The 'E' Word

It is interesting and hopeful to note the NEW emphasis on evangelism that is prominent on most PCUSA churches’ websites, on the denomination’s website and on personal blogs dotting the net landscape.

It’s interesting because for decades the denomination talked a good bit about the E word, but did little or nothing to pursue the call to introduce non-believers to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

The new emphasis on evangelism, mission and new church development only appeared when the money at the higher judicatories began to dry up and the membership numbers of the denomination began to plummet. (We’ve lost more than 2,000,000 members in the last few decades!)

While many local churches stayed faithful to the primary call of the church (evangelism), the national church talked evangelism but never walked the talk. Social action was the by-word of the denomination. (I’m for social action! My 45 years in ministry, my congregations will attest, always called my various parishes to address the needs of the poor, the outcast, and the injustice suffered by many. I didn’t march in the streets of Mississippi in the racially torn sixties for my health!)

When local churches began to withhold contributions to the national church and membership numbers began to fall off the cliff, slowly but surely the national leaders began to pay attention.

But the real evangelism is being pursued at the local levels, not at the higher courts of the denomination. Though national leaders now speak often of evangelism and missional objectives, they continue to push many radical social agendas (gay ordination, gay marriage, abortion, anti-military, etc.) which will continue to impact the ‘giving’ from local churches and will continue to contribute to declining membership numbers.

But the renewed focus on evangelism in the local churches is wonderfully encouraging. The denomination may not survive for more than a few more decades, but the vibrant local churches centered on Christ will be blessed.

The Bible in 90 Days

In my nearly 45 years as an ordained Presbyterian minister, I read all of the Bible at one time or the other, different portions of Scripture at different times. But I do not recall reading the Bible from cover to cover, from Genesis to Revelation, without skipping. Oh, I started that discipline many times, but as I recall, I never completed reading the entire Bible from cover to cover in a specified time frame.

Last Fall Helen joined Covenant Presbyterian Church in Boise, Idaho. We worship there together most Sundays when we are in the Boise/Nampa area as we usually are August 1 until January 1 (this year we may stay longer than January 1). Covenant is a wonderful congregation, full of loving, gracious people, a testimony to their faithful discipleship and to their outstanding pastor/preacher, Phil Moran, and his wife, Charla.

Recently Covenant introduced a reading program called “The Bible in Ninety Days”. The program consists, not only of reading the Bible every day for 90 days (and thus completing reading the Bible from cover to cover); there are also discussion classes and videos to undergird the program. The leadership of Covenant Presbyterian is asking each member to seriously consider 'Reading The Bible in 90 Days'. You do not have to attend a class to participate in this program.

Helen and I signed up for ‘The Bible in 90 Days’ and began last week our reading the Bible from cover to cover in the three month period. There is a printed schedule to guide you in completing the reading. Usually you are required to read about 12 chapters a day. Helen reads her chapters at various times of the day because she is usually helping with the grandchildren at odd hours. I am usually reading my 12 chapters in the evening, though I did read mine this afternoon while waiting for a friend to come visit.

The bottom line of this musing is this: though I have read the Bible for decades, studied it in schools and in preparation for sermons and Bible studies I led, I’ve discovered a new joy and inspiration from reading daily right through the Bible. I’m seeing stories I don’t remember. I'm seeing characters I don’t remember. I’m reading chronologies I don’t recall. Best of all, I am hearing God speak through his Word in a new and fresh way. And I’m understanding ‘stuff’ I did not understand before, or had not stopped long enough to consider.

So, I’m encouraging you to check it out. You can begin the reading any day, even today! Use any translation you wish, though it is recommended that you use the NIV. I do believe you will be blessed as I and Helen are being blessed. Here’s the link: www.biblein90days.org

In the Middle of a Field, and ...

He is 78 years of age. He lives in a Montana 5th wheel RV across the street from us at Ambassador RV Resort. We've never spoken, though we've waved hello many times durin the month of August that we've been parked at Ambassador RV Resort. Today, in late afternoon, he walked over and introduced himself to me. In the course of a two hour conversation, he told me of his conversion experience.

He was nine years old and plowing his father's many acres, preparing the field for a crop of corn. Nine, and plowing with a big John Deere tractor! In the middle of the field, for reasons he cannot now recall, he stopped the tractor, kneeled down between rows and gave his heart to Jesus. He said, "I asked Jesus to come into my heart and I gave Jesus my life."

Later he said, "Denominations don't matter to me. Jesus Christ is all that matters." Thanks be to God for what he did in Eddie's life. He's going through some tough times right now, so I ask for prayers for Eddie, my new friend.

AND, there is Don, a friend down our row in a 5th wheel who nursed his wife for seven years with Hodgens Disease, refusing to put her in a nursing home and cared for her 24/7 for those seven years. Now that she's gone, he is terribly lonely and fighting depression. So, I ask for prayers for Don, also.

How We Celebrated 48 Years!

It was a very hot August day in Atlanta in 1962 when we married.

It was a very hot August day in Idaho when we celebrated our 48th anniversary on August 25, 2010.

Many,many miles and alot of water has gone under the bridge.

Three children, seven beautiful grandchildren, six church parishes', one child's death, one house fire and many, many different homes.

Larry asked me if I would like to go to the Olive Garden for dinner and I really could not make up my mind.

When he came in the RV and said "Let's grill here at home, it seemed just right."

As is our custom now, about 5:30 p.m., we took a swim in our heated salt water pool here at the RV park. We always end up in the hot tub.

The dinner menu consisted of roses from our daughter's garden, grilled salmon with sour cream and dill sauce, steamed broccoli with lemon butter, sauteed mushrooms/onions in olive oil and butter, marinated fresh tomatoes from a teacher friends garden. The homemade french bread was from the Nampa fresh produce market. We topped it off with wine from the Sawtooth winery here in the Treasure Valley. The Sawtooth mountains surround us here in America's Alps. They are beautiful.

AND, Larry had written on FB of our anniversary and great notes came from friends all over the U.S. Hugs came from the Chesapeake Bay! Our friends Donna and Manning managed to get a card to us on the "day of" toasting us with champagne glasses. A toast from Alpine, Texas.

We gave each other homemade cards.

It was a great celebration and well worth waiting for for 48 years.

God has richly blessed us for 48 years!

He Nailed It!

Our pastor at Covenant Presbyterian in Boise, Phil Moran, preached a powerful sermon Sunday that drove home the point of Psalm 8. I was 'fed spiritually' and needed it. We took Phil and Charla to lunch following worship and I told him, "You really nailed that sermon!" It is so good to hear biblically grounded sermons presented so skillfully and clearly and with real passion. Hope your Sunday message was as meaningful as ours.

Surrounded by New Interesting and Compassionaste Friends

I've got some very interesting neighbors here in Idaho @ our RV Resort. They include a professional bullrider (see old post about him), a Vietnam sniper, and an atheist. Interestingly enough, the atheist is one of the most Christ-like and compassion, honest persons I've ever met! He's become a great friend and we have many good and grace-filled discussions. The bullrider yesterday gave me his remaining rodeo item, a jacket embrazned with "Professional Bullrider". Now, all I have to do is find a mechanical bull in a mall and ride him, thus allowing me to wear the jacket! (lol). The Sniper talks only in very guarded terms of his sniper missions, understandably so. Life is an everyday surprise on the road, and I'm thankful to God.

Surprise re New Neighbor!

Today I spent the latter part of the afternoon talking with my new neighbor/friend and discovered to my surprise that he was a professional BULLRIDER!!! What an interesting conversation as he related to me the inside scoop about bullriding. His last ride was upon BACKSTABBER, a ferocious bull with a 'reputation'. A bullrider seeks to stay on his bull for 8 seconds. Stephen lasted 6 second before the bull reared his head and butted Stephen in the face, resulting in breaking every bone in his face to the extent that his face was sagging off his head! He survived, obviously, but it was his last ride (at the insistence of his wife, of course.)