All three of my girls 

The after graduation party with Joel, Shafali, Grandpa, and Tina 

The Flores Family following the pinning ceremony (from L to R - Maria's grandmother, her mom [Janet], Maria, her brother [Paul], and her dad [Paul] 

The Happy Couple after Maria's pinning ceremony for her Nursing Degree 

Changing the Done to the Undone

I listened tonight to a sermon by the well known California preacher Dr. David Jeremiah. He quoted an article he had read sometime ago where the author said that the power of God was such that he could change the "done to the undone". Dr. Jeremiah quickly disagreed and talked about counseling a woman at the time who was pregnant out of wedlock. He said that God forgave her the sin but the baby was born anyway. His larger point was that there are consequences to our actions when we sin that God does not "undo". What do you think?

It sure got me wondering. There are consequences to everything. When we obey God there are consequences. When we don't, there are consequences. The real question is can and does God change that which is done and make it new, undone - does he overcome the present circumstances to create a new reality. I believe He does. God changes the done. Have you ever found yourself in a very negative situation? I have. David certainly did. He had done no wrong but the situation was done. The King was after him and his fate was sealed. Yet, God changed the done to the undone. Not only did David survive but he became the King. When Jesus was arrested and sent to the Cross God did not interfere. It was done. But by Easter Sunday what was done God had undone. I know there are consequences to sin. But I also know that we serve a God who can change even what has been done into something that is undone. I'm not sure that child born out of wedlock wants to be known as the consequence of sin. We have far too many children today who think and believe that about their lives. What was done in sin God can undo in Grace. I wonder who that little baby will grow up to become. Certainly he or she has the opportunity to be the gift of God and not just the consequence of sin.

Need anything undone in your life that has been done? He may not change everything but He can and does change some things. Even the consequences of sin can be undone by the God of the Universe. Have hope - he is still undoing what mankind has done. That is the gospel story.

Being Helpless

It was a lovely shot. Maybe the best one I made all day on the golf course. A little pitching wedge hit over a large mound and traversing the length of the green ending up less than three feet from the hole. A lovely shot. I wish I had seen it. After swinging I hit the ground. After paying a lot of money to play this lovely and challenging course, I was on the ground at the ninth hole, a victim of my back going out. What a way to spend a sabbatical. Expensive, too. The pain was so great that by the next day I was limping into the chiropractors office. At least he got me walking a little better. But I have spent two days not going anywhere but on the couch feeling helpless.

Helplessness is a most interesting feeling. You cannot do for yourself. You are dependent upon others. Even the basic actions of life, any movement whatsoever, becomes all consuming. Looking to be free of pain becomes more important than food or sleep. Nothing you do can change the condition your in. You are at the mercy of the physical effects that have the control. You are helpless.

I am not sure that God desires that we be helpless. It is not the natural state of humankind. I am learning afresh and anew the difference between being helpless and being dependent. Being dependent on others or on God is very different than being helpless. My dependence on God is a joy to Him precisely because I am not helpless - I have a will and can exercise it even in rejecting God's will and plan for my life. To be dependent, then, is a choice I make concerning the love and respect I have for God and His will for my life. When I am tempted to follow my own way, it is my dependence on God that wins the day rather than my helplessness toward the nature of sin.

I am learning to be dependent. As a matter of fact, I have always been learning dependency. I am dependent on my wife, my family and friends, upon a whole host of things that allow me to do the things I want and need to do (like this computer that I am typing into). Being dependent is not something you are as a child and lose when you become an adult. The secret to being a mature adult may very well lie in knowing how to be dependently independent. If that seems like a contradiction in terms than I would suggest you think about it a little more. It is precisely what we all need to learn.

Jesus was not helpless on the Cross. He was depending on God to accomplish in Him what could change mankind. The Holy Spirit is not helpless in accomplishing the work of the Lord in the world but when we are dependent on Him to fill us and use us, then the Will of God is done. God is not helpless. He chooses to depend on us to be His instruments to change a lost and dying world. There is a difference between being helpless and dependent. Thank God. I'll sign off now, my back hurts and I am depending on God for help.

Meanderings

I know its been a few days since I last wrote anything. At least, wrote anything on the blog. I have been writing my book. I have completed the first chapter, table of contents outlining the full book and am working on Chapter 2. I have no idea if it is worthy of publication but I am enjoying the experience. I will know more when I submit my information to Church of God Ministries. We will see.

I picked up a book about the Christian Writers Market (a research book about the intricacies of trying to write and get things published). It is a little overwhelming. I realize I am out of my element when it comes to all this. But, you have to start somewhere. I am going to continue to write and see where it leads me. If nothing else, I will have a heck of a research paper ready if I go back for my doctorate! Ha!

We are enjoying the time here in Tampa. Dad and Tina have been great. Joanie has finally relaxed (no more laundry to do for two kids). I am playing some golf and enjoying being with friends we have made over the years. I get to go golfing tomorrow. I am looking forward to that. This Sunday is an open Sunday for us. We went to Oak Grove last week (the church my father pastored for nearly 20 years - we spent a year attending here before leaving for California and I still consider this my "home" church). I will be attending the church at Safety Harbor on Fathers Day to hear my good friend Tom Bates preach (he is one of the guys I am playing golf with tomorrow). We may try and explore around for Sunday or just go back to Oak Grove. We will see. Until later, thanks, again, for reading these meanderings. God bless.

Surrounded

I never went to the Library much when I was in college. I was a stubborn young adult with a penchant for believing I knew too much and could skate by on charm and the ability to write well. I fooled myself into believing that I could get by without going somewhere that was surrounded by books. After all, I had books in my dorm room and classes where everyone carried their books along with them.
When I started into ministry, I was an Associate Pastor in Hickory, N.C. One of my first assignments was to begin a new Sunday School class for Young Married Couples. We ended up being assigned a classroom - it was the library in the older section of the church. The class was a success and I found myself spending more and more time during the week in the library. It was quiet and I could study there. I picked up a Readers Digest book and read the story of the Johnstown Flood. It was riveting. My attitudes toward being surrounded by books began to change. It felt comforting. Empowering.
The Senior Pastor at Hickory was Forrest Plants. Forrest was a book hound. He loved books. When he died years later his family found boxes and boxes of unopened books in his basement library. Books he bought but never got to read. His office was filled from one end to the other and from top to bottom with books. Every Christmas I received a present from Forrest. It was always a book. I became infected. I am now a book hound.
When we packed for Sabbatical we filled the car from the front seat to the trunk with things to take. Four months is a long time. Most of the room was taken up by suitcases and hanging clothes. The rest was taken up by booksand writing materials. I have made a little corner of the dining room and Dad and Tina's house my own. There are four cases of books and materials. Even that is not enough. Today I am writing this to you sitting just down the street from the house. I am at a library. I found my membership card to the Temple Terrace Library still in my briefcase. It has books, research materials, and access to the internet. What else do you need?
When was the last time you read a book? Visited a library? Joanie read Frank Perretti's newest novel, "Monster" in two days (It was one of Joel's graduation gifts so we couldn't take it with us). I have read Chuck Swindoll's Elijah. Together Joanie and I have been reading "Worship Evangelism". I took out 12 books from the Anderson University Library to take with me as part of my research for . . . what else . . . the book I am writing. So, put up the DVD for a night and turn off the video games. There's nothing that interesting on TV anyway. So, find a good book, snuggle up in your favorite chair and walk into a world you could never get into except through either a wardrobe closet in an upstairs bedroom or through the magic world of books. Read.

Downpours and Semi-Trucks in Life

"April Showers bring May Flowers..."

I know it's true but you haven't seen rain until you've lived in Florida. Last night as we drove from the Florida State Line to Tampa, we ran into some rain. Actually, we ran into tornado warnings. What we drove through for about an hour or so was a torrential downpour. The kind where the windshield wipers can't go fast enough to get all the water off the windshield. Then, inevitably, an eighteen wheeler comes passing through and what was a torrential downpour becomes blinding water as he passes you and the water from the road and his tires splashes all over you.

Why is it then when things are tense in life and you are having to do everything you can to hold on to the wheel so your life doesn't go careening off into the ditch, that something else always comes by to make things that much more difficult? Have you ever felt like semi-trucks drive by you when you can least afford the extra rain in your life? Maybe I'm the only one, but I suspect that most all of us feel like "when it rains, it pours". Bad things always seem to come in threes. I've heard folks say, "God will never give you any more than you can handle". I believe that. I also believe that God has greater faith in my capacity to handle my problems than I have in my ability to deal with difficulties. I say that because I get to the point where I don't think I can handle any more and more still comes my way. Yet, I survive. Somehow. By the grace of God, I seem to survive.

So, if you feel like life is raining on your parade, just remember, you can make it through. At 2 a.m. we pulled into Tampa and parked in the driveway of Dad's house. No worse for wear. No rain coming down. I could hear the trucks driving by on the highway. They seemed a distant worry now that we were home safe. I trust that the same thing will happen to you on your life's journey. May the problems all dissipate like the rain and may you all be left with the sweet smell of May flowers that follow all the April rains.

Honoring Their Sacrifice

I've been thinking about my friend, Bill. I miss him. He is far away in another country doing a job he has been trained to do. He does it willingly. He does it in order to serve. He does it knowing it takes him away from his wife and children. He does it knowing that it disrupts his life - his present and his future. And he does it for me and for my family. And he does it for you and your family. As the sun sets at Camp Arifjohn in Kuwait I know that the world is safer and a better because my friend, Bill, is doing his duty.
I've been thinking about my friend, Luis. I miss him. His is far away in another country doing a job he has been trained to do. He does it willingly. He does it in order to serve. He does it knowing it takes him away from his wife and children. He does it knowing that it disrupts his life - his present and his future. And he does it for me and for my family. And he does it for you and your family. As the sun sets over Baghdad, I know the world is safer and a better place because my friend, Luis, is doing his duty.
I wear a silver band on my left wrist. It reminds me to pray for my friends Bill and Luis and my friends Ryan and Daniel - men who are serving in the National Guard but who have been called to active duty in the Gulf. To me, these are the real heroes of our day. Not the rock stars or movie stars, not the NBA playoff players or the NFL mini-camp participants. Heroes who risk it all.
Joanie and I spent about an hour this past weekend driving through a cemetery. Filled with American Flags it sought to have the public be reminded about those who sacrificed their lives in battle. I, also, wanted to remember those who serve today. Who may not be called to give the ultimate sacrifice but who, nevertheless, sacrifice their wants to serve me and you. On this Memorial Day Weekend, they are my heroes. Thank you, friends, for giving and serving. I honor you because you honor me. You are my friends.

The Grads at the AU Sign 

The Frymire men with President Reardon (Doug is on the far right)