TJR Journey

Peru Journey Day 3

2011-09-02T14:42:00.000-07:00

We started the day(Friday, August 19) by delivering school supplies sent by FRESH Fellowship to three different schools. This shot was with the teacher in charge for the day at the local high school.


As we left the high school I stopped to pose with some of the boys who really were not interested in posing for a picture.


As we drove into the town of Chaquicoche we saw a field where lambs were being slaughtered. Apparently that is standard procedure for market day.

The market had plenty of fresh produce that was as good or better than it looked. Robin on our team wanted to find a way to take some of the produce home with her. Of course vegetables would have been confiscated as we returned to the US, but it was a nice thought.


This market was much larger than the one we attended the day before in Usibamba. Robin said it was the super Walmart of markets with almost anything available. One of the unique items we found for sale were ribbons for your cow. I suppose it is a way to identify your cows.

This gentleman was one of the local church leaders whom we found working in his yard. He was actually digging to find sand that would be suitable for making the mud bricks for a building. We talked at length about his church and his ministry and finished with a word of prayer.


As we drove away from the pastor's home we ran across this celebration that included music and dancing. It is a celebration in honor of St Santiago that is widely celebrated in the mountains. This lady was coming over to invite us to join in the celebration.

I am appreciative of Amber Smith Uruchi for taking many of these pictures. On many ocassions, I simply handed her the camera while I tried to talk to people. She did a great job!

We spent the day trying to locate local pastors in Chaquicoche, Independencia and San Jose de Quero. Some we were able to talk to, others we were not able to find. There were several times we asked about a pastor and the reply was, he was just here! We did spend a lot of time trying to build bridges with pastors from many different evangelical traditions. Impressions are that there is a lot of competition. Many churches have been started with splits from other churches. Most of them are small and struggling. I feel that continued efforts will bear some fruit and will break down some barriers. If we can encourage them and train all the pastors then perhaps the message of salvation will be preached across the valley.

Philippians 1

¹⁵ It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. ¹⁶ The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. ¹⁷ The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. ¹⁸ But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.

Peru Journey sights

2011-08-26T14:43:00.000-07:00

While we were trying to contact different church leaders we saw some fascinating sights.

This man was driving a small group of cows down the road.


This man was simply traveling down the road


During market day, there were a number of booths that offered a variety of fast foods.

This man was enjoying fried seafood.


We were needing some veggies for supper and this lady provided some wonderful fresh carrots and broccoli.

These girls had just enjoyed an ice cream cone when we found them.


This picture overlooks the town of San Roque de Huarmita. It gives you a hint of the majestic beauty in the area.

The Andes Mountain range runs north and south through the middle of Peru. At this point there are two distinct mountain ranges with a valley in between. The valley is the Cuna Valley. On this trip I learned the official altitude was 12,600 ft. Most of the people are descendants of the pre-Incan culture called Huanca. From what I have heard, they were never really conquered by the Incas.

Revelation 7
⁹ After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. ¹⁰ And they cried out in a loud voice:
“Salvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb.”

Peru Journey Review Day 2

2011-08-26T14:09:00.000-07:00


Our primary objective on Thursday and Friday was to make contact with as many local pastors as possible. We wanted to invite them to participate in a training conference on Saturday. In San Roque we found this pastor who seemed to be fairly open to participating in the session.

This pastor also seemed to be interested in what we were planning to do. What we are learning is that there are several small struggling Evangelical churches in the area. Some are Pentecostal, others call themselves an Apocalyptic Church, others are a part of the Peruvian Church.

The pastor in the picture above was also taking care of their little girl who continued to playfully hang on to her father's leg while we talked.


Pastor Rolando de la Cruz has been pastor of the Pentecostal church in Usibamba. He has a powerful testimony and has worked closely with our teams whenever possible.


When we arrived to talk with Rolando he and a friend were busy working on an expansion to his home using the adobe brick construction that is common in the area.

Our plan was to invite as many pastors in the area as possible to participate in a training conference scheduled for Saturday. We knew it would be a challenge, simply because there tends to be some tension or perhaps competition between pastors. We did our best to break down the barriers as much as possible but we knew it would be an uphill battle.

In visiting with these men I have become convinced that they love the Lord but they struggle with the lack of training. I often feel that since our theologies are often different, we spend time fighting each other and not focusing on the mission that God has given us. My thinking this week has been if God's name is glorified in the ministry of these men and we can strengthen them then we are all doing what God has called us to do. That is when I try to remember what Jesus prayed the night before he was crucified.

John 17

I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of^[b] your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. ¹² While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by^[c] that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.

Peru Journey Review Day 1

2011-08-25T13:01:00.000-07:00

After traveling to Lima on Tuesday, we joined up with our driver, Oscar (on top) and our translators. Some other members of the local team were there to send us off!

As we drove out of Lima we found this truck with 'Charlotte' on it. It turns out to be a restaurant chain that sells sandwiches and desserts. Of course my wife Charlotte would like to know that she is famous in Peru!

Mijael and Amber Uruchi were our translators. Mijael has been to San Jose de Quero several times and seems to know everyone in town. Mijael and Amber were married just a few weeks ago.

Kevin and Robin Larson were the other members of the team. Kevin works in IT at Capitol One. Robin is a Latin teacher and has home schooled their six children.

After driving for about an hour we Oscar said we had a problem. You can see a bolt that is hanging down just below and to the right of the center of the picture. It should be upright and attached to the stabilizer bar. We found a man who made a new nut to fit so we could continue on the journey.

The road was a one lane road that could provide some surprises. In this case we met the truck coming around a bend so we backed up until we could find a spot to pull off and let him by.

The road we traveled followed a narrow canyon with a river running through it. You can see how the road was cut out of the canyon wall. The river is about a hundred yards below us.

On this day I was reminded of one of my favorite scripture promises. It certainly applied on this day. It is found in Proverbs 3: 5-6

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.

South American Journey - Epilogue

2011-05-21T05:46:00.000-07:00

It has been two months since we returned from our South American Journey. Regrettably, I have neglected to finish the story.
This is the only group picture I managed to get. From left to right are Susan, John, Sarah, Van, Charlotte and me.

After leaving the ship we spent several days in Santiago. Santiago was by far the most progressive city we visited on the journey. The presidential palace, La Moneda, is a grand building with a storied past.
In the past, I never imagined that we would be able to pose for pictures beside the presidential guards.
In the late 1970's, Chile elected a socialist president, Salvador Allende. After several years of Socialist/Communist leadership he was deposed by a military junta led by Agusto Pinochet. In the process Allende committed suicide. As a result Allende has become somewhat of a mythical hero to many.
Santiago is a beautiful city with many parks, flowers, etc.
Chile loves seafood and we managed to enjoy some King Crab, a real treat!
Chile has a national police force known as the Carabineros. Growing up I always had a healthy respect for them. In recent years they have made an effort to relax their stern image. One other change has been the addition of women to their ranks.
As mentioned earlier, Santiago is a city of parks, monuments and modern buildings.

On our last day in Santiago we visited a large shopping mall that was larger than any I have ever visited in the United States. Charlotte and I found this burger place that was one of many restaurants. By the way, we shared the burger!

I was impressed with Santiago. It is a large, prosperous, bustling city with a strong infrastructure. I was also surprised at how expensive things were. It is a city that I would love to visit again. By the way, being in the southern hemisphere, their summer is during our winter. So if you want to find a nice warm climate to visit in January or February, Chile is the place to go.

Reflecting on our journey, last week while talking with my brother, I told him, it was an incredible treat! We were able to visit some fascinating places; I was able to connect with a lot of my heritage; being on the cruise ship we were well taken care of; of course the food was awesome; and being able to share that experience with a special group of family and friends simply made it special.

I will always be thankful for the incredible blessing of being able to take that 'South American Journey'."But I trust in your unfailing love;
my heart rejoices in your salvation.
I will sing the LORD’s praise,
for he has been good to me."
Psalm 13: 5-6

South American Journey - Valparaiso

2011-03-15T13:55:00.000-07:00

On Sunday we landed in Valparaiso, Chile the main port city in Chile.

This marked the end of our fourteen day journey on the Celebrity Infinity that carried us about 3,400 miles from Buenos Aires around the tip of South America to Valparaiso.

Valparaiso is a city built on thirty-four hills. If you are not near the port, you will have to go either up or down hill.

From a mountain overlook we could see for miles. Just beyond the first point you can see twin city of Vina del Mar, Chile's premier beach city and playground for the wealthy.

Everybody in Valparaiso lives on a hill.

Many of the houses are painted in contrasting pastel colors which makes for a dramatic effect.

This part of Chile is also known for its fruit. The peaches are priced at $200 peso per kilo which is about forty-five cents in US dollars. Most of us have purchased Chilean grapes at some point.

Valparaiso is a city of several hundred thousand. It is a major shipping port. There has been significant unemployment in the city. Shipping used to provide a lot of employment. Now with container shipping and automation, not a lot of labor is needed. There are efforts to strengthen the economy in the city.

In scripture, the city often represents a collection of people. During Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, He saw the city and wept, because they did not know what would bring them peace. I wonder how many people in Valparaiso and Vina del Mar do not know what will bring them peace?
"As He approached Jerusalem and saw the city He wept over it." Luke 19:41

South American Journey - Puerto Mont

2011-03-13T13:15:00.001-07:00

On Friday we stopped in Puerto Mont, a city of of about 80,000 in the southern part of Chile. Charlotte and I took a tour up from there into the lake district about twenty-five miles from there.

Our first stop was in the Frutillar which is named for the plentiful strawberries. It is right on the shores of lake Llanquihue, the third largest lake in South America.

A huge snow capped volcano, Osorno overlooks the lake.

The next town was Puerto Varas I found an empanada, which is common in most of South America. This variety of empanada is filled with chopped beef, onions, a boiled egg, a couple of raisins and a sauce. It was wonderful.

I continue to be fascinated with the young people that I see everywhere. It turns out that in Puerto Mont, the high school students go to class until 4 PM Monday through Thursday and on Friday they get out at ome PM. They enjoy hanging out around the square.

As we left Puerto Mont and headed west toward the Pacific the sun was playing hide and seek, creating some awesome views.

"Sing praises to the Lord, you his faithful people;

praise his holy name;

for his anger lasts only a moment,

but his favor lasts a lifetime;

Weeping may stay for the night,

but rejoicing comes in the morning.

Psalm 30:4-5

South American Journey - Punta Arenas

2011-03-10T17:56:00.000-08:00

Tuesday we stopped in Punta Arenas, Chile a city of about 80,000 located right on the Straight of Magellan. The contrast with Ushuaiah, which is a tourist town, was striking. Punta Arenas is very much a place to work and raise your family.
The central plaza is dominated by this statue of Ferdinand Magellan. The Plaza is surrounded by banks, businesses, the Cape Horn Hotel and some restaurants. It was busy all day.

This little five year old posed for me. We ran into her in a candy shop in a mall just off of the square. She was ready to pose even though her little sister was afraid of me.

There were high school students all over the place. They start school at 8 AM and go to class until 12:15. Then most of them go home for lunch and return to school at 3 PM and go until 6:15. They are now in the second week of the school year that started on February 28. Their school year will run through mid December.

Our main interest in Punta Arenas was to see the town where our parents lived and served for ten years as missionaries. This church was an existing Anglican Church when my parents arrived, but they had not had a pastor in ten years because they did not have someone who could preach in English. The asked my dad to pastor and asked for special permission from the Anglican Bishop to allow him to do that.

Of course their primary purpose for being in Punta Arenas was church planting and they did that all over Patagonia. One church they started was the Playa Norte Baptist Church (North Beach). From all appearances the church has grown and added a significant building in recent years.

To me the legacy my parents left behind after thirty-six years of ministry in South America is churches all over Colombia and Chile. Those churches are filled with people who hear the word preached and souls are being added to the kingdom of God. Most of them have not even heard of Gerald and Virgie Riddell, but they do know the Saviour. The legacy that is important is the souls that are added to the kingdom.

"The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom listens for him and waits for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegrooms voice. That joy is mine and is now complete, He must become greater, I must become less."

John 3: 29-30

South American Journey - Usuaiha

2011-03-09T17:59:00.000-08:00

On Monday we stopped in Usuaiah, Argentina (pronounced oo-sh-yi-ya) for the day. Located on the Beagle Channel it is located about a hundred miles north of Cape Horn. It is a beautiful town of about 60,000. It boasts of wildlife, glaciers and is near the Tierra del Fuego National Park.

I knew it was going to a good day when I saw the sunrise that morning.

The town is located on the Beagle Channel, nestled between the mountains and the channel. This picture was taken while on a trip via catamaran to some islands in the channel that are home to sea lions cormorants and albatross.

The island is called Sea Wolf Island. It seems that in Spanish they are called Sea Wolfs instead of Sea Lions.

There was another island that was home to hundreds of cormorants.

It was a great day of enjoying the spectacular beauty in this hidden corner at the bottom of the world.

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body what you will wear. Is not life more than food or the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air they do not sow, reap or store away in barns and yet your heavenly father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?"
Matthew 6: 25-26

South American Journey - Shipmates

2011-03-07T18:23:00.001-08:00

We are traveling these two weeks with some friends that we are very close to.

Van and Sarah have been friends for many years. Van is a physician who served in the IMB home office twenty-five years. Sarah is an accomplished musician. Together they served in India for ten years. Van recently retired from the IMB.

John and Susan live in Texas. John, my older brother, retired about a year and a half ago after a career of using higher mathematics to help hotels and other companies predict occupancy rates and thus establish pricing. Susan formerly taught Spanish on the college level, she is also an accomplished musician that plays the organ. She recently retired from the MD Anderson Hospital foundation where she worked in web development.

Sarah and Susan are sisters. But, the connections go deeper. Their parents served in Colombia as missionaries years ago and were very close friends with my parents who also served there. I have known them for many years and of course Susan married my older brother.

Of course Charlotte and I are the third couple on this journey.

Part of the reason for the journey is that Susan, Van and I recently retired and it is somewhat of a celebration of our retirement. The other reason for the journey is to revisit some of the places where John and my parents served as missionaries for many years.

It has been a time of reminiscing about parents, family and telling a lot of good stories. It has also good to see some of the legacy our parents left us and retrace some of our roots. As we begin our trek through Chile that will be a major theme to our journey.

South American Journey - Day 8

2011-03-07T13:51:00.000-08:00

On Sunday we sailed to Cape Horn, the southern most land area on the South American continent. At that point we were just 400 miles north of Antarctica. We felt like we were at the end of the world!

By this point the waves were 9 to 10 feet high and put on a good show. Truthfully, it was a beautiful day. One of the crew mentioned that it was the smoothest trip he had ever made around the Horn.

So far the weather on this trip has been spectacular. Even earlier in the day it was cloudy but the clouds would come and go. The shore was rugged.

The albatross is a common bird in the area. Of course to mariners, the albatross is a symbol of bad luck. They often follow ships. They are very efficient gliders and stay at sea for months or even years at a time. We heard that albatrosses would often watch for men that were swept overboard and pick at the man mercilessly.

Cape Horn is an island off of the southern tip of the continent. It is marked by a Chilean flag, a weather station and a monument that is dedicated to the honor of those who died in these waters. In the years before ships had steel hulls and before the Panama canal was built over one thousand ships sank in these waters and 15,000 sailors lost their lives.

My parents, who were missionaries in South America for thirty-six years lived about 200 miles north of here in Punta Arenas, Chile for ten years. I often heard Pop that they were the world's southern most Southern Baptist missionaries. They certainly believed that they were fulfilling literally the great commission:

"Go ye therefore and teach all men whatsoever I have taught you baptizing them in the name of The Father, The Son and the Holy Ghost and lo I will be with you even unto the ends of the earth."
Matthew 28: 18-19

South American Journey - Day 6

2011-03-05T14:24:00.000-08:00

Friday we stopped in Puerto Madryn, Argentina. We then boarded a bus and drove two and a half hours south to Punto Tombo to a nature preserve that is dedicated to the preservation of a breeding ground of Magellan Penguins.

This one was one of Charlotte's favorites because he paid attention to her. I guess you can say they connected! She called him Pancho.

The penguins usually arrive in early September and leave in early March. At the height of the season their will be as many as two million penguins. We arrived at the end of the season and many had left but there were still several thousand penguins.

The Magellan Penguins are different from their cousins the Emperor Penguins found in Antarctica that grow to three feet. Theses grow to an average of eighteen inches. They spend the majority of the year swimming the waters off the coast of South America eating their favorite food, anchovies.

From one observation point we saw hundreds of penguins lined up on the beach with many others frolicking in the water. It reminds me of being on the beach on the 4th of July.

After a long day of traveling to see penguins, we returned to the ship to sail to points South. The sunset that evening was spectacular. Tomorrow we make it to Cape Horn, the southern most tip of South America. Approximately 500 miles from Antarctica. That is pretty close to the bottom of the world!

The earth is the Lord's and everything in it,

The world and all who live in it;

For he founded it upon the seas

And established it upon the waters.

Psalm 25:1-2

South American Journey Day 7

2011-03-02T17:31:00.000-08:00

Overnight the ship journeyed from Montevideo to Punta del Este (East Point). The name is appropriate since it is located on a point of land that marks the end of the Rio de la Plata and the Atlantic.

Punta del Este is a ocean resort town that has about 10,000 year around residents and as many as 500,000 during the summer months of December through the first of March. The light house above is somewhat of a simple for the town.

Walking around this town we saw this little boy playing outside of his home which is near the lighthouse. His mother was very friendly and gave us permission to take his picture. He is one year old.

The church in the background is very picturesque. Sadly we heard the statistic yesterday that 38% of the residents say that they are atheists. I have heard for years that mission work in this country has been very challenging.

The 'fingers in the sand' are a piece of unusual local artwork. The city has some of the most beautiful beaches I have seen on both the sea side and on the river side of the peninsula.

There is no dock large enough to handle the ship so we 'tendered' on and off the ship, which means we used the life boats to take the 20 minute journey from the ship to the dock in town.

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place

And gave him a name that is above every name

that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow

in heaven and on the earth and under the earth

every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2: 10-11

South American Journey - Day 6

2011-03-01T11:35:00.000-08:00

We traveled overnight from Buenos Aires, Argentina to Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay. The distance is about 200 kilometers across what is said to be the widest river in the world, the Rio de la Plata. We arrived in Montevideo on Tuesday morning just as the sun was peeking over the horizon.

Our ship is the Celebrity Infinity which is just over 900 feet long and carries 1950 passengers.

We were able to visit the 'Old City' which is an area within walking distance of the dock. The picture is of independence square.

The old town is rather ecclectic with grand old buildings next to new high rise buildings.

Of course for me, the key to any people or culture is the food. For lunch we enjoyed a mixed kabob of tenderloin, chicken and pork (which we shared and still could not finish). Then about an hour later we enjoyed a great cup of coffee...

... with dessert of a crepe with dulce de leche and ice cream on top!

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies,

Thou annointest my head with oil.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Psalm 23

South American Journey - Days 4& 5

2011-02-28T11:27:00.000-08:00

I like Buenos Aires. It is a big city, a lot of heritage and culture. There are monuments everywhere! It is summer time and I love the trees. There are a lot of good restaurants and the people appear to be warm and friendly.

Above is one of my favorite spots during our visit. Its a park named for Jose San Martin the general who led Argentina to be free of Spanish rule. I like this broad walkway that is covered with a canopy of trees.

The 'Casa Rosada' (Pink House) is the Argentine version of the White House, the working office of the President of Argentina.

A significant part of the city's heritage is the tango, a dance that was born in this neighborhood in the southern part of the city where poor imigrants from Italy and Spain lived in the late 1800's. Interestingly, I read that 60% of the people have Italian heritage.

The tragedy is that for a city with a population of 14 million, there are many, many lost people here. The have the semblance of religion, but I doubt there is a genuine faith and comitment to Christ.

"Not everyone who says unto me, Lord, Lord, will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but only the one who does the will of the Father in Heaven."

Matthew 7: 21

South American Journey - Day 3

2011-02-26T18:08:00.000-08:00

Day three was spent in Buenos Aires looking around and doing some shopping. Mostly we just relaxed.
It looks like Charlotte is studying something very hard. It is a puzzle book!

Our room is on the top floor and we have a patio attached to the room. This afternoon the temperature was around 82, but there was a gentle breeze and it was very pleasant. No, I am not praying, I am trying to read and not go to sleep! Charlotte took the picture.

The people here are serious about their meat! This was a grill in a mall food court. Last night Charlotte and I ordered a rib-eye steak that was 500 grams. After thinking about it we realized that it was one pound of steak so we decided to share!

The British have a long relationship with Argentina. The bell tower in the distance is a memorial to a major immigration of British in the early 1800's. However, the Faulkland Islands War soured that relationship. In the foreground is a memorial to those who died in the war over the Faulkland Islands (which Argentina calls Malvinas Islands).

So, Argentina built their memorial to those who died in that war directly across from the clock tower built in honor of the British many years before.

Another impression I have of Buenos Aires is they have a lot of beautiful trees. Here are more of the huge trees with large trunks, similar to the one we mentioned yesterday.

For years Argentina struggled through political turmoil. Then there was the Faulkland Island War. Fortunately, Argentina is fairly calm and there is a relatively good standard of living for many.

I am reminded of Psalm 46: 9-10

He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth; He breaks the bow and shatters the spear, he burns the shields with fire.

Be still and know that I am God; I will be exhalted among the nations, I will be exhalted in the earth.

South American Journey Day 1 & 2

2011-02-25T17:44:00.000-08:00

Charlotte and I will be traveling through Argentina, Uruguay and Chile for the next three weeks. I hope to post some pictures on a regular basis that will give you some idea of what we are experiencing.

We flew from Richmond to Miami on a small American Airlines jet. Note the gate agent watching the captian as he went through his preflight procedures.

When we left Richmond it was cloudy with a light rain. As the altitude increased we went through multiple layers of clouds.

The nice thing about flying is that no matter how cloudy and rainy the weather is on the surface, if you can get high enough you will always find sunshine.

It reminds me of the phrase from Psalm 19:

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

We flew through the night landing in Buenos Aires at 7:30 AM. When we got to our hotel, our room was not ready, so we found a side walk cafe and I enjoyed a good cup of coffee!

Out hotel is located across the street from the Plaza San Martin which commemorates the exploits of General Jose San Martin who was the key military leader in liberating Argentina, Peru and Chile from Spanish rule in the early 1800's.

At the center of the park we found this ancient tree. I have no idea how old it is, but I do wonder about some of the history it has seen.

A nice treat to being in the southern hemisphere in February is that it is late summer here. Today the temperature was near 80 degrees with bright sunshine. It was a beautiful day in the park and lovers were out enjoying the weather and each other.

Psalm 19 concludes saying:

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord my Rock and my Redeemer.

More tomorrow!

Colombia Journey Part 4 - Faces

2011-01-14T14:33:00.000-08:00

I am always fascinated with people and their stories. Here are some faces that are a good representation of the people we met.

Pastor Edward and his wife from Manizales Baptist Church.
Children of street peddlers that spent their days just outside our hotel room.
Santiago
Daniel, a new school teacher helped me with items I did not understand during Sunday worship.
Three year old daughter of the minister of worship.
One of he children at Manizales Baptist.
Another of the children at Manizales Baptist.
Angela, whose husband is the worship pastor's wife.
Worship pastor at Manizales Baptist and his daughter.
Daniel, their son.
Indigenous teenager who was running a shop in a local mall.

Most of the people pictured are believers. Some of them are not. They are all precious in the sight of God.

¹² “What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? ¹³ And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. ¹⁴ In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.

Matthew 18: 12-14 NIV

Colombia Journey Part 3

2011-01-13T15:14:00.000-08:00

On Sunday we made it to church. After a weekend of the Festival with all of its commotion I was needing to spend some time with a group of believers. We found the Manizales Baptist Church.

The church is not particularly impressive looking, but there is a lot going on inside.
The worship service started with an extended period of singing contemporary praise songs. As you can see the praise time included a group of interpretive dancers. The songs were interspersed with prayer times and scripture readings.Everyone participated actively in the praise time, including seven year old Santiago.
Then came the offering. Interestingly, after the offertory prayer led by the pastor some of the elders of the church stood at the front with baskets and people came forward and placed their offerings in the baskets. By the way, the pastor's wife, is standing behind the pastor in the gray dress.
At one point a man who is supported by the church as a missionary among some indigenous people shared a brief testimony. He told a powerful story about how God had worked in his life.
The highlight of the service was the sermon by the pastor. He was articulate, biblical and actively engaged the congregation. I did not see anyone looking bored or sleeping.
We were wondering how things would work out for Charlotte since she does not understand Spanish. The pastor's wife enlisted July (pronounced Julie) to interpret. July spent several years growing up in California. She now works as an interpreter for several local companies.
The church has the practice of providing lunch for anyone that comes seven days a week. On Saturdays and Sundays they will have as many as one hundred stay for lunch.
The youth were having a good time while they waited for lunch to be served.

We were a bit concerned when we heard that the services usually last about three hours. Honesty, it did not seem long. We found ourselves engaged. It was a wonderful worship experience.

Visiting the church was a highlight for me. First, it was good to be with a fellowship of believers. Second, we met many beautiful people. Third, there were several people there whose lives have been radically transformed by the gospel. Finally, it was exciting to be a part of a dynamic church that is making a significant difference in the lives of people.

I rejoiced with those who said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD.”

Psalms 122:1

"For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

Matthew 18:20

Colombia Journey Part 2

2011-01-12T14:06:00.000-08:00

On Friday morning we flew over to Manizales. It was a short 40 minute flight due west from Bogota. Manizales is also located in the mountains at only 7,000 feet. They have a small airport, you can see that the runway is sloped upward.

The city has approximately five hundred thousand residents and is located along a mountain ridge. The main street is on top of the ridge, when you get off of the main street you will go down hill.
The picture below was taken from inside the state government building. It is a national historical monument and represents 19th century architecture. In front of the building is the plaza, Simon Bolivar, which includes a statue of the man-condor. Beyond that is the central cathedral in town.
We had heard that the 'Feria of Manizales' (Manizales Fair) would be going on that weekend. What we did not realize was that it would dominate everything going on over the weekend. While getting around we saw four different concert venues. There were parades, bull fights, beauty contests and streets set aside for street peddlers and crowds everywhere!
This picture was taken outside our hotel. Every afternoon the street was turned into a pedestrian mall. The crowds started picking up around 5 PM each night and continued until after midnight.
Manizales is home to six different universities. Pictured above is the National University. Located nearby is the University of Caldas. About five minutes away is the Catholic University.
The church with the floating cross and the red brick stair stepped apartment building seemed to be primary landmarks for me as we traveled around town.
The University of Manizales has several classroom buildings with a courtyard in the middle. It looked welcoming. We learned that there are fifty thousand students attending six different universities in town. Regrettably, it was vacation time so we were not able to meet many students.

Manizales is a nice city. In spite of its size, five hundred thousand, it feels much smaller. The mountain setting was also very attractive. It is in the heart of Colombia's coffee triangle so there is always a good and inexpensive cup of coffee available. The people are known for being among the friendliest in Colombia and we found they lived up to their reputation.

We met the Pastor of the Manizales Baptist Church (subject of tomorrow's blog) and he said that the city is known for being religious. But, he believes there are a lot of churches and superficial spirituality and yet most of the people are lost and without hope.

"When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things." Mark 6:34

Colombia Journey

2011-01-11T06:53:00.000-08:00

Charlotte and I are traveling in Colombia this week. Our first stop was in Bogota, a city of eight million people.

Bogota is located in the Andes mountain at an altitude of 8,000 feet. This picture was taken from Monserrat, a park on a mountain with a great view of the city.
On top of the mountain is a beautiful Catholic church that is still decorated for the Christmas season.

This journey includes retracing some of my roots. I first moved to Bogota with my family when I was six months old. My parents were missionaries in South America for thirty six years. My dad started the Iglesia Bautista Central (pictured above). They started meeting in a room over a bar. In time the bar went out of business but the church thrived. Today, the church is surrounded by high rise buildings and has no parking space.

On the wall, inside the building is a picture of the building as it looked when my family left Bogota to move to Barranquilla a city on the northern coast of Colombia.

Inside the building looks much as it did fifty years ago. The organ in the choir loft on the right looks like the organ my mother played when we were there.

The Colegio Nueva Granada is the school I attended during my kindergarten year. The curriculum is all in English. Today it is considered one of the best schools in the city.

It has been good to reconnect with my Colombian roots. I am thankful for the heritage I have from growing up in this environment. I have some wonderful memories from this period of my life. I am also keenly aware of the legacy that my parents left behind. It also makes me wonder about the legacy I will leave behind some day. I am reminded of a line in a song we used to hear, "May those who come behind us find us faithful."

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off every thing that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." Hebrew 12: 1

Mustard Seeds

2011-01-05T03:42:00.000-08:00

As mentioned in my previous post, we have been a part of a Sunday School class called the Mustard Seeds. The name comes from a metaphor that Jesus used to describe the amount of faith that will yield incredible results.

"I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." Matt 17:20

Of course faith is a trust of confidence in something. But faith needs to have an object. For the believer the object of our faith is God and His son Jesus. What we are challenged to do is to have a simple trust and dependence in Him for the issues we face daily and with our eternity. We are challenged to believe that He is who He says He is and He will do what He has promised to do.

Jesus, as quoted in Matthew, is challenging us to grow in our belief and in our trust. The idea is that a very small amount of faith (faith the size of a mustard seed) will yield tremendous results.

So when I hear some bad news or things around me are changing and I can't do anything to change it then I can faith (believe and trust) that God is sovereign. Nothing escapes His attention. Not only that but I am His child and I am secure in Him.

Look at the mustard seed and know that faith as small a mustard seed can move mountains.

Mustard Seed Christmas

2010-12-20T18:46:00.000-08:00

Our Sunday School class at First Baptist Church, the "Mustard Seeds" gathered Saturday, December 17, for our annual Christmas party.

Debbie and her husband Harry (not pictured) hosted us again this year. They are gracious hosts. They make decorating for Christmas and art!

We enjoyed talking and singing Christmas carols.

Lewis Meyers (standing) who has has taught the class for years led the group in singing Christmas carols.
John and Charlotte ham it up.
Last year the party was interrupted by a small electrical fire in the bathroom wall and a visit by the Henrico County Fire Department (see post from Dec 2009) Several of us wore play fire hats to commemorate the ocassion.
Every baptist gathering has to include a lot of food and this was no exception.

The Mustard Seeds are an exceptional group of people. They are serious about their faith, they are committed to following Christ. They are serious prayer warriors. They are active in ministry and missions and they are generous when presented with an opportunity for ministry or missions. They also enjoy good food and fellowship!

It reminds me of Philippians 1 where Paul says: "I thank my God every time I remember you in all my prayers for all of you. I always pray with joy in all my prayers for all of you because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Jesus Christ."

Philippians 1: 3-6.

Miracle in Newby

2010-08-17T17:58:00.000-07:00

We are visiting with Charlotte's father in the small community of Newby, Texas and woke up this morning to a surprise. A branch off of a large oak tree in the front yard fell off during the night.

Charlotte's dad sleeps in a hospital bed. The tree fell just inches from where he sleeps.

The miracle was that the branch was very large and heavy. The tips of the smaller branches hit the house, but the only damage was a torn screen!

To give you a perspective, the part of the tree that broke off was at least 18 inches in diameter. That branch is about eight feet off of the ground.

The branch fell during the night. Charlotte heard something but could not figure out what the noise was. We didn't discover the damage until the next morning.

It reminds me of the words in Psalm 121:

I lift up my eyes to the hills— where does my help come from?
My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber;
indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
The LORD watches over you— the LORD is your shade at your right hand;
the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.
The LORD will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life;
the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

Summer Projects

2010-07-17T19:28:00.000-07:00

In May we started doing some painting. We painted our guest room and the extra bathroom.

The guest room was painted white, but the trim needed a lot of work. On the previous paint job we didn't properly prime the trim, so as we tried to prepare it, the old paint started peeling off. It made a simple job rather complicated.

The bathroom had old wall paper, a vertical green stripe. It really looked out of date. Stripping the wall paper required renting steamer and getting the old off, then patching the wall board. In addition we sanded the cabinets, primed the whole thing and repainted. In the process we decided new faucets, light fixtures and towel racks would be appropriate.

We only had the weekends to do the work so it took about six weekends to get it all done. I was very pleased with the result. Those commercials that show someone doing a job quickly and easily so they can get back to their lives are very misleading! We had company coming and that was the motivation to get the job done.

All in all we were very pleased with the results. It is amazing what a fresh coat of paint will do for a room!

"From the fruit of his lips a man is filled with good things as surely as the work of his hands rewards him." Proverbs 12:14

Life goes on!

2010-06-16T17:41:00.001-07:00

Matthew turned five this week! He celebrated with a group of his friends. On Sunday afternoon he just had to come over a show off his pirate's hat and eye patch. I thought he had a pretty gnarly snarl to go with it.

It has been a couple of months since I have posted on this blog. The last post was about a good friend who passed away. The joy of watching children grow has a way of washing away grief. Children represent hope for the future.

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:
a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,
Ecclesiastes 3:1,2,4

A good friend is gone!

2010-04-18T18:15:00.000-07:00

Jay Christie passed away yesterday morning, April 17, 2009. He was only forty eight years old. It was a hard day for me.

Charlotte and I have known Jay for over twenty years. We taught a Sunday School class for single adults and Jay was a leader in that group. Jay has done well as a professional working with Mercer Human Resource Consulting and twelve years ago he married Robyne whom he loved dearly.

We have reconnected in the last few years since we are now at First Baptist Church. When we first met Jay he was young, strong and healthy. But, what has defined much of his life has been a long list of physical problems including two kidney transplants and two rounds of Hodgkin's Lymphoma. We have walked with him through many of the hard times.

This week I was able to stop by his room in the SICU unit. Jay was already in a coma and we were not able to talk. I prayed earnestly for God to reach down and heal him. There were many others doing the same thing. God in His wisdom had different plans. I will admit that I often do not understand why God does things the way He does. So, I will trust Him now and ask Him why one day when everything will be much clearer.

Sometimes it seems trite to say, "he's in a better place." But he really is. What helped me the most was a story that a lady at church told me. She said that Friday morning around two or three in the morning, she was awake and praying for Jay when she saw something in the corner near the ceiling that looked like Jay, clothed in radiant white followed by what looked like angels. He turned and said, 'take care of Robyne for me.' Then he was gone. It reminded me that there is another dimension to life that we cannot see. Jay is no longer struggling. He is no longer taking any medications. He feels good! He is more than happy, he is filled with heartfelt joy. It told me that God really did have better plans for Jay.

It reminds me of what the Apostle Paul said in Romans chapter 8:18-21:

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.

We who are believers really can look forward to being in 'a better place.'

OBITUARY

CHRISTIE, Phillip Jay Jr., born December 12, 1961, passed into the arms of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on April 17, 2010. Jay is survived by his wife, Robyne Bentley Christie; his beloved puppies, Nalani and Noah; parents, Phillip and Frances Christie; sister, Peggy Elfers and her husband, Steve; and nieces, Caroline and Catherine. He is also survived by in-laws, Clayton and Sunny Bentley, Lynne and Steve Smith; and nephews, Phillip and William Smith. He graduated with honors from the College of William & Mary and the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University. He was employed for 22 years at Mercer Human Resources Consulting. Jay lived his life as a humble man with a high level of integrity. The Lord came first in his life, followed by Robyne and the rest of his family. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to UNOS.

A Quick Trip to Texas

2010-04-17T18:53:00.000-07:00

We traveled to Texas last weekend in order to spend a few days with Charlotte's dad, Arvol Willingham.
We had a great visit. I think he lives for the days when his daughters come to visit.

As an added treat it is bluebonnet season in Texas. Bluebonnets are all over the place on the sides of the roads. The bluebonnets last only a couple of weeks then they are gone for the season.

Indian Paintbrushes are also common at this time of the year.

Saturday, a half dozen horses wandered onto Arvol's property. It seems that they had gotten loose and were causing a traffic hazard on a nearby highway. The sheriff's deputy asked that we allow the horses to stay on the property until the owner came to get them.

One of our chores was to burn a pile of brush that had been accumulating for three years. I was getting nervous when the flames got so high. Fortunately, those flames died down within minutes so the fire did not get out of hand!

Arvol is a musician that plays the piano and the guitar. He has entertained groups with his music for many years.

I managed to pick up a straw hat at a local flea market so that I will be able to fit in when I travel in Texas. When I got home a neighbor said, "It looks very Reagonesque!"

But I trust in you, O LORD; I say, "You are my God."
My times are in your hands; deliver me from my enemies and from those who pursue me.
Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your unfailing love.
How great is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you, which you bestow in the sight of men on those who take refuge in you.
Psalm 31: 14-16, 19

2010-04-04T16:35:00.000-07:00

Lloyd Atkinson retired last Thursday, April 1, after thirty-one years of service with the International Mission Board.

Lloyd and his wife, Sue, started as missionaries in Chile where they served together for several years. Later Lloyd accepted an administrative role in the Western South America Office. In the early 1980's Lloyd moved to the Office of Mission Personnel where he served as a Consultant, Department Director and ultimately Vice President.

Their daughter Jennifer was there with her children.

Debbie Williamson has worked in the office for many years. For the past three years she was the team leader for the Administrative Services Team under Lloyd's leadership.

Lloyd and Sue's son John and his wife Justine were there to honor Lloyd.

Carolyn Jackson and Jerry DeOliveira are two of the many retirees who were at the reception to honor Lloyd. IMB president, Jerry Rankin, was there to present Lloyd with his retirement certificate and gift and to honor Lloyd for his contribution to the work of the IMB.

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During his work in the Office of Mission Personnel Lloyd oversaw the appointment of over five thousand career and two year missionaries to assignments in virtually every corner of the world. In the process he has been involved in making sure that the Good News of the Gospel his proclaimed to every people, language and nation.

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I have worked directly under Lloyd for the past nineteen years. I have a great deal of respect and appreciation for his work and the way he supported me in my work. I always felt like Lloyd would back me when there was a question about my work. In addition, Lloyd was always good about keeping me informed about issues of significance that I needed to be aware of.

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Lloyd made sure that everyone in the office felt comfortable sharing their concerns about issues that were on their minds. Lloyd demonstrated genuine concern about each person in the office.

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During my time at the IMB I have been privileged to know a number of amazing people who have dedicated themselves to supporting the global mission enterprise from behind the scenes. Lloyd certainly represents the highest levels of commitment and dedication to faithful service.
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"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'
Matthew 25:21

A Week in Louisville

2010-03-30T06:32:00.001-07:00

I spent last week in Louisville, KY on the campus of Southern Seminary. The week started with the normal routine of interviewing students who are interested in serving as missionaries. But, this was also Global Missions Week on campus, so there were some additional events with the seminary. The week ended with a Missions Expo, which is a new venture for the IMB where prospective missionaries come for a three day conference where they consider the strategic needs for new personnel around the world.

The Strategic Deployment team was responsible for leading the Expo. We gathered one evening for dinner at a local Italian restaurant and broke bread together. In this case that meant breaking loaves of freshly baked bread and dipping it in a mixture of olive oil and cracked pepper, awesome!

One of the deployment consultants, Daron Johnson, has the knack of taking doodles to a new level. I watched him do this several times.

As a part of the Global Missions Week, the hall of the Honeycutt Center was turned into a "Hall of Prayer for the Nations" with flags from around the world and table displaying artifacts and opportunities for ministry. Rick Wolfe, left, is talking to a couple that is interested in the South America.

Jim Hunsucker is talking to a student that is interested in the needs in Asia.

The Missions Expo consisted of small group discussions, individual interviews, large group presentations on IMB strategic directions and presentations on the people groups around the world who have no opportunity to hear about Christ. Brett Freemon, left is leading a small group discussion.

The final session on Saturday morning started with praise.

Hal Cunnyngham challenged the group with the decisions that they need to make.

On Saturday afternoon, the consultants discussed each participant and the skills, gifts and their potential for possibly matching one of the needs we have. The great tragedy is that the IMB cannot possibly send all of those who want to go even though they are gifted, called and dedicated.
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For years I have quoted the scripture passage from Luke 10: 1-2

After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. He told them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.

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My thinking has been that the workers are few. We now find ourselves in a situation where we have truly committed, trained capable and experienced people who will not be able to go because we do not have the resources in hand to support them. My prayer is that Southern Baptists will step up to the plate and provide the resources needed to support those who are ready to go to the ends of the earth.

Weekend getaway

2010-03-20T19:02:00.000-07:00

Charlotte and I traveled to New England a couple of weeks ago to visit with family and simply enjoy the area.
Above is Leigh's Pond in southern Main. Note, even though the temperature was in the 50's there is still ice on the pond.

That is not snow, it is ice on the pond.

It was cool enough for a jacket.

Charlotte is on the pier at Fort Foster Park. The park is the home of what was once a fort that protected the entrance into Portsmouth Harbor.

There are several beaches in the park. I found this rock formation on one of the beaches fascinating.

The multiple colors and the water movement have a unique beauty.

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There is an old hymn that reflects some of my thinking:

For the beauty of the earth, For the glory of the skies,

For the love which from our birth Over and around us lies.

Lord of all, to Thee we raise This our hymn of grateful praise.

Getting Healthy

2010-03-17T17:57:00.000-07:00

Over the past several months Charlotte and I have been participating in a weight loss program through the Zaccharias Ganey Health Institute here in Richmond. The plan starts with ten weeks of nutrition lectures and exercise classes that include thirty minutes of weight training and thirty minutes of aerobic work three times each week.

The aerobic work is done on either a treadmill, a stationary bicycle or an elliptical machine. I started on the bicycle and graduated to the elliptical machine.

Before starting the program we checked our triglycerides, HDL and LDL levels. I also had an A1c test run to check my blood sugar level. The blood work was checked again after the first ten weeks.

They also measured my waist, hips, neck, as well as weight, BMI both before and after.

They also tested our VO2 levels which measure the amount of oxygen our hearts handle and different levels of activity.

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During the first ten weeks I lost thirteen pounds, three inches in the waist, and two inches in the hips. My HDL cholesterol improved while the LDL improved as well. My A1c level dropped as well.

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I have dealt with Type 2 diabetes for several years. During the ten weeks my doctor eliminated one of the medications and cut the others in half. The A1c is a measure of blood sugar over a three month period. That level dropped even with the drop in medications.

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Since completing the initial ten weeks, we have entered into a continuation program that focuses primarily on various exercise classes. I have lost an additional nine pounds and seen continued improvement in cholesterol levels and eliminated one more diabetic medication.

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Charlotte participated to encourage me. She has not seen the same amount of weight loss but she has managed to drop three dress sizes! That of course means a who new wardrobe!

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Getting healthy is a matter of stewardship of the body that God has given us.

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. 1 Corinthians 6: 19-20

Ministry Fair

2010-02-28T18:13:00.000-08:00

Today, First Baptist had a ministry fair to highlight the church's various ministries. It was also a chance to enlist others to participate in those ministries.
Sarah Williams (left) and another team member are talking to people about the member equipping ministry.

Candi Brown, Children's Minister, was dressed as an Egyptian princess, promoting the theme for this summer's Vacation Bible School.

Diane Dinsmore and Jane Pearson were surrounded by the puppets that are a part of their ministry.

Fran Hudgins was there to share about the hospitality ministry.

Steve Blanchard, Associate Pastor for Christian Compassion, was deep in a conversation with two of the ladies.

Billy Davis has been a volunteer chaplain with Central Virginia Raceway Ministries for seven years. The ministry serves NASCAR events at the Richmond International Raceway.

Ruth Hodge (right) has been involved in a ministry that helps new members assimilate into the congregation for many years.

Brenda Andrews (right) leads a ministry that provides showers, food and clothes to homeless in the community three days a week.

The church has a significant outreach to refugees in the community. There is a group of about fifty Bhutanese refugees who are in church every Sunday.

Rick Belfower speaks to a member about the church's compassion ministry.

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I counted fifty-nine different ministry groups represented at the fair. The fair came at the end of the annual stewardship emphasis. Stewardship involves using our time and abilities just as much as it means giving our money. A church is filled with members who all have different skills, abilities and spiritual gifts. For the church to function effectively every member should use their abilities for the benefit of the church. I often suggest that a person should be involved in a ministry that capitalizes on their known abilities. But, in addition, we participate in a ministry that allows us to explore whether we have a gift or not.

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It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Ephesians 4: 11-13

Arvol's 94th!

2010-02-13T20:26:00.001-08:00

Today, February 16 is Charlotte's dad's 94th birthday. We traveled to Texas over the weekend in order to be with him and celebrate.

Arvol lives in the country outside of Jewett, Texas. He has care givers that come by and take care of him. Tori, pictured above is an EMT and takes care of him several days a week. She and the other care giver provide a vital service and we are thankful for them.

We had a quiet celebration, he is proud to make it to 94 and says his goal is to make it to 95.
Arvol and his daughters Linda, left, and Charlotte.

Linda and her cousin Gerry relax while watching the opening ceremonies at the Olympics. Gerry also lives nearby and often comes by to take Arvol for a ride and to get something to eat.

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One of the challenges seniors face is maintaining their independence while at the same time being able to receive the vital services they need. Arvol is fiercely independent and wants to stay that way. He would love it he could die in the home that he shared with his wife, Lou Ella, for many years. We want to honor his desires at the same time we want to make sure his needs are met.

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Ecclesiastes 12
1 Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, "I find no pleasure in them"-

6 Remember him—before the silver cord is severed, or the golden bowl is broken; before the pitcher is shattered at the spring, or the wheel broken at the well, 7 and the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.

Snow in Texas!

2010-02-13T19:10:00.001-08:00

We traveled to Texas on Thursday, February 11 to celebrate Charlotte's father's birthday. We have dealt with more snow this year than we can remember. A friend sent me a note saying, "have a good trip and try thawing out!" Instead of thawing we were greeted by a record setting snow storm.

We heard that they were predicting one to three inches of snow, we didn't think much about that. Instead the Dallas/Fort Worth area received twelve and a half inches of snow, the most snow on the record books for a twenty four hour period.

Visibility was a challenge and there were no snow plows!

The highway signs were covered with snow.
My brother and sister-in-law, Eddie and Linda, posing in the snow.

We stopped at a service station for a break and were greeted by the night manager, Anthony Lloyd (right) and his staff in typical Texas fashion. The drive that normally takes two hours took us three and a half hours.

Charlotte's dad, Arvol Willingham, lives in the open country in Leon County near Jewett, TX.

They had about two or three inches of snow which is relatively rare for this part of Texas.

The dirt road, Beddingfield Road, leads to the house. This part of the road is completely covered by tree branches. In the summer there is a canopy of green. This time there is a canopy of snow covered branches.
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Linda and Eddie met us at DFW airport and Eddie drove us to Jewett. It was a nail-biter with perhaps twenty cars in the ditch along the way. We made it without a problem although it did take us almost twice as long as normal to take the trip. I was thankful!

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The experience gives literal meaning to a verse I have quoted often over the past year!

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3: 5-6

Snow Sundays at First Baptist

2010-02-13T17:59:00.000-08:00

Last Sunday was another Sunday with fresh snow on the ground. For the second Sunday in the a row the normal Sunday schedule was reduced to the 11 AM service.

We met Al, 94, as we were entering the building. Al is the usher that usually gives us our bulletin as we enter the balcony on Sunday mornings. On this snowy Sunday, he drives himself as usual. He would not think of missing worship!

First Baptist has a very stately looking building that is accented with the snow.

We arrived early and had a chance to sit and visit with Bev for a few minutes before the service started.

Phil Mitchell, the minister of music, leads the choir in 'Here Am I, Send Me!" based on Isaiah 6. One the top right is Lewis our Sunday school teacher, his wife Toni, is on the bottom right.

Pastor Jim Somerville, introduces communion by pouring the juice into the goblet.

Associate Pastor, Steve Booth, and the Pastor serve a member communion. This Sunday, there were not enough deacons available to serve communion in the traditional fashion.

At the close of the service the pastor recognized Becky Payne for twenty years of service to the church.

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On the down side, the weather has played havoc with churches in the Richmond area this year. Most churches cancelled services for two weeks in a row. The same thing happened in late December. When that happens churches have a tough time making up the loss in giving. Most churches are wrestling with tight budgets because of the recession. They will survive and do well, but it does require leadership to trust that God will provide the needs.

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On the up side, the smaller congregation does make for a more intimate worship experience. We were all seated closer to the platform. The balcony was closed. It was not hard to see. There was greater interaction with everyone. I was glad I was there.

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Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10: 22-25

Really Great Neighbors

2010-02-09T18:44:00.000-08:00

I had some surgery two and a half weeks ago (hernia repair). The surgeon was very specific about not lifting anything heavier than ten pounds for two weeks. One week later we were waiting for a storm that would drop twelve inches of snow on Richmond. Ordinarily I would get out and clear the driveway, but not this time! In anticipation of the storm I called one of our neighbors to see if I could hire their sons to clear our driveway. Well the whole family showed up the next day to start the project!

Jeffrey worked hard on the project.

The snow was so dry and light that Robinette was able to use a leaf blower to clear the stairs that lead to our side door.

The next day, Jeff, another neighbor helped clear some of the crusted snow around the driveway apron.

A week later we had another five inches of snow on the ground. I started clearing away some of the snow and withing five minutes two families were politely pushing me to one side. Jeff (a different Jeff) Lee, Sue, Robinette, Jeffrey, Benjamin and Rudy the dog were all pitching in. It was awesome and I was grateful!

It really is good to have such good neighbors. It has always been hard to let people do things for me. One of the things my mother once told me was, "Jim, sometimes you need to let people be good to you." She was right.

Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. ...Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account. I have received full payment and even more; I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4: 14, 17-19

Snow Again

2010-02-07T17:30:00.000-08:00

This weekend we had a different kind of storm. It snowed most of the day on Friday, but the temperature stayed around 32 degrees so there were several inches of snow but most of it melted during the day. Then it rained most of the night. Early in the morning the rain turned to snow again, it snowed rest of the day.

With the overnight rain, the trees were wet and the snow started sticking to the trees.

Charlotte ventured out for a few minutes to check out the snow.

As the snow continued the trees turned white.

Our house with another blanket of white.

As the day progressed the snow continued to fall.

By Sunday morning the view outside our bathroom window revealed a winter wonderland.

With all of the snow, many are saying they are tired of it, not me. I still love the way the snow covers everything. Everything gets very quiet. It is beautiful and peaceful.

He spreads the snow like wool and scatters the frost like ashes.
He hurls down his hail like pebbles. Who can withstand his icy blast?
He sends his word and melts them; he stirs up his breezes, and the waters flow.
He has revealed his word to Jacob, his laws and decrees to Israel.

Psalm 147: 16-19

2010-02-06T17:57:00.000-08:00

We have not had much snow in Richmond for several years. But, this year we have had more snow than in the past three combined! We had a storm come through just before Christmas that left over a foot of snow. This past weekend (January 30-31) we had another storm that dropped an additional foot of snow. This time the snow was a very dry powder. Then this weekend we had another storm come through; but more about that in tomorrow's blog.

The scene last Sunday morning, the day after the storm was serene and spectacular.

The tree in the cul-d-sac in front of our house was majestic.

The snow on top of the mailbox gives a good indication of the depth of the snow.

Our house was surrounded with a blanket of snow.

By Sunday afternoon the icicles were reaching five to six feet in length.

A storm like this in my part of the country (Virginia) has a way of bringing everything to a halt. I love a snow day as much as anyone does. Everyone stays home, neighbors get out and clean their driveways and help each other out. The beauty of the snow cover simply enhances the beauty of the day and gives you the feeling that everything is going to be OK.

But, there is another side to snow days. Small business owners really suffer. When the snow comes people stay home and business comes to a screeching halt. When the customers don't come, it is very hard to pay the rent and make a living. Another downside to snow days is that people do have accidents. I saw four of them today. Some were simply cars in the ditch. In other cases the cars were badly damaged.

Snow days are more than an extra day off and a chance to cozy up to the fire and eat some goodies. It is a time when many struggle and others suffer.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

Romans 8:28-30

Snowmobiles Are Fun!

2010-01-17T18:59:00.000-08:00

During our visit to Denver we took a day to go up into the mountains and introduce Avery (my grandson) to snowmobiling. It was a bright day with lots of blue sky and sunshine.

Avery was not sure what he was getting into. We took a few minutes to show him how to handle the controls.

The scenery was spectacular.

After three minutes on the snowmobile, Avery was right at home.

At one point we stopped while our guide helped dig a snowmobile out of a snowbank. When we drove up on the group the snowmobile was off the trail and upside down. The rider was sitting on the snow under a nearby tree. Fortunately, no one was hurt.

One of our stops was on the Continental Divide. Named that because water that flows east ends up in Atlantic and water that flows down the western slop ends up in the Pacific. Just to the left we could see Pike's Peak, at least sixty miles away.

Avery (in the red jacket) raced David around a circle for a few minutes.

Three generations of Riddells. Me, David and Avery.

The three of us had a great day together. It was a good time for some bonding. David and I had been snowmobiling together before, but Avery was stretching his comfort zone. He was very glad he did! We all love the mountains and the snow. There is something refreshing about being in that environment. Yes it was cold, but we had enough winter gear to stay comfortable and there is something cleansing about that cold fresh air.

Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord. Acts 3: 19

Hockey

2010-01-12T17:04:00.000-08:00

Our son David is an avid hockey fan, he especially follows the Colorado Avalanche. For Christmas he gave us tickets to a game between the Avalanche and the Dallas Stars and the shirts to wear to the game.

David, left, Avery, our grandson, center and Charlotte.

Every game starts with the coin toss. Note there was an honorary youth member with the team that participated in the coin toss.

During breaks in the game the Chipotle blimp would come out and fly around the arena.

It was fascinating to see how much Dave was enjoying the event.

In hockey there are a lot of face offs. The referee throws the puck on the ice and the players try to get control of it.

Hockey is an action sport. The motion is constant. The action is so intense that players only play for a minute or two and change out to rest.

During the game there was plenty to watch besides hockey. Between the first and second quarter the mascot with some helpers took to the ice with a truck load of t-shirts to throw/shoot into the stands.

It was a fun night. I was amazed at the sheer joy David found in sharing his love of hockey. There was a lot of energy in the arena. The game was great too, the Avalanche won 4-1. I learned a lot about checking, icing and power plays. It was a great family night as well. It seemed to be a night for joy.

So I commend the enjoyment of life, because nothing is better for a man under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany him in his work all the days of the life God has given him under the sun. Ecclesiastes 8: 15

Another Snow Day

2010-01-07T14:40:00.001-08:00

I am at Southern Seminary in Louisville, KY this week meeting with prospective missionaries. It started snowing around six this morning and snowed most of the day. As the sun sets there is a blanket of about three inches fresh snow that blankets everything in white. The storm seems to be breaking up just as the sun begins to set. Winds are forecast for tonight and a low temperature of 11 degrees on Friday morning.

The chapel is a beautiful under any circumstances, it is especially beautiful in the snow.

Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place. Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. Psalm 51: 6-8

Christmas Journey Part 2

2010-01-03T18:36:00.000-08:00

We flew to Dallas/Fort Worth but in order to save money on airline tickets we drove to Castle Rock, CO to spend Christmas with our son David. As we prepared to leave we learned that there was a snow storm headed our way. As we drove toward Quanah the snow started falling. The problem was near zero visibility at several points.

As we drove into Quanah a Highway Patrolman cautioned us about the road ahead. But we continued.

On two occasions we found eighteen wheelers that had jackknifed. In this case Charlotte was able to maneuver into the median to get around this situation. I was impressed with the way Charlotte handled driving in the snowy weather.

We also had to deal with strong winds. I have not heard an official word but I am guessing the wind was blowing at 45 to 50 miles an hour. We stopped at one point for some refreshments and our Grandson Avery was leaning to one side just to get back to the car. Fortunately the weather cleared by the time we made it to Amarillo and the rest of way was relatively easy.

As the sun went down we were on highway 50 headed into Pueblo, CO. We made it to Castle Rock at 7 PM.

We experienced two snow storms in less than a week. That is more snow than we have seen in the last two or three years all put together. Driving through this one was challenging. I was thankful that we made it through without major problems. The only vehicles we saw stuck or stranded were eighteen wheelers. I felt for those drivers. But, I was thankful that we were safely.

Praise our God, O peoples, let the sound of his praise be heard; he has preserved our lives and kept our feet from slipping. For you, O God, tested us; you refined us like silver. Psalm 66: 8-10

Christmas Journey Day 1

2009-12-31T14:02:00.001-08:00

Our plans over the Christmas holidays were to travel to Texas and Colorado to visit with family. We had our grandson Avery with us so that he would be able to spend Christmas with his dad.

Everything started out on schedule. We arrived at the airport 'Park and Ride' location at 5:30 for a 6:30 flight. It took a little longer than usual to get from the facility to the terminal. We went up to the check in counter at about 6 AM. We were informed that it was too late to check in for the flight to Dallas. We would be on standby for the 1:45 flight. Note, I have been flying out of the Richmond Airport for twenty seven years. That has never happened to me. I was not too happy with American!

Well the 1:45 flight was overbooked and we did not make that flight either. So we were placed on standby for the 6:45 PM flight. After waiting for twelve hours we made that flight.
It was a long day! There was some consolation. We happened to meet some others that had experienced the same kind of problem. One of those waited he did not make the 1:45 flight and then gave up to try again the next day.

Sometimes things just don't work out the way we plan them. We like to control events, but sometimes things are completely out of our control. Fortunately we had an extra day built into our schedule and things worked out OK this time. Years ago I read in a brochure that, "it is best to expect a little inconvenience when traveling internationally." I think now it is best to expect inconvenience whenever you travel! It is a good reminder that we really do not know what will happen tomorrow or the next day. We need to trust the Lord with all of our plans, He does know what will happen.

Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." James 4:13-15

SNOW!

2009-12-19T17:17:00.000-08:00

Friday night we went Christmas shopping. It started snowing as we started, about 5 PM. It snowed through the night and most of Saturday. We have not had much snow in recent years and this was a real treat! The view outside of our side door.

The snow was very heavy for much of the night. Note the snow in the deck chairs. It was twice as deep by the next day.

The squirrel was on the rail of the stairs that lead to our side door.

The creek behind our home was beautiful.

This was a wet snow and it stuck to the tree branches.

The house on January CT has been our home for over twenty-five years.

My Nissan truck under normal circumstances looks rather large, but not when it is covered with snow. By the end of the day we had roughly twelve inches of snow on the ground.

Snow has an amazing effect on how everything appears. The blanket of white makes everything look pristine. It also forces us out of our normal routines. We have a chance to visit with neighbors as we clear our driveways. Ordinarily I am somewhat of a scrooge. I often feel that Christmas activities are a bit overdone. But Christmas shopping in the snow does have a way of making you a bit sentimental. But fresh snow is so pure and it seems to cover up a lot of ugly!

"Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. Isaiah 1:18

Christmas with Sam and Allison

2009-12-13T18:07:00.000-08:00

Saturday night Sam and Allison invited a group of their friends over for a Christmas party. It was a wonderful time and Sam and Allison obviously enjoy entertaining. Shawn, Farris and Janine helped serve everyone. Sam operates the Daily Grind a coffee shop in the Short Pump area.

Allison was relaxed in spite of feeding a good sized group of people.

The meal started with spanakopita and was followed with roasted lamb, rice with pine nuts green beans and tadziki sauce.

Then they served desert. Yes they were as good as they look and I did indulge!

I was excited to get a picture of Bill Bangham. As a professional photographer, he is usually on the other side of the camera.

Barbra and her husband Jay operate 'Dream Dinners.'

Edna is one of the regulars at the the Daily Grind. she was concerned about the wrinkles. My thought was they show character.

Shanon really was excited about the cup cakes. She enjoyed the hummus as well.

Michael and Anna served as short term missionaries, Michael in Colombia and Anna in Venzuela. They were married two months ago. About two years ago, they were in training and spent a lot of time (along with several others) hanging out at the Daily Grind. When training was over, they got together and gave Sam a bible with their favorite scriptures highlighted. Sam and Allison were deeply moved by their gift and started reading the bible.

I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1: 3-6

Memories of Christmas Past

2009-12-12T14:09:00.000-08:00

Earlier this week we had a Christmas celebration with the Office of Global Personnel. During that time the leadership team shared some reflections on Christmases they remember as children. They told some interesting stories.Tom Williams, the vice president told about the Christmas when he learned that Santa Claus was just a story. He grew up in Georgia the youngest of six children. One year he asked Santa for a bicycle for Christmas. It so happened that his sister did too. There were some pine trees behind their house where he and his brothers liked to play and build forts often with dried pine needles. One day they found a pile of pine needles that they had not piled up. Under the pile they found two empty bicycle cartons. He realized that either Santa had bought the bicycles or mom and dad had done so and hidden the evidence. He said the real story is about the God who became a baby in a manger, that is not just a story, it is fact.Randy Rains grew up in western Kentucky. He said that every year for Christmas his family would drive to west Tennessee to his grandparents house. One year he surprised that Santa Claus knew his name. On Christmas eve the whole extended family would go to church and his grandparents church. It was a small church that planned a Christmas pageant, a service and an appearance by Santa Claus, who would bring each of the children a gift. One Christmas eve, as a visitor in this church Santa Claus called out his name and gave him his first bible. He said it was several years later that he realized the Jesus knows his name and that is what is really important.

Dickie Nelson talked about growing up in Mississippi. He said that every Christmas the family would get up very early to go to his grandparent's house. He remembers that every year his grandparents would give him a pair of socks for Christmas. Because of the early morning schedule Christmas day they had their family Christmas on Christmas eve. It would begin with the family gathering to read the Christmas story from the bible. Then they would drive around town to look at Christmas lights. Finally, they would go home, the children would wait in a bedroom while 'Santa Claus' came.

Lloyd Atkinson told about growing up in up in Miami where it is warm and humid at Christmas time. Again Christmas was about the grandparents. He said they always used home made decorations. He said that his grandmother would use a mixture of Fab detergent to flock the Christmas tree. There was always a lot of food as well. For Lloyd the aroma of pine, Fab and food are a great reminder of Christmas.

It was interesting to hear the stories. I am always fascinated with people's stories. Each story was accompanied by a childhood picture that provided an additional dimension to the stories. It was also interesting that several of the memories focus on grandparents and time spent with extended families. The bonds that tie families together are the shared memories and stories that are told again and again. They become a part of our identity.

He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which he commanded our fahers to teach their children, so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children. Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands. Psalms 78: 5-7

Mustard Seed Christmas

2009-12-05T19:33:00.000-08:00

We are a part of the Mustard Seed Class at First Baptist Church. We started today with a prayer breakfast for International Missions at the church. Our men provided the special music. The focus was praying for fourteen unreached people groups in Northern Africa. We ended the day with a Christmas party at Harry and Debbie Slayden's home.

Harry and Debbie have a beautiful home which was beautifully decorated for Christmas.

Lynn Moreau and Jean Bazemore enjoyed chatting and snacking.

Joe Evans and his wife Charlotte posing with my wife Charlotte.

Debbie and Harry had prepared a huge feast.

Then Lewis Myers led the group in singing some Christmas carols.

Charlotte and Pat Sharon hammed it up.

Then we started smelling something burning. We narrowed the smell to the hallway outside the downstairs bathroom. The wall felt hot so Harry called the Fire Department. When they arrived they had to dig into the wall.

Debbie was pretty shaken when they started digging into her wall.

The fire trucks created quite a commotion in the otherwise quiet neighborhood.

The Battalion Chief showing the Slaydens the source of the problem.

The problem was an electric wire that had shorted out because a staple (holding the insulation in place) had been nailed directly into the wire. The paper backing on the insulation was burned. The Slaydens were fortunate that the problem was discovered before the fire spread.

The fireman getting some last minute information from Harry before the fire department left.

It really was a Christmas party to remember. No one would want that kind of event to interrupt a party when you are hosting dozens of people. But Harry and Debbie handled it all very well. They were gracious hosts. Our class is a praying group and is also a very supportive community. I hope that we were able to be encouragement for Harry and Debbie. They really put on a Christmas party to remember!

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Office Party

2009-12-03T18:06:00.000-08:00

It's the time of the year for Christmas parties. Today our office, the Personnel Selection Group, enjoyed our Christmas get together. Everyone was asked to bring a $10 gift card for the gift exchange.

Four of our assistants waiting for everyone to arrive so we could eat!

Bob Dilks was at another table talking to another of the consultants.

Lunch was roast pork loin, with roasted new potatos, green beans and hot rolls followed by one of my favorites, chocolate pecan pie. Amy Stewart provided the meal. It was very good!

Cynthia Cunnyngham, MK Education consultant, enjoying lunch.

Duane Hammack played Santa Claus, handed out numbers to decide the order for picking your gift from under the tree.

Pat was the first to pick her gift. The catch was if a subsequent person liked the gift you got, then they could take it and you would have to pick another gift. Pat had at least three gifts taken from her. There were gift cards from twenty two different places including Cheesecake Factory, Khols, Cracker Barrel, Barnes and Noble, REI and others.

It was a good time of food, fellowship and fun. It has been a challenging year for our office. The celebration had a therapeutic effect. Fellowship has that kind of affect on you.

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. I John 1:7

Two Churches on One Sunday

2009-11-25T17:23:00.000-08:00

Sunday for us usually starts at First Baptist Church, Richmond. Our bible study group is called the Mustard Seed Class. Glen Scott and Joe Evans are enjoying the fellowship before the lessons starts. This is a group of dedicated believers who study, pray and serve faithfully.

Julia Scott, taught the lesson Sunday substituting for Lewis Meyers who was away on Sunday.

Bible study was followed by worship. On this morning there was music by one of the children's choirs, one of the youth choirs and the sanctuary choir. Of course the music was all traditional. My prayer is that I will be attentive to anything that God would say to me in corporate worship.

That worship was followed on Sunday evening by a youth oriented service called "6:33" (for Matthew 6:33) at Cambridge Baptist Church. This service had a heavy dose of worship music with a driving rock beat. God was praised and worshipped in a very meaningful manner.

On this night Farris Jarrar was baptized by Win Davis the Youth and Young Adult Pastor. I had the privilege of baptizing his mom and dad last year. Win baptized his older brother earlier this year.

Pastor Jay Smith delivered the sermon. It was a big day for Cambridge, three people were baptized.

After the service Farris was welcomed into the Family of God and participated in his first communion service.

We often say that the church has five primary purposes: worship, discipleship, fellowship, ministry and evangelism. We experienced worship in both morning and evening services; we experienced discipleship during the bible study; we enjoyed fellowship with people in both churches; and, we saw the results of evangelism when Farris was baptised. The only thing we were not involved in was ministry, that is serving others in the name of Christ. That is what we do all week long.

"Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well." Matthew 6:33

Blending Families

2009-11-23T07:39:00.000-08:00

Over the weekend we participated in a 'Family Blending' ceremony for Laura and Leah Kasack and Bill and Ashley Ratliff. Bill and Laura were married earlier in the week in a private ceremony. This was an opportunity to formally blend the two families.

The ceremony was held at West End Assembly of God Church; in the room where Laura and Bill met. The ceremony was led by Shane Schliesman, Family Life Pastor, who shared that he grew up in a blended family.

The entire family joined in lighting the 'Unity Candle' symbolizing joining the two families together.

At the end of the ceremony, those attending were invited to share a word of blessing for the new family. Van Williams, father of the bride welcomed Bill and Ashley into the extended family and gave his blessing to the new family.

The Bill, Laura and the girls joined in cutting the cake and feeding each other a piece of the cake.

When two people marry, they join their hearts and their lives together. They may only see their lives, but they become a part of the chain of generations that God causes to come and go. When a family comes together they share their hopes and dreams for a future. The synergy of the family enables each individual to become more than they could by themselves. When a family joins together, the joy is doubled (or in this case quadrupled) and the sorrows are halved.

In that I command thee this day to love the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the LORD thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it. Deuteronomy 30:16

May the Lord bless you and keep you, may the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you, and give you peace.

Music at the Daily Grind

2009-11-20T19:27:00.000-08:00

The Daily Grind featured a new group called 17th and Main in concert on Friday night. They had an ecclectic mix of music and a very good sound. I was impressed with the lead singer and the electric guitar. Hopefully they will produce a CD soon, I would like to buy one. We saw a number of friends including Mike and Cindy Wilson. Mike is a musician and a network administrator of a local company. Cindy has just completed nursing school. Mike leads the praise team during worship services at Cambridge Baptist Church.

Stephanie Layton and her daughter Shannon were there as well. Stephanie has been the children's minister at Cambridge.

Of course the lovely Janine was there.

"There is a time for everything,

and a season for every activity under heaven:

a time to weep and a time to laugh,

a time to mourn and a time to dance,"
Ecclesiastes 3: 1,4

Louisville Airport

2009-11-19T18:04:00.000-08:00

Traveling through the Louisville airport, I usually get my shoes shined. Datril is always there and he is usually busy. He can do it easier, faster and better than I can. It's well worth the $5 and besides, he is a great guy. Datril shines shoes during the day and goes to nursing school at night. He has completed the requirements for his LPN and is now doing the clinical training. He is married and has two children as well.

What I like about Datril is his servant spirit. I can learn a lot from him.

"...whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave." Matthew 20:26-27

A Rainy Day in Louisville

2009-11-17T19:51:00.000-08:00

I am in Louisville, KY this week on my regular trip to Southern Seminary where I have been interviewing people who are interested in overseas service. Yesterday was a beautiful fall day with crisp cool weather and clear skies. Today in rained all day. This is the chapel at Southern. It is a majestic sight on a cold rainy day.

"Be still and know that I am God. I will be exhalted among the nations. I will be exhalted in all the earth." Psalms 46:10

The Rites of Autum

2009-11-15T17:21:00.000-08:00

I love the colors of Fall. The problem is the beauty is magnificent for a week or two. Then the leaves begin to fall.

In our part of the country we usually aerate and oversead our lawns in September. When the leaves fall, they need to be removed or they will suffocate the new grass. Of course the leaves make things look pretty trashy.

From late October through Thanksgiving, cleaning up the leaves is a weekly task.

I have a handy Huskvarna back packer blower that does a good job of blowing the leaves. It is simply a lot of trouble getting it done.
There are two trees just around the corner that still have a lot of leaves with a lot of color. We will enjoy them as we leave the house each day, but they won't last long.

It all reminds me of several thing I try to remember:

First, just as the leaves are temporary, everything in this life is temporary. We will enjoy the leaves, our lives, our careers, relationships and everything in life while they last. But it is all temporary.

Second, I am reminded of God's grace when he infuses such incredible beauty in what is so short lived. I will remember to give thanks for the awesome beauty He gives us each day.

Third, there are some things that need to be done on a regular basis. It is a part of living. The leaves need to be cleaned up at some point. I can do it weekly and make the job fairly easy. Or I can procrastinate untill Thanksgiving and try to get it all done at once, but that becomes a major job. We just have to save the time so that we can take care of the routine things in life.

I am reminded of what Jesus said to the people who the people who wanted Him provide them with more food the day after He has fed the 5,000:

"Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On Him, God the Father has placed his seal of approval." John 6:27

Follow-up on David

2009-11-11T19:37:00.000-08:00

Last week I posted some comments about our son David. I mentioned that when he is not working he loves to spend time in the mountains west of Denver. On Monday David sent me the link below to a video he shot over the weekend.

It is a great look at the mountains and what its like to ski down the mountain. By the way, the shadow you see is David on his snowboard.

Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTtpmi2qXWg

November Birthdays

2009-11-10T19:25:00.000-08:00

We celebrate a lot of birthdays in November. Charlotte on the 3rd, David on the 5th, Jim on the 27th. We also know several others who have birthdays in November. Over the weekend we celebrated two birthday dinners with the Williams family.
Sarah (left) celebrated her birthday on Saturday. Sarah and I lived in Colombia as kids where both of our parents were missionaries. My brother married Sarah's sister, so we go back a long way. Sarah is an accomplished pianist. She and her husband served as missionaries in South Asia.

Leah (front left) celebrated her birthday on Sunday. Also in the picture are Laura, Sarah's daughter, with Bill Ratliff and his daughter Ashley. If this looks like a family photo, it may as well be. Laura and Bill will be getting married in a matter of days. Leah celebrated her ninth birthday on Sunday. Charlotte bought her a giant Hershy bar for her birthday present.
Charlotte loves kids. Ashley, Charlotte and Leah know how to have a lot of fun.

It is important to celebrate special moments with family and friends. It's a chance to remember the past and to hope for the future. I have known Sarah since I was five or six years old. We have watched Leah grow up. We pray that God will bless them and fulfill his purpose in their lives.

"Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." Psalm 90:12

Food, Fellowship and Music

2009-11-06T18:21:00.001-08:00

A few nights ago we joined our Sunday School class for dinner and a concert by the Richmond Pops and the US Army Chorus. You never know who you will see at the Strawberry Street Cafe, especially on the night after Halloween.

Wanda Billingsley and Lynn Morreau were catching up just before the concert started.

The Richmond Pops, an all volunteer organization, provided a concert of showtime and patriotic music.

The US Army Chorus joined the Richmond Pops. Their primary function is to provide music for foreign dignitaries that visit Washington, D.C.As we left Landmark Theater there were a couple of street musicians playing on plastic buckets, garbage cans and paint cans as if they were drums.

We enjoyed the evening. The music was top quality and enjoyable. We were commenting about the cultural leap from the Gospel Chicken House to the Richmond Pops. The Richmond Pops music is not my favorite any more than the Gospel Chicken House though I enjoyed it all.

The powerful drumbeat that the street musicians produced was energizing, and frankly I connected as much with the drum music than anything else. I enjoy most kinds of music but my favorites are contemporary worship music, followed by country western and then rock.

At the end of today's worship service at First Baptist Church, the Salzburg Baptist Church, Salzburg, Austria sang, "Center of My Joy." It was one of those songs that really connected with me. It was not just a song to enjoy, it spoke collectively to the entire congregation. They expressed in song what the congregation was feeling, it really became a prayer. That is worship!

My heart is steadfast, O God; I will sing and make music with all my soul. Psalm 108:1

David's Birthday

2009-11-05T18:20:00.000-08:00

Today is our son David's thirty fourth birthday! Dave moved to Colorado fifteen years ago and has made a home for himself in the Denver area.Dave has always been close to his grandfather, Arvol Willingham.

He bought a Suzuki 650 sports bike a few years ago. He put over forty thousand miles on it before upgrading to a 1000 cc Suzuki.

This is one of my favorite pictures, Dave with his son Avery, taken at our son Scott's wedding in 2001.

Dave's favorite sport is snowboarding. He has competed in Snow Cross competitions.

Dave and his son Avery on the deck outside Dave's condo in Castle Rock, CO.

Dave lives in Castle Rock and works in Denver. By day he is an IT professional that works for a mortgage service company making sure the databases work. I really don't understand what he does, but I get the impression he is pretty good at it.

He works most of the time, but when he is not, he is exploring the mountains west of Denver, snowboarding, riding his motorcycle on 1000 mile rides and upgrading his condo. He is exceedingly talented when it comes to IT issues; he is an athlete; a good do-it-yourself er and fearless when it comes to sports. He is also the father of a very fine young man.

We love him dearly and are exceedingly proud of him.

Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from him. Psalms 127:3

Charlotte's Birthday

2009-11-03T18:41:00.001-08:00

Charlotte celebrated her birthday. I am not going to tell you how old she is but she was one of the earliest baby boomers.

Charlotte and her sister Linda are best friends.

She loves being a grandmother. Right now she loves being with her grandson Joseph.

Earlier this year she retired after spending thirty-eight years in the public schools. She has taught second, third and fourth graders in Texas and in Virginia.

Charlotte's dad, Arvol Willingham, is now ninety-three years old.

Charlotte is a good friend, pictured here with Sarah Williams. She also loves being around children. The picture was taken during neighbor Henry's third birthday party. Incidentally, the dog's name is Charlotte as well.

Charlotte and I celebrated forty one years of marriage this year. I will always be thankful for her love and patience with me. She represents the qualities of the virtuous woman described in Proverbs.

A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm all the days of her life. Proverbs 31: 10-12

Sunrise

2009-11-02T19:07:00.000-08:00

A week ago I traveled from Richmond to Atlanta and then on to Columbus. The flight left just before 7 AM. It was fascinating to see the sunrise from different perspectives. The flight took off just as the sun was coming up over the horizon.

Somewhere below 10,000 feet the sun continued to provide a golden glow. You can just see the James River in the foreground.

Some where close to 30,000 feet the sun appears to have risen and provides a brilliant glow well above the horizon.

The lighting on top of the clouds

Yet even after the sun seemed well above the horizon, the clouds below are glowing with the amber and gold of the sunrise.

As the plane begins its descent into the clouds the sun is up and the sky is bright full of hope for a new day.

There is something special about sunrise. It is usually a peaceful time, the sunrise brings beautiy, light and hope for a new day.

...weeping may remain for a night, but joy comes in the morning. Psalm 30:5

Fall Colors Part 2

2009-11-01T10:52:00.000-08:00

Traveling through Ohio and Kentucky this week I was reminded of how fleeting the colors of fall are. In northern Ohio, most of the leaves were gone. Traveling south there was more and more color. These pictures were taken at the Kentucky welcome center, just south of Cincinnati.

For a week or two, the colors of fall are a kaleidoscope of ambers, reds, gold yellow and green. It is magnificent. But then the leaves fall and if you don't get them off the lawn then they could damage the grass. So we get out the rakes and leaf blowers and get to work.

It is a subtle reminder that everything in life is temporary. The only thing that lasts is the Kingdom of God and that is eternal. Civilizations, fortunes, careers, championships all come and go. We may be on top of the world at one moment but in time decay begins. Fortunes are dissipated by ups and downs in the economy. Careers come to an end and last year's champions lose. The only real source for hope is the Kingdom of God.

Why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

Matthew 6: 28-30

Dallas Cowboys

2009-10-27T19:11:00.000-07:00

Most of our friends know that we are avid Cowboy fans. I first started watching the Cowboys during the Tom Landry and Roger Staubach years. Charlotte is now even more loyal a fan that I am. As a teacher she would always wear a Cowboy jersey to school on the day after a Cowboy win. Many of her students started to root for the Cowboys much to the consternation of their parents who were Redskins fans. The sign in the picture was a gift from one of her students. The name Riddell is a happy coincidence. Most of the helmets used in the NFL are made by the Riddell company. Regrettably, there is no connection.

I don't know about the psychology of watching sports. I know that on Sunday during the first quarter the Cowboys seemed inept. I was ready to give up on them. Charlotte said give them time. The last three quarters were dominated by the Cowboys! It was wonderful. Tony Romo seemed to be back in his element. In some ways is seems that when they win, everything else is OK with the universe.

Of course we know that football is just a game. The Cowboys will win a few and lose a few. Will they make the playoffs? Lately they have played well at the beginning of the season and faded at the end. If they don't make the playoffs and go to the Superbowl then perhaps they will next year. It is said that sports are often a metaphor for life. Maybe even a metaphor for our spiritual lives.

Sometimes our spiritual lives are dynamic and other times we are spiritually flat. Sometimes it seems that God is working in a powerful way in our lives and other times we wonder where God is. You get the picture. I am learning that our relationship to the Lord is always dynamic. He is always there, but He is always encouraging us to go deeper, grow further and allow Him to make us fruitful. The problem is that we are human and we just wander off on our own or our ego gets in the way or plain ole sin. That is why Jesus tells us to abide in Him!

I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful....Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself, it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

John 15: 1,2, 4

Fall Colors

2009-10-25T18:20:00.001-07:00

It's that time of year again. The fall colors are spectacular. Around every bend there is another explosion of color. It is a beautiful time of year. These pictures were taken on Palmyra Avenue on Richmond's North side.

One of the nice things about living in Richmond is that there are four distinct seasons. In a matter of a few months the weather will be cold and if we are lucky we will have a snow day or two. Then spring will come around. Sometimes people will argue about weather fall or spring are more beautiful. In the fall the leaves all change colors and as you can see, it is spectacular. In the spring the Azaleas, Dogwoods and Rhododendrons are in bloom and almost overnight the trees begin to bud.

It reminds me of one of my favorite hymns, "Great is Thy Faithfulness":

Summer and Winter, Springtime and harvest,

Sun, moon and stars in their courses above,

Join with all nature in manifold witness,

Great is Thy faithfulness Lord unto me.

The inspiration for this hymn comes from Jeremiah as he grieves over the defeat of Jerusalem:

Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.

They are new every morning; Great is your faithfulness.

I say to myself, "The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him."
Lamentations 3: 22-24

Karaoke Night at the Daily Grind

2009-10-24T17:43:00.000-07:00

The Daily Grind is a local coffee shop that we like to frequent.

Charlotte claims that Sam, the proprietor, makes the best Chai Latte she has ever had!

From time to time on Friday nights the "Grind" will have local groups for concerts. Friday night was Karaoke night. Here Farris, Sam's son, is taking his turn.

The Turners are friends from Cambridge Baptist Church. From left to right are Haley, Terry and Cassidy, Boo Terry's husband was there too.

Sam the proprietor and his son Shawn were making sure that everybody had plenty of food to eat.

Sam's wife, Alison, performing.

Charlotte and Janeen had a good time.

Haley was the last to perform and did an awesome job!

It is a lot of fun to see friends and catch up. Sam is a great host I do believe hospitality is his gift. He and his family are good to be around. Some of the singers were very good there were others that were only fair. I was amazed at Hailey's talent. She is an elementary teacher in Henrico County schools. I'm sure she is a good teacher, but singing is her gift! When you have a gift, you need to use it. It is an essential ingredient to how God made us.

"For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you..." II Timothy 1:6

Ice Cream

2009-10-21T17:24:00.000-07:00

My favorite vegetable is ice cream! My favorite place of ice cream is Gelato Celesti in Richmond.

The cone in the middle is Chocolate Peanut Butter on top of Chocolate Almond. The cone on the right is Pistachio on top of Cherry Vanilla. They are in home made waffle cones that are made fresh every afternoon. It is totally awesome ice cream!

It doesn't get any better than this!

Passages

2009-10-19T16:55:00.000-07:00

Ralph and Carol Crouch are celebrating a wedding anniversary, Ralph's birthday, Carol's retirement and Ralph's retirement all within a two week period. The Mustard Seed class at FBC Richmond gathered at the Robin Inn on Sunday to honor them.

Ralph celebrates his 65th birthday this week. Ralph retires on Friday from Henrico County Government after almost twenty one-years. He started working for 911 and then moved to the Department of Community Revitalization. He is a man of many talents.

Ralph and Carol are also celebrating their forty-fifth anniversary. They actually eloped. Carol's dad was a Baptist pastor. Ralph says they were ready to get married after dating only four months. Her father felt that it was too quick. They said the ladies at her father's church were counting the months to see how long the marriage would last. I hope they are not still counting!

Ralph was a Methodist when they married. Four years later he became a Baptist.

Ultimately he was called into the ministry. He attended Southwestern Baptist Seminary and then pastored three churches here in Virginia. Ralph sees himself as a pastor at heart.

Lewis Meyers pronounced a blessing on the couple: "May the Lord bless you and keep you and make his face to shine upon you and give you peace."

It is obvious that they love each other. What now? Well, they are not going to rush into anything. They want to travel some. They have thought about volunteering in some national parks. Ralph has been a part of a 'Campers on Mission Group' in the past and they may get involved in that ministry again.

We all go through significant passages. They include graduation from high school and college; beginning a new career; getting married; beginning a family and the loss of loved ones. Retirement is another rite of passage. A rite of passage means we complete one era of our lives and we begin another. In retirement we are freed up from many of the obligations and time commitments that come with our careers. At times like this I have heard many say, "I have been successful, now I want to be significant." The challenge is to live the next phase of our lives in a way that fulfills God's purpose for us. My prayer is that we will all fulfill God's purpose for our lives regardless of our phase of life.

Psalms 138: 8 "The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O Lord, endures forever--do not abandon the works of your hands."

Transitions

2009-10-18T13:57:00.000-07:00

Friday was Lisa McMahon's last day at the office after eleven years on the job.

Lisa is an IT professional. Officially her title was Manager for the HR and Payroll System Team. We first worked together on a project that moved the application process for missionaries from a paper based system into an electronic process. Overnight, that project transformed much of the way we do our work. I remember a variety of meetings where Lisa kept saying, "we can do that." Since then every interaction with Lisa has demonstrated that 'can do' attitude. She will be missed!

Lisa and her husband Tim have decided to move to Ecuador. They have always wanted to live overseas. Originally, the plan was to wait until 55. But she and Tim have decided they can do that now and don't need to wait. She has also felt God's encouragement to 'live the adventure'.

Through the years I have had the privilege of working with a number of people like Lisa. They are skilled and professional. They see their task as supporting the global missionary enterprise and they see their work not as a job but as a ministry. I respect them immensely largely because they work faithfully with very little recognition.

John 6:27 Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval."

Psalms 90:17 May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us — yes, establish the work of our hands. NIV

Fellowship and Gospel Music

2009-10-17T19:12:00.000-07:00

Saturday night we joined several friends from our Sunday School class for chili and trimmings and then went to the Gospel Chicken House located in rural Hanover County.

We were hosted by Pam and Ed Bishop. Pam prepared three types of chili including traditional chili with beef, a white chicken chili and a spicy chili with andouille sausage. It was a feast!

Jim and Pat Shearon visited with our teacher Lewis Myers.

Lewis and Toni served for many years as missionaries in Vietnam. Lewis later assumed a leadership role with the IMB home office staff until his retirement. Now Lewis teaches the Mustard Seed class. He and Toni continue to work with Vietnamese congregations all over the US.

Harry and Debbie Slaydon are some of those faithful people who are always there.

The Gospel Chicken House is an old chicken house that has been turned into a concert venue. Every Saturday night they feature different gospel music groups.

The first group to perform was the "Roosters" as in the Gospel Chicken House Roosters. The man on the far right, Ray Pollard, was a part of the original gospel music group that started performing at the Chicken House thirty-six years ago.

The next group was "The River of Life", a family singing group from North Carolina.

The atmosphere was decidedly laid back. The dog is a permanent fixture at the Gospel Chicken House. He was enjoying an onion ring courtesy of one of the patrons.

Pat Shearon and Charlotte were doing their best to have a good time!

The final group to perform was "Amy Ladd and Friends." The subtitle on the program was "Picking and Praying" and the picking was excellent.

It was a lot of fun to to get together with our Sunday School class. It is hard to get to know people on Sundays because the focus is on bible study and worship, as it should be. But visiting in people's homes and spending time talking and eating gives you a chance to see another dimension of people's personalities. I think it is called fellowship.

The Gospel Chicken House was also an enjoyable experience. The group that I enjoyed was "Amy Ladd and Friends." Amy is a quality performer, she is very good at engaging the audience and the group provided excellent picking and strumming.

The Chicken House does not charge admission, they take up an offering to give to the performing groups. They sell refreshments to pay for operating costs. They did share prayer requests and had a devotional time. In many ways it was like going to a country church, but the focus was on the music and not on the sermon. It does remind me that there are many varieties of Christian experience. There is not one best way to worship the Lord. The group there tonight was there to celebrate their faith and commitment to the Lord.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3: 16-17

Children's Birthdays

2009-10-11T19:19:00.000-07:00

Last week our neighbor's Jeff and January invited us to be a part of their son Henry's third birthday celebration.

From right to left Jeff, Henry and January.

Henry is into fire trucks so there were fireman hats and a cake in the shape of a fire truck.

There were lots of kids around.

Jeff and January have a black lab named Charlotte. So this is a picture of Charlotte and Charlotte. We have had lots of fun with that.

Ps 127:3-5

3 Sons are a heritage from the Lord,
children a reward from him.
4 Like arrows in the hands of a warrior
are sons born in one's youth.

West University Baptist Church

2009-10-03T15:39:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday evening we had the chance to visit with a group of seniors from West University Baptist Church in Houston. West University is Charlotte's home church. I was ordained to the ministry there and we were married there. That church has been an important part of our lives! Ronnie Barner was the minister of music for many years. Charlotte was a part if his youth choir as a teenager. We were both members of the adult choir after we were married. Ronnie and the pastor LeRay Fowler were a dynamic ministry team. He now leads the seniors ministry.

Hollis Walt (foreground) was there. He told me that his wife of fifty years passed away earlier this year. Hollis operated an insurance business in Houston before retirement. I remember Hollis as one of those lay leaders that are critical to every church.

Connie Harper is a long term friend.

We met Randi Mullican on Sunday. She pointed out that she knew both my parents and Charlotte's parents. She was a part of Simonton Community Church where my father was pastor for seven years. She later moved into Houston and joined West University where she met Charlotte's parents.

Willeen Gutenburg, a member of West University, has been volunteering at the International Learning Center for several weeks. Her daughter serves in Europe with the IMB.

The Riddell's with Ronnie and Ruth Barner.

I have been a part of a number of churches. Each church was a special part of my pilgrimage in a different way. West University accepted me as a college student. Of course it was the the church that nurtured Charlotte as she started her walk of faith. It was the fellowship where we were married. The men and women of that church nurtured me as I entered the ministry. Men like Ronnie Barner and LeRay Fowler modeled ministry for me. The church set me aside for the Gospel Ministry. Charlotte and I left there so that I could go to seminary. I will always be thankful for the people and for their faithfulness and encouragement.

Boston

2009-09-25T18:25:00.000-07:00

Above is a picture of the Bunker Hill Bridge over the Charles River that leads into the Big Dig. On the left is the Boston Garden, home of the Boston Celtics. The ground floor is Boston's North Railway Station.

The Big Dig is a mega project that rerouted Interstate 93, the chief highway through the heart of Boston, into a 3.5 mile tunnel under the city. The project also included the construction of the Ted Williams Tunnel the Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Memorial Bridge over the Charles River (above), and the Rose Kennedy Greenway in the space vacated by the previous I-93 elevated roadway.

The Bunker Hill Bridge is a dramatic looking suspension bridge. The Big Dig is said to have been the most expensive highway project in US history. Estimated at $2.8 billion in 1982 ended up costing an estimated $22 billion including intrest costs. It also resulted in criminal arrests, leaks, death and charges of poor execution and the use of substandard materials.

Boston's skyline. Boston is the largest metropolitan area in New England as well as serving as the economic and cultural hub of the region. It is the unofficial "Capital of New England." The metropolitan area is home to 4.5 million people.

Boston is an exciting city with millions of people. It represents cities all over the world that are filled with people who live, love and have dreams for success and financial prosperity. Yet so many are lost and looking for a better way.

As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, "if you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace--but now it is hidden from your eyes." Luke 19: 41

Organizational reorganization

2009-09-24T18:27:00.000-07:00

During our birthday break on Wednesday we recognized five people who will be moving to new work groups as a result of organizational reorganization. Sharon Mann (left) and Patti Harris provide word processing services for the entire organization. However, our dictation has been seventy percent of their work because we record notes on every interview. They represent dozens of unsung heroes at the IMB. They work quietly behind the scene and yet provide critical services. They see their work as a ministry. Sharon and Patti will move to a new unit, but they will hear my voice every time they transcribe one of my notes.
Brenda Moncreif and Temple Foster are the conference coordinators for our office. They plan and execute ten to fourteen interview conferences a year. They invite the participants, plan the schedules, arrange for staffing and a million other details. They have made it possible for 800 or more prospective missionaries to attend an interview conference each year for the past several years. Their function has been moved to a different office.Debbie Williamson (left) has been a consultant's assistant, business process coordinator and administrative services team leader. She is one of those people who knows how things work and makes sure they do. In this picture, she has been training my assistant of many years, Joan Ivey, in some of her new duties. Debbie knows more about our technical systems, business processes and administrative proceedures than anyone in our office. We will miss her.

Sharon, Patti, Brenda, Temple and Debbie are the latest of those who are leaving our group for new assignments. They are not only colleagues but also friends and in many ways a part of our family. The will be missed.

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

Birthday Break

2009-09-23T17:55:00.001-07:00

We have a once a month celebration in our office to honor those who have celebrated birthdays. Today was the day...There is always plenty of food! Around our office it is all about the food! The chocolate chip cookies are a specialty for Randy Rains.

Joel Sutton celebrated his birthday on 9-9-09. We have worked together for many years.

Kelly Davis worked many years mobilizing students to serve the Lord overseas. He now interviews people who are exploring long term term overseas service.

Andy Tuttle, another member of the team, turned 50 today!

Debbie Duffer celebrated her birthday on September 18. Recent reorganization has resulted in a shift in responsibilities, her focus is now helping overseas personnel stay on the field.

These folks have been colleagues and friends for many years. They are deeply committed to the Lord and have a vision for sending people around the world to proclaim the Good News. They work hard to meet the needs for personnel around the world.

As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming when no one can work. John 9: 4

This Old House

2009-09-20T11:41:00.000-07:00

Scott and Erica live in a house that is almost 200 years old. It was built before 1832 but the courthouse where all the records were stored burned that year. Pictures of the area dated 1812 do not show the house. The cedar shake siding was added within the last thirty years. There is pine clapboard siding underneath. The vinyl windows were installed two years ago.

The kitchen floors are twelve inch pine planks. The fireplace does not work. By the way, we installed the new dishwasher on Thursday. The flooring and other aspects of the construction have caused some to wonder if the house was built by a shipbuilder. Ship building has been a prominent part of the local economy since the foundation of the city of Portsmouth which is nearby.

The stairs are steep and shallow, no more than six or seven inches deep.

Note the foundation is stones mortared together. On top of that you find brick. The change in the foundation has caused some to wonder if the house was moved to this location after being built at another location.

This brick archway serves as the foundation for the kitchen fireplace which is directly above. It was once used as a root cellar.

It makes you wonder how many generations have lived in the house? What were their stories? It also gives a perspective on our lives. We are just one link in the chain of generations which the Lord causes to come and go throughout history. Each with its own dreams, hopes and challenges.

Generations come and generations go,but the earth remains forever. Eccl 1:44

Unless the Lord builds the house,its builders labor in vain. Ps 127:1

Cambridge Baptist Church

2009-09-13T19:41:00.000-07:00

Sunday we were at Cambridge Baptist Church in Richmond where I served as interim pastor for about two and a half years. It was a wonderful day of worship and for renewing relationships. I was especially honored to be invited to preach that day by the new pastor, Jay Smith.

Mike Wilson leads the praise team. His day job is serving as a network administrator. Mike works hard to provide a powerful worship experience. His wife, Cindy, recently graduated from nursing school. They have two sons, one is in college, the other recently enlisted in the Navy.

Pastor Jay Smith is graduate of the US Naval Academy. He has a vision for seeing Cambridge have a significant impact on the community around the church as well as across our country and around the world.

"Into Hymn" a group of students from James Madison University provided the special music as well as a concert after lunch.

These to ladies with Charlotte are from Jamaica. They first started coming to Cambridge about a year ago. They have come to Henrico County Schools to teach in a special exchange program. A year ago they were facing culture shock and the challenge of beginning the school year in a new system. Cambridge was able to provide them a lot of encouragement and support.

The youth have always been a vital part of the church.

Chad and Anna Stillwell are part of the growing group of young adults.

Jason Owen is a professor at the University of Richmond. His little girl is six months old.

Tom and Harriet Jones have an awesome testimony and exhibit an incredible love for the Lord. Harriet sings for the worship services and is totally awesome!

In the midst of challenging days, God has a way of providing some wonderful blessings that we least expect. Sunday was one of those times!

I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Philippians 1: 6

Jars of Clay

2009-09-12T19:14:00.001-07:00

2 Corinthians 4: 7 "We have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us."

The treasure is the light of the knowledge of the glory of God. The One who created the sun that is so bright we cannot stand to look at it has taken residence in the life of the believer. That is an awesome treasure.

But we hold that treasure in clay pots. Have you noticed that as believers we are all pretty ordinary? Have you noticed that clay pots are prone to getting beat up?

The point is that the spot light in our lives needs to be on the treasure and not on us.

Portsmouth Harbor

2009-09-08T19:33:00.001-07:00

Portsmouth, NH was first settled in 1630 along the banks of the Piskataqua River. The city has long been associated with ship building. The river serves as a boundary between New Hampshire and Maine. The harbor is interesting because of its history, the scenery and people. Across the river is Kittery, Maine.

The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard is known for the submarines that were built there.

Below you see the hull of a Los Angeles class nuclear submarine that has recently arrived for re outfitting. The project will probably take two years.

The lighthouse at the mouth of the river marks the entry to the the harbor.

There are sail boats everywhere.

And just a few luxury yachts.

Others went out on the sea in ships; they were merchants on the mighty waters. They saw the works of the Lord, his wonderful deeds in the deep.

Psalms 107: 23-24