Oot an Aboot in Croatia

Pigeons everywhere

The only guard tower left of the old city walls dating to the 1450's

The Kupa River

Goin' fishin'

National Theater of Karlovac

On of the last sections of the old city walls

A Passion

River Trout

Chevapi

Palechinka's (excellent!)

Ice cream and cappucino at Mozart's

Leftover mashed potatoes made into a dough with a plum inside and sweetened sour cream sauce. Decadent!

Highlight of the Trip

The highlight of the trip, for me, was being able to preach twice. Before I left, I knew that there would be a chance that I would be asked to preach, so I reached in my sermon file and took all of them with me. All two of them. I had preached in Brazil and at home the previous month. Well, as I was looking at my two outlines, God told me that day old bread would not do, so I started praying and searching for what God wanted to say. Being new at this and having God say such a thing scared the bejeebers out of me! But God had a message of encouragement for the church and I was honored and humbled to be the tool. I used the text of Philippians 3:12-15 which is about running the race and reaching for the prize. Scared as I was, I had a peace that overcame me as I started preaching and God filled my mouth with His words.

What a cool way to do missions and ministry! It was a great joy to be used by God in this way and this confirmed to me that God wants me to preach. We shall see where the Lord leads.

Amusing Images of Croatia

I wonder if the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention knows they are targets of graffiti in Zagreb?

Marching beer cans are always an attention getter

Mr. Postman's cool ride

They don't care about shirts or shoes

These guys are cheaper, drink less coffee and don't need 4 supervisors

Images of the ESL Classrooms

Mark's Intermediate Class

Lona's Advanced Class

Tally's Beginner Class

Images of Croatia

Pastor Ladislov & Melanija (Tally in the middle)
He pastors the Baptist Church of Karlovac and his wife is an amazing cook!

Tim and Danna with Madeline, Piper and Zoe

Tally, Lona and Mark

The first two pictures are of our main contacts in Croatia. I will include some pictures of other people, ESL classes, the beer festival and food next week.

Yes, its all Greek to me

Ok, the first night of Greek is over. I was in Croatia teaching ESL at a Baptist church for two weeks and missed the first two sessions of Greek. I took my text, workbook and flash cards and studied everyday for 1-2 hours. My wife has her own workbook and studied along with me. She is more task oriented, so she gets all the credit in keeping me focused.

I took the quiz and only missed one fill in the blank. I got all 10 vocabulary words. Woo Hoo! I felt I was on the same page with the other students which is "What in the wide world of sports did I get myself in to?!?!?" Seriously, I felt real comfortable and the guys (and 2 ladies) are really cool. The prof was in California speaking at the main campus of the seminary, so we had a student who has done all the Greek classes and is a savant to do a review over the first 12 chapters and explain how to diagram Greek.

Oh, I got extra points from one of the students for making coffee my first night at seminary. I told her that coffee is a major food group and I was only doing what was needed to sustain life as I know it!

Greek 101

Well, I start seminary today. I actually started 3 weeks ago, but I was on the mission trip to Croatia and missed the first two weeks. I took my Greek text, workbook and flashcards and studied 1-2 hours every morning, so hopefully I am not far behind the curve. This will be my first class to attend. I like what I have done on my own so far, but I don not like that the class is one semester only and then exegesis next semester. I have friends in seminary now and they are using the same book and it is a two-semester program. Other friends who have done seminary within the last 10 years took 3 semesters of Greek before the semester of exegesis. While I am not complaining too loudly, I feel I am being short-changed.

I will let you know how it went.

Need a Phaser?

Buy a Toshiba HD-DVD player and the box set of Season One of Star Trek - The Original Series in HD-DVD and you get a free phaser remote! Cool!

Update on the Reds

I haven't mentioned the Reds much lately, but not surprising since there is not much to say. A couple of weeks ago they did climb to within 6 1/2 games to entertain the idea of getting in the playoff race, but then promptly lost 5 games.

What's nice about this time of year is that you get to see a lot of new faces just called up from the minors. These are kids who might be fighting for a spot on next year's opening day roster. Let me highlight a couple of rookies and a veteran:

Bronson Arroyo - He has not had the success he had last year. The first part of the season, he pitched pretty bad. Yes, he did have a couple of decent games, but there was no consistency. The second half has been better, but he has been victimized by the horrible bullpen (4 blown saves) or lack of any run support. Here is what the Reds page on Fox Sports has to say:-RHP Bronson Arroyo makes his team-leading 30th start Friday when the Reds host the Brewers. In Arroyo's previous starts, the team is 10-19 while scoring 113 runs (3.9 per game). The Reds have scored two runs or fewer in 13 of his 29 starts, and he has been victimized by four blown saves.

Josh Hamilton - The kid, the natural, keeps playing hard, making good decisions and staying on the straight and narrow. He was a featured speaker at the Faith Night hosted by the Reds last month. He will keep the starting CF position for next year.

Joey Votto - --1B Joey Votto's first major league hit Wednesday was a home run, joining teammates CF Josh Hamilton and C Ryan Jorgensen who this made their first major league hit a home run this year. Joey went 3-3 with a walk, a home run, 2 singles, 2 runs and an RBI in his first start. He will be the first baseman next year. He was huge in AAA this year.

Tom Shearn - Tom is a 30 year old, career minor leaguer with 354 minor league appearances before getting his first start. Now 2-0 with a 3.12 ERA, Shearn has put himself into consideration for next year's rotation. Manager Pete Mackanin says that he is fearless, which is attributed to his age and experience over the fact that he is a rookie. He is not the typical rookie. He will be vying for a rotation spot next year.

Well that is it for the update. I hope they sweep the Brewers this weekend.

Happy Birthday!

Monday was Ian's 4th birthday. We decorated his cake to look like the Candyland board game. I will post a picture of it next week.

Today is my beautiful bride's $$th birthday. She looks about 15 years younger, which is good for me, but she is stuck with a guy who ages 2-3 years every year! Happy birthday babe!

Home Again, Naturally

We returned home last Saturday, September first, after two weeks in Karlovac, Croatia. It is a historic town for that region of Eastern Europe. Most of the country is Catholic. It is a cultural thing: if you are Croatian, you are Catholic. They view any other church as a cult or sect.

We taught English as a Second Language (ESL) during that time. This is a way for the church to reach out to the community and to break down that "cult" barrier through the building of relationships between the people and the church. There were a lot of new students from previous years and they seemed very comfortable visiting the church each day.

I will discuss other mission opportunities and describe more of the town and culture over the next few days (with pictures).

ESL in Croatia

Lona and I will be leaving tomorrow morning (0'dark:30) to travel to Croatia to work with a Baptist church in Karlovac. We will be teaching ESL which is a way for the church to reach out to the community. 99% of the country is Catholic (Roman and Eastern Orthodox flavors) and view any other church as a cult. By providing these classes, the church can show the people that the church is not a cult and uses the same Bible they use (more or less). Mainly it is building relationships and sharing the love of Jesus with the unchurched, which is what its all about, right?

We will be gone for two weeks, returning home on Sept 1. Please pray for us as we work with the Croatian pastor and the Southern Baptist missionaries.

Dedication Service

The church is done!

A very nice youth choir

Mark Preaching "What Must I Do To Be Saved?"

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Hotel and Relaxation

Americans and Brazilians playing futball.

Dinner at the hotel.

Dad learning the fine art of getting into and out of a hammock.

Construction and Lunch

This is the "Wailing Wall" because that is the sound you would hear beneath the rubble if this fell over. Two Webbs working together might not be a good idea!

Pastor David and Osiel, one of our translators, leading a devotional time after lunch.

Each day, we went down the road about a half-mile to a house that was loaned to us for our lunch and devotional time. There were some hammocks to nap in and a time to rest. Pastor David did a great job and everyone liked the communion service we had on the last day of construction.

A Good Start

Here is Dad helping to move a pile of bricks.

Here is the church site. We built the walls and put on the roof.

This church was built in a little dusty town called Juazeiro (jew-ah-zway-doo). There are about a thousand people in the town. We stayed at Castilo do Piaui which is about 20 km from here. Pastor Wilson will shepherd this church as well as his church in Castilo. Please pray for him as he ministers in two different towns.

A little slow this week

I am sorry that I have not posted any details or pictures concerning Brazil yet. I have been waiting on some pictures to arrive. In the meantime, I went to the Rocky Mountain Campus of the Golden Gate Theological Seminary yesterday to register and sign up for Intro to New Testament Greek. Woohoo! I will try to keep you updated on my progress. I will have to find a Greek font to use.

Madeleine Simpson?

Safe At Home

We arrived safely Friday morning from Brazil. The church was built, the Word was preached and ministry is continuing in that isolated area of Brazil. I will fill in the details in the days to come. Thank you for praying. The next mission trip is teaching ESL in Croatia. Lona and I will leave August 17 for two weeks. I will give more info on that trip later, as well.

Mission: Brazil, Part 4

Here are the specific prayer requests for the trip:

1. No airline adventures!
2. Safety in travel and during construction
3. That Jesus Christ will be glorified above all things
4. For me as I preach the dedication service
5. Discernment in evaluating the church camp
6. Protection for our families
7. For the congregation that will use this building to minister to their community

Thank you for praying and I will give you an update when I return

Mission: Brazil, Part 3

After we build the church, we will drive back to Teresina and visit a church camp that is owned by the Baptist churches of Piaui. Since Piaui is the poorest state, the camp is run down, but they still use it. It has been 10 years since there has been a regular caretaker for the camp.

We will spend several hours mapping and assessing the grounds and each building. There are 3 dorms, a dining hall with kitchen, caretaker housing and two unfinished buildings for a chapel and something else. Our goal will be to evaluate the condition of the camp and decide whether this project is something our church can tackle. We hope to partner with the Piaui churches in not only this project, but in evangelistic work.

If God ordains this venture, then over the next few years we will go for a two week trip with a construction team and an evangelistic team. We have already been invited by the pastor of the church we built last year to help them with VBS during the day and preaching in the evenings. We would also help with discipleship training, if the pastor asks for it. We will only do what is asked of us. This is to help strengthen the churches, not add notches to our belts or whatever.

On Monday I will leave you with specific prayers requests.

10 Books on a Desert Island

Here is a new meme: What 10 books would I want to have if I was stuck on a desert island. I will not be as studious as Randy or Rick.

1. Bible, NASB - Thompson Chain Reference would be nice.
2. I love reading sermons by great pastors, so 2-5 will be: Spurgeon - any volume
3. Alexander MacLaren - Any volume
4. Joseph Parker - any volume
5. G. Campbell Morgan - Any volume
6. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy in one volume
   
7. Foxes Book of Martyrs
8. Beowulf in Old English (I love reading OE)
9. City of God - St. Augustine
10. While The Clock Ticked - an early Hardy Boy Mystery

There you have it. If you read this, consider yourself tagged.

Mission: Brazil, Part 2

The next focal point of the trip is what we will be doing. We are working with Christian Missions Unlimited (CMU) to build a church in Juazeiro, Piaui. (Shwah-zae-doo, Pee-ah-wee) Piaui is the poorest and least evangelized state in Brazil. It is also the hottest! We will spend four days building a church (laying about 5000 bricks) and having a dedication service. There is a congregation already in place and they have outgrown meeting in someone's home or the wooden shack they have as a church. Florencio is the Executive Director of the Baptist convention in Piaui. That is a high-faluten title which means he helps the churches and pastors in any way he can.

We are taking some bags of clothes, toys, basic hygiene supplies and Bibles to give away and to give to the church so they can minister to the needs of their community. They understand those needs better than we do.

It is exciting to meet new friends and to share the love of Jesus. God will show us His work in mighty ways. Most of the time, we just need to stand back and not get in the way! Tomorrow, I will talk about some long range ministry possibilities in Brazil.

Mission: Brazil

One week from today, I will be leading a team from my church to Brazil. We will be building a church and other ministry opportunities that God gives us. I thought I would give some information each day this week concerning the trip.

Let us start with the team. There are 11 from my church, 3 others that are related to church members, one construction lead from Alabama and one retired missionary (Brazil) from Florida. We will all meet in Miami and fly down together.

The team has one husband and wife going, two sets of fathers and sons, one father-in-law and son-in-law and one brother/sister act. We have one pastor, one North American Missionary and 5 ordained deacons. Over half the team has been to Brazil before. 12 come from Colorado and one each from California, Indiana, Alabama and Florida.

That was a bunch of boring statistics, but there are some interesting relationships represented within the group. Tomorrow I will discuss the mission focus and the ministry we work with in building the churches.

All-Star Game

Today is the MLB All-Star game. This used to be the great summer classic. Now it is ho-hum. The Commish tried to make it interesting by installing a home run hitting contest and the stupid idea of giving the winning league the home field advantage for the World Series.

Players complain about the hitting contest because it either messes up their stroke or they get some sort of mysterious shoulder injury. When Mark McGuire was hitting, it was interesting, but not anymore.

The home field advantage is stupid. This game is for the fans and nothing more. Starting pitchers should pitch a minimum of 3 innings, no more than 4. Starters should play a minimum of 5 with no maximum. There need to be players ready for extra innings. No tie ball game. If it is a tie and you run out of players, bring back in some starters. This is for the fans, nothing more. Heck, do a home run derby to decide the outcome of a tie game. Every position player still in the game gets one swing. Total number of home runs wins.

My team, the Reds, have one player on the team, Ken Griffey Jr. Go Junior!

Quote of the Day

"See, my tummy is growling. Do you see it growling?" - Ian, holding up his shirt to show his tummy.

Quote of the Day

"I did something scientifical" - Madeleine

Quote of the Day

This quote was actually from Tuesday night. We went to the Colorado Springs Sky Sox game (AAA team for the Colorado Rockies) and they have the best fireworks display I have ever seen. After a rain delay and a 9-run 5th inning the game ended after 11PM. At the end of the 8th we walked out to our car to watch the fireworks from there so we could leave quickly. This was the first display that Ian had seen. I opened the hatch to our Subaru wagon and he and I sat in the back. He was covering his ears and watching. I asked if he liked the fireworks and he said:

"Yes, they are pretty but they scare my ears!"

Red Swoon

Well, the Reds are 16 1/2 behind the Brewers and not looking like they can climb out of the hole they dug themselves. Jerry Narron got the boot. I think he is a decent manager, but made some strange moves. Basically, an inept bullpen has been the Reds demise. The starters have done a decent job but once they hand the game over to the bullpen, odds are the game is lost. The pen has lost a league leading 18 games. (Ouch!) The Reds are in every game. They are all close and 90 percent of the games, the Reds have had a lead. If the games were only 6 innings long, the Reds would be in first place. No kidding! I saw the stats! The Reds need to somehow skip the 7th and 8th innings. David Weathers, who has 16 saves, has been more like Rollie Fingers and Goose Gossage. More than half of his saves are more than an inning.

Oh well. There are two bright spots on the season. Junior Griffey has hit 22 home runs and sits at 585 for his career. Josh Hamilton has continued to produce and is an inspiration to all who know his story.

Mr. DeMille, I'm Ready for My Close-Up

7 Books I am reading at the moment

Well, Randy tagged me with the 7 books meme. Here goes:

1. The Book of Isaiah - Whatever you are studying at the moment should be considered, right?
2. A Missionary Adventure by Rev. Solomon L. Ginsburg (1928) He was a converted Jew working as a Baptist missionary in Brazil from 1892-1922
3. A Short History of the Baptists by Henry Vedder
4. The Amazing Saints by Phil Saint - He was an older brother to Nate Saint
5. Jungle Pilot - biography of Nate Saint and the early days of the Mission Aviation Fellowship
6. The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selsnik - Selznik is known for his artwork. In this story he combines a story and over 150 full page illustrations. My kind of book. Lots of pictures.
7. The Marvels of Grace by Oswald Smith

Ok, so I read a lot of missionary/missions books. What's it to ya? As Randy said, if you read this consider yourself tagged.

What's in a Name?

"Honey, I think I will call him Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz."

"But, Isaiah, what does that mean?"

"Oh, i think the Lord said something like, "Quick to the plunder, swift to the spoil.""

"Well, that is an odd name. What does it imply?"

"Before little Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz can say mommy or daddy, the wealth of Damascus and Samaria will be carried off by the king of Assyria."

"Isaiah, dear, I am not sure I like that idea for a name."

"Well, my wonderful wife and prophetess, we are to be examples of faith for the children of Israel."

"Can we at least give Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz a shorter nickname like Masher or Baz or somthing?"

"We will work on it, dear. We will work on it."

-an adaptation of Isaiah 8

The Battle Hymn of the Republic

This is my favorite "patriotic" song. We will be singing this in church on Sunday morning. That is as patriotic as it gets at church, which is fine with me. This song allows me to remember those who fought for my freedom, but more importantly, to worship the God who gave me freedom from death and provided eternal life.

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord;
He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored;
He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword;
His truth is marching on.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! His truth is marching on.

I have seen Him in the watch fires of a hundred circling camps
They have builded Him an altar in the evening dews and damps;
I can read His righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps;
His day is marching on.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! His day is marching on.

I have read a fiery Gospel writ in burnished rows of steel;
“As ye deal with My contemners, so with you My grace shall deal”;
Let the Hero, born of woman, crush the serpent with His heel,
Since God is marching on.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Since God is marching on.

He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat;
He is sifting out the hearts of men before His judgment seat;
Oh, be swift, my soul, to answer Him! be jubilant, my feet;
Our God is marching on.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Our God is marching on.

In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea,
With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me:
As He died to make men holy, let us live to make men free;
[originally …let us die to make men free]
While God is marching on.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! While God is marching on.

He is coming like the glory of the morning on the wave,
He is wisdom to the mighty, He is honor to the brave;
So the world shall be His footstool, and the soul of wrong His slave,
Our God is marching on.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Our God is marching on.

Pining for Ireland

A year ago my family was in Ireland. God has called my wife and I to mission work and we have a heart for the people in Ireland. Ireland is a very difficult place to do mission work, because the Catholic church and Church of Ireland are very strong there. The Protestant churches are few and far between and very small. Anyways, I have been longing to return. Pictures will have to do for the moment.

Milestone!!!!!

Ian made it through the night wearing underwear (not pull-ups) and stayed dry!!!

Lesson in Futility?

Isaiah's Commission

1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. 3 And they were calling to one another:
"Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty;
the whole earth is full of his glory."

4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.

5 "Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty."

6 Then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 With it he touched my mouth and said, "See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for."

8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?"
And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"

9 He said, "Go and tell this people:
" 'Be ever hearing, but never understanding;
be ever seeing, but never perceiving.'

10 Make the heart of this people calloused;
make their ears dull
and close their eyes. ^[a]
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts,
and turn and be healed."

11 Then I said, "For how long, O Lord?"
And he answered:
"Until the cities lie ruined
and without inhabitant,
until the houses are left deserted
and the fields ruined and ravaged,

12 until the LORD has sent everyone far away
and the land is utterly forsaken.

13 And though a tenth remains in the land,
it will again be laid waste.
But as the terebinth and oak
leave stumps when they are cut down,
so the holy seed will be the stump in the land."

Have you ever wondered why God is having you do something and it makes no sense and you don't see any progress? Think of Isaiah (and Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Habakkuk among others) that was commissioned by God to preach the Word and expect no one to hear or act upon his teaching.

I have been feeling this way, in a sense. I am in a position where I see nothing happening. I see a lot happening at church and I know God has called me to ministry and missions. Yet, I am working some place else. I get frustrated easier now than I have ever been in the past. But notice all the "I's". God knows the score. He knows the why's and wherefore's. He has the eternal picture. I have the tiny photo. He is omniscient, omnipresent, and another omni-something. I am as smoke in the wind. God must be my focus, not my trying to please Him.

The Lord's Temple Established

I have started reading Isaiah...slowly... and this was a passage from a couple of days ago. What an awesome time it will be to sit at the feet of Jesus and be taught by Him and to praise Him.


The word which ^(A)Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.
2Now it will come about that
^(B)In the last days
The ^(C)mountain of the house of the LORD
Will be established as the chief of the mountains,
And will be raised above the hills;
And ^(D)all the nations will stream to it.
3And many peoples will come and say,
"Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD,
To the house of the God of Jacob;
That He may teach us concerning His ways
And that we may walk in His paths."
For the law will go forth ^(E)from Zion
And the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
4And He will judge between the nations,
And will render decisions for many peoples;
And ^(F)they will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks
^(G)Nation will not lift up sword against nation,
And never again will they learn war.
5Come, ^(H)house of Jacob, and let us walk in the ^(I)light of the LORD.

Compliments of BibleGateway.com

Eight Things About Me

Randy tagged me with the 8 Things meme. Here we go:

1. I have been happily married for close to 21 years (July 26) to the same wonderful Christian woman that I don't deserve. God is bringing us closer together every day.
2. God has blessed me with musical talent that was nurtured by my mother and grandmother. I was classically trained on the piano from ages 5-20, took voice lesson and now play keyboards in the Worship Band at Vista Grande Baptist Church
3. Mission work is my passion. This is God's calling on my life. It helps that I enjoy international travel. Over the last 14 years I have gone to Brazil a dozen times to help build churches but now God is sharpening my focus to evangelistic work. There have always been opportunities to share the gospel while constructing a church, but I have wanted more. Paul did not go into a town to strictly make tents and then share the gospel, but shared the gospel and, if he needed to stay awhile, made tents to support himself!
4. I have a BA in History with a special interest in the medieval church and Irish history. Lona and I would like to move to Ireland to work with the churches and exploring the Irish Church history.
   
5. I am eclectic when it comes to music. Some people would say I can't make up my mind. I prefer to think that I appreciate most genre's of music. Certain modern urban music is difficult to find redeeming qualities, but other than that, I can listen to most anything.
6. My favorite book in the Bible is Ephesians followed by the Psalms. I did a 33 week study of the church at Ephesus starting with a few chapters in Acts, then Ephesians and ending in Revelation. It was quite fascinating, especially the first chapter. There are probably 30 sermons in that chapter!
7. I love most sports. I played basketball in HS and one season in college. The small college had a crappy coach and my career would have included a lot of splinters so I moved on to other sports. I also played golf in HS and college. Playing for free is great and playing on some awesome courses in the midwest while in college was a dream. Crooked Stick is still my favorite course in Indiana. I also played one season of soccer in college. Never played the game in my life until then. After the first game of the season my sophomore year, 7 guys were injured for at least 5 games or more. Three guys were out the entire year. The coach had open tryouts. Seven of us went out and he kept all of us. I was probably the only soccer player with glasses (sports goggles, actually).
8. My kids are the joys of my life. Madeleine is 11 going on 16 and seems to succeed in everything she does. She has an awesome voice and can mimic a decent Irish singer. Ian is 3 and our adopted gift from Korea. Being a new parent at 40 was tough. Three years later, we are trying to stay fit so that we can keep up with the little guy. Ian is a Thomas the Tank Engine savant! If he lived 150 years earlier, he would be an engineer.
   

Well, that is it for now. I don't know 8 people to pass this on to, so it will stop here.

In Memoriam

Internet Funeral

I need to make a few comments about my cousin Natalie's funeral. A fellow blogger who is a cousin-in-law, Randy, and I were discussing the funeral. You see, Natalie was a blogger as well. She was part of a group called W@H, meaning Women @ Home. There are about 150 of them scattered around the country and in various parts of the world. They seem to be a close-knit group and draw support from each other. Well, about 12 of these ladies came in for her funeral. Five ladies came from out of state, the farthest coming from Washington state. None of these ladies had met Natalie in person. This was a true internet funeral. Randy said he hoped some of his internet buddies would show up at his funeral.

The pastor read Natalie's blog once he knew he would be leading the service. He printed over 100 pages of Natalie's writings and used her own words. Her friends retrieved some lost files that Natalie thought was irretrievable because of a server that went down. These friends used her words. Natalie used a lot of scripture in her writings, words to hymns and praise songs, and her discussions with her heavenly Father. She called herself God's girl. A truly internet funeral.

I was happy I was able to attend the funeral. Thanks to dad for helping financially. There were only 5 of us first cousins on mom's side of the family. Natalie, at 33, was the second youngest. I am the oldest. I never expected anyone younger than me to go first. I am saddened. I am sad for her two young children. I am sad for my Aunt Mary and Uncle Geoff, for Natalie was their only child. I am sad that I never knew her that well. I have learned a lot about her through her blog and the comments of all her friends.

Natalie, I will miss you. Say hello to mom, my child I never knew and our grandparents.

Celebration of Life Service

Here are the arrangements for Natalie's Celebration Service. Feel free to view and sign the guest book.

Natalie Rose York

Natalie - Glorified Beauty

This is my cousin Natalie Rose (Carter) York. She passed away this morning after a brief but serious bout with cancer. She was 33 and leaves behind two children: Jonathan (9) and Anna (6). Natalie had her own blog and this is one of her last entries, dictated to her father from her hospital bed.

Natalie is now with her Lord, Jesus and with mom, Cody, our grandparents and other family members that we love and miss.

June 01, 2007

Beauty for Ashes

(Note: Although Nattie is still in the hospital in Indianapolis, she dictated the following this afternoon for her daddy to share with you.)

"While my mom was reading to me from my Bible, she came across a highlighted passage--Isaiah 61:3. There God talks about trading pleasure for our pain, and to this truth I’ll hold.

"I have people praying for me from coast to coast and around the world. I want to thank you for being some of those people.

"No matter what happens, it's going to be OK. This is just a twinkling of the eye, a mere moment of pain..In a little while we will all see our mourning traded for 'oil of gladness.'"

On the DL

Ok, it has been nearly a month since I posted. Frankly, I have been busy and haven't taken the time to write anything. Also, my new favorite player, Josh Hamilton, has been on the DL since May 15. He is taking some at-bats in Louisville and is set to return next Tuesday. I will strive to get back in the swing of things along with Josh. Have a good weekend!

Josh Hamilton: So Far, So Good

This is a great article about Josh, but maybe more insightful concerning the cynicism of a journalist. Enjoy the read. By the way, Josh has 8 home runs and 17 RBIs.

Keep Hitting, Josh!

It has been over 2 weeks since I posted. Josh won the NL Rookie of the Month for April. He cooled down for a few games then roared back this weekend against the Rockies. On Saturday he was 4-5 with 2 singles, a double, a triple and scored 4 runs. Yesterday he hit 2 home runs (8 now) and had 3 RBI. The Reds big problem now is the bullpen. They were the best in the league two weeks into the season, but have since dropped to the worst! More than half the teams losses are in the bullpen. Starter, Eric Milton, is 0-5 and needs to go.

#5

Josh Hamilton hit home run number 5 last night. Unfortunately the Reds bullpen had a 3rd meltdown in 4 games. The pen could not hold a 6-1 lead in the 7th. Keep slugging, Josh!

Missions

"Missions exists where worship does not." John Piper

My Favorite Skit by Monty Python

Josh is at it Again!

Josh Hamilton got the start in Center Field last night (Ryan Freel moved to 3rd base) and he was 2-4 with a walk and scored twice. Josh and Freel sparked a rally in the 7th to win the game for Cincy. Way to go Josh!

Josh Watch

Josh Hamilton hit his 3rd home run and collected his 7th RBI in 18 at bats last night in a losing effort. The bullpen, that had been stellar to start the season, had a meltdown. I think Cincy has the chemistry for a play-off bound season. Hey Coach Narron, please give Josh more at-bats!

Josh Hamilton

Josh is a kid who made some bad choices. He was suspended from baseball and other than a few at bats in AA ball, he hasn't played in 4 years. He is one of the most talented players in baseball and was bound to be unheard of by anybody. Then he came face to face with Jesus. He readily admits that Christ saved his life when he was heading for death and destruction. With the help of a godly wife and support from friends and family, he was picked up by the Cincinnati Reds and given a second chance. On Tuesday night he got his first big league start, playing center field, and hit a home run in his 2nd at bat. Last night he hit a double and home run while playing right field. Last night he said that by all accounts, he shouldn't be playing, but by the grace of God he was given another chance to play. Way to go, Josh. I hope you have a great career and continue to give the glory to God.

Dunn's Swing

Adam Dunn hit 2 home runs to reach 200 for his career. Here is a picture of #199.

Ah, Springtime!

Hope springs eternal at this time each year. The crack of the bats, the smack of a ball against leather, the smell of tobacco juice in the dugout...well, two out of three ain't bad as Meat Loaf used to say.

Anyways, the Reds started out the season on a good note by beating the free-spending Cubs 5-1. (The Cubs spent over $300,000,000 in the off-season to bolster the line-up) Harang threw 7 innings allowing 1 unearned run, Griffey had two hits and Adam Dunn did his worst impression of Ichiro you have ever seen. If you don't understand that last comment, Dunn had said he was just going to work on putting the ball in play instead of home runs or strikeouts. The only two balls he put in play yesterday became souvenirs for the fans in the cheap seats. At this pace he will have 324 home runs for the season. That might be a record or something.

A Hero of the Faith

Roger and Anthony - Now In Heaven

Remembering Roger Bennett

A Busy Month

I haven't written much this month because I have been busy. I am home for a week then we leave next Friday for vacation for a week in the mountains. If I don't write any more this month, have a nice March and I will see you in April.

Who May Dwell?

I am preparing a sermon based on Psalm 15. The previous post was the two questions at the beginning of the Psalm. I have been reading and thinking a lot about these two questions. David provided answers to the questions, but I am working on bringing these answers to our time and culture. Integrity hasn't changed over 3000 years. Righteousness has not changed since then. Speaking truth has not changed. The Holy Spirit has given me some good thoughts. I should get it written out this weekend.

Two Questions

"Lord, who may dwell in your sanctuary?"

"Who may live on Your holy mountain?"

Rough Week

It has been a rough week. I have acquired the same affliction as Spurgeon and Franklin. Gout. My doctor believes it was triggered due to a certain element in my blood pressure meds. All I know is that I don't want to ever get it again! Unfortunately, once you have it, gout can recur again. That has been the reason why I haven't written much this week.

I did pick up a few books. I just got Ironsides commentary on Isaiah and I just ordered G. Campbell Morgan's commentary on Psalms. I ordered two books of sermons by Alexander MacLaren last week, but they have not arrived yet. I will be starting a series of sermons on selected Psalms. Since I am not pastoring a church, this is more of an exercise or practice for me. My pastor agreed to look at them for me and give me some pointers.

Have a good weekend.

Washington's Farewell Address

Here is an excerpt from Washington's farewell address. Follow the link to read the whole speech. Presidential wannabees need to read this.


Profoundly penetrated with this idea, I shall carry it with me to my grave as a strong incitement to unceasing vows that Heaven may continue to you the choicest tokens of its beneficence; that your union and brotherly affection may be perpetual; that the free Constitution, which is the work of your hands may be sacredly maintained; that its administration in every department may be stamped with wisdom and virtue; that, in fine, the happiness of the people of these states, under the auspices of liberty, may be made complete by so careful a preservation and so prudent a use of this blessing as will acquire to them the glory of recommending it to the applause, the affection, and adoption of every nation which is yet a stranger to it.

Lincoln's Favorite Poem

Mortality

William Knox

Job, iii. Ecclesiastes, i.


Oh, why should the spirit of mortal be proud?
Like a swift-fleeting meteor, a fast-flying cloud,
A flash of the lightning, a break of the wave,
He passes from life to his rest in the grave.

The leaves of the oak and the willow shall fade,
Be scattered around, and together be laid;
And the young and the old, the low and the high,
Shall molder to dust, and together shall lie.

The infant a mother attended and loved;
The mother that infant’s affection who proved;
The husband, that mother and infant who blessed;
Each, all, are away to their dwelling of rest.

The maid on whose cheek, on whose brow, in whose eye,
Shone beauty and pleasure—her triumphs are by;
And the memory of those who loved her and praised,
Are alike from the minds of the living erased.

The hand of the king that the sceptre hath borne,
The brow of the priest that the mitre hath worn,
The eye of the sage, and the heart of the brave,
Are hidden and lost in the depths of the grave.

The peasant, whose lot was to sow and to reap,
The herdsman, who climbed with his goats up the steep,
The beggar, who wandered in search of his bread,
Have faded away like the grass that we tread.

The saint, who enjoyed the communion of Heaven,
The sinner, who dared to remain unforgiven,
The wise and the foolish, the guilty and just,
Have quietly mingled their bones in the dust.

So the multitude goes—like the flower or the weed
That withers away to let others succeed;
So the multitude comes—even those we behold,
To repeat every tale that has often been told.

For we are the same that our fathers have been;
We see the same sights that our fathers have seen;
We drink the same stream, we feel the same sun,
And run the same course that our fathers have run.

The thoughts we are thinking, our fathers would think;
From the death we are shrinking, our fathers would shrink;
To the life we are clinging, they also would cling—
But it speeds from us all like a bird on the wing.

They loved—but the story we cannot unfold;
They scorned—but the heart of the haughty is cold;
They grieved—but no wail from their slumber will come;
They joyed—but the tongue of their gladness is dumb.

They died—aye, they died—we things that are now,
That walk on the turf that lies over their brow,
And make in their dwellings a transient abode,
Meet the things that they met on their pilgrimage road.

Yea, hope and despondency, pleasure and pain,
Are mingled together in sunshine and rain;
And the smile and the tear, the song and the dirge,
Still follow each other, like surge upon surge.

’Tis the wink of an eye—’tis the draught of a breath—
From the blossom of health to the paleness of death,
From the gilded saloon to the bier and the shroud
Oh, why should the spirit of mortal be proud?

Online text © 1998-2007 Poetry X. All rights reserved.
From The Lonely Hearth, the Songs of Israel, Harp of Sion, and Other Poems | 1847

O Captain! My Captain!

O Captain! My Captain!

Walt Whitman

O Captain! my Captain! our fearful trip is done,
The ship has weathered every rack, the prize we sought is won,
The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting,
While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring;
But O heart! heart! heart!
O the bleeding drops of red,
Where on the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead.

O Captain! my Captain! rise up and hear the bells;
Rise up—for you the flag is flung—for you the bugle trills,
For you bouquets and ribboned wreaths—for you the shores a-crowding,
For you they call, the swaying mass, their eager faces turning;
Here Captain! dear father!
This arm beneath your head!
It is some dream that on the deck,
You’ve fallen cold and dead.

My Captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still;
My father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse nor will;
The ship is anchored safe and sound, its voyage closed and done;
From fearful trip the victor ship comes in with object won;
Exult O shores, and ring O bells!
But I, with mournful tread,
Walk the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead.

Online text © 1998-2007 Poetry X. All rights reserved.
From Leaves of Grass | 1868

Local Fox Affiliate Debuts Terror-Alert Van

Touting itself as "the only channel with a terror-alert system designed to meet the specific needs of central Tennessee," Fox News affiliate WMFB-TV Channel 11 debuted its terror-alert van Monday. "The team you trust to keep you informed is working to keep the greater Murfreesboro area—and your family—safe from Muslim extremists," said station manager Carl Bogert, unveiling the TerrorFirst! van at a press conference held in the "Terrorist No Zone" in the back parking lot. "When terrorism threatens the people of central Tennessee, Fox 11 is there first. Watch Channel 11 for up-to-the-minute coverage of where, when, and how the enemies of freedom are coming to get you."

"Terrorists better think twice before targeting the good citizens of the greater Murfreesboro area," Bogert said. "Terrorists, if you're watching, I have one thing to say to you: If you attack, the Fox 11 News team will be on the scene just minutes later."

Way to Go COLTS!

Great game for two great men.

Steelers' Hartings retires

The most stable position, other than coach, in the Steelers' organization is the center position. Only 4 players have played that position since the mid-60's. What a great guy Jeff Hartings is and on top of all that, he is a believer. His next assignment? A church. I'll be praying for you Jeff. May God bless your ministry.

Opening Your Cultural Eyes

I teach a training class for people preparing to go on a short-term mission trip. Part of the training deals with cross-cultural encounters. Basically, the whole trip is a cross-cultural encounter. This is limited to an international trip, but can be encountered when going to another part of the US or even another part of the state.

As I am preparing for the next two sessions, I am reading two books: Serving With Eyes Wide Open by David Livermore and Revolutions in World Missions by K.P. Yohannan. These books help to explain why North Americans going on mission are too ethnocentric. We need to realize that the world does not revolve around us. You have to view a culture at face value, not through the filter of a North American.

Take for example a Croatian pastor. If you eat dinner with him, he will offer you wine. Most North American evangelicals (I am not comfortable with that term) would question the pastor's salvation. In Ireland, many Christians smoke and will go to the pub for a pint. Again, their salvation would be questioned. Just because a culture acts differently than us does not make it wrong.

Instead of looking at culture through our closed view, we need to look at how the people are hurting within their culture. We can't place our values on their culture, but we can discern where they are hurting and their needs within their cultures context. For example, two years ago I was in a certain area of Brazil. It was very poor, is it is in most of Brazil compared to our standards. The biggest need was a father figure for all the kids. We were in an area where there were a lot of single mothers. These kids latched on to the 6 younger team members (mainly between 25-50). Their need, culturally, was a male presence in their life. That became the focus of our time there. The reason to be there was building a church, but the ministry was to these kids. They needed us to share our lives. Through that, they were open to hearing of Christ's love.

Itching Ears

God is leading me into full-time gospel ministry, leading the church in missions and missions training. I am very excited and humbled by this and pray that I follow God's leading every step of the way. The one thing I want to avoid is comforting itching ears. I don't want to preach what people want to hear to make them feel good. Warm fuzzies is not what ministry is all about. My aim is 2 Timothy 4:2 "Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage - with great patience and careful instruction."

This is my biggest complaint regarding the emerging church. My fear is this new movement has itching ears and only wants to hear something good and positive. Scripture is not held high and pastors, men called by God to preach, are not respected. I have searched dozens, probably hundreds of websites and blogs and those two concepts are prevalent in most of them. I fear 2 Timothy 4:3-4 is their creed, "For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the Truth and turn aside to myths."

I pray that I am never one of those teachers that are surrounded by people who want their egos stroked, people who want to feel good after a rough week, people who aren't doing any ministry for the Kingdom except to warm a pew. You know, that doesn't make you popular. I am sure Joel Osteen and others wouldn't be where they are today without scratching a lot of ears. Paul continued his advice to Timothy in the next verse, "But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry."

Maybe a good sermon title would be, "No ear scratching here."

Current Reading List

Here's what I am reading at the moment:

Revolution in World Missions, K.P. Yohannan
The Attributes of God, Arthur W. Pink
The Fellowship of the Ring
Horatio Hornblower and the Hotspur, C.S. Forester
Volume 1, Works of Benjamin Warfield
Biography of Alexander Hamilton

Books lying around waiting to be read:
V. 2-10 of Warfield
G. Campbell Morgan Sermons
Systematic Theology, Charles Hodge
Serving With Eyes Wide Open, David Livermore
2 biographies of Teddy Roosevelt

Books (or sets) on my wish list:
The Interlinear Hebrew-Greek-English Bible, Jay P. Green
The Expositor's Bible Commentary, ed. by Frank Gaebelein
Any sermon collections by H.A. Ironsides or Alexander McLaren or Joseph Parker
Greek Textbook and Workbook by William Mounce
Any of the books by Alfred Edersheim

The Angels Were Partying

Wow! Last night was an awesome night of visitation. My church has a weekly visitation program and we use Evangelism Explosion (EE) as the means of sharing the Gospel. We meet, go over the Gospel outline, break up into a couple of classes and then go out in teams of 3 visiting people that have visited our church recently. Right now we split up into tow classes: the beginner class which explains the Gospel presentation in detail and an Apologetics class, which I attend. Pastor Holt has done some great research into putting this class together.

When we went out in teams, my team visited some retired HCJB missionaries who have moved here. I love visiting retired missionaries. Probably because they remind me of my grand-parents. The Bookers were in Ecuador for over 30 years. Their daughter went to school with Steve Saint, Nate Saint's son. They were gracious, humble people wanting to connect with international students to minister to them. Leonard and Imogene are near 80 and still wanting to serve.

But that wasn't the highlight of the night. Pastor Holt's team met with a high school senior that had visited the church with a friend. He is from a Catholic family. Pastor Holt had started to present the Gospel to this young man when his mother came downstairs. At first the team thought this would end the evening because the family seemed very devout, but the mother started asking good questions. Pastor Holt presented the Gospel and the mother agreed on every spiritual point but was hung up on assurance, of knowing for sure she would have eternal life. After Pastor Holt explained that to her, he asked if she was ready to accept the free gift of salvation. She said she had been asking herself and God these same questions and yes, she was ready. What a joy! They will return to visit again with the son next week.

Another team got to visit a young couple who had been active in church but the husband had never made a commitment to Jesus Christ. Pastor Tobey presented the Gospel with similar results. The angels were truly dancing by that time!

Yes, EE could be considered a program. But it is more. It is a simple way to present the gospel to anyone. If you strike up a conversation with someone and it turns to spiritual matters, then there are two questions that you can ask to ascertain their spiritual life. If someone says they go to a church but you sense they are not a Christian, then you can start by saying, "Well, my church believes that..." and go straight into the Gospel presentation. Then there is follow up to do because you are responsible in helping with their spiritual development such as getting to church, fellowship with beliveres, making disciples.

I look forward to each week of visitation, but I hope there are opportunities before then!

Go COLTS!

Yes, I am a Steelers fan, but I have followed the Colts since they moved to Indy 20+ years ago. My dad is a life-long Colts fan because his favorite player was Johnny Unitas. Dad has had season tickets for the last 3 years and was at the game yesterday. He loved every minute of it. He has an outside chance of getting tickets for the Super Bowl. I hope he gets them. Go Colts!

The Gospel Truth

A couple of days ago I ranted about blogs that promote the Emerging church theology. I just now hesitated using the term theology, but that is what it is. People are skewing the Truth into their own idea of theology.

On a similar note, most of these blogs share a whole lot of their opinion and little of the Bible. If they are concerned about the direction their church is going (and lumping all the churches in with theirs) then they need to search the Word and pray. Yes, pray. Communication with God. Nothing mystical, but can "availeth much."

Even though I said I would not read anymore blogs, the concepts they promote are still nagging my brain (it doesn't take much). I think too many books are being written and read when the only book needed is the Bible. Books by N.T. Wright or Scot McKnight or Dallas Willard or Henry Blackaby can be thought provoking, but remember...they are not divine inspiration. The stack of books next to your bed (and mine) are not Gospel. The notes in your study Bible (and mine) are not Gospel. The Commentaries on your shelf (and mine) are not Gospel. What is divinely inspired? The 66 books between the Table of Contents and the maps.

All this to say that I think (my turn for an opinion) that bloggers that are part of the Emerging movement and its off-shoots need to turn to God and the Bible. Quit complaining in your blogs and start studying. Maybe God wants YOU to do something.

50 States

How well will you fare?

Submerging from Emerging

For the last couple of years I have been studying this whole Emerging Church phenomena and have finally come to a conclusion. A lot of people are wasting a lot of time, ink and trees on this issue (if it really is an issue). Every blog I read and the few books I have waded through have one item in common; someone has a beef with their local church. I am tired of hearing the same old thing. "The church did this to me; the church did that to me; I think the church should be this way; I think worship is this; I think, I think, I think."

As God told Job, "I am God and you are not." (paraphrased and probably used by many Christian authors). People need to quit playing God within the church; they need to quit playing church within the church. These complainers need to be involved in ministry and don't listen to other people or themselves. Stay focused on God, focused in the Word and focused on people other than themselves. And they need to know that every church is full of sinners saved by grace and not perfect. Some even have tempers and personalities that don't mesh with yours. And you gotta love them anyways.

So for me and my new journey into fulltime gospel ministry, I will be avoiding the daily reading of Emerging-friendly blogs. Somebody's time has already been wasted in producing the blog, why should I compound that wastefulness by reading it.

American Leadership and War

Happy New Year

I hope your new year has started out well. I finally migrated over to the new and improved blogger. And I will have some posts to bring you up to date with current events.

Oh, and by the way, Pat Robertson has predicted doom and gloom for the USA sometime this year. Isn't there something we are to do to false prophets?