It's 10:15 p.m. and I'm about to watch Michael Phelps try for his third straight gold medal in the 2008 Olympics. This race is the 200 Meter Men's Freestyle. There they go. He started well and is leading the race. He's pulling away from the pack. He's trying to set a new world record. He's on a pace to to set a new world record by a full second. He won! He won! He's just won his third straight gold medal with a world record time of 1:42.96. Wow, is Michael Phelps for real?
For four years, since the Athen's Olympics, Michael Phelps has been totally focused on the training discipline necessary to allow him to perform at such a high level. As I watched yet another winning performance by him, I had to think about my training discipline for the race of life which I am running in. Michael Phelps spent five hours EVERY DAY swimming as preparation for these olympics. I'm chagrined when I think about how much time I spend practicing my Christian faith.
I am running in the Race of Life which will end with a face-to-face welcome by Jesus, himself and I'm not close to Michael Phelp's level of training commitment. I wonder why? Do you ever wonder why it is that spending a significant amount of time with Jesus is such a hard thing to do? Let's talk about it! Shall we?
Monday, August 11, 2008
Monday, April 07, 2008
We're off to Florida, Sort of!
We finally got started on our vacation to Florida. We wanted to get left on Saturday, but Ida needed to have a biopsy and the only time that could be scheduled was at 8:30 today. Then I woke up during the night with a painful toothache and needed to see the dentist after Ida's biopsy. The story from the dentist is that I have a tooth that will most likely need to be pulled. I'm going to try to manage the pain with advil and an antibiotic that he gave me and trust God to make it through the two weeks. If the pain continues to get worse, I'll look up an Oral Surgeon in Florida when we arrive. (Makes an interesting vacation, doesn't it)
To top off our day, just as we were arriving in Charleston, WV, we had a flat tire and couldn't release the spare tire, and it took the AAA mechanic who came out to fix the tire an hour and a half to get the spare tire down. We finally got to our hotel room around 10:00.
We are now resting comfortably. We are optomistic about the rest of our trip.
I'll try to stay in touch.
To top off our day, just as we were arriving in Charleston, WV, we had a flat tire and couldn't release the spare tire, and it took the AAA mechanic who came out to fix the tire an hour and a half to get the spare tire down. We finally got to our hotel room around 10:00.
We are now resting comfortably. We are optomistic about the rest of our trip.
I'll try to stay in touch.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Thoughts on Being Ill
It's no fun being a sick pastor. A pastor is supposed to be available to tend the flock, but when the shepherd gets ill, the flock must fend for itself. At least that's how I feel tonight as I reflect on my lost weekend. My schedule included two speaking segments at the Men's Retreat and preaching at Sandy Hill Sunday morning. NOT! It wasn't going to happen. At the doctor visit Friday, the doctor basically said, "Cancel all your appointments. You've got the flu and you're too contagious to be in public. Shut'er down for the weekend."
On top of my getting the flu Thursday, three others of our congregation became ill as well, and should have been visited. It wasn't going to happen. So I struggled all week-end with the why of it all; schedules all messed up, other peoples schedules needing to be re-arranged, all because the preacher got the flu.
"Lord, you're certainly aware of all the good stuff that was on my schedule this weekend, why did this happen now? A week earlier would have been much better. What did you have for me through the timing of this illness? I confess I'm confused. But, Lord, I yield to you and to your plan for me. So, even though I don't know and it doesn't make sense to me, I'll rest in the fact that you know best and your plan for me is perfect. At least I am now more aware of how a an unplanned illness affects people and might be able to share a bit from this experience.
On top of my getting the flu Thursday, three others of our congregation became ill as well, and should have been visited. It wasn't going to happen. So I struggled all week-end with the why of it all; schedules all messed up, other peoples schedules needing to be re-arranged, all because the preacher got the flu.
"Lord, you're certainly aware of all the good stuff that was on my schedule this weekend, why did this happen now? A week earlier would have been much better. What did you have for me through the timing of this illness? I confess I'm confused. But, Lord, I yield to you and to your plan for me. So, even though I don't know and it doesn't make sense to me, I'll rest in the fact that you know best and your plan for me is perfect. At least I am now more aware of how a an unplanned illness affects people and might be able to share a bit from this experience.
Monday, March 03, 2008
Philadelphia Flower Show 2008
Monday, dawned bright, crisp, and clear. It was a great day to take a trip to the 2008 version of the Philadelphia Flower Show. As it usually is, the flower show was literally packed with people and georgeous displays of all kinds of flower displays much like the still flower first prize winner shown here. There was something for every flora and fawna lover. The theme this year was Mardi Gras. There was Dixieland Jazz blaring pretty much throughout the whole day. Colorful trees were adorned with brightly colored beads hanging all over them. It was really quite a festive day and we capped it off by eating a wonderful dinner at the Spaghetti Warehouse in Philadelphia. It was a Great Day!
Sunday, March 02, 2008
Angel Food Distribution Day
Thanks to all the volunteers who came out today to help bless 223 families from Chester County who arrived at Sandy Hill to receive their Angel Food grocery boxes today. It was truly a fun day of blessing these families. I wonder if those families who came for food met Jesus today? I believe they did. Jesus said, "In as much as you showed benevolence (my words) to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to me." (Matt. 25:40) I truly believe we did that today. Way to go!
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
If My People...
Tomorrow, May 3, is the National Day of Prayer and tonight our church joined numbers of other churches in the greater Coatesville, Pa. area in a prayer service for our Community, State and Nation.
What I saw tonight was men and women of different color, nationality, and denominational affiliation coming together as an Ephesians 4 church. For two hours we were all One Body, in One Spirit, crying out and confessing our collective sin to One God. The Holy Spirit blessed us with Spiritual eyes and we saw the Spirit of God coming among us.
As I was driving home from this beautiful time of cleansing and of aligning our hearts, once again, with God's heart, I had to think, "Our communities would be a completely different place if God's people in our communities would "humble ourselves and pray and seek His face, He will hear from Heaven, and He will forgive our sin, and He will heal our land. (Our communities and cities.)"
I believe if God's people, from our communities, you and I, would frequently and routinely, come together to pray, to confess our sins, to seek His face, and to ask the Father for favor, our communities would begin the process of transformation. Justice and mercy would begin to come into our communities and cities. Crime would be significantly reduced and God's Word would, once again, be welcome.
Find someone tomorrow and spend some time in prayer. Even though you might not get to one of the many organized prayer times throughout all of tomorrow, you can still find someone and ask them to join you in a time of prayer for your community, and for your state and for our nation.
God Bless
What I saw tonight was men and women of different color, nationality, and denominational affiliation coming together as an Ephesians 4 church. For two hours we were all One Body, in One Spirit, crying out and confessing our collective sin to One God. The Holy Spirit blessed us with Spiritual eyes and we saw the Spirit of God coming among us.
As I was driving home from this beautiful time of cleansing and of aligning our hearts, once again, with God's heart, I had to think, "Our communities would be a completely different place if God's people in our communities would "humble ourselves and pray and seek His face, He will hear from Heaven, and He will forgive our sin, and He will heal our land. (Our communities and cities.)"
I believe if God's people, from our communities, you and I, would frequently and routinely, come together to pray, to confess our sins, to seek His face, and to ask the Father for favor, our communities would begin the process of transformation. Justice and mercy would begin to come into our communities and cities. Crime would be significantly reduced and God's Word would, once again, be welcome.
Find someone tomorrow and spend some time in prayer. Even though you might not get to one of the many organized prayer times throughout all of tomorrow, you can still find someone and ask them to join you in a time of prayer for your community, and for your state and for our nation.
God Bless
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Test of Clipmarks
I think the following Article by Steve Ridgell is really on point. Thanks, Steve for being so honest with us.
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