Shine On

“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” – Matthew 5:14-16

If we seek, listen to, AND act on the Word of Christ, God calls us the light of the world.

A while back, I was speaking with a young man from Iran, and I noticed that he was reading a book about the making of movie ‘The Passion of Christ.’ I saw this as an opportunity, and asked him how he came to seek Christ, coming from a region of the world that doesn’t officially tolerate anything but Islam?

He told me that when he first came to the United States to attend the university, he stayed with an American family. Though they were Christian, they didn’t try to tell him that the religion he was raised with was wrong. But they DID welcome him into their home without reservation, they did pray together, they did study God’s Word together, an they did worship together. They did all the other things families do, as well: they argued, they disagreed, they got on each other’s nerves… but they also apologized, they forgave, and they loved… not just their own family, but those around them, too. This family planted seeds of love in this young man’s heart. They are a light in the world.

Mel Gibson is a famous personality who has certainly had his ups and downs with the press and public opinion. He felt compelled to work within his artistic medium to produce a film about the last few hours of Christ’s life, ministry, and sacrifice. This same young man has seen the film several times, and has been deeply moved, and actively seeks the presence of Christ in his life. Mel Gibson could have listened to all the people who said that the film he was driven to make didn’t make sense; either socially OR economically. Instead, he became a light in the world.

So what do an ordinary family and a famous actor have in common? Part of the answer, of course, is that each let THEIR unique light shine into the world. Another part of the answer is that each of those lights helped light the way for a young man… toward the salvation of Jesus Christ.

We are cautioned NOT to hide our light. The simple truth is that people in darkness are attracted to the Light of Christ. We are NOT told to beat people up with Scripture, or to drag them kicking and screaming into church. Christ never forced himself on anyone. Instead, He gave us a new message. He taught NOT of hate, nor of violence, nor fear, nor retribution, nor jealousy, or revenge. His message, as important today as it was during His ministry, is a simple and powerful message of love and forgiveness. His message IS the Light of the World! Have you merely only listened to His message, or have you RECEIVED the Light of the World? If you HAVE received the Light, are you hiding it, or are you letting it shine before all people? By all means, shine on!

Your brother in Christ,

Dave

The Spirit of My Grandfather

You ever get really frustrated? I mean pop-your-cork frustrated, lash out at somebody frustrated? We Christians tend to think it can’t, or it doesn’t happen to us, but we are hugely mistaken. This week I got really, really, frustrated; to the point of becoming explosively angry.

I could defend my actions, and even remind you that Jesus got angry and frustrated, too (remember Jesus driving the merchants and money changers out of the temple?). I could give you a big list of my frustrations (who, and what), but then I realize that many of my close friends have frustrations that trump mine by a mile. Perhaps you know what I mean.

Often, one of our greatest sources of frustration comes from those we love. Certainly, the disciples provided Jesus with no end of frustration. Yet, he loved them. As a disciple of Christ, this greatly encourages me when I miss the mark… when I sin… when I am far from Christ-like. He loves us, too. Jesus understands our flaws and loves us anyway. It doesn’t matter what our flaws are as long as we accept the salvation that Jesus paid for with his suffering and death, and as long as we declare Him to be the resurrected Lord of our lives. I’m in constant awe that God can use us… flawed and broken though we may often seem… as a conduit for His perfect Holy Spirit in the world today.

When my wife Patti is really frustrated with me, she sometimes gets rid of things. Our daughters learned early on that when their mother got too frustrated with the state of their rooms, she would clean their rooms herself… getting rid of many items she felt were useless, unused, or unwanted (in her estimation, but not always in the estimation of my daughters). She was always a lot less frustrated after filling several trash bags with old toys, clothes that no longer fit, and useless bric-a-brac. Yesterday, being very frustrated with me, she began going through stuff in our closet, and found a box of old letters. She threw out many that held no meaning anymore, had her mood lifted by some letters from her brother Richard, and found a letter from my Grandfather that she gave to me.

It was a letter my Grandfather wrote in 1979. To be honest, I don’t recall ever having read the letter back then. Since I didn’t accept Jesus as my Lord and Savior until 1988, it seems that God’s Holy Spirit was guiding my Grandfather to speak to me through the letter in some future time. My Grandfather was a strong willed man with an unshakable faith, a special way of looking at the wonder of God’s creation, and certain that the Lord was a part of his daily existence. Here is a portion of his letter:

Thank you and my God bless and love you for your thoughtfulness in sending me the lovely card while I was in the hospital. Thank you too for remembering me in your prayers. The condition when I entered the hospital for tests was to find out why my blood count for red and white cells was down to 25 to 30% of normal. Was it internal bleeding or was the blood not being manufactured? Dave, it is now just a little of a mystery like your magic, it may be one or the other, or both. Hopefully, the doctors will uncover the mystery and find the answer. The spleen is slightly enlarged and may be blocking the blood formation entering the body from the bone marrow; possibly, since receiving 7 units of blood (red cells) there may be a normal functioning of the Spleen. Time will tell. However, the Police force (white cells) count is still the same as before.

It has been a beautiful revelation to me, after getting the first 3 units of blood (a gift of some kind person) to have back most of my reserve energy; another precious two blessings to thank our Blessed Lord for when I am united to Him at daily Mass and Holy Communion. It was certainly a sort of Divine Revelation to me to learn of the great material strengthening that blood gives the body. And then from there, to more fully understand the more perfect and far-reaching spiritual strengthening of the soul and our body by partaking of our Blessed Lord’s real body and blood in Holy Communion.

It’s a mystery how my Grandfather’s spirit can suddenly speak to me over all these years, and yet it has. I don’t need to echo his beautiful message. Read his words again, and I’ll see you on Sunday… at Communion.

Your brother in Christ,

Dave

Finding New Purpose

Here at Messiah Lutheran Church in Yorba Linda, we seem to have a miraculous confluence of honor, duty, and helpfulness; either that or our fellowship is blessed with an abundance of Eagle Scouts. This manifests itself in Eagle Scout projects that benefit our church, our campus, and our community. Over the years, we have enjoyed Eagle Scout projects that have created permanent planters bordered by seating areas, information gazebos, walkways, room remodels, pocket parks, and more. This past week saw another such Eagle Scout Project installed on our campus.

Grant Bagne is an awesome young scout on his way to Eagle. For his project he envisioned turning a tired planter and walkway into a patio that would give us additional outdoor small group meeting space. The completed result looks great, has created a flexible space, and will be utilized by the various groups that meet in our Joy Center. Thanks, Grant!

Grant removed the big decorative stones, ripped out decades old plants, and created a hole… bordered by a concrete walkway that was still in great shape. Into the hole went the sand and gravel base, and then the paving stones were placed into a very organic space to create a beautiful and functional patio. Hedge plants that will create a privacy screen were then added to the edge, and … an area with no real use had suddenly found purpose again.

Marveling at how nice his project had turned out, and envisioning all the people it will bless, I couldn’t help thinking about God at work in our lives. As Christians we should accept finding new purpose as a given:

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. - 2 Corinthians 5:17

We often struggle to keep the old; the old planter, the old habits, the old familiar way of doing things. If an old contemplation walkway, can find new purpose, we should be open to the times when God’s Holy Spirit goes to work on us… to create new purpose in our lives, our churches, and our communities. If we can give approval to a Boy Scout to give an area of our church new purpose, why can we not let God give US a new purpose? Too often God hears: “I’m fine as I am, Lord; I’ll come to church, but don’t ask me to change anything.” You can’t be a new creation in Christ sunk in the old foundations of tradition, ritual, and habit! It’s time to declare a new purpose… by faith!

I am… A new creation created in Christ, conformed by his love.

I am… A new creation created for worship and passionate praise.

I am… A new creation fearfully and wonderfully made.

I am… A new creation…
OLD things are gone;
OLD ways are gone.

We at Messiah are… A new creation…
NEW things are here;
NEW ways are here;
NEW hope is here;
NEW life is here!

Come visit with us on Sunday to find out about all the ways you can start to experience what being a new creation is all about. Come and find new purpose. In God’s purpose, you will find joy!

Your brother in Christ,

Dave

Freedom Isn’t Free

Happy 4th of July!

When I was a child in elementary school, I stood beside my desk at the start of every school day and recited (along with everyone else) the Pledge of Allegiance. I placed my hand over my heart, and pledged allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. In a few years, I came to realize that my allegiance was to the Republic for which the flag stood… one nation under God… indivisible… with liberty and justice for all.

As a child, I did not yet realize that the liberty we enjoy here in the United States of America, the freedoms we take for granted, are bought by the service and sacrifice of the men and the women who serve this country as part of the Armed Services.

God Bless our Military! They protect our Country and our Freedom. Thanks to them, and their sacrifices, we can celebrate the 4th of July.

Kelly Strong wrote the following poem in 1981. It is as full of meaning today as it was when Kelly first penned it.

FREEDOM IS NOT FREE
by Kelly Strong

I watched the flag pass by one day.
It fluttered in the breeze.
A young Marine saluted it, and then
He stood at ease.

I looked at him in uniform
So young, so tall, so proud
With hair cut square and eyes alert
He'd stand out in any crowd.

I thought, how many men like him
Had fallen through the years?
How many died on foreign soil?
How many mothers' tears?

How many pilots' planes shot down?
How many died at sea?
How many foxholes were soldiers' graves?
No, freedom is not free.

I heard the sound of taps one night,
When everything was still.
I listened to the bugler play
And felt a sudden chill.

I wondered just how many times
That taps had meant "Amen"
When a flag had draped a coffin
Of a brother or a friend.

I thought of all the children,
Of the mothers and the wives,
Of fathers, sons and husbands
With interrupted lives.

I thought about a graveyard
At the bottom of the sea
Of unmarked graves in Arlington.
No, freedom isn't free!

Copyright 1981 by Kelly Strong

As you celebrate our country’s independence today, reflect on the freedoms we enjoy. Collect those around you today and take a minute to pray for all those serving our country. Of all the gifts you could give a U.S. Soldier, prayer is the very best one. God Bless Our Troops.

Your brother in Christ,

Dave

Remembering Stephanie Rhone (9/12/1963 – 6/18/2010)

That’s Steffi (on the right) with her sister Cyndi. Steffi was my friend at church. I saw her virtually every week. She called me “Dad”. Somehow she got it into her head that I was her second dad; no amount of explaining could change her mind. Perhaps it was because her father’s name is David, like me. Nobody ever really knew why she was so insistent on calling me “Dad”, but she always did, and she always had a smile for me… along with a bone-crushing bear hug. Steffi was more than special in my life; she was a loving and joy-filled force of nature!

Sandra and David Rhone sent me an email that reflects such a pure Christian witness, that I just have to share it; it’s followed by the loving obituary she followed it with:

Our sweet, loving Stephanie passed away in her sleep early Friday morning. She was perfectly fine when she went to bed Thursday night. It's been a real shock. We miss her and will continue to miss her a lot. But we have great peace and comfort in knowing she is in the arms of her and our Lord Jesus being hugged and squeezed by him. We feel, thank you, and appreciate all your prayers.

In love, The Rhones

----------------------------

Stephanie Diane Rhone, 46, went to be with her Lord Jesus early Friday morning, June 18. She passed away very unexpectedly in her sleep. Stephanie was born on September 12, 1963 to David and Sandra Rhone in Alhambra, CA. Seven years later her sister Cynthia was born. Stephanie grew up in Placentia and Yorba Linda and graduated from Canyon Hills School in Orange in 1986. Since she was a teenager she has lived in Wallace Care Homes and more recently Cristobal Care Home during the week, spending her weekends at home with her family. Stephanie has been a Special Olympian her whole life competing in track and field the first time at age 7. Other events she competed in include volleyball, softball, and bowling, but her many medals were garnered mostly in gymnastics and Alpine Skiing. Her last competition was up at Big Bear in March, 2008. Stephanie was honored to be chosen by the Orange County Special Olympics to be one of the Sports Ambassadors for Alpine Skiing for 2008 - 2009. Over the years since graduation she had worked at Carl’s Jr., Burger King, and El Pollo Loco, as well as Anaheim Memorial Manor and most recently Pavilions in Newport. Stephanie was an active, long time member of Messiah Lutheran Church where served her Lord Jesus as an acolyte, greeter, and communion helper. Dear, sweet, Stephanie was loving, thoughtful, and caring, with smiles and hugs for all who knew her. And there are lots who knew her and will remember her always.

Donna and Richard Wesley were very close to Stephanie Rhone, and life-long friends of Stephanie’s parents, David and Sandra. After hearing about Steffi’s death, Donna sent the following email to the Rhone family. Wayne Engstrom read it at the celebration of the life of Stephanie Diane Rhone we had at the church on Thursday afternoon. It is a wonderful tribute to Stephanie, the scope and the impact of her love and her life, and a fond remembrance between families that are far more than friends… they love one another!

Dear Dave, Sandy, Cyndi:

Somehow it doesn't seem right that we should be here in Colorado at this time...we should be with you all laughing and crying remembering God's Angel...Stephanie. So in an incomplete way I am sitting here at the computer while Rich sleeps and remembering the love she brought us.

The first time we saw her was at a church beach outing in Corona Del Mar. She and Eric were about the same age and I think they threw sand at one another. Who was to know what an impact the Rhone family and Wesley family would have on one another. Shortly thereafter, Dave came by our house on Kermath St. on his bicycle with Steffi sitting in a seat in the back and we all talked for a while...the relationship was building. And all the time we talked Steffi was smiling and trying to get a "word" in while we gabbed. She was making herself known! Time went on and it seemed Eric and Steffi ended up in the same Sunday school class and at about five, Eric asked why Steffi was different. What an opportunity for us to tell him about the "special children" God created. How wonderful for us as a family to share the growing up years of this special girl.

Yes, our families were becoming entwined...Ruth Mary, along with you, Sandy… joined the very first Bible Study I led in my home. I remember being very humbled as Ruth Mary shared the story of the love she had for her granddaughter Stephanie and her acceptance of this "special child." And Ruth Mary became my friend!!! What a delightful experience this Rhone/Wesley relationship was becoming.

And sad times, I remember sitting with Steffi and Cyndi after you brought the girls to our house as you rushed to the hospital when your dad, Walter, had a heart attack. Steffi was almost inconsolable but I had an opportunity to hug and talk with her. All these occasions are gifts from God.

Years later, coming home from work driving down Valley View, who did I see but Steffi trudging along heading to your house from the bus stop. I pulled over and offered her a ride. "No" said Steffi, "My Dad said I need to walk and can't accept rides." She was a determined girl and listened to her Dad.

What a gift for my kids, along with Susie, volunteering at the Special Olympics and they did so honoring your Stephanie. All of these events opened all our eyes and made us look beyond appearances and look into the heart of each and every individual. What a heart she had...I can still feel those real tight hugs.

How about the infamous back pack trip to the Sierra for one whole week? I remember Cyndi "catching cars" with her fishing pole and who can forget Steffi's determination to hike up the mountain and eventually our long hike back out in a snow storm. The memories are building and so are the tears.

Stef had one up on me...I never learned to ski. I remember watching her at Brian Head snowplowing down the mountain and thinking "If Steffi can ski, so can I!!! But she was better than me...I never did learn to ski. But she sure was my inspiration for a while then I just figured I'd leave it that... she was better than me. Oh yes, she was better than me she saw good in everything and loved everyone. If only all of us had the heart of a Stephanie.

Thinking of church and her love for her church, there will never be a more enthusiastic acolyte!!!! If only every acolyte approached the job with her reverence, determination and love. What a joy to watch her.

Yes, through confirmations, 50th, 60th and 70th birthdays we have been together. Through changes of command, aspen tree plantings and most recently at our Granddaughter's Master's Degree Graduation the Wesley Family and Rhone Family have been entwined...what a gift from God and now our arms ache that we cannot laugh and cry with you on the loss of your Stephanie. We are better people for having known her and we loved her. Thank you for sharing her with us. God bless you Dave, Sandy and Cyndi. We love you.

Rich and Donna

A few days later, Richard Wesley died, and has joined Steffi in the arms of our Lord. As Christians, we look forward to our final destination, but as humans, we still feel the pain of losing a loved one. I ache for the loss felt by these two intertwined families. Sandra and David are traveling to Colorado to be with Donna this coming week, so I'm sure they will find comfort with one another. After all, Jesus does promise us:

For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
- Matthew 18:20

Your brother in Christ,

Dave

Prayer Circle

Thank you, God! I praise you, Lord Jesus! For the last 2 weeks, I have been symptom free.

I know it is only by God’s divine healing and protection that I can walk again without feeling like I might pass out. I haven’t done anything different in my life or habits. My family, for all their recommendation on how I should do this or not do that, hasn’t gotten me to do anything different either. And the doctors, for all their poking, prodding, scanning, and testing, haven’t done anything but frustrate me with their inaction… except, of course, their ability to extract a $20 co-pay for each visit.

I don’t know how long my restoration will last, but I am grateful for every minute of every day that I am not under attack. I don’t know how much longer my family, friends, and Christian brothers and sisters will continue to lift me up in prayer, but I will continue to praise their love and faithfulness before the Lord.

This attack has certainly strengthened my prayer life. I thought I was doing alright by praying several times every day. When you are under crippling attack, and the only way forward is to pray with each step, you discover a deeper, more intimate, extremely powerful aspect of prayer. When every step and every breath is a prayer, it feels like Jesus is right beside you. The world may still close in on you, may still overwhelm you, may still blot out the light, but… the presence of the Lord gives you a calmness; a peace beyond all understanding… and the strength and the power to go on!

Yes, I’m rejoicing in every step. My joy is not in my health or my circumstances… my joy is in the Lord.

God has blessed me to see the humor is almost every situation. I often pray for divine revelation for those that seem humor impaired. Do you think their scowls indicate that they were weaned on a lemon? While I was in the hospital for the TEE procedure (Trans-Esophageal Echocardiogram), I had the nurses, technicians, and doctors in stitches. In all that laughter, I had not one moment of anxiety or fear. And the problem the doctors were 90% certain was in my heart? Well, they could find nothing, and boy… did they try to find something! My heart got a clean bill of health. Praise the Lord!

Last week, a friend posted a video of Michael Jr., a Christian comic, on Facebook. I thought it was hilarious, checked out other videos of his on YouTube, and found a whole bunch that cracked me up. I was particularly taken by “The Prayer Circle” video. I pray it brightens your day, and reminds you that God hears ALL our prayers… no matter how we pray. Enjoy.

Your brother in Christ,

Dave

Voice of Truth

And in kind of a continuation of my last post...

This week, in conversation with almost everybody I bumped into, I heard how they were under attack in THEIR lives. Since I had just written about being under attack last week, I guess I was more open to hear about (and remember) the attacks other people were enduring. Most of them agreed that staying focused on Jesus made it easier to weather an attack, but that it was difficult to keep that focus. All of the attacks seemed coupled with plenty of negative voices. Voices saying that we are not good enough, that we are broken, that we will fail… and a myriad of other negative lies. Like Job, sometimes the voices are from those closest to us (a spouse or friends) and are really hard to ignore.

Yet, we do recognize God’s voice amid all the negative uproar. The little hitch is that God also gave us free will, so it’s up to us to decide which voice to heed. As much as Satan and the world try, they can never drown out the voice of God as he calls to us. And we can make no excuses that we could not recognize God’s voice. In chapter 10 of the Book of John in the New Testament, Jesus assures us that we can recognize His voice above all others:

“…and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.”
John 10:4

The Bible points up that all of us are constantly under attack. In their fear and doubt, some of the greatest heroes of the bible tried to argue with, or bargain with God. Oh, wait… don’t we do that still to this day? Yet, amazing, wondrous, and miraculous things happen when we choose to listen to, and follow, the voice of God.

The Holy Spirit placed this song in my head. It reflects exactly what I’ve been writing about. I’m including the lyrics, and below them, a video. Enjoy.

Voice of Truth
by Casting Crowns

Oh what I would do to have
The kind of faith it takes
To climb out of this boat I'm in
Onto the crashing waves
To step out of my comfort zone
Into the realm of the unknown where Jesus is
And He's holding out His hand

But the waves are calling out my name
And they laugh at me
Reminding me of all the times
I've tried before and failed
The waves they keep on telling me
Time and time again. "Boy, you'll never win!"
"You'll never win!"

Chorus:
But the voice of truth tells me a different story
The voice of truth says, "Do not be afraid!"
The voice of truth says, "This is for My glory"
Out of all the voices calling out to me
I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth

Oh what I would do to have
The kind of strength it takes to stand before a giant
With just a sling and a stone
Surrounded by the sound of a thousand warriors
Shaking in their armor
Wishing they'd have had the strength to stand

But the giant's calling out my name
And he laughs at me
Reminding me of all the times
I've tried before and failed
The giant keeps on telling me
Time and time again. "Boy you'll never win!"
"You'll never win!"

But the stone was just the right size
To put the giant on the ground
And the waves they don't seem so high
From on top of them lookin' down
I will soar with the wings of eagles
When I stop and listen to the sound of Jesus
Singing over me

I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth

As promised, here’s the music video:

For me… as the song so eloquently puts it:

“I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth!”

Your brother in Christ,

Dave

Under Attack

Yesterday was Memorial Day, a day set aside to remember and honor our nation’s war dead. I wrote a little something about Memorial Day in 2008, and rather than repeat myself, you can reference that entry via this link: Memorial Day 2008. All of us should recognize and salute the commitment of every man and woman currently serving in our armed services, and pray that their training will help protect them from the dangers and enemies they face.

Though our servicemen and servicewomen are trained and prepared to live under the constant threat of attack… most of the rest of us are not. Yet Satan is relentless in his campaigns and attacks against us. We are under his attacks from every direction.

Even this blog is under attack. Every week a new comment is posted from an anonymous Asian user; in Japanese. It’s not a comment about the latest post; it is in reality a series of links… links that would take you to a variety of Asian porn sites. Once I recognized the comments for what they really were, it was simple to merely delete them. But it remains under attack, and at least once a week I must delete offensive comments from the blog.

Our bodies are under attack, too: cancer, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, diabetes, arthritis, and plenty of mystery ailments… to name just a few of the attacks.

Our communities are under attack: terrorism, crumbling infrastructure, corrupt public servants, crime, unemployment, and crushing poverty.

Our world is under constant attack: earthquakes, storms, volcanoes, wars, deprivation, and hunger.

Imagery that attacks our morals, our values, and our sense of right and wrong pours into us from and unending flow being broadcast by television, radio, and the internet. Satan welcomes each new development in communication technology as another weapon to be aimed in our direction… to keep us under constant attack.

Why? What does the father of lies hope to accomplish with these continuous bombardments and attacks? Simple… he seeks to make us dive for cover, jump into a foxhole, build up the sandbags, and in our fear, turn away from God. If you put your faith in this world, if you put your faith in technology, if you put your faith in medical science, or even if you put your faith in your own strength… Satan is winning.

I need to constantly remind myself to take my eyes off Satan, and the works and devices of Satan, and fix my gaze faithfully on Jesus; on Jesus alone!

Jesus overcomes all of Satan’s attacks; not some, not most, but…

JESUS OVERCOMES ALL OF THE ATTACKS!

Jesus heals sickness, Jesus calms the storms, He changes hearts and casts out demons, and He has overcome death. Walking with Jesus, we walk with our Lord, our Savior, our Deliverer, and our Protector. When we invite Jesus into our heart, we never have to walk alone again. Though we still may walk in this calamitous and dangerous world, in Jesus we are no longer of it. Instead, we become more than conquerors, we become children of God and inheritors of God’s heavenly kingdom.

With my eyes off Satan and my eyes only on Jesus, Satan’s false illusions are little more than smoke and mirrors. Instead of a world of horrors, I see God’s people pouring out love, compassion, aid, and healing… into a broken world. I see a beautiful creation in endless variety and infinite complexity that gives glory to God the Creator. I see Jesus… who suffered for my sake, took my sins and shortcomings and covered them with His blood, and by His resurrection guarantees me eternal salvation. In the company of Jesus, I’m not pinned down under withering attacks, but I am free… I’m free, indeed!

Since we do live in this world, the attacks don’t stop. But in the company of Jesus, the attacks now have all the weight of a feather; as easily dealt with as deleting an inappropriate blog comment. The best thing about walking in faith with Jesus by your side is being able to step up to the battle front, pick up the wounded, and show them how Jesus can heal them, save them, and free them. In the company of Jesus we can do all things. Fear not!

Where are you under attack? Who leads you? I pray it’s Jesus!

Your brother in Christ,

Dave

Edify and Encourage

My friend Monica recently sent me an email that was meant to encourage me. Monica is wonderful at offering encouragement, and she is pretty awesome at edification, too. I got her permission to use the message in the blog. As you read the following, notice how encouragement and edification produce joy!

I brought your heart situation to my Sunday school class and this evening to my choir for prayer. There are a lot of people who really know how to pray there.

Meanwhile I'm having an inordinate amount of fun with the bass guitar. Today Ken, the music minister who plays 7 or 10 instruments, pronounced that I'm doing fabulously! However, reality check; when I was buying the guitar and the amp, the people in the store who *really* know how to play, and how to set the amps for their playing, really did play wonderfully. The first amp I considered was too much for me; a matter of technique, it showed up everything especially the treble. The second one I can damp down more and besides it sounds almost mellow instead of  real brassy or bright, which is more 'me' anyway. Then this evening I was a tad early to ladies ensemble (singers) and Ken was playing his electric guitar (I have never seen him with one, wonder if it's new, will ask tomorrow). He put in a CD and was playing to it; wow, wow is all I can say. It was extremely interesting to realize the patterns he was overlaying. Not merely accompanying. It was amazing, solo work. And yet he encourages me for my progress, without a hint of 'good for merely a few months' but instead 'really good'. Diehl's mother, the church organist who was *extremely* talented, used to say when she listened to her LP records of E. Power Biggs playing Bach, she felt as though she should just cut off her fingers, since she'd never be able to attain his level, the level she could hear and understand. So I am going to continue on and keep learning, even though I'm certainly no master at this. Such a blessing. Today at the bluegrass rehearsal, while we were eating beforehand, I said that I could still hardly take in that I am allowed to do this! And Ken said that's the way he feels, it's such a privilege for him to do all the music.

This evening Pastor Joel talked about Joy, and how the Spirit moves where He will, and that we cannot through willpower make ourselves full of joy, and that yet we are commanded to be filled with joy, to rejoice, and again I say rejoice! Because our God is worth everything. What a privilege to be His! You are one of the people I have met who just bubble over with joy of and in the Lord. I know that doesn't mean you don't have concerns about yourself and those you love, but your bubbly witness is a great encouragement.

Blessings
Monica

Monica so often hits the nail right on the head and she causes me to be humbled and excited when she accurately says: “What a privilege to be His!”

Your brother in Christ,

Dave

Thank You, God!

A big "thank you" to everybody that sent birthday wishes to me over the past few days. There were phone calls, emails, Facebook postings, Skype video conferencing, cards via snail-mail, and even a few birthday hugs.

I had an amazing birthday.

My great friend, Ray Rizo, surprised me by stopping by with a pizza for lunch. We shared it over a Netflix movie (The Kingdom). Wow! The Kingdom is a powerful story of our time, grabs you with the intensity of its action, draws you in with the humanity of its characters, and will haunt you with the irony of its ending. Ray and I agreed that the movie gave us a lot to consider. In the end, the message of Jesus is as valid (and desperately needed) today as it was when he first taught it to his disciples over 2,000 years ago: “Love one another.” See the movie, and see if you don’t agree.

In the late afternoon, I had an appointment with my good friend Dr. Jason Baietto. Jason is a brother in Christ, and a Wellness Chiropractor helping people balance their bodies through gentle chiropractic and balance their lives through fitness, nutrition, and stress management. I always feel some improvement when I visit Jason, but today was truly special. As Jason was adjusting my neck and spine, he held my neck in his hands and prayed over me. The peace and the comfort that flowed from the warmth of his heart, through his hands, and into my body was overwhelming!

I also got a bunch of snail-mail cards that actually arrived on my birthday. One was from my daughter, Jennifer, and my grandson, Jeffrey. Later, while on Skype with them, I held the card up to the camera and asked who drew the pictures on the card. Jeffrey brightened right up and proclaimed: “I drew that, Pop-pop!” Nothing will melt your heart faster than a grandchild, who is not quite 3, sing “Happy Birthday” to you.

My youngest daughter Wendy helped Patti put on a big spaghetti dinner (with meatballs). Patti and I have been married for almost 40 years (June 2011), so put in a good word for her when the Sainthood nominating committee comes around. She must be a saint... putting up with me for this long! There was cake (with candles), and a few surprise presents. We topped off the evening by teaching my son-in-law, Adam, how to play Hearts; the newbie beat all us old pros! Isn’t that typical?!?

God’s blessings continue to be the best gifts of all... I just need to open my eyes, and I am surrounded by riches and joy. Thank you, God!

Your brother in Christ,

Dave