Pastor Ponderings

unPlanned

2011-05-16T15:56:00.000-07:00

Another DVD under review, supplied by Tyndale House Publishers. This video is a documentary of Abby Johnson who was raised in a Christian home. Once she entered the college scene she began volunteering for Planned Parenthood. From there she rose up through the ranks to the position of Director.

The documentary is a bit slow for the first 30-40 minutes as it lays foundation for which becomes a very revealing reality of abortion. Hear it first hand. Get it from Abby's perspective and hear the truth about the horror.

It will bring tears but in the end, God works out all things for the good of those who love Him. This is what you will find through this living testimony of Abby Johnson. But it's more than just a documentary on a woman who went from pro-choice to pro-life. It's also the story of forgiveness.

Thanks Tyndale.

unPlanned Trailer
Join the upcoming Unite for LIFE webcast, Tuesday, May 17 at 8pm.

What's In The Bible?

2011-05-13T14:34:00.000-07:00

Israel Gets A King!
This is DVD 5 of the series, What's In The Bible? I received it as a free copy for review from Tyndale now that I am a member of the What's in the Bible Street Team. You can click on the cover image and it will take you to WITB site.

Sitting down to review this 60 minute video, I thought it would be best to have my three kids, 8, 6 and 4 years old, join me. In the outset I quickly became concerned, it didn't seem like it would keep their attention. With puppets and cutouts on sticks and... well, then I heard the laughing... the gut busting laughing. Throughout the video I asked them, Do you guys like this? Without hesitation, every time, Yes dad!

My 4 year old daughter eventually moved on to other things, where as my two older boys stuck with the video all the way through. I was pleasantly surprised. As simple as the video was, it keep them intrigued and drawn in. When I asked them in the end what they liked the most, well, they both loved when Saul and David battled, Saul was dressed up like Darth Vader while David was dressed up like Anakin Skywalker. What? Yep, really. It was really creative. It will keep their attention!

In the end, while I knew it kept their attention, the real question for me as a dad and as a pastor who might just use these in our Kidz Program, Did they learn anything? AMAZING! They did! I asked numerous questions, and while my oldest claimed to have known all of what was presented going into it, they both knew the answers to most of my questions.

Okay, I need to be honest here. I too learned new things, or perhaps, relearned somethings, and the way in which Phil Vischer presented the material through this video, I have and can see how others will learn and most of all, retain the information.

My younger son commented in the end... but dad, what about the other books? They only did the first 10 books of the Bible. What about the other ones? Son... you'll have to wait for DVD 6.

If you would like to check this video out for yourself, comment on this review and your name will be entered into a drawing for a FREE copy of DVD #5 - Israel Gets a King!

Thanks Tyndale for this opportunity to review this DVD and thanks for turning out such a GREAT PRODUCT! Amazing!

What if...

2011-03-29T07:05:00.000-07:00

...it was shared Sunday night at Growth Group (small group). My wife and I host the College-Young Career group in our home on Sunday nights and one of them shared a quote along the lines of...

...what if in the morning you only had what you had thanked God for in your life?

What if... I sit here this morning pondering many things, and this hits me... what if... what is it that would remain in my life?

Now, what if this wasn't just some thoughtful blog entry? What if you actually took this to heart and asked it of yourself? What if you shared it with your social community and challenged all of them to ask... what if?

My guess? God would receive a flood of praises and thanksgivings.

Enough for now, I need to go spend some time thanking God...

Free Books for 30 Days... and counting...

2011-03-23T07:46:00.001-07:00

Coming from Tyndale...

In honor of Tyndale launching its new book club enewsletter we’re running a 30 day giveaway on our website. The Book Club Hub Newsletter will be an email newsletter geared towards people who are in or are running book clubs. It will feature suggestions, discussion guides and great ideas for your book clubs. You can see a preview by clicking here.

To enter the giveaway you just need to visit the contest page and click on the book you’d like to sign up to win. You can even go back and sign up for both books. Each day is a new giveaway so you can return to the site each day and try to win. Every few days the books change, so check back!

Check it DAILY!

Little Dose of Honesty

2011-02-10T08:00:00.000-08:00

Ugh. Life. Right?

Andrea, my wife, posted as a comment about a week ago to an older post asking -- How are you all doing on your reading? I've wanted to ask that question myself, but I feel I can't be much of an inspiration due to the fact that I'm behind myself. Life, right? I am working on getting caught up. Some have shared how they are twice as far as they are suppose to be according to the schedule. AWESOME and at the same time, what a challenge, thanks. Others of you are on track. GREAT JOB. And then some of you, well, you might be like me, trying to catch your tail. HANG IN THERE. Keep pushing forward, and whether you actually catch up or finish a year from now, know that your faithfulness is recognized and will be celebrated.

I anticipate being caught up soon. I'm learning that I need to make more and more adjustments to my life schedule if I'm actually going to accomplish the things I want to. I just picked up a book entitled, Chazown, by one of my favorite pastors and mentors, Craig Groeschel. It's about personal, God given vision. Just read the testimonies in the beginning pages and the opening, 1.5 page chapter and you'll feel challenged. I'm looking forward to finishing the book and reviewing it here. Possible sermon series coming soon ; ).

So, How are you doing on your reading? Chime in and share. Oh, and answer this too, What is your pattern for reading (morning over coffee, late at night, etc.)?

A Little Bible Trivia

2011-01-05T07:56:00.000-08:00

Just for kicks and giggles -- from the point that creation was finished -- how many years was it until the flood came?

Test your skills and leave a comment with your answer. If you haven't created a login (which I think you should so that over this year you can leave comments more easily - it's free) than just do it anonymously and leave your name in your comment.

I know... do you?

Chronological Reading of the Bible in One Year

2010-12-27T10:01:00.000-08:00

"After Christmas," it was the title of my message yesterday. In it I talked about the massacre that took place after the first Christmas. In this message I voiced a warning, to avoid another massacre following this Christmas. Throughout the Advent season we've focused on the coming of Jesus Christ. Now that Christmas is over we all are turning our attention to the New Year and those resolutions many of us make, whether formal or informal. The warning is, Satan will try to massacre the Hope, Peace, Love and Joy that has come through your focusing your attention and efforts on Jesus. Satan first attempted this through Herod, and yet the Holy family escaped. Will you escape the massacre?

One way to escape the massacre, being robbed of your hope, peace, love and joy is by staying focused and plugged into God by way of reading His Word, His Story, the Bible. I shared how Andrea (my wife) and I are going to take on the challenge of reading through the Bible in one year -- chronologically.

Yesterday, as we closed out the service I offered to the congregation, that if they would like to join us in this challenge to email me or call me and I would get the schedule to you.

Here is my source for the chronological schedule:
http://www.walkthru.org/images/stories/downloads/FreeResources/ChronologicalBible_DailyReadingGuide.pdf

If you'd just like to read through it straight, here's that schedule:
http://www.walkthru.org/devotional-magazines/bible-reading-plan-dw

And if the whole Bible is too audacious for you, then here is the New Testament in one year:
http://www.walkthru.org/devotional-magazines/bible-reading-plan-cw

Stay posted, follow along and add your comments as we go. I want this blog to be an encouragement to all of you, especially those who take on this challenge with me. Blogging about this experience will also help keep me on target too, so thanks for holding me accountable too!

Day 9.1 - Haiti

2010-11-05T12:02:00.000-07:00

Hey, now that you have a day off, what are you all up to? Maybe you've been asking this question yourself, so I thought I would take some pictures to show you ; ) -- enjoy...

shhh... don't tell anyone I posted these... they might catch me later ; )

Day 9 - Haiti

2010-11-05T07:30:00.000-07:00

We are all doing well. God has answered our and your all's prayers. Haiti is experiencing rain... now more like a drizzle, and while I plan on going out for a walk here soon, everything seems well in Haiti. Actually, the rain, running off the roofs, through tubes built into the roof lines, is supplying safe water for everyone. The Haitians are filling up buckets and buckets of clean, healthy water, relatively speaking.

This is a direct answer to all of our prayers and I'm PRAISING GOD!

A question I've proposed every night during our devotions is a question a friend sent me to Haiti with, Where did you see God in Haiti today? I've already got my answer - in the rain and the detour of Hurricane Thomas... the smiles on the faces of the children... the collaboration of all nations working to supply Haiti with aid and assistance... the beacon that the Church, and particularly the Free Methodist Church is here in Haiti.

Many on our team have connected well with many Haitians, knowing them not only by name but sitting and really getting to know them. God is working in and through His children, bring us, me, to see not the ailment, not the poverty, not the need, not the many labels we may assign, but the PERSON, the PEOPLE as God's wonderful creation. Jesus never saw labels, only people.

I was right... oh, let me say that again, I was right... this trip, it was never about what I could do for Haiti, as much as it was about what Haiti could do for me. This trip was more about what God wanted to do in me and then as I return, I believe, through me. This is not to minimize my or our contribution here in Haiti, but the way God transforms us more and more into the likeness of Christ is by way of changing the way in which we think... changing our hearts. He has indeed been transforming my heart, and while I'm sure it will take weeks / months to uncover all that God will bring about from this trip, I know that if I / we allow Him, He will complete the good work He has begun in me / all of us.

Thanks for your prayers, support and love!

Day 8 - Haiti

2010-11-04T17:00:00.000-07:00

Greetings all! So, we all changed gears and began planning on returning a day early. Not that we wanted to leave Haiti early, but we wanted to avoid being held up by a hurricane beyond Saturday. Well, today we discovered that all flights are canceled for Friday. Maybe you've heard. So, we're back on schedule for this Saturday.

LISTEN, and read carefully... we are safe. Sure, it's drizzling, but that's it. There were some winds today, but nothing crazy or anything. We are in a facility that is well built and would easily withstand a significant hurricane. BUT, according to everything we've been watching, the Thomas isn't even going to hit Port. It seems we should only receive some high winds and rain, but I'm no weather man either.

Thanks for praying for us and the Haitians. Please add our families back at home to your prayers. The changing of the dates and the bad weather all play on emotions and fears. Again, we are all doing well.

As for our work at the site, it is done. It was finished yesterday, day end, and today we merely went out to the site and packed up our equipment and brought it all back. Today has been a much slower paced day. Tomorrow... well, not sure what were going to do.

Earlier today our team helped the Port FM Church pick up 135,000 lbs of rice/beans and oil to assist with feeding people, anticipating the affects of the hurricane. Perhaps we will get a chance to serve with the church tomorrow.

The team morale is solid and we are taking things as they come, trusting that it is God's will for us to see this through. Thank you Lord.

Blessings

Day 7 - Haiti

2010-11-03T10:40:00.000-07:00

Okay, this is early, I know, it's just that I don't know if I will be able to reconnect tonight, things have been iffy. Today I stayed back with another member of our team, Chris. I waited to connect with two girls that are supported from people within our church at Pulaski. I had an opportunity to watch the opening of school, Child Care, here in Port also.

Then we caulked up one of the houses that serves as the demo house for possible homes for Haitians. They run $4,500 plus shipping, tariff and cement slab. We're leaving in a few minutes to fix a reservoir for one of the tent cities.

The rest of the team returned to our work site to finish up the projects. Tomorrow we are going back to the site, rain or shine to pick up and return with all of our supplies / equipment.

Flights are scheduled for Friday... please pray we get out in time. Please also pray for Haiti and the many that are living in tents that just won't hold up to hurricane winds.

Blessings

Day 6 - Haiti

2010-11-03T04:36:00.000-07:00

Today was a slower day, perhaps because we moved so quickly the past few days. The concrete floors are finished in the three classrooms and tomorrow we’re planning on concurring the bathroom floor, pouring it. We did some final clean up on the backside of the church, area facing the classrooms and cleaned up under the soon to be covered area / patio where they plan on setting up another three classrooms. The three on the patio will be divided by chalkboards. The roof is going on slowly, but we’re about a third done with it. Glenn and BJ are overseeing that project and are stuck on the 100+ degree reflective roof—ouch!!!

Today we were joined with even more kids and we are all having a great time interacting with them. What a joy they are. I personally am trying to figure out if I can get Stanley to fit in my check in luggage… okay, just joking, but he is by far the cutest : ).

In these pics you’ll see some of the kids that joined us for the day, including us feeding them lunch. We also took a group of them down to the river, our source of water for the cement. As we passed the buckets of water to fill up our two 55 gallon drums, they stripped down and took a dip.

We have rescheduled our flight a day early, Friday, to avoid the hit of the hurricane on early Saturday morning. Be praying not just for us but for the Haitians. Tents won’t hold up well in a hurricane.

Day 5 - Haiti

2010-11-02T04:48:00.000-07:00

Today was a very hard day. EVERYONE worked very hard. Today we’ve gotten the three class rooms nearly finished. One more day and the concrete floors will be done. Together, with our Haitian brothers, we also cleaned up the rubble on the backside of the church, just in front of the classrooms. I was sure this was going to prove to be a full days work, but working together, we wiped it out in no time. Oh, and in our excavating the rubble we met a tarantula who made his way between a group of guys and started up the wall just when SMACK!!! he met his maker as my shovel met his body… 1-2-3 times just to be sure. (No one ever told me that there were tarantulas and scorpions here in Haiti.) We also hauled in by wheel barrels and hand, 300 additional blocks. The guys working on adding to the roofline are moving along well to, hanging angle iron and welding into place home made rafters.

Here are some pictures of our progress at the work site…

For our unsung heroes, thus far in this blog, let me mention the WONDERFUL job Jane and Joyce are doing. Here they are this morning working on cleaning up after breakfast…

The prepare all of our meals. Thanks ladies! They make more than enough for lunch so we can feed the workers, and today we fed an additional 9 mouths – kids that are hanging out with us.

Here’s the typical shot riding home… a group overlooking the cab of our truck…

Oh, and when we get back, we like to hit the showers, so here is what most of us use. Water is limited so we must take military showers.

pic coming

And then, after a hard day of work we turn in and sleep in bunk beds. Here’s a picture of the girl’s room, it’s prettier : )…

pic coming

Keep the hurricane situation in your prayers please. It’s expected to hit Thursday night / Friday morning. We’re praying that God detours this storm.

Blessings! Thanks for praying!

Day 5 - Haiti

Here are some pictures of our progress at the worksite…

PICS

For our unsung heroes, thus far in this blog, let me mention the WONDERFUL job Jane and Joyce are doing. Here they are this morning working on cleaning up after breakfast…

The prepare all of our meals. Thanks ladies! They make more than enough for lunch so we can feed the workers, and today we fed an additional 9 mouths – kids that are hanging out with us.

PIC

Here’s the typical shot riding home… a group overlooking the cab of our truck…

PIC

Oh, and when we get back, we like to hit the showers, so here is what most of us use. Water is limited so we must take military showers.

PIC

And then, after a hard day of work we turn in and sleep in bunk beds. Here’s a picture of the girl’s room, it’s prettier : )…

PIC

Keep the hurricane situation in your prayers please. It’s expected to hit Thursday night / Friday morning. We’re praying that God detours this storm.

Blessings! Thanks for praying!

Today was a very hard day. EVERYONE worked very hard. Today we’ve gotten the three class rooms nearly finished. One more day and the concrete floors will be done. Together, with our Haitian brothers, we also cleaned up the rubble on the backside of the church, just in front of the classrooms. I was sure this was going to prove to be a full days work, but working together, we wiped it out in no time. Oh, and in our excavating the rubble we met a tarantula who made his way between a group of guys and started up the wall just when SMACK!!! he met his maker as my shovel met his body… 1-2-3 times just to be sure. (No one ever told me that there were tarantulas and scorpions here in Haiti.) We also hauled in by wheel barrels and hand, 300 additional blocks. The guys working on adding to the roof line are moving along well to, hanging angle iron and welding into place home made rafters.

Here are some pictures of our progress at the work site…

For our unsung heroes, thus far in this blog, let me mention the WONDERFUL job Jane and Joyce are doing. Here they are this morning working on cleaning up after breakfast…

The prepare all of our meals. Thanks ladies! They make more than enough for lunch so we can feed the workers, and today we fed an additional 9 mouths – kids that are hanging out with us.

Here’s the typical shot riding home… a group overlooking the cab of our truck…

Oh, and when we get back, we like to hit the showers, so here is what most of us use. Water is limited so we must take military showers.

PIC

And then, after a hard day of work we turn in and sleep in bunk beds. Here’s a picture of the girl’s room, it’s prettier : )…

PIC

Keep the hurricane situation in your prayers please. It’s expected to hit Thursday night / Friday morning. We’re praying that God detours this storm.

Blessings! Thanks for praying!

Day 4 - Haiti

2010-10-31T15:02:00.000-07:00

Today came earlier than the past. Today the alarm went off at 5:15am -- normally 5:30am ; ) ... to rise, dress, eat and head off to church. We walked to church. It began at 6:00am. WHAT?? Yep, no typo, church at 6:00am (man do I have ideas when I return). Oh, but it gets better. It ran until 8:30am. We partook in wonderful songs and singing -- most songs we recognized as FM hymns. Then not one, but two offerings - the first one is passed for the church - the second one you must go up to the person standing in the middle of the aisle and place money is, to care for the poor. With 80% unemployment, well, that translates into a LOT of need. The church was very large and packed with standing room only, inside and out. We listened to a Spanish speaking pastor from Argentina, spoken through a Creole speaking Haitian interpreter. Hmmm.

After church we traveled about an hour and a half up into the mountains to a look out point overseeing a large portion of the areas we've been traveling. Then off to a very nice lunch at a resort of sorts. If felt strange... wrong... challenging to eat such a meal, buffet, in the midst of so much need. Oh, please pray for us as we make the transition back into the USA, I know for myself I'm going to struggle a great deal.

Shortly after arriving back at base we left to walk through one of the tent cities and a project / dream that Kendra (a missionary native and wife of a Dominican pastor) has been working on. (More on this when we all return, I'm sure.)

What the night holds is dinner on our own... with what we have at base, devotions -- led by ME -- and then another, hot and sweaty night. The humidity is crazy. We're always wet, sticky and damp... dust covered too.

PS - First, let me just say, you've done well if you've read this far. This is just gravy now... but two things I saw at church today I thought was REALLY COOL... heads up Pulaski ; ) -- first, they asked for the visitors to stand and after the pastor greeted them, he asked them each, Do you know Jesus? Everyone said yes except two. They then were ushered out and presented Jesus. I don't know what happened from there, but they eventually returned. Second, they have "sleep police". The ushers monitor the crowd and if you're caught sleeping they make sure you're woken. HOW COOL! Not that I have any sleepers at Pulaski, just an idea for all of the other FM Churches in our conference ; ).

Day 3 - Haiti

2010-10-30T18:08:00.000-07:00

These are some of the things we see on our travels to and from our site…

And here are some shots at our work site today…

We got a GREAT deal accomplished today. In addition to the large amount of concrete laid for the floors in three classrooms, iron hung to extend the roof for additional classrooms and painting — we accomplished being the hands and feet of Jesus as we loved our neighbors.

We shared in labor together. We shared in lunch together. AND we share in the Lord together. All of the workers we had with us today attend the very church we are working on.

Oh, and a special Jesus moment for me was this little girl. She came in late in the day. No smiles. No waves. No nothing. Then she slowly moved her way toward the action. Still, no smile, no response in really any way. THEN, I went and got my camera. SNAP (of course asking for permission) and showed her the picture I took. WOW, what a smile. Her whole demeanor changed. Thank you Lord!

Day 2 - Haiti

2010-10-29T18:41:00.000-07:00

Today we traveled the 21 miles to our work project. Get this, it took us one and a half hours to get there and then that back to where we're staying. This is what we arrived to...

These kids are apart of the Child Care Ministries program. See your kid?

Our project is to finish a roof, poor concrete, paint and other things I'm sure I don't know yet.

Normally the Haitians work until 12 noon on Saturdays, but whether they work or not beyond, we are going to put in a full day tomorrow. We've agreed to push forward with the work and get it done before taking some time off to explore.

The weather was GREAT today! Thanks for praying. Oh, we're hot but it's not as hot as it could be.

Oh, Glenn drove us home today. What an accomplishment! Traffic, well, if it works for you, you do it. Squeeze, drive in the opposite direction, whatever, as long as you use your horn, apparently anything is permissible.

Looking forward to tomorrow... we all are... after a REALLY good night sleep.

Blessings!

In Haiti

2010-10-28T16:09:00.000-07:00

We are here! We're safe.

I'm not too sure what to say... ... ...here, let me share a picture... perhaps this will help you understand...

It's real. Not that you might have ever doubted it, but...

I have video and more pictures but they are too large to share, but i will try to figure it out so that I may share more.

As we were riding on the back of a large truck (riding on our luggage) at one point when we were stopped a Haitian man said, "Welcome to Haiti." merci (I know, bad spelling - Creo for thank you) "God bless you." You could see in his eyes his gratitude.

Okay, I didn't promise this was going to be eloquent -- just an update.

I will try to update this nightly.

Blessings!

Cholera Outbreak

2010-10-26T07:39:00.000-07:00

We were warned in an email this week of this outbreak, perhaps you've heard about it. Teams going Dessalines have been canceled due to this outbreak. I understand that if fluids are not administered within about 2-3 hours, death can occur. The email we received said:

I wanted to pass on some info that I feel you and your team should know. There has been an outbreak of cholera in the St. Marc and Dessalines area. These are in the Artibonite valley region and at this time Guerin is not envolved. I spoke to Dr. Dan Snyder and he said the main thing is to be careful with the drinking water and wash your hands a lot. Do not bathe in rivers.

Many have already been communicating with me and even sharing their prayers and blessings via email and face book -- and knowing you all are praying is a HUGE blessing and encouragement.

Here is one of those prayers and blessings:

Our Father,

Just as the church in Jerusalem set apart Paul and Barnabas for your special service, so we the Pulaski FMC set Mike and Cathy apart for this special task in Haiti.Anoint them with your Holy Spirit. May every word they speak, every charitable gift, and every charitable task be accompanied by the Holy Spirit. It is only then that we will see the fruits of their labor magnified. Break their hearts for you Lord. When they arrive back home, enable them to convey their experiences in such a profound way that we will have our hearts broken, also. May they be so changed that whatever hinders them from a passion for your kingdom’s work will be cast aside forever. Father, keep them safe from mishap, disease, and all evil. We send them with your peace and felt Presence. We ask this in Jesus name. Amen

"May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace."
Numbers 6:24-26

THANKS!

BAGGAGE!!!

2010-10-21T09:36:00.000-07:00

Have you got baggage? : ) Me too! But what I'm really asking for is old luggage that you are willing to donate. That's right, this luggage will be left there for our Missionaries and Haitian brothers and sisters to transport items. We're allowed two pieces of luggage each, but one of those two pieces will be used by our team as a whole to transport supplies -- tools, materials and food.

If you have baggage you would like to donate, please contact me immediately -- Monday night is weigh in of our luggage.

I can give you a Tax Donation Letter too!

Click here to email me.

It's Official

2010-10-21T09:32:00.000-07:00

It is official -- we'll be working near Leogane at the Guerin Church. This area was the center of the earthquake last January. We will be working on restoring the school. This is 21 miles south of Port au Prince. Prior teams have stayed in Port and commuted daily. We are still looking over our options for lodging. There are two different Canadian teams that will have been there before us.

Here's a write up on the two Canadian teams that we're following by days. (click here)

Haiti Missions Trip -- October 28 - November 6

2010-10-11T18:19:00.000-07:00

I am so thankful that 16 people for Pulaski Free Methodist Church have enlisted to pray for our Missions Team, and I hope to acquire more over the next two and a half weeks as we gear up for Haiti.

Be sure to use the RSS Feed on this Blog or check it regularly because I intend to keep you updated on the happenings in Haiti during our time there.

Here is our VISA Team --
BJ Buckland (Spring Arbor Free Methodist Church)
Cathy Walling (Pulaski Free Methodist Church)
Chase Hawkins (SAFMC)
Chris Ragain (SAFMC)
Dave Thompson (SAFMC)
Glen Reed (SAFMC)
Jane Moffit (SAFMC)
Joyce Thompson (SAFMC)
Matt Hurt (SAFMC) -- Team Leader
Mike Ortell (PFMC)
Tim Dillehay (SAFMC)
TJ Gilbertson (SAFMC)
Tom Bowden (SAFMC)

Please Pray for --
- Safe Travels
- Good Health
- Positive Attitudes
- Productive Work Time
- Changed Hearts for us and the Haitians
- Hiring of Haitian workers to help

What are we doing?
Well, that's still up in the air. We are going with the purpose of building, but where and what specifically won't be known until we arrive.

I personally plan on also shadowing some with the local pastors and possibly meeting up with some of our church people's children, supported through the Child Care Ministries of the Free Methodist Church.