I am responding to the many questions about my “retirement.” Please allow me to clarify, again, I am not retired. Pat and I are simply discovering a new way to give away the balance of our lives in ministry.
The challenges of change during the first two months “a new way to do ministry” are daunting. I list a few things Pat and I speak about, or I muse over.
• The rhythms of over 40 years of pastoral-church planting are being reshaped, and we are uncertain what our life’s cadence will be in the future. I still awaken very early, read, pray, and plan the day, but the appointments and phone calls are fewer and Pat’s doctor appointments are more frequent. We are looking for a new routine.
• Shuttling between two homes is disorienting. Please pray that our home in Philadelphia sells soon. Our Philadelphia home has three beds and four sofas, but our new home has none! We finally broke down and purchased another whole personal grooming kit this week so we don’t have to shlep dozens of toilet articles.
• Making new friends is fun! It always has been, and we are discovering that our newest friends are as generous and caring as those with whom we have shared life for decades. And, old friends and we are discovering new expressions in long-standing relationships.
• As each week passes, we have a greater measure of peace that we have rightly followed Jesus in this season of change. In brief, we have no regrets. Peace is priceless!
• After a few Sundays off in January, I have preached every Sunday in February and in the next few weeks we will be speaking in churches in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin.
And, there is so much to which to look forward. Pat and I are –
• Dreaming about how we might use our new home to minister to others. We will be living less than 6 miles to the Atlantic and Delaware Bay. We’d love to share the beauty of the shore and offer a change of pace from city life with others.
• The Lord has given me a dream. It is premature to share it in detail, but I have a growing conviction that we’ll be talking about a ministry with world-changing potential, and to our knowledge, nothing quite like it exists. Please pray with us – we are determined to use our time and resources wisely.
Pat’s health is fragile. Thank you for asking, thank you for praying.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
February 16, 2011
E-Bulletin
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
In the early 1990's I was the pulpit guest at the North Central University chapel. The morning became unforgettable as it unfolded. Our son, Jonathan, had starred the night before in a basketball game between the host university and our alma mater, Central Bible College had beaten the host team soundly. I was introduced as Jonathan’s father and the student body of knowledgeable sports fans welcomed me half-heartedly.
But, even more memorably, in the service a faculty member announced that an official of the Assemblies of God in Egypt had been martyred. The student body prayed for the fallen minister’s family, especially for the next of kin who succeeded the martyr. And, an explanation was made that two or three more successors were in line because the believers expected that their leaders would be either martyred or imprisoned for long periods.
As I awaited my moment in the pulpit, I remember thinking, “What can I say that is of any importance against the backdrop of this announcement?” All of that came back to mind as the Egyptian people orchestrated the deposing of their national leader recently. Pundits are convinced that the overthrow of Egypt’s national leader could not have happened without social networking technology not yet in place in the 90's. And, the phenomenon is spreading. Watch TV news and read newspapers. Oppressors are being threatened by masses gathering in public places demanding change.
What ought we to learn?
• Technology is changing the way we live more than we realize. Shouldn’t we observe and measure its impact on us. How much time are we spending communicating digitally? Are digital communiques equal to face-to-face, eye-to-eye, and heart-to-heart conversation? Are we emboldened to join and opine anonymously when we lack courage to do the same in person?
• We ought to use every tool in proclaiming truth which is absolute and constant. No matter how many times the Word of God is contradicted – often at the speed of digital light – its truth must be proclaimed. Sing Psalm 119 in your soul and allow its lyrics to penetrate every crevice of your being.
Global University is making great use of the media, and I am sure the innovators there are only scratching the surface.
Because of our changing role, this will be one of the last E-Bulletins in this format. You may continue to receive periodic messages by asking to be placed on the new list forming. Just click the “reply button” and we’ll include you. Or visit our new blog at http://www.blogger.com/home?pli=1.
The blog will not tell you where we went shopping or ate for breakfast, but will attempt to provoke thought and stimulate to conversation among Jesus’ disciples. Pat and I will look forward to hearing from you!
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
In the early 1990's I was the pulpit guest at the North Central University chapel. The morning became unforgettable as it unfolded. Our son, Jonathan, had starred the night before in a basketball game between the host university and our alma mater, Central Bible College had beaten the host team soundly. I was introduced as Jonathan’s father and the student body of knowledgeable sports fans welcomed me half-heartedly.
But, even more memorably, in the service a faculty member announced that an official of the Assemblies of God in Egypt had been martyred. The student body prayed for the fallen minister’s family, especially for the next of kin who succeeded the martyr. And, an explanation was made that two or three more successors were in line because the believers expected that their leaders would be either martyred or imprisoned for long periods.
As I awaited my moment in the pulpit, I remember thinking, “What can I say that is of any importance against the backdrop of this announcement?” All of that came back to mind as the Egyptian people orchestrated the deposing of their national leader recently. Pundits are convinced that the overthrow of Egypt’s national leader could not have happened without social networking technology not yet in place in the 90's. And, the phenomenon is spreading. Watch TV news and read newspapers. Oppressors are being threatened by masses gathering in public places demanding change.
What ought we to learn?
• Technology is changing the way we live more than we realize. Shouldn’t we observe and measure its impact on us. How much time are we spending communicating digitally? Are digital communiques equal to face-to-face, eye-to-eye, and heart-to-heart conversation? Are we emboldened to join and opine anonymously when we lack courage to do the same in person?
• We ought to use every tool in proclaiming truth which is absolute and constant. No matter how many times the Word of God is contradicted – often at the speed of digital light – its truth must be proclaimed. Sing Psalm 119 in your soul and allow its lyrics to penetrate every crevice of your being.
Global University is making great use of the media, and I am sure the innovators there are only scratching the surface.
Because of our changing role, this will be one of the last E-Bulletins in this format. You may continue to receive periodic messages by asking to be placed on the new list forming. Just click the “reply button” and we’ll include you. Or visit our new blog at http://www.blogger.com/home?pli=1.
The blog will not tell you where we went shopping or ate for breakfast, but will attempt to provoke thought and stimulate to conversation among Jesus’ disciples. Pat and I will look forward to hearing from you!
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