Tuesday, November 25, 2008
40 Days of Corporate
Prayer:
Day 30-some...
Last night, Cathy and I
attended a reception in the
home of a local civic
leader. We didn't previously
know any of the other guests
but shared stimulating
conversation with a number
of individuals. One couple
had moved here from Davis
during the same month I came
as pastor at Bell Road. Most
of the guests were members
of the LDS (including two of
their missionaries--one from
Canada and one from Utah).
We also met a member of the
Salvation Army.
Joe
and Sharon are
coming to visit with us for
a few days. I'll drive down
to Stockton to pick them up
later today. We found out
last week that Sharon is
pregnant.
In this week of
thanksgiving, I will count
some of the blessings I have
experienced in ministry.
Several years ago, a man
named
Tom Robershaw
contacted me about a
like-minded Christian (Rodney
Edwards) who had
been networking with others
to help the people of
Liberia. Both men eventually
corresponded with my primary
contact in Liberia (Pastor
Richard Wesley).
Tom and Rodney also served
to encourage and strengthen
Cathy and me in our faith.
During subsequent years, I
have had the privilege of
meeting both men personally.
Recently, I checked in on
Rodney Edwards. He wrote
back a couple days ago:
Rob,
It’ s great to hear from
you. We continue to work
with Pastor Wesley and are
providing a generator to him
for use on the compound
where the church, clinic,
training facility and radio
station. He is certainly a
busy man.
I trust things are good with
Cathy and the family. How
are things at the church?
Rodney Edwards
Service To Servants
Monday,
November 24, 2008
40 Days of Corporate
Prayer:
Day 30-some...
On Saturday, Cathy, Daniel
and I sat on the steps of
the State Capital and
listened to Margaret Cho, an
attorney, and several
activists speak against
Prop. 8 (and share their
plans for the near future).
It was a rather interesting
experience for us. Mary's
little dog, Lily, was with
us.
We had a good time in church
yesterday. I served as the
teacher in the Genesis
Class. We covered the
material on Romans chapter
14.
This morning I uploaded
yesterday's sermon. It is on
the player in the next
column (entitled
"Thankfulness: God's Way).
Last night I watched the
Directors' Commentary for
"Facing the Giants". This
morning when I awoke, I
watched all of the special
features. Moved with
inspiration.
Saturday,
November 22, 2008
40 Days of Corporate
Prayer:
Day 30-some...
On Friday morning, when
Cathy and I were up on the
hill, we checked the
newspaper headlines. I
quickly read a bit about a
gay-agenda group who were to
meet on the steps of the
capital at 2pm.
Later, the day's activities
took us in the vicinity of
the capital so we stopped
by. I was just planning to
be in the crowd and listen
to the statements made by
the platform personalities.
I stopped by Governor
Schwarzenegger's office and
left him a handwritten note
in which I asked him to
uphold the voters' decision
on Proposition 8. (As of
Friday at 8:30pm, I hadn't
received a reply).
At 1:30pm, it seemed obvious
that the group wasn't
scheduled for Friday. When
we got back to Auburn, I
found the story online (click
here) and learned that
it will be today. We had an
interesting conversation
with a street preacher (Mark
from San Jose) who was
stationed on the K Street
mall.
We scheduled our evening
around helping a man have
supervised visitation with
his son. That was at 5pm in
Rocklin. During the course
of our evening we located a
few 'Coach' DVDs for use in
a compilation of scenes I
may someday present. Fair
use of thematic elements
could possibly include
scenes from 'Coach
Carter', 'Remember
the Titans', 'Hoosiers',
and 'Facing
the Giants'. I might
even consider using a scene
from 'The
Mighty Ducks.'
And what, pray tell, would
my documentary have to do
with making one's calling
and election sure?
Maybe, as we watch and pray,
we'll see.
Tonight is our monthly
outreach at the
Union Gospel Mission
in Sacramento. It takes
place at 7:30pm. If anyone
is interested in attending
with us, we'll meet to eat
(free supper) at the
Rosenau's first. Call me for
more information:
(530) 366-2924
Friday,
November 21, 2008
40 Days of Corporate
Prayer:
Day 30-something
Cathy
rode along with me to the
Deacons' Prayer Meeting. She
sat in the car and worked on
her BSF study while she
waited for me.
Afterwards, we went up to
the hilltop for the
panoramic view to pray as
the sun arose.
Last night, the Spirit sent
a man named Rod to our
campus. Bellroad Bob and I
were standing next to my car
talking about regional
church issues when Rod drove
up in an impressive, white
truck.
Rod (looking to be about
6'5") stepped down from his
truck and, across the
parking lot, loudly asked,
"Is
the office open?"
"Well, no...but...",
I answered.
"Is
the pastor here?",
he interjected.
"You a revenuer?"
I asked with a toothless
smile (if not toothless at
least with the best Kentucky
drawl that my heritage could
appropriate in the moment).
Transitioning from light,
informal first impressions
to seriously personal
introduction, Bob and I
quickly recognized the
sanctity of the moment.
Yes, Rod had been prompted
(even 'driven') by the
Spirit to come here last
night. Something had been
weighing on his heart and
mind for several years.
I will finish the story on
Sunday morning as an
illustration in the
SundayMessage entitled:
"Thankfulness: God's Way"
A church service was
'disrupted' in Michigan (click
here).
Monday,
November 17, 2008
40 Days of Corporate
Prayer:
Day 30
Cathy and I returned last
night from a few nights in
San Diego, a day trip to
Mexico, and a
weekend-to-remember in
Monterey.
After the weekend
marriage conference in
Monterey, we drove to
Carmel-at-the-Sea and walked
along the beach.
Here's a
3-minute video that we
uploaded at the Auburn
Journal. It was uploaded on
Friday and already has had
over 1,000 views.
Seniors: "All Aboard!"
Monday,
November 10, 2008
40 Days of Corporate
Prayer:
Day 23
One of the newest members of our local church has joined the blogosphere. "Lady of the Plains" describes herself as a Christian, Married, Mom, Homemaker, Veteran, and a Country Girl at Heart. Although seemingly quiet in person, "Lady of the Plains" has some rather strong views expressed as she writes. I appreciate her invitation for interaction from others:
Conservatively Speaking
"Comments welcome!! Agreement not required!
This is just a little place for me to comment on
whatever is on my mind at any given moment
of any given day."
After 'Breakfast with Lou'
at Wings, I will prepare to
vacate northern California
for a week away with Cathy.
Tonight we hope to be in El
Cajon for our 2008
Pastors' Conference.
David
Jeremiah is
speaking at 7:50pm and one
of my former professors,
Dr.
John Shouse will
speak at 8:35pm.
On Friday, I posted
Calling California
Singers
at the Auburn Journal.
I was somewhat surprised by
the first comment left by
someone named 'gulliver'.
After a thoughtful
interaction with gulliver, I
was touched by his/her
re-thinking that first
comment (that our church
might 'hate' a certain group
of people).
I am thankful that the
Auburn Journal is providing
free access to internet
connectivity with others.
Friday,
November 7, 2008
40 Days of Corporate
Prayer:
Day 20
Calling Ca
lifornia
Singers
(ages 15-21)
The New America Singers has announced that their July, 2009 tour will include a mission outreach to China. The life-changing message of salvation in Christ Jesus will be shared through song, puppets, … click here for more at Auburn Journal
At the
Office around 4:30 this
morning. Lately, when I've
awakened around this time
and I get up ready for the
assignment ahead, I have
heard the reverberation of a
personal encouragement
hidden in my heart.
When I was in high school, I
competed in local, regional,
and statewide competitions
for two years. On days that
I would have to leave really
early for an important
event, I would go over to
Grandma's house. She made me
breakfast and then sent me
off with the same phrase
each time. I thank God for
the memories I have of both
of my Grandmas. Both sisters
in the Lord died during the
90's.
I decided this morning to
again delay a trip to see
the remnant of my Michigan
family (...maybe in the
Spring).
At 6:30am, I plan to
head up to the Newcastle
Exit
and fulfill the weekly
diaconal delight of
360◦
panoramic
prayer.
A familiar passage (2
Corinthians 4:18) will serve
as the inspiration for this
morning's reflective
petition. I have published
it here in the King James
Version due to a friend's
mention of it yesterday.
as we have received mercy, we faint not;
But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty,
not walking in craftiness,
nor handling the word of God deceitfully;
but by manifestation of the truth
commending ourselves to
every man's conscience in the sight of God.
But if our gospel be
hid, it is hid to
them that are lost:
In whom the god of this world hath blinded
the minds of them
which believe not,
lest the light of
the glorious gospel
of Christ,
who is the image of
God,
should shine unto
them.
For we preach not
ourselves,
but Christ Jesus the Lord;
and ourselves your
servants for Jesus'
sake.
For God, who
commanded the light
to shine out of
darkness,
hath shined in our hearts, to give
the light
of the knowledge of
the glory of God
in the face of Jesus
Christ.
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
We are troubled on
every side, yet not
distressed;
we are perplexed,
but not in despair;
Persecuted, but not
forsaken;
cast down, but not
destroyed;
Always bearing about
in the body the
dying of the Lord
Jesus, that the life
also of Jesus might
be made manifest in
our body. For we
which live are
always delivered
unto death for
Jesus' sake, that
the life also of
Jesus might be made
manifest in our
mortal flesh.
So then death
worketh in us, but
life in you.
We having the same
spirit of faith,
according as it is written,
I believed, and therefore have I spoken;
we also believe, and therefore speak;
Knowing that he
which raised up the
Lord Jesus
shall raise up us
also by Jesus,
and shall present us
with you.
For all things are
for your sakes,
that the
abundant grace might
through the
thanksgiving
of many redound to
the glory of God.
For which cause we
faint not;
but though our outward man perish,
yet the inward man is renewed day by
day.
For our light
affliction, which is
but for a moment,
worketh for us a far
more exceeding
and eternal weight
of glory;
While we look not at
the things which are
seen,
but at the things
which are not seen:
for the things which
are seen are
temporal;
but the things which
are not seen are
eternal.
For several years, my buddy,
Jebby, and I used
to share a weekly
VisionWalk. I
miss those days of intimate
friendship but alas, there's
a time for different season
in our lives. Still, we both
enjoy watching certain
reruns. I know my friend
would also enjoy exposure to
the following: its only a
northern song of
vision-expansion.
Yesterday, in the corporate
prayer meeting, I voiced the
acknowledgment that the Lord
had truly opened a door for
Proposition 8 in the circles
of media influence up here
in northern California. It
amazes me how an unsolicited
request for a news story
traveled (in one day) from
707 Bell Road in Auburn to
22,000 households; from
there to Sacramento and to
media recipients all over
northern California.
In memory of the
VisionWalk
(past-present-future), I
present a brief compilation
of related media stories:
Prop 8 Signs Questioned
The following day, Journal reporter Bruce Warren called me for a
brief interview.
Photographer, Ben Fertado
arranged to meet me at the
church for a photo op. The
next morning, I was
surprised to see that
Bruce's story and Ben photo
headlined the Oct. 31st
edition of the Auburn
Journal. There are ____ home
subscribers, an online
presence, and a great number
of news racks (click
here).
ABC NEWS 10 clip On
Friday, Deborah Hoffman
showed up at the church to
gather footage for the 6pm
News.
from their website:
KXTV was one of the first
Sacramento stations to
initiate digital
broadcasting services,
including a high definition
television (HDTV) signal.
KXTV broadcasts digitally on
Channel 61, although this
channel appears as a subset
of Channel 10 on most
digital receivers. In
January of 2001, KXTV
adopted News10 as an overall
brand name. The brand
symbolizes the pride the
station takes in its news
efforts and speaks to the
overall dedication of the
staff and management to
presenting timely, accurate
and thorough information.
CBS NEWS 13 clip
Later that night, Mike Dello
Stritto showed up at our
Harvest Festival to gather
footage for the 10pm News.
It was also on Saturday's
'Good Day Sacramento'.
from their website:
CBS13/CW 31 is part of the
CBS Television Stations
Group, which reaches 35% of
the U.S. TV households with
stations in 8 of the top 10
markets. Our stations
deliver advertisers'
messages to more than 38
million homes. The "CBS is
Always On" initiative
extends CBS13/CW 31's local
market reach beyond TV to
broadband Web and wireless
content distribution 24/7.
CBS13/CW 31’s goal is to be
Sacramento, CA’s online
portal and play an important
part of users’ daily lives
with news, weather, traffic
and must-know community
information through the
unique integration of both
local TV and the Web.
This unprecedented
commitment at CBS13/CW 31
reinforces our position as
Sacramento, CA’s
indispensable source for
easily accessible on-demand
news & information.
Stories that are in the
Auburn Journal's Religion
Section don't get many views
so I reposted the original
article on placeropolis with
the original title and
included my
comment-response:
Signs of Tough Love
As a footnote to this quick
chapter, here are two of the
letters which were published
in the hardcopy edition of
our local newspaper:
Letter to the Editor
: Negative (with public
comments)
Letter to the Editor
: Positive (with
public comments)
This morning an email was sent to various pastors and leaders who spoke on behalf of proposition 8. With humble resolve the writer glorified God for what He had done in California with such a diverse mix of people. He spoke of those who were so angered by the movement to affirm the traditional definition of marriage. These words may prove especially helpful in guarding one's heart and mind during the months ahead:
"We
must love those who hate and
persecute us. Pastors tend
to be understandably
pastoral. . . . It is hard
to evangelize those to whom
we have to be prophetic.
Pastors, like all persons,
like to be popular. Thus it
is easy to slip into a
'people pleasing trap.' But
we cannot. The church has
had to be prophetic during
this time. . . . The Lord is
now identifying creative
ways for us to love those
who are so angered by the
Prop 8 vote. Let us love
those who hate us."
Thursday, November
6, 2008
40 Days of Corporate
Prayer:
Day 19
Up at the Office really early this morning. There's quite I bit that I must journal before going to the Gym. Gotta hurry because I have an 8:30 appointment with my history pal, Rex.
If anyone wants to see our Senior Drama Team and Choir perform "Bound for Glory", their debut performance is at 2pm today. The venue is in the Atrium at the Oaks of Auburn. Call our church office for more specific details:
(530) 885-5212
From CNN:
"The Los Angeles County Registrar's Office stopped issuing same-sex marriage licenses after the apparent passage of a ballot measure to eliminate the right of gay couples to marry, the agency said Wednesday."
Similar measures
defining marriage passed in
Florida and
Arizona (click
here for the CNN
story).
from
yahoo news:
Gay activists jarred by
California marriage defeat
Ellen DeGeneres laments gay
marriage ban
At last night's prayer
meeting I was blessed,
first, to listen to the
prayers of certain loyal
yokefellows in the faith. I
was given the 'yea' and
'amen' by the Spirit in
affirmation of their
intercessions.
I began the voicing of my
heart-mind petition before
the Lord, I read these
verses aloud:
