Getting ready for men's group

Tonight my big project is getting all the material together for my new men's group, which starts tomorrow night. I've got 7 men (including myself) committed to the group and I'm very much looking forward to the character that develops in this group.

But the binders with the study materials are the issue tonight. I've got 7 binders to put together with 18 weeks worth of info for each. I dropped over $100 at Kinko's today making all the copies. Fortunately the guys know that there's a $20 charge for materials in this group. But I'm hole-punching like crazy getting all of this stuff together.

Standing ar the river's edge

In Joshua 3 ,Israel is standing at the vedge of the Jordan River at flood stage wondering how God was going to get them across.

THe same thing is true in my search for a full-time pastoral position. I know God has called me to it. I have followed Hm faithfully. He has b rought me to the river's edge and we are ready to cross over into this life that God has called us to. But we are still on this side of the river. How will we get across?

It is up to the work of God. Only He can lead across. I can send out as many resumes as I want to, do as many interviews as possible...but only God can make it happen. Our faith is in Him, that He will provide the church for us, whether it will be in Illinois, Wyoming, Wisconsin, Idaho or Mammoth Lakes.

Christa picked up a new family

Christa is now oly workingat the Cox's one day a week. So she has picked up a second family. Christa will also be doing day care for Luke Davis from 2:45-6 pm 3 days a week to help with income. Luke is on Caleb's soccer team and also knows him from church, so this should work out well. This should be about $300 a month or so

Chicken with mushrooms

This is a heckuva recipe

Take 4 chix breasts, dust them with flour, salt and pepper and saute them in butter for about 5 minutes per side and then remove them.

Add a couple of chopped shallots, about 3 minced garlic cloves and some dried mushrooms that have been reconstituted for about 3 minutes. Add 1 cup of Madeira for another 3 minutes or so. Add 1 cup of whipping cream, 1 cup of creme fraiche, the juice from one lemon and some salt and pepper for about 10 minutes. Pour it over the chicken and bake at 375 for about 12 minutes.

An image for ministry

Sometimes I think that ministry is nothing mre than creating conditions that allow God to work.

I've been studying the book of Joshua recetnly in preparation for my upcoming men's group. I find myself obesssed, maybe even somewhat haunted by an image in Joshua 3.

This is the scene in which, to an extent, Joshua becomes the leader in the eyes of the Israelites. What God did through Moses in parting the Red Sea He now does through Joshua in stopping up the Jordan River at flood stage. But before Israel can cross over the river into Canaan, the priests, who are carrying the Ark of the Covenant, must walk into the Jordan River. Then and only then will God stop up the water. The priests must stand in the middle of the river, holding the Ark while all Israel crosses by them.

It is not the priests who stop up the river. Only God can do that. But it is the faith and the work of the priests which allows God to do His work. If the priests do not go into the water, the Jordan will not stop flowing. It was not enough just to get to the edge...they must actually go in.

So here's this image of the priests standing on the riverbed, hjolding the Ark while perhaps a millin people scamper by. As pastors we do very much the same thing. We counsel, preach, teach, do outreach, evangelize and many other things. But for any change to happen in a person, for there to be any crossing over at all...God must do the work. When I think about doing pastoral work, I picture myself as one of those priests, obediently stepping in the water and not being 100% sure what will happen. But trusting that the Ark that I am carryng...the God I am following...will be at work.

Mystery solved...sort of

I think we've figured out what happened with my father's ashes. First of all, whoever my mom saw in the office at Skylawn gave her the wrong map. So she went to the wrong location. We'll verify that when I'm there next week.

Second, the place where his ashes actually are...there's a couple of other Millers there with nameplates which simply say' Miller'. I probably looked at one of those, assuming it was my father.

But they did screwup on the nameplate they were supposed to order. Tey never did. And now they are doing it for free and it should be there in a few weeks.

a major screwup

My fathers passed away just about a year ago (Nov 1). He was cremated and his ashes to be interred at Skylawn Cemetary on Hwy 92. We went to put the ashes there ourselves. We had ordered a plaque and a vase to be put there.

I visted about 6 months ago...maybe March or so. I didn't tell anyone. I didn't feel I needed to. I got direction from the office, went up there and sat for a few minutes. The plaque was there.

This last weekend my brother was in town. He and my mom went up there. No ashes. No plaque. In his spot was a nameplate for someone who died in 2000. They have no idea where the ashes are and say they never ordered a nameplate.

I feel this is just the beginning. My mom is understandibly outraged...as am I and my brother. They can't find where they moved him

Review of men's retreat

We had a gret time this last weekend on the men's retreat. The fellowship and worship were sweet and the teaching was good. One of the reasons that I enjoy Gary Deaver's teaching is that, while not often spoectacular, is always steady and right on the mark. One of our sessions was spent on developing relationships as men. He said that every man should have 3 primary male relationships...some who can mentor you...someone who can come alongside and encourage us and one who we can mentor. This last one reminds me of something John MacArthur said once to someone who wanted to mentor others but felt he didn't know enough. MacArthur said to find someone who knows less than you do and teach him what you know. Pretty simple.

We also had a great hike on Saturday afternoon up at Armstrong Redwoods State Park. It was a very up-and-down hike but the scenery was well worth the effort. Our actual mileage was probaby a bit over 4 miles but effort-wise it was 6-7 miles.

This was probably my last retreat at Bay Hills as I can virtually guarantee that we will not be here next year at this time.

Men's retreat

We've got our annual men's retreat at Bay Hills this weekend. We're going up to Alliance Redwoods which is between Occidental and Guerneville on the Russian River. Gary Deaver, one of the elders at church is speaking on "Habits of a Godly Man". Steve Shofner, who is one of the musicians at church is leading the worship.

We've got about 20 men coming including some newcomers and some men from church who really need a weekend like this.

Life unfolds

One church that I thought would fall off of my list is back on. This is Emmanuel Free Methodist in ALton, Il. They liked buyt were on tehy erge of hiring someone else. Well, that someone else has not called back or ogtten in touch with the church to accept the position. I talked to Mark Scandrett at the church today and he's convinced the gu won't happen but want' to hear ity from him first. THhen they will interview me and we'll take it from there.

TJ Goff, our worship pastor and a good friend of mine is leaving in 3 weeks to help plant a church in South Carolina.

It looks like I'm going to be financially laid off at Bay Hills...they're 50K in the red for the year. But 'll still be on staff...just not get paid.

Caleb's new phrase (which he picked up from SpongeBob) is "Oh barnacles!"

Columbus Day activities

I love working for a bank because I get Columbus Day (European Invader's Day for those of you in Berkeley) and Veteran's Day (again, American Aggression Day in Berkeley).

Regan and I went hiking this orning up at Wilcat Canyon in the Berkeley Hills. I can still fit her in the baby backpack, she loves it in there and I have no proberlm carrying it either. I'm used to carrying 50 lbs at 7ooo feet in altitude. Here it's only 30 lbs but this backpack squirms and pulls my hair.

On our hike we saw cows, which Regan loved. There was a fenced-off section which you could still hike through and there were about 10 cows grazing. We walked down the trail and through the cows. After we went bck down the trail later, Regan started back up the hill by herself saying 'cow, cow'.

Christa keeps telling me that she needs to get out more and tis would be a perfect place for her to go with Regan in the morning while Caleb is in school. It's about 20 minutes away from our house and a lot of the trail is paved or very easy dirt. Regan could easily go in the stroller. Christa would like this area. You can even hike all the way through to the Tilden Park Nature Area, but it's over 4 miles one way. I may do that one day.

Caleb excelling at soccer

Caleb is becoming a very good soccer player. Last week he scored his first goal of the year and today he scored 2 1/2 goals. A 1/2 goal occurs when 2 players kick the ball at the same time and it goes in!

I'm impressed with how much he has improved since the first week of the season hen he was more tentative and backed off of the ball. There are 2 players on the team who are head-and-shoulders better than everyone else, but after that Caleb is about the best. He's getting better and better every week

Business very slow but bank secure

Forbes magazine has said that Westamerica Bank is one of the 3 safest in the country. Comforting to hear in times like these. But things are rough business-wise. I've had several dealerships close in the last 3 months, including my best dealer. Colma Buick in Daly City sent me 15 loan contracts in September and then closed the door on Oct 1. Evidently those 15 loans wee about every car they sold.

I'm not concerned about my job, though. By all accounts Westamerica needs their auto department. It's the only part of the bnak where they can turn on the sales volumne or turn it off on a weekly basis, based on interest rates. That doesn't work with deposits, commercial or real estate loans. If we were to lower our interest rate 1/2 point, business would come flooding in. At the same time if we raised it 1/2 point, it would dry up. This in integral to what Westamerica does and we're not going anywhere.

Wyoming

I got an email from the church in Wyoming. They want 2 more sermons, which I am sending them and they will start calling references in the first part of November.

I have no idea where all of this will end up

Mammoth Christian Fellowship

I talked to one of the elders from Mammoth Christian Fellowship about their Senior Pastor position. I'm one of 12 men that they are looking at. I need to get 2 sermons in the mail to them along with references, a statement of faith and a philosophy of ministyr.

Mammoth Lakes is an absolutely gorgeous place to live

One church down

There is one church that is off my list. Kingsburg Evangelical Free Church emailed me today to tell me that they have hired their interim pastor permanently. They had just gotten in touch with me last week and I had just sent 2 sermons to them this morning. They were'nt one of my top tier churches.

You'll never believe who's in Caleb class at school

When I was picking up Caleb from school today, there was a man picking p his son and he looked strangely familiar to me. So I went home and asked Christa if there were any kids in his class with the last name of McGee. Turns out there is. You know who's son sits right next to Caleb at school?????? WILLIE MCGEE! 1985 Most Valuable Player in the National League. 4-time National League All-star. Right field for the San Francisco Giants from 1991-1994.

Green wackos

I was listening to KPFA today. THey've got a real nutjob on called The visionary Activist. I had to wait until the vend ofr teh program vto find ut if it was a man or woman! it's a woman, by the way...sort of.

She said that we can't drill in Alaska for oil because it would destory the planet by opening up disease vectors. What???????????????????????????

Be strong and courageous Part 1

In Joshua chapter 1 the phrase 'Be strong and courageous' is stated 3 times. Each time it is mentioned a reason follows for why Joshua needs to be strong and courageous.

Johsua 1;6 says "Be strong and courageous for to this people you shall divide as an inhertiance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them." Not only is Joshua to lead the Israelites across the Jordan River into the Promised Land but one there he is to take the lead to divide up the land among the 12 tribes.

Having strength and courage is important for this task and acts as a good lesson for we pastors also. Dividing up the land entails getting involved with people, familes and friends. It involves stepping on people's toes and telling them 'no'. Joshua
's leadership is not to be merely from a distance but is to be involved with the nuts-and-bolts of the people God gave him to lead.

So we pastors need stregnth vand courage to deal with the people GOd has give us to shepherd. We need to get down in the trenches with them and minister to them where they are. We too need to 'divide the land', setting boundaries for what God's children are to do and what they are not to do.

After all, these people smell like sheep.