It's good to see old Friends

It was a bitter sweet moment on Wednesday night when after my last sermon the Church asked me, Kim, Scott, and Hayley to come to the front so they could lay hands on us, pray, and send us out to minister in Ukraine.  It was definitely the close of one era and the beginning of another.  The plane ride was uneventful, uncomfortable, but uneventful none the less.  I had been warning the team of the long car ride to Rivne after the flight and how hard it would be to stay awake but that we needed to try so that we could get over our jet-lag as soon as possible.  It didn't work we were all zonked out at one time or another, literally unable to keep our eyes open.  When we finally got to our guest homes we all slept like babies wrapped tight in their blankets for about the next 8 to 10 hours.

We all got up and around and went to pick everybody up and found Scott out in the deacon's garden putting pantihose on the sunflowers. I knew, right then, this was going to be a good trip.  God blessed Hayley by letting her stay with one of the pastor's daughters that is also a college student and about the same age.  And Kim and I have the privilege of staying with Pastor Valerie and his family.  They are all sweet people and taking care of us very well.

We went to a pizza shop for lunch and again we couldn't escape the American media that is always playing in the background.  It was not until I started traveling that I realized the power of suggestion that media has on the rest of the world.  I hate the fact that American is the instructor on subjects like materialism and promiscuity, but that is in fact our gift to the rest of the world.  The pizza was good however, and the conversation even better as we talked about how the Lord moves a heart and gives direction to his people.

We came back to the Pastor's house to find ladies mashing potatoes in the kitchen and men firing up the grill.  All the leaders of the Church were gathering for a special meal for us and to talk about some possible changes that are coming to the Church.  The Church is a part of a Brotherhood of Churches and it is hard from one Church to step outside the box and do something different. It causes many questions and sometimes ridicule from the other Churches.  We talked about the reason for change; that it should not be just for the sake of change but for the furtherance of the gospel or goal of the Church.  Traditions are not bad until they hinder the growth of the Church and at that point must be changed for the furtherance of the gospel. We discussed for about 3 hours and with full bellies when to our respective homes for the evening. 

I know there are good things to come as tomorrow we will be speaking in the Churches and encouraging them with God's Word.  Please pray for a moving of the Spirit as we preach and teach this coming week.

A Week in GA

I have spent the last week in Georgia with Kellie getting her ready for school and getting myself ready to move.  I went to the Drivers Licence office and got my new Georgia D.L. That was stranger than I thought it would be, good but strange.  I guess it was just a final step.  I had a wonderful interview with a Church in the area and am excited to see what the Lord will do with me.  I even got my Kroger's plus card and book club card from the local book store.  Now I know I have moved. 

Kellie and I are going to check out a Church this morning I believe the Spirit is going to move on the people and I want to be in that group.  I've had a great time with the family.  We have cooked out and gone to the pool together.  These are things that I haven't got to do with them since I left home when I was 18.  This will be the first time in 25 years that have lived around the family.  I am so excited for that.  I got the house bug while I was here.  There are so many amazing deals on homes right now, it is a bit overwhelming.  I believe God is pointing me to the right one.  Tonight we are supposed to go and look which should be a fun time (if you like that sort of thing). 

With all of the move, my mind is still on Borger and the last bit of details that need to be worked out there.  I have a few more messages to preach as we make the transition from me to Pastor Shawn, and I am excited to preach them.  The Ukraine trip is the last big deal with the team in Borger.  We will be flying out on the 9th of August and returning home on the 27th.  Kim and I are teaching a marriage retreat for the last week of the Trip.

I'm trying hard to stay focused on the tasks at hand.  It is hard to believe that I won't just be visiting here anymore.  In some ways it changes the dinamics of the things you do and the things you say, knowing that these are the people you are now going to live and work with; all of which is healthy.  I hope and pray that everyone has a great time in the house of the Lord today.  I know Scott Cooper will do a fantastic job in the pulpit at Fellowship.  As we say here in Georgia, "Come On Wid It." :)

Let the Lord Guide your Steps

When a person has a stable job in an environment where people love him and he turns in his resignation with no job lined up, people will think that you're crazy.  The only time this would make any since to some would be when God himself comes down and says it time for you to move.  This has happened to me several times now in my journey with the Lord and I am in the midst of one of those times now.

I'm at Signing Hills Youth Camp this week with the young people and it is such a wonderful place for me.  I grew up coming to the camp since I was in Jr. High.  Yesterday, Kim and I were walking around the grounds and I was showing her the trees that I have cried under when I was moved by the Lord in different times in my life.  I preached my first sermon for for a preaching competition here at the camp.  I won awards here.  I was playing basketball on the court one year slipped on the rocks and my shorts turned to shreds.  Pretty funny when there's girls all around and you're 15.  I received my first kiss here from a girl named Kim (not my wife).    I worked up here for a summer after I graduated High School (one of the best summers of my life).  And on this day, June 18th, 24 years ago, I met Kim Umholtz here, my bride for the past 22 years.

Chris Ruzicka is the camp speaker this year.  He served as my associate at Fellowship for 8 years has we were setting the direction and vision of the Church.  He and I were sitting in the counselor's meeting just as proud parents watching the people that we trained not need us anymore.  They got it.  They understand it.  They can do it.  I realized while I was sitting there that it didn't matter if I was there or not.  I have no responsibilities and no one is asking me questions.  This didn't hurt my feeling but rather excited me to no end.  They got this!

While the kids were praising I took a stroll on the nature walk behind the camp.  I have been asking the Lord to guide my steps through this move and he have been faithful to do so.  There is an opportunity that presented itself in Atlanta that I am feeling good about pursuing.  I don't know all the details yet and I'm not sure if it will turn into anything at all but I know God is in control.  As I walked I just shared with Him again how important it is for me that he guide my steps.  I don't want to scramble around trying to make something happen.  That has been my M.O. in the past and I have learned that I just get in the way and muddy the waters of His will.  No, I just want to here from the Lord and follow his command.  His Word promises me that when I put my trust in him that He will direct my path.  These are exciting times in my life.  I feel closer to the Lord than I have in years.  I feel as if I have been born again, "again."  I guess what I'm trying to say is, "My spirit is renewed."