periclete

Good Friday and Easter

I look to this time of year as the anniversary of when I came to faith so many years ago.  I came to faith before Easter 1971, but I went home to visit my parents and they had started attending the Baptist Church in Quincy.  Chuck Kinzie was the pastor there and I can remember Chuck giving an "invitation"...something that was new to me.   I asked my dad to go up front with me.   He and I were always very close.   I was baptized the next weekend with my mom, dad, and older brother.  Who would have thought where this adventure with the Lord would end up.  Now 38 years later, I will be standing in front of church tomorrow during the Easter service and I will invite the audience to respond in faith to the Lord Jesus.   Interestingly, Chuck Kinzie is now a member of the church where I pastor. My wonderful father is now with the Lord and tomorrow morning after the sunrise service at the cemetary, I will continue with my annual Easter morning ritual and stop by dad's grave marker and thank God for my wonderful dad.  It is because of the resurrection that I will see my dad again as well as my brother.   Yeah!  May the Lord be glorified tomorrow.  May I celebrate from the heart the resurrection.

Back from Mexico

It is good to be back in the land of flush toilets.  Our trip to Rancho Sordo Mudo was really fun.   There were times that it was frustrating trying to find parts, trying to find the right tools, or following up someone who built something goofy before we got there.    Overall, I loved it.  Serving the Lord by serving others with a group of friends is a real joy for me.   Making new friends is also a blessing.

One of my favorite things this year was going to Mexico with three friends who are deaf.   I learned a ton of sign language and enjoyed  watching them connect with the deaf kids so quickly.  We had a great team this year even though there was only 17 of us.  

On the way home I stopped to see my son Steven in LA and hung out with him for a couple of days.   It was so good to spend time with him.   I love my boys and wish that they lived closer.

Getting back from Mexico

We just came from Mexico.   Every year I go with a team from the church to a school for the deaf called Rancho Sordo Mudo.  This year was another good year with a great team.  I guess the biggest job was laying tile in the new bathrooms and the new outhouse.  Vince is an artist when it comes to tile.   There were lots of other projects to finish around the ranch.   This year was different from other years because three of our friends came that are deaf.   Danny and Brittney were already at the ranch so those of us in the van really leaned sign as we tried to communicate to our friends.   

I love the time there in Mexico, but it is always good to get back into the states.   I am a big fan of flush toilets!!!

Right now I am in LA visiting with my son Steven.  The rest of the team headed on home and I will fly home tomorrow.  The best part of arriving home is seeing Debby.

facebook

I was asked to open up a facebook account by a missionary from the church so I would be able to get updates from her.  Soon others heard that I had joined facebook.  It has been fun to keep in touch with others, some that I haven't heard from for many years.  But the down side is that this blog is being neglected. 

Lately I have been just busy at church and fixing up one of the rentals.  We have been getting some snow again which takes up some time, but it has been a very easy winter so far.  I have just finished up a two part series on the Lord's prayer and have enjoyed thinking through the different elements of this famous teaching of Jesus on prayer. 

I prepare sermons in manuscript form and if you would ever like a written copy of a sermon I would be glad to email them.    Just ask at dennis@portolastation.com. 

I will be taking the team to Mexico soon to work at Rancho Sordo Mudo. (a residential school for the poor deaf of Mexico) This year three deaf friends will be able to go.   I am so glad to have them see the ranch and the ministry it has for the students there.  I am sure that my signing will improve by spending time with them.   I had every intention of practicing sign before we go, but unfortunately I haven't cracked a book.  

Short term mission trips

This morning I went to the church early to pray with the team that is on their way to New Orleans.  I am not going this year because I wasn't sure how my shoulder would turn out.  I am looking forward to our Mexico mission trip in February.   Short term mission trips are a great way to spend a family vacation or school break.  Over the years I have loved getting to know those that make up the team as well as knowing that I am making a difference for the kingdom.  Some mission trips cost more than others but are so worth it.  Some years we go to Christian Encounter Ranch for a day and there isn't any cost. 

My first mission trip was back in 1973.  I bought a plane ticket for France and spent a month near Aix-en-Provence helping to build a Christian conference center.  I joined about 8 other young men from 5 different countries digging mud and setting forms for the foundation.  They gave us room and board. I took all the money I had left over after buying the plane ticket (I think it was only $10 but it might have been $20).   I remember coming home with $5 and I didn't have a credit card.  I am not sure how I managed a month in France spending what we spend now on a cup of coffee.  I did have other motives...something about a wonderful young lady named Debby that was going to college just 15 km from the place I was working

I imagine that there will be a day that I will retire and have lots of opportunities to go on mission trips. 

snow is melting

 

This picture was taken from just outside our livingroom window around the first of the year.   There is still snow on the ground but it has been melting away.  We need much more to get caught up for the season.  I keep track in a note book of the snow I shovel each time it snows and our total for the season is only 40 inches.  The forecast is for more sun and warm temps (over 50 some days).  As much as I would rather not shovel the drive and around the house, we do need the snow.

I have yet to do any snow shoing this season.  I hope to get out in nature and tromp around to enjoy the cold crisp air and the beautiful place we live.  Maybe soon

New Year

Here we are again at the beginning of a new year.   At the beginning of each new year, I usually evaluate the previous year and pray about what is ahead for Portola Station.  I look forward to what God wants to do in the church, but I also expect that God will continue to do His work in my own heart and life.  January 1^st, I wrote down some things in my prayer journal that I am praying for me.  When I wrote this, it wasn’t meant to be shared with others, but I will share them with you, with the hope that you may be encouraged to pray through your own list in the months to follow.  These qualities will grow in my life only as I lean on the Spirit of God to produce something of value in my heart and life.

Here is my prayer list.

1. Grace               May I be impacted daily by his grace.
2. Thanks             May I be continually grateful.
3. Holiness           May I live without compromise.
4. Service             May I be selfless.
5. Joy                   May the life of Christ in me be contagious.
6. Intimate            May Jesus be so close to me.
7. Love                May God produce His love more and more.
8. Obedient          May I listen and be quick to obey His lead.
9. Fruitful  May I see God do His work through me.
10. Content            May I sense God’s peace no matter what comes my way.

 

As I have been teaching in II Corinthians, I have often mentioned that one of the qualities of a healthy church is “Every Member a Minister”.   Another quality of a healthy church of course is that it is filled with “healthy” Christians.  By healthy I mean that we would be authentic, growing, and Spirit-filled believers.   Our relationship with Jesus Christ should produce godly character.   Our reputation is who people think we are.   Our character is much more important for it is who we really are.

“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.”  Phil. 1:6

“God is at work in you to will and to work for His good pleasure”  Phil 2:13

 

May God receive the glory as we are daily “conformed to the image of His Son” (Romans 8:29)

The love of Christ compels me

I have been looking over my sermon for tomorrow.   I have been teaching through II Cor 4 and 5 looking at Paul's motivation for ministry.   I have come to one of my favorite verses in the whole Bible.   (I actually have many, many favorites)  II Cor 5:14,15

All week I have been meditating on the phrase, "the love of Christ compels,constraineth, controls me."   There are so many different motivations for why we do what we do.   Greed, fear, envy, competition, appearances, pleasure, a desire to feel significant.   This verse talks about "the love of Christ" compeling the believer.  What a great motivation.   The conclusion to the love of Christ is two fold. Live a holy life (die to self) and live for Him.  (vs 15) 

I have the privilege of being able to think through scripture verses during the week as I get ready for Sunday's sermon.  I study, think, research, gather information, quotes...but not just for the sake of gathering information for others.   I want the scripture impact my own life.   I imagine that every week the Lord does something in my heart and life well before I share the message with the congregation.  

This week especially I have been impacted by the love of Christ.   Not that this is new information for me.   Of course I have known of His love for years.   This week I am especially grateful and so blessed to be loved by Christ.   I have often wondered who I would be apart from Christ and how my life would have been different.   Of course I will never know (in this life anyway) but I am sure that my life would be very different.   

My heart goes out to those who know little or nothing of the Love of Christ.   They have missed a dimension of life that I so appreciate.   It is only by grace that He has shown his love toward a sinner like myself.   I am blessed to be loved by Him. 

Christmas Morning

It is still dark this early Christmas morning and there is a fresh blanket of snow on the ground outside.   Steven made it home from LA last night and he and Debby are soundly sleeping upstairs.  The lights of the Christmas tree are on and there are some packages under the tree.   The house is beautifully decorated for the season.   Peter and Lauren are coming down in a week.   Last night we spent the evening at the candle light service with so many of our friends.  Life is good.

I am reminded of a Christmas so many years ago in Quincy, the little town I grew up in.   I was home from college for Christmas vacation and on Christmas morning I got up early before anyone else was up.   I sat in a chair near the Christmas tree and as a brand new believer I was trying to be regular in my morning prayer time.   As I talked with the Lord, as one talks with a friend, it hit me that I was talking with the One whom I had celebrated as a babe all my life.   Every Christmas we celebrated the birth of Christ at Christmas, but He seemed distant and so long ago.  That morning for the first time, I realized that now I was talking to this resurrected Christ as my Lord and as my friend.  The One who was so far away was now, "closer than a brother".   Christmas had a whole new meaning to me that morning and now after more than 35 years it is still so meaningful.   In a few minutes, I will sit by the tree and continue my early morning practice of spending time with my Savior.   He is still my friend.  

Yes, there are times that He seems distant to me still, but I will continue to pray through those days when He seems distant for I know that He is still there and still listening.   It is moments like this when I feel so grateful to God for his blessings.   We have been through difficult days and I know difficult days are ahead as they are eventually for everyone, but right now I will cherish the moment.

I love Christmas programs

There is something about Christmas programs that I just love.  Sunday we enjoyed the AWANA kids at church singing the Christmas story.  There was the little girl that had trouble getting her sparkily halo straight and the boy who never sang because his shepherd hat was falling down and he just couldn't get it straight.   We decided that some of the boys will end up working for the road department because they had the concept of leaning on their shepherd staff down perfect.  I asked some of the kids some questions as I read the Christmas story and some of the answers were classic. 

There are the little ones that "sing" at the top of their lungs and the little girl that was hunching her shoulders trying to make her wings work.   Of course there are lots of parents with their video cameras recording it all for future moments. 

The baby Jesus started crying but it was OK because it just added to the charm of a wonderful small town Christmas program.  Parents who have never come to church found out that it was't too scary, and through it all Jesus is remembered.