Christ Follower

I'm moving! (well my blog is moving)

2007-05-18T20:11:00.000-04:00

This will be my final post on blogspot. I am going to keep this site on the web but will be doing future writing at:

www.weshumble.typepad.com/

See you there!

Friday Night at the Midland!

2007-05-11T22:46:00.000-04:00

Tonight we took the church to the Midland! We sang, we prayed and we worshiped. This night was to be all about Him. Here are some pictures to tell the story.

2007-05-10T07:29:00.000-04:00

So it is Thursday and it is "Evening of worship" eve! Tomorrow evening our church will gather with other people from Central Ohio and we will worship God in the historic Midland Theatre.

Practices are nearly over, guitars have been restrung, drums have been tuned and we are ready to go. Today is moving equipment from the church day followed by an evening practice. Tomorrow the technology side will be added and tomorrow evening we hope to see a lot of people in the seats. It would be nice to fill this place but not have to turn anyone away. It seats close to 1200 so we will see how it goes.

Don't be late because I have a feeling that people are going to get there early. According to the sign you can go Saturday and hear the Ink Spots! I think I'll stick with Newark Naz. Worship on Friday night!

See you at 8:00 p.m. (Click on the first picture and see if you can find me in it. No I am not sitting on the bench in front of the Midland but I am in the picture. I took these this morning.)

Quick Trip to Nashville

2007-05-03T18:08:00.000-04:00

Today Bill W. and I drove to Nashville to help Levi get home from college. This afternoon we visited an old friend of Bill's who is now running a studio on Music Row. Dan Mitchell was a gracious host and took time to show us through the studio introducing us to engineers, artists and producers along the way.

Our final introduction along the tour was to an older gentleman by the name of Bob Johnston. This salty old guy (74) produced some major albums through the years. These would include many of Bob Dylan's albums from 1965 through 72 or so. Johnny Cash's Folsom Prison Blues and San Quentin live albums, two of Leonard Cohen's albums, The Byrds, Willie Nelson, Barbara Streisand, and Andy Williams to name a few. Once we got him started the stories flowed freely. If you would like to know more about Bob check out this interview online: http://mixonline.com/recording/interviews/audio_bob_johnston/

Here are a few pictures from our time there today.

This would be Bob Johnston who doesn't look too bad given his life experiences!

Letting it go for Good!

2007-04-30T12:25:00.000-04:00

So the balloons from yesterday's services were on the floor by the time I checked in at 5:30 this morning. Hopefully the resolve of those who released 600 balloons over the 3 services will last longer than the hot air in the balloons.

Well, I hope those of you who read this blog will find this to be a great week. I hope it is productive and that you are in a place where your relationships are strengthening and not declining.

Remember to let your anger go and be like Jesus every chance you get.

Quit horsing around: Making the most of everyday!

2007-04-29T05:13:00.000-04:00

From my first memories of childhood I was around horses. This picture is one taken of my father probably around the time I was born. While visiting someone in the church he jumped on this horse for a quick ride. (and a picture)

It reminds me of the seasons of our lives. Nothing lasts forever. The last church I pastored was in the country and I had horses. (1987 -1990) I remember when I became aware that I would possibly be moving on to another ministry away from this wonderful country setting in Pennsylvania that I would try to soak up every time I saddled the horse and rode. I wanted to embrace the moment, the views and I can still take you to a spot where I remembering pausing one spring morning just a ten minute ride from the barn where I could see for about ten or twenty miles in every direction. I realized I would never have this opportunity on a daily basis again. I tried to inhale that moment and take it in with all my senses. I have never forgotten the sight, sounds, smell and feel of that moment.

Are you making the most of your life? Are you embracing each day, your family, your job, your relationships and anything else that comes to mind as an opportunity that will one day be lost or perhaps never be there for you again. Relationships change. Our kids that once were little get older and move on. Our health which is reasonably good today may change tomorrow so let us seize the day. Seize the moments that are around us and live them to the fullest.

The best thing happened this week. I played racquetball with somebody from the church that I hardly knew at all and found out he has a farm and seven horses. I offered to become a farm hand on my days off! Seriously I hope to be spending some time back in the country. In fact, one of these days I may move out into this beautiful countryside that surrounds the city of Newark! I'm thinking the place might need to have a barn! Here are a couple of options! Too bad they are not in Licking County!

Saturday Night Blues

2007-04-23T20:04:00.001-04:00

This Saturday evening I ventured out beyond the walls of my comfortable family room, (an ironic term considering that I sit in this room by myself 98% of the time) and the relative ease of my favorite chair for an evening of friendship and great blues music.

What you are looking at in the picture is the cafe located in the Vineyard on Cooper Road in Columbus. Jerry Loos and his band were just incredible and I hope to go back again. It was fun being with Tim B. and John B. and just hanging out. WARNING: Use moderation when drinking the low-carb ice drinks at this cafe.

Another Saturday evening monumental event was the crowning of the Granville Christian Academy Spring Formal Queen. My daughter came home with a tiara on her head but somehow I missed it at 11:45 at night so I was told about it at church on Sunday by someone else! That's the way love goes I guess.

Today I spent most of my day in the office and I enjoyed every minute of it. Sometimes it is a gift to have a day of uninterrupted work. Well I am rambling so I will quit for the night and try to find something deep and philosophical to write about next time.

Oh by the way this Sunday we are going to take a look at murder and anger from Jesus perspective. It might be a good idea to go ahead and start dealing with any unresolved conflicts, hatred or contempt for others you have laying around! Don't say you weren't warned. (smile)

2007-04-21T14:05:00.000-04:00

This week I facilitated a NewStart Assessment Center in St. Marys Ohio. Nine couples and ten assessors gathered at the Northwest Ohio Nazarene campgrounds for three days. As always this was a time of evaluation and learning as many of these couples are on the verge of doing something new in ministry.

They are responding to a new challenge and to be honest many of the couples who come to these assessments are just plain tired of hitting their heads against the wall with "churched" people who just don't or won't get it.

Unfortunately, much of the church is America is a long way from the biblical model of what the church is supposed to be about. The church is not about a building. The church is not about church people. We were left on this earth to be Christ body. His hands and feet. His eyes and to have His heart of compassion.

Someone asked this week, "Where was God during the Virgina Tech shootout?" Where is God? He is in the lives of His people and the only way He gets around is when we get around. The only way sin is held back in this world is when we have been out of our church buildings and engaging the culture. There is something better than just conversing and that is a conversion from living for ones self and living for God. When the church is truly being the church we are salt and light in the world in which we live. I heard the question and wondered what churches or Christians in the area could have or should have interacted with the Cho family. Would it have made a difference in this young shooter's life? Maybe it was someone who refused a call by God to go to his native land and share the message of Christ.

An acquaintance wondered out loud recently if I wasn't a little too radical on this idea of being mission driven. From my point of view we were put on this earth for one reason and that was to be Jesus to our world. That means everything we do should matter. I think that is the way Jesus taught His disciples.

That is the kind of church I want to be a part of and the kind of church I hope to stand before God someday and be able to say I lead.

Hypocrites!

2007-04-12T20:48:00.000-04:00

So what we are looking at here is the home of actor John Travolta. Recently he was heard giving a politically correct speech chastising "us" for our wasteful use of natural resources. Of course it is perfectly fine for him to fly himself around in one of his five airplanes. Would this not be wasteful when you could ride in the crowded public airplanes like the rest of us.

I am in a bad mood because while I don't condone the words of radio personality Don Imus it is hypocrisy of the worst kind to see the press bow down to the likes of Jessie Jackson and Al Sharpton. Both of these individuals have uttered horrible things and now they are casting stones and we are bowing to them. Al Gore, (internet inventor) is living in a house that uses an enourmous amount of gas and electric but we are not supposed to care about that. We are supposed to sacrifice and save on gas and electric.

Truly our country has sunken to a new low.

Let's see we can't ride in our cars without seat belts and fear of being arrested, (some think it will one day be mandated that we wear helmets in our cars) we are afraid to ride our bikes without helmets, and we are told to not talk on the phone while driving or pumping gas. KFC recently bowed to the pressure of Bill Clinton and the food police so now there is no longer trans fat in original recipe chicken. Guess what it is not "original" anymore and it taste horrible. Like I remarked to the poor manager of the last KFC I was in, "If I want to die from trans fat that should be my business." Maybe someday we can all live in government issued bubbles. I am tired of it and thinking of moving to the country where I can live back a long lane, have no TV, internet, cell phones, email, Wal-mart, urban anything, mega anything, etc. . . I would drive an old truck and have a dog for a best friend. Happy dreams!

Real Life, Newark Naz. and Easter Weekend

2007-04-08T15:40:00.000-04:00

It is hard to believe that one year ago this weekend Real Life Church of the Nazarene reopened and started trying to be a church that would be effective in touching their neighborhood with the message of Good News. Saturday night and Sunday morning over 90 people attended services in this once dying church! What an amazing testimony to the power of God's willingness to inhabit the work of those who surrender the church to Him.

This church is our first multi-site location and I can't think of a better place or people to represent the ministry of Newark Naz. I am grateful for God's help this weekend and it is my prayer that the over 1300 people who showed up in six services held in these two locations were touched with the message of hearing God's wake up call and coming to life. This picture of our Williams Street location was taken the Sunday before Easter but it tells the story. It is a great place to be when God shows up. What a great joy it is to see these seats full each week with people hungry to know God and His will for their lives.

On this Easter Lord's Day it is clear that Christ has risen, He is risen indeed!

Emergent Humor

2007-04-05T05:48:00.000-04:00

I know that the Emerging, Emergent, Post-modern, etc. . . thing, (I am still not ready to call it a movement and I sure am not going to call it a new reformation. Reformations usually get labled after the fact not going into it!) is serious business but here is a little humor to lighten the load. Take a break from "saving the church" and smile.

This picture is what I call an emerging church!

Passover in Cincinnati

2007-04-03T06:17:00.000-04:00

Here are a few pictures from last evening. A long time ago while in college, I was very involved with a Jewish family in Cincinnati. Twice now in the last twenty three years I have gone back and celebrated Passover with them. It is an amazing thing to be connected to this family and feel the love that still exists after all these years.

Last evening we shared a Seder meal together. This is always an evening of intrigue and a lot of memories. Here are some pictures of the members of the Friedman family. This night was "different from all other nights" because it was a reunion with some people who greatly affected my life and exposed me to life experiences I would have never known without them.

A Great Day

2007-03-31T20:08:00.000-04:00

Today over 40 people came together to work on the landscaping at all three Newark Naz. locations. We split our time between Real Life, The Firehouse and the Williams Street location. Here are a few pictures taken at Williams Street and The Firehouse.

It was a fun morning capped off by coming together and eating lunch. There is no substitute for the community building that takes place during events like this. People who attend Newark Naz. come together and meet each other for the first time. Invariably there are those who find how much they have in common and friendships are forged. When people complain that they are having a hard time feeling connected I always encourage them to get involved in events like this. There is nothing like it.

Friday in Naperville

2007-03-31T06:30:00.000-04:00

Yesterday William G. and I made a quick trip to Naperville Illinois (Chicago) to meet with one of the founding pastors of Community Christian Church and the small groups pastor. CCC is one of the leading multi-site churches in the United States. They gather in eight locations with a total of twenty services. Many of these are video venues with live worship and community but video teaching/preaching. Over 5000 people attend these services each week. If you would like to know more about them visit their website: http://www.communitychristian.org/

Here are a couple pictures from the day.

Colorado Pictures

2007-03-24T06:45:00.000-04:00

I will put a few more pictures from my recent trip to Colorado Springs. These first ones are from the Bible College and then the rest are from my two hour drive due west. Eventually we just turned around and headed back but here is my picture journal. To see details click on each picture.

Two Days in Colorado Springs

2007-03-22T12:12:00.000-04:00

Wednesday I boarded a plane and flew to Colorado Springs for two meetings at the Nazarene Bible College. This picture is what it looks like from the middle of row 42 on a Boeing 777. There are three more sections in front of this one!

This second picture

is of Pikes Peak taken from the campus. I am sit

ting

in a meeting and need to start paying attention so I

will blog more later.

Another Day with my Father

2007-03-15T19:25:00.000-04:00

So today I drove to South eastern Pickaway county and met my father at this log structure. This is the home and office of the man who has done my parents taxes for many years. (Him and his partner have probably done their taxes for over 40 years!)

We were there to also start the process of preparing my parents assets so that when he can no longer take care of my mother she will be taken care of by professionals. Interesting and trying days. Here is a picture of my Dad and another of his old friends. We are two for two on older guys with big white beards. (see earlier post)

The Call

2007-03-14T22:01:00.000-04:00

So I have been thinking a lot lately about my "call." Some have called it a calling but for me it was a clear call that I had to respond to. Somewhere into what should have been my Junior year of college, I found myself working in a meat processing plant in Cincinnati Ohio. I had left school and thought I would make a good manager in this family run business.

For some reason, I was miserable and I began to realize that God would be willing to use me if I would surrender my gifts and life to Him. My first step was to go back to school and finish my undergrad education.

What a life it has been. I could have never dreamed that God would open the doors that He has opened in the last 24 years! It is an incredible thing to be in the "people business." To stand each week in a place where God gives you something that will be meaningful to share with others and promote their (and my) spiritual growth. To work each day encouraging and helping people connect to Jesus Christ and each other in community is an awesome privilege.

I can't imagine doing anything else. Preaching, teaching, leading, casting vision, loving and empowering people, growing other leaders and seeing people's lives changed is indeed a noble and humbling calling. I am very thankful that somehow I pushed through my weaknesses, insecurities, and fear to follow God's leading into His work. I am glad that I not only received a call but that somehow I found the courage to answer that call.

2007-03-10T18:47:00.000-05:00

Here are a couple of pictures of my meeting with the Central Ohio District Advisory Board in Grove City today. This meeting was to seek approval to make the Real Life Church of the Nazarene an official Multi-site of our church. This would mean that Real life would truly be Newark Naz. in every sense of the word.

The board unanimously approved this motion and now we have to get to work. Newark Naz. has now officially entered the world of Multi-site church! This is exciting but probably the most challenging days we have had in six years of ministry as a church are just ahead of us.

On another note: Levi is on his way back to school but not before we smuggled this project organ into his room the other evening. "We" are going to try to restore it to playing condition. Lenore discovered it by the next day. Ha!

I love the sound of pump organs and hope this one will make some sweet music one of these days. (They are great to play when the electricity is down.)

2007-03-09T05:52:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I took my dad and son to visit an old friend of my dad's. Dan Troyer is an Amish man that can no longer speak because of a stroke but he is totally aware of everything that is going on. This man owned a large sawmill and was an entrepreneur in every sense of the word. However his most notable work was after he accetped Christ as a Savior. This happened much later in his life. This might surprise some of you but old order Amish and Mennonites very rarely have a relationship with Christ. They are in a religion that is built around what they do, not what they are or better yet who Christ is! They hope to be saved by the works that they do and the hardships they endure by shunning worldly ways. Once this man found Christ and the assurance of his salvation he became a man of God and literally traveled around the world sharing his faith. Much of his overseas work was in the Palestinian community!

It is an interesting thing to "reject or shun the world." In many ways that seems rather inviting at times. In fact I believe that most everyone I know ought to occasionally evaluate their lives in this area. We would all be better off by being less effected by the culture around us. We are after all, as Christ followers, just strangers and pilgrims passing through this life to a land far better where we will spend eternity with the one who has given us eternal life. Maybe we ought to start working on our relationship with the Lord so we recognize Him someday. (Smile) Time spent with Him down here is an investment in our future with Him forever.

This day meant a lot to my father and I was glad he agreed to find somebody to watch my mother while he got away for a few hours. Who would have thought that this old friend lives only 30 minutes away. I also found out that some old Amish friends from my teen age years live fairly close by as well. I took many a buggy ride with these guys as a teenager in Pennsylvania. By the way, my dad is the one on the right!!

Why I have been neglecting this blog!

2007-03-08T07:35:00.000-05:00

So for the last few weeks I have not written very much on this blog. Some of you may have wondered why or where I had gone. Some you may know and some of you may even care. For those who are wondering I have been investing my spare time in developing a web site on MySpace.

I am posting two pictures from the command central control panel of my MySpace world. That would be a picture of my laptop sitting on my legs while reclining in the "chair."

This new web space is not replacing this one and in fact I will be writing more here, especially in the next three weeks. MySpace just announced this morning that they will be doing some work which means that no one has access to change anything on their site. This means I will come back here and spend some time writing on things that matter unlike this particular post. So here is the deal. . .if you want to hear some interesting music from around the world you can go to:

www.myspace.com/mandolinwes

I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. MySpace like anything else can be abused and misused and even used for bad things but there are some pretty amazing musicians out there who are using it like it was intended from the beginning, as a place for people to let others hear their music. Please note that nothing will apparently change on this (MySpace) site until after April 5th.

2007-03-04T06:20:00.000-05:00

So this morning we will spent the morning thinking about being peacemakers during our services at church. In my research for this sermon I came across the contents of the leaflets that were dropped over the cities in Japan that were about to be destroyed by Atomic bombs during WWII. It is amazing that while we were preparing to destroy the peace in a way never before seen by the world we were also trying to preserve it for the local innocent citizen. It is a dichotomy that I am still trying to get my head around. Here are the words dropped by airplanes in the days before the dropping of the bombs:

"ATTENTION JAPANESE PEOPLE: Read this carefully as it may save your life or the life of a relative or friend. In the next few days, the military installations of some or all of the cities named on the reverse side will be destroyed by American bombs. These cities contain military installations and workshops or factories which produce military goods. . We are determined to destroy all of the tools of the military clique which they are using to prolong this useless war. But, unfortunately, bombs have no eyes. So," in accordance with America’s well-known, Humanitarian policies, the American Air Force which does not wish to injure innocent people now gives"you warning to evacuate the cities named and save your lives.America is not fighting the Japanese people but is fighting the military clique which has. enslaved the Japanese people. The peace which America will bring will free the people from the oppression of the military clique and mean the emergence of a new and better Japan.You can restore peace by demanding new and good leaders who will end the war..We cannot promise that only these cities will be among those attacked but at least some or all will be so heed this warning and evacuate these cities immediately."

As history recorded, most people chose to ignore this attempt at keeping their world peaceful. I am thankful for those who work for peace. Yesterday, the small group leaders of Newark Naz. met in their monthly meeting. As I looked around the room I was so thankful for these individuals and couples who seek to lead others into community. True community will promote peace. Jesus said, "Those who work for peace will be called the children of God." Here is a picture of some of God's children.

2007-02-23T05:52:00.000-05:00

Life is full of opportunities! This week I spend a couple of days at a conference in Kansas City. There were about 5000 Nazarene and at least a thousand of them were university students. It is nice to know that you can't pick a Nazarene out in a crowd anymore. (Well. . .some you can!)

Among other duties, I presented two workshops including one on Worship Design. It was fun representing our church and what God has called us to be and do. Here are a few pictures from this event.

I also addressed a couple of dinner meetings about the Assessment Centers for church planters that I facilitate. There are a growing number of men and women in ministry who feel that starting a church is their only option. I don't know what will happen some day to the churches who have refused to change to minister to the culture. Someday they will run out of retired guys who are willing to do maintenance ministry. (oxymoron)

I am also including a picture from Union Station where Tevis, John and I took in the Dead Sea Scrolls which were on display.

2007-02-14T15:00:00.000-05:00

Happy snow drifts and ice storm! I am mainly posting these pictures so my son can see what he is missing by living in sunny Nashville. Today I along with B. Haas removed enormous chunks of ice from my driveway. (See Pic.)

I cannot tell you how thankful I am that we didn't lose power overnight. Yesterday was a little too close to the Christmas we went without power for 3 days.

2007-02-10T06:14:00.000-05:00

If you know me very well at all you will know that I enjoy bluegrass music. In fact, while I like all kinds of music I am very fond of bluegrass music and enjoy playing my mandolin every chance I get. For the four people who have made the effort and found this blog I will now let you in to my world a little deeper. You will find the musical me at www. myspace.com/mandolinwes.

My least favorite bluegrass instrument is the banjo. Of course looking at the pictures in this blog you can see why. Maybe only scary people play the banjo. Seriously, I don't hate it but I don't really enjoy it and never desired to play it much unlike dozens of other instruments I have played during my life. These would include but are not limited to: trumpet, trombone, french horn, guitar, mandolin, tenor banjo, recorder, accordion, pump organ, mandolin, octave mandolin, uke, harmonica, piano, melodica and juice harp (or Jews harp).

I wonder as I look at this evil man if he ever heard the song Hang Down your Head Tom Dooley? I think that featured a banjo.

2007-01-30T18:12:00.000-05:00

This week I am once again pastoring from Kansas City. Thanks to email and cell phones and a caring staff I don't think I am missed all that much. I always find these times away give me a chance to think outside of the context of Newark.

Sometimes a person needs to distance themselves from the normal routine to get a chance to think. These Assessment Centers are very hectic and go from early morning till late night but I still find that I am able to think while flying out and back.

These pictures are from the Assessment Center which is held at a Presbyterian Retreat Center outside of Kansas City. For all you Superbowl types I offer the following:

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SUPERBOWL I AND SUPERBOWL XLI

Life has changed since 1967 when the first superbowl game was played.
NATIONS POPULATION:1967: 200 million 2007: 300.9 million
WORLD POPULATION:1967: 3.5 billion 2007: 6.6 billion
MEDIAN WAGE AND SALARY INCOME:1967: Men: $5, 974 Women: $2,295 2006: Men: $34,926 Women: $23,546
THE MOST POPULAR BABY NAMES:1967: Boys: Michael Girls: Lisa 2006: Boys: Jacob Girls: Emily

By the way, this year's Super Bowl will cost employers $800 Million in lost productivity. Besides many people calling in sick the day after, workers will spend about 10 minutes a day talking about the game, making bets, surfing the internet for a new tv and other distraction like recipe searches.

2007-01-27T07:25:00.000-05:00

This picture was taken last evening. I was standing by our very cool and attractive daughter however if you click and expand the picture it looks like I was bored to death. (Not that I wasn't uncomfortable but actually I was looking at someone in the balcony.)

To be honest it reminds me of a personal hangup and dislike I have had ever since the VBS Nazi worker tried to insist that I put a BIG hat on my head and lead the "rhythm band" in a march for the program. I was about 4 or 5 years old. I cried and to be honest felt traumatized by it. I have had an honest dislike for church bosses, people who think they always know whats best for others, and people who force others into doing things that make them extremely uncomfortable, ever since. I do not like being the center of attention or the focal point of a room full of strangers. This is why I do not like visitors at a church being paraded to the front row after service starts. I feel for them and usually recognize the trauma on their faces.

I made it through this experience and it was honor to support my daughter but unlike some who eat up the attention I would be just as happy to be in a corner of the bleachers away from the eyes of people I don't know. I know some of you are going to wonder how this can be when I stand for about thirty minutes each week in front of hundreds of people and speak. There is a big difference. I know most of the congregation and feel very much at home speaking in the context of our church. Take me out of that comfort zone a few degrees and I will wilt and withdrawal into the private person I am. For those who read this who love attention and to be "in the front," more power to you. Just try to understand that not everybody is alike and give others a break occasionally.

Here are my two favorite female people!

2007-01-19T07:24:00.000-05:00

I am back in Newark and glad to be home. I always enjoy getting back to my family and my own bed, recliner, office, refrigerator etc. . .

There are also some members of another family I enjoy being around. They are pictured here for their first ever group photo. When no one else is listening they come alive with the sound of music. There is something very relaxing about having one of these instruments in my hands. My skills are not the best, in fact they are mediocre at best, but they are good enough to bring me a sense of peace, enjoyment, relaxation and even worship at times.

I noticed a pattern in this family. They are all old school in appearance! I like vintage, that is all there is to it.

2007-01-16T11:02:00.000-05:00

This week I am deep in the southern Missouri woods conducting an Assessment Center for the General Baptist denomination. I am on loan from the Church of the Nazarene HQ Assessment Center that I normally do these for.

Camp Allen is two hours from St. Louis directly south and twenty miles from Poplar Bluff. There are some very exciting future church planters here and it is always rewarding to do this work and realize that you are influencing the work of God around the country. There are people here from this area as well as others who are headed to New York City.

This Sunday at Newark Naz. we launch into Quest For Faith. Together we will venture into the words of Jesus as shared on the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus saw the crowds that were flocking around Him and He began to teach the truth of discipleship and what it means to be His follower.

For more information read Matthew 5-7.

2006-12-26T15:06:00.000-05:00

Here are a couple of pictures from the resonator jam session which lasted all of five minutes. I will take what ever I can get. Not too many people want to play my kind of music. I think I might need to learn to play something besides bluegrass and old church songs!

2006-12-21T22:40:00.000-05:00

To the untrained eye this might not look like much. However, what you are looking at is a 1930's National Resonator Mandolin. It is in remarkable shape.

Today something happened to me that has never happened in my life. I have received many gifts and I have been thankful for all of them but today I was overwhelmed when two good friends surprised me with this as a gift. Besides the value of such a rare instrument I was completely blown away with the thoughtfulness and sacrifice that was made to present it to me as a gift.

In the Old Testament, King David was on the run for his life and remembering the well at home and wishing for a drink from the "old home place." Some of his fellow soldiers out of deep respect and love fought their way into the city, secured the water, then fought their way back out. When they presented the water to David he was so overcome that he poured it out on the ground as a drink offering to God because he said he wasn't worthy to drink it. For the first time in my life I felt overcome with this emotion. Amazing! Thanks to my friends. . .I will try to live up to your expression of love and support.

2006-12-15T07:07:00.000-05:00

In England there is a cemetery known as Bunhill Hills. It is a place where people are buried with a reputation for not being loyal to the Church of England. While the bodies resting here can not claim the blessing of the Church of England they were some of the most influential people in their day for the cause of Christ.

This first tombstone is the final resting place of John Bunyan. Among other things, he wrote the classic book, Pilgrim's Progress. This should probably be mandatory reading for every Christ follower.

This next one is the tomb of Isaac Watts. He was a prolific writer of hymns (around 600) and they include When I Survey, Am I a Soldier of the Cross, and Joy to the World. He died in 1748

This last one is Susanna Wesley, mother of John and Charles Wesley. Her two sons gave to the church an emphasis of social justice rooted in holy living. They gave us hundreds of hymns most of which were deleted from songbooks in the early 1900's when we were stuck with "Gospel Ditty" songs.

I am struck as I look at these cold stone edifices with the notion that I want to leave behind more than a lonesome grave. While I admire their ability to be buried in a place for spiritual pioneers, what I admire more is their

ability to touch others. They didn't touch others with their razzle dazzle, they touched them with the presence of Jesus Christ. The effect they had on their generation was one of spiritual transformation and changed lives. I long to see people growing in their love for God and for others.

This week we will talk about the fact that God is with us in our services. The question of the week is how much is God with us? How much is He with you and me. How much does He want of us? 100%. Anything less is us making and playing by are own rules. I am tired of that kind of Christianity. Really tired of it.

My prayer is found in this old Watts hymn:

My God, permit me not to be A stranger to myself and Thee; Amidst a thousand thoughts I rove,

Forgetful of my highest love.
Why should my passions mix with earth, And thus debase my heav’nly birth?

Why should I cleave to things below, And let my God, my Savior, go?
Call me away from flesh and sense, One sov’reign word can draw me thence;

I would obey the voice divine, And all inferior joys resign.
Be earth with all her scenes withdrawn, Let noise and vanity begone;

In secret silence of the mind My heav’n, and there my God, I find.

2006-12-13T06:13:00.000-05:00

So yesterday I went on my second annual southern Ohio trip with a friend. We drove through Licking, Fairfield, Pickaway, Ross, Pike Scioto, Jackson, Gallia, Meigs, Athens, Washington, Noble, Guernsey and Muskingum Counties delivering Christmas gifts to a few people. More importantly we talked and shared in conversation. The kind of conversations you have with a friend and a fellow Christ follower. The kind of conversations you have when you are in community with someone. Being in community with other Christ followers can even replace family at times. I am thankful for yesterday. I am thankful I am in a place that believes in doing life together. Iron sharpens iron and being together with others allows us to utilize our spiritual gifts.

Today it is back to the church and meetings upon more meetings. . . . . . my take away verse from this mornings reading is, "So my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless." I Cor. 16:58

2006-12-09T14:14:00.000-05:00

So I went to the Doctor with my Dad and well. . . that probably explains my not blogging. I have been reflecting on my weaknesses ever since.

This poor famous tree represents my attempt to be patient, loving and kind in the face of the obstacles presented by my father and his way of dealing with life. I felt miserable, I didn't want to be there and I couldn't wait to get on the road toward home. I have felt miserable ever since because I wasn't strong enough to put on a happy face and disciplined enough to extend much grace. I was contemptible and probably showed it.

May the Christ of Christmas live in me to the point that even in the midst of the familiar I will still be a reflection of Him. Tomorrow we will talk about the sounds of Christmas at church. Let the meditations of my heart and the words of my mouth be acceptable in Your sight, Oh Lord.

2006-12-01T05:42:00.000-05:00

I have been thinking a lot about smells this week. The smokestack in this picture was a common fixture in my young life. All my life as a child, my family drove up and down Route 23. Going through Chillicothe was always memorable because of the Mead Paper Plant. Before the days of the bypass, you would drive right through the plant grounds or at least the road would have paper mill buildings on either side.

The reason I remember this smokestack is because of the bad smell that making paper would put in the air. If you didn't know better you might be tempted to think that someone in the car was experiencing gastronomical problems. More often than not it was just the smell of Chillicothe.

All of us emit an aroma that will either smell right to those around us or it will just plain stink. The apostle Paul says that we are the aroma of God in this world. That means that our attitude, actions and speech could really determine the depth of our relationship with God. The more we know Christ the more we will act like and emulate Him. The more we know Christ the more those around us will be touched or affected by the aroma of His grace. Churches and Christians that never intentionally encounter the community around them have never discovered what it means to really follow Christ. Following Christ doesn't just mean going to church. (It may be that God doesn't go three times a week) It means that you follow Him out of the walls and into the world and more importantly into the lives of those He came to seek and to save.

You have just had a glimpse of this Sunday's message. But I think it might be a bigger message than just this Sunday. It might be the message that Christ left the church through His word.

So today I will be in Chillicothe to take my Dad to the Doctor. I will be there to make sure he doesn't down play his illness and so that my mother can be watched while he is at this appointment. I have not had very much patience with this situation because of my Dad's attitude. Today I will look at the smokestack, take a whiff of the air and try to remember that I should react like Jesus and not like a "chip off the old block."

2006-11-23T15:53:00.000-05:00

Today is Thanksgiving and while I will not share my list of things I am thankful for with those of you who read this blog I will show you a couple of animals looking for dinner in my backyard today. The hawk and the crow were sharing a tree and the squirrel has a feeder in the background but when there is no corn there he helps himself to the bird feeder.

I wonder if they are thankful in their own way for food, warm weather and whatever else might enter their little animal brains.

That might sound dumb but the Bible reminds us that God takes care of the sparrows and the lilies of the field. I don't know if they are capable of being thankful but I know that we are and hopefully today you and I have taken time to connect with God and genuinely thank Him for all His blessings.

2006-11-18T12:22:00.000-05:00

Thursday and Friday of this week I had to be in Ontario California. Because it was lightening and pouring on Thursday morning when I left I did not go back and retrieve the camera from the car. I did have access to a car yesterday afternoon and a couple of hours of free time. No camera, no pictures but I will add a couple from the Internet.

This first one is typical of much of Ontario. Palm Trees and Mountains. I love these mountains. I did drive about 25 miles to the base of one and it was a neighborhood so I drove as far up the mountain as I could and then returned to the hotel. There is something about the west that has always been appealing to me. I am sitting in Phoenix as I write this, waiting on my flight home. It has been delayed by an hour much to the dismay of the Buckeyes fans who are now standing in line demanding another flight so they can make the game!! I am sort of ashamed that I am from Ohio at this present moment. Game of the century or jerk of the century? Maybe both.

On the way into Ontario I saw a raceway from the plane and then in dawned on me. It was Fontana, home of the Nascar race. It has been a quick trip but as always I am ready to be home. Looking forward to being thankful at church tomorrow.

The picture at the right is where the board meeting took place that I was here for.

2006-11-12T17:15:00.000-05:00

Someone mentioned gossiping to me today and it got me thinking about this famous Norman Rockwell picture.

I don't think it takes this long for gossip to get back to the person you choose to talk about and I don't think most people are capable of keeping secrets.

I remember attending a seminar in California one time and hearing the high paid facilitator say, "There are no secrets in any organization." That is so true. If you say it to anyone it will eventually get around.

So what are we to do? Speak the truth but only in love. Don't repeat things. Learn to talk to God about people before you talk to people about people. Learn to bite your tongue. Learn to discipline your tongue.

Above all else surrender your life to Christ and you will not have a problem with gossip. Look it up in Romans 1 and see what other sins the Bible classifies it with.

2006-11-11T07:15:00.000-05:00

I have been in Nashville for a couple of nights on a college visit. While in this city of music I took in two evenings of very different music styles. On Thursday, my kids and I attended a concert at the historic Cathedral of the Incarnation to enjoy the sounds of the Trevecca Symphony and the Madrigalians Choir.

This historic catholic cathedral has been around since the 1800's. Here are some views of the building.

This music was had a very heavenly quality and it was very enjoyable in the context it was presented. This is a beautiful building.

On Friday night I went alone to the historic Ryman auditorium for the Friday night Grand Old Opry. I have blogged about this building before but it was very interesting to be a part of this decades old radio show. Here are some pictures from that event.

God gives us talent and what we do with it can be a blessing to others. Music is a gift from God. Some can sing and some can't but we can all find a way to let it touch us. I am so thankful that there is more than one style of music. Play it, sing it, or just listen to it but appreciate the gifts that God creates and allows us to have.

2006-11-08T03:36:00.000-05:00

Incoming!

This could be the incoming Congress or it could be representative of the folk who defeated every school levy in Licking County. :)

Education is so important that I always find it hard to believe that people refuse to fund it.

This picture could be some of the thousands that didn't bother to vote in our city. :)

Life is about to get interesting.

Thankfully God is neither Republican or Democrat so whatever happens in the political arena should make no difference in our prayer life. We should always pray for those who have authority over us regardless of party. We should always pray for our Country in the area of social concerns that we will become less offensive to God and biblical principles. Don't forget that social concerns include the poor.

The sun will come up today and we still need to be about the Father's business so go do His will and stop fretting. . ."rejoice for this is the day the Lord has made."

2006-11-03T16:22:00.000-05:00

Here are some more picture from the great Courthouse trek:

This is a picture of leaves falling from a Courthouse tree. The leaves were raining down!

Courthouse Visit

2006-11-03T15:44:00.000-05:00

Once again this year, thanks to a friend, I gained access to the very top of the Courthouse here in Newark. It is 234 steps from the ground to the top of the clock tower. Here is my photo essay of the visit this morning.

So here is what it looks like at the top. In the next blog I will show some pictures of the scenery.

2006-11-01T21:13:00.000-05:00

So yesterday I watched John Kerry refuse to apologize to anyone including the soldiers that he insulted. There is no way he can squeak out of the fact that he made an arrogant, condescending and insulting statement about the great men and women who put their lives on the line for freedom every day. I am not a fan of war but I do believe that we live with an evilness in the world and that Iraq is the front line in that battle.

In total disgust I picked up the phone yesterday while Kerry was still speaking and spoke with a staffer in his Washington D.C. office. It felt good to weigh in while he was delivering his angry and bitter statement. I am repulsed by almost all of politics at the moment, but I could not stand by and allow him to make such a haughty and reprehensible statement without challenge.

What I like most is this response from some soldiers in Iraq. For those of you who are uninformed Kerry suggested that is essence if you don't study hard and complete your college education you could get stuck in Iraq. Clearly he was implying that our soldiers are educationally challenged and frankly I find academic arrogance nauseating at any level.

2006-10-30T05:06:00.000-05:00

So if you saw this quote would you be interested in the answer?

"This is truly the way to worship Him."

At first glance one might be tempted to think that this is going to answer the question of what kind of music you should use in church but that is far from where this is going. To reduce worship to music is to seriously misunderstand the concept of worship as taught in the Bible. We worship God with our lives not just our voice boxes. We worship Him with our actions not just our upraised hands. In fact if our hands our not extended out to others when the music fades on Sunday morning I am not sure but what our upraised hands are more offensive to God than a blessing. If all we ever do is raise them up to God we are little more than the toddler child that never gets over needing to be held or paid attention to or picked up. Mature Christ Followers learn that the hands Christ is most interested in are those that reach out to perform acts of justice, kindness, mercy and servanthood.

Let me give you context and answer to the above scripture. . . this is what I read today.

"And so dear brothers and sister, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all He has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice -- the kind He will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship Him. Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's perfect will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect." Romans 12:1-2

A Great Old Truck

2006-10-26T18:49:00.000-04:00

Today I took some time off and went and visited an old truck. I only had to drive a little over a half an hour and I took some pictures. Guys do crazy things sometimes when they get my age but I think driving this truck might not be that crazy. I think it might be very cool. It might just feel like an old friend. Someday I may drive a truck like this but that will be after two kids finish college and the roof is fixed and the . . . etc

I have not been sharing a lot from my devotions because I am reading in Romans and frankly I have not enjoyed it near as much as the previous letters I was reading the last couple of weeks. I am also reading Jeremiah so maybe there will be something I will share soon.

2006-10-23T19:44:00.000-04:00

Tonight I find my words for this blog to be better spoken by C.F. Weigle in his great song, No one ever cared for me like Jesus.

I would love to tell you what I think of Jesus, Since I found in Him a friend so strong and true. I would tell you how He changed my life completely; He did something no other friend could do.

No one ever cared for me like Jesus; There's no other friend so kind as He. No one else could take the sin and darkness from me; O how much He cared for me.

All my life was full of sin when Jesus found me; All my heart was full of misery and woe, Jesus placed His strong arms about me And He led me in the way I ought to go.

No one ever cared for me like Jesus; There's no other friend so kind as He. No one else could take the sin and darkness from me; O how much He cared for me.

Ev'ry day He comes to me with new assurance; More and more I understand His word of love. But I'll never know just why He came to save me, Till someday I see His blessed face above.

Amen

2006-10-22T18:48:00.000-04:00

Some pictures from the home of our seventh President, Andrew Jackson. These were very carefully taken to not include any of the touristy looking people who were roaming the grounds. I am very pleased that I was able to avoid photographing anyone in shorts, knee socks and sandals, dumpy hats or flowered shirts.

This would be The Hermitage: (Rear view)

This guy looked remarkably like A.J. except for the tattoos on his forearms!

2006-10-18T05:20:00.000-04:00

I just read this and thought I would pass it along:

Can you imagine working for a company that has a little more than 500 employees and has the following statistics:

* 29 have been accused of spousal abuse
* 7 have been arrested for fraud
* 19 have been accused of writing bad checks
* 117 have directly or indirectly bankrupted at least 2 businesses
* 3 have done time for assault
* 71 cannot get a credit card due to bad credit
* 14 have been arrested on drug-related charges
* 8 have been arrested for shoplifting
* 21 are currently defendants in lawsuits
* 84 have been arrested for drunk driving in the last year

Can you guess which organization this is?

It's the 535 members of the United States Congress. Happy voting in a couple of weeks! I believe in voting and the process but it sure gets tougher and tougher to find people with integrity. (From both parties!)

2006-10-13T05:09:00.000-04:00

So facing any giants in your life? Stay strong and try to keep saving your strength for the long fight.

This week I have been reading in Jude. I know it is only one chapter, but I have read it over and over. What a great book and what an incredible message. I have taken away from this reading a resolve to never give up the fight against anything that is unholy.

Jude clearly teaches that to embrace anything less than a doctrine of righteousness and clean living is false teaching and will be brought to judgement some day.

Here are some highlights: "But you, dear friends, must build up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, and await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life. In this way you will keep yourselves safe in God's love. (v. 20)

"Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault." (v. 24)

2006-10-06T05:08:00.000-04:00

I wonder where all the people have gone who were declaring the Republican party to be the party of true believers. The sad thing about politics is politicians. Politicians are humans who want a position so badly that they will often do anything to get it. They will say the right things and endorse the right things and then low and behold you find out that they are a facade.

There is no "Christian" party and I get really weary at election time of people who try to promote a political party as the only one a true Christ follower should vote for. The two major parties in our world are very sad and filled with weak leadership. I believe in the process and I will vote whenever given the chance but I sure don't know how to endorse one party over the other.

I endorse the Christian faith. We have no flag. We have no army. We have no headquarters or white house. We don't even have a mascot unless you count the towel and basin of water as our symbol. Maybe a cup of cold water could be our symbol.

Today I read these words, "Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God's place in your hearts." I John 5:21

2006-10-05T05:36:00.000-04:00

Today as I opened God's word, I sensed such an urgency to engage in the work that Christ left His church on earth to do. Sometimes it is very easy to engage in the management of the church and we forget to be the church.

I believe that God is calling us out (as He always has) to be be a representation of Him in our communities. We are to engage our neighborhoods and neighbors and live among them as righteous people, led by the spirit of God and shaped by the word of God.

I am more convinced today that if you practice the habit of reading the word of God everyday and shut out some of the "noise" of this world, you will be a changed person. We cannot take in the word of God and not change.

Today I read in I John 4 the following: "God is love and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgement, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world."

Prayer: Today Lord, and tomorrow, let me live like you lived on this earth. Let me not live with regret over yesterday but with faith about tomorrow, that Your love will live in me and through me. Amen

2006-10-01T06:09:00.000-04:00

On Friday, I spent the day at the Licking County YMCA golf outing. I did not play because that would be a waste of money and time. After doing devotions (turned out to be a prayer) I spent the day driving the beverage cart and interacting with those who were playing. In the spirit of community collaboration our church also sponsored a hole.

It was a beautiful day and I enjoyed hanging out with some new friends and some old acquaintances.

This morning I awoke and after a time of devotions I discovered a gift certificate in my email from the congregation at Newark Naz. What a great surprise. Even though I knew things were happening regarding staff and pastor appreciation month, I didn't expect anything today so it was a very cool feeling to find it in my email on Sunday Oct. 1. Being in Newark and leading this part of the Christ's body here on earth has been a joy and what I consider to be the defining moments of my life. My prayer is that God will continue to open doors that no man can shut and that He will keep His grace and mercy flowing through our church.

Today I will take a Sunday off and try to recover some energy by letting God use this day as a Sabbath or day of rest. Sometimes it is hard not to be at churc but I know I need the break.

Last evening I attended Real Life. Pastor Chris and those who are leading are doing so well. I just kept thinking about how dead and ineffective the church was for so long and now we are seeing people's lives changed. To attend a very credible worship service and listen to the pastor lay out the word with clarity is beyond rewarding for every dollar and effort made to rebirth this ministry. God is good. Very very good!

2006-09-29T05:18:00.000-04:00

This is Real Life. What a great location to have a church. For people who are genuine followers of Christ there should be a magnetic appeal to this place. (location, location, location from a Godly perspective)

This building is located in the heart of a community with needs. Slowly but surely it is gaining a reputaiton as a place that cares and connects with people.

Recently an extremely antagonistic neighbor is starting to show signs of interest. First it was the outdoor worship/hogroast that brought her off her back porch and into the crowd of people and now she has come into the church for a Monday evening Bible study.

I was thinking about this today as I read in 1 Peter 2:11-12: "Dear friends, I warn you as "temporary residents and foreigners" to keep away from worldy desires that wage war against your very souls. Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world."

The pastor and his family who have chosen to live in this somewhat dangerous environment are living this scripture out along with the body of believers who have chosen this church as their place to serve this present age.

I am praying for about twenty five more people at least who will make this church their place of ministry.

2006-09-28T05:11:00.000-04:00

I am thinking today about the two funerals that will be done two hours apart. In the case of the child, I was able to dedicate him in his home a couple of weeks ago to the Lord. What great faith his parents had in bringing him into this world and allowing God in His sovereignty to choose life or death in His time. This young boy lived for one month and eight days and will have a great impact on those who came in contact with him and his family and on those who hear the story when it is told in the future.

I am thinking about the second funeral and the lady who lived her 71 years on this earth and didn't make an effort to serve God during that time but who prayed a prayer asking for forgiveness a few days before dying. I am thinking about how I baptized her while she lay in her hospital bed unable to respond and then died three hours later. I will do my best to tell her story to her family.

Today in my devotional time, among other scriptures I read 2 Peter 2, and here are the words that sum it up:

17These men are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them. 18For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of sinful human nature, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error. 19They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravityÂfor a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him. 20If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. 21It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them. 22Of them the proverbs are true: "A dog returns to its vomit,"[f]and, "A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud."

Peter spends the entire chapter talking about wickedness and false teachers. I am thinking today about the pastor from our city who was arrested for buying andpossessingg child pornography and who confessed in writing to molestation in years past. I am thinking about why he would plead not guilty yesterday when he has talked openly about his problem.

Peter wrote in chapter three: "Most importantly, I want to remind you that in the last days scoffers will come, mocking the truth and followingtheiri own desires."

The question is for each of us: What do I desire most? Do I desire to live a godly, pure and holy lifestyle or do I desire to do my own thing and surrender only parts of my life to God? The modernworshipp song says, Holinesss is what I long for, Holiness is what I need." I am coming to believe that nothing less than that attitude is acceptable to God.

2006-09-27T05:23:00.000-04:00

I have decided to try to blog from my personal devotional time. This may mean more blogging or it may not. Time will tell. I am not even sure I like the concept. I hope this will mean the best of both worlds. I will not share my personal devotional thoughts because those are personal but out of my time in the word of God may come thoughts that will be helpful for others. I will be making application to my own life during my time alone with God. If something seems to be useful for others and I have time I may share it. Here is today's:

The reading is from 2 Peter 1.

3As we know Jesus better, his divine power gives us everything we need for living a godly life. He has called us to receive his own glory and goodness! 4And by that same mighty power, he has given us all of his rich and wonderful promises. He has promised that you will escape the decadence all around you caused by evil desires and that you will share in his divine nature.

I am struck here by the concept that Peter is reinforcing. We should all be becoming better acquainted with Jesus. When we do and as we do become better acquainted we receive everything we need for living a godly life! The power is in the promises. The promises are in the Word of God. It is a simple concept: immerse yourself in His Word and you will share in His divine nature. Amazing!

5So make every effort to apply the benefits of these promises to your life. Then your faith will produce a life of moral excellence. A life of moral excellence leads to knowing God better.

It is a cycle. One produces the other. Faith produces a life of morality and practicing morality leads to knowing God better which is the goal of true discipleship. Below we learn how to do this. My translation (NLT) says, "Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence"

6Knowing God leads to self-control. Self-control leads to patient endurance, and patient endurance leads to godliness. 7Godliness leads to love for other Christians,[c] and finally you will grow to have genuine love for everyone. 8The more you grow like this, the more you will become productive and useful in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

9But those who fail to develop these virtues are blind or, at least, very shortsighted. They have already forgotten that God has cleansed them from their old life of sin.

The next verse may upset some people's theology because all they have ever been taught is grace is everything. Grace covers it all. You can't earn your salvation etc. . . While I agree that we are saved by grace I do not believe it should be used as an excuse for sinning, being spiritually lazy or viewed as "my free ticket to heaven no matter how I live." Walking with God will take ever ounce of energy we have especially in the culture in which we live. I continually live with the tension that the culture effects us a whole lot more than we (the church) effect the culture.

10So, dear brothers and sisters,[d] work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Doing this, you will never stumble or fall away. 11And God will open wide the gates of heaven for you to enter into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Prayer: Let me live wholly devoted to you Lord. Let my relationships, attitude, choices of entertainment, reactions, time-management, and anything else that is in my life be surrendered to You.

2006-09-23T16:46:00.000-04:00

The cabin is located on the grounds of Cedar Lakes Retreat Center in Ripley WV. I don't know it's history and couldn't take time to walk over to see it. I was busy facilitating the NewStart Assessment Center (below) and hosting people from Florida, Colorado, North Carolina, New York, West Virginia and Ohio.

These individuals are preparing to go somewhere in the USA and Canada and start a church.

Today this deer decided to take refuge from the rain in the back yard so I took its picture.

The man in blue is my favorite coach and a true leadership model. It was sure fun to watch the Lions give the buckeye "nuts" pause. I am sure that even though OSU wins there will be weeping, wailing and nashing of teeth that they didn't win by 50. A win is a win. Be thankful and try not to burn your couches or set your garbage cans on fire.

P.S. This picture is from another game so, "No Joe is not running to the bathroom."

2006-09-13T21:24:00.000-04:00

Today I enjoyed a college visit with my daughter at Indiana Wesleyan University. Included in this post are some random shots taken with my new camera.

For over 10 years I took pictures as a part of my job. Thousands of images were taken during those years with a Canon EOS and hundreds of rolls of film. I have decided to enter the world of digital photography with a Canon Powershot S3 IS.

Included in this post are some shots taken at IWU and the last couple were taken this evening in good old photogenic Newark Ohio.

2006-09-06T04:33:00.000-04:00

The guitar at the left is called the Ryman and is made from wood harvested from some extra pews at the historic Ryman auditorium in Nashville. Most of the people who will buy these guitars ($6000) will buy them for their historic value based on the years of classic country music that was heard every Friday and Saturday night when this building housed the Grand Old Opry.

The names are too numerous to mention and most of them would have been household names if you had a radio and could pull in WSM. You can still listen to 650 WSM A.M. and they are still playing classic country everyday and night. They play the old stuff. (By classic, I do not mean 80's country)

Now this building houses concerts by anyone and everyone who is thought to be something in the music business. It is still a great venue and very original on the inside. I wonder how many people came to know Christ in this building? You see it's original purpose was to give the 19th Century evangelist Sam Jones a place to preach when he came to Nashville. It was a church or tabernacle for revival or camp meeting services. The man who built it was a wealthy riverboat owner, captain and gambler who was converted in a Sam Jones meeting and thought that he should use his money and build Sam a place to preach. He also built it for all denominations in Nashville to use. It was first named The Union Gospel Tabernacle.

God has used some interesting people and places to spread the Good News. His Word is not just Good News it is Great News. Does your life which is referred to as a "tabernacle" in the bible serve you well as a testimony to the grace of God? My prayer and aim my entire Christian life has been that God would use me however He wants to. I don't think you can go wrong being surrendered to God. If I understand the Bible at all, there will come a day when we will stand before God and we will want to hear Him say, "Well done, good and faithful servant." That means we have been about the work He left us to do.

You may not have a Ryman Auditorium or a fancy church but if God inhabits your life you are a walking reflection of His grace.

2006-08-31T06:42:00.000-04:00

This has been my home since Monday afternoon. At least twice a year the Heartland Presbyterian Center in the Kansas City area is the setting for a New Start Assessment Center. Couples and individuals interested in starting a new church come here to be assessed for their ability to lead such a work.

It is an intense time but it is always a very rewarding process. For over two years it has been my privilege to lead these Centers across the United States. So far this year we have been to Phoenix, Kansas City twice, Kentucky and there will be one more in West Virginia. The Church of the Nazaene has been very proactive about starting new churches and over 1200 have been started since 1994! The Assessment Center is a vital part of the process.

Assessment is good for everyone. We should all try to be very self-aware and willing to change for the better instead of being comfortable with our ruts and sometimes damaging behaviors. Find a trusted friend and let them speak into your life.

I fly home today and as always, I am ready. Maybe I will get to fly on this "new concept" plane.

2006-08-29T09:01:00.000-04:00

A friend of mine recently suggested the book, Breaking the missional Code. What an affirmation this reading has been. There are times when leading a church like Newark Naz. can feel very unique in a world of churches that for the most part are very much alike. We are different on purpose. We are not perfect. We are working everyday to make our church more effective and efficient at carrying out the mission Christ left the church to do.

Reading this book has affirmed the fact that we are on the right track and that God is doing the same thing in other churches around the country. I believe in my heart that for whatever reason God is allowing us to be ahead of the American church culture curve in leading people to work where He is working. Jesus has always worked where religious people are the most uncomfortable. In His day it cost Him His life. I believe with all my heart that Jesus would be in trouble today if He were walking this earth again. I think the average church member in America would not be happy with Jesus and His actions in reaching the culture.

I thank God for the opportunity to partner with Christ in touching lives and leading others to do the same. The authors of this book wrote that we should: Live like Jesus lived, Love like Jesus loved and Leave behind what Jesus left behind. Sounds like a good sermon series to me! Stay tuned. . .

2006-08-27T19:27:00.000-04:00

So here is my entry for this week. Perhaps I will do more than one. Jesus said that the world would end some day and that we should be waiting patiently, working faithfully and watching diligently. (That would be the gist of this morning's message) This coming week we will talk about some things that will never be shaken. The world will shake rattle and roll some day but there are some things that will not be moved. Will you be one of them. Peter took some time in his second writing to remind us that we should live like He told us to and be ready.

You don't hear much preaching or teaching about living holy but here are Peter's words. . .

"9The Lord isn't really being slow about his promise to return, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to perish, so he is giving more time for everyone to repent. 10But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and everything in them will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be exposed to judgment.[a]
11Since everything around us is going to melt away, what holy, godly lives you should be living! 12You should look forward to that day and hurry it along--the day when God will set the heavens on fire and the elements will melt away in the flames. 13But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world where everyone is right with God.
14And so, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to live a pure and blameless life. And be at peace with God."

Peace to you. Love God and love others like yourself.

2006-08-22T04:56:00.000-04:00

In preparation for the sermon this week, I have let myself go back in time to those wacky 70's. Polyester leisure suits, guys in high heel (platform) shoes (I had both) and scary sermons on the end of the world. This week I am going to address the times in which we live based on Jesus response to the disciples questions regarding where and when the end of the world would take place.

Isn't that just like every human being that has ever lived since then? We all want to know the answer to where and when instead of what we should be to doing to be ready when He returns. Jesus was kind enough to lay down a few hints as to what the world would look like when it was all coming down but anyone paying attention should read Mark 13: 32 - 37. We always want to read the verses right before that because they are more sensational and evoke emotions of wonder and even fear.

Here's a hint for this weeks sermon: Wait, Work and Watch. This weeks sermon will not be about dates, charts or predictions but it will be about the "last days." The one thing I know about any of this is that I, and yes even you, don't know anything about these days for sure.

While I don't agree with his escatology in this song I have been humming the tune to Larry Norman's, I Wish We'd all Been Ready. What can I do? I grew up in the 70's and this song was sung at every youth camp altar call. Catchy tune even if the words may be a little off, but then again maybe I don't know for sure how it is all going to end. (smile) Maybe as the song says, two men will be walking up a hill, one is gone and one's left standing still! I have no idea. I just know we should all be ready. (go back to hint above and come to church Sunday.) If you have never listened to the album at the left you were not plugged into the beginning of contemporary Christian music. Norman rocked when it wasn't a part of the materialistic Christian money industry. It was truly cutting edge and pioneering in the finest sense of the word. But that's for another blog. Peace man!

P.S. "How many polyesters did you kill to make that suit?" - Steve Martin

2006-08-15T12:47:00.000-04:00

For the last couple of nights this has been my home away from home. As nice as it is I am convinced that there is no place that is really like home.

For the last two days I have shared with sixteen leaders from around the country in a forum designed to end up being a book. This is my second time to do this. Each one of us has presented a paper on evangelism and discipleship that will end up being a chapter in the book.

I always take away more than I give at these kinds of events but I am thankful for the process. I am thankful for the team of people that God has enabled us to assemble at Newark Naz. Leading is a privledge and a challenge but as we face the days ahead it is my prayer that God continues to empower us to follow where He is leading.

I need to remind myself again that God is first, my family is second and the church has to be third on the priority list. I need to make some changes.

2006-08-09T06:06:00.000-04:00

Having grown up in the 60's and 70's, I find myself wrestling with what to say about current events. When I was younger, it was not unusual to hear sermons on the end of the world. Most if not all of the preachers were convinced that we were on the brink of destruction.

It was preached strongly enough that I was sure I would never live to see the eighties. (1980's) Being so convinced and then living into the next century gives one pause. Too often teaching associated with the return of Christ has been dogmatic and done by someone who has spent so much time studying this stuff that they believe they know everything about it. Predictions are made, times are set and all of this is done in the name of speaking the word of God. Obviously credibility is lost and in fact they just look plain stupid for opening their mouth.

Another reason it is an easy subject to avoid is the "Left Behind" factor. Because of the popularity of these books there are a lot of people who will want to argue about the way Christ will return to earth. I don't personally agree with the author's pre-trib, dispensationalist views but you shouldn't argue with someone who has sold a lot of books! (sarcasm)

When I think about this subject I think of people who love to "study" the bible but don't ever seem to read the verses about living the Christian life out down here on this earth. Have a series on the book of Revelation and they wouldn't miss a night. (The scarier the better, by the way!) Have an outreach or call them to live a life of purity and holiness by caring about the poor or call them to fight against injustice and you probably won't see them around.

The Lord will return when ever He wants to. The world will end whenever God is ready! In the meantime let us be about the work. Let us be caught not in a "last days" bible study but be found in the fields white with harvest!

2006-07-28T19:39:00.000-04:00

This would be a picture of my favorite guitar. Being a lover of blues music, I attempt to play my resonator guitar with the best of them. There is nothing like a good blues song to cheer the down-hearted. If you don't believe this, read most of the songs that David wrote in the Psalms.

The Psalms are filled with great blues words and I personally believe that most of them were written in the key of E. I also wonder if occasionally he didn't bend the strings on his harp when things were really down.

For those of you who are musically gifted try reading a Psalm with a little blues music rolling around in your head. Try a little of Psalms 3:

O Lord, I have so many enemies;
So many are against me. So many are saying, "God will never rescue him." But you, O Lord, are a shield around me; You are my glory, the one who holds my head high. I cried out to the Lord, and he answered me from His holy mountain. I lay down and slept, yet I woke up in safety, for the Lord was watching over me.

2006-07-22T21:31:00.000-04:00

So I sprained my ankle on a rare fast break. I made it to the goal and laid the basketball onto the glass and then I twisted around to see if it dropped in the basket as planned. I don't remember anything else except writhing in pain. I wish I knew if I at least scored.

It is a level two to three. I am wearing an air cast. The swelling is starting to go down for which I am very thankful. Maybe I should stick to games of pig and horse but I doubt that I will. See you on the court in about three months.

2006-07-13T07:11:00.000-04:00

The one thing I ask of the LORD, the thing I seek most, is to live in the house of the LORD all the days of my life,delighting in the LORD's perfections and meditating in his Temple. For he will conceal me there when troubles come; he will hide me in his sanctuary. He will place me out of reach on a high rock.

Then I will hold my head high, above my enemies who surround me. At his Tabernacle I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy, singing and praising the LORD with music. Listen to my pleading, O LORD. Be merciful and answer me!

My heart has heard you say, "Come and talk with me." And my heart responds, "LORD, I am coming."
Do not hide yourself from me. Do not reject your servant in anger. You have always been my helper. Don't leave me now; don't abandon me, O God of my salvation! Even if my father and mother abandon me, the LORD will hold me close.

Teach me how to live, O LORD. Lead me along the path of honesty, for my enemies are waiting for me to fall.
Do not let me fall into their hands. For they accuse me of things I've never done and breathe out violence against me. Yet I am confident that I will see the LORD's goodness while I am here in the land of the living. Wait patiently for the LORD.

Be brave and courageous.Yes, wait patiently for the LORD. Psalm 27:4-14 NLT

2006-07-08T17:39:00.000-04:00

Have you prayed today? Have you talked to God? Has God talked to you? When did you last pray unitl your soul was satisfied? When did you last "pray through?" Here are the words of a song I grew up on:

Ere you left your room this morning, Did you think to pray? In the name of Christ our Savior, Did you sue for loving favor,As a shield today?

O how praying rests the weary! Prayer will change the night to day; So when life seems dark and dreary, Don’t forget to pray.

2006-06-25T20:22:00.000-04:00

Well it is not every day you have a monkey on you. These would be pictures of the monkey saying goodbye after a day at the Newark Naz. Kidzone event. Eventually you can find more pictures of this event at www.newarknaz.org

Today was baptism at church and thirteen people of very different backgrounds declared their faith in front of family and friends. It felt right and good. What feels even better is knowing that this evening part of the worship band is playing at Camp Echoing Hills and even better is the fact that a portion of our youth group is there for several days serving the needs of wheel chair bound young people. I am praying that they will be filled with compassion and a sense of gratitude. There seems to be a lot of complaining and grumbling around these days and there is nothing like a trip to the hospital or a funeral home or a camp like CEH to adjust ones attitude. Life is not all that bad so live each day with a God perspective. Learn to love Him and be grateful for these are the days He has made.

May you also someday get to hold a live monkey. (Or was the monkey holding me? Judge for yourself!)

2006-06-20T05:55:00.000-04:00

Here is a quote from my good friend Aristotle:

"Young men have strong passions. . .They would rather do noble deeds than useful ones. . .They think they know everything and are always quite sure about it. This, in fact, is why they overdo everything.

Old men have lived many years: They often have been taken in. . .The result is that they are sure about nothing and under-do everything. They "think" but they never "know". . .they always add "possibly" or a "perhaps" . . . They guide their lives too much by considerations of what is useful and too little by what is noble. . . they lack confidence in the future for most things go wrong, or anyway worse than one expects."

So. . . we know that this is not always true across the board but it is a good reminder to lead with courage and not a faint heart. Safety is not the goal. Transformation is the goal.

Transformational leaders: Change the situation, change what can be talked about, change the rules, talk about goals, symbolize.

Power is the basic energy needed to initiate and sustain actions or to put is another way, the capacity to translate intention into reality and sustain it. Leadership is the wise use of this power.

Thanks for letting me talk to myself and remind myself of some key points.

Yours for random thoughts, wes

2006-06-14T20:38:00.000-04:00

Summers are very interesting and feel very different than the rest of the year to me. Maybe it is because so many people from church travel in the summer. (Whoever started that necessity?) Maybe it is because my wife is home during the summer. Maybe it is because my daughter is out of school and my son in home from college. Maybe it is because we all tend to relax a little and enjoy more daylight. Maybe it is idea that mowing the grass and trimming things is important. Weeds live in the summer. Flowers have to be planted in the summer. Flowers have to be watered in the summer. Grills have to be fixed in the summer. Things have to be painted in the summer. Rooms are talked about in terms of "doing over."

Enough rambling. Good news for those of you who read but couldn't comment in the past. You should be able to now comment even if you are not a member of Blogger.com. Give it a try. I would like the feedback. Three cheers for Willy for being my almost one and only commenter.

2006-06-08T07:38:00.000-04:00

Good Morning!

Happy Thursday.

I am too busy to write and besides that I have nothing significant to say.

2006-06-04T16:47:00.000-04:00

I wonder if anyone misunderstood my words today? Sometimes speaking and leading a church can make one feel like they are running out of gas. Of course when there is a pump with "Humble Gasoline" you are never allowed to run out! Ha!

I know that God has given us a vision to follow as a church but sometimes when I am tired I wonder who will really step up and go with us. How is it that so many remain uninvolved? Can we really expand to new frontiers of ministry without a major commitment from more people?

I feel like I am running out of gas because I am anxious to see the improvements that are so necessary on our existing building. It will take more money than we have yet received so I guess I will trust God to touch some hearts and pocketbooks.

I am running out of gas because sometimes coming up with intelligent things to say that are meaningful and lifechanging for such a diverse crowd of people is almost more than I can do at times. I guess I will have to keep trusting God to give me messages and by the way I wish God would just email them on a weekly basis!

I guess I shouldn't write on Sunday afternoon! Here comes the summer ready or not.

2006-05-28T20:12:00.000-04:00

On this Memorial Day weekend I have chosen to remember those who fought so bravely with a WWII vintage Humble Oil add. I am thankful for those who gave the last full measure of devotion in the past and for those who are giving their all now. While one could question the validity of certain wars I would never question the loyalty and bravery of those who serve. I am thankful they are there serving against evil in our world.

Christ said we were to love our enemies and I don't know exactly how that works when you are a Christian who is at war. I know that evil is very present in the world and we have to do something about it. I will offer a prayer today for protection for those who are fighting for our country and for those who are considered our enemies that they will come to know the Prince of Peace.

2006-05-26T21:23:00.000-04:00

I do believe this may be the best DVD I have purchased in a long time. From 1979 to 1981, Bob Dylan only sang songs that he wrote which reflected a Christian perspective and theology.

I don't know if he was "born again" or not. Many people still debate that fact. All I know is that the words that he wrote are incredibly meaningful and watching these great gospel singers interpret and cover these songs has been a moving and soul searching experience.

I offer you the lyrics of Dylan's song, What Can I Do For You?

"You have given everything to me. What can I do for You? You have given me eyes to see. What can I do for You? Pulled me out of bondage and You made me renewed inside, Filled up a hunger that had always been denied, Opened up a door no man can shut and You opened it up so wide And You've chosen me to be among the few. What can I do for You? You have laid down Your life for me. What can I do for You? You have explained every mystery. What can I do for You?Soon as a man is born, you know the sparks begin to fly, He gets wise in his own eyes and he's made to believe a lie. Who would deliver him from the death he's bound to die? Well, You've done it all and there's no more anyone can pretend to do. What can I do for You? You have given all there is to give. What can I do for You? You have given me life to live. How can I live for You?I know all about poison, I know all about fiery darts, I don't care how rough the road is, show me where it starts, Whatever pleases You, tell it to my heart. Well, I don't deserve it but I sure did make it through. What can I do for You?"

What a great question. It has been my prayer this week: Lord, what can I do for you?

2006-05-22T11:04:00.000-04:00

As I mentioned before, there are changes coming to Newark Naz. The multi-site church concept appears to be more than a passing fad. It is a sensible answer to avoiding becoming a church that lives to see how many people they can pack into one building to hear a cast of "superstars" perform their weekly Sunday deal.

Multi-site allows more people to be involved in ministry at every level. More worship leaders and more hospitality teams and even the possible formation of a team of teachers. I long for the growth of people not just attendance. We will grow people when we get them involved in ministry. We will grow our children and our youth when they learn that there are no superstars only people that God will use when they surrender their strengths and weaknesses to Him.

2006-05-09T14:41:00.000-04:00

I am writing this from the worship area at Seacost Church in Charleston S.C. The administrative leadership team at Newark Naz. (Brian and Tevis) has joined me for a couple of days of pursuing the "next" things for our church. There is no doubt that God has led us this far to prepare us for His next challenge. I only pray that He will give us wisdom and the courage to lead into the uncharted waters of where God seems to be going. He has a plan for our church that is becoming clearer than ever before. If you are reading this I hope you will pray for the Lord of the Harvest to raise up leaders who believe in the great commission of our Lord. Newark Naz. is moving forward. Take a breath and get ready. . .

2006-05-02T18:48:00.000-04:00

I have been thinking all week about Martin Luther and his courage to take a stand in the face of complete opposition. I am sure he had no intention of starting a revolution or a reformation. With all the talk of revolution in the church today I find it very interesting that most spiritual "revolutions" happened without a lot of talking about it. When God wants to do something He will do it with us or in spite of us.

What is it that God is calling you to? What is your "Wittenberg" door? Don't be afraid or too cautious that you miss your opportunity to make a difference. The world needs the church to be the light of Christ. The consistent, loving, pure church of Christ.

Remember what Paul wrote to Titus:

11For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. 12It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
15These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.

2006-04-24T11:25:00.001-04:00

There may come a day when in a perfect set of circumstances I would drive my old truck to this location or one similar and my dog and I would spend the day in my office (study). Think of the sermons I could crank out with God's help in a place like this. I could probably finish the books I have started and work uninterrupted for hours on end. . . .

I guess this is wishful thinking Monday.

Elvis sang, "Build my mansion next door to Jesus," but I prefer the old country gospel song that says it best, "Build me a cabin in the corner of gloryland." I've never been all that impressed with mansions. I'd settle for a modest little cabin anyday.
This has been a nice thought and although this place doesn't exist I have taken a brief trip there in my mind and now I need to get back to work.

2006-04-17T14:55:00.000-04:00

The following post is for Willy W. who has spent the last three weeks of his life chasing all over France and England and a few places in between. He has taken pictures and posted them for all of us Licking County folks who have stayed here and lived our everyday ordinary lives. This is my gift back to you Mr. W. A pictorial taste of good old Newark and Licking County:

Per request, I have added a couple more pictures from our county.

2006-04-13T08:37:00.000-04:00

Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Isaiah 55:1

Who is this coming from Edom, from Bozrah, with his garments stained crimson? Who is this, robed in splendor, striding forward in the greatness of his strength? "It is I, speaking in righteousness, mighty to save."

Why are your garments red like those of one treading the winepress?

"I have trodden the winepress alone; from the nations no one was with me." Isaiah 63:1-3

". . .The Lord Jesus on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me." the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, "This is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me."

For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes. I Corinthians 11:23-26

We will remember our Lord this evening at Newark Naz. as we eat the bread and drink from the cup. Let us gather together on our knees.

2006-04-10T05:01:00.000-04:00

Thankful on this Monday morning to be still ahead in the weight loss game. I post this picture so that I can once again be reminded of what I was like eight or nine years ago. Why can some people eat whatever they want whenever they want and never seem to gain a pound? I can look at food and gain pounds and inches.

I have laid aside the Atkins diet for the first time in years and now I am trying to just watch my portions. Funny, after all these years I still can't bring myself to eat dessert or anything sweet. I don't plan on changing this anytime soon. It must be true that old habits die hard. I think not eating sweets is a good habit but what about the habits we develop that are harmful to us. Are they just as hard to break? Of course they are.

In this week of remembering the passion of our Lord I want to press in closer to Him then I have ever been. I also want to lead others to do the same. The old song says,

I'm pressing on the upward way,
New heights I'm gaining every day.
Still praying as I onward bound,
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.

2006-04-06T05:58:00.000-04:00

This is a week for funerals and dealing with death. Because of a schedule arranged in January I am not preaching this weekend and it is a good thing. I have a funeral this morning and a wedding rehearsal tonight. I have a funeral tomorrow morning and a wedding tomorrow evening. Last night I went to another funeral home for a viewing of yet a third funeral that is being held today.
Death is a reality for everyone. Being in the room when someone passes from this life is part of my "job" but I never get used to it. I found out this week that it is really hard when you feel close to the person. Is it okay for pastors to cry with the family? I will miss Karen and Chauncey. I will miss Karen coming early to church so she could hear the music twice and I will miss Chauncey because he will leave a hole in the ministry of our church and in my heart. I thank God for the memory of these two people and for the privilege of being their pastor and friend.

In the words of that great George Jones song, Who's going to fill their shoes?

2006-03-30T16:53:00.000-05:00

I am in Kansas City and ready to come home. This is the last visit here for quite awhile. We are in the middle of Tornado Alley and right now we are under a Tornado warning. Nobody here seems overly concerned so let the show go on. Once again, I have been blessed to work with eight couples this past week and I believe all of them will make a major difference in their communities as they start new churches in the next couple of years. They have come to this assessment from FL., PA, MI, IL., IN., TN., and NJ. I look forward to watching God work through them.

Sunday is going to be a serious call to discipleship. I look forward to being at church as always.

2006-03-25T06:22:00.000-05:00

I'm back from a quick trip to Central Pa. I really don't know of a more beautiful spot in America than this. I know beauty is in the eye of the beholder but the mountain ridges and valleys of this area are hard to beat. Thankful for a couple days away. Glad to be able to reach out to a friend in need. Spent some quality time at Kuhns Bros. Log Homes. I am glad to be able to call these two men my friends. Thanks Steve for making this trip with me. Hopefully a little bit of Jesus and a lot of hope was shared.

The next few Sundays at Newark Naz. should be awesome if you like hearing from the word of God. Can't wait to share and to promote spiritual growth. For years we got sucked in as churches to the church growth movement. We fell hard for the shallowness of numbers. For those of us who have numbers we realize if we are honest that quality is far more important than quanity in the real world. Numbers are nice for egos but there is no substitute for a handful of fully devoted Christ followers.

Oh yeah, found a sweet truck. . . I guess I better start rolling more quarters a little faster!

2006-03-16T19:07:00.000-05:00

I am home and I am really glad to be back in Newark, Ohio.

Be it ever so humble, there is no place like home. Thanks for the pictures Levi.

2006-03-15T15:03:00.000-05:00

I find myself in a meeting that has gone on all day in Kansas City. Whoever invented meetings anyway? The guys in the picture went to Kansas City and they also changed the culture. Arguments could be made that their influence was not all that healthy. I only hope that these meetings produce more positive results and influence than these boys were able to have. Good music for the most part but not so good influence in other ways.

The point is that we are all influencer and must take time to assess our influence. I hope that you will find your place and the plan of God for your life and that you will embrace it.

2006-03-12T19:13:00.000-05:00

It's still very hard to believe that I have a child in college. Levi left to go back to Trevecca University today. While I am able to control my emotions a little better, it is still very hard to watch him drive away and know that there will be months of absence. It's not that we spend hours and hours together when he is home it's just having him around that matters. I know that the goal of life is to raise your children and release them into adulthood. I certainly want to do that but from a human perspective it feels like a long-term project. I can't imagine having both kids gone but that will be the case in another year. Nothing like having a piece of you somewhere else.

Church went well today. It is my prayer that we will respond to the call of God everyday by living with integrity and balance in our lives that will in turn make us winsome and useful.

2006-03-04T19:12:00.000-05:00

Well, tomorrow I will be back in front of people expecting something from God's word. It's an interesting thing to have to come up with something that touches so many different peoples lives. It is always interesting to have people from extremely different walks of life come out of the same service having heard something meaningful to them personally.

Without God's help preaching or teaching would be useless. Being a "voice" for God or godliness and righteousness is a challenge both in and out of the pulpit. All of us are a "voice" for God. We are His voice, hands, feet and. . . we are His body! We the church and individual Christfollowers are to be His presence on earth. It's nice to know I'm not the only one representing God. Welcome to the club.

2006-03-01T12:12:00.000-05:00

I have been thinking about things a lot lately. It makes me wonder if I am on the verge of some kind of a mid-life challenge. I know people can tend to do some pretty dumb stuff from time to time but I don't see myself engaging in any deviant or weird behavior. I just know that life is moving on and I am in the middle of defining moments. The ministry that God has chosen for me to lead is facing its own defining moments. My family is changing and in the next year will change completely with both kids being out of the house and on to better things. I am trying to lose weight because I know I need to but it has been extremely hard and very challenging this time. I am slowly making progress but I have thirty five more pounds to go.

I have decided that red sports cars, open (unbuttoned shirts) with gold chains or other mid-life kinds of things are not for me. In a perfect world I would drive the above truck to work every day with a dog as company. I don't know if this will ever happen but dreams produce hope and hope is what keeps us going. This is a very selfish centered post but hey it's my blog.

Someday when colleges have been paid off I'll drive the truck and maybe even the dog will get to go along.

2006-02-18T10:21:00.000-05:00

Talk about a pain in the neck. This would be the impact side of poor Harry who was shot by the Vice President. Thankfully this story will now go away and the dumbacrats and repulsivecans can go back to squabbling over other nonsense.

Is anyone else tired of politics and those who tirelessly posture and position themselves for personal gain? Politics is bad in the secular world but I think they are much worse in the church world. Why can't we just accept the simple life that Jesus lived as a pattern for us.

We are too easily sucked into the overmarketed world of consumerism until we are surrounded by so many "things" that our lives are no longer simple but complex to the point of distraction. We no longer focus on the important things of life but we focus on juggling our stuff.

Bottom line: politicians anywhere are a pain in the neck (see pic). Materialism is a force to be reckoned with. God grant me the ability to let go of fame and or fortune in exchange for the ability to follow you in the race that is before me.

2006-02-12T16:22:00.000-05:00

Today I chose to attend church in Dublin Ohio. A friend of mine publicly launched this church plant one year ago and today was their birthday. My wife and I attended church in this same building many years ago but what a joy to see the new life and new people that have come to call this place home. For years, the group that founded the original church worked hard to have a successful ministry in the Dublin area. After years of trying they gave up everything to allow a new leader with a new vision to try his hand at doing church in a completely new way. I attended church today with several hundred people this morning. Happy Birthday!

It is painful to watch churches in today's American culture who refuse to make the changes necessary to be legitimate or effective. According to Barna, only 1% of the churches in America are successful at reaching lost or unchurced people with the message. We will all stand before God someday to give account of our stewardship regarding His name and how we used it down here on this earth. I believe even churches will be judged for their lukewarmness and apathy regarding the horrendous and growing need for a relevant Christ centered message and their unwillingness to sacrifice their petty likes and dislikes. What a shame. What a sin. . .

2006-02-08T16:05:00.000-05:00

Someday I hope to own a truck from the 50's. This would seem to be unreasonable by some people but I just have always felt as though it would be something I would someday own. I don't want a classic that can't be driven but one that I could drive everyday around town. Just a simple old truck. Functional but with the style of the 50's. They just don't make trucks like this anymore. Hopefully my future truck will be more functional then the trucks in the picture.

2006-01-30T21:55:00.000-05:00

This would be Tombstone Arizona. Tomorrow I fly to Arizona but unfortunately I will be at least three hours from Tombstone with no car or time to go there. I have visited there several times and I never get tired of this sleepy little town. Wyatt Earp, Bat Masterson and a lot of other notable historic figures spent quite a bit of time in this place. Besides the OK Corral and Boot Hill, it's still feels like an authentic western town with a lot of history. There are still bullet holes in some of the saloons from a bygone era. I don't know why I enjoy the west so much but I do.

2006-01-28T19:25:00.000-05:00

These pictures are of my home away from home. I love to be in this room surrounded by some of my best friends. My best friends are often these books. Authors from both the past and present remind me on a daily basis that there is much work to be done. God's call is clear. "Go and make disciples, teach them and train them to observe all that He has commanded." I am reminded that I am part of a mighty army called by God to move forward into the culture and light the darkness. We are called to leave our comfortable "homes." (Even our home away from home.) We are called to proclaim the good news in the highways and byways of life. Jesus left the comfort of heaven and came to earth that we might have life and share that life with others.

2006-01-24T19:26:00.000-05:00

Out of all the title slides from our services here at Newark Naz. this one is probably my favorite. Props to B. Haas the creator of the slide.

What are you sold out for or to? Who or what controls what you do with your life or your time, talent, treasures and touch? There is an experience for every Christfollower that only comes to those who hunger and pursue God with all their life and soul. This experience is called by some sanctification, holiness or even perfect love. Some struggle with the word perfect, but simply put it is being so devoted to Christ that the thought of doing something you know to b e a sin would not even cross your mind as a serious temptation. You are sold out to God. Your devotion is at such a level that you are repulsed by anything that doesn't reflect biblical values.

How "cultured" we in the church have become. Too many of us find the offensive things of this world to be funny and even entertaining. We have no problem with filling our minds with meaningless and often impure humor done in the name of harmless entertainment. We wonder why we can never gain a strong faith or ever seem to love God enough to gain victory in certain areas of our lives. It's simple. Love God more than the garbage this world has to offer. Pick up your cross and follow Him into a world that will not understand you and may even ridicule you. The may even persecute you. . . they may even crucify you! You do want to be like Jesus don't you? Sell out, sell all, take your hands off and let Him have all of you.

2006-01-21T12:50:00.000-05:00

Why do churches keep putting dumb things on their signs? Do they really think the offensive and childish things they put up will draw people to Christ? Is it an attempt to let the world passing by know that the IQ of the average person that attends the church is really low?

I wonder how much our words, actions and attitudes are like the ignorant signs certain churches keep putting up? It seems to me that the church would be much better off if those claiming to be the "body" would just live like Jesus.

Wouldn't that be far more attractive? Wouldn't it be better to avoid conflict, concentrate on loving people instead of showing your ignorance by throwing your self around as though the world owed you something because you are a Christian. Congratulations on being a Christian now go live like the Christ whose name you bear.

2006-01-19T19:42:00.000-05:00

What you are looking at is a brief photo essay of today's roadtrip to W.V. I was joined by two friends who made the journey with me to my in-laws farm. Our goal was to tear down and dispose of a 75 year or older shop building. We started at 10:00 a.m. and finished at 2:00 including a great country lunch. Without a doubt we were a wrecking crew.

Life is full of changes. This farm has been in the family for 5 generations and use to have some impressive barns but they are long gone. Other buildings have been built and they are much more functional. I am continually amazed at the crazy things that people hang onto. Change is not always better but it is inevitable. Embrace it, learn to adjust and enjoy it. Or you can keep on using your outhouse. . .makes no difference to me.

2006-01-14T05:08:00.000-05:00

This is a picture of four of the five member team pursuing victory in the weight loss challenge. At weigh in we tipped the scales at a combined 1100 plus pounds. I am sure it is less than that now! I will post our total as it drops in the future.

I am very serious about this. Over eight years ago, I lost sixty eight pounds and now I have managed to put thirty back on. I will not stop until I have lost at least fifty pounds. I will still weigh more than the government standards.

2006-01-11T10:51:00.000-05:00

I feel as though I have been living at the hospital. When you are a pastor you spend a fair amount of time walking with people on their road of grief. Of course, there is only so much you can do but you do your best to pray the right prayer, say the right words and sometimes you just shut up and sit with them in silence.

When you are around serious illness and death you tend to think about life in a different manner. It is a gift really to have these experiences. I try hard to not take them lightly but allow them to motivate me to make every second count. Death comes to everyone and when we pass from this life all of the stuff we have acquired will matter very little. In fact, before we pass from this life the things of this earth can become not quite as important as we thought they were. I believe that what matters most is how we touch others lives. How we give of our time, talents, treasures and touch to others. The legacy you leave will more than likely not be a building with your name on it but it will be the memory of love that you leave behind you in the minds of those around you.

The picture above is not meant to be morose but simply the plain pine box that I have requested to be used when my time on this earth is over. Don't be afraid to think of death especially if it leads you to live your life in better more effective way.