The First Day Of The Week

 

The First Day Of The Week

We still have our Sunday basketball ministry with folks whose roots are in China! This is from January 5, 2014.

As you know if you are a regular reader, our congregation worships in English, Spanish, and Chinese. Besides being part of our English speaking group, I work with, and have for twelve years, our Chinese speaking fellowship. We have a rotating schedule allowing all three language groups to worship although the Chinese meet in the Fireplace Room due to smaller numbers. Part of our evangelistic outreach has to do with basketball. Every Sunday, we open up the gym at Westbury Christian School to the Chinese community to play some hoops. Our minister, David Fang, delivers a Bible message during a break in the action. This past week, David asked me if I would be the speaker today, the first Sunday of the new year. I was honored and spoke about how my faith is based largely on the way I was raised, how believing in God came as naturally as breathing and speaking English. We know what we are exposed to. I related how I can't do anything on my cell phone but my great nephew, Bennett, can because he has been around electronics all of his six years. The players, close to twenty in number, were receptive and two asked for my FACEBOOK info- I'm creeping towards 5,000! When I finished my short talk, Shimin, the guy in the orange shirt in the middle, led the closing prayer. Shimin is a member of our congregation. Guess where he learned the good news about Jesus Christ? Jesus told us to go into all the world and preach the Gospel. I think the Lord would include basketball courts as part of that directive!

Applicable quote of the day:
"Of one the Lord has made the race,
Through one has come the fall:
Where sin has gone must go His grace;
The Gospel is for all."
J.M. McCaleb

God bless,
Steve
Luke 18:1

Frontier City

 

Frontier City

I passed this place twice in the past two weeks! This is from January 3, 2018.
I'm back in cold Houston after a twelve day Christmas/New Year's Holiday in very very cold Wichita, Kansas with my family. It's a long drive- about 620 miles- but the roads are interstate the whole way and the only problem is navigating Houston's traffic. I usually leave in the middle of the night but since Monday was New Years, I thought it was safer to wait until daylight Tuesday so hopefully, the inebriated or somewhat intoxicated would be off the road. I heard January 2 was one the most traveled days in the US. I couldn't see it except coming back through Houston which always has traffic issues unless you leave here in the middle of the night!

Since our folks died, I have spent every Thanksgiving and Christmas with Dave and Scott and their families. That makes twenty trips driving to Wichita and twenty trips back. I follow a familiar route; my apartment to 610 to I45 to I 35. I could do it in my sleep but I still keep my GPS on just in case. On each leg of the journey, I pass a large amusement in Oklahoma City. It's called Frontier City and it looks like a fun place. Often, I pass it before dawn so it's hard to see much in the dark. I found out on the internet it's the only amusement park in Oklahoma and it dates back to 1958! It's seen a number of renovations and changes in ownership over the decades and it even has a rock song about it by the Kings of Leon! (One of the band members worked there as a teen.) My guess is that a lot of kids  and not young anymore youngsters have lifelong memories revolving around summers spent on that plot of land. Childhood memories can be so sweet.

I admit I'm kind of fascinated by Frontier City. You know, I've never been inside after all these years and I even very vaguely remembering passing it a when we drove to Arkansas from Nebraska as a boy. Maybe it's the most wonderful spot on earth and I've never found out for myself. But I only go by when it's closed, when it's dark and gloomy. There's no kids or laughter, no sunshine or sno-cones, no families or staging group pictures. When I see it, there is no amusement in the park, just a cold deserted piece of real estate. I've said before that a school without the kids is simply a facility. A theme park without children and their folks is a ghost town.

Last Christmas, I preached the wedding of a former student in Fort Worth. To practice, I spent thirty minutes in our church auditorium practicing in front of empty pews. It was eerie, dark and deserted in an enclosure that would probably seat seven hundred when filled. But a church building void of a gathering of believers (and hopefully non believers as well) has no life. The life is in the flesh and blood. In John 10:10, Jesus explains the fullness of the existence He offers: 
I have come so that they may have life, and may have it abundantly.
That's the life I want/we want. Not an empty, lonely life but the joyous, fulfilling life of serving others and serving God. Going to an amusement park with you as the only customer would seem a waste of time. We, and even me, a strong introvert, understand the happiness that comes from interacting with a crowd even of strangers mixed in with loved ones if we come with a common purpose. Movies, concerts, ball games- all these depend to some extent on those who participate willingly. There's enough emptiness in a culture that prides itself in communicating. I pray my life reflects to those I meet the atmosphere of Frontier City in the warmth of summer, not in the coldness of winter. Those out in the cold are looking to come in.

To watch the Kings Of Leon song Frontier City, click or copy/paste the link below!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwdxhHaJSY4

Applicable quote of the day:

I look just like the girls next door... if you happen to live next door to an amusement park.Dolly Parton
God bless,
Steve
Luke 18:1

By The Numbers

 

By The Numbers

For over six years, I had a pre-paid cell phone that some anonymous benefactor gave me when Dad had a stroke and I never lost it, a victory in itself. The following, from May 31, 2007, is about my reliance on calling cards for long distance service before I got a real cell phone.

My Dollar General phone card ran out last night. Well, it's down to a minute or two so it's effectively dead. If you want the remaining moments, dial 1-800-808-2816 and punch in the PIN number, 0871 723 1450 and the number you wish to dial. It's on me! I don't have a long distance provider and I try to call my folks every night. These cards have 725 minutes on them which last about two months. This evening, I broke in a new one. The easy part is taking a penny and scratching to reveal the pin number. For the first week or so, I keep the card with me when I call but then the inevitable happens. Without realizing it, I've memorized the sequence and I no longer need to peek. Before much longer, I can punch in the numbers without even thinking and can discard the card totally. Then, in about six weeks, the process repeats itself.

My prayer life resembles my involvement with calling cards. At times, the lists of those I pray for on a constant basis becomes an exercise in rote memorization. Even the names on written down prayer lists come to mind before my eye picks them up. I pray for the girls who played basketball for me over the years every day and the only way to do that is with a pattern. But I worry that I say the names without really thinking about them. Have you ever prayed for someone for an extended period of time and when they pass away, you still prayed for them out of force of habit? It's happened to me on numerous occasions. I don't want to throw my lists away because there is no one I consciously want to stop praying for. Sometimes, a crisis is good for our communication with the Lord because it forces us- at least me- to really focus on our pleadings and praise. Maybe, like my phone cards, I need to reorganize my prayer life every several months to keep it from going stale. Maybe I should pray in a different location or with a different posture or perhaps use a different order or at a different time. My understanding is that my idiosyncrasies are not that important to the One on the other end. I don't have to budget minutes with him....and I never forget the number.

Applicable quote of the day:
"What a lot we lost when we stopped writing letters. You can't re-read a phone call."
Liz Carpenter

God bless,
Steve
Luke 18:1

The Resting Place

 

The Resting Place

A number of Facebook friends have recently lost parents. It is a grieving process with no exact boundaries. This is from December 30, 2008.

Scott sent me this tonight. Aunt Jerry shot this picture of Dad's headstone at the New Corinth Cemetery outside of Nashville, Arkansas where Dad was interred last April 19. This is the same location where many of my relatives on Mom's side, including my Chesshir grandparents, are buried. Interestingly, Mom and Dad were married in the tiny church building which used to sit on this same plot of ground. This place held great meaning for Dad and by extension, for me as well. We loved going to Arkansas as kids and maybe even more as adults. I'm still coming to grips with Dad's passing and this is one more step along the highway. If I died in the near future, this is where I would want to be laid to rest. (I'm sure Uncle Bill would tell me to hurry up and purchase my own plot!) In the Scriptures, both Jacob and his son, Joseph, gave instructions in regards to their funerals; they wanted their remains to be with their families. The families complied...and so did we with our father. Rest In Peace, Dad.

Applicable quote of the day # 1:
"Do not save your loving speeches for your friends till they are dead. Do not write them on their tombstones, speak them rather now instead.”
Anna Cummin


Applicable quote of the day # 2:
"I am learning all the time. The tombstone will be my diploma.”
Eartha Kitt

God bless,
Steve
Luke 18:1

At The Altar

 

At The Altar

Anger and grudges are hard to reconcile with the word of God. It is especially difficult when the object of your anger is your brother. This is from January 5, 2011. I hope they made up!

My sophomore Gospels class today quizzed over Matthew 5:13-30. One of the questions covered verses 23-24 where Jesus stated this:
“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift."
We came to the conclusion that although giving to the Lord is of great importance, Jesus told us that making it right with your brother or sister carried even greater weight. We discussed that some of them (the kids) are angry and they we need to fix the problem with the other person, whether of the spiritual family or biological clan. I saw a short story tonight on Sports Illustrated's website about two brothers that really grieved me. Darryl and Brent Sutter are two of the amazing six brothers in the family who all played in the National Hockey League. Until very recently, they worked together as general manager and coach of the Calgary Flames. Darryl has resigned his position and the two are not speaking although Brent says he has reached out through texts. Working together is sometimes hazardous to family harmony and I know nothing about hockey but I know brothers. After a certain age, you aren't going to get any more. I don't think there could be any better illustration of Jesus' teaching than the Sutters. Maybe it's more difficult to reconcile if you are a public figure but Jesus did not make an exception for the famous. I hope they make up before it's too late. If they do, it would be a great illustration of an altar call.

Applicable quote of the day # 1:
"When brothers agree, no fortress is so strong as their common life."
Antisthenes

Applicable quote of the day # 2:
"It takes two men to make one brother."
Israel Zangwill

God bless,
Steve (Brother of Dave and Scott)
Luke 18:1

In Praise Of Nurses

 

In Praise Of Nurses

There was a stretch years ago where every time I went to St. Louis to be with my folks, something happened to Mom. As someone who had never spent time in a hospital, it was not always easy watching others be in charge of my mother. I wrote the following during a Spring Break visit and  it ran March 13, 2006. 

Yesterday was long. I spent seven hours in Mom's hospital room. During my lifetime, I have infrequently been in hospital settings, either as visitor or patient. My mother is undergoing tests to determine why she passed out two days ago. It has been a blessing for me to be here in St. Louis. It takes some of the burden off of my father and I have been able to spend time with Mom, albeit in a manner I would not have chosen. The hardest part of Mom's Alzheimer's for me is the role reversal. Yesterday, Mom had two choices. She could stay in bed or she could sit in a chair. Since she was hooked up to an IV drip, she had to remain relatively immobile. At least twenty times, she tried to get up and walk away; I had to restrain her. Mom kept tugging at the heart monitor attached to her; I had to repeatedly intervene. Even though I understand it's for her well-being, it is very difficult for me to take the position of the adult when it comes to Mom. If there is a bright side, it is that she tries to be cooperative and please those caring for her. That part of her personality the Alzheimer's has not been able to penetrate.

That brings me to the nurses. Seeing others care for a loved one is not easy but the nurses attending to Mom have been incredible. They come in a variety of ages and ethnicities but they have this in common: they are extraordinary in the protection of the aged. In 1st Corinthians 13, the first two definitions of love given by Paul are patience and kindness. Those descriptions fit the women watching over my mother as if tailor-made. Their touch is tender and never rough or brusque. They speak gently to her, calling her by name. They let her speak, even though much of what she says is incoherent. They make eye contact with her and let her maintain dignity. They deal with thousands of patients per year but I left feeling my mother was viewed as an individual with worth and value. And so, to the nursing staff on the seventh floor of the DePaul Health Center in St. Louis, I say the only word befitting one in my position- THANKS. You have blessed my family as I am sure you have blessed many families. I know you don't get paid enough but it isn't a paycheck you chase. You help the world, one patient, one family, one crisis at a time. You do it with class and you do it with empathy. And you did it for my mother.

Applicable quote of the day:
"Constant attention by a good nurse may be just as important as a major operation by a surgeon."
Dag Hammarskjold (Former Secretary General of the United Nations)

God bless,
Steve
Luke 18:1

The Shedding Of Blood

 

The Shedding Of Blood

This is about an incident at Jos A Bank.  It is from December 22, 2011.

Last Saturday, I was once again lured into my new favorite store, Jos A Bank, by the offer of BUY ONE, GET TWO FREE! Since I love their Traveler dress shirts, it was a natural for me to check out what they had for sale. I reached into a stack of size 15.5"/34" shirts to see if they were of the button down variety. Suddenly, I felt a sharp stinging sensation on my left hand. I had been gashed in two places on a finger by one of the many stick pins used to precisely hold these shirts in a perfectly folded position. My finger immediately started leaking blood. Also in the store at the same time were my good friends, Becki and Randy Glover.  I assumed being a typical mom/grandmom would require Becki to have a Band-Aid in her purse but Becki was empty in the bandage department. I found Silvia, the lovely sales lady who always helps me, and she was able to round up several adhesive strips to staunch the flow of blood.  Pressure was applied to the mini gashes and the Band-Aid did its work. I was able to continue my shopping experience unimpaired and walked away with three shirts, two of which were free!

Do you know what I was afraid of when I pricked myself? I was worried I would get blood on those shirts and no one would buy them. I mean, who would spend money on a shirt stained by the blood of an unknown donor? (Knowing my penchant for feeling guilty, I might even buy shirts in the wrong color/size/style simply because I would feel responsible!) And yet, as believers, we know our only hope is to be dressed in garments washed in the blood of the Lamb of God. My blood ruins; His blood saves. What a gift from above! Merry Christmas to all.

Applicable quote of the day:
"“The thorn from the bush one has planted, nourished and pruned pricks more deeply and draws more blood.” 
Maya Angelou 

God bless,
Steve

Luke 18:1