-2;7-10
"Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the stomach of the fish; and he said, "I called out of my distress to the Lord, and He answered me. I cried for help from the depth of Sheol; Thou didst hear my voice."..."While I was fainting away, I remembered the Lord; And my prayer came to thee, into Thy holy temple. Those who regard vain idols forsake their faithfulness, but I will sacrifice to Thee with a voice of thanksgiving. That which I have vowed I will pay. Salvation is from the Lord."

Jonah, through his own disobedient choices, was put into a desperate situation and found himself in the belly of a huge fish. In that fearful place he cried out to God, and God heard the prayer of his repentant heart.

We can find ourselves in desperation over crisis attributed simply to the fact that we live in a fallen world. Sin in the world hurts innocent lives. It's the nature of evil to be calloused to the fact that we are not to blame. In these circumstances God weeps with us and cares deeply for us being sovereign over even the unthinkable. We can know that our God who is totally loving and totally just ultimately will prevail.

However much of what we suffer has to do with the choices we make. Jonah chose to blow off God's clear instructions. We often do the same. Even so, the God of compassion who weeps with us when we are innocent is also moved with incredible mercy even when we are totally guilty. His constant love for us longs to give us second chances. It is that perfect divine love that allows Him to orchestrate a desperate situation in which we are firmly but tenderly placed. God, because He loves us, will go to great lengths to put us in a state that challenges our perception and outlook. When we cry out to God, He is faithful to hear and respond. He is the God of of second chances and His heart is always filled with compassion and mercy toward us. There is nothing like the embrace of God after we have offered Him our broken hearts and asked for His forgiveness. Oh, the unfathomable love of our God expressed through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Community of Caring

2008-06-18T15:29:00.000-07:00

This Fall several support groups will open their doorsand their hearts to our community. We are thankful for the individuals who have made a decision to make the difficult circumstance in their life a catalyst for helping other people. Two continuing support groups are the Christ-Centered Cancer Support Group and Porch Light, a support group for hurting parents of teens and young adults. New support groups include GriefShare - a support group for those who have lost a loved one and Avenue - a support group for wives in the area of healing sexual brokenness. Also, through our children's ministry department there is S.M.I.L.E. a support group for famlies affected by disabilities. For more information contact the Hydesville Community Church office at (707) 768-3767.

Joy in the Morning

2008-05-27T15:35:00.000-07:00

There has been a verse that has spoken to my powerfully to my heart recently. It is Psalm 30:5b "Weeping may last for the night, But a shout of joy comes in the morning." The troubles and trials of this life can be many at times, but those times are not without meaning for the Christian. God promises us joy in the morning. It has been my privilege to have some wonderful mornings of late, because I get to hang out with this precious one. She has surely brought joy to my heart. Thank you Lord for joy in the surprises of life.

Life Mission

2008-05-18T18:18:00.000-07:00

"Therefore, come now, and I will send you to Pharoah, so that you may bring My people, the sons of Israel, out of Egypt." But Moses said to God, "Who am I, that I should go to Pharoah, and that I should bring the sons of Israel out of Egypt?" And He said, "Certainly I will be with you, and this shall be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall worship God at this mountain." Exodus 3:10-12

When God called to Moses from the midst of the buring bush, He gave Moses a very specific life mission. God outlined what Moses was to say and do and what the response would be before it happened. The mission was of incredible magnitude. It must have been overwhelming, yet Moses had no doubt that the God of the universe had chosen him for this task. I wonder if God were to outline our life's mission before hand if we would be able to handle it. I think not. I believe if we knew the potential Jesus sees in us and what He wants to accomplish through us, we would pass out. Even now at "mid-life" (o.k. - it's just a guess, but since I'm 50 and my grandmother lived to be 100 - this could be "mid-life:, but maybe not; God alone numbers our days) I never would have thought myself up to the task of some of the things God has already brought me through. I never in a million years would have picked the path that He set out for me. God is so good to be in charge of all of that! I believe God is very gracious in not letting most of us know way ahead of time "our life mission." Not knowing exactly gives me the opportunity to trust Him one day at a time. As He lights one step in front of me with each step I walk I am reminded that His ways are so much above mine. God is the master orchestrator working out His plan through ordinary people and bestowing a life mission that is beyond our wildest dreams.

He Makes Me

2008-05-05T18:46:00.000-07:00

"He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul." Psalm 23:2,3a

Sometimes God has to make me do things. I'm sure that's not a surprise to any of us. There are commands and principles that are clearly defined in His Word. One of those things is the concept of a Sabbath. God modeled this - He rested on the 7th day. When I don't willingly obey, sometimes out of sheer love for me, "He makes me." What a patient loving heavenly Father. He knows my soul needs restoration and sometimes I'm too stubborn to slow down on my own. Thank you Lord, for "making me" lie down in green pastures.

Easter at the Fortuna High School Gym

2008-04-28T13:03:00.000-07:00

Here is a link to the Eureka Reporter article that appeared on March 22, 2008.

http://eurekareporter.com/article/080322-more-than-1000-people-expected-at-local-church

The “Welcome to Hydesville” population sign indicates that 790 people reside in Hydesville, yet many more than that are expected to gather for one giant Easter service at 10 a.m today. The Hydesville Community Church has moved the service to the Fortuna High School Damon Gym to accommodate the crowd, a church news release stated.
Local artist Penny Fregeau will be painting an image during the service that ties in with the mix of Christian music that also features a local choir. Senior Pastor Michael Delamarian III, a 25-year veteran of Easter services in the county preaches for both guests and the members of his church.
“Most people find the messages relevant, interesting and even entertaining at times,” said Janet Harward, a regular attendee at the Hydesville Community Church.
The church’s more than 100-year-old facility fills weekly for three services, but still will not handle a group of the size that comes for Easter, the release stated.
Hydesville Church offers a children’s program during the Easter service.
For more information on the Easter service or regular church activities, phone 707-768-3767 or visit HCC’s Web site at: www.hydesvillechurch.org. Their regular location is 3296 Highway 36. Regular Sunday service times are: 8:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.

Times-Standard Newspaper

2008-04-28T10:02:00.000-07:00

Times-Standard Newspaper, Eureka, California
Saturday, April 19, 2008

Where Art and Faith Intersect
Penny Fregeau, a local artist and director of women's ministry and counseling at Hydesville Community Church, paints on a 5-foot-by-6-foot canvas during an Easter worship service held at Fortuna High School on Easter Sunday. Fregeau completed the entire canvas during the two-hour service, during which there was also a worship band and choir performing, followed by the preaching of the Rev. Michael Delamarian III. Fregeau is also involved in the creative arts through the church in skit productions and other areas of creative endeavor, and said her roots in art help her to communicate her faith. "The North Coast's pristine natural beauty and the slower-paced lifestyle provide fertile soil in which the creative spirit can grow", she said. Fregeau is organizing a "High Tea and Arts & Crafts Program and Show" that will feature other people's creative talents, to be held at 3 p.m. April 26th at the Ferndale Community Center. Individuals from the church's women's ministry will share paintings, sculptures,photographs, quilts, embroidery and more in this community-oriented show. In addition, a "high tea" will be served. Fregeau will speak on the intersection of art and faith. The public is invited. Tickets are a $10 donation and are available through Hydesville Community Church at 3296 State Route 36 in Hydesville, or call the church office at 768-3767 for more information.

Disturbed

2008-04-13T18:48:00.000-07:00

“The word disturbed is often associated with mental illness and instability. We say, “He’s disturbed,” when we describe someone who reacts in an overly emotional way or appears troubled emotionally. I want to redefine this word, because I believe that God is looking for some disturbed people. He is searching for men and women, students, and young adults who will allow Him to disturb them by making them truly see the world in which we live – so disturbed that they will be compelled to do something about what they see…But if we’re not disturbed by the world in which we live, we will be consumed with the trivial, the insignificant, and the temporary. We will spend our days pursuing all the wrong goals, living by the wrong measurement of success, evaluating our legacy by the wrong standard.”
-Kay Warren from Dangerous Surrender

There are a lot of things in life that can be disturbing. But when they don’t affect us directly, well, it’s easy to have a tinge of compassion, and then go on our merry way. However, when God allows us to suffering to invade our world in a personal way, we have a decision to make. Will we allow this trouble, tragedy or heart ache that has come into our life to be God’s tool to mold us and compel us to do something that will make some good out of a bad situation, or will we wallow in our troubles, retreat inside our shells and let it corrode our insides?

Support groups can be a first step toward letting that which is disturbing in our lives out into the open of a safe confidential group that can understand what we are going through, care for us, listen to us, and pray for us. By being in a support group we are not only ministered to, we help others by listening with caring hearts, acknowledging the hurts of others and share how God has helped us through similar situations. We hear personal testimonies of God’s care during difficult times. As we draw strength and receive the comfort and emotional healing that the Lord provides, we are able to reach out to others and help them as they go through similar circumstances. Pastor Rick Warren says, “God never wastes a hurt.” Helping others as they go through a disturbing time turns hurt into a vehicle of healing for someone else.

We have a few different support groups at Hydesville Community Church and hope to greatly enlarge these groups of care. There is a cancer support group, a group for families affected by disabilities and "Porch Light." Porch Light is a group that deals with highly disturbing life issues. Porch Light is a support group for hurting parents of wayward teens or adults. Parenting is a great responsibility and challenge, yet our culture works against us in many ways. The temptations our young people face are greater today than ever. This county wrestles with the enormous influence of drug and alcohol use. The drive for independence, lack of good judgment in choices, the normal growing up process, medical issues, influence of peers, stress, pressures and sometimes outright rebellion can make an unhealthy combination that can turn parenting into a heart ache and sometimes a nightmare.

So many of these life issues exist “under the radar”. We don’t usually make small talk in everyday conversation about things like a teen or young adults rebellious attitudes, rejection of faith, stealing, struggles with substance abuse, pornography, homosexuality, heart aches in relationships, cutting themselves, eating disorders, crisis pregnancies, dangerous behaviors, or types of mental illness. Yet these disturbing things are all around us and happen with people we know and people we dearly love. If you are a parent to a young person who is going through a stormy time of life we want you to know there is hope in God. He cares deeply. When we truly see the world in which we live and come to terms with the reality of the pain people have around us, God can use us and compel us to do something about what we see. Meeting with people who are going through similar hurts and heartaches offer us the opportunity to minister to one another and to help make a difference by stepping out of the darkness of disturbance and into the healing light of Christ. We welcome you to Porch Light. We meet the 4th Sunday of the month at 6:30 in the evenings in the living room of “The Hut” (the house next door to the church). If you, or someone you know would benefit from this support group, we invite you to attend. For more information on this group, or other support group that Hydesville Community Church offers, contact Penny Fregeau, Director of Women’s Ministry & Counseling – (707)768-3767.

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.” Luke 15:20b

High Tea & Master Peace Arts & Crafts Program & Show

2008-04-07T09:25:00.001-07:00

We welcome you to come to the High Tea & Master Peace Arts and Crafts Program & Show in Ferndale. See a variety of artistic creations from many facets of arts and crafts. Talk with the artists and craftswomen about their work. Enjoy a High Tea experience. Taste some delicious culinary delights by master baker Stephanie Baldwin. Listen to music that creates a pleasing ambiance. Hear about the intersection of art and faith. An afternoon of culture presented by the R.I.S.E. Women's Ministries of Hydesville Community Church. Tickets available &$10 donation) by calling 768-3767. Saturday, April 26th at 3 PM in the Ferndale Community Center in the Victorian Village of Ferndale.

Introducing Bella

2008-04-06T14:49:00.000-07:00

We recently invested in some exercise equipment. Why? Because of the little girl you see pictured to the left. She's our granddaughter. We want to live long and healthy lives so we can see her grow, watch her first smiles, rock her to sleep, play hide and go seek and sing her 'Jesus loves me.' She is the sweetest thing. Thank you God for this precious child in our lives.

Godly Confidence

2008-02-23T14:07:00.000-08:00

Acts 4:13-14:
"Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John, and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were marveling, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus. And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say in reply."

Godly confidence comes comes from being with Jesus. No one can dispute a changed life. Peter and John weren't popular by the world's standards. Their lack of education and training gave them no status, honor or respect from their peers. Human confidence is often built upon those things. The confidence Peter and John displayed was foundational in their lives and real because it was built on the unshakable reality of Christ in their lives. People saw the difference and it blew them away.

I once helped found a Christian elementary school. I was to be the first junior high teacher. I had never taught full time before, and never at this high a grade level, and never so many grades (5th-8th all in one class). It was quite a challenge. Kind of like "the toughest job you'll ever love." My husband, a veteran high school teacher and college professor, gave me these words before I entered the class room on that first day: "Be confident. You know more than they do." That helped me navigate that year a great deal. Teenagers are apt to say some pretty heady things and challenge authority in their attempt to figure out who they are and where they fit in to their world. Being able to reach out to them with affirmation and doing so from a place of confidence helped establish mutual respect between the students and I that year. I could have confidence because of the reality of experience in my life.

Our experience with Jesus should result in a confident that isn't built on status or popularity with the crowd. Our confidence, if it is to help change our world, needs to be rooted in the unchanging reality of knowing Christ and hanging out with Him on a daily basis.

Lord, help us to "show what we know" - not in a human egotistical way - but in the beautiful reality of how our encounter with you has dramatically changed our lives.

Lift Up My Eyes

2008-02-18T20:01:00.000-08:00

"In the morning I will order my prayer to Thee and eagerly watch." Psalm 5:3

We should expect for and "eagerly watch" for the answers to our prayers.

Something I love about the Christian life is that it is an honest life. While, as believers, we are the recipients of beautiful promises from God there are still mysteries about His nature with which I wrestle. I don't get the sense that God is annoyed with my honest questions. In fact, I think He delights in answering my questions in unexpected ways. Honestly is always O.K. as long as it is accompanied by reverence. I'm glad God doesn't distance Himself from me when I have questions, and He always knows where exactly the "end of my emotional rope lies."

At times there are strings of seemingly "unanswered prayers" and our souls can "steel" themselves against the hurt of things not going the way we had hoped. God has shown Himself to be trustworthy because He often creates beauty from the soil of disappointment. Yet, there is sometimes a fear that we can become so accustomed of that "hunker down" mindset that we can forget to "eagerly watch" for His answers. There are seasons of grief and seasons of joy. If we have been through a season of sadness, let's not miss out on the season of exuberant joy. We can rejoice that He does ultimately answer prayer on His timetable, which is always the best. Lord, lift up our eyes to "eagerly watch."

Be Ready for the Power Switch

2008-02-18T19:27:00.001-08:00

"It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you." Acts 1:7-8

God doesn't always reveal timing. Time is such a fixation in culturally sophisticated countries like ours. God "keeps His cards close to His chest" on that one. But what He does offer us freely is power when the Holy Spirit comes upon us. This makes for a relationship where we need to be dependant upon God continually and to be completely trusting of His work in our lives. We may not know ahead of time the way God will choose to work or when His hand will move. However, if we're always ready - that is if we re in an abiding relationship with Him - keeping our hearts open through prayer and being in His Word and applying these Biblical lessons to our throughts and attitudes, then we will be ready to be used by the Master when He turns the power switch on.

Excellence, Artistic Expression and the Church

2007-12-02T19:17:00.000-08:00

Nancy Beach of Willowcreek church in Chicago has a great article on the arts and Christianity called The Masterful Designer of Intricate Detail. Here is the link: http://nancybeach.typepad.com/nancy_beach/2007/11/the-masterful-d.html Nancy Beach wrote a book that makes my heart beat wildly when I read it. It's called One Hour on Sunday and is about the tremendous opportunity and responsiblity the church has to communicate the love and message of Jesus Christ during that very "prime time" on Sunday mornings. One expression of Willowcreeks philosophy is "excellence honors God and inspires people." When performed to the glory of God with a humble heart, it absolutely does. Great work, Nancy.

Happy Thanksgiving

2007-11-16T14:30:00.000-08:00

I painted this many years ago. I wanted to share it with you. Happy Thanksgiving.

Honest Faith

2007-11-16T14:07:00.000-08:00

"In the morning I will order my prayer to Thee and eagerly watch." Psalm 5:3

Something I love about the Christian life is that it is an honest life. While, as believers, we are the recipients of beautiful promises from God, there are still mysteries about His nature with which I wrestle. I don't get the sense that God is annoyed with my honest questions. In fact, I think He delights in answering my questions in unexpected ways. Honesty is always o.k. as long as it is accompanied by respect. I'm glad God doesn't distance Himself from me when I have questions and He always knows where exactly the 'end of my emotional rope lies.' Sometimes there is a string of seemingly unanswered prayers. It feels like in some ways I have steeled myself against the hurt of having things go the opposite way than what I had hoped. It worries me a bit. I worry that I will get myself into a self-protective mode and I will totally miss God's blessings when they come because I'm not looking for them. Do you ever feel the same way?

God has shown Himself to be trustworthy because I have seen Him create incredible beauty from the soil of disappointment. Lord, help me not to go into a protective cocoon when life hurts me. Instead help me to 'eagerly watch' for your answers. In expectant faith, I know that the heart that grieves will also be the same heart that exuberantly rejoices over the answers to prayer that my human eyes can't see now, but the eyes of faith know are just on the horizon. Lord. life up my eyes to eagerly watch.

Called Upon

2007-10-30T13:14:00.001-07:00

As Christians, at some point, we are all called upon to give some wise Biblical counsel to others. Does that scare you? That's o.k. That means you take your spiritual responsibility seriously, as well we all should. Here at Hydesville Church we are offering an introduction to the area of counseling on November 4th & 11th at 8:30 AM in the Living Room of the Hut (the house next door to the church). This is a two-session seminar to train ministry workers as they help others in time of difficulty, uncertainty and trouble. Develop your gift to be "a blessing to others in a raw and hurting world."

Responsible Leadership

2007-10-19T10:19:00.000-07:00

“…So the LORD changed His mind about the harm which He said He would do to His people.”…Now when Moses saw that the people were out of control – for Aaron had let them get out of control to be a derision among their enemies – then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, “Whoever is for the LORD, come to me!” And all the sons of Levi gathered together to him… Then Moses returned to the LORD and said, “Alas, this people has committed a great sin, and they have made a god of gold for themselves. But now, if You will, forgive their sin – and if not, please blot me out from Your book which You has written!”…Thus the LORD used to speak to Moses face to face, just as a man speaks to his friend” Exodus 32:14;25,26,31,32; 33:11a

Moses, human though he was – showed great responsibility in leadership. He pleaded the case of his people to the LORD, being so persuasive that the LORD changed His mind. Minister Matthew Henry (1662-1714) penned in his commentary, “The power of prayer; God suffers himself to be prevailed with by the humble believing importunity of intercessors. The compassion of God toward sinners, and how he is ready to forgive.”

Moses begged God not to act out of His anger that He felt . Yet, when God gave Moses the request of his heart, Moses turned around and got angry himself with the people, moving swiftly to see that justice was carried out. He did on his own, in part, what he begged God not to do.

Then acknowledging the people’s sin before the LORD, Moses adds that if the LORD is going to blot people out of His book – to blot out himself as well. Moses, in a sense took on the responsibility for the sin of the people even through he was not a participant in the blatantly rebellious acts they performed. Moses identified with the people he led, being willing to take punishment along with them. Perhaps Moses understood, given different circumstances, he could have succumbed as well. If we understand the nature of temptation and the truth of our humanness, we know that none of us are immune to falling. “There but by the grace of God, go I.” Maybe Moses could identify with the people because of the humbleness of his spirit. Even though what they did was awful, and justice needed to be carried out, Moses was able to appeal to the mercy of God’s character because he understood he also needed God’s mercy for himself.

Moses was a peacemaker and reconciler between God and the Israelites. Moses was a friend of God and a leader of the people.

In leadership, sometimes people will disappoint us. We may grieve when they sin, and part of our grief is in realizing that we could be in that other person’s shoes. As a leader our job is to pray to the LORD on behalf of the people we lead, and then be responsible to do the right thing in the eyes of the LORD. We may have to lovingly discipline people. We may have to turn away (Romans 16:17) those who cause division. But for those whom we are called to lead – we identify with them and bring their needs before the LORD. We shepherd, we nurture, we admonish, we love. We exhort people to stay true to the LORD. We lead responsibly.

Too Much Fun

2007-10-02T13:47:00.000-07:00

Can you have too much fun? The R.I.S.E. Annual Autumn Women's Retreat was a time for great Bible teaching, heartfelt worship, yummy food, and good friends. But we had "over the top" fun. I think my stomach hurt from laughing while "Buela" and "Minnie May" fussed at the Famous French Fashion Diva of Hydesville Church. Too much fun...

Time to Worship

2007-09-14T15:18:00.001-07:00

What a great time of worship at the TLC family camp. Times of worship with God alone are great, but one of the privileges of the Christian faith is the amazing experience of corporate worship. I hope you will join us this Sunday at Hydesville Community Church. Worship service times are 8:30 AM, 10:30 AM & Solid Grounds at 6:30 PM. Worship is one of our God-given purposes. Although our worship is a gift to God, the worship experience is one of the most powerful and soul liberating things one can experience on this earth. And, just wait until we all get to heaven...

God Believes in Me?

2007-09-04T09:04:00.000-07:00

“Now no shrub of the field as yet in the earth, and no plant of the field had yet sprouted, for the LORD God had not sent rain upon the earth; and there was no man to cultivate the ground.”…The Lord God planted a garden toward the east toward Eden...” Genesis 2:5,8

God designed and planted a garden in Eden. I can’t imagine how incredibly breath taking that garden must have been. When I think of gardens of beauty, I think of the gardens that artist Claude Monet cultivated with it’s many monochromatic plantings of flowers (photo). Many of Monet’s masterpieces emanated from that garden. The gardens at Giverny, France would pale in comparison to a garden that God designed, planted, and then, walked. (Genesis 3:8)

In one sense it seems unbelievable that the plants hadn’t sprouted in part because there were no human hands present to do their part which was cultivating the ground so the plants might flourish. Could God have cultivated the ground with a spoken word? Of course. He spoke the entire world into being – digging up some dirt wouldn’t be much of a feat for the Almighty one. But it was God’s desire that we have a significant role in carrying out His plans. He doesn’t need us, but He most certainly wants us in a big way. God shows us incredible value by not just loving us in the sense of adoring us and having great affection for us. He includes us in His work and in doing so communicates: you are significant…you are important, and I have a job I need you to do. Amazingly, God chose and designed ways that we would work in partnership with Him to accomplish His will. God believes in me…what a wonder. Now, that makes me feel loved!

Porch Light

2007-08-22T11:58:00.000-07:00

I'll Leave the Light on for you...

For parents who are going through a difficult season with their teenager or young adult - this is a support group for you.

If you feel alone is your struggles and would value from the support and prayer of other parents, then we welcome you to Porch Light. We'll leave the light on for you. Porch Light meets the fourth Sunday evening of the month at 6:30 PM at Hydesville Community Church (in the Living Room of the Hut). For more information call Penny Fregeau, the Director of R.I.S.E. Ministry & Counseling at Hydesville Community Church - (707) 768-3767.

The Hyphenated"S" Word

2007-08-13T10:28:00.000-07:00

By design, in Women’s Ministries, we take a seasonal rest in the summer from the weekly Bible studies and regularly scheduled programs and events. Healthy rest is a gift from a gracious and compassionate God. The Psalmist reminds us, “Return to your rest, O my soul, for the LORD has dealt bountifully with you (Psalm 116:7). And although rest is an important component of a balanced life, we are never told to be without the hyphenated “s” word… “self-discipline”.

Two summers ago I came face to face with my lack of self-discipline. Up until that time I had considered myself a fairly disciplined individual. There was a sweetness in my daily devotional times. I enjoyed good times of prayer and worship at church. I had a sincere thirst for God’s Word. But it hadn’t occurred to me that my lack of control in the area of eating was a spiritual problem for me. I glossed over verses like Romans 12:1, “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.”

The truth is that I have struggled with my weight for my entire life. I can remember my second grade Sunday school teacher asking me what my “New Year’s resolution” was and I replied sheepishly that I would like to lose some weight.

Being overweight caused a lack of self-confidence for me. Clothes shopping was always a reminder of how defeated I felt, as very little fit ‘quite right.’ My clothes became darker in color in attempt to hide the pounds. Then one day my husband pointed to the closet and expressed how somber my wardrobe had become. He was right. There was no joy there. I shunned photographs and stayed away from the scales and full length mirrors. But I still didn’t see the spiritual connection.

Then the Holy Spirit started gently pointing out to me that I sometimes missed ministry opportunities because of my lack of self control in eating. How could I dream to address a group on the subject of self-control when I was visibly out of control? The gentle prodding of the Holy Spirit didn’t go away even though I was very good at excuses. Like, genetics, a low metabolism, a sedentary life style and besides all that, I was a good baker, and my family really appreciated all the good desserts I made. The truth is that I really appreciated the desserts I made…and ate. The good intentions of “starting a diet” kept being pushed off to the next day...next week…next month.

And then came that appointed week in late May 2005 when I was preparing a power point presentation for Pastor Mike’s sermon on I Corinthians 9:24-27. I felt a definite UGH! as I read the words, “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. And everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things…”

Ahhhhh! Self control in all things? The Scriptures pierced my bubble of selective discipline. The truth was that I was disciplined at what I wanted to be disciplined in...

For someone else God’s Spirit may point out another area of life that needs attention – but for me, it was eating. I had to face the truth that eating for me wasn’t just because of hunger. Crunching snack foods at night was comforting when I was nervous or entertainment when I was bored! Ouch! That was hard to admit.

Each day that week when I went back to illustrating that power point presentation I read God’s Word and it kept piercing my heart. Finally, by Friday I said, “that’s it!” I’m going to be disciplined in my eating starting right now because I can’t bear to sit in that pew and hear this message this Sunday without having taken action. By then, I must be committed to this.

That was it. For me, it wasn’t about “dieting” – it was about becoming self-disciplined. And having committed myself before the service allowed me to really accept the words into my heart. When Pastor Mike said, “if your stomach growls, you can tell it “no.” I was floored. That concept had never occurred to me – to tell my stomach , “NO!” A growling stomach to me had always meant permission to eat something! So I did indeed tell my stomach, “no” and one growl at a time and day by day I became more disciplined in what I ate. Several months later I was 40 pounds lighter – but that was only a side benefit. The real lesson was in obedience and taking one step up in self-discipline.

Even though I’ve lost my taste for hamburgers the journey of self-discipline continues and I have to decide every single day how I am going to respond. Have I arrived? Oh, gracious, no. I’m just hoping the next sermon doesn’t have any illustrations about exercise….

The Hydesville Institute of the Bible

2007-08-02T08:50:00.000-07:00

Are You Thirsty?

Do you thirst for a deeper understanding of God’s Word? Do you desire to strengthen your training for ministry?

The Hydesville Institute of the Bible is designed to provide Bible instruction, practical ministry training and spiritual mentoring for the purpose of reaching the Eel River Valley and beyond with the Love and Message of Jesus Christ.

Upper level 300 courses begin September 10th with *A Woman’s Heart: God’s Dwelling Place (a Beth Moore DVD study) led by Director of Women’s Ministry & Counseling Penny Fregeau and the Master Plan of Evangelism taught by Pastor Jeff Beltz. There may be another class offering as well at this level.

100 and 200 level courses begin September 16th on Sunday mornings at 8:30 AM. These classes will include: Discovering Church Membership (September 16th & 23rd), Discovering Spiritual Maturity (December 2nd & 9th), Network Spiritual Gifts Class (October 14th, 21st & 28th), a two-part Evangelism Class (February 24th & March 2nd) and a two-part Lay Counseling Seminar (November 4th & 11th).

Hydesville Institute of the Bible: Who Are We?
Hydesville Institute of the Bible was established in response to the growing need to disciple and train ministry workers in the North Coast region of California. Hydesville Community Church, was founded in 1898 and has had an affiliation with the Evangelical Free Church of America (EFCA) since 1963. The Senior Pastor of Hydesville Community Church, Michael Delamarian III, has served the church since 1983. At that time the congregation numbered about 50. Today, over 500 people attend, participate and serve in Hydesville Community Church. An active and growing band of believers, Hydesville Community Church is united in the desire to reach the Eel River Valley and disciple believers to change their world for the cause of Christ.

*Beth Moore study also presented Wednesday mornings at 10 AM beginning September 12th .

For My Dear Friends with Cancer

2007-07-23T19:58:00.000-07:00

In the past year we have had a group of people in our church family who have found that they have cancer or a recurrence of cancer. These people have been so amazing. Time after time they have shared stories of God's faithfulness through this terribly difficult time. When I think of heroes, I think of these dear friends - Mary Lou, Judy, Scott, , Becky, Thelma, Sandie, Joan and Barbara. Jesus shines brightly through each of you! In facing physical, mental and emotional suffering, you have ministered to me in a powerful way.

These believers have taught me what it means to walk by faith. Christianity Today had a good article on "Cancer's Unexpected Blessings". Here is the link: http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2007/july/25.30.html

Summer Reading and Dreaming

2007-07-19T11:10:00.000-07:00

These warm Humboldt County days have been outstanding. Some of my most peaceful moments have been in our garden. The blueberries and raspberries were wonderful this year. Saturday evenings have been a great time to sit among the roses and read some good books. Typically at these times I read books by great Christian authors that help me understand people, for we all undergo difficulties, uncertainties and troubles. Then when I'm feeling the need for something "light" I pour through gardening or home decorating books. I envision the perfect English garden (it's not ever going to happen for me, but it's still o.k. to dream)...I think of repainting the house in creative and striking ways.

Have you read any good books this summer? What do you dream about?

Pure Ministry

2007-07-17T15:26:00.000-07:00

Some of the purest times of ministry to others is when we are broken. Here is a great article from Gifted for Leadership: http://blog.christianitytoday.com/giftedforleadership/2007/06/when_i_am_weak_then_i_am_stron.html

Small Town Big Church - Hydesville Community Church

2007-07-17T14:38:00.000-07:00

Did you see the article by Heidi Walters for the North Coast Journal about Hydesville Community Church? The article has also been picked up by other blogs, like Monday Morning Insight. Here is the link if you would like to see it. Those of us who have ministered under Pastor Mike's (Pastor Michael Delamarian III) leadership for many years know what a blessing he is to the North Coast of California. He has taught our church the true Biblical meaning of grace by his words and by his life, and has been a great leader and shepherd of this church. Here is the article: http://mondaymorninginsight.com/index.php/site/comments/small_town_big_church1/

God is the Master Artist

2007-07-17T08:52:00.000-07:00

Every time I paint my awareness of the Great Creator is heightened. Since realist painting is all about observation and learning from nature I am in awe when I study something I am seeking to represent in painting. The detail, the design, the amazing intricacy and orchestration and harmony in nature is beyond comprehension. I know from experience that there is no phenomenal design without a phenomenal designer. There truly are no "happy accidents." Yes, once in a while some colors can run together and they look pleasing, or we stumble across something by accident and it looks far better than we know our skill level to be...but there is no mastery in a subject without intense study. Everything in nature points to a marvelous creator. It's not hard to believe in God - just by observing nature. It shouts of His existence, and His order, design, care, character and beauty. And He didn't just make Himself a mystery to figure out. He revealed Himself clearly through the person of Christ. It is incredibly fulfilling to me to create paintings that prefect the character and personality of the One who reached down and saved my heart and my life. He is the Master Artist.

Wow, this car goes really fast, doesn't it Rover?

2007-07-06T11:51:00.000-07:00

Funny picture. Makes me laugh - my dogs make me laugh. They say dogs resemble their owners. That is an uncomfortable thought. For years we have had this lovable, overstuffed loyal (except when he gets out of the gate) bassett hound, and he is just the best pet for us. He's kind of like a cartoon. Then we decided he needed a friend so he would run around and lose a little weight. So we picked up this great 8 year old rescue dog that loves to sit on your feet. They are a silly pair of animals, but they make me smile. Sometimes we just need to laugh. Laughter is a gift from God. Oh, the photo is by someone named FreeXone76.

Called Upon

2007-07-05T08:05:00.000-07:00

Where Else Would I Go?

2007-06-21T15:10:00.001-07:00

“Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this said, “This is a difficult statement; who can listen to it?” But Jesus, conscious that His disciples grumbled at this, said to them, “Does this cause you to stumble?” …As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore. So Jesus said to the twelve, “you do not want to go away also, do you?” Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” John 6:60-61;66-68

Music is an amazing expression of the soul that often communicates our feelings in a way that nothing else quite can. A song from the early 70’s Jesus movement has been on my heart lately. It was written by a Christian folk rock group called Children of the Day and the lyrics, based on the above Scripture passage, went something like this:

Sometimes I forget just how much
He changed me with a single touch
And when I start remembering, I see His eyes.
And then I see the differences in my two lives -
Remembering makes me cry,
Oh, Lord, where else would I go
If I sought to leave your path behind?
If I look around, see the pain abound,
No one else would take the time to find me,
No there’s no where else to go.

Intense emotional pain, whether it is because of a fractured family relationship, the loss of someone close to us, a physical or mental illness, financial hardship, job loss, or many other factors, can cause us to get to the point of just wanting to quit. Stop the merry-go-round, I want to get off right now. With many of Jesus disciples, it was something He said that caused them to give up following Him. But even though that thought of quitting, to stop the emotional trauma, may be understandable on one level, it isn’t a rational decision. Because the truth is that pain is a part of this world whether we are believers or not – “it rains on the just and the unjust.” In matters of faith the question really is, “do I want to walk through this pain with Jesus, or without Jesus?”

Some of the disciples in the Scripture passage made the tragic choice to give up. Now, God’s plans always go forward. We can see vividly all through the Old Testament that when people made themselves unusable because of a bad attitude, poor choices, or a “hardness of heart,” God’s plan still went forward. God can use anyone He wills to further what He has determined will happen. If we get sidelined spiritually, tragically for us, we miss being a part of the blessing of being used by God. The disciples who quit missed out.

One of my professors said, “I would never want to relive my childhood. But neither would I want to give up the lessons I learned from having lived through it.” And so it is with most emotional pain. We would certainly not want to relive that which was so agonizingly difficult to go through - yet again. But if you walked through that experience with Jesus, no doubt you can say with confidence that you would not want to give up the incredible life lessons and answers that you now own because of having lived through the pain.

It’s not on a sunshine filled day at the beach when cares are far away that we question the goodness of God. It’s in hard places. God is always good, but sometimes He is good like a surgeon. There has to be some cutting away and some pain going on before we are healed. But the Great Physician is a good doctor with hope and a future plan for us. “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11

A Tribute to My Dad (Happy Father's Day)

2007-06-14T13:32:00.000-07:00

It took me over 30 years and hearing that my father needed a heart bypass operation before a tremendous truth thundered down on me: my father has always been there for me. Until that moment I didn’t realize the incredible gift that he had given me for my entire life. I could always pick up the phone and he was glad to hear from me. If I had any questions about how anything worked or information of any kind – he was the first to pour through the books and encyclopedias looking for an answer. He was never too busy for me. After work he was always just a few steps away in his workshop, and I spend many “magical” hours there as a child. Planks of wood became my coloring books (my dad would save the drawings by varnishing over them and then using the wood on the bottom of furniture, etc. His actions carried a very strong message: whatever my child creates is something to be treasured). In my father’s workshop, the drill press became the submarine control room. His large assortment of screwdrivers became my dolls. The tape measure was a fine thing with which “to go fishing.” My dad would involve me in ideas and plans and some of my finest hours were spent at his desk as we talked over how to build projects, designing them to be strong and look great. He taught me to paint a house, use a band saw, mow a lawn, and how to find answers. My father made all the cribs in the church nursery at the church I grew up in, and he made the beautiful cross at the front of the church. When I was a young adult, dad made all the windows and my husband and I put stained glass in them. My dad was a church trustee for over 50 years. He modeled consistency. My dad was always there for me.

Dad is 87 now. He is still working on projects. He lost the sight in one of his eyes several years ago making me bookshelves. Those bookshelves are some of the most beautiful things in the world to me. The heritage my dad gave me grows sweeter everyday, because with each passing day I realize what a great gift he gave me in always being there for me.

Joy

2007-06-06T10:18:00.000-07:00

It was his last message as our Visitation Pastor. Now my husband “retires” to a new season of life. Why the happy faces? There is simply a deep sweet joy in seeing the goodness of God colored all over a human life. Even though it was an emotional Sunday for us, I couldn’t help but be very thankful for the experience of seeing Don serve in this capacity in his “vintage” years.

Yes, this is actually his fourth retirement, and over his life he has worked hard at many things. Don was a navy chief, an aviation inspector, a high school and junior college history teacher for 22 years, a real estate agent, a Vice Mayor of a city of 25,000, a stained glass craftsman and business owner, a maker of Victorian redwood screen doors, and for the past seven years, a Visitation Pastor. And after all that, he has no intention of getting out the rocking chair.

The first thing he did in “retirement” is make up a list of 25 items he felt needed to be done at the house immediately. Don set about his tasks with enthusiasm and he adds to that list daily.

The joy continues...

Safe Places

2007-06-06T09:48:00.000-07:00

The ancient towering redwoods silhouetted against a sky that appeared like a watercolor painting seized my attention. The multiple luminescent shades of blues, grays, and violets, framed by clouds and streaked by sunrays, formed a “ceiling” to this natural cathedral in the forest. I sat mesmerized from the campground underneath. This amazing chunk of nature was only twenty minutes from our house! What an incredible place we have found to live.

Children in the camp ran back and forth. What is better than the sounds of happy kids? A naturally beautiful place, a community that cares about children, small schools, fascinating Victorian architecture, a place with a sense of history, a good solid Bible believing church…what a great place to raise kids, I thought. Having been raised in a large Southern California city, with smog, crowds, traffic and the fear of strangers, I felt like I had found a piece of heaven. What I wouldn’t have given to have grown up in a place like this, I mused.

Twenty-four years have come and gone since those idyllic and somewhat naive thoughts. While my appreciation for the many benefits of this community continues, I have come to realize that this place is no safer than any other in many regards. As Philip Yancey points out in his excellent article Where Is God When It Hurts? On the Christianity Today.com website,http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2007/june/14.55.html incredible tragedies sometime come to out of the way places. There is no place that we can run to become a stranger to hurt, suffering and pain. They will be a part of our lives, and unwelcome companion, no matter where we go. We do not have a choice in that, our choice lies only in our response.

No one needs cliché answers when bad news hits. Whether that bad news affects the entire community or only one person, it seems the greatest comfort comes in the form of someone who has “been there.” We need to know we are not alone when we are hurting. We can have the assurance that Jesus is there for us, that He understands our suffering, because He has, above all, “been there.” And as God often works, He uses ordinary people who have also “been there” to minister to us and help us through the darkness of the situation until we can see a flicker of light. The “safe place” when we hurt is not a geographical spot on the map, but is found in the relationship of the One who weeps with us, feels our pain, and, as no one else can, cause goodness to come from a seemingly horrible situation.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ.” II Corinthians 1:3-5

I Don't Want to be a Sea Anemone

2007-05-29T14:07:00.000-07:00

“Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.” Matthew 16:24-25

The Sea Anemone, natural creature that it is, reacts in the natural way to pain and discomfort. When something touches it not only closes in on itself, it “injects a dose of flesh of the aggressor or prey.” (Wikipedia encyclopedia). Turning in - becoming self-absorbed in a crisis, is our natural reaction to emotional pain. The difficulty that we are going through takes center stage and demands our attention. Problems can drain us physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Not only do we tend to “turn in”, the natural inclination is to lash out at anything that comes close. We really aren’t as compartmentalized as we think. Hurt has a way of oozing into other areas of our life and affecting seemingly unrelated areas and relationships. The natural way of the Sea Anemone, even though it may be our default mechanism, is clearly not the best way to conduct our lives.

Jesus, our great High priest (Hebrews 4:15) was no stranger to pain and suffering. Yet, He taught us, to deny ourselves and to not be fixated on our own life. It’s a contradiction to our natural reaction but Jesus words are life giving in their application. As we face what James calls “various trials” we are, at the same time, encouraged to “give our lives away.” To put it another way, when bad things are happening in our life and we make a conscious decision to put that aside for a time and focus on others pain and doing tangible things to help, we ourselves experience a degree of emotional healing. In “losing our life” we truly “find our life.” Only God could make an equation like that work..

And so, if I had to choose to be another creature, it would not be a sea anemone. They are too emotionally unhealthy. But a silly sea ottter, perhaps – now that’s an idea. Anyone want to go swimming?

Prayer is Mysterious

2007-05-21T08:52:00.000-07:00

Prayer is as central to the life of faith as oxygen is to our physical life. Yet, prayer in many ways is a mystery. We sometimes pray fervently for things, believing these things to be in the will of God. Sometimes Gods answers surprise us. Sometimes we do not see results of our prayers for a long time and it seems confusing. When I was 12 years old, I was in an accident caused by a blown-out tire on our station wagon. Our car was in the far left lane going 70 miles per hour (the speed limit) on a crowded racing Southern California freeway. The blow out caused our car to start to veer right heading fast toward a car right next to us that could not get out of the way. I was in the back seat on the right side. I still remember the terrified look on the man's face as our car windows got closer and closer. My sister, who was 28 at the time, was driving and she had the steering wheel jammed all the way toward the left, but the car continued to go, in the slow motion of my mind, in the opposite direction of the way it was turned. That moment is frozen in my mind, and that is sometimes where we find ourselves in prayer. We are praying fervently in one direction, but our lives are careening off in another - and time is suspended as we look and wonder - what is happening? After that terrifiying moment in the car, the station wagon all of a sudden obeyed the directon of the steering wheel and went slamming along the center divider and we tore out 400 feet of it - it was quite an ordeal. But we all left the car without a scratch, protected in some mysterious way by the mighty hand of God. Likewise God answers prayer in His way in His time and He can be trusted. It doesn't mean the journey won't be action packed...but we have to move beyond that moment when everything seems out of control and remember we live by faith.

I found a great quote on prayer by Gene Bourland from the book Hit By a Ton of Bricks by Dr. John Vawter. Bourland writes:

"I am discovering that prayer is not a magical lamp that I rub and get three wishes from God, but it is an intimate conversation - yelling out my dependence on Him. God is good and purposes good in our lives in and through pain. Jesus' Good News is for broken lives, for those who have no one else to put them back together again."

2007-05-15T12:53:00.000-07:00

Donald

It was a great Mother's Day, especially because of this man. It's not just that he took me to dinner and bought me a gift - which was wonderful. It's also because when I had no children to call my own, and when we miscarried many years ago, he still bought me a Mother's Day gift. He just gets it. He gets me. This year he also helped package 300 gift bags for other moms and women to help them feel special. Then he helped me hand them out. Anything else good that happened on Mother's Day was simply a bonus. And even though I was very happy to hear from the other important people in my life, the encouragement from my husband filled me to overflowing. Oh, and the most important thing he did for me that day...he prayed for me.

Artistic Excellence and Ministry

2007-04-06T08:09:00.000-07:00

SoulArtist
Listening to the Heart...Responding with Colors from the Master's Palette

Our friends, the Krings, introduced us to Josh Groban via a DVD of one of his concerts. What an amazing voice! Intrigued with Groban’s originality and megatalent I purchased another of his concerts on DVD for Don for Father’s Day. It was worth the purchase price for the rendition of Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring alone. In addition to Josh’s phenomenal singing, a young woman named Lili Haydn played violin exquisitely and sang at the same time (unusual!), plus the visuals were out of this world. Lili stood above the orchestra in this angelic flowing white dress, with striking lighting effects that looked like both fire and heaven. The living scene appeared to be so ephemeral. It was a breath taking performance that went beyond the realms of music into visual, drama and all the lines in between.

Jesu, joy of man's desiring Holy wisdom, love most bright Drawn by Thee, our souls aspiring Soar to uncreated light Word of God, our flesh that fashioned With the fire of life impassioned Striving still to truth unknown Soaring, dying round Thy throne
-Johann Sebastian Bach, words by Martin Janus, 1661

I don’t know whether or not Josh Groban or Lili Haydn are believers, but they sang powerful words of praise to Jesus. It all got me to thinking about quality and excellence in the realm of arts and ministry. Not only has God has given human beings a tremendous gift in terms of talent, imagination and ingenuity, God has given something to believers alone: the reason to express this unmitigated joy. “Art for art’s sake” has a ceiling to it. “Art for God’s sake” can go on forever. There is no limit to what He can do with hearts, minds and souls thoroughly devoted to Him that are also willing to take on the discipline of developing gifts from their raw form to something of stunning beauty.

Christians should set the standard for excellence in culture, not the other way around. It’s good to understand culture so that may communicate in the most insightful way possible, but how much more effective to communicate from the lead rather than from the back of the pack.

In Exodus 31 we read “Now the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “See I have called by name Bezalel, the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. I have filled him with the Spirit of God in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all kinds of craftsmanship, to make artistic designs for work in gold, in silver, and in bronze, and in the cutting of stones for settings, and in the carving of wood that he may work in all kinds of craftsmanship.”

Certainly Bezalel had a call into ministry – God called him by name. God was also very specific about the ministry He gave Bezalel, just as God was specific about Paul’s ministry (Acts 9:15).

God didn’t give Bezalel artistic talent just to make visually pleasing things for their house of worship. The Lord also gave Bezalel wisdom, understanding and knowledge. The ministry wasn’t merely the making of objects of beauty. Bezalel needed God’s wisdom, understanding and knowledge to develop things that would truly bring Glory to God. Bezalel needed to understand God’s heartbeat so that he might use his talent to create things that would help people draw into God’s presence. It also appears that part of Bezalel’s ministry was to shepherd other artists – another real need for wisdom, understanding and knowledge! We all need shepherding (that’s why God gives us great pastors and directors), but the artistically inclined seem to need an additional nudge from the shepherd’s rod and staff from time to time.

Paul exhorts us to “approve the things that are excellent” (Philippians 1:10). People are drawn to excellence. Excellence provides a platform. “Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before obscure men” (Proverbs 22:29).

Franky Schaeffer, in his 1981 classic on 20th Century Christians and the Arts, Addicted to Mediocrity, pokes fun at how sometimes as Christians we settle for the message of Christ to be communicated mainly through “Christian” doodads, like trinkets, tee-shirts and bumper stickers. The purpose is not to slam those types of communications (sometimes these things are exactly what is needed for a particular purpose), but to motivate the church of the living God to pursue excellence in the area of the arts – all kinds of art. Christians should be the forerunners of artistic excellence, not mediocre imitators of yesterday’s cultural fad.

I sometimes have discussions with people about visual media…how to use it most effectively in the church, how to improve each piece of visual communication and sometimes how to raise the bar in artistic standards... even if our work isn’t entirely understood. Composer and conductor, John Williams says our culture is “addicted to visual stimulation.” However many artists will be the first to attest that we live in a “visually illiterate culture”. How can both be true? As a culture we see a lot of images – thousands everyday – but we’re simply not educated about what we’re looking at. But whether or not people, in a general sense, understand the components of what they see, people do respond to visual images in a big way. And if people respond to the visual, and in a larger sense the artistic (music, drama, etc.) then it is well worth our passion, energy and devotion to pursue excellence in arts with the goal of serving God not only with developed talent, but with wisdom, understanding, knowledge to help draw and win people to Christ and then shepherd them with all the strength and energy that God gives.

Through the way where hope is guiding,Hark, what peaceful music rings;Where the flock, in Thee confiding,Drink of joy from deathless springs.Theirs is beauty’s fairest pleasure;Theirs is wisdom’s holiest treasure.Thou dost ever lead Thine ownIn the love of joys unknown.
-Johann Sebastian Bach, words by Martin Janus, 1661

I Miss You

2007-03-25T11:26:00.000-07:00

SoulArtist
Listening to the Heart...Responding with Colors from the Master's Palette

I MISS YOU

I miss you.
And other people may find that
Hard to understand.
To them you were something they never saw.
They only knew you existed because I told them so;
And because I was a little cranky in the evenings,
Woosy in the mornings, and craving very weird food.
How thrilled I was when I found out you were there,
Within me! Inside of me!
Such an incredible thought.
I dreamed many dreams of what you would be like.
Would you have Don’s eyes?
My funny knock knees?
What would your personality be?
And then in such a short time
You were gone.
The doctor couldn’t find your heartbeat.
On the modern ultra sound screen I could see
Your tiny form
Inside me.
And even though you didn’t move
I was amazed at the miracle of you.
How precious you were to me!
That would probably sound strange to people
Because, like I said
They couldn’t see you, or evidence of you.
I take great comfort
That you are with our heavenly Father.
You must have been pretty special
For Him to take you to heaven so fast.
I look forward to seeing you one day.
I hope to have many years here on earth.
But someday, when He calls me home
I will have the privilege of holding you
In my arms.
I will always hold you in my heart.
I do not know what the future will bring,
If I’ll have a child someday.
But that child will never replace you.
I’m sure with time
The pain I feel at your loss
Will diminish
And life goes on…
But I will never forget you.
You were and are unique in all the universe
And the time I have you within me
Will remain a special time in my memory.
Thinking about you makes me truly realize
How precious life is,
And how we need to appreciate those lives
We come in contact with
On our journey through this world.
I’m so thankful
That you were created
And but for a moment
Our lives were intertwined.

By Penny Fregeau
July 1987

Carried Up the Mountain

2007-03-23T11:15:00.000-07:00

SoulArtist
Listening to the Heart…Responding with Colors from the Master’s Palette

Carried Up the Mountain
I enjoyed seeing the third part of ‘The Lord of the Rings’ out on video. The movie screen, of course, is ‘larger than life’ and so dramatic, but video affords me the opportunity to turn on the closed captioning and see the words of everything being spoken. Some people are irritated by extra words on the screen, but I have grown accustomed to it, and even like the added nuances it brings out. It was funny seeing the words “fat hobbit!” uttered under the breath of the schizophrenic Gollum.

If you are familiar with this classic tale (and saw the movie) you will recall near the end when Frodo, weak and weary from the journey, collapses near the top of the mountain of Mordor, where he must return the ring. His faithful and also weary friend, Samwise Gamgee, reaches deep within himself and proclaims, “I may not be able to carry it (the ring), but I can carry you!” And with a final push of adrenaline Sam scoops up the mud-stained weak body of Frodo and charges up the stony mountainside. It was a great visual illustration of the admonition of Scripture to “Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2).

Like Sam, sometimes we can’t exactly “carry the ring.” That is, our hearts may go out to someone who is suffering, but we may not relate to their pain. Maybe we just haven’t “been there” before, or we just don’t quite understand. But also, like Sam, no matter what ‘the ring’ represents, we can scoop up our brother or sister and help carry them through a difficult time. The bearing doesn’t relate so much in the specific nature of the burden, but more in the willingness to care and be a support.

Like Job’s friends, who were a strong silent support for seven days (until they started speaking); intentional presence can often speak more eloquently than words.

Bearing one another’s burdens sometimes simply means, “ I care that you hurt. I don’t really need to know why, unless you feel like telling me. But either way, I notice, I care, and I’m here.”

Ultimately, we are upheld by our Great High Priest, Jesus, who does intimately understand every type of human suffering, because He experienced it. With Christ, we are “carried up the mountain” and never alone.