The Question

The old man knew he was nearing the end of his life,
and he gazed into the unknown territory called death.
The old panicky question screamed in his ear, "Is there anything on the other side?"
All his life he had been scared of death...scared of non-existence.
Teaching and theology about heaven made little impression or sense to him.
He loved life and his family so much that he could not imagine some other kind of "life" without them and without the ordinary yet absolute miracle of earthly existence.
But he knew and loved God for so many years now,
and he had lived the Jesus Way the best he knew how.
God had blessed him and proved to be so very real in so many wonderful ways during his days.
But still, was God really going to be there for him in some real way once again
when his body ceased to be.
And then as he lay sick and exhausted and ready to stop the fight for life
he remembered that which his life with God was really about.
It was about standing before the Boss and Beauty of the Universe and saying,
"Well, what's next God? What project do you have for me? How can I make a difference in the Story?
And so one last time, not really knowing how in the world it could be answered,
the tired and dying child of God quietly spoke in his mind,
"What project is next Lord? How can I make a difference? Use me to further Your Way.
And by the way, please, please help me somehow be with my family
and enjoy a fine spring day as well if you will.
Amen."

A Jesus And A Family Thing

This afternoon Joy and I went to visit my folks.
We go once a week to get groceries, hopefully get them out, and lay some love on them.
Today we sat on the porch enjoying the beautiful spring day.
My dad asked why they couldn't drive anymore. I said the boys decided they were done.
He got mad, but I calmly and firmly explained that it is our time in this cycle of life to call the shots. He seemed to accept this...kind of.
Joy went to buy groceries. How I love this woman. She bought lots of good stuff.
One thing she bought was toenail clippers. I cut my folks toenails.
It is a Jesus thing...this holding a foot and clipping the old and long parental nail.
I have come to realize in the last few weeks that, even though these last two years have been pretty damn hard at times, it has also perhaps held the sweetest moments of our life together.
My mom fell tonight as she was getting dressed.
I heard a boom.
My dad yelled for me.
I rushed back.
My mom laid on the floor.
She had hit her head.
I bent down and picked my mama up to her feet.
She sat in a chair and rested for a while.
Finally, we all went to get pizza at Pizza Hut. It was a blast.
PS MY MOM HAS FALLEN AGAIN. WE HAVE DECIDED IT IS TIME FOR THEM TO BE PLACED AT HERITAGE POINT IN WARREN IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS. PLEASE PRAY FOR A GOOD AND GOD TRANSITION. THANK YOU.

Have a beautiful day!
(Photo by Kevin Schnepp)

No more war
No more war
No more war

No More War
No More War
No More War

NO MORE WAR
NO MORE WAR
NO MORE WAR

And Jesus said,"Blessed are the peacemakers for they are children of God."

One Man

I send my love out to you all this night my bothers and sisters.
I am watching the story of Martin Luther King Jr. on the History Channel.
Talk about giving one's life to further God's Way for the world.
May we all continue on this heritage of MLK, the non-violent prophet
who, along with many brave people, ended segregation, helped secure voting rights for African Americans, took on poverty, and spoke against the Vietnam War almost before anyone else.
He gave his life...just like his dear friend Jesus.
May God grant us strength also to do God's will.
One man, one woman can make one "heaven on earth" of a difference.
God ain't done and
Truth is marching on.
I send my love out to you tonight my brothers and sisters.

Blessed By The Olds

My dad was in the ministry for about 50 years, and he gave a lot of benedictions.
My mom and dad have given this kind of blessing for many years now as the kids drive away.
This was Easter Sunday, and
Joy and I, mom and dad, and David and Rachel all worshiped together.
Getting my folks to church and the experience we had
was all by itself a resurrection.
The one blessing my dad most often gives now is "Shalom!"
So Shalom to you my friends, and
may God grant you Peace and Wholeness.
Yes!