Finding Rest

They say that sometimes you need a vacation after a vacation. The work that you do prior to vacation exhausts you and the vacation refreshes. However, the drive home and the plane rides, and the pile of mail that greets you upon your return only causes you to need another vacation.

Some have noted that the E-pistle has been on vacation. This has largely been due to prep work for vacation, the vacation, and the aforementioned the pile of mail that I went through upon our return.

However, I can honestly say that even today when I am preparing to go on a continuing education event, and I am trying to complete tasks that can only be done in the office, I am not in need of a vacation after my vacation. Don’t get me wrong, if someone offered an all expense paid vacation to Hawaii, I’d go! But I am truly rested.

I am blessed to have been able to take a vacation and get some much needed rest. I continue to say, even a week after returning, that I had a truly wonderful time doing nothing. I was truly blessed.

There was nothing more enjoyable to me than sitting on the shoreline, listening to the waves crashing. The constant sound of water moving in and out with the tides is soothing to me. I read books, I read magazines. I watched my children play in the sand, and run in an out with the waves. I listened to the girls gasp at the sight of sand crabs, and delight in the sight of dolphins moving along the shoreline. I grasped my littlest child’s hand as we ascended and descended the lighthouse steps, and I flew a homemade kite on historic grounds like Orville and Wilbur Wright. I ate far too much ice cream, and I ran with reckless abandon down a sand dune that will never be the same. I held hands with my beautiful wife as we walked along the beach.

Sometimes, all we need is a change of scenery, a change of perspective. In many ways, that simple change can be the rest that we need. I was able to get that on vacation. I saw things from a different angle, I listened with new ears, and I opened myself to the presence of God in my midst.

Do you get to do that? I’m not only talking about driving 500 miles away to the beach – but the perspective part. Do you get to do that? Do you get to find rest in the Lord? If you are saying right now that you haven’t or don’t, are you asking yourself why? And if you haven’t – are you planning a way of doing that. I believe we need to do that. Sabbath rest is important, not only weekly, but regularly. It recharges us, it refreshes us, and causes us to delight in the Lord.

The psalmist writes, “How precious is your steadfast love, O God! All people may take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.” Psalm 36:7-9.

Today, I am thankful for God’s abundant grace, his love, and the refuge that he provides for me. I hope that you can find that same rest in his shadows, and feast abundantly in his house. If you haven’t recently – find time in the near future. God will bless you!

This week, we are continuing our Series entitled, “Run the Race” and I will be preaching on transitions in our lives. It is an exciting series, and I hope that you will not only make an effort to be in worship, but invite a friend. I look forward to seeing you this week.

Please pray for me, and know that I am praying for you.
Greg

It is . . .snowing!

People say it often, “Greg, you act like a big kid!” My usual response to such a statement is one of gratitude rather than disdain. It is largely true and in my opinion, one that illustrates my personality. I take to heart the admonition from scripture that one must become like a child in order to inherit the kingdom.

Today is one of those days that confirm my child-like spirit. January has been less than exciting in terms of its weather, but today we finally had a prediction of snow. Initially, the reports were less than exciting – maybe less than an inch. But as I drove to work today, it was coming down, and coming down quickly.

There was that child-like inner spirit that was getting really excited. I Love Snow! I have said often that I love snow, mostly because I love all of the seasons. It’s January, and so it should be snowing would be my opinion. I know that it is not a popular opinion, but it’s my opinion and I’m sticking to it.

In my first appointment, we lived in the midst of the northern Snow Belt in Western Pennsylvania. To Pittsburghers, that’s what weather forecasters refer to as “above I-80.” Actually, I think it is misleading to talk about “the” Snow Belt. I like to think that there are several belts, and the severity of the snow in that belt just depends on the weather. We lived about 5 miles out of Titusville, and could get walloped with snow. Drive into Titusville, and there could have been a dusting. Drive 5 miles north of our home, and conditions could be more severe. However, the total opposite could be true in any given snow event.

I remember one year while we lived in Titusville, we had snow everyday for what seemed like 14 days. We had lake affect snow everyday in that period ranging anywhere from 6 to 10 inches. I remember because I shoveled our drive and porch everyday, and sometimes several times a day. Even in that much snow – I loved it.

In addition to shoveling, I would take walks in the woods, take Sarah for rides in the snow, and even sled ride with the children of the church. You now see some childlike behavior emerging.

But in spite of the shoveling and the fun, I think what I like most about the snow is that at this time of year, the snow seems to make everything new again. Snow has the capacity to cover up the dirt and the grime, it makes everything clean again.

There is something to be said for us as humans. We need the snow every so often to cover up and make us clean again. It is a chance to see that there is a better way of living. I don’t know about you, but I much prefer the clean to the dirt.

Lent is coming up, and while I suppose it would have been good to wait until the beginning of Lent to talk about this – it snowed today. It reminded me of a Psalm and prayer of cleansing and pardon. Psalm 51 asks God to wash us clean, wash us thoroughly from our iniquity. And then this is the part that I like, the part that I prayed as I was driving in that new, fresh, driving, snow – Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

This time of year, I imagine that there are a lot of us that feel like we need a fresh start, a clean start. It’s only January 22, and we already feel like we need to be made clean. Take a look at psalm 51 – it’s a good prayer, and a good start. You don’t have to like snow in order to ask for it. Just pray it this day and God will bring that cleansing for you.

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.”
Psalm 51:10.


Please pray for me, and know that I am praying for you.
Greg

The Wonder of It All

Have you ever had one of those days or weeks where things just seem amazing? You look around and wonder how things fit together, or how a child picked up a talent, or even why the weather is what it is? There are times when the body gives us a glimpse of just how wonderful it is, or a moon is particularly beautiful on a starlit night. Have you ever had one of those days?

I probably have them more than I realize, but this past week has been one of those for me. There are several things that caused me to feel that way and in each instance, I was at a loss for words and explanation – but they did cause me to pause and give thanks for wonder and wonderful things.

Last week in the middle of January, our region experienced temperatures that were beyond my own explanation. Some try to explain it, some try to blame it on certain things that we are and aren’t doing. But then I hear that we broke high temperature records that were set back in 1930. I wonder to myself if people were blaming industry or just allowing creation to take its course. I was standing amazed at creation and how God keeps us guessing. Today it’s cold. It just makes me wonder.

Last week I visited some folks in the hospital. And after every explanation as to what could happen and why something was happening, the human body responds with something that defies explanation. I recall my own experience in the hospital and waiting for a human’s best guess. I left the hospital with no answer. I’m not complaining because at the same time they didn’t find anything. No news is good news – but it had me guessing. It also had me standing amazed at the wonder of the human body.

I also got to see a newborn child who at birth weighed less than four pounds. Defying odds and explanations, I heard others describe children who are perfectly healthy, defiant teenagers who were born at less than one pound. I’ve also heard of children who were born much bigger too. I stand amazed at the wonder of new birth.

And yet, I presided at the funeral of a person who lived 96 glorious years. It was not until the last months of her life that she was hospitalized and moved to a care facility. Again, the wonder of a human body. But yet I know how fragile life can be as we see men and women fall in combat; hear of loved ones diagnosed with terminal illnesses; watch as a friend or colleague suffer from a progressive disease. I stand amazed and wonder how, or why – and yet I can still give thanks.

The entire Bible is full of passages that talk of Wonder and Wonderful deeds, but the Psalms are particularly full of them. I came across Psalm 111 and it spoke to me as I stood amazed.

This week, I’m having one of those weeks – I am amazed. And for that, I give thanks. I hope that you can too.

Please pray for me, and know that I am praying for you.

Greg

Спасибо

Two years ago, I had the opportunity to travel to Moscow, Russia on a mission trip. It was the first time that I had ever been out of the county, as a communicating human. That is a strange way of saying that I had once been to Canada as a toddler. I wouldn’t know it other than the fact that I have seen a picture of me with the caption “Niagara Falls.”

Because it was the first time that I was able to travel out of the county, I was given a lot of advice about traveling and some things that I would need to know in order to make my trip more enjoyable. One piece of advice that I heard often was that you should learn the language at least well enough to communicate some basic words.

In preparation for that trip, I did just that. I purchased a phrase book and began to learn some basic words and phrases. In addition, I also learned the alphabet and pronunciations. Therefore, even though I could not always pronounce words accurately all the time, I was able to grasp the language at a basic level. As we traveled, I was able to pick up on words and phrases other than those I learned from the book. This was especially helpful when we were traveling on the subway – I was able to read the stops and be reasonably confident where we were based upon our maps.

Of the words that I was told I should learn, probably the most important was Spasiba. It is a basic expression of gratitude. I used it often in conversation and you could tell that there was some appreciation on those we encountered a willingness for our learning their language.

I often catch myself today, two years later, using the word around the house and in casual conversation. It kind of sticks with me as a way of expressing thanks. Spasiba is Russian for Thank You.

This week, I am sure that you are doing a lot of thinking of things for which you are giving thanks. But I guess my question is, “Are you actually saying it?” We do lot of preparing, thinking, sitting down, eating, watching football, preparing for shopping the next day – but do we do much giving thanks. Further, do we actually express it verbally?

And I guess that question goes as deep as you want it to go. Have you actually said, “Thank you” to God for those simple things and expressed them in a way that is more just a passing thought? Have you prayed about those expressions of thanksgiving and really said it?

Again, one of the best pieces of advice when I traveled oversees was to learn some basic expressions. I was told that it would make my journey more enjoyable. It would break barriers and express something deep within us. Even if you didn’t know other words – these words would get us past the barrier. So “thank you” was one of those expressions that made the journey more enjoyable. I probably said it more than anything else on that trip – even for the little things.

So I’m going to try to say thank you, spasiba, Dankschen, merci, gracias as often as I can this week. For the food, for you, for the little things, and for the big things, thank you. Thank you for being a part of our lives and Thank God for ways in which he is present in our lives.

The Psalmists talked a lot about thanksgiving. Psalm 100 says: "Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations."

Spasiba and Happy Thanksgiving

This week in worship we will be talking about the end of the world. Actually, we will be talking about Christ the King which is a celebration of Christ’s anticipated return in triumph. I pray that you have a great Thanksgiving Weekend and I look forward to seeing you in worship on Sunday. “It’s the end of the world as we know it, and I feel fine.” REM.

Pray for me, and know that I am praying for you.
Greg