In two weeks, I am starting my next men's small group, but this one will be markedly different from the last one. This will not be a year-long group because I cannot guarantee at all that I will be here in a year. Actually, I hope that I am not.
This will be a one-quarter long group (probably stretching into January a bit) that will look at the Abraham stories in Genesis 12-25. Bob Gustafson will be co-leading the group with me and I am grateful for the help in splitting up the leadership. This is also not an 'invite-only' group as my other groups have been but rather it is open to all men, though there are still a couple whom I am encouraging to join.
The signups for the group have been interesting so far and it promises to be a wildly divergent group. At one end, I have a young man named Dimitri, who is 18 years old and English is his second language, though he speaks very well. Then there is A man named Steve who is very well-versed in Scripture and ministry and has grown children. Everyone else seems to run in between these two. We have one more week of signups and then I will have the final numbers. So far, there are 7 men and I am hoping for 1-2 more
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Update on my father
My father's illness is terminal...as we suspected. We held out some hope because, although the tumor is inoperable, the word terinal had no been used. Worse still is the fact that the prognosis is only short term. If he does not undergo any chemo treatment, he's got 1-2 months. If does undergo chemo, maybe up to a year. But we don't know how he will handle the chemo since he is 84. No decision has been made about whether to pursue a treatment option or not.
I need to talk to my father about God. For all intents and purposes, he is an atheist, or at best, an agnostic. BUt it is times like this that serve to turn people either towards God or away from God. My prayer is that this will turn him towards God in the time he has left. And it needs to start with me. The first step is today, just simply telling him that I and many others are pryaing for him. just from that, I'll begin to have an idea of where his heart is regarding divine things.
I need to talk to my father about God. For all intents and purposes, he is an atheist, or at best, an agnostic. BUt it is times like this that serve to turn people either towards God or away from God. My prayer is that this will turn him towards God in the time he has left. And it needs to start with me. The first step is today, just simply telling him that I and many others are pryaing for him. just from that, I'll begin to have an idea of where his heart is regarding divine things.
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
The Road
Every so often, I read a book that sticks like oatmeal on your ribs. Some books are throwaway. You read them, enjoy them, forget about them and give the book away. Not so with this one, which, even though I finished it 2 months ago, still haunts me on at least a weekly basis if not a daily one.
The book is called 'The Road' by Cormac McCarthy. Bestseller and all that. Also an Oprah book. I managed to overlook this part because I know McCarthy to be a solid writer. He writes westerns as well, including 'All The Pretty Horses', a definite classic. What is it about this book? No other book I have ever read has ever made me cry. But this one did in the last few pages.
The basic plot has a father and son (probably about 10 years old), both unnamed through the entire book, wandering through a post-apocalyptic world. It is never said what happened, whether it was nuclear, disease or whatever. What happened is irrelevent. The world they now live in is what is relevent. It is a world in which nothing grows, most people are dead and those who aren't eke out some sort of halfway existence by finding old stashes of canned food wherever they can and even resorting to cannibalism at times (this is only hinted at, not explicitly described.
The father and son wander throughout this world, trying to get to the ocean where they think things might be better. Most of the book is about their daily live as they struggle for just mere existence. Occasionally they see or run into people in the same shape that they are. Some are good but most are bad. As the book proceeds, the father's health declines and it becomes clear that he will die before the end of the book.
Die he does in the last 10 pages or so. Once the boy has left his father's body, he is approached by a man who has been following them and knows what has happened. He is part of a group that is also trying to survive and they are the good guys. This small group has more of a family feel, with a woman and at least one other child. At the end, they bury the father and the boy goes with the new group.
What affected me about the book is what it really is about. It's not about a man and a boy wandering through a dead world looking for food. It's about the love that a father has for his son and that the son has for the father. They will do anything for each other and each one's entire world is the other person. When the father died and I was able to understand the extent of his love for his son, that is what made me cry. Even though I love my son Caleb intensly, my love for him has deepened even more. When I had finished the book, even though Caleb was asleep, I climbed into bed with him to hold him tight.
The book is called 'The Road' by Cormac McCarthy. Bestseller and all that. Also an Oprah book. I managed to overlook this part because I know McCarthy to be a solid writer. He writes westerns as well, including 'All The Pretty Horses', a definite classic. What is it about this book? No other book I have ever read has ever made me cry. But this one did in the last few pages.
The basic plot has a father and son (probably about 10 years old), both unnamed through the entire book, wandering through a post-apocalyptic world. It is never said what happened, whether it was nuclear, disease or whatever. What happened is irrelevent. The world they now live in is what is relevent. It is a world in which nothing grows, most people are dead and those who aren't eke out some sort of halfway existence by finding old stashes of canned food wherever they can and even resorting to cannibalism at times (this is only hinted at, not explicitly described.
The father and son wander throughout this world, trying to get to the ocean where they think things might be better. Most of the book is about their daily live as they struggle for just mere existence. Occasionally they see or run into people in the same shape that they are. Some are good but most are bad. As the book proceeds, the father's health declines and it becomes clear that he will die before the end of the book.
Die he does in the last 10 pages or so. Once the boy has left his father's body, he is approached by a man who has been following them and knows what has happened. He is part of a group that is also trying to survive and they are the good guys. This small group has more of a family feel, with a woman and at least one other child. At the end, they bury the father and the boy goes with the new group.
What affected me about the book is what it really is about. It's not about a man and a boy wandering through a dead world looking for food. It's about the love that a father has for his son and that the son has for the father. They will do anything for each other and each one's entire world is the other person. When the father died and I was able to understand the extent of his love for his son, that is what made me cry. Even though I love my son Caleb intensly, my love for him has deepened even more. When I had finished the book, even though Caleb was asleep, I climbed into bed with him to hold him tight.
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
My father's illness
It has been a tough ten days or so. My father has been diagnosed with inoperable pancreatic cancer. He has a tumor on his pancreas that is about 2 inches long and cannot be removed because of all the blood vessels, etc. surrounding it. No official prognosis has been made, but pancreatic cancer is not one of the better cancers, they can't take it out and my dad is 84 years old.
It was discovered because he has some symptoms which needed to be diagnosed. First, he was losing weight. Second, no appetite. Third, pain in the abdominal area. The weight loss was caused by the tumor preventing any nutrition from food getting anywhere in his body. He's also got some bad jaundice right now because the tumor is blocking the bile ducts and things are backing up. The doctor is going to do surgery on Thursday to connect his intestine directly to his stomach, which (I guess) will release the jaundice and allow him to begin getting nutrition and hopefully gaining weight again.
After that, they will meet with the oncologist to determine a plan of treatment, whether it be chemo, radiation or whatever. I'lll keep posting here and updating his condition.
It was discovered because he has some symptoms which needed to be diagnosed. First, he was losing weight. Second, no appetite. Third, pain in the abdominal area. The weight loss was caused by the tumor preventing any nutrition from food getting anywhere in his body. He's also got some bad jaundice right now because the tumor is blocking the bile ducts and things are backing up. The doctor is going to do surgery on Thursday to connect his intestine directly to his stomach, which (I guess) will release the jaundice and allow him to begin getting nutrition and hopefully gaining weight again.
After that, they will meet with the oncologist to determine a plan of treatment, whether it be chemo, radiation or whatever. I'lll keep posting here and updating his condition.
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Sermon Notes on Nathaniel
This particular apostle is always called 'Nathaniel' in John, but referred to as Bartholomew in the 4 lists of apostles (Matthew, Mark, Luke, Acts). Why the difference?
Batholomew is Hebrew for "Son of Tolmei' (bar-Tolmei).
John refers to him by his proper name but referred to elsewhere in terms of his father.
Mentioned only in 2 passages and 2 of them incidental. In John 21, he is listed as one of the apostles who went fishing with Peter.
Passage where Nathaniel really comes alive is John 1:43-51
- Day after Andrew and Peter met Jesus.
- Jesus finds Phillip (couldn't wait for Phillip to come to Him)
- Phillip finds Nathaniel-must have been friends/had relationship
Nathaniel was a lover of Scripture
- Phillip refers to Jesus by Old Testament prophecy
- Probably studnet of Old Testament and he and Phillip studied together
- Didn't say he found someone with a plan for life or someone who can fix your problems or someone to give meaning to life.
- Nathaniel received Christ so easilty because he was so familiar with prophecies about Him.
Nathaniel had a prejudiced mind
- Might have quoted Micah 5:2 in terms of finding Messiah
- Not a rational or Biblical approach but an emotional and bigoted one. What good can come out of Nazareth?
- Nazareth a rough town. Unrefined and uneducated
- Galileans held Nazareth in comptemp-simply echoing local sentiments
- Inconceivable that Messiah would come from such a despised spot.
- Man's ears can be closed to the gospel becuase of prejudice. This rendered the Jewish nation dear to the arrival of Messiah.
- Phillip's answer was to come and see
- Correct way to deal with prejudice by producing facts. Prejudice is subjective but it goes away when subjected to reality.
- Nathaniel's prejudiced mind was not as powerful as his seeking heart.
Nathaniel had sincerity of heart
- Most important aspect of character mentioned by Jesus Himself
- Such wonderful words of approval from Jesus
- Purehearted with no hypocricy
- Means 'true' or 'genuine' Israelite.
- A Jew is not one who is one outwardly but one who is one inwardly (Romans 2:28-29
Nathaniel had easy faith
- Still possibly questions whether Jesus is Messiah or not
- Is Jesus just trying to flatter him?
-Not flattery but omniscence
-Seeing hm under the fig tree was enough for Nathaniel to recognize Messiah
- What Phillip didn't get at the end, Nathaniel got at the beginning
- One simple statement was enough to convince Nathaniel but he ain't seen nothing yet!!
God can take the most common people from insignificant places with significant flaws and use them to His Glory
Batholomew is Hebrew for "Son of Tolmei' (bar-Tolmei).
John refers to him by his proper name but referred to elsewhere in terms of his father.
Mentioned only in 2 passages and 2 of them incidental. In John 21, he is listed as one of the apostles who went fishing with Peter.
Passage where Nathaniel really comes alive is John 1:43-51
- Day after Andrew and Peter met Jesus.
- Jesus finds Phillip (couldn't wait for Phillip to come to Him)
- Phillip finds Nathaniel-must have been friends/had relationship
Nathaniel was a lover of Scripture
- Phillip refers to Jesus by Old Testament prophecy
- Probably studnet of Old Testament and he and Phillip studied together
- Didn't say he found someone with a plan for life or someone who can fix your problems or someone to give meaning to life.
- Nathaniel received Christ so easilty because he was so familiar with prophecies about Him.
Nathaniel had a prejudiced mind
- Might have quoted Micah 5:2 in terms of finding Messiah
- Not a rational or Biblical approach but an emotional and bigoted one. What good can come out of Nazareth?
- Nazareth a rough town. Unrefined and uneducated
- Galileans held Nazareth in comptemp-simply echoing local sentiments
- Inconceivable that Messiah would come from such a despised spot.
- Man's ears can be closed to the gospel becuase of prejudice. This rendered the Jewish nation dear to the arrival of Messiah.
- Phillip's answer was to come and see
- Correct way to deal with prejudice by producing facts. Prejudice is subjective but it goes away when subjected to reality.
- Nathaniel's prejudiced mind was not as powerful as his seeking heart.
Nathaniel had sincerity of heart
- Most important aspect of character mentioned by Jesus Himself
- Such wonderful words of approval from Jesus
- Purehearted with no hypocricy
- Means 'true' or 'genuine' Israelite.
- A Jew is not one who is one outwardly but one who is one inwardly (Romans 2:28-29
Nathaniel had easy faith
- Still possibly questions whether Jesus is Messiah or not
- Is Jesus just trying to flatter him?
-Not flattery but omniscence
-Seeing hm under the fig tree was enough for Nathaniel to recognize Messiah
- What Phillip didn't get at the end, Nathaniel got at the beginning
- One simple statement was enough to convince Nathaniel but he ain't seen nothing yet!!
God can take the most common people from insignificant places with significant flaws and use them to His Glory
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Sermon notes on Matthew Part 2
The only time that Matthew talks about himself in his gospel is when he is called by Jesus. It was in Capernaum, Jesus' adopted hometown, so he was known. Matthew was a tax collector there. Jesus comes by the tax office and calls him to follow. Immediately, Matthew closes up shop and follows. He then throws a banquet and invites the only people who will socialize with him...other tax collectors and sinners. His first response was to introduce others to Jesus.
AN outcast among Jews, he couldn't even go to synagogue. His only other friends would be those on the outskirts of society.
Matthew made a greater sacrifice than any other apostle. Peter could go back to fishing if this Jesus thing didn't work out. But once Matthew left, the Romans would have someone else there in no time. He was finished. Yet he still followed.
What caused him to get up and follow?
Deep down he was a Jew who knew the O.T. and was spiritually hungry.
He had a spiritual hunger that he didn't know how to fill
Most difficult place for Christian to be...In conscious sin but not doing anything about it.
Summary of Matthew
- Knew O.T.
- Dropped everything to follow Jesus
- Embraced outcasts and introduced them to Jesus
- Man of quiet humility
- God often takes despicable people, redeems them, gives them new hearts and uses them in remarkable ways.
AN outcast among Jews, he couldn't even go to synagogue. His only other friends would be those on the outskirts of society.
Matthew made a greater sacrifice than any other apostle. Peter could go back to fishing if this Jesus thing didn't work out. But once Matthew left, the Romans would have someone else there in no time. He was finished. Yet he still followed.
What caused him to get up and follow?
Deep down he was a Jew who knew the O.T. and was spiritually hungry.
He had a spiritual hunger that he didn't know how to fill
Most difficult place for Christian to be...In conscious sin but not doing anything about it.
Summary of Matthew
- Knew O.T.
- Dropped everything to follow Jesus
- Embraced outcasts and introduced them to Jesus
- Man of quiet humility
- God often takes despicable people, redeems them, gives them new hearts and uses them in remarkable ways.
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Finally getting back to normal
The last couple of weeks ave been out of the ordinary and I fee like only now that we are getting back to some semblance of normalcy. I've even been away from here for about 2 weeks and it's time to reconnect.
Living Hope Church in Dixon passed on me as their pastor. I'm disappointed because I thought that would be a great fit between my giftedness and what was going on there. I could have taken that church to the next level. I had a plan for growing it not only numerically but also spiritually. There's no reason that church should not be 300 people. I pray God's blessing upon them as they continue their search.
I still feel that I am in the middle of God's will in this search. It's taken a few months and a little bit of disappointment here and there, but my faith and trust is in God to take me where He will take me. I am called to pastoral ministry and will continue to persevere to be obedient to what God wants and where He wants me.
Tomorrow I'm going to get back to some of my notes on the 12 Apostles
Living Hope Church in Dixon passed on me as their pastor. I'm disappointed because I thought that would be a great fit between my giftedness and what was going on there. I could have taken that church to the next level. I had a plan for growing it not only numerically but also spiritually. There's no reason that church should not be 300 people. I pray God's blessing upon them as they continue their search.
I still feel that I am in the middle of God's will in this search. It's taken a few months and a little bit of disappointment here and there, but my faith and trust is in God to take me where He will take me. I am called to pastoral ministry and will continue to persevere to be obedient to what God wants and where He wants me.
Tomorrow I'm going to get back to some of my notes on the 12 Apostles
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