Monthly Archives: December 2019

50 – Act III

Life in Christ, Personal

If you don’t look in the mirror much, you can try to ignore the march of the years. I started graying twenty-five years ago, so looking old is nothing new. Turning 50 recently has captured my attention as those big numbers with zero on the end tend to do. Many hit this age and struggle. I’ve been thinking a lot about this particular milestone in the last month or two and have been developing some perspective. I call it “Act III”

Act I was the first 25 years. They were mostly taken up by learning. I graduated Bible college at 22 and moved back to Maine and by 25 I had completed terms of service in 3 different churches (with some overlap) and had done two-years of full-time Camp ministry. I had learned a lot. While I have never stopped learning, for narrative purposes we go on to the next Act.

Act II, or the next 25 years coincides with things settling down into more doing (while always learning). I was 26 when I arrived at Bean’s Corner to begin the ministry that has defined so much of my life. I was 25 when I became the “Assitant Director” of Camp Berea, and 28 when I became Director. Act II has been primarily about doing and serving.

Act III now arrives. More years lie behind than before. While I do not know the number of those years, I know an endpoint is coming. I will still seek to be learning. I will still seek to be actively serving, but Act III reminds me that the Play must come to an end. It is time to focus on the next production. I will not be in that one, but I can prepare others for it.

It is time to teach more, mentor more, develop others more than just continue to do my own thing. While I do not feel wise nor intelligent, God has been gracious enough to teach me many things and give me many experiences over the years. As I look back at 24 years at Bean’s Corner and 31 years at Camp Berea, as well as many other ministry experiences, I know I have perspective and ideas that may make the path easier for the ones that follow.

One thing I am sure of. While I hope to linger longer to finish bringing my children into adulthood and serving the Lord more, I know that whatever lies before is already enough. As I sit at the milepost marked 50, I am well content and filled with a sense of blessing. God has given me a much fuller life than I ever dreamed of when I was in high school or even college. I have been able to do so many things I never dreamed and most importantly, share in the lives and spiritual journeys of many men & women. I pray that Act III allows me to help prepare the next generation for fruitful ministry as we pursue the Mission of Jesus, to make disciples.

If you’ve been part of my journey so far, thank you!

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When Silence Speaks

Personal

I am part of a group of Gospel writers who each week give us a writing prompt. This promot was “When Silence Speaks” and had a 300 word limit. This is my attempt at the prompt. It represents first a reflection of my childhood, then two scenes from adulthood.

Socks, boots, snow pants, mittens, scarf, hat, coat, and finally ready.  Finally step outside into fourteen inches of white. It blankets the world and still falls in steady cascades of quiet.  It is silent. The world is rendered mute under the noiseless assault underway. This universe is robbed of color and sound.  A deep breath of sharp air assaults the lungs and a pure joy fills the heart. The silence speaks to my heart. Peace, beauty, and wonder abound and the silence assaults my ears in the most delicious of roars.  It is so quiet. I trudge deep into the woods listening attentively as the silence continues its concert.

Leaves piling up and grey skies mute the expanse.  Docks are pulled out, boats covered and stored, and shutters on the screens.  October on the Lake has chased everyone back home to warmer houses and busier schedules.  The sand crunches under my boots as I stride to the water’s edge and gaze out over miles of mirror.  It is a symphony of color as reds and oranges drown out the muted evergreen, reflecting for full effect in the smooth surface of the water.  The bald eagle soars high overhead. As my feet stop, the last quiet crunch of sand fades away. It is silent. The silence speaks to my heart of days gone by and generations of my family that enjoyed this lake.  In the silence, the collected experiences of those who came before me swirl around me and I hear them. Fall air fills the lungs with the flavor of passing nature and seasonal change.  

A wrinkled hand and ragged breath.  Dim unseeing eyes but still warmth in the touch.  Then change and the breath grows weaker. Weaker. It is silent.  Dad is gone. The silence speaks a last goodbye.

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You’re a ______ Man, Charlie Brown?

Life in Christ, Perils of Shepherds, Personal

Now and then, a friend or community member has declared to me, “you’re a good man.” One of the most interesting things about being told that is the immediate rush of blood to my ego, which, in its pure and distilled form, is my biggest obstacle for goodness.

I’m willing to accept that from an average human viewpoint that I’m at least a neutral guy and probably even a reasonable “good” person in that I have not committed any major crimes and do try, most of the time, to avoid minor infractions as well. I’ve never aced the test, but I do try to be generous, honest, kind, and observe behavior that is considered by most “good.”

It is the flip side that most people see less of that is my problem. I am selfish every day in small and often easy to hide ways. I have thoughts and attitudes running rampant through my head at times which would convict me if broadcast on a screen. I struggle with impatience, a judgemental attitude, and many more violations of goodness.
Then there are my good moments which are sometimes the result of less than laudatory motivations. Sometimes I do good things for reasons much less noble. Being good sometimes gets me what I want, whether it be praise, reward, or some other positive result. Sometimes I am good just to avoid a bad outcome, not because of any virtue. (For instance, I always obey the speed limit in the presence of law enforcement).

And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.

(Mark 10:18)

So am I a good man? In a comparative sense maybe, but not objectively. Any honest core sample will reveal far too many impurities to be considered really good. So why do people call me a good person?
The biggest reason is that there is a contravening force at work in me. Fighting against my selfishness, my self-centered motives and my desire for ease and reward, is an outside force that I have welcomed in. This Spirit is actually good and represents not comparative goodness, but absolute pure goodness. He comes, not because I did something that merited it, but because He did something that allows me to accept Him.

Some time back I invited Him into my existence and asked Him to remake the confused and flawed being that is me. The renovation isn’t complete, and there are many many times that you will still see me clearly with its flaws and blemishes. Fortunately, there are other times where His influence and love are behind the wheel and I am truly selfless, gentle, loving, merciful, and gracious to others. Light shines forth, not originating in me, but reflecting through me. When this happens, sometimes others realize they have seen a good man.

They have. That good man is not me, but when I’m yielded, you will see Him in me. He’s a good man.

… not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—
(Philippians 3:9)

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Under Threat?

Church on Mission

A mighty warrior thunders a challenge and promises death to all who would draw near. The people shake. Seasoned warriors, even the tall and impressive king, cower in fear at the mighty brute. Then a young man, not as great of stature and without armor or sword strides confidently down the hill. He sees no threat, merely an opportunity to once again demonstrate who his God is. The giant falls.

The air is filled with the roaring of the lions, the roaring of the fire. Young men face the roar and rather than cower, honor their God and are confident that whatever happens, they will have victory and demonstrate who their God is. Emerging from the roar, there is no mark on any of them. A sure threat has had no power.

A no-longer-rich man looks upon loss and destruction beyond what many will ever know, yet as even his wife urges despair and death, he declares, “though he slay me, I will hope in Him.”

A culture decides to say “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas” and the people scream and shudder and cry out that war is upon them and defeat hovers overhead, ready to crash down and destroy them. A culture shifts and men and women with decades of service in the Lord’s army groan and mourn that defeat is crouching at the door. Powerful forces threaten.

They forgot.

Greater is He in His people than the power in the world. The very gates of hell cannot prevail and death itself already whimpers in the corner, defeated and defanged, no longer able to touch His beloved ones. He told us to fear not, for He has overcome the world.

There are giants, there are lions, there are flames, there are losses and trials, but they have no power except to allow us to stand and demonstrate who our God is. It is time for the church to stop cowering with King Saul and join David, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, and Job to declare the One who goes before us, and who now calls out to the world, “Repent, the Kingdom of God is at hand. Be reconciled to God. God made Him who knew no sin to be sin, so that we may become the righteousness of God!”

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