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I spend enough time on the road to know that I usually forget something when I pack. Limited luggage space and the need to quickly maneuver necessitates limited choices. There’s usually very little leeway to bring extras ”just in case.”
My problem of forgetting things has led me to try a number of different memory enhancers. There is a green tea with ginko additives that promises memory improvement. But, I usually forget to drink the tea before I started packing for a trip.
Of course there is the tried and true tie-a-piece of colorful yarn around your finger. There are several downsides to this method. First, it’s tough to tie something to your finger when you need both hands to do the tying. Then, usually it’s tied so poorly that it falls off and you never remember having put it on in the first place. Finally, on the slim chance that you successfully tie it on, you have to remember why it’s there.
Maybe one of the more successful memory aids is making a check list. Pilots use this method before they fly. Firefighters do their inventory this way. They never answer an emergency call without everything that they need. Quartermasters are infamous for their checklists in preparation for battle. Few wars are won without supplies.
My problem with this list method is multi-faceted. Usually, I misplace the list. It is discovered AFTER I return from the trip. Second, if I have the list I assume that I will pack an item LATER but forget to do it. Third, I often forget to ADD something to the list that I really need to take.
Now, I have upgraded my checklist technique from paper to electronic. It’s in a file on my computer. Yeah, I know it only took me a couple of tries to remember where I had filed it. Once I found it I did remember that the search feature would have taken me right to it. But, where’s the adventure in that? That would be like stopping at a gas station to ask for directions when I might be lost.
For my motorcycle trip this year, the electronic check list was a marvel. It jogged my memory several times on stuff that I needed to bring. Now that I’m on the trip I remember two things that I forgot to bring. I’m trying to remember if they were even on the list.
On Wednesday the sun was shining in Michigan. Outside the air was fresh and warm. From a meteorological perspective it was a wonderful day. But, the weather isn’t the only barometer to evaluate a day. While the weather was great, it turned out to be a very sad day.
Tuesday I answered my cell phone. My friend’s name had popped up on the screen and I was delighted to answer the call. Immediately, I was teasing him. I love his laughter. It is deep and raucous and expresses his joyful heart.
You’d spot my friend any where. He sports a smile that emerges from a heart that is devoted to the Lord, his wife, family and friends. We have had some great times of fellowship together.
His call alerted me. His normal cheer was not present. I could tell that this was going to be a serious call.
With a halting voice he told me the sad tale of one of his grown children. A bad choice of friends had led this young life into clash with the law. The preliminary trial was Wednesday. I rearranged my schedule. For him I wanted to be in court to support a friend.
Walking into the courthouse wasn’t a new experience for me. I have been there before to support friends who were carrying a heavy burden. It’s one of those times where there’s more value to being present than to be saying a lot.
This courtroom had that all-too-familiar atmosphere. There is a detachment between the officials and the hurting people. It’s no one’s fault. There is no malice in this world of the judicial process. I would imagine that a certain business like sense is the only way a person can keep their sanity as arraignment after arraignment passes before the bench.
Finally, my friend’s child’s case came up. Officers escorted this young life into the center of the court. An attorney spoke first. He was asking the judge for a reduction of the bond so that the hardworking family could make bail. His case was compelling.
Then, the Judge asked for the District Attorney’s office to respond. His case was also compelling. I could almost hear the judges mind ticking away and processing the law, the evidence and the arguments. In the end he budged a little but not by much.
A mother cried. A father wept. Friends ached. A pastor prayed. It was a sad day.
It’s Tuesday but Wednesday is coming. When I arrive at home from a busy day at work, I do my chores and then it’s off for some special preparations. I turn my attention to more fine tuning for my motorcycle trip of a lifetime.
Every year a group of us hop on our bikes and tour this great country of ours. We have ridden our bikes to Maine for a lobster dinner. Our cruisers have roared along the Carolina coast. We have cruised the Blue Ridge Parkway and taken in the gorgeous Georgia countryside.
Our routes have taken us to nearly every state along the Eastern seaboard. Most states in the Midwest have welcomed our Hawgs as well. With everything close by conquored in past years we set our sights on a special venture this year.
One of the destinations that has constantly come up in conversations is Banff, Canada. It was the one destination that had us all enthused. The beauty of the Rockies, forests, wildlife, lakes, quaint towns and glaciers has a unique draw.
There’s a bit of a challenge in choosing such a destination. No one disputed that it would be a great ride. It was a matter of logistics.
I have experienced Banff before in a van that had excellent climate control. Weather is not a problem while in a van, completely protected from the elements. The weather and distance were not a problem when you travel in style. Motorcycle riding is a different animal altogether.
Distance is a major consideration. A comfortable ride is a mere 300 to 400 miles per day. That means that a 4,000 mile trip like this is going to require some serious planning.
Weather becomes a challenge. The Rockies are known for some serious storms and dramatic temperature changes. On a motorcycle we have to be able to dress for any kind of weather. There are several four letter words at which motorcyclists are accustomed to sneering: rain, wind, snow, cold, heat and deer.
Every mile we will be living by faith. We trust our future into God’s hands. We take our responsiblities seriously but we also seriously live each day by faith.
It wouldn’t be an adventure if there wasn’t some danger or faith involved. That’s what makes the journey worth travelling. My planning is done. My maintenance is done. My training is done. It’s time to pack up and ride because Wednesday is coming.
For all of July I served as the guest preacher at Ward Church in Northville, MI. It was been an amazing experience. The people made it an unforgettable month in my life.
Preachers love to preach. But, hearing ourselves is not what gives us our gratification. Rather, when we speak God’s Word to God’s people, their rapt attention and spiritual hunger is what is so deeply satisfying.
When an audience responds to the preaching of God’s Word with a desire to apply the truth, live up to the challenges delivered and to deepen their personal spiritual walk, then the soul of a preacher is ecstatic. For all of us who have dedicated our lives to this unique calling, we thrive when an audience is tracking with us and receiving the Word with eagerness.
The people at Ward Church have been amazing. They have warmly received me and the preaching of God’s Word. Every Sunday their friendliness has been stimulating. Their spirit of warmth gives me great hope that the church can still be relevant today and the center for collecting some of God’s very best.
I love it when a church gathers wonderful musicians who use their gifts and talents to make worship real and meaningful. When the musicians show that their spiritual commitment leads their skills, I am blessed in my own worship before I preach. When thoughtful selection and genuine presentation give purpose to the service, I feel so deeply engaged. The musicians at Ward Church led me into wonderful worship.
Greeters are essential for a friendly church. People with the gift of hospitality ooze with a welcoming spirit. Their smile and warm handshake along with a personal greeting of cheer is the first line of contact with all who enter into the church building. I met some of the finest greeters with the best smiles at Ward Church.
My favorite part of serving as a guest preacher was the aftermath of the services. Then, I was enthralled to engage many of the believers at Ward Church. We discussed how God had made clear the parts of His Word that we had studied. For many the practical emphasis was the treasure that they gleaned from our time together.
Thank you, Ward Church! Your hospitality and spiritual fervor were an elixir to my soul. I was honored to serve you this past month.
Old West stories of the pony express reveal the early appetite of a country obsessed with communication. Young men rode at full gallop to carry letters from the East to the West. With outposts situated ten miles apart, distances suitable for the endurance of a pony, riders would exchange their horse for a fresh mount. All the while carrying precious letters from one person across the country to another.
Brave teenage boys faced perilous journeys alone. Yet, the short-lived just-over-one-year effort is forever remembered very proudly as a part of Americana. Competing for the government’s mail contract, this innovative effort lost to a stage company and eventually stepped aside for the transcontinental telegraph.
Today I nearly mirrored the pony express. No, I didn’t ride a pony. Instead of just mail I had several timely deliveries to make. My journey was fast paced and highly varied.
My vacation lasted for a couple of more days but, I just had to get back to work. So, on my last night I mentioned my adjusted plans to my host. He called me a “workaholic.” That’s a compliment, isn’t it? “Idle hands are the devil’s workshop?”
So, we packed up the next morning and took off for home. Our route was straight-forward but long. Breaks were timely and efficient. I had to make it home, freshen up and head into the office.
Once in my office I dropped my mail, got on line and started studying for a radio interview. Besides that, I had several critical phone calls to make, email to return, text messages to send.
Once the radio interview was done, I was studying to put together a Bible devotional. In an hour and a half we had prospective students visiting campus. They were coming to decide if they would register at MTS.
Just to keep things hopping, decisions needed to be made about Sunday’s sermon, Friday’s meeting, and touches for our major donors. Next week I’m on a trip with eight of key people. Add to that our annual staff retreat is taking place the day that I return from that trip.
Looming in my mind is a conference that comes on the heels of our bonding retreat. There I speak five times. If I don’t study this weekend there won’t be any time to do that! This is my vacation? Maybe I should just grab a pony and ride into the sunset as fast as I can!
Hospitality has been on my mind a lot during my “vacation” days. During these few days of rest and relaxation, I have marvelled at the blessing of being the recipient of goodness from others. Reflecting over how much someone else’s generosity means in my life gives me the desire to extend hospitality to others.
Kevin and Arlene have been wonderfully generous to me on this vacation. At the initiative of my Executive Assistant, Lisa, they have invited me to stay at their apartment overlooking Little Traverse Bay on the Western coast of Lake Michigan. I began each morning drinking in the view of gorgeous waters surrounded by lush flora and fauna.
Kevin and I have had some great conversations. Max, his dog, keeps us chuckling with his comical antics. Exploring local eateries fed our fellowship.
The Gettel family also added us into their schedule. We lounged on their deck and shielded our eyes from the setting sun while we caught up on news, shared stories and laughed at fun episodes. Their dogs easily warmed to a friendly lap and a good scratch behind the ears.
Hospitality grows deep with time. This amazing artform of sharing opens the door for something far more special than a shared meal or exchanged gifts. When God instructed us to be hospitable to one another, who would have known that it is a portal through which we can touch one another’s life deeply and grow through some of life’s greatest transitions.
With both of my hospitable friends conversation touched on some of life’s harder issues. We were discussing matters of culture, social tensions and human fears. Soon we compared institutional values, administrative directives and societal mores. If the world would have listened this past week it would not have any more problems today.
Fellowship has a way of funneling down to personal lives. Theology and truth that touches our lives was where our discussions concluded. That is the beauty of life. Friendship, love and trust visit our souls where we actually sense and feel deeply. Hospitality invites us in, makes us feel comfortable and gives us a view of how real we can be.
Healing happens in the arena of hospitality. Growth takes place in that environment. People who experience that haven welcome it, connect with it and want to experience it again and again. Roll out the welcome carpet of hospitality and experience real life.
Scheduling my evening to include a concert at Pine Knob made me hesitate. The program would last long into the night. It would a major addition to my calendar.
The deciding factors came quickly. First, I was scheduled for a radio interview on 1500AM WLQV. Each week I am a guest on the Paul Edwards Show. We do “Theological Thursdays” by bantering over issues of theology. Since Paul was doing an on-site broadcast at the concert, so a live interview made sense. Besides, Paul was offering me free tickets to the concert. “Free” is my favorite price!
Second, Steven Curtis Chapman and Michael W. Smith are favorite artists. While not a fan of crowds, I was drawn to hear Steven’s heart. The recent and tragic death of his adopted Chinese daughter tugged at my heart.
Over the years I had heard of Pine Knob but had never been there. I wasn’t even sure that I knew where it was. But, with the address entered into my GPS I was following instructions by faith.
The interview with Paul Edwards was fun as always. He is a good thinker, excellent conversationalist and professional from the start. It is a priviege to be his guest.
Settled in my lawn chair and surrounded by my wonderful wife and great friends, stimulating conversation and laughter filled the waiting time. Then the music started. First, it was Matthew West and his very enjoyable warm up act. Then, it was Steven Curtis Chapman.
Steven’s heart led the way. If you knew some of the details of his recent loss, you felt the realness of his soul. His first song on God’s blessing was powerful and deeply meaningful. The rest of the evening however became both very memorable and forgettable.
There was a power failure. Everything went dark and silent. Twenty minutes later power was restored and the concert continued. It continued for at least one verse when the power was lost again. The crowd entertained themselves. Again the power was restored to cheers and applause.
But, you guessed it. The power was lost again. For over an hour the cat and mouse game of power restored only to be lost again and again. Finally, it was late and time to go home while the engineers worked to restore the power grid.
The arena is owned by Detroit Edison, our exclusive area electric power company. Oh, the irony! I wonder if they missed a payment?
Part of the lure of a relaxed vacation is the absence a dress code, right? In the morning I no longer have to match a tie with the rest of my outfit. All I need are shorts, a shirt and sandals. Those sandals proved to be dangerous!
I padded barefoot out on the deck that overlooks Small Traverse Bay. If I closed my eyes and just listened I could have been next to the Pacific Ocean. The wonderful smell of salt air was the only sensory stimuli missing.
That short jaunt on to the outside deck should have been a warning of what was to come. Alert people pick up clues about impending matters of great importance. This little warning would normally have put me on alert. But, that’s the problem with being relaxed. My guard was down!
This deck was beautifully stained to withstand the inclement Michigan weather. Moisture, sun and changing temperatures wreak havoc on wooden structures. One of the signs of a deck under tension are the nail heads that pop up from the decking.
Yes, as I sauntered my way out to the railing, one of those nail heads bit the bottom of my foot. There was no real lasting pain. I had escaped great pain but greater pain that was on its way.
Later that morning I put on my casual clothes. That also included dangerous sandals. I hadn’t worn sandals for over a year. Cowboy boots have been my first choice for every occasion for the past ten months. I have dress boots, work boots, trucker boots and cycle boots. But, when it’s time to wear shorts fashion rules force me to pass on the boots.
But, todays’ story tempts me to challenge those glamore mores. I was out for a short walk in my sandals. My journey took me over a path made of stone slabs. More interested in my destination, I did not notice a half step up.
My exposed big toe caught the overhanding lip of jagged stone. I did stumble. But my highly trained cat-like reflexes developed over years of secret martial arts training kept me from falling.
Throbbing pain, oozing blood and torn skin was the picture of my big toe. Dumb sandals! I will no longer be a slave to fashion. To protect our beautiful toes from harm, cowboy boots are now declared to be acceptable accessories with shorts.
Here I am for a few days of vacation on the beautiful shores of Lake Michigan. It’s been a while since I have actually scheduled time to “do nothing.” After a couple of hours of this relaxing stuff and I was itching to do something.
I was text messaging a friend and describing this feeling of aimlessness. The reply came back offering me any help on how to “do nothing.” That made me laugh.
So, I stepped out on the deck and watched the seagulls flying to and fro. Their flight path dodged between trees so I had to bob my head back and forth to pick up their last glide path. Seagulls may be common but they are amazing to watch.
One took off in flight from the shore. It powerfully stroked the air and dipped an swooped low over the water. Quickly, it dropped momentarily and lifted something off of the water. Then, it landed on a rock and paused to enjoy an early morning snack.
Watching God’s creation is a great. But, I had forgotten my camera on this trip. Being out in the wilderness and not having my digital camera to record any such scenes made me purse my lips and call myself a not-so-nice name.
Well, I had slept in for almost an hour. Then, I read a couple chapters in a good book. Next, I had text-messaged several friends. Then, I double-checked all of my email on my PDA. My gull-watching had come to an end and it was only 10:30AM.
It was only my first day of vacation and I was feeling like a failure in the realm of relaxing. What does one do when it’s time to relax? I don’t think I remember if relaxing is all that satisfying or not.
I went for a short walk. That was nice to take in the fresh air of the Great Lake. The seagulls didn’t interest me much any more. I tried to read another chapter of a book that I brought along. But, I didn’t want to do it any more.
Aha! My host mentioned that he had wireless internet service up here in his cottage. So, I grabbed my computer and fired up my blog page. Sure enough, a familiar screen appeared. Recounting my struggle, I put it in words. Now, you are a part of my vacation. Are we relaxing yet?
There was never a time in my life when I ever thought that I would be making a living by asking other people for money. My “job” is officially President of Michigan Theological Seminary. For the uninitiated the title “President” is actually Latin for “fund-raiser.”
On a daily basis I am planning encounters to engage people and asked them for a donation. If I’m not planning those encounters, then I am out doing the asking. If I’m not planning on asking or actually doing the asking then I’m in bed praying about it or sound asleep.
Over the years I have developed a habit to make asking others for money easier. I attempt to be a generous giver whenever God directs me. My goal is to make a significant impact with the needs of those that God brings into my life.
All of us can learn generosity. It is not a matter of how much we give. Those figures are relative. While institutions and large ministries receive gifts in the millions, sometimes a needy person just needs a meal, rent or a new coat.
Most likely there are many times during any given month that we actually come into contact with someone who is in need. We just don’t always realize what is going on.
A long time ago someone asked me what it meant in Ecclessiastes 11:1 “Cast your bread upon the waters, for after many days you will find it again.” Solomon is advising to invest in prudent ventures. Diversity is part of it. But, the investment component is essential.
Giving is one of those ventures. Righteous giving will find a way of returning to us. Just as we like what business investments do, so our lives in any investment that is wise will bring a wonderful yield.
When we are generous with those that God brings into the circumference of our influence, we will be the beneficiaries of His goodness down the road. It’s not just the indigent either. Take a look around your church. Single moms have it tough. Those who have lost their jobs are gasping for air. Someone who’s health has taken a turn for the worse need a leg up.
If we all practice righteous giving, God will show us who to bless. When we invest in giving without noterity, God gives us something very special in return. A grateful smile may reveal it all.
