Ooops!

    So the band is playing "Open The Eyes of My Heart" the other night and Chaka (on guitar) starts playing something else. Ooops! It's not like the song the band was playing stunk or anything. If fact...it was beyond beautiful - except for Charlie. Erin and Debbie were singing angelicly, and I found myself feeling as if I was auditorily entering Paul's higher levels of heaven. Well, Charlie turns after about 8-13 seconds, I didn't really count - it just felt like that - and told us techies that he was so busy listening to the girls sounding so other-worldly that he forgot what he was doing. Ooops!

    I've done that, haven't you?!?! I've just dazed off heavily involved in any of the other senses (sight, smell, taste, sound, etc...) and WHAM! I've missed something I was supposed to do, or hit something I wasn't supposed to hit, and hopefully not hurt anyone. Ooops! Thank God our God is the One who gives second chances. (I hope you caught that plural.) We often screw-up more than once, and usually it's longer than 8-13 seconds, but our God is a God of infinite "seconds." (And I'm talking about chances now, not time.) 

    So I guess I'm saying, as long as your "Ooops" isn't a sin, enjoy what God gave us. Chaka did! Although, there are unfortunate re-sounding consequences for everything, good and bad in our lives. Remember to do what Charlie did Thursday, say your sorry, and repent. That is the only requirement for another round with God..., don't abuse it though.

Pregame

We're hanging out on a Thursday at about 6:30pm. It's "Joyful Noise" night. I love this time. The band usually warms up for about 20-25 minutes. Each week is a different array of rock-n-roll renditions to limber up. This week is a bevy of Led Z. and Carlos S. to make us a bit Dazed and Confused as we prep for another night of Circle Oh-Yeah'-Como-Vah Of Friends. Joyful noise really starts before 7:00pm, and it's "joyful" every Thursday night! You know how the pregame anticipation is always more exciting than the game? Or, how building the with Lego's is better than playing with what you've built? This is how it is now, although... at 7:00pm it's pretty exhilarating too. I guess in this game it truly is "win-win."

Simply Missed

I missed COF this past Thursday night. I had been sick nearly all week. I was quite sad about it. It wasn't about the camaraderie and friends this time though. I missed Phil's devotion. He has a wonderful way of expressing God's word with simplicity that explains major life concerns. Simply using a fan and some streamers, or a hot dog and paper bag, Phil will open up a passage from the bible and blow you away, filling you up with how we are to truly live according to our Creator's wishes. I missed that! Life is simple when we allow it to be, and Phil's devotions always show me/us that God wants us to trust Him, and simply live.

Aches and Pains

For a little over three years I have had the hardest time getting to COF. Every Thursday evening I would be extremely worn-out, or I would feel that the drive was too long, or I was just tired of being a person with a disability helping run a disability ministry. I've worked hard to not be known as having that label. Since I was young I live with daily physical aches and pains, and going to COF is a reminder of everything in life I'd like to forget. I continue to go though. God hasn't told me not to, and I have the best time once I'm there.

I was surprised to speak to someone this past week as we started up season number 14 (or so) and he stated that he just didn't have the ambition to come to COF. I was kind of knocked over by this. Someone knew what I was feeling for so long, and though we didn't know if we should do anything about it (besides pray); I felt relieved to be able to speak with someone (other than my BFAT - Best Friend of All Time) about the attacks I've been going through for so long. These attacks are not physically painful but it can be a struggle to do something you feel you'd prefer not to do. (Note the word "feel.") It is a mental issue that can lead to physical symptoms.

Throughout all of this I've always wondered how COF would end. Would it? When our sponsoring church was reducing staff-led ministries I thought we might get caught up in the "downsizing" and be asked to find another venue. Didn't happen. In fact, we grew and they allowed us to use a bigger room. Then we'd lose a wonderful "helper" and I didn't think there'd be enough hands to get our growing nights done well. Didn't happen. All of a sudden, "Hands on Charlotte" comes along and it seems as if we don't even have to think about that again. If you know about COF you know that we've continued to worship our Creator without a band, without power, without refreshments, during a flood in our room, I could go on and on. Even if COF ended at Forest Hill Church, our group would still worship God, together, or on our own. So really, the essence of COF will never end. It has always been about Him, not us.

So this past Thursday I didn't notice an attack didn't happen to me until after I got home from COF. The only thing I did notice was that during the night I felt no pain. Dave was playing "Thy Word" and I felt nothing hurt physically. I also felt this smile I had that began in my heart and stretched out through my teeth and lips. I've been "O.K." with going to COF through the years because God said not to not go. If there is one thing I remember from reading His Word it is to obey. COF has become so much of who I now am, that even though I don't mind being away, I recognize the simple purity of what happens on a Thursday night with our 350 or so friends. We worship, we pray, we learn about God. I'm either getting older and accepting it, or truly it is why God has not told me to leave; it is not about what I have made my life to be but where He wants me to be in His life. I know I could go at anytime and COF would chug along just fine, and God would allow me that choice too. But, a night without pain, and someone who understands where you are is a reason to see what God's got planned next. Either-way, I'll see you on Thursday night...

A Song or a Psalm - from W.M. Campbell

The purpose of lots of Biblical songs and Hymns

are not just entertainment, and fun.

Most should be sung with the same thoughts when praying,

to the Holy One.

Numerous Biblical songs are musical prayers,

that are sung to the Lord

Therefore they should be sung from your heart,

sung word-for-word.

In other words, you ought to pay attention to the musical phrases you say,

then while singing you might have a feeling resembling

the one you have when you pray.

It is quite easy, just have God or Jesus on your mind when you sing

Noticing more faith while singing... surely will please the King of Kings.

That's just sad...

I was watching someone on TV the other day. He was an emphatic atheist. What intrigued me about this person was that they were trying to convert others to believe in nothing. (Well they were selling evolution I think.) I have learned as a believer in Jesus Christ as the promised coming Messiah from the Torah that you don't really need to go out and recruit "converts." You behave as a Christ would, and as you go others will ask you why you do what you do. Then be ready as it says in 1 Peter 3:15. But, to "evangelize" a belief in nothing! I was puzzled. This is not the first time this thought has been written, not the first time it's been read; but someone will be right in the end. If it is the atheists whom are correct, then it's really no big deal. However, if the Christians are on the right side of eternity, then that's just sad.

Do You Remember

M.J. sang about it, although it was about a girl and not God... which is strange based on the media stories about him, anyways; many people remember the date or the day they fell in love with God, and called themselves a "believer!" I don't. I can't remember the day or the date, I've just always known that I was His, and Jesus did it all for me, so now I must do likewise. I do "remember the time" when I knew, and this picture is from that time.

I used to be envious (I know, I know, shame on me,) of the folks who knew the exact date and what they were doing or whom they were with when they chose to believe in what Jesus says, and does. Maybe I wanted that experience of conversion. I don't know. In prayer this morning, I was thanking God for all He's given me that I get to share, and I remembered the time.

It was early April and everything was coming to life again; as much as can come to life in April in Buffalo. I was in second grade and going through the process of "first communion" in the church and school I attended. To receive this you had to understand who Jesus was, why He died for us, and you must have made a choice to believe before you could partake in this sacrament.

After teaching elementary school for some time, I think around second grade you begin to understand more about the world around you as you begin a years-long learning maturation. At that time, in the church our family attended I remember being taught all the terribly wonderful stories and lessons from the Bible. Thanks Dad and Mom, and Sister Eileen. I understood them, and I believed. Thanks Holy Spirit. I must have also grasped the overjoyed seriousness that a true-believer in Jesus must have throughout their life, hence the look in the photo.

We are most often overjoyed and thankful at what God has done for us. Yet we seriously must continue in our prayers (and actions) to thank and ask that He also do it for others too. (side thought: Evangelizing in someone's face isn't necessarily effective, but it might make you feel good.) Because of what I now know to be true, I am no longer envious of another story of a day someone remembers being saved because of Jesus. I lean toward thankfulness. And, although I haven't always remembered, deserved, earned, or lived accordingly, I have thankfully had a glorious life with Him. I now pray daily for others, and I thank God because He helps me remember the time. Do you remember?

Wheelchair Buddies

Todd Rocket sent this photo of Jim and Derek who are now wheelchair buddies! It seems Jim tore his Achilles tendon while playing softball, and he is using this method of moving about. As a child I had surgery on my back and spend about 9 months in a body cast. During part of that time I used a wheelchair to move about. I couldn't stand it! There is something freeing about being able to move, but something so uncomfortably restrictive in having to use a chair with wheels for this purpose. Thankfully Jim has Derek to show him the ropes. We have Jesus to that for us too when we are in a bad time. He was tempted, suffered and died for us. He understands where we're at, all the time.

A wheelchair can be needed for a short while, or for a lifetime, and it doesn't compare to the cross. It is still an ugly reminder of how everyone and everything in this world is crying out for God to intervene again, and make this place we live in like He originally intended. When I hear of another earthquake, or see nature's fury tear apart lives, I know we are getting closer to Jesus coming back. When He does, we won't need wheelchair buddies anymore. In the meantime I thank God for Derek, Todd, Michael, Matt, Brenda, and Mark; and everyone who shows Jesus' love in being a buddy to us disabled folk who sometimes need help getting around in this life. By their example we see how very much we all need a hand.

Circle of Friends is now on Twitter!

Hey Y'all,

Circle of Friends is now on Twitter. I know, I know, I'm a bit slow with this technology thing. It's not that I don't "...love technology...," It's just that I'm a bit "special." look for "Circle of Friends," or "ooffriends" on the Twitter page and follow us as we tweet about how God impacts us on more than just Thursday nights. You can always email at ooffriends@gmail.com. Remember, I'm a slow mover so tweets might be few and far between. Praying For You.

Jesus says, "Hi."

It has been a few weeks since I've been able to get away from life. Things are flying by; everyday during the school year seems to run into the next so quickly that sometimes just going to the toilet seems like a retreat. I can understand how some folks joke that they'll rest when they're dead. I don't pray for death but, I truly get what they mean. Life itself has felt a bit like a busy-death.

I don't believe the bible says we should pray regarding anything or anyone that is dead though. It does say that when you are absent from the body, you are present with the Lord. (Why would you need prayer if you're with God?) Jesus also said, "...let the dead bury the dead...," and although people have been praying for the dead since before the Christian church began, I have a difficult time praying for them. Still, many evenings at COF someone will ask me to say a prayer at the end of the night for their relative who recently, (or not recently) passed away. I don't pray for them. I do ask Jesus to say "Hi" to them for us. I figure it is a reasonable compromise. We can't (and shouldn't - according to the bible) talk with them but God can.

So I said a prayer last week and asked Jesus to tell a loved one "Hello" from our group. I don't often consider how the devotions or prayers at COF will be taken by our group. Through prayer and reading the bible, I trust the Holy Spirit to influence and guide me, and God can handle the "fall-out" with everyone.

Life was moving along as usual last Thursday as we cleaned up after the closing prayer, and a friend of mine, Chris came over to talk with me about his girlfriend. When we finished the chat Chris said, "Jesus says 'Hi' to you everyday." I felt the sting in his words. Was I dead? Have things deadened me so that the enjoyment of life has been "Hoovered" out? "No," I thought. I am alive because Jesus died for me! My friend Chris emptied my bag of dead-business and took out the trash that I should have known my faith already did for me. I don't know why we hold onto things, maybe that's why some of us are compelled to pray for loved ones we can't let go of. Maybe letting go will slow things down for us; Jesus did say His yoke was "easy," and His burden, "light." Jesus say's "Hi" to me, and you everyday. I will always remember that now. Thanks friends..., you're a lifesaver.

Underdogs!

Thursday evening was a cool moment in time for me. I'd just gotten out of my brother-in-law's memorial service and headed over to Circle Of Friends. I had been pondering all week as to whether or not I should leave the service and head over to church for our COF group. Everytime I thought and prayed about it I got the same answer, "Rick would go." So after the church service for Rick's family and friends I made my way to COF wondering how the evening would turn out. I usually have a plan or an inkling but, my plans don't usually inkle the way I thought they would. God show's up, and I'm good with that.

The devotion was all about...let me use the correct "christianese" here, "overcomers." I really don't care for any"-ese". People tend to over-use certain words, so we used "Underdogs" instead. Isn't that what we really are?

Let's see...we're all messed up on different levels, physically, mentally, and/or emotionally, and we need Someone to help us make it through our existence (most...if not all of the time), because no matter how much we'd like to admit it, we can't control everything (although we try). Because of sin, we are not built to succeed anymore, but with faith in Jesus, and God on our side through the Holy Spirit in our lives, we can do anything that is in His will in our lives. That sounds a bit like an underdog to me.

What fascinates me is how some folks don't get how this works. We can't succeed in life on our own, we need help to do the right thing because many times it is just not in us. Like cheerleaders for a sports team, God cheers us on and gives us the Holy Spirit, sort of like team spirit in our lives. It's "team spirit" inside of God's players that gives them the ability to get up everyday and function somehow when they're physically unable to get out of bed, or in pain. It's "team spirit" that guides someone to do the right thing in life because they heard how it looks when the bible was read to them as a child, yet they didn't (and don't) have the capacity to read it on their own now. It's also the gift of God's Spirit that gives many the emotional power to resist the temptation to yell and scream at someone when they were cut-off, or when their order was put together wrong, again. Believers in Jesus do nothing well without God cheering us on.

Thursday, I had the honor of speaking with 340 or so of my friends about how no matter what they're handling in their lives God has given them the Spirit to be overcoming "Underdogs!" (If you don't remember, our ministry is for folks with disabilities.) What a great promise from God, and who better to tell than our friends that those who believe in Jesus overcome the world! Why...do you say? Because God's word says that the Spirit in us (believers) is greater than the one in the world (1 John 4:4). Believers in Jesus Christ know that God has never broken a promise, and he never lies. Experiencing this verse in my life on many occasions I began choking up a bit during the devotion.

I mentioned in the notes before this that it had been a difficult week for me. The fact that God chose to have a devotion on being an underdog at this time not only spoke to my 340-plus friends, but it deeply spoke to me. Now I know why I was told all week that "Rick would go." As he has now gone and found complete and perfect comfort in God the Father's presence, I was able to find enough to help me overcome as my friends and I search for presents in His Word. God showed up, and I'm very cool with that!

Everything's Great!

It has been a weird week. Our brother-in-law Rick passed away and I can't describe the cloud I've been in this week. "Easily irritable" is the best description. But everything's great because I know my bro-in-law is in eternal life with the Lord. (We talked about this at COF last Thursday.) Rick is well versed in scripture and well read in Christian circles and such, and I look to him often as my spiritual big brother more than a brother in law. I watch and learn from him, his wife, Lisa, and their children about how to handle the various times and battles in life. Together we are in God's army, and Rick is like my superior officer, not because he is a better person or anything like that..., He sincerely loves God, and was just called to another position in the cavalry. Still..., I will miss him.

Watch For The Signs

Thursday evening was "Signs and Mimes" night at COF. Kathy Madsen and a few friends come and teach us how to use sign language to sing songs. It is a pretty cool thing to watch 325 people sign a song together. You almost don't even need the music to feel and hear the praise that is going on around you. It is a shame the world doesn't look at the signs around to see where we are in history. Matthew 24:7 says, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places." All of this will happen not to far from when Jesus returns.

Instead we are fascinated with a Mayan prophecy that states that 2012 will be the end of the earth. We also look to Nostradamus to find out what has and will happen. The folks that believe in these type of predictors seem to forget that the Mayan culture died out and hasn't returned. In addition, Nostradamus has a small handful of predictions that might have come true, but he has many more wrong predictions than right.

The Bible on the other hand, has never been proven wrong, and His people have returned to Jerusalem after 2000 years. There have been scoffers, but the Bible actually says that there will be. It also says that "Nation will rise against nation..." The actual word used when this was written meant, "culture against culture." Just looking at the United States in the last 50-plus years I would say that we are fulfilling that prophecy as I write this. If I'm not mistaken there have been and are continuing famines, and earthqakes have increased in the last hundred years more than global warming ever has increased. Yet does the weather channel talk about this? No, in discussing the recent tragedy in Haiti no one mentions this. The one Christian who took the news headlines and could have presented the true word of God instead spread the false version; the one most everyone hears when they think of today's Christian, judgemental. He forgot that God judges, not us, that is not our job. So he could not really know why Haiti is dealing with this horrific earthquake. God's ways are not our ways and whether or not we understand, or like it, it doesn't matter, He's God. When Christians remember that, and shut their pie-holes at the right time, we are doing what a follower of Jesus would.

Our job is to love each other, friend and foe alike. That is the sign of a true follower of Christ. So when you see someone helping another in Christ's name, or trying their best to listen, and not speak or judge, know that that is a sign of somone who loves God and is called to His purpose. Those signs are never wrong, and they truly give God's love to all who see, and experience them. That is a pretty cool thing.

As long as I'm part of it.

It has been good to take a break from COF. Everyone needs a little time away. (Jesus took 40 days - we only took a few weeks.) We came back and played "Win a Buck" On Thursday! Great game! Probably the most exciting game at COF. The devotions the past two times we've met were all about how to become a child of God's family by saying the S.T.P. prayer. Great stuff! Probably the most exciting topic for anyone to present as a devotion.

Everyone wants to play "Win a Buck." Everyone wants to go to heaven when they leave earth, Christian or not. (Crazy people want anything else.) We all just want to be part of a chance to win something of value and to be part of the family (or group) that spends eternity in the most wonderful kingdom. To some it doesn't matter what the prize or what they'll do in heaven...they just want to be part of it. That happened this past Thursday night.

We were playing "Win a Buck" and the first five contestants were called to come down. Josh, Matthew, Kelly, Brooke, and someone else who wasn't there, no biggie, we called another. Each person answers three questions about the Bible and if they do...they win a buck, hence the name. (I know, cheap rip-off.) Either-which-way, the folks get rowdy on "Win a Buck" (WAB) night! Everybody wants to be part of it. Dollar General must have some great buys after the holidays.

Our first contestant came over and as soon as we welcomed him to the game I knew it would be a whiz-bang night of WAB! I asked him how he was doing and He answered in a language that no one understood. It wasn't that he was non-verbal, it was just that he didn't speak in a comprehensible dialect of any known language. Without wanting to take our introduction down an uncomfortable road I went on. "O.K.," I said, "Let's get to the first question." The music kicked in and I read, "Who told Mary that she was going to have a baby?" I then gave the answer choices, "Joseph, or the Angel." Our excited contestant yelled into the microphone, "Aglicobachitrimill!" My trusted counterpart Jeff was going to ask him to repeat his answer as Jeff didn't quite make it out when I yelled, "Jeff, it sounded like he said 'Angel,' that's correct!" Before I could say, "Let's go to question number two," our contestant raised his hands in victory and leaped back over to his chair and sat down satisfied for having played in the coveted game of "Win a Buck!" The place erupted!

Jeff and I were stunned. We have been helping with COF for nine to ten years and every now and then something really precious happens. (It actually happens pretty regularly, like weekly.) But this summed up everything Circle Of Friends is about: wanted to have something with value, and have it eternally with our friends in the presence of God. The joy our first contestant displayed is the joy spoke of all throughout the bible. It is the joy we have when we truly realize the verse from 1 John 5:13, "I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life."

Knowing you have eternal life is a lot like answering only one "Win a Buck" question. You have a victory as long as you're part of it. Are you victorious? You can be with a simple prayer - S.T.P.

The Won Way

Do you like to yell out loud? I know I do. Well, Thursday night was "Holiday Outburst" night where everyone yells out things that belong to specific categories. Jeff and I M.C. the evening while Randy runs around with a cordless mike to each group like a chicken with his head cut-off, and Dave keeps time with a cymbal to let us know when to move on. It's kind of like a chaotic Family Feud on major caffeine. The Shakers won the game, but if you were there for the whole night, you'd know everyone did. If they chose to...

Earlier in the evening, Titus joined the band for the first time playing his harmonica to the tune of "Early On One Christmas Morn." Well..., they brought the house down, and it was the first time I recollect a standing ovation at Circle of Friends. The joy on faces seen was memorable. It wasn't the first time that one of our friends joined the band for a number. They happen occasionally and I really like it when they do! I just seems right for everyone to be part of everything at COF... within reason of course.

As I mentioned in an earlier note our ministry is geared towards folks with disabilities, (a.k.a. everyone - whether you want to admit you have a disability not - seen or unseen). And..., I don't like to sell our folks short (insert your own height joke here) when it comes to sharing ALL of God's word. But it's a delicate thing to share all of God's love and word with folks who might not always understand what I say, and I surely do not want to take advantage of someone to wear some Christian badge of honor for sharing the faith on my chest (...now serving number...). So, I trust God!

I don't have a special needs child but, I teach them (and others) for 180 days a year, so I have an idea as to "special things." I also have a physical disability that is easily seen, and whether I want to always admit it or not affects why and how I do things. So..., I trust God! I speak to everyone the same way, and let God handle the fallout, always. Just like the devotion from Thursday, I trust that because he already won our salvation which we can all claim through the STP prayer (Sorry I've sinned, Thank you for dying for me Jesus, Please have your Holy Spirit come into my heart forever,) it is really all about how God will share Himself with everyone. So I don't like to hold back anything from anyone. God hasn't. He gave us this wonderful place to live, (and we screw it up), He gave us a plan to fix our mistakes through Jesus, (and some choose to screw that up), He gave us the best selling book every year for all time to help us when we need help and answer our prayers, (and we don't always go to it, and screw that up too). To me, life is really not that difficult, (but we often screw that up)..., trust God.

Whatever your situation, stop and think about why God would have you there. If it's a great place to be, thank God. If it's not, thank God, and learn from it. Through it all; read alittle of His word daily, and trust God. He already won the way for us to be with Him for eternity if you choose the won way which is Jesus. We learned in our devotion that the bible says, "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12). Jesus is not the "best" way, (as said in a very popular book out recently; about a shed where this man comes to grips with the loss of his daughter - page 109 or 110). He is the only way for everyone. We are all included because God doesn't hold back. Doesn't that make you want to shout and yell out loud for joy?!?! I know I do.

Circle of Friends...A Look Back

A year or three ago, Circle of Friends took a look back..., here is a link to the video. Sorry Mac users. You need to be a 'BM'er to download the video for now. Enjoy COF's "A Look Back."

www.movielocker.com/2546

Thankfully Respect the Unexpected

I had a weird dream. It is always hard to describe everything in a dream but here are the highlights: My older brother and I were in a dark Navy-gray parking garage trying to find our car, and we just got in a cage-like elevator when my brother knelt down to tie his shoe. As he was tying, the cage door started to close and a man arrived trying to get on the elevator too. We stuck our arms out to hold the doors open and he climbed aboard. He was yammering on about us being in his way, and he was obviously a bit wrinkled by it. He said something about Jesus and him being Christian, and as he stepped on the elevator I could see some form of a soldier/crewman's uniform which he was wearing. In my dream it looked more like a dark jump-suit with Boy Scout badges all over it, and a shiny compass was pinned to his chest. He had done a lot based on all the badges, but the compass told me something about him knowing where he was going, or not. He was still spouting off about expecting but not getting any respect, and based on his tone, it sounded like he believed he never did..., from anyone. When he finished I spoke to him. Which is strange because I usually ignore folks that don't respect the unexpected like this..., it makes life easier.

I asked him if he knew what it was like to have a child who didn't have the memory to know and recognize that he was his father. He said, "no." I went on to ask him if he knew anything about hanging out with people with special needs, and what life like that could be like, in any way shape or form. He said, "no." I went on about other things of which he had no clue because it was not part of his expected lifestyle. I mentioned that just because his life isn't what he expected and that someone might be an obstacle in his way, tying their shoe while he was trying to get on an elevator is not a testament or judgement against him or all he has ever done, or where he was headed. Some things just happen. This levelled the playing field. Quickly we both began to get waterfalls around our eyes. He because someone took the time to address him and his venting; me because I actually had the guts to speak up to someone who was reacting unreasonably to something that just happened exactly like the bumper sticker from the 70's said. I asked him if we could pray and we began to studder through together, weeping...then I woke up.

Thursday night at Circle of Friends was a bit like my dream. Jeff called early in the day and told me he was sick and couldn't make it. Jeff and I are beginning to "do" the devotions together again. I prayed he would join me in presenting God's word to our group, and I was thrilled when he and I were together again a few weeks ago for the first time in years. We have a balance of silly and serious, one of us is Dean and the other Jerry, one Abbott, the other Costello, one Spongebob, the other Patrick. It has worked in Hollywood for years, and it does at Circle of Friends too. I was sad that Dean/Bud/Spongebob was ill and couldn't make it. I reassured him that it'd be O.K., and that he would be missed, but everyone needs their rest from time-to-time.

Rick called earlier in the week to let me know I needed to drive the van, and after I picked up the group and got to Forest Hill, our night of "Thanksgiving Worship" and "Joyful Noise" began. I was ready for the devotion of the evening. It was, I thought, perfectly timed. We had had the "Fire and Brimstone," devotion, and we were leading up to tonight's "Jesus Died and Rose Again, So What?" devotion. It was perfectly set-up with our Thanksgiving time. Dave even mentioned in the opening prayer how the saving message of Christ's death and resurrection was what we should be most thankful for...eternal life. PERFECT TIMING! Thank you God! With or without Jeff, I was excited to present the word that explains this to our group. I should have seen with Rick and Jeff's calls that my expected evening would not go as I planned.

Unexpected #1 - I don't care to drive the bus. I mentioned that to Phil before. I'm a small guy and have a tough time seeing over the dashboard of that monster (I almost need to stand to drive,) let alone steer this leviathon around south Charlotte. I will drive it, but I am still working on doing it with a joyful heart. Unexpected #2 - Jeff's sick, I go it alone..., come-on man, just when I thought things were developing wonderfully well! Well, O.K.

Unexpected #3 - The evening starts as planned and everyone is singing and worshipping together. I know that the schedule is going to be a bit off as we have our friends come up to sing with the band during a "Joyful Noise" night. This takes time. Kathy also planned to read notes that our group wrote about things that they were/are thankful for. This takes time too. "Thanksgiving Worship" and "Joyful Noise" night together, as stated before. It began as a lovely blend of singing and thanks. I was sitting with Jim who was operating the Powerpoint stuff, as I was monitoring the various microphone volumes for a smooth more joyful sound for everyone not singing.

I felt that the time was nearing for the devotion so I took off my shoes and socks, and said a short prayer to get ready. (Remember..."holy ground." I know, I know..., crazy.) Everyone kept singing, and Kathy read more notes of thanks. So I put my socks and shoes back on, and waited. Some time went by and I felt that I should be ready again, so I took off my shoes and socks, and said a short prayer again. Songs and thanks kept coming, endlessly. Needless to say, I picked up my socks and shoes, and put them back on, again. This happened a few times that night until Kathy stopped and looked over to me as if to ask "What's next?" I was geeked-up to jump right up there and rattle off that devotion, I could nearly burst, from my excitment. God's perfect message perfectly timed, how thankful we'd all be I thought. But, it was time for refreshments. Dave just mentioned to me what I already knew; our crowd had been sitting for a long time, and it was time for refreshments. I half-heartedly said/yelled to Kathy (who was standing at the microphone with 325+ folks waiting), "time for a management decision!" She didn't answer. I called back, "Let's do refreshments and snack!"

At that moment, I respected the unexpected - joyfully. I put myself in any place but first. That doesn't always happen. At least not if I have anything to say or do about it. But, when you are standing with your shoes off on holy ground to say His words to a few hundred people every week, I believe you better act like your shoes are off always. I was following my compass the right way, and was not in a dark gray place, like the dream. Maybe the night and the devotion I was so juiced up to deliver was not perfectly timed, according to me?!?! Maybe (as always) it will be timed perfectly according to the One who wrote it. When Kathy and Dave were kindly apologizing for the mixed-up timing regarding the devotion, I was already past it. That was one great gift I was given that night. Another was a quote from J.C. on this sheet he gave me with a boat-load of Thanksgiving poems, quotes, and jokes. Someone once said something like, "It is not the words we use to say thanks for the gifts we've been given, but the way we use our gifts that shows our thanks." (Forgive me for not remembering the person, or the exact quote.) Thanks be to God for giving me the gift of respecting the unexpected this week. It is His expectations I truly want to fulfill anyhow. I pray we all have this to be thankful for.

I Will Change Your Name

This has been on my mind all week. I haven't slept well, work has been rough, the snacks in my kitchen don't do it for me, bills keep coming, I need a shower, I really need to redo some of the things I just finished 'cause they're not exactly right, too many things still need to be done. On top of all this, I'm dealing with a short deck. (Insert your own height joke here.) We all have "special needs" and only you know yours, like I know mine. Life is wonderful in Christ, yet hard and hurtful at the same time. Some days I wish my name wasn't my name so someone else would have to do the things I have to do. They're not bad things, I don't mind doing them...I'd just like a breather, and a full deck. Don't get me wrong...I truly am living a blessed fulfilling life (at times), but I am so looking forward to this promise from Him! (At least I have Circle of Friends tonight!) Do YOU ever want to change your name?

Dust Part 1

These pictures began the chalk talk...

To Dust You Shall Return

A Chalk Talk happened Thursday... I am always amazed by the wonder of watching an artist work. In a chalk talk evening an artist expresses how God has touched our lives with a canvas, and some dust in a tube. In Ephesians it says that our battles are not of the flesh, but of the spirit, and that we should be aware of this. In a chalk talk, the wonder of Adonai is demonstrated as the light/spirit changes and the beauty of our Creator is shown. Chris and Kathy have been coming and sharing this with their Chalk Talk for years. They always bring something "home" for everyone at COF. Wednesday was Veteran's Day and on Thursday Chris and Kathy came drawing the agape gift that our soldiers have given us here in the United States of America; unconditional love and sacrifice,...words can never express. ( I pray the pictures do.)

Whether you agree with war or not (it happens,) it is hard to argue that our soldiers have always given all for us. Jesus did likewise. He was either right, wrong, or crazy, but he gave everything for us. You have to read and decide. Read the Bible and what He said and think for yourself. The Bible has never been proven wrong. As time moves on it is proven more and more right. (I don't know how or why anyone would care about proving a faith though; either you believe or you don't.) As you read you will be moved either way, like grasping what our veterans have done for us. They have given their lives as Jesus gave his. Read the Bible. When you're finished I can guarantee one thing: you will understand that you are no more than dust. One day you will return to that same state. How are you living with the dust you have been given?