Beantown Bonanza

Sometimes things just can't seem to go wrong. Take Boston, for example.

Last night the Red Sox put the broom away after taking the Rockies to school in the Fall Classic. (Wouldn't a Red Sox/Cubs series have been great? Fenway and Wrigley...) That's series MVP Mike Lowell taking a cut to the left.

And their NFL behemoth, the Patriots gave my Redskins their worst whipping since 1961. They seem unbeatable.

Top it off with Boston College's #2 ranking in NCAA Div. I, and there's more excitement in New England than they've had since tea was dumped in the harbor.

Some people just seem to always get the corner piece of the cake.

Sunday Flashback

It was good to be back home today!

We began both our gatherings with baby dedications. Eight in all! Wow. We've had a population explosion. But it is indicative of who our church is reaching as well.

A lady from out of town made the comment to me about how she has been coming to Nags Head Church for years while on vacation and is thrilled about the transformation she has seen over the years. A minute later another vacationing guest commented on how she wished we had sung "the old hymns". Her friend reminded her that we had just sung "I Stand Amazed". I guess "older" is relative, because she said that song wasn't "old enough". You have to smile.

Today the church got to see the new paint job in the nursery/pre-school hall. It's fantastic! The kids have to love it.

Today I talked about mission, challenging the church to engage our culture where they are and be agents of reconciliation. Next Sunday we're doing a missionary commissioning for the whole church, and I've asked them to come to church dressed as they do at work. It should be fun!

Another super job today by our band and tech team. We could sing The Revelation Song and I Stand Amazed every Sunday and I'd love it.

I'm headed out the door for our CREST meeting tonight, looking forward to hearing what God's doing through our church and to casting a little vision stuff as well.

Will the Red Sox put it away tonight? I wouldn't be surprised.
Thanks to God for the rain! The winter rye is coming up and the lawn at church is looking green for a change.

Happy Birthday Gail!

After a week away (to where the wind comes sweeping down the plains) Gail and I got up early - 5AM for her is still like yesterday - caught a 7:30 flight and headed home. What a way for her to start her birthday.
But, how many women (outside of GA) can say that for her birthday her husband took her to Atlanta for lunch?
So...we had a two hour layover in the Atlanta airport. She got a burger and fries.
It's true what they say. Love knows no bounds.

Memorial Service In OK City

I was part of a corps of 150 fire chaplains marching behind a drum and bagpipe corps under crossed ladders into the Methodist church across the street from the Oklahoma City Memorial (Murrah bombing site) for a memorial service tonight. Remembered were fire chaplains who had died in the last year and all LODD firefighters from the US and Canada, with each name being read aloud.

Afterward we walked across the street to again spend time at the Memorial, which is beautiful at night with its reflecting pool, arches and lit markers for each life lost.

Prior to the service we were treated to Oklahoma barbecue at OKCFD Station 1. It was good, but I refrained from telling them they "ain't ate barbecue until they've ate barbecue" from eastern NC. I didn't want to hurt their feelings. It was my random act of kindness for the day. Being with all these chaplains brings out the merciful side of me.

More from Oklahoma City

Today's highlight was our visit to the Oklahoma City National Memorial at the site of the Murrah Building, destroyed by a terrorist bomb in 1995. Going through the museum (and they've done an incredible job there) gave me the same kind of feeling in the pit of my stomach that I felt going through the Holocaust Museum in DC. Remember the kids who died in the day care center? If you ever come to OKC, you need to block off a couple hours to see the museum.

I'm also watching the wild fires in Southern California on the news. Being with 150 other fire chaplains makes it that much more of a concern, esp. for the men and women fighting those fires. Everyone of us wants to get out there and help somehow. As of tonight there are 500 homes lost just in San Diego Co., with 250k people evacuated.

Sad day today.

Sunday Flashback

Since I'm in Oklahoma City today, I can't review today at Nags Head Church. But I've heard from a couple of people that it went really well. I love our church, and being able to be away knowing that things are well taken care of there. It wasn't always that way. But God has given us great leadership in our church.

Thanks Nate for putting together a "fun, different" worship time.

Meanwhile, here at the Federation of Fire Chaplains annual conference I've finished two days and 16 hours of classroom instruction. Brain overload! The convention actually begins tomorrow, with a trip to the Murrah Building included in the day. Gail's stayed busy shopping and seeing some sites.

She got to attend lifechurch.tv today, and really enjoyed it. I attended the worship service here at the hotel with the conference. I wish I could have gone with her. 'Nuff said.

We're about to get hammered by an Oklahoma thunder/lightning/hail storm. The wind is howling! Where's the storm shelter in this place?

OKie dokie

After waking up at 2:30AM and leaving for the airport at 3:00, Gail and I arrived in Oklahoma City a little after 10AM Okie time. We picked up our rental car - a yellow (her choice) little chevy of some kind with no frills - and headed toward the metropolis of Hugo, OK. First, however we needed food, and found a good spot at the Santa Fe Steak or something like that, just outside Tinker AFB. Very similar to a Logans Roadhouse, if you're familiar with that.

The 3 hour trip to Hugo, where my parents and brother/family reside, was a vivid reminder that Oklahoma was Indian Territory before statehood 100 years ago. (It's their centennial year.) It also reminded me, as I saw signs with familar names, of the time we spent ministering in Tulsa in 1978-1980. Lots of short trees out here!

This is our first visit here in several years, and the first time to visit my parents in their current home. It's very comfortable. Mom had a great supper prepared and we enjoyed the evening talking.

I'm up at 5AM (my internal clock says it's 6:00), so before everyone else rises I'm doing a little work. Mark, Debbie and nephews and niece arrive later for a visit. Then this evening we drive back to OKC where I'll be taking classes through Wednesday.

I may have to pick up a cowboy hat while I'm here. You're doing fine, Oklahoma. OK. (It's a nice place to visit, if you know what I mean.)

Liberated!

I don't stay really close with the hot topics within our denomination. That's my choice. I've got enough to be concerned with pastoring a local church than to be overwhelmed by denominational politics.

But occasionally I do read up on what's happening here in my state. And right now it appears that the state WMU (Women's Missionary Union) is cutting ties with the state convention. It seems they don't like the direction or the leadership or something or other. So the ladies have chosen to secede and be free from their historical ties.

I wonder if they're all burning their bras, too? Fire up the old Helen Reddy anthem.

Good grief!

I heard today a sadly familiar story. A professing believer in Jesus, when confronted lovingly by a concerned Christian family member about the moral wrong, bibilical prohibition and potential damage of a lifestyle decision replied, "That's what you believe, but...(I'm going to live how I want to live).

I'm grieving over this. Partly because of her rebellion; partly because she wants no relationship with a church family although she has "trusted Jesus as her Savior"; partly because the dysfunction of her upbringing didn't teach her any differently. Mostly because it hurts to see her choose a way of life in opposition to what God would have her live.

As I was thinking of my own grief I was reminded by a still small voice that He grieves, too. In the middle of a discussion about all the bad stuff of life we've been freed from by Christ, Paul instructed the Ephesian believers, "And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live."

If our rebellion causes God sorrow and grief, I wonder if He ever has a tearless day?

Sunday Flashback

After a great lunch with family, I got home to turn on the TV and catch the remaining quarter and a half of the Skins' game. They were leading 17-14. But as it turns out, I would have enjoyed watching golf or bowling more.

Today was our first real "fall" day. Great cool sunny weather. Have you noticed how almost perfect weather makes everyone a bit cheerier? Smiles everywhere at church.

I got to meet more new people, which is always fun. Hanging out in our spacious lobby with a cup of coffee and just talking to guests is one reason I love this new building. We ran into one first time guest at the restaurant. When she saw us she did nothing but rave over her experience in our worship gathering. What perked my ears was her comment about how "genuinely friendly" everyone was. Apparently she's been church shopping, and "believe it or not, not every church is friendly." I wonder why that is.

Two of our Trunk or Treat video ads were shown today. They're a hoot. Great job!!

Amazing worship once again. Chad is stepping up more every Sunday, getting ready for a larger role in leadership once Nathan has to be gone for Tricia's transplant. It's great how the songs tie in so well with the message.

I got a new stool to sit on while I teach. It's super-comfy. Kinda retro looking. At my age I need all the help I can get.

The kids in Kidmo were outrageous today. I don't know if they're having that much fun or eating too many doughnuts when they get to church! And the ladies in the baby nursery said they had TEN babies during the second gathering. Great job, Faith and Bari!! All these kids is a good sign that we're reaching our target. We've gotta get that upstairs finished off for them.

I gave out an assignment to everyone to find someone who had served them this morning and encourage him/her/them with a few words of thanks. I'd love to hear from anyone who got a word of encouragement or who gave one out.

I'm going to miss it next Sunday. I'll be in OK City for the Federation of Fire Chaplains convention, thanks to the town of Nags Head. Lots of classes. But it will be a good getaway for Gail and I. She's already said, "I may have to go shopping".