Ongoing Hurricane Response

It seems like the hurricanes (and the wildfires) are fading out of the news, but they have disrupted many lives for the long term. It would be easy to decry the response of the occupant of the White House, but let's not go there. I'd rather look at some people who are helping.


My denomination (American Baptists) has always been mission-minded. In fact, it was formed to support missionaries.

The day after Hurricane Maria slammed Puerto Rico, the American Baptist Home Mission Societies launched a long-term initiative to help the people there. Questioned as to why Puerto Rico over other places, they replied:

We certainly hold the other US territories and nations impacted by the numerous natural disasters of the last few weeks in our thoughts and prayers. Next week, ABHMS disaster response director will be going on a needs assessment trip across the Gulf Coast and Florida as well as Puerto Rico. We will be posting regular updates here and on our website at abhms.org. I invite you to follow along. In addition to Puerto Rico, we expect to be coordinating recovery efforts in Florida and Texas, but needs are still being assessed. We expect to have a clearer picture of our response after the needs assessment trip next week. Our pledge to Puerto Rico is a long-term commitment. Puerto Rico is where a large American Baptist infrastructure — including 114 American Baptist churches, an American Baptist seminary and a community center — and a historic partnership allow us to have an immediate and sustainable impact.

"An immediate and sustainable impact." They want to be in this for the long haul. Indeed, I have been following the blog posts of the ABHMS team which is touring Texas, Louisiana, Florida, and Puerto Rico -- "6,100 Miles, Seven Days" Here is more on what they are doing:

Rebuild, Restore, Renew Puerto Rico


Our International Ministries people have a presence in Puerto Rico as well. The American Baptist Men have disaster teams in various places. Most of our churches are appealing to their congregants to give to One Great Hour of Sharing, a charity which has already released thousands to hurricane affected areas.

Our denomination is moving, doing what it can where it can, and trusting that God will send others to supply the needs of those we can't reach.  We don't have the resources on our own. But we aren't alone -- others are working to.  We can't do it all. Christians need each other. Humans need each other.

I appeal to you to do what is set before you. Pray. Give. Go. We can all do something.

Have a blessed day.




 I amparticipating on the October 2017 Ultimate Blog Challenge. A blog post every day in October. #blogboost

More Beginnings

Well, today is the beginning of Fall. A new season - my favorite actually because of the colors and temperatures. For me that is all it is. A turn of the calendar, a change of season. But each new beginning, each change of season, makes me consider time and how precious it is.


I also took a step on what may be a new journey today. I sent in my resume for a job. A temporary, part-time ministry job. I don't know if I will be offered the position, but I felt God encouraging me to knock on the door. I am seeing it as part of the discernment process for my future work. With the homeschooling journey ending, I'll be starting something new this time next year. Hoping to figure out what it is. So I begin and try to trust God for the journey.

So, what's new with you?

Meme-ic Monday: Micah 6:8

So much violence. Gays are targeted, blacks are targeted, police officers are targeted. And that's just from what made the national news in one country over a short period of time.

If we think globally, it's even easier to be "daunted."

The devil wants to stir up chaos and division, to make the Church a target of hate and suspicion.

The answer to that is to follow Micah 6:8, as described in this meme, and to pray. Always to pray.


Go to do justly, love mercy and walk humbly with your God. That is what is required of us.



Be a blessing! And have a blessed day.





Micah 6:8 in context



I have learned much about doing justly, loving mercy and walking humbly with God in my years with the Christian Youth Conference at Ocean Park. It's a fabulous experience for high school teens. Two weeks in August, in southern Maine. Still slots available for 2016!

Song for Sunday: Three Little Birds (Every Little Thing Gonna Be Alright

I spent the weekend at my job for the School of Ministry. One of the students, Linda, offered a neat devotional on Bob Marley's song "Three Little Birds."

THe song reminded her of the passage in Matthew 6 that says:

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life[a]?
28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendorwas dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

The two go very well together and the devotion was a much needed reminder.

Thanks, Linda.

In the time of waiting.

There are many times of waiting in life.. sometimes whole seasons....


Waiting to see if they'll call

Waiting for the baby to be born

Waiting to hear if a loved one landed safely

Waiting for a spouse to get home from deployment

Waiting to hear if your child made the wise choice

Waiting for the test results

Waiting for the college's decision

Waiting for the doctor's call

Even waiting for someone to take the last breath. (Those who have seen a loved one through  hospice care can understand this one.)

Sometimes we are waiting for good things, sometimes sad events. Other times we are waiting for answers and do not know whether we will be rejoicing or mourning.

I find that, for me, it's easy to slip into an anxious state in the time of waiting. I worry, I overthink, I am tempted to fear the worst. But that is not what we are meant to do. We are meant to trust and, by trusting, to wait in peace.

*Sigh* I wish it were easier. Often I wonder how we are cast our cares upon Jesus and leave them with him. Through prayer, through imagination.. .but what of the times when these don't work? We need to learn to rest in God, but the specifics escape me sometimes.
Here's hoping I'll learn...


How are you with waiting?

Letting God Work

This story came to mind.

Two alcoholics in Britain attended a revival meeting and committed their lives to Jesus. Years later they met. The first said, "Since that night, praise God, I have never wanted a drink." The other said, "Since that night I have wanted a drink every single day but, praise God, He has given me the strength to resist every time."

This story may be apocryphal, but I do know people have given very similar testimonies. It shows how God works differently with each person.

Then I remembered this old story from the youth conferene I voluneer for (now called CYC.) It shows how God can work through love and acceptance to change a life -- and was just one example of this at the conference. It was described by Rev. John Douhan, quoted in Christian Youth Conference: A History.

Where else does a young man appear on his first day of camp, draped over the fence at the girls' camp, with cigarettes in each hand and puffing so much that he appears to be in a cloud? The staff did not admonish, did not scold, and gave no lectures on the health benefits of quitting. By the third day he was down to one cigarette and by the fourth day there were none! Following his three years at the Conference, he entered the service of his country and served as a Chaplain's assistent. 

Then I started reading the book The Core Realities of Youth Ministry by Mike Yaconelli and came across this quote from youth worker Heather Flies:

    During our end-end-of-junior-high trip, all the students are required to give testimonies of their faith. We encourage them to be authentic and specific. Typically, the testimonies begin, "I grew up in a Christian home and accepted Christ when I was 3 1/2 years old..." One year though, toward the end of the testimonies, Ted stood to give his. In about six minutes he genuinely explained that he had not yet put his faith in Christ and wasn't sure if he would do it. at this points looks of shock and anxiety spread across the faces of my other students. Immediately following our session, many came up to me and said, "We have to do something! Should we all write him notes?" They wanted so much to fix Ted.      Instead of starting a letter-writing campaign, I encouraged them to do what they were already doing --loving and accepting Ted and letting Christ's light shine through them, to be present for him so he could experience God's presence. "That's it?" they asked. "Yep."    God is still working on Ted and my kids are still working to let God work on Ted. 

I sense a theme here.. a message from God to me, perhaps. "Love." "Be present so others can sense my presence." "Let me work." 

Time for some meditaton, some self-evaluation, some prayer.


What messages has God been sending you?














CYC, the Christian Youth Conference at Ocean Park, provides a safe place and loving, accepting community for teens to meet God and experience Christian community. Check it out!

Forgive: What Should I Forgive?

What should I forgive? Short answer: any offenses.

None of us is beyond God's mercy, so noone should be beyond ours.

So do we forgive someone who steals from us?

Someone who rapes?

Someone who harms our children?

Compared to those the everyday offenses of forgetting to do the laundry, leaving the gas tank empty or spreading rumors seem tame.

God says:

Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.   (Romans 12: 17-21)

We need to let God handle things and give us perspective.  Take gossip. Someone says something unkind and spreads it around.  Stand before God. Realize the things you have done and what this person could really have said about you. What they are saying becomes small by comparison.Practice in the small things, so that if you ever face a tougher situation, you'll be ready.


Trust God that he knows how to help you and that he will. After all, he forgave his murderers.

Some more reading:

Forgiving Little Things

Forgiving a Rapist

Forgiving a Murderer (When it's your son)



On this one-year anniversary of the kidnapping of the scbool girls from Chibok, Nigeria here are statements of forgiveness in unimaginably hard situations.

Forgive them, say girls who escaped Boko Haram

Nigeria: Did You Forgive?



What examples of forgiveness have you seen?


Previous posts in this series: Forgiveness Thoughts and Quotes, Forgiveness - Definition, Forgiveness: The Who of It.


This is my 13th post for the April 2015 Ultimate Blog Challenge.

Ongoing Prayers

There's nothing to report, I guess, so the Nigerian girls are largely fading out of the news.

The thing is, they are still out there, real girls, needing help.

I do not pretend to know what governments, NGOs and traditional hunters should do. Many people are pressuring the authorities to hurry up and find and rescue those girls. The authorities have reminded people that it will do no good to rescue them if the rescue ends in their deaths.


I do know that there are frightened girls, hurting families, uncertainty.

I also know that God is aware of all that and that He does know what is best.

So I keep praying for Kume. (See more here.) I pray for her protection, for her family and for her classmates. I pray for the authorities and, yes, even for the Boko Haram, that they may release the girls unharmed.

I hope I do not forget as the days drag on and there is little to report.

Please keep praying, too.

Taking Risks

There are always risks in travel and more in traveling to developing nations.

We have found a few risks.

I have not, as people insisted I would, needed to watch my son every second. When he got bored at the celebrations (there were some long sessions - giving out awards, extended sermons, etc., all in Burmese) he went to other places in the compound. He could visit stalls, look at the exhibition, or use the computer in the seminary president's office. It is a very safe place, full of Baptists. The worst that happened was that he got his picture taken about 10 million times by people not used to seeing a white child. Outside the compound I have been more vigilant, although at our guest house he can go down to the lobby on his own.

Food, of course, requires care. Jordan took a calculated risk tonight and ate a club sandwich with raw vegetables. At a fine hotel that caters to westerners, though, so most likely not a problem. I'll let you know tomorrow when I post more about food.

Driving is an adventure. There aren't always seatbelts and it's a "blow & go" system. Lean on the horn and pass. Pedestrians have to get out of the way. We have a local driver; we are not crazy enough to get behind the wheel ourselves. Still, it's nowhere near as safe as driving at home.

Then, there is the fire risk. The electrical systems, including the one at our guest house, appear dodgy. There is only one way in and out and that is gated and locked at night. It's worrying.

This trip, though, is thoroughly worth the risks. We have met amazing people and seen wonderful sights. We have been blessed and hope that we have been a blessing. We are learning so much, too! We will have many things to report about ministries, needs, prayer requests, etc when we come back.

As I said, it's worth the risk and we trust that if God called us here he will bring us safely home.

We are all a bit ill, sharing a virus, but it doesn't seem to be a horrible one. Just a tough cold.

We do ask your prayers for our health and safety.

And God bless your day!!

Song for Sunday: He Leadeth Me

"I can't complain but sometimes I still do." 

                                              ~ Joe Walsh

A friend of mine posted this as as his Facebook status, going on to say that he knows he has nothing to complain about because God has blessed him and that he is grateful that  forgiveness is always available when he complains anyway. This struck me because it is very true of me as well. 

Then, in church this morning, we sang "He Leadeth Me. The lines that caught my attention was "Nor ever murmer nor repine. Content whatever lot I see since 'tis my God that leadeth me." 

I am reminded of an activity the staff at CYC did one year. At "Staff-in," our one day orientation before the students arrive, we were given rubber bracelets. We were told that anytime we complained, we were to move our bracelets from one wrist to the other. It was meant as an awareness technique and I think it did some good. Most of us kept it up for the whole two weeks. 

Anyway, He Leadeth Me is a beloved hymn for many and today's "Song for Sunday." 

He leadeth me, O blessèd thought!
O words with heav’nly comfort fraught!
Whate’er I do, where’er I be
Still ’tis God’s hand that leadeth me.

He leadeth me, He leadeth me,
By His own hand He leadeth me;
His faithful follower I would be,
For by His hand He leadeth me.

Sometimes mid scenes of deepest gloom,
Sometimes where Eden’s bowers bloom,
By waters still, over troubled sea,
Still ’tis His hand that leadeth me.

He leadeth me, He leadeth me,
By His own hand He leadeth me;
His faithful follower I would be,

For by His hand He leadeth me.

Lord, I would place my hand in Thine,
Nor ever murmur nor repine;
Content, whatever lot I see,
Since ’tis my God that leadeth me.

He leadeth me, He leadeth me,
By His own hand He leadeth me;
His faithful follower I would be,

For by His hand He leadeth me.

And when my task on earth is done,
When by Thy grace the vict’ry’s won,
E’en death’s cold wave I will not flee,
Since God through Jordan leadeth me.

He leadeth me, He leadeth me,
By His own hand He leadeth me;
His faithful follower I would be,
For by His hand He leadeth me.

                           ~Joseph H. Gilmore, 1862

                             In the public domain

What lines from songs have been standing out for you?

Any thoughts on complaining?

Knitter's Devotional: Faithfulness

I am writing a knitter's devotional and would love feedback on this entry. Constructive criticism on content, clarity, readability and grammar welcome. Thank you.

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Sometimes, knitting can be a slog. We get to point where we just don't want to continue with a project. It's tedious or difficult or taking extra time. If we persevere, though, we will have the reward of knowing we were faithful to complete the task. We might also have the joy of knowing that someone is grateful for our gift.

Sometimes, the Christian life can be a slog. It's hard to keep going. We don't want to live for God instead of ourselves. We want to give up, to take the easy route, to succumb to the temptations around us. The hope and rest promised by those things, however, is false. What God  offers is real. Therefor, faithfulness is to our benefit.

If we are faithful, we will be rewarded. We know that we will receive the blessings of Heaven. We will know that others benefit. We will know again the joy of communion with Christ.

It's not always easy to stay faithful. God, through Paul, promises that if we run with perseverance the race set before us, we will reach the goal of full fellowship with God and His people. Sometimes it's a joy. Sometimes, we just have to push through, trusting that our faithfulness will be worth it in the end. In Hebrews, Paul gives us a list of faithful people like Noah, and Moses, and Rahab. They followed God and received their rewards. May we do the same.

Dear God, You are ever faithful to your followers. Help us also to be faithful to you. In Jesus name, Amen.


Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

                                                                       ~   Hebrews 12:1-3

“Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness.

                                                                       ~ Joshua 24:14


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I am participating in the October 2013 Ultimate Blog Challenge. The goal is to write 31 posts in 31 days. This is number one.

Knitter's Devotional: Patience

I am in the midst of writing a knitter's devotional and this is one entry. I would love feedback.

When I read A Tale of Two Cities in high school, my English teacher explained that Dickens portrayed Madame Defarge as a knitter to show that she was patient. She was willing to work and wait for her plans of justice and bloodthirsty plans to come to fruition.

Knitting certainly does take patience. Projects take time and effort to be completed well. Knitting can also help develop patience as we work slowly toward a goal. We learn over time to plan our projects, leaving ample time.

Patience is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit listed in Galatians 5, listed with joy, kindness and the others.  It is also a characteristic of God.  The Bible tells us:

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9

 The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, ⁷ maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished... Exodus 34: 6b - 7a

It has been suggested that people not pray for patience because then God will send trials to teach it. I think that it is good to pray for the fruits of the Spirit, including patience. God will teach us in the way that is best for us. 

Patient and loving God, Teach us patience that we may be more like You. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Has knitting helped you to learn patience?

Real Diversity

As I mentioned in my last "Song for Sunday" post I spent the end of last week at the Massachusetts Baptist Multicultural Ministries' Intercultural Conference and Multicultural Festival.

I also mentioned in that post we had been reminded there that real diversity is hard. The U.S. is on the way to having no majority ethnic in the fairly near future. The American Baptist Churches USA is already at that point.. We count people of multiple races, cultures and ethnicities in our churches, ministries and missions program. We hope to set an example for the future U.S. and be a beacon of how to manage diversity well.

But it's not easy.

So at this conference, we worshipped and ate together. We enjoyed music and dance from each others'  cultures. We witnessed a beautiful multi-church believer's baptism service, with six candidates making a public profession of faith in Jesus Christ. And we talked.

We talked about how to get along, how to share ministry, how to overcome barriers.

Language of course is one barrier. Within the US, English will eventually be the "lingua franca" that will allow us to communicate with each other to a point, but new immigrants and refugees will often need their native languages at first. Also, many people new to English will wish to, and should,  worship in their "heart languages."

Still their is much we can do together, especially outside the doors of the church. We don't need to have the same first language to serve together.

Another barrier is -- well, cultural differences. Sure they are rich and we want to celebrate them, but they can also lead to misunderstandings. Fear of making a misstep, being misunderstood or causing insult unintentionally will sometimes -- often-- keep us from interacting with another culture. At my table at the "Conversation Café" we discussed the need to be willing to take risks and engage with a new group. We also talked about the receiving group needing to be willing to offer grace -- something Christians should be good at.

One speaker talked about what she considers to be the main ingredient for successful multicultural ministry -- maturity. We all need to be willing to step back, especially when we feel we have been hurt. We need to ask ourselves, was that meant to be hurtful or does that action or phrase mean something else in their culture? Are they trying to be difficult or do they just have a different way of doing things, a different view of time or a different method of conversing?

Here's the thing: we aren't trying to make everyone the same. We don't want  a melting pot, we want a tapestry with various cultures maintaining their unique identities even while we are being woven into a whole. So we need to interact with each other on that basis.

And we can. I know we can. Besides, it'll be good practice for Heaven where:

".... I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb[Jesus]. " 
                                                                                                    ~Revelation to John 7:9


God's kingdom will be and already is multicultural.



What has been your experience worshiping, serving and interacting with other cultures?

Two Steps Forward, One Step Back.

I am seriously considering writing a knitting devotional and would love feedback. 

I found a problem with my knitting, an extra stitch, I think, so I took out a few rows. When I put the stitches back on the needle and counted them, there weren’t enough. I found the two dropped stitches and took out a few more rows, but it still wasn’t right. In the end I took out 33 rows. Very frustrating.

At that 33^rd row, I found a weird mistake. The yarn was knotted into one stitch in the middle of the row. When I released it, I found the other end was attached to a stitch about 20 stitches away.

I began knitting again from there, and things went smoothly for a very long time. I was able to reknit what I had taken out and continue to the end of the panel without any real difficulty.

Life can be like that sometimes. Two steps forward, one step back. Frustration after frustration. Whether we are trying to organize a room, start a business, repair a relationship or knit a scarf, things don’t always go smoothly.

Sometimes it’s just a matter of putting our heads down and pushing through.

Other times, we have to look back and see where the difficulty started. Perhaps if we find and correct an error, things will begin to go right.

            Have we not defined what we want to use the room for well enough?

            Have we forgotten a step in starting the business?

            Do we have a selfish motive for fixing that friendship?

            Is there a fault in the knitting pattern?

            In any situation, have we failed to include God in our plans?

 Remember, it is when we trust in Him with all our hearts and acknowledge Him in all our ways that He will smooth the path for us.

"....being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Philipians 1:6

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight."  Proverbs 3:5-6

Other posts in this series are:  Redo, A Beautiful Pattern, and Blessings for Baby Things

I am participating in the January 2013 Ultimate Blog Challenge. 

Do You Have Other Children?

It seems to be happening more right now. People have been asking, "Do you have more children?" "Is he your only?"

I struggle with answering that. 

I am raising one child. However, I have five. Four are in Heaven, having died before they were born, for reasons the doctors haven't been able to figure out. 

So when I am asked, "Do you have other children?" I want to say, "not living;" or "yes, waiting for me in Heaven." 

Sometimes, I do, if the person asking seems to be genuinely interested in my history.   

Usually, though, it's easier to answer as if I am the mom of singleton. It requires less explanation and I don't want to seem as though I am being overdramatic or making a bid for attention. Certainly, I don't want to make someone who has asked an obviously friendly question feel upset or ashamed. It's not a bad question either, I don't think people should stop asking it of others. 

It's just that, sometimes, I feel a bit like I am betraying my other children when I don't mention them.

              -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

One year, I lost a baby in March that would have been due in August. This was my third miscarriage, and I had carried halfway under the care of a specialist. We discovered that the baby had died at the twenty week ultrasound. I had already planned not to attend CYC, the conference of the youth ministry I volunteer for, because I was supposed to be on the maternity ward. This wonderful community not only made room for me but surrounded me with a depth of love and care that still amazes me when I think of it. Everyone -- yes the men, too -- offered support, prayer, hugs and extra childcare for Jordan without my ever asking. I was afraid to approach one woman, who had lost three babies after birth, feeling she had suffered so much more. On Commitment Night she was a prayer partner. When I went over to her, she threw her arms around me, reassured me, and prayed fervently, fully understanding my loss. 


At times though,I feel as though there are people who just want women to "get over" miscarriages quickly. I have known of groups where they were considered unimportant, basically something to be ignored. If there is a point of education to this blog, it's this: When you have carried a life within you, however briefly, it's loss brings real grief. 

Erma Bombeck was an auther and comedianne. She could find humor in almost anything, but this is what she said of her miscarriage:

           I lost the baby.....

...As I lay there mumbling “I am so sorry,” the guilt was unbearable. Feelings of self-recrimination came and went like waves of nausea. 

I had now joined a group of women who had to give a child back. They look like other women and they function like other women. But there is an emptiness inside of them that never goes away. At any given time of year when no one knows what they are talking about, they will look wistful and remark that the baby would be three years old today, or five, or ten. They play with the probabilities...the would have beens...could have beens... should have beens... and forever question, "Why?"

The babies would have been 12, 11, 8 and 5. I know they are waiting for me in a perfect place, but I really wish they were here.



Do you have a story of loss to share?







I am participating in the January 2013 Ultimate Blog Challenge.

Something Bigger

It's an amazing thing to be a part of something bigger than yourself.

I realized that last Saturday night as I was at an alumni Reunion for School of Methods/NEBYC/CYC. There were people there of all ages -- the jr. staff stopped by and we had alumni from the 1940s present. That in itself was a joy.

At one point, we had a spontaneous Judson (men) -Hasseline (women) sing-off. A song leader from the 70s and a few current ones lead us. People who had never met -who attended Conference decades apart --were singing the same songs in the same way. Some were songs you would never find outside our community (Hasseltine, We Hail Thee), others we have put our own unique twist on. It was fun. It also gave a sense of continuity and tradition.

Our conference has taken a hit because of the economy lately. Numbers have been down, and people have been getting nervous about our viability. But I was reminded that this is hardly the first time. God has been faithful before, He will be faithful again.

One of the songs we sang last Saturday came form the 1970s (and is no longer sung). It  included the lines:

"Oh the buildings fall down around us
But we still can wear a smile
For we all know that Ocean Park
Will be here for a while"

The buildings aren't falling down around us anymore, though they still need some work. (We don't actually own them anymore, we transferred them to another, related organization which lets us rent them.)

Things are actually looking up. We were bigger this year than last. We have made new contacts, opened new doors. We are excited.

And we still know that Ocean Park will be here for a while.


Have you been part of an ongoing community?

Re -start

I am home from CYC,  off hiatus and back to blogging.

Now, how do I explain the last two weeks? I can't possibly, not in any meaningful way, so over the next few days, I'll just tell a few stories and post a video or two. Someone asked me for stories of victory, so I will start with one of those.

I'll tell you about a camper who arrived anxious and homesick. When I say anxious, I don't mean run of the mill anxious. I mean the "I can't quite function" type anxious.  He was feeling lost and not quite sure what to do in any given situation. He needed some extra support.  He kept asking to go home. His parent said "no".

His counselor worked with him. The camp nurse did all she could. His teachers tried. Some of us put our professional skills into action. We enacted some advice from his family. We all prayed.  But by the middle of camp, some of us felt we should simply send him home. Others were on the fence. First thing second Monday morning, we were ready to make the decision, but decided to ask his counselor first.

His reply: "Yesterday, I would have sent him, but last night he was laughing and joking in the cabin and intereacting with the other campers. Let's keep him."

So we did. It took some extra effort but we kept moving in the right direction. He was so proud of one of his accomplishments, that he sent the original home to his parents.

There was one more major incident that took a ton of effort but, by the end of the conference, he was friendly, occasionally confident, and even laughing regularly. He was talking about coming back. A victory for sure.

His wasn't the only story of transformation. We have several dramatic stories that ended well.

It's what comes of letting God work through our community and it is amazing to be a part of it.

Have you ever witnessed a transformation wrought by God's power?






CYC is a two week conference for teenagers that exists to strengthen the Christian faith of young people. We meet the middle two weeks in August on the beautiful southern coast of Maine and have smaller events in New England throughout the year.

Jesus loves....

I saw a bumper sticker this morning which read:

Remember: Jesus loves all the people you hate. 

Based on the other bumper sticker on the car, I think this was probably aimed at a particular political group, which makes it a bit tinged with irony, but political agendas is not where I am going.

That statement is arresting. Of course, Christians aren't supposed to hate others -- only evil. We're supposed to love.  There is temptation to hate though.


Think about it. That statement means that Jesus loves:


People who disparage our ministry, thwart us at work, dismiss our opinions, or militantly hold political or theological views that are radically different from our own.

It means He loves those who:

Who walked out on us when they shouldn't have or when they had no obligation to stay but we wanted them to, who have lied to us, who have caused us harm


And He calls us to love them, too.

What does that love look like? There is no easy answer to that. It will look different in every case. It will mean forgiveness, and perhaps repentance, on our parts. Sometimes it will mean listening when we know we are right or acting to help someone with whom we disagree.

It does not mean staying in physical danger from flying fists and drunken tirades, but it does mean seeking the best for all the people in our lives even when that is uncomfortable or requires confrontation .

It's challenging. It's downright hard. But it must be done.








I will be exploring this and other themes at the Christian Youth Conference at Ocean Park beginning on August 5. Still room for teens to join us on the beautiful southern coast of Maine!!

Making Disciples

I am in school again. Right now my class is reading the book Traveling Together: A Guide for Disciple Forming Congregations by Jeffrey D. Jones.

This isn't going to be a review of the book, though I do recommend it.

What I want to talk about is how God puts resources we need in our paths. This year at CYC we are focusing on the great commission

¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

So a book on disciple making is very appropriate for me just now. Not only that, but we are putting this theme verse in a "traveling" context. Our theme is GPS: God's Positioning System.



This year, too, I am more mindful of the conference's purpose as a disciple-making community so the book is doubly appropriate.

^{This isn't the first year this has happened. I remember at least three other years when a theme-related book came to me from a source unrelated to the conference and gave me ideas.}

^{When has God provided you with just the right resource?}

^{This is my 28th post for the Ultimate Blog Challenge.}

Garden

I planted a vegetable garden for the first time this year. Some of the plants are doing well, others not so well. Good thing we like green beans.

My garden also has some plants I can't identify. Most likely, many of them are weeds, but I can't tell them apart from some of the plants I direct sowed into the garden. Every time someone who knows about gardening comes over, I ask them to look at my beds and tell me what they think are weeds. But I am afraid to pull too much up, in case I remove something that might produce good food.

It reminds me of the parable of the weeds in Matthew 13. Somewhat. Of course, an enemy didn't sow in my garden. And the farmer in the parable didn't pull the weeds because he didn't want to uproot the wheat, not because he didn't know which plants were weeds.

God knows who the good and evil people are. This parable seems to tell us that, at least in some cases, he is letting evil people be so as not to uproot or harm good people. It's an interesting idea to get our heads around, especially when we hear of shootings and dictators.

It makes me wonder, and meditate and pray.

God has said "Vengeance is mine, I will repay." So when we face evil we are to return it with good. God assures us that in the end the "wheat" will be gathered in and the "weeds" cast out. Of course, the analogy only goes so far. Weeds can't turn into wheat, but through Christ evil people can be turned to the good. I pray that it will be so.



This is my 21st post for the Ultimate Blog Challenge.