Friday, November 29, 2013

Little Graces, part II

A few weeks ago we received a call at the church office. A woman who attends the church had a three year old nephew who nearly drowned 36 hours before and was in the hospital on life support. Things were not looking good for the little boy I'll call Billy (not his real name). She was wanting a pastor to go to the hospital and pray for little Billy.

I took an intern, Jason, along with me. We prepared ourselves, as much as possible, for what would probably be the most difficult hospital visit we would ever make. We sat in my truck praying for the Lord to have mercy on Billy and his family. We prayed for the Lord to give us His strength. We prayed for the Lord to be glorified through us as we tried to minister to a hurting family who had no relationship with God. Then we drove to the hospital knowing God was going to use us...somehow.

We walked into the room and saw the lifeless body of this precious little boy surrounded by monitors connected to him by tubes and wires. His mother stood by his side while his father was standing apart, trying to strike a deal with God for the life of his son. The mood was somber as the nurse went about her duties with love and compassion.

We introduced ourselves and let them know we were from the church and who it was that had called us. We asked if it would be okay if we anointed Billy with oil and prayed for him. The father said it couldn't hurt and they were willing to try anything. They were desperate.

Jason pulled out his vial of frankincense scented oil. The room filled with the sweet aroma as we anointed little Billy's head with the oil. We laid our hands on his little body as we prayed for the Lord to restore him to health and that there would be no lasting brain damage.

Nothing special happened. No thunder. No shaking of the hospital building. No chills. Nothing!

Billy's 15 year old brother took me over to show me what some of the monitors we measuring. This is the brother who was watching Billy when he slipped away and found his way outside and into the pool. As he was showing me the line that measured Billy's ventilator activity, Jason bent over Billy and whispered a prayer into his ear while he held the little lifeless hand.

All of a sudden the monitor went from a small jagged zigzag line to a couple of high peaks with very low valleys. Billy was breathing against the ventilator!

Jason started shouting! I looked over to see Billy's eyes open and he was focusing on all that was going on around him. He was squeezing Jason's finger. Billy's mother started crying as his father ran out of the room to go tell the rest of the family gathered in the waiting room.

It only lasted for a few seconds but it happened. Hope was renewed. Billy had a chance.

I went to visit Billy the next day to see a marked improvement. Billy had to be sedated to keep from pulling at the tubes and wires. The nurse was preparing him for an MRI to see what kind of brain damage he would have.

Billy's father called me on Sunday morning to tell me they had taken Billy off all life support on Saturday evening. Billy was awake and alert. He recognized everyone and was asking to eat his fathers burrito. There were no visible signs of brain damage from observing him and the MRI was unable to show any areas of his brain that appeared to be damaged in any way.

PRAISE GOD!!!

God is so good! He has chosen to show Himself strong on Billy's behalf and glorifying Himself by raising little Billy up. I praise Him for letting Jason and myself to be a part of His work. In the business of ministry life God chooses to bestow little graces like this on me. It is not that I am a healer; I had one day where I prayed for three men and all three of them died the following day. No, there is no power in my prayer, there is only power in the risen Savior, Jesus Christ.

He just invites me along for the ride.

Friday, October 25, 2013

The Next Milepost

It has been quite a journey. A journey which has taken me to the other side of the earth. A journey that traces its roots to a small town in Iowa about 13 years ago. I was a cross country truck driver waiting for my trailer to be loaded for a trip back home to Phoenix. The snow laid heavy all around me for the second day and I was stuck in my truck engaged in a knock down drag out fight with God.


God had been bugging me for a while about going into full time ministry. He was calling me to be a preacher, or a pastor, or something like that. I wanted no part of that. I was horrified of the thought of getting up in front of people and preaching God's Word. I was armed with all my Moses arguments as to why I was not able to do what He was calling me to do. I lifetime of driving a truck was my backside of the wilderness and Marshalltown, Iowa was the location of my burning bush.

As with Moses, God was not going to be denied. He broke my will and I gave in. I knew I could not do this without the Lord by my side, directing my path.

He put people in my life to help guide me along the way. Pastor Randy Southwick had been my friend and mentor up to that point and he helped mentor me afterwards with a different purpose in mind.

This morning we were reminiscing as we recalled how God has brought me up to this weekend. Sunday, October 27, 2013, is the day I pass the next milepost. I am being ordained as a pastor. It is evidence that God has a sense of humor. He has taken a truck driver and made me into a shepherd.

I am humbled that Calvary Community Church would ordain me. God wrestled me with me until I tapped out on that snowy day, 13 years ago, and I couldn't be happier. I love what he has me doing now. He has even given me a love for the people and land of India. As I write this post I am getting ready for the India Fellowship we have every Friday evening and I am planning my second trip to India.














I am a happy and blessed man. Sunday is not the finish line...just the next milepost.

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Little Graces

I am coming off one of the most difficult, no, THE most difficult week I have had since I've been involved in ministry. I received the call that every pastor dreads. The call in the night that sends a pastor running out of the house, half awake, to go be with a wife as she stands by the hospital bed of her husband who was involved in an accident.

About 24 hours later I am with her again, for the third time, as the doctors take her husband off of life support. In just a few more hours he is resting peacefully in the arms of Christ. I drive home, in the middle of the night, alone, weeping. Grieving over what I've just witnessed. Grieving over a young widow, with a severely handicapped son, who is now without the man she loves to help her take care of their son. Grieving over the toll sin requires from each of us. Grieving, because this is just not the way it's supposed to be.

The funeral was requested for just two days later. The family wanted me to perform the memorial; I was just physically and emotionally exhausted. I had nothing left to give. Some of the other pastors lifted the weight from my shoulders and took care of it from there for me. That was one of those little graces.

Little graces are those times when God sends someone or something into your life to show you He cares for you. We have all had them. You may have overlooked them, but He sends them anyway. Have you ever slowed down enough to notice them?

Here are a few of the little graces I've noticed in my life these past few days.

Having fellow pastors to come along side to lift you up when you are weary. Thanks guys. Little graces.

Taking a mid term exam in seminary and earning a D. The professor adjusts my score to a B. Thanks Dr. D. Little graces.

Holding a friends 10 month old son and he doesn't deposit any bodily fluids on me. Thanks Seth. Little graces.

Hearing of real life change happening in the India Fellowship as we grow. Little graces.

Sharing a meal with my bride as we celebrate 33 years of marriage. Thanks Denice. Little graces.

Talking to my daughter on the phone. Thanks Sara. Little graces.

If you sit down and get still with God, He will show you some of the little graces He has sent your way. Try it. You might be surprised and that would be one of those little graces.

Grace and peace to you my friend.
Brian

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

YHWH, I AM

YHWH, I AM



You called me to yourself, YHWH, I AM

To meet you in the Psalms, YHWH, I AM

When you look you will find me, I’m YHWH, I AM

I sought you and found you, You’re YHWH, I AM



I’m a Rock, a Refuge, I’m YHWH, I AM

A Shield and Defender, I’m YHWH, I AM

I’m righteous and holy, I’m YHWH, I AM

I’m the Creator, Sustainer, I’m YHWH, I AM



My eye is on the needy, I’m YHWH, I AM

The widow and orphan, I’m YHWH, I AM

I’m for the lonely and imprisoned, I’m YHWH, I AM

I resist the proud and wicked, I’m YHWH, I AM



You are My Counselor, My Inheritance, You’re YHWH, I AM

My Healer and Deliverer, You’re YHWH, I AM

You’re My Strength and My Fortress, You’re YHWH, I AM

My Righteousness, My Redeemer, You’re YHWH, I AM



You’re My Confidence, My Father, You’re YHWH, I AM

My Lord and My King, You’re YHWH, I AM

You are My Portion, My Glory, You’re YHWH, I AM

My Helper, My Shepherd, You’re YHWH, I AM



You keep me and revive me, You’re YHWH, I AM

You’re upright and majestic, You’re YHWH, I AM

You are pure and kind, You’re YHWH, I AM

You are just and blameless, You’re YHWH, I AM



You are the lifter of my head, You’re YHWH, I AM

You forgive my sins, You’re YHWH, I AM

You lead me and anoint me, You’re YHWH, I AM

You met me and revealed yourself to me, You’re YHWH, I AM


This is my first attempt at poetry. I was assigned to write a poem using what I learned about God from the Psalmist. I do not consider myself a poet but I hope you enjoy my little poem.

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

My Utmost For His Highest

HAPPY NEW YEAR
2013

What is your New Year's resolution? Here are a few resolutions I have never heard verbalized before but it seems as if it just works out in our lives as if we had.

I resolve to:
  • read the Bible less this year.
  • pray less this year.
  • put on another 10 pounds this year.
  • play more video games this year.
  • exercise less this year.
  • spend more time in a drunken stupor this year.
  • smoke more cigarettes this year.
  • watch more television while sitting on the couch ignoring everyone and everything else this year.
Here is the Bible verse I am going to keep in front of me throughout 2013:


Philippians 1:20 (NLT) For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die.  

Oswald Chambers calls it giving My Utmost For His Highest. That is my resolution this new year. I know it will cost me something. It will cost me some extra time snuggled up under the covers in the morning. It will cost me some time watching sports or some meaningless reality TV program. It will cost me my utmost for His Highest.

I am not looking to accomplish great things for Christ this year. I'm looking to deepen my relationship with Christ this year and leave the results to Him. That does not mean I am not attempting to do anything for the cause of the Kingdom of Christ this year, but I just want to be available for Him to do with me as He sees fit.
Oswald Chambers

My heroes are not the guys who sipped from the thimble of mediocrity; they are the men and women who have drunk deep from the chalice of self-discipline. Those who have callouses from spending hours on their knees. People who have scoured the scriptures thirsting for a more intimate relationship with the Lover of their soul. Men who have seen the sick healed, the dead raised, the worshippers of idols turn to the true and living God.

This is the year I start seminary. This is the year I finish the devotional My Utmost For His Highest by Oswald Chambers. This is the year I read the Bible through from cover to cover.

This will cost me My Utmost For His Highest. Will you join me?

Click here for My Utmost For His Highest online.