Friday, June 20, 2008
27 Years Ago
What were you doing 27 years ago on June 20th, 1981? I remember getting up in my soon to be 12 X 50 “love shack” and helping some friends repair and re-install a window unit in my trailer. I don’t know why I remember that particular part of the day because the rest is a blur until 1pm when my best man, Buzz, and I arrived at the church.
27 years ago my mom, dad, and Grandmother were alive. My social life revolved around sports. Living in Florida meant that I could play softball almost year round and I did.
A little digression – During that time in my life my knees were always scabbed up and there was a (to avoid images in mind feel free to repeat “Dead Puppies” 3 times) constant scrape on my (insert Forest Gump voice) “buttocks.” In the baseball / softball world that would be a “raspberry.” Like my Sunday night volleyball game the other night I played softball with reckless abandon to make up for my lack of athletic skill. Sports “were” my passion and the operative word there is “were.”
I had met the love of my life, Barbara. She was and is the full embodiment of everything feminine. It was her sweetness, her softness, and her passion to make things (as she still says today) “warm and inviting” that attracted me to her.
To her credit she attempted to enter my world as well. One of our first “dates” was at a city league basketball game that I was playing in. How about that ladies – sound romantic? Later, I taught her to be our statistician. She could tell you the difference between an offensive and defensive rebound or an assist and turnover. Not bad for a girl who when we went to our first Spring Training Baseball game, she remarked about the “Home Plate Umpire,” “Who is that man in the suit?”
I remember during our ceremony that we actually had the giggles. Its tough to say, “I do” when you’re wanting to let out with a belly laugh. No video of the event since it was 1981 but we have a cassette tape if you want to listen. I do remember trying to kiss her prematurely and the preacher said, “He’s a little anxious folks.” Boy, that was the truth.
As we left the church I remember having the thought among others, “I’ll never have to sleep alone again.” As I stare down 50 in just a few months I know that thought was in error but after 27 years, I cherish every night we share the same life, the same bed, and the same sleep.
Like all of you guys out there, I married “up” and I thank God everyday for my Barbara. Have a good weekend family.
P.S. – I head out for New Orleans this coming Sunday with our youth group as we go to support the Carrollton Ave Church of Christ in their efforts to recover from Hurricane Katrina. Keep us in your prayers. I probably won’t take my laptop so we’ll see you next week sometime.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Anchor :Points / Sent of God / Conference Call
Bible Camp has yielded many blessings in the past. It seems for us this year, the blessings have been in the form of what I’ll call “anchor points.” We had several families at our church send their kids to Camp for the very first time. They came back from Camp with a new identity in our church. You can’t go to Camp for a week, spend a week in a cabin, play with others from church for a week, and worship with fellow camp members and not end up with some kind of identity or as I’m call it, an anchor point.
These kids came back to their parents with a new appreciation (I hope) for those at our church who worked at camp. Those of us who worked at camp came back with a new appreciation of these kids and their parents. This past Sunday was full of smiling faces and stories on the part of parents and campers alike. You can’t help but smile when you become family.
Another exciting thing happening at our church is an apparent moving of God, fulfilling some needs we’ve been praying about for the last few months. To protect the names of the “innocent” I can’t reveal any specifics but suffice it to say that some important ministries at our church are about to be filled by some who have the talent to do so. Now, you might say that isn’t a “movement of God” but rather something a good “H.R” (Human Resources) person could fulfill. In these cases and for me, the apparent moving of God is the fact that some of these folks are hurting and they themselves need healing. So in having some of their needs fulfilled they themselves are being used by God to help our and now their church family.
During our meeting tonight a call came in to one of my fellow, you know Randy, “E-word guys.” She asked her husband to put his phone on speaker and for all of us to listen. The next thing we heard was a group of young people (Steven included) singing “Heart of Worship” as one of them strummed a guitar. Ever since our attempted merger with a local Christian Church it has always been a dream for us to be able to have both an acapella and instrumental service. We’re hoping to perhaps use these young people in our new “first service” as we continue to renovate our auditorium.
It is exciting to possibly be able to honor our acapella heritage which by the way, with our Praise Team we do (in my opinion) quite well but at the same time be able to open a new door to those who are engaged by instrumental worship. I’ll let you know how it goes. It probably won’t happen for a couple of weeks as most of the group will be heading out (along with yours truly) to New Orleans this coming Sunday.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Thumbs Up
Well it was “thumbs up” for Steve-o this morning at the Doctor’s Office. His thumb has healed nicely and he’s been cleared to begin moving it. He was also cleared to go on our “Wilderness Trek” in Colorado in July. This particular “clearing” was a relief on many levels not the least of which was the “having already paid for the Trek and airfare” level. We are looking forward to some time with our youth group in the backcountry of Colorado.
I spent some of my summer vacations in the backcountry of Colorado during my junior and senior years in College. My last visit was in 1983 when Barb and I spent a couple of weeks backcountry hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park. I had always dreamed of taking my son to Colorado for the same experience and now it seems like it will come to fruition.
We celebrated Steven’s “thumbs up” with breakfast at a local “breakfast only” restaurant. We’re supposed to leave this coming Sunday for New Orleans with our youth group. We’re going to the (www.carrolltonavenuechurch.org) Carrollton Ave. Church of Christ which was right in the middle of the flood zone during Hurricane Katrina. According to Chad, our youth minister, the building just got running water a few weeks ago.
Funny thing at breakfast, Steven, Barb, and I were having a discussion about him going on the trip. He was hedging just a little when all of a sudden someone’s cell phone began to ring. Guess what the ringtone was – “When the Saints Come Marching In.” Steven smiled and said, “I guess I’m going.”
Can God work through a ringtone? Better yet, as Dave Stone of Southeast Christian Church said a couple of years ago during a lecture at the Pepperdine Bible Lectures, “I thought all you Church of Christ people would have your phones set to vibrate.”
I’ll leave on that (pun intended) note.
Monday, June 16, 2008
Camp Lines / Sunday Nights
Our theme for last week’s Bible Camp was, “CSI – Christ Shaped Identity.” We started Camp by painting the outline of a body on the ground by the Bell Tower. We marked it off with Crime Scene tape and told the campers on Monday morning a crime, murder had been committed. Pat Pugh did a masterful job of conveying this to our campers that morning, in fact, maybe too masterful a job. Later that day, one of Steven’s Campers, a 9 year old boy, said the following concerning our “murder.”
“If there is one more murder at this camp, I’m calling my Mommy.”
Apparently he was able to tolerate one murder but two was going to be over his limit. Don’t worry; we were able to dial things back a bit so that our younger campers didn’t take things too literal.
The second line of camp came from ironically, his brother, an 11 year old. Through one of his fellow campers, he had discovered the wonderful world of “Cream Soda.” When it came time to have another one, this same camper refused to share with him for a second time, which caused him some distress. One of Steven’s fellow counselors happen to have 2 cream sodas so he told this little boy that he would share with him.
They went outside to share this mountain top experience. As the little boy opened his cream soda taking a sip, he held the can up to the Heavens and said,
“This cream soda solves all of my problems.”
How about you – does cream soda have the same effect?
One thing that has that effect on me is “fun.” I have a high need for fun. 2 weeks ago we started our 2 services format with Sunday School in between. This is due to our remodeling of the Auditorium, which is (http://cocoachurch.org/) underway. This is forcing us to meet in our Fellowship Room. O.K., you might be asking how this meets my need for fun. I can offer 2 reasons and apologies to my fellow preacher types:
2. After attending Sunday School, we’re out the door by 10:30am!
How ever, this didn’t peg my fun meter. What did was our “Sunday Night Schedule.” You see, we don’t have Sunday night services but what we did have was a gathering of teens and adults at our Deacon of Youth’s home. They have a regulation size outdoor volleyball court. We engaged in several, yes, my shoulder is telling me, several games of volleyball followed by a meal of grilled hotdogs.
Barb claims I spent more time in the dirt than on my feet, hence the name, “Pig Pen.” We plan on trying to get together every Sunday night for volleyball fellowship.
Have a good day family and pass the Ben Gay.
Friday, June 13, 2008
Home and Soup
This year, “CI” felt like home. The local Camp Staff were even more friendly, serving, and accommodating than last year and as I walked the campus, if felt more and more like home. It’s amazing how quickly one can establish traditions and customs. These traditions and customs give kids identity and security.
The Chapel at CI has now come to symbolize powerful, pointed, and, as their author, Pat Pugh, is so fond of saying, “keeping it real” lessons. One that sticks out in my mind is the one Pat did from Genesis 25:27 – 34.
27 The boys grew up, and Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the open country, while Jacob was a quiet man, staying among the tents. 28 Isaac, who had a taste for wild game, loved Esau, but Rebekah loved Jacob.
29 Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished. 30 He said to Jacob, "Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I'm famished!" (That is why he was also called Edom. [g] )
31 Jacob replied, "First sell me your birthright."
32 "Look, I am about to die," Esau said. "What good is the birthright to me?"
33 But Jacob said, "Swear to me first." So he swore an oath to him, (emphasis mine) selling his birthright to Jacob.
34 Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left.
So Esau despised his birthright.
Pat brought out a point I had never considered. As deceiving as Jacob was, it was Esau that was willing to give up his birthright for nothing more than soup! Pat challenged our teens by asking them how often had they given up their long-term birthright in the Kingdom of God for soup? “Soup” that only satisfies for a few moments. He told our teens that they should filter everything they encounter and are tempted by, by asking, “Is this soup?” Because if it is, it will only satisfy for a moment and they we’ll be wanting for more soup.
I hope you had a great week. I know we did at Camp Ithiel. Please pray for Pat as he flies back to Cincinnati tomorrow. Also, pray for Steven has he takes another shot at the A.C.T. tomorrow as well.
God bless.
Monday, June 09, 2008
Finally
As Greg pointed out in a recent email to me, it has been a few days since my last post. It has been a whirlwind time in our life.
First – OC. No, Steven did not get a scholarship offer. Apparently another player or two “tried out” after Steven’s try-out. The Coach said the delay in sending an answer was due to Steven’s good try-out and their wanting to look at this “local kid.” The local boy received the scholarship and needless to say, Steven was disappointed. At this point his college plans are in a state of flux which isn’t much fun for the summer but we persevere nevertheless.
His Graduation went well with the highlight being a launch of the Space Shuttle as they marched into our football field. Steven’s singing group sang twice including the alma mater of Cocoa High. The Principal referred to them as her “singing seniors.” Steven graduated as an Honor Grad.
His next challenge is another go at the A.C.T. this coming Saturday. A higher score will translate into more money so we covet your prayers on his behalf.
I’m now sitting at Camp Ithiel (www.campithiel.org) on our front porch watching a beautiful Central Florida thunderstorm dump some much, much needed rain. We had to suspend swimming and canoeing for the boys but we’ll make it up at free time after dinner.
Steven along with his friends (Keith mentioned them in his post entitled “Highlight of the Week”) (http://kdavis777.wordpress.com/) Zack and Mark, are Cabin Counselors for the very first time. They have the younger boys and are doing a great job. It was neat to see Steven “marching” his boys in a straight line into dinner last night. I’m very proud of these boys and how seriously they’ve taken their position of Cabin Counselor. They are determined to make their cabin fun, spiritual, and have a certain level of “espri décor.”
For the second year in a row, Pat Pugh is with us again and he has already been inspiring to our campers. As I have already chronicled, “men” who thought they were being biblical in their actions, blackmailed our old camp and eventually us in an attempt to prevent Pat for being with us. Little did we all know God had a greater plan. God always seems to intervene when He wants His Word preached to His Children.
As God used Pharaoh in His plan to free His people, God used these men to free us from our old camp and to allow Pat to preach the Word to our campers. God is good.
