Friends

Well, since I’m writing another post for my blog, I must be in an airport somewhere in the world! This time it’s San Diego International Airport, homeward bound for Detroit … but it seems like only yesterday that I was arriving here 1-1/2 hours late coming from Detroit. I was met by my friend Jim Baize, lead pastor of Midway Baptist Church in Chula Vista (CA) … and we cruised out of the airport last Tuesday evening with the top down on his Avanti.

Jim is one of the most gracious Christian gentlemen that I know and a wonderful host. His second annual WOW (World Outreach Week) reflected the heart and soul of Midway Church, as evidenced by the marvelous attendance and the spirit of excitement in each of the services, as well as among the staff members and church members with whom I was privileged to interact. Pat, Jim’s wife, was also in the mix all week and a delight to get better acquainted with. Recently, in another conference in Colorado, Pat had fallen and broken her back, but trooper that she is, you’d never know that she had taken such a serious spill.

The week also gave me the opportunity to spend a goodly amount of time with my friend Jerry ThorpE and his wife Freddie. Since Jerry, Freddie and I were staying in the same hotel, we traveled everywhere together all week … and having a blast spending time together that we seldom have ever gotten through the years, at least in this quantity! Jerry, the keynote speaker for the conference, was at his best, especially on Sunday morning, the closing service of the conference.

On Friday, about 20 of us who are close friends, and most of whom live in southern California, all got together for lunch in Old Town (San Diego) at Acapulco’s, atop the Hacienda Hotel. The food was great (and special thanks to Bob Henson for arranging the lunch) and the long lunch was like a comedy club on steroids! Most of us were laughing and talking so loudly we hardly noticed poor Jim Baize, choking on a tortilla chip that he had aspirated while laughing so hard at Marvin O’Dell. Pat drove Jim to the hospital emergency room and thankfully he was okay … and gracious Jim joked about the fact that while he was choking, unable to inhale or exhale for a couple of minutes, he looked over at all his friends … just talking and laughing, but no one noticing that he was dying off to the side of the room!

As I sit here in the Gate 22 area, waiting on NW 278 for Detroit, and reflecting on the week, I can’t help but contemplate how thankful I am for friends like those with whom I have spent time this week. These men and women (among many others in other countries, states and cities around the world increased in their value to my life, as they bore me up during some of the roughest years of my life … in fact, they became friends whose value is indescribable.

But the circle of friends is so much broader than these special friends this week in Southern California. As I think about the many relationships that are mine, I realize that I’m a very rich man … because of relationships. And I began this thinking process last Saturday morning as ThorpE spoke to a men’s prayer breakfast at Midway Church, challenging us as men to love our families, love our friends, and love our Lord Jesus Christ. I think I can honestly say that I’ve never loved those three any more than I do now! I am blessed!

BTW, do you pray? Would you ask the Lord to help me with all my existing relationships (to properly relate to family, friends, and the Lord) as well as all those relationships that are yet to be formed. I want my life to enrich the lives of others as long as I have breath. Thanks!

Home – Once In A While Anyway!

Honey, I’m home! Oh, wait – I live alone! Well, anyway – I’m home … kind of … once in a while anyway!

After arriving back in Waterford (MI) from Wolverhampton, England, I’ve been on the run ever since. Immediately upon my return to the States, I had to get my 1965 Olds Cutlass drivable for the 13th Annual Woodward Dream Cruise. That doesn’t sound terribly “spiritual,” but it’s been a goal toward which I’ve worked for nine years … since trailering this beast home from Powell (TN) … to drive this piece of nostaligia in the Dream Cruise. And word must have gotten out that it was going to happen this year, because 1.5 million people showed up!

There were times last week when I wasn’t sure that it was going to happen, but thanks to a bunch of special people at Clyde’s, Paul’s Auto Interiors, and Jason Auto Care, as well as my good friend Mike Wallace, it did happen. And for the first time in almost 30 years, that Cutlass drove on the roads and streets of America under it’s own power! There are still many details that will get attention in the coming months, but at least it’s drivable … in nice weather!

But now the work begins … for continued deputation, which is a nice way of saying that I’m hitting the road to raise my missionary support to get back to Great Britain permanently. The last two months there confirmed daily why God has lead me there to minister. This week I’m in San Diego (CA) with my friend Jim Baize and the Midway Baptist Church, located in Chula Vista. Another long-time friend is also speaking in Jim’s World Outreach Week – Jerry Thorpe. So this should be a great week.

The following weekend (Labor Day weekend) I’m speaking for the University Baptist Church in Jacksonville (FL) and a friend of more recent years – Ed Trinkle!

By the way, do you pray? If so, would you pray that God would work miraculously in providing the necessary monthly support that is needed for me to return to Great Britain. I have been asking the Lord to help me to do in one year what is traditionally taking missionaries three years to accomplish. If I went to most places in the world, I have adequate support; however, Great Britain requires double the normal amount – which is pretty tough to raise! But difficulty doesn’t matter. God has called. I am going. And I need the financial and prayer support of every friend I have!

Homeward Bound

The lunch appointment was already behind me … arrived right on time (and without getting lost) …. enjoyed a profitable time with new missionary friends Jeff and Ruth Russell, and was now on my way to my next appointment, when it hit – I was moving through traffic without even a conscious thought about my driving!  What a great feeling! But now that my mind has begun to turn toward the trip home for a few months of meetings and final preparations for the relocation to Great Britain, I’ve discovered another interesting thing.  Two mornings ago, when I awakened just after 5:00 am, to another beautiful day of sunshine, my waking thoughts were worrisome.  My heart was racing as I found myself worrying over driving that huge Suburban back in Detroit!  I could see myself being confused about driving on the “wrong side” of the road! It was then that I laughed, realizing that I was adjusting to my new environment (and home) quite well … in spite of those hours that I wandered around the West Midlands region lost as one can get!  J But soon, I’ll be boarding yet another airplane … racing from one side of the airport in Amsterdam to the other in order to make that Northwest Airlines connection to Boston, and then on to Detroit.  While I find little “fun” in all the travel, it’s just a part of the “business” … the LORD’S business … of going into all the world and sharing the Good News of the Gospel. Another thing about which I am continually amazed is how easily I’m able to “connect” with the twenty-somethings of the UK.  Yesterday was another prime example. After a short lunch together, my friend Damian Pickett (along with his two young sons – Damian, Jr. and Dakota) took me to the bank that he uses, and introduced me to Kim, one of the bankers.  Kim (about 25 years old) and a gentleman of similar age assisted me in setting up my checking and savings accounts, but the interaction was phenomenal.  And, you guess it … when I return to England in the Fall, I’m taking them to dinner!  J And I learned another tidbit of cultural trivia while at the bank.  When asked about my vocation, I replied “minister.”  However, that term applies to high-level government leaders rather than preachers, pastors, missionaries, etc.  And I should have remembered that from a dinner one night on a 747, when I ate with the five ministers from Australia – minister of transportation, minister of defense, etc.  So I looked at Damian and asked, “How do I best describe what I do vocationally?” to which my smart aleck friend replied, “Vicar!”  J But could I ask you, my reader friend, a question?  Do you pray?  If so, would you pray with me about a couple of very important things, please? First, would you pray that I can fill a few “holes” in my itinerary over the next three months?  And relative to those meetings, would you pray that God will use them to impact His people wherever I speak for the cause of world evangelism and discipleship, as well as providing the needed monthly support that is currently standing at 50%.  I cannot return without 100% monthly support – the dollar is too weak, and as of today stands at 2.04-to-1. Second, would you pray that God would continue to prepare the hearts of pastors, missionaries, and churches here in the UK for my return and the work that I will do?  In only two months, I learned that the work of the ministry here is a daunting task, and can easily leave those who minister here discouraged in spirit and depleted of energy.  I want to be a breath of fresh spiritual encouragement to them. One Welch pastor has spoken with me several times, stating that as soon as I return, he’d like for me to come to his church and help them take their ministry (especially their youth ministry) to the next level.  Ideally, I would prefer that those who lead churches here would hunger for me to come help them, rather than me having to “sell” what I am doing and its benefits to them and their ministries. Finally, would you pray that all the logistical details will come together over the next few months?  It’s difficult to determine whether to “sell all I have” and start over from scratch in England or to ship everything that I have (and will need) to Great Britain.  The details of it all can be mind boggling. Cheers!

One Busy Week!

We all have them … and sometimes we actually enjoy them … especially if they’re filled with accomplishments and victories.  I’m talking about “one busy week!”

It really began on Saturday, 28 August, as I made my way down the M6 to Nuneaton, to spend time with my friends Nathalie and Tom Wallace.  Of course, I couldn’t get there without getting … yep, you guessed it … lost.  Well, I really didn’t get LOST … I just didn’t know how to get to their house!  However, I was willing to stop and ask for directions.  And I arrived on time at their house … and enjoyed a wonderful home-cooked meal … well, actually, Nathalie cooked it, but it was in her home that she did so.  And her French silk pie is to die for!

On Sunday morning, it was my privilege to speak twice at Tom’s church, stay for a wonderful meal, and attend an afternoon meeting of their church in which Tom spent almost an hour answering people’s questions about and from the Bible.  It was a great day … in part because I was able to get back to my house in Wolverhampton without making even one wrong turn! 

Then Monday began a week of senior high youth camp at The White House in Cannock Chase.  And of the 111 campers, 14 of them placed their faith in Jesus Christ as their personal Savior.  It was also my privilege to guide one young bloke in accepting Christ personally.  I never grow weary of hearing people pray … in their own often-inexperienced words … to receive the gift of eternal life.

Also, this week held another rich blessing … dinner with one of my new barber friends.  Although I was missing the services and activities of the youth camp Wednesday night, I had made arrangements to take to dinner three barbers from the little shop where I have my hair cut.  Upon arriving at the shop about five minutes before closing time, I discovered that two of them had last minute conflicts that prevented them from going.

However, Chris asked if it would be okay if his girlfriend came along, and a few minutes later, she joineded us and we went to Butler’s Bistro in the Village of Codsall.  We chatted about everything you can imagine, but there were two or three things that really caught my attention. 

First, I am amazed that two twenty-something young people would spend an entire evening together with someone they hardly know … and I shared that with them, and thanked them for doing so.

Second, I was a bit taken aback when Sian (that’s pronouced Shawn … it’s a Welch name), Chris’ 20-year-old girlfriend of seven months said to me, “You are the first American that I’ve ever really met.”  But what really got me (and it was humbling to say the least) was when she said, “You’re the first older person that’s ever cared about my opinions about anything.”  Once I got past the “older person” part, I found myself contemplating the rest of her comment, and concluded:

If we’re really going to be effective in reaching the next generation … in any culture or any country … for Christ, we “older people” had better be asking questions and listening to whatever the younger generation is saying.  Failure to do so will be failure to truly understand them … and failure to understand them will surely lead to failure in effectively and relevantly reaching them for Christ.

Well, after meeting at 5:30p at Dino’s Barber Shop, driving to dinner together … (I let Chris drive because I would hate to get lost in front of new friends right here in this small village) … dining and chatting together, this beautiful young dating couple dropped me off at my vehicle in the car park across from the barber shop, and we said goodnight … four and one-half hours after we first met!

One other interesting tidbit from conversation at dinner was this … at least three different times during dinner, Chris said, “The next time we do this … “  So, I think there’s a wide-open door ahead of me when I return in November following three months of conferences in the States!

Yesterday, I was able to break away from the camp for a while at lunch time and drive up to Stafford (without getting lost) and have lunch with my new friends Jeff and Ruth Russell in a quaint little place called “The Soup Kitchen.”  Talk about the quintisential historical English building … this building was built in the 1600’s … very well maintained and modernized without diminishing the character of the complex! 

Camp closed today following the final teaching session and awards ceremony, and I’m exhausted.  Each day was a bit longer than I’ve been used to for a while now … I was leaving the house each morning at 6:30a, and speaking to the youth leadership team at the camp at 7:30a, and leaving camp around 11:00p each evening to return home, making sure my notes were finished for the next morning, and falling into bed around midnight to 1:00a.  And for an “older person,” … maybe I haven’t really gotten past that comment) … those are pretty long days!

Cheers!