Some random thoughts on the day before Thanksgiving.

I'm on the cusp of a few days of R&R.  Looking forward to it!

We just bought a 2003 Dodge Grand Caravan through a dealer auction.  It has 75,800 miles, and we hope to add another 500 or so this week when we visit family in the Harrisburg, PA area.  Leaving tomorrow AM.

Next Monday night, Laura will be starting her first varsity basketball game for Twin Tiers.  It will be something of a baptism by fire for her and the team.  There will be no returning starters suiting up for the game.

Then, Tuesday, Anne and I are planning to drive out to Indiana to visit my brother, Tim and family, as well as pickup Caryn at the tail end of her missions trip to Mexico.  (She is down there right now with a group from a church in Indiana).   That will probably add another 1200 miles.  Nothing like breaking the van in!

And when we get home from Indiana, I've been invited to play on the old guy's "Bad Dream Team" against the TTCA Varsity Guy's team, Dec. 1st.  Anyone who cares to sponsor me will help fund the TTCA athletic department. 

Life is busy, and some R&R looks good right now.

Last Saturday (11/3) was a special day for Caryn and Laura.  Having both been named to the NYPENN League All-Star Soccer team (Caryn as a starter, and Laura as an alternate), they played against another All-Star team from New Jersey.  The game was played in an indoor arena down near Scranton, PA.  Our team won 4-1.  Caryn almost scored a goal.  Both got to play, and Caryn said it was the most fun sporting event she has ever been a part of.  I'm thankful for these kinds of experiences for our girls after a long season of hard work and dedication.

Today, the girl's basketball season begins at Twin Tiers.  Both Caryn and Laura will be playing, and probably starting.  I'm helping as an assistant coach again this year, and looking forward to it.  We'll know quite a lot more about the depth and character of the team after a few practices.  Last year ended with the excitement of winning the NYPENN Tournament championship.  Something to build on hopefully.

We're starting to look for a minivan to purchase.  Our car has 194,000 miles, and our 12-passanger van has 188,000.  We expect to need the big van for a few more years, so we don't want to kill it prematurely.  We borrowed a minivan from a church family for attending the All-Star soccer game Saturday.  Definitely nice to drive, and gentler on the wallet!

We're enjoying a beautiful and fairly warm Fall.  Our church hosted an annual Harvest dinner/concert this past Saturday.  Approx. 250 attended, including 15-20 coaches and athletes from our public school football, soccer, basketball, and cheerleading teams.  A musical ministry team from Freedom Village provided a powerful concert, with quality music, and personal testimonies of God's life-changing grace.  Praise God!!! several responded to the invitation. 

It was a busy, fruitful weekend.

We had a most amazing week, July 2-8.  Let me note the highlights:

Monday, July 2 - Jason and I helped my brother (Tim) and his family pack two moving vans for his trek to Lafayette, IN, and a new ministry location.  All went well, but the thought of them not 30 minutes away anymore is taking some getting used to.  Then I joined my family who were already settling in for family camp at Lamoka Lake.  Three of our girls are working at the camp all summer.  Stephanie heads up the dining hall, Caryn is a counselor, and Laura is one of the hunger haven workers.  There were 5 other families from our church camping there, too.  The speakers were twin brothers, Dave and Tim Mayo.  They were used of God to refresh our souls, and challenge us to "deny ourselves, take up the cross daily, and follow Christ".

Tuesday, July 3 - Took my first of 4 early AM bicycle trips around either Lamoka (12 miles) or Wanita (11 miles) lakes.  Got to water ski in the afternoon. FUN!  While spotting for another skier, the tow rope got sucked into the jet on the ski boat, wrapped itself around the main drive shaft, and left us stranded in the lake.  A couple of us ended up pulling the boat along behind us as we swam to shore.  We nudged the vessel into a boat lift, elevated the jet port high enough to crawl under it, and proceeded to cut through the nylon rope until we could extract it in little pieces.  All's well that ends well.  A couple of us guys went to Wal Mart in Watkins Glen and replaced the rope.

Wednesday, July 4 - Rained fairly heavily, so took a crew of kids along with my brother Gary and his family to the Glen H. Curtiss aviation museum, just over the hill near Bath, NY on Keuka Lake.  Very interesting, and an enjoyable snap shot of an amazingly creative man in a remarkable era of history (1890's thru 1940's).  Amateur fireworks displays around the lake that night were nice.  The Grimes family who led and ministered the music for the week gave a 50 minute patriotic and praise concert in the PM.  It was very enjoyable.

Thursday, July 5 - The weather straightened up, and an enjoyable day was had by all, including an all-camp picnic and kickball game.

Friday, July 6 - This was the day for the Lamoka Lake swimming challenge.  After the AM chapel, 12 of us (4 adults and 8 young people), all wearing life jackets, were ferried across the lake.  We swam all the way back to the camp swimming area, escorted by 1 motorboat, and 2 canoes, to the cheers of many.  I've always wanted to do that!  Later that day, Anne and I tried the 40 foot climbing wall.  FUN!  The day ended with a joyful song and testimony time around a big bonfire.  Anne and I both agreed that "the lines have fallen to us in pleasant places".

Saturday, July 7 - All 9 of us loaded into our van and made the 3 hour trip to Russell, PA for the Cathcart family reunion.  It was a little tough on the kids because they don't know anyone, but Anne and I had a great time renewing some relationships.  Anne's mother was able to attend as well.  We got back to camp Lamoka just in time for a "moonlight dip" in the lake. 

Sunday, July 8 - Attended AM church services at nearby Tuscarora Baptist Church, and then drove to Horseheads for lunch at McDonalds.  We were back home in time for the PM service here in Newfield.  The older young people of our church led the entire service which included some great singing, special music, powerful skits and puppetry, and testimonies.  It is a joy to see our children walking (and talking) in truth.  The evening ended with one of our biweekly Sunday bonfires.  Wish you could have been there!

Now ... back to reality, but with a sense of joy and gratitude to God for an abundant week.

I love good music!! 

Last night, I heard a very good piece of music ~ "Search Me, Oh God" by Jon Mohr and Randall Dennis.  Maybe most of you have already heard it, but it was the first time for me.  A young man in our church sang it, and the combination of his pure voice and the well written accompaniment and especially the finely crafted lyrics has smitten my heart.  Here is what I heard:

Search me, Oh God, reveal my heart; expose my sin that it may be confessed.
Search me, Oh God, unveil each thought, and leave no hidden motive unaddressed.
Uncover every action born in pride; show me the worldly ways I still embrace.
May every anxious thought be brought to light, and each unspoken fear with faith replace.

Search me, Oh God, observe my life; bring to my mind each idle word I speak.
Search me, Oh God, test my resolve, and alert me where You find it weak.
Reveal all weakened walls within my soul; show me potential dangers unforeseen.
Then clothe my conscience with your holiness; help me to guard it well and keep it clean.

Search me, Oh God, that I may walk in peace, filled with the joy of knowing all is well.
My heart surrendered and my conscience clean, so great a joy my tongue can scarcely tell,
Oh what a joy to know that ALL IS WELL!

Just had to share it, with the prayer that all is well with you, too!

Well hey!  Time for an update.

I read a book this week by Joni Eareckson Tada entitled, "Heaven - Your Real Home".  As is sometimes the case, I was motivated to read this as part of my preparations for a Sunday preaching/teaching opportunity.  Quite honestly, I really struggle with getting super excited about heaven, at least for very long.  In her tender, but insightful way, Joni helped me see why that may be true. 

A big part of my problem is my heart.  Many (maybe even most) days, I wouldn't qualify for the "crown of righteousness for those who love His appearing", since I don't even think about much more than what's on my plate right here and now. 

Another major reason I don't take heaven seriously, is that I don't take James 4:14 seriously, and God's description there of my life as "a vapor" - wispy, and very temporary.  Frankly, it is heaven that often seems wispy and surreal to me, not my life. 

But another smaller, yet I think a very real reason for my lack of passion is an unintended byproduct of my literal approach to the Bible.  Joni writes about the symbolism in the Bible and how it is not meant to satisfy our longings, but to provide incentives and suggestions for the eyes of faith.  As I read about "new heavens and new earth", and "a glittering city descending from above", and "rainbow thrones", and "gates of pearl and walls of gemstones", I go sort of cold.  Her repeated question through the book, in so many words is, "When you read the Bible, and that happens, who is at fault, God or you?" (Ouch!!) 

The good news is that, by identifying that problem in my attitude toward symbols, the path to a solution is made clear.  I'm sort of looking forward this week to thinking seriously about the Bible's hints about heaven.  Would you mind praying for me to have a change of heart toward this topic.  And while you're at it, anybody want to share some of your thoughts on what juices you about "your real home"?