Today I had the opportunity to preach at one of the Chapels on post. The title to the message the Lord gave me was Here and Now. We looked at Psalms 13, John 14:1-4 and Philippians 3:13-17. In all three of the texts, the writer is either experience a traumatic or life changing event. They are encountering difficulties that Here and Now are big to them.
As we worked through the passages, it was evident that in our times of needs, difficulty, struggles, trial and LIFE, the only constant thing that we can hold on to is...THE LORD IS FAITHFUL!!!
He is our Rock! He is our Fortress! He is our Salvation! He is our Refuge! He is our Anchor! He is our GOD!!! He is EVERYTHING!!!
Because He is, we can rest in the uncertainties of everyday living and life. Julie and Melanie are flying back home to Idstein on standby and even though they didn't make the flight as it was full, I KNOW that the Lord Knows!! I know He is working it out!! He has something else planned that right now we don't see but tomorrow or next week or next year, we will know exactly why.
What is your Here and Now moment? Do you see His hand on you? Leading you? Holding you? Taking you through the times is His opportunity to show Himself a little more to each of us! His will and His way for HIS GLORY!!
I trust that you will find encouragement in the lessons of life as you seek Him for the Here and Now!!
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
When ministry is not only a blessing it is FUN!!
Ministry comes at you in so many different ways and sometimes it is extremely difficulty and challenging. Other times, ministry is not only a blessing it is FUN!! Today was one of the latter!!
After a full morning of PWOC for the ladies in my house and running ministry errands and doings some last minute paperwork, we borrowed a friends suburban and drove home. Now, yes, for a moment I felt like I was back in the states driving a full size suburban and it was FUN!!
Once we arrived at home in Idstein with the suburban, the three of us began to help our german neighbor moving a large armoire as well as her paintings and other boxes. She is moving after living there for over two and half years. We have only known her for four months and it has been great!
We have had several opportunities to practice our Deutsch with her and she her english with us. We will miss that! One thing though, Julie has had the opportunity to have a couple of spiritual conversations with her. She has experienced a lot of heartache and pain but despite losing her son to be with the Lord a couple of years ago, she knows that he is in heaven.
Knowing that, at the end of our day moving and literally wrestling the armoire down 6 half flights of stairs, we made it and got it set in her new house. We really wanted to give her something and I remembered that our friend and team mate, Randy Alcorn and given me copies of his Heaven book and Grace and Truth books in Deutsch. We presented them to her and as she left the flat on final time, she pointed to the title of the Heaven book and said...when I leave here, I will be there too!
With hugs and tears, we really found that ministry was FUN!!!! Hard and emotional but FUN!!! To know that she knows our Jesus, was a real thrill!! We will miss her and now, praying that the Lord brings another good renter to the small studio that Brigett has left vacant. Wish Melanie could rent it...that would be fun for her!!! Oh well, the Lord knows who He wants there that we can minister to as well.
So the next time you think about reaching out to your neighbor, do it!! It is FUN!!!
After a full morning of PWOC for the ladies in my house and running ministry errands and doings some last minute paperwork, we borrowed a friends suburban and drove home. Now, yes, for a moment I felt like I was back in the states driving a full size suburban and it was FUN!!
Once we arrived at home in Idstein with the suburban, the three of us began to help our german neighbor moving a large armoire as well as her paintings and other boxes. She is moving after living there for over two and half years. We have only known her for four months and it has been great!
We have had several opportunities to practice our Deutsch with her and she her english with us. We will miss that! One thing though, Julie has had the opportunity to have a couple of spiritual conversations with her. She has experienced a lot of heartache and pain but despite losing her son to be with the Lord a couple of years ago, she knows that he is in heaven.
Knowing that, at the end of our day moving and literally wrestling the armoire down 6 half flights of stairs, we made it and got it set in her new house. We really wanted to give her something and I remembered that our friend and team mate, Randy Alcorn and given me copies of his Heaven book and Grace and Truth books in Deutsch. We presented them to her and as she left the flat on final time, she pointed to the title of the Heaven book and said...when I leave here, I will be there too!
With hugs and tears, we really found that ministry was FUN!!!! Hard and emotional but FUN!!! To know that she knows our Jesus, was a real thrill!! We will miss her and now, praying that the Lord brings another good renter to the small studio that Brigett has left vacant. Wish Melanie could rent it...that would be fun for her!!! Oh well, the Lord knows who He wants there that we can minister to as well.
So the next time you think about reaching out to your neighbor, do it!! It is FUN!!!
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Offsite office time in a familiar place!
This morning we found ourselves getting up at 0300 hours to take a dear friend to the Frankfurt Hahn airport about an hour and fifteen minutes from our house for a flight he had to England. Well, we brewed a pot of God's brew and went out the door. We made it on time, he made it on time and all is well.
We decided though that we would take the opportunity to have the girls spend the day with a team member of our ministry in Kusel. We stopped in this morning early, caught up, visited and then they were off for a girls day! Window shopping, lunch, thrift store visit and then dinner.
Now you maybe wondering what this has to do with an offsite office time for me...well, I did say "girls time" so I made my way to the Java Cafe where sixteen months ago, it was my office! Coffee, quiet time, ministry prep, sermon prep and just some good old office work!!
That is right, I made my way back today to Baumholder, Germany! Where we began the physical part of our ministry journey to Germany! So, only fitting that after some lesson prep, planning time for the upcoming fall events and a sweet time of Face to Face (F2F) that I would do some office time here!
We were truly blessed that the Lord would allow us to come here over a year ago and be ministered to, minister to others and find a new start to a season of life that is exciting, ever changing and fresh! Ministry with the military has been and will continue to be a solid passion and commitment we are engaged in!
During my prep time, I was reminded that the Lord is faithful in all deeds to all of His people. We have experienced that in so many ways! We know that He is and always will be FAITHFUL!!
Thank you Lord for always being constant, faithful, loving and real! Thank you for allowing us to have this time in our lives to serve You, Your people and those that need to know you! Thank you for the opportunity to minister in so many fun, unique and wonderful ways!! We are Yours and we are glad that you choose to and want to use us!
From an offsite office, thank you ALL for being a part of what the Lord is doing in our lives and the lives of our students and their families!!! Without each of you on our team, Pray, Play and Pay, we couldn't do this!!
We decided though that we would take the opportunity to have the girls spend the day with a team member of our ministry in Kusel. We stopped in this morning early, caught up, visited and then they were off for a girls day! Window shopping, lunch, thrift store visit and then dinner.
Now you maybe wondering what this has to do with an offsite office time for me...well, I did say "girls time" so I made my way to the Java Cafe where sixteen months ago, it was my office! Coffee, quiet time, ministry prep, sermon prep and just some good old office work!!
That is right, I made my way back today to Baumholder, Germany! Where we began the physical part of our ministry journey to Germany! So, only fitting that after some lesson prep, planning time for the upcoming fall events and a sweet time of Face to Face (F2F) that I would do some office time here!
We were truly blessed that the Lord would allow us to come here over a year ago and be ministered to, minister to others and find a new start to a season of life that is exciting, ever changing and fresh! Ministry with the military has been and will continue to be a solid passion and commitment we are engaged in!
During my prep time, I was reminded that the Lord is faithful in all deeds to all of His people. We have experienced that in so many ways! We know that He is and always will be FAITHFUL!!
Thank you Lord for always being constant, faithful, loving and real! Thank you for allowing us to have this time in our lives to serve You, Your people and those that need to know you! Thank you for the opportunity to minister in so many fun, unique and wonderful ways!! We are Yours and we are glad that you choose to and want to use us!
Middle school boys Bible study in Baumholder
Overview of the town and installation of Baumholder
Some of our students from Baumholder 2011
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Only in Germany....
would you find what we did after working at VBS today in Wiesbaden, Germany! We left the post and were heading home on the B455 where they are doing MAJOR roadwork. As we drove into the construction zone, we saw a working sitting in the back of the little BMW station wagon with the hatch open jumping in and out checking on things on the side of the road...no vest, no hard hat...just street clothes...
Then just a bit further up the road, we encountered an amazing site! A worker in his bright orange overalls signaling the oncoming traffic to proceed towards us on their side of the road. No biggie you are thinking...no hard hat, no sign and they were driving UNDER the arm of the excavator as it was parked on my side of the road...reaching across the oncoming lane...digging up dirt for them to lay in the concrete curbs...YES...I said...they drove under while the operator of the excavator had the arm out...working and moving as if there was no one driving under him.
ONLY IN GERMANY!
Oh well, when I go back on post today, if they are still there doing this, I will definitely take a picture and post it. None of us could get our cameras ready in time before we to were flagged on the other side to drive...UNDER the extended and working arm...
Could see that happening in the US???? I don't think so!! I don't believe my friend Dave Turin with Mt Hood Rock would ever do that while working on the highway!! What a site it was!
Just had to share this with you all!
Then just a bit further up the road, we encountered an amazing site! A worker in his bright orange overalls signaling the oncoming traffic to proceed towards us on their side of the road. No biggie you are thinking...no hard hat, no sign and they were driving UNDER the arm of the excavator as it was parked on my side of the road...reaching across the oncoming lane...digging up dirt for them to lay in the concrete curbs...YES...I said...they drove under while the operator of the excavator had the arm out...working and moving as if there was no one driving under him.
ONLY IN GERMANY!
Oh well, when I go back on post today, if they are still there doing this, I will definitely take a picture and post it. None of us could get our cameras ready in time before we to were flagged on the other side to drive...UNDER the extended and working arm...
Could see that happening in the US???? I don't think so!! I don't believe my friend Dave Turin with Mt Hood Rock would ever do that while working on the highway!! What a site it was!
Just had to share this with you all!
Monday, July 9, 2012
A classic way to start a movie!!
The other day, Julie, Melanie and I went to the movie theater the other night to watch a show. We were so impressed with how clean it was in there. We also were so used to having the ads running on the screen for all kinds of things. Then all of a sudden, an ad came up stating that when the National Anthem was placed, it is required by law to stand at attention, remove any head covering place your hand over your heart.
We just figured that was a way that they were telling everyone what to do. They also showed the statute for it and all. "Well that is cool!" we all said. Then we decided that, they should run that ad in all theaters. As a public announcement. Then, out of the blue, the lights went out, the screen went black, then a beautiful rendition of our National Anthem came on with fantastic pictures of the states, people in the military and civilians!! It was amazing...oh and everyone in the theater stood at attention, quiet, sober and with much respect for the flag and the patriots that did, do and will defend it!
Now, imagine if that was something that happened in the very country that we in Germany at Wiesbaden Germany were paying our respect too! I have a feeling, that the country might begin to respond the way it should!!
Oh well, I am thrilled to be an American and proud to say that! So the next time you visit a theater, imagine them starting the movie that way!!! We do here on a military installation...only wish they would back home!
We just figured that was a way that they were telling everyone what to do. They also showed the statute for it and all. "Well that is cool!" we all said. Then we decided that, they should run that ad in all theaters. As a public announcement. Then, out of the blue, the lights went out, the screen went black, then a beautiful rendition of our National Anthem came on with fantastic pictures of the states, people in the military and civilians!! It was amazing...oh and everyone in the theater stood at attention, quiet, sober and with much respect for the flag and the patriots that did, do and will defend it!
Now, imagine if that was something that happened in the very country that we in Germany at Wiesbaden Germany were paying our respect too! I have a feeling, that the country might begin to respond the way it should!!
Oh well, I am thrilled to be an American and proud to say that! So the next time you visit a theater, imagine them starting the movie that way!!! We do here on a military installation...only wish they would back home!
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
The Process...
We have just past the mile marker of being in country doing ministry for just over 3.5 months. It doesn't seem possible but with the help of our Lord and many team members, we are!!!
Just the other day Melanie and I were driving on post to check the mail and then to meet with one of the chaplains we serve here. Melanie said, "Daddy, when you were a boy driving on post with your daddy, did you ever think that you would be serving on a post when you were older?"
In the process of time, life and events, I never ever thought that I would. We love the idea of ministry to the military and with our exposure in years past with Cadence International (formerly Oversea Christians Servicemen Center how I grew up knowing it) I never gave it a thought. As I turned to her and answered I said, "Never crossed my mind! I did always love the fact that my daddy got a salute from almost everyone on post/base because of his rank and that made me feel good and proud!"
I miss the days of riding with my dad on post and having time spent with him. In fact, part of the process of growing up and our military childhood was the Saturday morning trip to the PX, commissary and also the barbershop. For only 50 cents, we would get our buzz cuts and were GI ready. Just the other day, part of the process of living here is finding a barber to cut my hair. So one morning I ventured on post to the PX, went to the barbershop, pulled the customer service ticket and waited for my turn.
Around me were 3 soldiers getting their 'High and Tights' while a dad had his two boys with him. Thought of the days as dad and my 2 older brothers went for our cuts. As I watched them all get their haircuts, I realized that it was just like me...in the process of life...growing, changing and becoming who God wants me to be. Well, it was my turn to sit in the chair and no, no High and Tight for me but the thought did flash by for a minute. As I sat there, I reflected on the process God has and is taking us through to make us who He wants us to be.
In no time, my haircut was done and I was off to do ministry. Now as I look back, even that days event was part of the process we are in.
The process of becoming the children He wants us to be. The process of serving the chaplains He has over here. The process of serving the students and their families each week and daily with ministry. The process of learning to depend on Him more and more.
All in all, the process of being a child on a military installation over 35 years ago, did and has marked me for the ministry we are in! Thanks for being a part of such a vital and crucial ministry.
A bit of a random post today but trust that you can follow the flow and know we are all in the process as we follow Jesus through our lives.
Just the other day Melanie and I were driving on post to check the mail and then to meet with one of the chaplains we serve here. Melanie said, "Daddy, when you were a boy driving on post with your daddy, did you ever think that you would be serving on a post when you were older?"
In the process of time, life and events, I never ever thought that I would. We love the idea of ministry to the military and with our exposure in years past with Cadence International (formerly Oversea Christians Servicemen Center how I grew up knowing it) I never gave it a thought. As I turned to her and answered I said, "Never crossed my mind! I did always love the fact that my daddy got a salute from almost everyone on post/base because of his rank and that made me feel good and proud!"
I miss the days of riding with my dad on post and having time spent with him. In fact, part of the process of growing up and our military childhood was the Saturday morning trip to the PX, commissary and also the barbershop. For only 50 cents, we would get our buzz cuts and were GI ready. Just the other day, part of the process of living here is finding a barber to cut my hair. So one morning I ventured on post to the PX, went to the barbershop, pulled the customer service ticket and waited for my turn.
Around me were 3 soldiers getting their 'High and Tights' while a dad had his two boys with him. Thought of the days as dad and my 2 older brothers went for our cuts. As I watched them all get their haircuts, I realized that it was just like me...in the process of life...growing, changing and becoming who God wants me to be. Well, it was my turn to sit in the chair and no, no High and Tight for me but the thought did flash by for a minute. As I sat there, I reflected on the process God has and is taking us through to make us who He wants us to be.
In no time, my haircut was done and I was off to do ministry. Now as I look back, even that days event was part of the process we are in.
The process of becoming the children He wants us to be. The process of serving the chaplains He has over here. The process of serving the students and their families each week and daily with ministry. The process of learning to depend on Him more and more.
All in all, the process of being a child on a military installation over 35 years ago, did and has marked me for the ministry we are in! Thanks for being a part of such a vital and crucial ministry.
A bit of a random post today but trust that you can follow the flow and know we are all in the process as we follow Jesus through our lives.
Monday, May 28, 2012
Hear the Sounds of Church Bells Ringing!
As I woke up this morning, I (Julie) began to go through our little home and open all the windows to this beautiful day when suddenly the church bells began to ring out in celebration for what seemed like a long time.
I told Jeff, "something special is happening!" So I went to the window to see many people dressed up and pouring in the church right next door to our home. "Something is happening and it is calling everyone to church", I said again.
It's "Shavut!" The Jewish second Pentecost. In Germany this Holy day is called, "Whit Monday"
The first one was where Moses came down with the 10 commandments, where God gad given him the written Word and he found the children of Israel in disobedience to God worshipping the golden calf. 3000 people died that day.
The second Pentecost is where Jesus instructed the disciples to remain in Jerusalem and 50 days after Passover, Jesus would send the Holy Spirit to descend on them with tongues of fire and 3000 came to the Lord and were baptized! This Holy day of Pentecost is where God wrote His Word upon our hearts.
May we remember our Lord and thank Him for giving us His Holy Spirit to dwell in us!!
This is the church next door to us...our home is the top third and fourth floor of the wood structure next door to the Protestant Union Church of Idstein. The dormer windows are our house! "Hear the bells ringing!!!!" Yes we can!!
I told Jeff, "something special is happening!" So I went to the window to see many people dressed up and pouring in the church right next door to our home. "Something is happening and it is calling everyone to church", I said again.
It's "Shavut!" The Jewish second Pentecost. In Germany this Holy day is called, "Whit Monday"
The first one was where Moses came down with the 10 commandments, where God gad given him the written Word and he found the children of Israel in disobedience to God worshipping the golden calf. 3000 people died that day.
The second Pentecost is where Jesus instructed the disciples to remain in Jerusalem and 50 days after Passover, Jesus would send the Holy Spirit to descend on them with tongues of fire and 3000 came to the Lord and were baptized! This Holy day of Pentecost is where God wrote His Word upon our hearts.
May we remember our Lord and thank Him for giving us His Holy Spirit to dwell in us!!
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