He Leadeth Me

He Leadeth Me

“But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as He chose.” 1 Corinthians 12: 18

With some sadness and brokenness, a note to my friends in transition: I see that there are too many friends who now find themselves looking for a new home church. None of them that I know of would proclaim “God is leading me to my next scene, a new chapter in my walk with Him. I’m so excited!” Most are leaving with some disillusionment over the policies and politics, or personal hurt in what they now see as their former church. They are wounded travelers along an unmarked pathway, searchers for a house of worship, not unlike the men on the road to Emmaus, talking about all the things that had gone on, disillusioned, empty, and so hurt they did not recognize Jesus walking with them.

For you who find yourselves as such travelers I pray that you find Jesus walking by your side, that you see him and recognize him for who He is. I pray that the Holy Spirit will make clear to you where you are to go, how you are to worship, and how you will serve, and to make it clear to you how loved you are by God and your friends.

I woke up this morning with the great hymn “He Leadeth Me” on my heart and pray that you will be able to sing and pray this for yourselves:

He leadeth me, O blessed thought!
O words with heav’nly comfort fraught!
Whate’er I do, where’er I be
Still ’tis God’s hand that leadeth me.

Refrain:
He leadeth me, He leadeth me,
By His own hand He leadeth me;
His faithful foll’wer I would be,
For by His hand He leadeth me.

Sometimes ’mid scenes of deepest gloom,
Sometimes where Eden’s bowers bloom,
By waters still, o’er troubled sea,
Still ’tis His hand that leadeth me.

Lord, I would place my hand in Thine,
Nor ever murmur nor repine;
Content, whatever lot I see,
Since ’tis my God that leadeth me.

And when my task on earth is done,
When by Thy grace the vict’ry’s won,
E’en death’s cold wave I will not flee,
Since God through Jordan leadeth me.

In His grip, jerry

VBS 2014 - Day 5

Friday – Wrap it Up

“Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” 1 Corinthians 13:7-8

It has been a long time between posts, especially considering that I put up the first four VBS posts the each evening of the day covered. I struggled to find a way wrap up a jam packed week of activity, blessings, and insights. It still amazes me that so much happened over a relatively small amount of time – three hours a day for five days sandwiched between some set up and clean up, spiced up with some daily preparation along with our double helping of fun at the Thursday evening Luau. And life has a way of invading the best of intensions, busy with daily activities, household projects, visits, another trip with family… And I struggled with telling more of the story without embarrassing great people with accolades they would just as soon not have broadcast for serving faithfully a God that rewards in many wonderful ways.

I’ll try to put a bow on the week just the same:

During our first session in the sanctuary our intrepid director, Ashley Pollock, shared one of the mission objectives for the week which was to collect donations to be used to buy water filters for families in the poorest parts of the world so that they could have clean water for drinking and cooking. I may be off on the numbers but I’ll be pretty close with this; we wanted to raise enough for 15 filters at $80 each so we needed $1200 for the week. Ashley laid out the challenge and promised to dye her hair blue and eat algae if we made it. She also demonstrated the efficiency of the filters that first day by pouring in some disgusting looking liquid and drinking it after passing through the system. It’s a very simple device; pour dirty water into the 5 gallon (approximately) bucket and steady drip out clean drinking water. One device will provide many years of good water.

Ashley's Algae Snack

All week we had been having great fun learning about Jesus’ incredible love for us and what love really is. Each day we were also updated on the fundraising and on this last day during our last corporate time in the sanctuary Ashley gave out the results and punctuated them by shaking out her blue locks of hair and eating algae to the great cheers, with a more than a few groans, of the crowd. We beat the goal by several hundred dollars which meant several more families will drink clean water. Love is generous and never fails.

VBS was an experience well worth the time and effort for reasons I’ve covered and some that I haven’t. Each of us walked away with something very personal, something individual, and when added together gives life to the assemblage. I imagine that, like my service to Mission Arizona, I’ll be on a year-to-year contract as the Spirit leads. I recommend that if you are even somewhat interested that you set aside the time and dive right in. There’s a place for you on Son Treasure Island.

Short video of one of our songs on the last VBS day together:

In His grip, jerry

VBS 2014 - Day 4

Thursday – The Longest Day

“Love is not easily angered; it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.” 1 Corinthians 13:5-6

There is something about a Thursday for any week-long event that tasks the humaneness of people. We’ve gotten over the midweek hump-day and then seem to run into a wall when there are significant tasks yet to complete. In the phone company we called it Critical Thursday when certain energies (focus and excitement at getting to the task) that ran high on Monday and certain capabilities (shortness of temper and, let’s call it, even-keeledness) were well in check on Monday ran low and bubbled to the surface respectively on Thursday thus crossing at a critical point. It seemed like anything could happen to derail the project altogether.

For our VBS kids this seemed to mean that they needed to get in every second of fun and frolicking with friends, especially those that would leave early for vacations and be absent on Friday. We knuckled down and had a meaningful time talking about God’s love being forgiving. Nobody yelled (thank you God) and nobody got seriously hurt even though I did give pour little Peter quite a bonk on the noggin’ during the last song as we let our acting get the better of us; he jumped when I pumped and, BONK!

That was half our day as Thursday evening was the luau. I’m sure Ashley and key people didn’t break at all while other officially listed volunteers started back at 4:45 p.m. to set up tables, chairs, food stations, and barbeque chicken and hotdogs not to mention other food preparations and setting up part of Koopman’s Hall for an exotic animal show. We had 34 listed volunteers and countless others who just pitched in because that’s the way they roll. Several schlepped buckets of water to prime the pool for the giant water slides in the parking lot, others made snow cones, and did face painting, a limbo contest, and I’m sure I missed something with 300+ people filling the courtyard for dinner and activities that whirled around non-stop until well after 8 p.m. and then beyond for the cleanup. 

Peter showed up and there was no giant lump on his head and he seemed no worse for feeling an experienced elbow; I showed him the scar left on the same elbow from Mike Marsh when I broke the tooth next to the one Keith (Jamal) Wilkes knocked when USC played the Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul Jabar) led UCLA Bruins. Peter didn’t seem to get what rarified company he was keeping along with my elbow; guess I missed that one by several generations. Peter went on the enjoy the bounce house and water slides...

All in all, a very satisfying day of seeing God’s forgiving love all around and winning out over Critical Thursday.

In His grip, jerry

 

The Courtyard Luau

Koopman's Hall Animal Show

Parking Lot Water Slides

VBS 2014 - Day 3

Thar be guides here mate

“Love is not rude, it is not self-seeking.” 1 Corinthians 13:5

Our story tellers recounted Jesus and the Woman at the Well. The main idea for the day was that God’s love is for everyone and He/we demonstrate that love by caring. Jesus cared for the Samaritan woman regardless of who she was (a person that the Jews didn’t associate with) and regardless of what she’d done (lots of bad things).  He offered her Living Water and she came to believe and because of her testimony so did many in the village. 

Our activities were all water based experiments; Cartesian Diver (modified by our Doug Given), Hurricane in a Bottle, Sink or Swim, and the Salty Volcano. They were all fun – even those that didn’t quite do something spectacular captivated us for a little while. The kids learned about the importance of good water to drink and how our VBS is raising funds for 15 family-sized water filters and how that all fits with our caring and sharing the Living Water on practical levels.

Each of our three groups of third graders has a guide and we have one craft helper as well; let’s call her the craft guide. The guides move about the campus ensuring that each child gets where they need to be, works with them in crafts, listens with them during story time, and plays or experiments with them during our activities. I have to admit a that I’m a little envious of the concentrated time that they spend with the smaller groups, getting to know them and forging bonds that allow for a long lasting relationship. They see the kids at their best and worst during the week and care for them all the same. I’m also somewhat in awe of them as they give of their precious time between school years and some between schools as they march along to college.

 

Most excellent guides!

I appreciate our four; Tala, Talin, Kristy, and Delaney. They shepherd their little groups in and help me complete our activities, showing us all His love in the process. I love these young ladies and all of the other guides - they make my day.

In His grip, jerry

VBS 2014 - Day 2

An Extra Serving of Kindness Please

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.” 1 Corinthians 13:4

Kindness and patience were today’s key words in our theme and of course I was struck with my lack thereof while driving to the church for VBS.

Each age group has three centers; Story Telling, Crafts, and Theme Activities, each supporting the daily theme and overall goal of the VBS and I am the theme leader. In keeping with the Son Treasure Island motif we did a tropical fruit blind-taste test and then shared the remaining fruit following our kindness discussion with sharing being the evidence of kindness just as Jesus shares His love and gave His life for us.

My observations from today’s activities are that when it comes to sharing bananas are difficult and papayas are a simple thing. Tomorrow I intend to seek out and observe acts of kindness in the midst of the flurry of activity.

God grant us the determination to share our favorite things along with those things we can easily live without. Grant me the serenity on the road to not make others the objects of distain but to pray for their safety.

 

The main stage - Ashley and her backup group

In His grip, jerry

VBS 2014 Day 1

Son Treasure Island – LCPC Style

“This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.” 1 John 4:9

My first Vacation Bible School (VBS) day ever, as far as I can remember, was filled with 300 or so K – 6^th grade kids, 70 adult and student leaders, and one very important God of All Creation working in our midst. If asked I would have said my expectation was that I would somehow slog through the first day as a 3^rd Grade Theme Leader without having stuffed one of the kids into one of the available duffle bags that I’d used to bring in room decorations. The truth is that I expected God to meet me in some way during the week; let’s consider that done and now I have to revise my true expectation to meet Him in some way each day. Somehow I don’t think He will mind the revision considering that was probably His intention from the beginning.

Age groups from less than 10 through every decade into the 80s were represented and I’ll admit that a spry 90 year old may have slipped in without me being aware, you know how they are. I did not see one instance of anyone looking at another older or younger person thinking “they just don’t get me” or “I just don’t get them”. It was a wonderful day of seeing God’s people work in harmony.

3rd Grade Theme Room (the good raft)

I got there early to make sure my room and I were ready for the day. I found one of my rafts nearly deflated but that worked nicely into the activity theme of being wrecked on a deserted island and I merely pointed to it as our transportation for our three-hour tour. I was touched by the Lord in a couple of ways today as I saw our scripture for the day in action. What I saw was the Son working through the people to minister to the children; it was in the leaders’ expressions as they finished room preparations, checked the kids in at registration, talked with them, laughed with them, and simply loved them. Of particular meaning to me was watching and working with MAZ (Mission Arizona) alumni at work – adults, young adults, and secondary school students. There is something special in witnessing the people whom I’ve worked with side-by-side in service as their growth in the Lord continues and expands. The day was punctuated after we were dismissed and I got an unexpected Jer-bear hug from several of the third grade girls as they improvised their own treasure hunt while waiting for their parents.

Seeds were planted in every room and during every activity and actually watered on the basketball court.

In His grip, jerry

Point of View

I was going about it all wrong – not an unusual occurrence.

We recently completed phase two of a home window replacement. In phase one we replaced the windows in the former master bedroom that became Ashley’s room and then Lauren’s room. Two windows were replaced, one with a slightly larger one and the widow facing the backyard was replaced with a large sliding glass door. This room now serves as the sewing room equipped with a trundle bed for guests. Wonderfully creative things are already taking shape there and we have a fantastic memory for the room when it served as the Bridal Room for Ani and Daniel’s backyard wedding.

Phase two encompassed a bathroom, the guestroom (formerly Ashley’s and Lauren’s bedroom), and Daniel’s old room that will be “The Office” where I’ll do the bulk of my writing and that will house the family computer. It will also serve as a guestroom. There is now a six-foot, three-panel window in place of two side-by-side 30 inch windows that overlook the front deck and yard. The change is startling. There is a lot left to do in the room – fresh paint, floor treatments, and furnishings. I hope that the room will lend itself to enlightened creativity.

I had written those first two paragraphs in longhand while waiting somewhere or while on the road someplace and taking a little break. My intention had been to talk about all the work needed to change the point of view of the room and getting a fresh perspective as a way to unlock the stories loaded within me. While that may be true and the change in the surroundings in the office might be effective for projects, I woke up this morning and realized that this is all wrong for where I am right now.

Stephen King told me the office plan has holes it for a creative writing space. I am reading his “On Writing – A Memoir of the Craft” and coincidently enough I had just read his section on writing space. The quotes used here are from chapter 3 in the On Writing section. Stephen supports the idea of the office as my main personal writing space, “Until you get one, you’ll find your new resolution to write a lot harder to take seriously.” We plan to make it simple; a soothing place, pleasant for reading, writing, and contemplation. Sure, it’s an office and work will be done there but still, why not make it a nice and simple place to be? “The space can be humble (probably should be, as I think I have already suggested), and it really needs only one thing: a door which you are willing to shut.” And now here is where we are breaking with Mr. King’s suggestions although there will be some sort of window shade should I find the need to deploy it; we are talking about a multipurpose room after all. “If possible, there should be no telephone in your writing room, certainly no TV or video games for you to fool around with. If there’s a window, draw the curtains or pull down the shades unless it looks out a blank wall.” As I write this post my desk is in the living room facing a wall but the same view as where the desk will look out on in the office is available to me by looking over my right shoulder. Overcoming our breaks from those suggestions will take discipline, something I’ve been struggling with since I discovered that I have a story to tell and thoughts to write about that I hope others will find entertaining, uplifting, or provocative.

All that being said about changing the room to change my perspective is still not my biggest mistake.  Those things I talked about above only address the physical and emotional/mental side of things. For me to have success I must be connected to Jesus and the Holy Spirit must have free reign to speak and lead me. My point of view must be the foot of the cross; it is the only place where I can be effective – Calvary’s Thread has to be a real place for me, one that I can connect with wherever I am.

The scripture that jumps out at me when thinking along these lines is John 5: 19 & 20, “¹⁹Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, the Son does likewise. ²⁰The Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing; and he will show him greater works than these, so that you will be astonished.”

The place where I have most easily connected to the cross is during Mission Arizona, specifically during quiet time while I’m sitting in the desert, under some mesquite bush praying and asking for coverage, asking Jesus to lead me, to meet me. I know where this place is in my heart and when I have trouble changing my point of view, I go there.

In His grip, jerry