West Cocoa Chat

After several phone calls to “friends” I’m starting to feel like Abraham Lincoln. Don’t worry my fellow blones, I’m not having a presidential crisis. I was reminded of a movie I once saw concerning Abraham Lincoln’s assassination . The movie proposed a conspiracy surrounding Abe’s assassination . According to the movie, several people turned down presidential invitations to attend the Play at Ford’s Theater with the President and his crazy wife on that fateful night.

Now I’m not equating my status with President Lincoln’s (but I am an elder) (that was for you Randy) but I’ve been turn down by no less than four of our “couple friends” from church to go out to eat tonight. Is there a conspiracy here? Should I avoid theaters and grassy knolls?

Are any of you free tonight?

Love you guys.

Started our Christmas shopping this past Monday. Almost finished it today. At one point we were in Belk Lindsey shopping for my father-in-law. He’s one of these guys who has everything although he doesn’t have an "all in one TV / flashlight/flashing red light/ C.D. player" nor does he have a digital pedometer. In this very same section I found not one, nor two, but 10 boxes containing gloved ice-scrapers! That’s right, here in sunny east Central Florida – 10 boxes filled with an ice-scraper attached to a thermal glove!

I couldn’t help but hold up one of the boxes and yell over to the guy working the cash register, "Hey buddy, how fast are these ice-scrapers flying off the shelves?" He looked at me and said, "Don’t even get me started about those things." It all reminded me of an episode of M.A.S.H. where in the dead of winter the unit receives a shipment of summer underwear and mosquito netting.

This all begs the question – What is the most useless or out of season gift you’ve seen in the stores lately? How about mouse traps in Arlington, Virginia?

Ryan is a friend of my son. Ryan and Steven play baseball for our High School Team. I asked for prayers for Ryan about 3 weeks ago. On the Friday after Thanksgiving, Ryan walked into his parents’ bedroom holding a bucket containing blood! He was throwing up blood so his parents rushed him to the hospital. Ryan ended up being diagnosed with viral meningitis. He missed a week of school and lost about 10 pounds.
Praise God, Ryan has made a full recovery and is now working out with the baseball (voluntary of course) team again.

Ryan went with Steven to his private pitching lesson tonight. Afterwards I took the boys to Burger (Hooters was closed.)King for a drink. Ryan ordered a Dr. Pepper and I ordered a sweet (welcome to the south) tea. As I drove away from BK, Ryan and I discovered our drinks were reversed. I handed Ryan my drink and quipped, "I think those sores in my mouth have healed Ryan. You should be O.K. drinking after me."

For a moment I was impressed with myself until Ryan responded by saying, "That’s O.K. Mr. Walker, I think I’m over my meningitis!" I hate it when the teens outsmart the adult.

In my lifetime I’ve only witnessed the exercise of withdrawing fellowship once, I think. The one incident I’m thinking of consisted of the elders reading a letter from an individual who was involved in an affair with a deacon’s wife. He did not admit anything in the letter other than stating that he was withdrawing as one of the church’s "corporation officers" and that he would no longer be attending our church. A few months later the elders began (and even today) to speak as if they had withdrawn fellowship from this brother. As I remember the letter it sounded like the brother had withdrawn from us.

I now find it ironic that I now sit in the (for Randy) "shepherd’s chair." To add to the irony factor I now find myself wondering about a sinning brother at our church and the element of church (Matthew 18 and I Corinthians 5) discipline.
This brother ("SB" – sinning brother) showed up at our children’s Christmas Party yesterday with ex-wife in tow. Some troubling aspects:

1. SB is married to another woman now.
2. SB and current wife are separated due to SB sleeping with ex-wife.
3. SB came forward recently, admitting his sin, and asking for forgiveness.
4. We've prayed with and counseled SB to break off affair with ex and to try and make things right with current wife.
5. SB and "ex" have moved in together.
6. SB and ex showed up at our church’s Children’s Christmas Party yesterday.
7. I found myself talking with ex and trying to be friendly to her.

My question or questions –
1. Has anyone out there witnessed a church taking the steps outlined in Matt.18 and I Cor. 5? How was it done? How long did it take the church to go through all of the steps? Was it done in love?
2. If anyone answers in the affirmative to #1, did it end up bringing back their SB?

The title comes from a favorite saying of a preacher that Greg and I had the pleasure of experiencing many moons ago. When he uttered that line at the beginning of a sermon, it was time to strap in for at least 60 (5 minutes longer than Greg’s average sermon?) minutes. Hopefully this blog will not take 60 minutes for you to read. Here goes:

1. If Greg or Randy starts a Hooters’ ministry, I know a 15 year old who has experience in this area.
2. It was a joy to drive the same 15 year old to his last day of exams today. We were rocking out (reverently of course) to the latest Zoe C.D.
3. Props to my lovely wife Barbara. She is cooking tomorrow (actually started last night) for our annual church Christmas Party. We’ve almost hit the century mark and about 65 of those want prime rib!
4. More props to wife: 2 choices on the menu – Alice Springs (as in the Outback Restaurant style) Chicken or prime rib stuffed with garlic!
5. My contribution – I stuff the prime rib, wrap bacon around the chicken, help decorate the Fellowship Hall, and M.C. our annual gift exchange.
6. My wife’s contribution – My #1 advocate. Randy had a great post concerning among other things, Colossians 3:23-24. I know what my attitude should be concerning “Who” I am serving. But there are times when you come home beat up from the brethren. The first tangible way I know Jesus still loves me is by looking into my lovely wife’s eyes. Not to mention her perspective makes me a better (sorry Randy – here comes that word again) elder.
7. O.K. guys and Sandra – Lets hear it for Barbara, Janice, Beth, Lisa, Ellen, “Wife,” (I can’t seem to remember Brady calling his “Wife” by her name other than “Wife.” Sorry Brady.) and Lex. Without their support ministry would be much more difficult.
7a. I love the fact that we have a male name in our list of spouses that support us. I find it encouraging Sandra that like Phoebe in Romans 16, you are laboring in ministry for the Lord.
8. Let’s hear it for Judy aka “Meowmix.” When I first started blogging I thought Judy was a member of Randy’s church in Arlington. What a great encouragement you are to us Judy. May God bless you and Doris.
9. And finally – Steve – hope you feel better soon enough to enjoy your last day of exams and the Christmas Holidays.

I thought that title might catch your attention.

This past Sunday following our morning services, my son and the Youth Group (YG) went out to lunch together. Very encouraging. Good group of kids. They told all of us parents that they were going to the Piccadilly Cafeteria at our local Mall. Good choice. Cheap. Lots of “older people.” Not too wild of a place.

Plans changed. Seems the drivers (3 cars) decided to go to the Hooters instead. The Hooters on Merritt Island is right next to a Steak and Shake Restaurant. In telling this story my son told me he was walking towards Steak and Shake when the rest of the YG re-directed him towards Hooters.

I’m assuming Hooters is a national chain. If it isn’t, a quick description not that I’ve been in one before. A “friend” relayed the following:

1. Mostly serves chicken wings.
2. Waitresses are very pretty and wear close fitting / non Bible Camp Dress Code approved apparel.

You might ask how does an elder’s (sorry Randy) son try to validate YG’s trip to Hooters. He relayed the following “it makes it alright to visit Hooters” criteria:
1. We invited our waitresses to Church.
2. I prayed loud enough for everyone to hear.
3. Wanted everyone to know that we’re church-going folk.

Let me know what you think about my responses:
1. I’m proud of you for sharing your faith.
2. That was bold, I think.
3. I’m glad you weren’t ashamed of the Gospel and the commitment you made to Jesus.

Bottom-line – It was somewhat deceitful. Don’t go there again.

I wasn’t too harsh with Steven although I wondered if I should have been. I did think of Sandra’s recent post about her husband Lex and his involvement with his fellow bikers. Now don’t get me wrong, I know these teens were being somewhat silly and having a good time. But there was a part of me that wondered if Jesus had gone out to lunch after our service, would he had gone with me to a “respectable” restaurant or would he have joined the YG at Hooters? Makes me wonder.

Steven had pitching lessons last night in the frigid east central Florida weather. Actually, it was in the high 40's which for Florida, if it gets much lower we close all border crossings. Anyway, I was talking to Steven’s pitching coach, Brian. For some reason we were talking about Contemporary Christian Music. He told me when he pitched in college he was asked by the “Stadium geeks” what did he want “his song” to be when he entered games. He said his first year playing his song was (as he put it) an “old school rap song.” The lyric that played when the song came on went something like, “In California we know how to party.” (Inject the obligatory rap noises)

His next year in college is when he came to know the Lord. So for that year he picked the song by “3rd Day” or “D.C. Talk” called “Jesus Freak.” Brian said when he came to the mound that second year he wanted people to know by the playing of that song that he had given his life to the Lord.

So what is your song or songs that say something about you? I’ll throw mine out there in the comments section.

Just 3 more days my fellow blones and Steve and I are free!

I’ve known Sgt. Steven Terrell of the Florida National Guard for several years. He is the "Readiness NCO" at the Cocoa Armory. His unit is currently stationed in Afghanistan.
My wife Barbara teaches kindergarten (she should get double my pay) on Merritt Island and she currently has Sgt. Terrell’s youngest son, Sting, (I’m not making that up.) in her class. She also had Sting’s older brother, Steven, (nice name) last year. Sting’s mother relayed the following about Steven:

The church they attend sponsors an "Angel Tree." This year the church decided to put the children of deployed soldiers on the tree. Steven told his mom that he was going to be a "big boy" and write out his own wish on the card for the Angel Tree.

A few days later Steven’s mother received a phone call from a representative of our local VFW. (Veterans of Foreign Wars.) The man from the VFW wanted to know if flag poles were allowed in her subdivision? Steven’s mom asked, "What are you talking about? I didn’t request a flagpole." The VFW Rep. asked if Steven was her son? She replied in the affirmative but still insisted she didn’t know anything about a flagpole in her yard.

The VFW Rep. told her Steven had written the following wish on his card: "I wish for an American Flag that I can fly for my Dad in Afghanistan." As you can imagine Mrs. Terrell had to compose herself. She then told the VFW Rep. flagpoles were allowed in her neighborhood but she didn’t have the money at the moment. The VFW Rep. told her the VFW would proudly pay all expenses.

The he asked to confirm a date of December 20th to present her son with a flag as well as ask permission for news media to be present. The mentioned of news media astonished Mrs. Terrell. She was proud of her son but didn’t think the incident warranted local coverage.
The VFW Rep. said, "Ma'm, you don’t understand. You see, a friend of one of your church members heard about Steven’s wish. Her husband was killed on 9/11 at the World Trade Center. She has decided to give the flag that was given to her by the President of the United States to your son to honor his wish and his father.

Let us all say a prayer for the men and women in the armed forces that are away from their families protecting our country. Oh, don’t forget to remember the Terrell Family.

Good morning. Hope everyone had a great day of worship yesterday. Our church was getting "giggy" (Central Florida style) for Jesus yesterday. Good day.

Also, good to see Monie back.

I blogged about one of our members that passed away during our week of Bible Camp this past summer. Charles was blind and yet he could see "things" clearly. Charles needed encouraging as he was dying from cancer and yet you would walk away encouraged after visiting with Charles. I miss Charles and so does his sweet wife Lenoir.

This is the "Holiday Season" but it can also be a painful season for those (Greg - you're on my mind as well) who have lost loved ones. Lenoir came to church last night in pain. She had just visited Charles' grave and was in pain. I was in Don's office when Lenoir came in and collapsed in a wave of emotion. I held Lenoir and prayed with her. She asked for Don and I told her he was downstairs with our “Becoming One Class.” The class had started one hour early and was working on a workbook assignment.

Lenoir entered the classroom and collapsed again in a wave of emotion for Charles. As Don was ministering to a woman in pain, the Spirit began to use Lenoir's pain. There are 2 couples in this class who are not members of our church or any church. Don told me that for the most part, they haven't expressed any interest in God or knowing him. That was until the Holy Spirit began to use Lenoir's pain.

As Don was comforting Lenoir one of the wives said to her husband, "I've always wanted to be part of a group of people that cared when things were tough." Her husband concured and then she made a leap of faith by saying, "I'm coming to this church next Sunday. I want to be a part of these people!" Praise God! (sorry, my response) Her husband said he would be joining her and then the other non-believing couple said they were coming too!

Don and Lenoir were unaware of what had just transpired until one of our members that was at their table, relayed the incident to us in the parking lot after services last night. It was one of those rare occasions when we all broke out in spontaneous praise for the Lord. Some gasped, some of us gave a hardy “Yes!” to the Lord, and all of us had tears in our eyes as we realized two things:

1. The Holy Spirit had been with Lenoir all along through her pain and had used her pain to touch 4 unbelieving souls.
2. Even though Charles isn’t with us anymore, he is still ministering to folks that are blinder than he ever was.

Have a good day my blone family.

I spoke to Laura last night on the phone. I requested prayers for Laura and her 3 teenage boys in an earlier post.
Laura told me her and Bob had spoken to an attorney concerning their divorce. I kept telling Laura I was so sorry for the pain she and the boys were going through. She kept telling me God was in control. Our conversation began to fall into a pattern.

She would tell me another detail of the living hell that her husband is putting them through. I would tell her that I was sorry and offer help / prayers. She would tell me she knew God was in control.

I finally commented on her faith and asked her how she could be so sure God was in control of this mess. She told me she knew from the very beginning that God was in control. You see, her husband asked her to pick an attorney out of the phone book. She complied (I don’t know why) and chose an attorney at random. She didn’t call for references or ask other divorced women at our church for advice.

She said when she met with the attorney for the first time; he identified himself as a Christian. In fact, he remembered Laura from a few years ago when Laura attended a large Baptist Church in our area. He told Laura that he would look after her best interests as well as pray for her and the boys.

Was this attorney chosen at “random?”

God is in control.

Keep Laura and her 3 teenage boys, Brian, Mark, and David in your prayers.

Apologies to the Carpenters for tweaking one of their titles.

Disclaimer – The caller of previous post was actually “nice” on the phone. I did take exception to the “….if I where an elder” comment. I might be a little sensitive seeing as he was one of the 4 elder “candidates” that turned “us” and the church down about a year ago.

Spoke to caller a second time on Tuesday night. Results:
You’ll be glad to know that I’m now over “2 changes” per year and I’m “dizzy.”

1. My caller pointed out a few more changes (more casual dress, change in our Sunday night format, and change in our preacher from a traditional mindset to one of openness) that hadn’t come to mind. We both agreed that most of the changes that he and I had listed over the last 2 days were for the most part, trivial. Despite all that we had listed I couldn’t help but feel like the “one talent guy” of Matthew 25.
2. My caller told me he had given some advice to one of his elder (is there a pattern here?) friends at the church north of us. His advice was to not let some of his members pull the “Romans 14 card” (my terminology by the way, clever huh?) when it came to some long needed changes at his church. This is where I got dizzy.

Conclusion –
I kind of feel like I wasted 2 phone calls. Don’t get me wrong, I love this caller and he is a blessing to our church.

So, how about this for a conclusion:
(heard this today on the radio)
1. All saints have a past and all sinners have a future.
2. Our God reigns! Amen.

I had a phone call from one of our members last night. He has ties to a church north of us. He was calling to tell me 4 of our “older” members had placed membership with neighboring church.

Big deal / little deal. As a shepherd I do tend to take some leaving us for another church as a loss. I guess that falls under the category of “Should da, could da, would da.”
Little loss – If they feel that their “issues” are more important than their fellowship with our church family, then they need to go.
I’m O.K. with that. Maybe I shouldn’t be but I am.

My issue – Something my caller said to me concerning my “elder-ing.” He said that part of the problem was we (the elders) had allowed too much change to take place in a short time span. He said, “If he had been an elder, he would have put a “stop” to some of the changes and held on for at least a year.”

That bothered me. It shouldn’t but it did. So I began to think of all the “changes” that had taken place since I became an elder. Here’s what I came up with:

1. There is now smattering of clapping during worship. It seems that I can’t get away from that particular consonant (cl) blend. (clapping, closets)
2. Occasionally Don will play a video clip he’s downloaded off the internet and sometimes it will have instrumental music playing.
3. We now have men serving as deacons who had a divorce in their past. Can’t totally blame Jeff and me for this one. At the time we had 2 more elders who were both older than Jeff and me.
4. Does “change” include renovating our educational wing, the fellowship hall, and the front of the auditorium? If so, I’m a “change agent.”
5. We moved the “Communion Table / altar” to the rear of the auditorium.
6. We bought a new bus. Does that make me a change-agent as well? I’m a down-right theological liberal! I ready for the Meadville Lombard Liberal Theological School!
7. We had 2 preachers from two local Christian Churches speak for us during the summer. Does that count as a “change?”

Well, there you have it. Am I a change agent? Are you proud or disgusted with me? Enough or too much change?

I wonder which ones my caller would have held off on if he had been an elder? I’ve been an elder for about 4 years now. That’s 1.75 changes per year. Do I need to work on the other ¼ to get it up to 2 changes per year or scale back about ¾ of a change per year to at least only have 1 change per year?

Who wants to be an elder now?

As an elder, minister, or ministry leader, there are times when we wonder why I'm doing this "gig" (not to be confused with "giggy") for "free." There are times when the folks that we try to serve in the name of the Lord are less than encouraging with their criticism. Then there are the times when someone makes the effort to show some appreciation by sending a card or letter. I have many of those cards and letters stuck in my Bible. I pull them out when I need a boost. I recently received the following letter. I’d like you to read it and then “consider the source.”

“Brother and Sister,

God bless you both. So how are you both doing? I am doing good. I got stitches in my arm the other day. Bad work day. But all I really need and want is for you both just to send your love. Just think, only 5 more Christmas-es to miss. Then I hope we can go to church together again.

Keep following the Spirit and others we’ll see and want what you have and has been given to you. All things work to and for the good of those who seek Him. For you are blessed. Just look around you.

I thank you already for the gift that I get to unwrap. It is the gift of your thoughts and prayers for me.

I love you both.”

William “Joe” Kepler
Prisoner #112634 B1 – 105-2

What an encouraging letter from a person in very discouraging situation. I’ve blogged earlier about the days on the softball fields that I spent with Joe many years and pounds ago.

If you remember, lift this brother up in prayer. If you want to write and encourage him, his address is:

William Kepler 112634 B1-105-2
Union Correctional Institution
7819 N.W. 228 St.
Raiford, FL 32026-4000

Easy out there. The title doesn’t refer to me, well kind of. It actually refers to our sweet little cat, Cloe. Explanation please:

Last night I was repairing a shelf in Barb’s closet. It had fallen a few days ago and we were just getting around to repairing it. That’s right
Greg, I actually had some tools in my hand besides a “big fork.” Any way, we had just finished repairing the shelf and were hanging up the 1000’s, no, (my wife might read this – love you honey) hundreds of clothes that had brought the shelf down when my son called to me from our Study. He said, “Dad, come quick. Cloe looks so cute.”

So as a good father would do, I headed off to our Study. As I enter the Study I see the closet (there’s that word) doors open and our cute, little cat Cloe, sitting on top of the shelving. Next I hear a sound that I’m sure doesn’t match the sound Steve heard when his home was turned into a drive-in but nevertheless, it was loud. The sound was followed by the entire shelf in the closet (I hate that word) collapsing on and around our cute little cat, (you know the name by now) Cloe!

I immediately sprang like a (hairy) cat and rushed to the closet. I grab the shelf with one hand to support it and I use my other hand to look for (insert adjectives) Cloe. As I’m performing this ballet of support and triage, I called to my son to come help me.

Silly me! What was I thinking? You see, Steven was instant messaging (IM) with Josh, Greg’s son. He looks at my silly request and says, “Oh Dad, wait a minute. I have got to tell Josh what just happened.” So while I’m supporting this disaster with one hand and looking for (insert adjectives) Cloe with the other, my son is “IM-ing” Josh about this scene being played out in beautiful downtown West Cocoa.

I turn around to see Josh’s response on the computer. I think it was “LOL” which I think means “laughing out loud.” At his point I’m wishing for a stamp that I can press on Steven’s head that reads “GOTC.” (Get off the computer!!) Amazingly enough, I find myself drawn into the IM chat. As I’m doing my best imitation of a military press, I tell Steven, “Ask Josh if he can use his funeral home skills on a cat?” I think Josh’s reply was something to the effect of, “We do monkeys, penguins, and maybe a giraffe but no cats!”

For some reason Randy’s recent post about hairy chests came to my mind next so I tell Steven to IM Josh the following, “What about hairy (referring to one of my many nicknames) rascals?” Josh gives me the thumbs up on that request. Nothing like love for your brother.

At this point I’m maxing out on the lactic acid in my numerous muscles so I prevail upon my son to help me with the shelf.

Moral of the story:
1. Cloe lived and is O.K. (I know some of you were flashing to the cat scene in the “Christmas Vacation” movie. Sorry. Cat lived.
2. As a result of my evening I now have “closet-phobia.” Pray for me. Just don’t IM me for a while.

Praise God for this avenue of opening up prayers requests to a much larger community than our individual church families.

Family, I need you to pray for Laura. Laura has 3 teen-age boys that she has mostly raised on her own due to her husband being in the Merchant Marine Navy. Laura also battles M.S. while trying to raise a family and teach Middle School Social Studies. Laura is also part of our church family at Central.

About 6 months ago, Laura’s husband Bob confessed an on-board romance with a fellow female crewmate. Bob stayed home and went to counseling with Laura. He called and broke off his affair. We sent Bob and Laura to one of Joe Beam’s “Couples in Crisis Seminars.” They also went through a “His Needs / Her Needs” Seminar at our church.

But despite all of that we all had our suspicions about Bob that he wasn’t being totally honest in the attempt to repair their marriage. Our suspicions were confirmed yesterday. Bob told Laura that he wants a divorce and he is going back to his ship to be with the other woman.

To say that Laura was devastated would be an understatement. We surrounded her, held her, and prayed for her but there are tough times ahead for her and her 3 boys, Brian, Mark, and David. (18, 17, and 14 respectively)

I’m reminded of a song I heard on the radio this morning, may God’s grace fall like rain on Laura and the boys.