We spent the past week on vacation in Oklahoma City and Dallas.
On Sunday morning, we headed to Oklahoma City for the annual Oklahoma Rural Letter Carriers Association convention. I served as a delegate from the state's northeastern district. While I learned a little during the informational sessions, I found myself in the minority during every vote on substantial issues that would make a positive impact on my job or reform my union. I'm accustomed to being in the minority, though.
Before arriving at the convention, we met Bobby Ross (http://www.therossnews.com) and his family for worship with the Edmond Church of Christ. Unfortunately, Tamie was feeling sick. However, we were able to enjoy a nice lunch with Bobby, Brady, and Keaton.
On Monday, I skipped the convention and took the family to the Science Museum. Christopher loved all of the hands-on activities and the Storm Chasers movie in the Omnidome.
On Tuesday, the convention wrapped up. Jason and Tara Hicks (http://thehixaregrowinglikeweeds.blogspot.com) invited us to dinner at their house. Tara is the former children's minister for the Contact Church of Christ. Time flew as we ate a great meal and talked for hours. Christopher enjoyed playing with their son Liam.
On Wednesday, we visited the Frontier City amusement park. (Thanks, Bobby, for letting us know about the coupons!) In some ways, we were reminded of Silver Dollar City. Then we went to see the latest Indiana Jones movie. (Is it just me, or is the latest movie much more ridiculous than those made in the 1980s?)
On Thursday, we spent the day at the Oklahoma City Zoo. We enjoyed watching the sea lions perform tricks in their new show, feeding the ducks and geese at the lake, and seeing the new lion cubs.
On Friday, we traveled south to Dallas so that we could spend the weekend with Janet's brother Ken. Since he was home on vacation from his job in Iraq for the first time in about 16 months, we joined most of the family in visiting him and his wife in Dallas.
Before returning home on Sunday, we visited Stonebriar Community Church to hear Chuck Swindoll speak.
In the next day or so, I will try to post a few photographs of our vacation. Thanks for reading!
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Saturday, June 07, 2008
Barton W. Stone: Family Man
With Father's Day approaching, I would like to share John Rogers' description of Barton W. Stone as a devoted family man. Two hundred years ago, Mr. Stone was a leader among the early American Christian Churches and Churches of Christ. Mr. Rogers' description of his family life helps explain why so many disciples of Christ respected his leadership during his lifetime.
I have retained the original spelling in this excerpt:
"B.W. Stone possessed all the elements of a truly great and good man. In the domestic and private walks of life, where men act under least restraint--where they develope their true principles, there he shone with peculiar lustre, as the imbodiment of every private and domestic virtue. As a husband, he was kind, devoted, tender, obliging, faithful; as a father, he was fond and attentive; he lived to promote the happiness of his family. Never man loved the domestic circle more than he. He carefully brought up his children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord; night and morning asking the divine blessing upon his family, and committing and commending himself and them to the care and protection of the Heavenly Father. His was truly a house of prayer--his a Joshua's resolution: 'As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.' The writer of this sketch was much about the house of the venerated Stone, for many, many years; and it affords him peculiar pleasure to say, he never heard him speak a harsh or unkind word to any member of his family; nor does he remember to have seen him angry, during an acquaintance of a quarter of a century. In patience he possessed his soul" (The Biography of Barton Warren Stone by B.W. Stone and John Rogers, p. 248).
I have retained the original spelling in this excerpt:
"B.W. Stone possessed all the elements of a truly great and good man. In the domestic and private walks of life, where men act under least restraint--where they develope their true principles, there he shone with peculiar lustre, as the imbodiment of every private and domestic virtue. As a husband, he was kind, devoted, tender, obliging, faithful; as a father, he was fond and attentive; he lived to promote the happiness of his family. Never man loved the domestic circle more than he. He carefully brought up his children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord; night and morning asking the divine blessing upon his family, and committing and commending himself and them to the care and protection of the Heavenly Father. His was truly a house of prayer--his a Joshua's resolution: 'As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.' The writer of this sketch was much about the house of the venerated Stone, for many, many years; and it affords him peculiar pleasure to say, he never heard him speak a harsh or unkind word to any member of his family; nor does he remember to have seen him angry, during an acquaintance of a quarter of a century. In patience he possessed his soul" (The Biography of Barton Warren Stone by B.W. Stone and John Rogers, p. 248).
The Importance of Fathers
"A house without a father is a challenge. A neighborhood without fathers is a catastrophe."~Bill Cosby
Thursday, June 05, 2008
Recommended Blog Posts
I appreciate the thoughts of Mike at the Upper Room Blog. I don't know much about him, but I like the way he thinks and writes. In fact, I often say to myself, I wish I had written that post, after reading his blog. He has some good thoughts about "Rethinking Church" at http://theupperroom.typepad.com/the_upper_room/2008/06/rethinking-church.html.
John Piper has listed "20 Reasons I Don't Take Potshots at Fundamentalists" at http://www.desiringgod.org/Blog/1251_20_reasons_i_dont_take_potshots_at_fundamentalists/. I agree with almost all of his list (except my father is not a fundamentalist), but I especially echo the sentiments of Reason #20. People to my left also believe I'm a fundamentalist, and there are a lot of people to my left.
John Piper has listed "20 Reasons I Don't Take Potshots at Fundamentalists" at http://www.desiringgod.org/Blog/1251_20_reasons_i_dont_take_potshots_at_fundamentalists/. I agree with almost all of his list (except my father is not a fundamentalist), but I especially echo the sentiments of Reason #20. People to my left also believe I'm a fundamentalist, and there are a lot of people to my left.
Offensive Kindness
"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience" (Colossians 3:12, NIV).
I'm working on moving beyond passive and defensive kindness, the type of kindness expressed when I'm interrupted by someone in need. Such kindness is good, but I often feel awkward because I am caught off guard. I prefer to be prepared to help people.
I want to take the offensive in being kind. I want to be prepared, to take initiative, and to be intentional in expressing kindness. I want to wake up every morning thinking, How can I show kindness to someone today? Who needs an encouraging word? Could someone use a phone call? Could I send an e-mail, a message, or a comment to help someone or to brighten someone's day? Does someone need money, food, or a ride to work? Could I help a co-worker struggling with an injury, an illness, or a loss in the family? How can I let my wife know that I love her? What would my son like for me to do with him or for him? Could I come to the defense of someone being falsely maligned or abused?
How would my world change if I consistently prepared myself to take the offensive in showing kindness?
I'm working on moving beyond passive and defensive kindness, the type of kindness expressed when I'm interrupted by someone in need. Such kindness is good, but I often feel awkward because I am caught off guard. I prefer to be prepared to help people.
I want to take the offensive in being kind. I want to be prepared, to take initiative, and to be intentional in expressing kindness. I want to wake up every morning thinking, How can I show kindness to someone today? Who needs an encouraging word? Could someone use a phone call? Could I send an e-mail, a message, or a comment to help someone or to brighten someone's day? Does someone need money, food, or a ride to work? Could I help a co-worker struggling with an injury, an illness, or a loss in the family? How can I let my wife know that I love her? What would my son like for me to do with him or for him? Could I come to the defense of someone being falsely maligned or abused?
How would my world change if I consistently prepared myself to take the offensive in showing kindness?
Wednesday, June 04, 2008
Global Food Crisis Part 2
This is from the most recent newsletter of the Christian Relief Fund (http://www.christianrelieffund.org):
"Spiralling food costs--called a 'silent tsunami' by the World Food Program--have sparked protests and food riots in 34 countries. The head of the UN World Food Program, Josette Sheeran, described the current food price crisis as a 'global hunger emergency.' The increase in food prices is costing the lives of 250,000 people every 10 days. Up to 100 million people are being pushed back into poverty. Rice prices have gone up as much as 250 percent in the past year.
"The world's poorest are the most vulnerable...
"Rising fuel prices have made transportation of foodstuffs increasingly expensive...
"Another factor creating the food crisis is that several African nations who used to produce enough food to feed their own populations are no longer able to do so. Zimbabwe used to export food to other southern African nations. Now because of civil unrest and internal wars, Zimbabwe's people are starving. Other African nations suffering food shortages are: South Africa, Malawi (annual, chronic shortages), Kenya (recent political instability saw food stores of certain tribes burned while others missed the planting season), and southern Sudan.
"The deputy of the UNCHR recently cited the huge number of refugees around the world. Wars and unrest have caused many to leave their homes and not plant during this spring season. The most vulnerable in this spiraling cost of basic foods are: refugees, internally displaced people groups, urban poor not living on farms, and orphans."
"Spiralling food costs--called a 'silent tsunami' by the World Food Program--have sparked protests and food riots in 34 countries. The head of the UN World Food Program, Josette Sheeran, described the current food price crisis as a 'global hunger emergency.' The increase in food prices is costing the lives of 250,000 people every 10 days. Up to 100 million people are being pushed back into poverty. Rice prices have gone up as much as 250 percent in the past year.
"The world's poorest are the most vulnerable...
"Rising fuel prices have made transportation of foodstuffs increasingly expensive...
"Another factor creating the food crisis is that several African nations who used to produce enough food to feed their own populations are no longer able to do so. Zimbabwe used to export food to other southern African nations. Now because of civil unrest and internal wars, Zimbabwe's people are starving. Other African nations suffering food shortages are: South Africa, Malawi (annual, chronic shortages), Kenya (recent political instability saw food stores of certain tribes burned while others missed the planting season), and southern Sudan.
"The deputy of the UNCHR recently cited the huge number of refugees around the world. Wars and unrest have caused many to leave their homes and not plant during this spring season. The most vulnerable in this spiraling cost of basic foods are: refugees, internally displaced people groups, urban poor not living on farms, and orphans."
Tuesday, June 03, 2008
Sin, the Heart, and the Holy Spirit
Sometimes I sin in ways I don't understand. I say something or do something selfish without any regard to how it may affect God or others.
I confess those specific sins and ask for forgiveness, but I know something more is needed. I know that underneath the overt sin lies another sin. Whatever that sin is, it has led me to commit the sin I am confessing. The problem is: I can't quite figure out what it is. As much as I want to, I can't dig deep enough to get it out in the open. I can't find the words to articulate it.
I want to repent; I want to confess; but how can I, when I can't put my finger on my sin?
I could pray, "Forgive me of all the sins I don't know about", but it feels so inadequate.
I could pray, "Listen to my heart", but I think that's the problem. My heart isn't right, and I don't know what is wrong with it.
During such times of frustrating prayer, I take some comfort in Romans 8:26-27...
"In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will" (NIV).
God knows I want to be right in my heart. He knows I want to repent and confess the sins I can't even articulate. When I am in a place where I cannot do it, his Spirit helps by going to the Father on my behalf to express the words I cannot find within my limited vocabulary. At that point, I can only thank God for the Holy Spirit and his help.
I confess those specific sins and ask for forgiveness, but I know something more is needed. I know that underneath the overt sin lies another sin. Whatever that sin is, it has led me to commit the sin I am confessing. The problem is: I can't quite figure out what it is. As much as I want to, I can't dig deep enough to get it out in the open. I can't find the words to articulate it.
I want to repent; I want to confess; but how can I, when I can't put my finger on my sin?
I could pray, "Forgive me of all the sins I don't know about", but it feels so inadequate.
I could pray, "Listen to my heart", but I think that's the problem. My heart isn't right, and I don't know what is wrong with it.
During such times of frustrating prayer, I take some comfort in Romans 8:26-27...
"In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will" (NIV).
God knows I want to be right in my heart. He knows I want to repent and confess the sins I can't even articulate. When I am in a place where I cannot do it, his Spirit helps by going to the Father on my behalf to express the words I cannot find within my limited vocabulary. At that point, I can only thank God for the Holy Spirit and his help.
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