Category: Journal

My journey

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Journal Joy Notes Who Am I

Celebration for Mom’s 90th

Last Christmastime, my sister MarySue set this past Saturday, July 7,  as the date we as an extended family would get together to celebrate Mom’s 90th birthday.   Even though Mom’s actual birthday is not until August 19, MarySue knew that 4th of July is a good time to get the family together.    But there was no way she could know how providential the timing would be.   Mom’s health and sharpness are declining as she suffers from advanced heart disease, but right now, even though she was weak, on oxygen and confined to a wheelchair, she was still able to enjoy her birthday dinner and recognize and talk with nearly everyone.    Previously she would have known each great grandchild—she told me this time Sammie is number 18—along with their age and sizes—now she remembered the names of about as many as I did.  As soon as she saw my brother Allen and I both in the house she exclaimed, “Get the cameras!”   So we did.   Al lives in Fairbanks, Alaska and we haven’t seen him in a couple years.  Several have better cameras than I but I also took pictures anyway so I could put a few on my blog.    Since thunderstorms were to pass through, we held the picnic in the new garage that Don and MarySue have constructed not far from the house.   As usual, we sang for Mom too, one hymn before the blessing and one hymn after the meal.  There was lots of muscle present to wheel/carry Mom as needed from the house to the garage for the meal and back.      

The new garage where the picnic was held
My brother Allen joined the celebration
Mom and her four children
eight of her grandchildren
My brother Phil setting up the picture of the great grandchildren
seven of her great grandchildren

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Church Leadership Journal Wisdom

Recommended encouragement for couples by a fellow pastor

I’ve heard Mark O. Wilson speak.  It’s a great pastor in a medium sized town in northern Wisconsin and he has many very practical ideas.  This article is in Wesleyan Life online.   I highly recommend it.

http://www.wesleyanlifeonline.com/article?id=150&src=0

Categories
Journal Wisdom

Recommended Books on Respect in Relationships

In this morning’s Kitchen Table Talk about Relationships, JoAnne and I discussed how important it is to respect other people.   The apostle Peter wrote us in the key verse for the morning, “Show proper respect to everyone” (1 Peter 2:17 NIV).   I was asked after the message about the books I recommended.   So I thought I would list them here on my blog.  I know they each one will be helpful to anyone who reads it.

Recommended Books on Respect in Relationships

Author(s)

Title

Publisher

Emerson Eggerichs

Love and Respect

Thomas Nelson,  2004

Gary Smalley and John Trent

The Gift of Honor

Thomas Nelson, 1987

Gary Smalley

Making Love Last Forever

Word, 1996

 

 

Categories
Church Leadership Forward Look Journal

July sermons will be about relationships

Marriage has so much potential yet most marriages also experience a good deal of pain on the way to forging a better way.    What are some typical causes of this pain?  What can be done to bring healing and find lasting satisfaction and love?   I just finished planning the series for Sunday messages in July.   When I was at family Camp earlier this week, I felt led to focus on human relationships especially marriages during this month.   Since marriage is something we don’t do alone, we need the input of our spouse to get a well-rounded perspective.  I have invited my wife to join me on the platform for this series for Kitchen Table Talks about Relationships.   Like most couples, we’ve had our up’s and down’s in 42 years of marriage.  Our hope is that we have learned some perspectives that can be helpful to others.    I invite you to join us for this series.

Kitchen Table Talks about Relationships

Date

Title

Text

A Suggested Hymn

July 8

Respect is Essential

1 Peter 2:11-3:8  

Make Me a Blessing (389)

July 15

Dealing with Our Anger  

Eph. 4:25-31

What a Wonderful Savior (531)

July 22

Understanding Personalities Helps

Romans 12

I’ve Found a Friend (521)

July 29

2nd Mile Living 

Matthew 5:38-48

Spirit of God, Descend…(86)
Categories
Americana Journal Joy Notes Who Am I

Red Wing Baseball and Houghton

Tonight I had the privilege of attending Houghton night at Frontier field in Rochester.   It was hosted by Red Wing’s Board Chairman Gary Larder who is also a member of the Houghton College board of Trustees with me.   I met several Houghton friends I have known for many years and chatted with one young alumni named Ryan at the picnic.   We discussed what an advantage it is to graduates to have the good reputation of Houghton backing them when they apply for graduate school.   He had been accepted into an MBA program and anticipated some sports involvement on the side as well.  He felt that the name of Houghton had definitely been important in that process.

The game was a delight too as the underdog Red Wings won a pitcher’s duel over one of Charlotte’s best pitchers.  Red Wing hitters managed just three runs and missed some golden opportunities as always happens in baseball, but it was enough as Red Wing pitchers shut out Charlotte.  The night was perfect for baseball too – lots of sun, just a slight breeze, and not too hot. 

I drove home joyfully with country music blaring, something my wife’s sensitive and classically cultured ears could never endure.

Frontier Stadium, Rochester, NY
Redwings are up
The batter connected

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Church Leadership Journal

Guiding congregational prayer

Over the last several weeks, there has been more than one occasion for our church to join in united prayer as a congregation in various different ways.   Some of them have been ways that we do not see very often.  I thought it might be helpful for me to address in a blog article some of the practices that were in evidence as we prayed together.

Praying for Eric and Magda

This last Sunday, we had the privilege of praying for Eric and Magda and family as we commissioned them for short-term mission service in Romania.   As pastor, I asked for many to gather around them in front at the altar rail as we laid hands on them and prayed for them.   One might ask, “Why do we lay hands on them?”   The short answer is simply that it was done that way in the book of Acts.  For example, when Barnabas and Saul went on their first missions trip the Bible says that the church at Antioch laid hands on them.   “While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”  So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off” (Ac 13:2-3 NIV).   IN the NT, the laying on of hands is also done in conjunction with prayers for receiving the Holy Spirit and prayers for healing.    Since a successful missions trip can only happen as the Holy Spirit empowers, it was natural also to lay hands on them as we prayed for the coming missions trip. 

As we prayed for Erica and Magda I suggested that we all pray out loud at the same time. 

Continue reading “Guiding congregational prayer”

Categories
Church Leadership Forward Look Journal

June messages planned

At Community Wesleyan Church we have a simple six word motto and mission statement:  Love God, Love others, Make disciples.   Each of the three elements is taken directly from Jesus’ instructions to us.  The first two are taken from the two commandments that Jesus identified as the greatest of all the Old Testament commandments.  He also declared that these two summarized all the others.  The third part of our motto is word for word from Jesus’ great commission to his church found in Matthew 28:19.   During the month of June we will be seeking to understand this part of our motto and mission better.    Our message series is titled:  Our Mission — Make Disciples. 

Our Mission – Make Disciples

Date

Sermon Topic

Scripture

A Suggested Hymn

June 3

What is a Disciple?

Matthew 28:16-20

Jesus Calls Us (424)

June 10

Why Make Disciples?

Mark 1:14-39; Acts 1:8

For God so Loved the World (164) 

June 17

How Can I make Disciples – Part 1

2 Cor. 5:11-21

Christ for the World We Sing (498)

June 24

How Can I make Disciples – Part 2

Matthew 5:13-16

The Light of the World Is Jesus (287)
Categories
Church Leadership Journal Joy Notes

Noah’s Ark Christian Preschool Graduation

It was my privilege to attend the graduation ceremonies for Noah’s Ark Christian Preschool this past week.   The three year old ceremony was held downstairs and marked their passage to the next grade.   The four-year-old graduation was held upstairs in the sanctuary.  They dressed in costume to sing songs that go with the Noah’s Ark theme; then they went back to the library  and came out with graduation caps to complete their program.   Mrs. Maum emceed the whole and I closed in a prayer of blessing upon the graduates and their families.  Refreshments capped the evening celebration.   I presented flowers to Mrs. Maum to honor her for her leadership for another year and to Mrs. Kraus and Mrs. LaForte for their faithful work as helpers.   Mrs. Magda Paashaus also taught  in the three year old class for part of this past year until she needed to stop for the birth of her son Andrew.  Noah’s Ark Preschool is a great opportunity to help children prepare for school and for life in a loving  atmosphere where they also learn basic truths of Christian faith.   

snapshot from video of children marching in
the children have fun singing
Mrs Maum and the class
Mrs Kraus helping out
natural light shot of costumes for Noah\'s Ark song

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Journal Joy Notes

Sam visits great grandparents

On Saturday of Memorial Day weekend, my wife and I rode with Mark and Keely and our grandson Sam down to Haskinville and then to Corning so Sam could meet for the first time my mother, Dorothy Jones, and my wife’s father, Rev. Joseph DeSerio.   The trip was made a little more urgent by the fact that my mother’s health has been deteriorating markedly over the past several weeks.   Thank you to all of you who are praying for her. 

God granted us a blessed day in every way.   Everyone was healthy for the day.  Sammy made the trip well and charmed everyone with his smile.   Both my Mom and JoAnne’s Father were having good days as well.   I flashed away with the camera and came away with some memorable shots too.  It was an unusual picture-taking day in that we took four-generation pictures on both sides of our family that same day. 

I was also glad to be able to see my siblings who are caring for Mom – Phil and MarySue and their spouses.   In Corning we also saw JoAnne’s brother Joe, her father’s wife, Lucille, and a family friend, Barb.  These were all happy to see Keely and Mark and Sam too. 

Sam meets my Mom
Mark and Keely and Sam with my Mom
My sister MarySue gets a big smile
Mom talks to Sam
A four generation shot
Mark and Sam with Rev. DeSerio and my wife\'s brother Joe
JoAnne watching Sam
Sam and his Dad with JoAnne, her Father and her brother
A four generation shot
JoAnne\'s Dad talks to Sam

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Categories
Journal Joy Notes

White crowned sparrows this week

Tuesday morning as I was eating breakfast on the porch, I had the privilege watching two white crowned sparrows in my lawn.   They were beautiful plump taiga (boreal forest)  white crowned sparrows.  One was hanging out on the brush pile where I stack the kindling brush for next fall.  The other was nearby busily eating dandelion seeds from newly closed flowers.  It is a treat to see them come through on their migration north.