Four Years After

Preparations for this morning's church service were completed about two hours ago. It has been a very restless night for my spirit, and I'm not sure why. As I sit here listening to the radio I hear the messages of remembrances of all whose lives were touched by an incident that occurred in our nation's history. Forever life as we knew it changed. Looking back I see other incidents that have impacted me this way. The death of President Kennedy, the tumultuous end of the Vietnam War, The impact Desert Storm had on those of us serving congregations out here on the prairie, events that are in a heartbeat both inescapable, and past, over, done. My mind tells me we move on, but I know that we don't! As a nation we have a collective memory that stretches back to the days before there were states, before there were European settlers, colonists, and those who sought only gold. Now, four years after the most recent life changing event that is marked on our yearly calendar, we look back on how things were before. I suppose the connectedness that we feel with the past is a good thing. Personally, I think of it in the same manner I examine photos in the lens as they are taken, and on the 'puter after they're downloaded, and on the prints when received. Some pics are looked at over and over again, first close up and then zooming out to gain perspective. Most days we are zoomed way out on the events and lives that changed four years ago, but today we are zoomed in tight. We will look at moments that changed everyone forever, even while we are in the midst of another catastrophic event in our nation's history. Her name is Katrina, and there will come a day when we will zoom far back from the scenes that erupt in our minds. We will draw close only on rare occasions. This will have the distinct advantage of insulating us from our emotions! It will depend, of course, on how great the effect of the event had on us, personally. I look forward to both times, the close up, and the zoom out. They both have their place in our photo albums, and in our hearts. Tonight I will sleep well. Today I'll zoom in on the events along with others who experienced them in a multitude of ways. Rear Admiral, Grace Hopper, puts it like this, "Life was simple before World War II. After that we had systems." In Christ's Love, Preacher.

Searching For Peace In A World Of Unrest?

Aren't we all looking for that moment of peace when our hearts can simply rest? It's not easy to find anywhere that I've been lately. This afternoon I had some time to spend with a colleague with whom I am usually in agreement about most things concerning the spiritual realms. I pointed out at least three times that he needed to read 2nd Peter, Chapter 4. Never once did he inform me that there are only 3 chapters in 2nd Peter, and I should have been better informed. What I was looking for in my aging memory was 1st Peter, chapter 4. We were talking(as many are these days)about the flood and the ramifications for our various faith perspectives. Has God punished New Orleans? Wow! Why would God stop there if He was going to do some shaking here in the United States. Surely there are places just as deserving of His mighty anger and complete chastisement. I have to laugh at the way some folks try to influence others with their knowledge of God's personality. Peter wrote (4:18) "If the righteous man is scarcely saved, where will the impious and sinner appear?" The whole chapter is so moving that I find myself in total agreement with the author... (5:6-9)"Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that in due time He may exalt you. Cast all your anxieties on Him, for He cares about you. Be sober, be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking some one to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experience of suffering is required of your brotherhood throughout the world." It seems to me that for us to be at peace in this life we have to learn to trust God so much that we don't ask how things happen, or why they happen. It is enough to know that they do, and we may never understand in this lifetime. Be at peace with your creator, your God, at all times, and give heed to His spirit which will quicken your heart to a fullness of understanding in His time. I think God's timing is always perfect, much better than mine, to be sure! Let not your heart be troubled, and seek the peace that surpasses all understanding that you might live in the light of hope. Remember that saying, "When you find that God is all you've got, you'll learn that God is all you need!"
Thousands are discovering this truth in their own lives as they relocate to new homes far from the destruction and devestation in our southern states. WWJD is an acronym (?) that we see quite often. I think He and His Father are very happy with how America is responding to the needs of her people. I've also noticed in the media that after things are over, done with, finished, there are always those whose only goal is criticize what went down as events unfolded. People are human, they are fallible. Isn't it enough to have been blasted by nature? Or must we now be attacked on every front for how someone says they would have done things differently.
There will always be those who can see better facing the opposite direction(looking back),and usually they are going nowhere in particular. Like an ancient hunter once told me, "look where you're shootin' and shoot where you're lookin'." If you're seeking peace in this life look to the leader that is out front showing the way, not all them folks that are telling you where we've been and what coulda, mighta, shoulda, if, if, but, and so on & on & on! In Christ's(THE LEADER)Love, Preacher.

"Strangr Pilgrm" is the name of the group! All the way from Montana they come to do service in Christ and share the fellowship eternal to be found in His blessings. 

The Blessings Of Brothers And Sisters From Butte, MT!

Many thanks to Elisha, John, Bruce, Charlie, and Susan who continue to bring exciting new music to the Jericho Camp stage each year. Their CDs are available, and they are the most creative christian presentations I have ever had the pleasure of hearing. Maybe it's the air up there, or the constant studies in God's word, but these guys are great! Their walk and their witness of Christ's presence in hearts devoted to His "Great Commission" are a source of inspiration to all who know them. Everything about their lives can be summed up quite simply. They carry the message of the gospel to coffee houses, stages, and performance centers across their state and several others, always with a single purpose, sharing fellowship in Christ is good! There is no other way, and when the race is finished let us be among those who are greeted, "Well done, my good and faithful servant!" God bless, Preacher.

Sharing God's Word

My wife and I often marvel at how blessed our lives are! The first performance of original music off the new CD was performed in Sturgis(That was God's plan, not ours and He has really great timing). We shared that stage, as God led, with so many wonderfully talented people that I'll never be able to get them all in this blog. It is enough to be able to share the news of how great our God is and the miracles that are being performed every day, not in music, but in the saving of individual lives from an existence that leads to death. In Christ's Love, Preacher.

World's "Fastest" Guitar Picker & Fatihful Sidekick!

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Talk about strumming up a storm! In the midst of Sturgis 2005 we once again had the pleasure of Dennis on stage playing his guitar, and sharing the message of faith in Christ. I could do chapter and verse on the Harley he rides, but that isn't the important stuff that was happening the nights he was with us. The main player on our stage is God, first, last, and always! Dennis had just returned from several weeks overseas with the Franklin Graham Crusade and brought a message of hope for our world. The only message that really matters, the one of God's saving Grace and the blood of the lamb that was shed for our sin. I look forward to working next year with the folks Dennis brings to camp. Every year it's a little different, and every year it's a lot the same, Christ is proclaimed boldly to all who come! God bless, Preacher.

Preacher: "Thoughts On The Fuel Costs."

It's hard to remain under the covering of "christian" views on life when you do any amount of traveling these days. It seems that greed is evident in all walks of life, not just in the devestation left by Katrina. People are busy about the business of "doing business" and a lot of that, for the greater portion these days, has to do with taking as much advantage of the situation as possible for the extra dollars to be gained through the practice of "price gouging." I guess I was unaware until this week of how that actually works with people. My guess is if we had a shortage of bread out here on the Great American Desert the type of individual who practices this type of profiteering would up the price to about $3.00 for your everyday plain white pound of bread. When put like that it sounds terrible, doesn't it? After all, these are folks that live in the community with us. They worship in our churches, their children go to school with our children and grandchildren. They're our neighbors, but not when it comes to a buck! It saddens my spirit to know that gas is still at $2.99 a few miles away while right here in town, delivered by the same trucks the prices average between 30 and 40 cents a gallon higher. How does one sit down to dinner and give thanks for all God has done for their lives, and while they eat consider the next increase that will further line their pockets. This week I ponder the way people do business. I fully understand that during the rally when we have hundreds of thousands of tourists moving around in South Dakota that everyone expects to pay an extra 10 to 15 percent for their gas. I've come to accept that as a fact of life. For the folks that live in the surrounding communities hardest hit with price increases they simply fill up before it starts and try to get through until the prices drop back to "normal." This is a different story, though, and I'm beginning to hear the voices of people that are feeling very hard pressed to make ends meet. I guess as I see it the hardest hit people are the ones who can afford it the least and the ones that are attempting to really do a good life for themselves and their children. Many live in the bedroom communities that surround our city (if you can really call 20,000 residents a city) and they commute. Even more hard pressed right now are the agriculturally based laborers whose work has them traveling many miles each day to and from the site. There's an upside, too! The usual racing around we get with the influx of college students is down by over 50%. That's a lot less squeeling of tires and racing of engines to impress someone. Even that has it's drawbacks, though, the local police department is issuing fewer and fewer tickets because of the lack of folks spending money driving around being stupid. That won't really show for a few weeks, but eventually there will have to be an increase in a tax somewhere to make up for the loss of revenue that can be directly attributed to gas prices. And then there is the whole infrastructure that is going to be adversely affected by the costs. I suppose when you start weighing all the factors the scales are going to have to tip in one direction or the other. What I would like to suggest is that we all pray for the folks that have that desire to take advantage of their fellow human beings any way that they can. Pray that they would have their hearts pricked every day in some way by the greed that they are allowing to control their caring for others. There is one other thought that I really want to share....."If the rising cost of driving keeps people from losing their lives or taking the life of another with their vehicles, it is worth it!" It will, you know. Some of the individuals who have no business driving anyway are not going to be out there, and that is a good thing! In Christ's Love, Preacher.