Today is my beautiful wife's birthday. If you have been around her lately, she would have told you. She tells people that her birthday is coming, not to be braggadocios - but to celebrate God's gift of life.
Tracy had heart surgery when she was a tot and without it, she probably would not have lived passed her teen years. Today, surgery that Tracy had may be more common, but in the late sixties and early seventies, it was risky.
Several years ago, I had an amazing experience. I was visiting a parishioner in the hospital in Oakland. While there, I was introduced to a doctor who was visiting the patient. He had become a friend of the patient. In his 40's now, he had had several surgeries. The doctor went on to explain that he had performed one of this patient's first surgeries as a child.
In context, I went on to say that my wife had also had surgery of a similar kind when she was a child. The doctor asked her name. He then said, "Oh - I think I did her surgery." I was rather taken aback - but he said, I'm almost certain that she was my patient.
So I gave him my card, and he actually went and checked his records. He emailed me, and indeed he was the doctor. We had a wonderful exchange that day, and it was amazing to be able to meet the person who helped make it possible for Tracy to be here today. But what amazed me most was his acute attention to detail and recall of my wife's medical condition and his lasting concern for her well-being.
Thanks, Dr. Pontius for using your God given talents.
Today, Tracy celebrates God's gift of life and today I thank God for my wife.
Happy Birthday!
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Amazing Things
Once again, Tracy and I had the wonderful opportunity to lead an Elementary Adventure Camp at Jumonville last week. This was the fourth year that we were Deans together. The kids never cease to amaze us, and God always provides.
At the beginning of the week as I was reading some scripture, I came across a passage that resonated with me. In the third chapter of Joshua, as the Israelites were preparing to cross the Jordon River into the Promised Land, Joshua told them to prepare themselves to worship the Lord. He said, “Make yourselves acceptable for worship, because God is going to do amazing things for us” Joshua 3:5.
It was the beginning of our week, we had much that was before us, and so I thought that it was amazing to read such a verse at the beginning of our week. I heard God speaking in those words that we should just be ready for anything. So I shared those words with the campers and reminded them that through all of the adventures, in all of the activities, during all of the challenges, we should be open to God and open to worship God through everything that we do.
Each night and even during Bible Study, we would give the opportunity to the kids to talk about how God was working, what they found amazing, where they saw God, and even asked them when they knew when God was real.
Both Tracy and I were amazed at the responses that we hear throughout the week. But above all of the responses about seeing God in creation and in the sounds of the river and the waterfalls, there was one response that continued to resound. Quite often the kids would talk about knowing, feeling, and experiencing God in a way that they felt protected, secure, safe, and loved. How powerful is that!
In biking, in climbing, in hiking, and even in a simple yet necessary harness – the kids felt God’s hand of protection on them. They attributed their safety all to God! Even when they ‘wrecked’ on the bike trail, or when they slipped off a hand hold on a climbing wall, even though they may be bruised or scrapped a little, they knew that things could have been much worse without God’s hand of protection in their lives. And yes, even when they saw their Dean battered and bloody from falling off Cucumber Falls, they knew that God was protecting us. Amazing and God glorifying stuff if you ask me.
So maybe that would be a good question for all of us to answer today. Where do you see God working in your life today? Where do you see God doing amazing things? Further, are you open and acceptable to make worship a daily part of your journey of life?
I pray that you are. Some of us think that worship only happens once a week, in a specific place. That could not be further from the truth. Worship happens in our daily lives, when we serve God, love God, and serve others. Open yourself to worship God this day – and God will do amazing things!
This week, we will continue our series on hymns of faith. Are Ye Able is the hymn that we will share and communion will be the feast that nourishes us. I hope that you will be with us this week. Have a safe and happy Independence Day!
Please pray for me, and know that I am praying for you.
Greg
At the beginning of the week as I was reading some scripture, I came across a passage that resonated with me. In the third chapter of Joshua, as the Israelites were preparing to cross the Jordon River into the Promised Land, Joshua told them to prepare themselves to worship the Lord. He said, “Make yourselves acceptable for worship, because God is going to do amazing things for us” Joshua 3:5.
It was the beginning of our week, we had much that was before us, and so I thought that it was amazing to read such a verse at the beginning of our week. I heard God speaking in those words that we should just be ready for anything. So I shared those words with the campers and reminded them that through all of the adventures, in all of the activities, during all of the challenges, we should be open to God and open to worship God through everything that we do.
Each night and even during Bible Study, we would give the opportunity to the kids to talk about how God was working, what they found amazing, where they saw God, and even asked them when they knew when God was real.
Both Tracy and I were amazed at the responses that we hear throughout the week. But above all of the responses about seeing God in creation and in the sounds of the river and the waterfalls, there was one response that continued to resound. Quite often the kids would talk about knowing, feeling, and experiencing God in a way that they felt protected, secure, safe, and loved. How powerful is that!
In biking, in climbing, in hiking, and even in a simple yet necessary harness – the kids felt God’s hand of protection on them. They attributed their safety all to God! Even when they ‘wrecked’ on the bike trail, or when they slipped off a hand hold on a climbing wall, even though they may be bruised or scrapped a little, they knew that things could have been much worse without God’s hand of protection in their lives. And yes, even when they saw their Dean battered and bloody from falling off Cucumber Falls, they knew that God was protecting us. Amazing and God glorifying stuff if you ask me.
So maybe that would be a good question for all of us to answer today. Where do you see God working in your life today? Where do you see God doing amazing things? Further, are you open and acceptable to make worship a daily part of your journey of life?
I pray that you are. Some of us think that worship only happens once a week, in a specific place. That could not be further from the truth. Worship happens in our daily lives, when we serve God, love God, and serve others. Open yourself to worship God this day – and God will do amazing things!
This week, we will continue our series on hymns of faith. Are Ye Able is the hymn that we will share and communion will be the feast that nourishes us. I hope that you will be with us this week. Have a safe and happy Independence Day!
Please pray for me, and know that I am praying for you.
Greg
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