Our trip to San Diego was pleasant. Shirley and I talked at times. Other times we relaxed in a comfortable silence. We arrived in plenty of time to prepare for the Meeting.
I enjoy worshipping with the people who are Journey Community Church. On this night I would be speaking. This is what I am made for. Few things thrill me more than to be able to talk about Jesus and the LIFE! He’s made available to anyone; everyone “who receives Him; who believes He is who He claims to be.” So, I was “primed and ready.”
We sang. We ate our Lord’s Supper together, declaring as we did, to the world and to the world of spirits, that He is our “LIFE!” As I spoke I knew God was “with me … in me,” inspiring and empowering me. I was His chosen messenger that night and the affirmations of people confirmed He had used me. One woman, in particular, expressed her gratefulness to God. She said that she was a “Christ follower.” And she thanked our Lord that in following Him that night she’d ended up in “Church,” and was personally challenged to submit, in new ways, to His “training.”
Because Journey people meet on Friday night and twice on Sunday morning we had the day Saturday to enjoy hangin’ out with Jason and Ingvild and their Kids, Marissa, Maddie, and Ethan. They are so much fun! We even got to go Ice Skating. The Canadian in me was cool with that! Those Kids had been to the “rink” before and I was proud of them. It was serendipity to be skating first with Ethan, then with each of his Sisters. Shirley and I enjoyed a couple of times around reminiscing about other days when we’d “skated the night away.” We were ready to eat after that. A Friend had given us a Christmas Gift Certificate for one of our favorite eat out spots – Baja Fresh. The value of the card was so generous that we were able to buy Dinner for everyone! How satisfying to be able to treat our Family in this way! As we thanked God for that meal I was quietly thanking Him for the dignity of giving!
There was a troubling development that night. Our old car started to spew steam from under the engine cover whenever we stopped. There was no evidence of over-heating. So I stopped and checked to see what was happening. Sure enough a fountain of coolant was cascading out of the heater line in the back of the engine. I added coolant. It’s an old car. We carry stuff we might need. With that we were able to drive Home without further complications.
The next morning as I drove into the parking lot for the 8:30 Sunday Meeting the steam erupted from the engine. A quick check under the hood confirmed I’d be going no further without repairs. I was upset! We could not afford a large repair bill now! Walking to the Meeting place I grumbled to God. “You gave me this car!” And so He had – the car was given to us. Then and there, looking over my shoulder and throwing my hand toward the car in disgust, I reminded Him, “It’s your car!”
What followed that morning was a remarkable reminder that, “Jesus is here.” We were dramatically shown how intricately attentive He is to us. I was speaking that Weekend about Jesus’ personal training. The matter of worry came up. Jesus frequently urged His followers not to “worry.” On one occasion He went so far as to say that, like weeds in a field or garden choke out plant life, so “worry” interferes with our personal growth. It can, He taught, prevent any growth at all. So, here I was talking to my fellows about the harmfulness of worry. And all the while I was worrying. I could not pretend. God and I knew the truth. I’ve learned long ago there’s no use pretending when He’s around. I blurted it out. “I cannot have integrity and tell you not to worry.” I insisted that Jesus was quite ready to personally assume our concerns. We can, I assured them, and myself, actually “throw our care on Him.” I told them about the destiny:Life! financial shortfall and how we were trusting our Lord to provide what was needed. I told them about the car. “This,” I said, “is not what we needed. We do not have the money to fix this car. And we have critical matters to deal with when we get Home. WE NEED THIS CAR!” I even told them, “As I walked away from that steaming old relic I looked over my shoulder, shaking my thumb in the direction of the car and told God, 'It’s YOUR car!'” They laughed.
Because the second Meeting follows so soon after the first there was no time to even think about how we were going to deal with this annoyance. I did, however, find it unusual that Jason would come up to me and ask for my car keys in that brief window of time.
After the second Meeting it was all vividly clear. As is usually the case I had several people wanting to talk about things they’d heard me say or were concerned about. The affirmation is so satisfying! It’s difficult to keep it in perspective sometimes. But I know our Lord is training me. One conversation was especially important to me. A young man who’d just finished 3 years in the armed services told me this was his first time “back,” in Church since he’d joined the Service. He said that I and the things I said were intended for him. He’d drifted “away from God,” while a soldier. He told me he’d watched the Meeting on the giant screen in the Video Café because “being in Church” was scary to him. He wasn’t sure what an angry God might do to him since he’d been so rebellious. But God spoke to him, even in his fear, and reassured him that a “prodigal” is always “welcomed Home in His House.” He told me he was “back” for good. I was ecstatic!
At about that time – 2 hours after he’d asked for my keys – Jason came up. “Greg,” he said, “wants to talk to you. He’s fixing your car.” As he said that he handed me an envelope. Another woman had, earlier, given me something. I felt like I was living a drama!
When I got to the car “Greg” was just finishing his repairs. He’d heard my story during the first Meeting. Without hesitation he put his gifts to work, drove Home, picked up his tools and a cooling system hose – exact diameter and easy to cut to length – he “just happened to have” in his shop. He tightened the last bolt just as he finished telling me this story. Unpretentious, inconspicuous, immediate, faithful obedient use of what one has for somebody else’s good. THAT’S 21ST CENTURY FOOT WASHING! He wouldn’t take even an, “I owe you Lunch!” Greg King you will not be forgotten!
As I drove away in “God’s” newly repaired car I could only say “THANK YOU!” again and again …
Oh, by the way: the envelope and the paper handed to me after the 2nd Meeting? They were checks. That morning $2040.00 was given to destiny:Life!
God is so generous! And so are His people! The Christ followers who are Journey Community Church were His chosen agents for our care that day. And oh how encouraged we were.
There is, as I write, more yet to be raised. And the crunch is on! But my assurance that our Father, through His faithful people, will provide every cent has been profoundly strengthened by these marvelous events!
Lord Jesus I am FOREVER GRATEFUL that you have come. Christmas is for real and forever! You are here now! Thank you for the frequent, personal visits to us THIS CHRISTMAS 2007!
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Jesus is Here 2
Our return Home went surprisingly well especially since we were traveling 2 days after Christmas and on a connecting flight.
Oh there were little glitches. My Speaking Engagement in San Diego was the next day. We really had little margin for delays and extended layovers. But we’re learning to trust our Lord with our time. He is showing us that when He has given us an assignment He will insure that we get there on time. Of course the fact that our online seat assignments were lost put that faith to an immediate test. Learning that the flight was overbooked added to the tension. When departure time came and went the suspense grew. Our connection was now an issue and we still did not have seats. 5 minutes before boarding we had seats. Once in the air the pilots turned a 70 minute flight into less than 50 minutes in the air. The attendants had served beverages to about a third of the passengers when the Captain announced they were preparing for landing. The crew was noticeably surprised and abruptly scuttled their beverage service. I smiled as I looked at my watch and saw that we were less than 10 minutes late. We would have an hour to make our connection. “Our time is in His hands.”
Once on the ground Shirley and I agreed that I would run ahead to our connecting Gate and make sure that we had seats. Not only did we have seats. We were given the choice of exit row seats – the ones with more leg room and no middle seat. Dahhh! Ahhhhh! What will we do? You guessed it! The only seats better than these are in front of that teasingly thin, and always partially opened, little curtain.
This flight too would be delayed. But we had made our connection and could now relax reassured that our Lord had guided us through one more tense situation.
The final leg of our journey from Salt Lake City to Ontario (California) was in a Southwesterly direction. The sun is low in the Southern sky at this time of year. So we were literally flying into the sunset. I had the window seat since Shirley prefers the aisle. The spectacle of brilliantly colored skies and snow covered mountains alive with every shade of red and orange held me spellbound for most of the flight. Our flight path ran directly over Las Vegas. At twilight this gaudy city is always a spectacle of lights. On this evening it lay on the desert gray and ghostlike, virtually non existent, darkened in the light of a setting sun so brilliant I could hardly look directly into it. Our Lord tells us He “dwells in unapproachable light.” I understood that more clearly on this flight.
Landing that evening I came back to earth in more ways than one. I was thinking about the Speaking Engagement mulling over what I would say. I was also very conscious of the financial challenge facing destiny:Life! We were 4 days from the end of 2007 and nearly $10,000.00 short of what was needed to settle all accounts payable. I remembered the call I got while in Salt Lake City requesting I do Memorial Services for 2 Families on the morning we were planning to rush to San Diego. To serve these Families would shorten our time considerably and leave us in heavy traffic for the trip. Still I agreed to do this service for them. This is one of the things our Lord has given us to do under destiny:Life! And the income was necessary. Once more we would trust our Lord to give us what my Parents called “traveling mercies.”
Our cousin, Dale Winslow, picked us up using our own car as we’d arranged. Settling behind the wheel I noticed immediately that he had filled the gas tank. I felt grateful. $40.00 worth of gas was a BIG DEAL to me at that moment. And I told him so!
Arriving Home that night we found 2 small monetary gifts among a box full of pieces of mail. We were once more reassured. At the same time we were uneasy. We’d learned, as well, that one of the Families I was to serve Friday morning had found another Pastor. I breathed a sigh of relief. I knew how critical the income was but Friday would be much less stressful. The Father of the deceased in the remaining Service had requested a “Brief!” Graveside Memorial. His Son was 34 years old. His name was James Christopher. That’s the name we’ve given to our oldest Son. My heart tightened somewhat as he told me this.
My heart was still heavy as I met this man Friday morning. He was accompanied by a small group of Family, his Son’s fiancée, and some Friends. As I concluded the Service he stood immediately and gripped my hand. He was noticeably pleased. He put an arm around me and asked if he could give me something as a show of gratitude. I wanted, so much, to be able to say, “No! That won’t be necessary!” But I knew I could not. He needed the dignity of giving in this moment. I needed his gift.
Later, when I checked the pocket where I’d put the crumpled bill I discovered it was $100.00’s. Our Lord’s reassurance was anything but subtle.
Oh there were little glitches. My Speaking Engagement in San Diego was the next day. We really had little margin for delays and extended layovers. But we’re learning to trust our Lord with our time. He is showing us that when He has given us an assignment He will insure that we get there on time. Of course the fact that our online seat assignments were lost put that faith to an immediate test. Learning that the flight was overbooked added to the tension. When departure time came and went the suspense grew. Our connection was now an issue and we still did not have seats. 5 minutes before boarding we had seats. Once in the air the pilots turned a 70 minute flight into less than 50 minutes in the air. The attendants had served beverages to about a third of the passengers when the Captain announced they were preparing for landing. The crew was noticeably surprised and abruptly scuttled their beverage service. I smiled as I looked at my watch and saw that we were less than 10 minutes late. We would have an hour to make our connection. “Our time is in His hands.”
Once on the ground Shirley and I agreed that I would run ahead to our connecting Gate and make sure that we had seats. Not only did we have seats. We were given the choice of exit row seats – the ones with more leg room and no middle seat. Dahhh! Ahhhhh! What will we do? You guessed it! The only seats better than these are in front of that teasingly thin, and always partially opened, little curtain.
This flight too would be delayed. But we had made our connection and could now relax reassured that our Lord had guided us through one more tense situation.
The final leg of our journey from Salt Lake City to Ontario (California) was in a Southwesterly direction. The sun is low in the Southern sky at this time of year. So we were literally flying into the sunset. I had the window seat since Shirley prefers the aisle. The spectacle of brilliantly colored skies and snow covered mountains alive with every shade of red and orange held me spellbound for most of the flight. Our flight path ran directly over Las Vegas. At twilight this gaudy city is always a spectacle of lights. On this evening it lay on the desert gray and ghostlike, virtually non existent, darkened in the light of a setting sun so brilliant I could hardly look directly into it. Our Lord tells us He “dwells in unapproachable light.” I understood that more clearly on this flight.
Landing that evening I came back to earth in more ways than one. I was thinking about the Speaking Engagement mulling over what I would say. I was also very conscious of the financial challenge facing destiny:Life! We were 4 days from the end of 2007 and nearly $10,000.00 short of what was needed to settle all accounts payable. I remembered the call I got while in Salt Lake City requesting I do Memorial Services for 2 Families on the morning we were planning to rush to San Diego. To serve these Families would shorten our time considerably and leave us in heavy traffic for the trip. Still I agreed to do this service for them. This is one of the things our Lord has given us to do under destiny:Life! And the income was necessary. Once more we would trust our Lord to give us what my Parents called “traveling mercies.”
Our cousin, Dale Winslow, picked us up using our own car as we’d arranged. Settling behind the wheel I noticed immediately that he had filled the gas tank. I felt grateful. $40.00 worth of gas was a BIG DEAL to me at that moment. And I told him so!
Arriving Home that night we found 2 small monetary gifts among a box full of pieces of mail. We were once more reassured. At the same time we were uneasy. We’d learned, as well, that one of the Families I was to serve Friday morning had found another Pastor. I breathed a sigh of relief. I knew how critical the income was but Friday would be much less stressful. The Father of the deceased in the remaining Service had requested a “Brief!” Graveside Memorial. His Son was 34 years old. His name was James Christopher. That’s the name we’ve given to our oldest Son. My heart tightened somewhat as he told me this.
My heart was still heavy as I met this man Friday morning. He was accompanied by a small group of Family, his Son’s fiancée, and some Friends. As I concluded the Service he stood immediately and gripped my hand. He was noticeably pleased. He put an arm around me and asked if he could give me something as a show of gratitude. I wanted, so much, to be able to say, “No! That won’t be necessary!” But I knew I could not. He needed the dignity of giving in this moment. I needed his gift.
Later, when I checked the pocket where I’d put the crumpled bill I discovered it was $100.00’s. Our Lord’s reassurance was anything but subtle.
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