A Risky Candidate

The coming presidential election has revealed omniscient pundits heating the airwaves with hot political rhetoric. We’ve watched political rallies with some pretty good political palaver--stump speeches. We’ve watched a mediating media meditate on the merits of this or that candidate, and you know what: John McCain is a scarred POW, but I warm to the laughter in Barack Obama’s eyes when he is composed, relaxed, and smiles his wide smile.

He’s intelligent and well educated, a really savvy guy, as fund raisers have discovered. Like the Apostle Paul, Obama can discuss issues with the smartest and talk the language of the most common of us. He makes a great speech! And yes, I kinda like the guy, especially since he cares about so many issues that I care about. But, you know what? Obama is one big throw of the dice - pretty risky.

Now, don’t take me wrong! I was raised in an integrated society. I have all kinds of ethnic friends: black, Hispanic, oriental. Wife and I have a very dear friend, a black widow. We consider Dot J an intimate part of our family, in spite of her black skin. However, we’re talking about the sacred honor of being President of the United States. I know, sooner or later we have to break the color barrier. But, these are sensitive times! Do we risk a name like Barack Hussein Obama in the Oval Office?

Some of my friends say he is a Muslin. He had a Muslim father that he didn’t meet until he was ten years old. That’s not much to brag about, child in a single-parent home, raised by his grandparents (what kind of family values is that?) Some call him a Socialist. Soooo many charges! Dare we risk that in the White House?

He went to Harvard, too, but you know how Affirmative Action works--denying opportunities to the deserving in order to allow lesser qualified people unwarranted opportunities. That might work some places, but is it right for the White House? Then, instead of going out and getting an honest job and chasing the American Dream, he took a job with a church organization as a Community Organizer (a political activist, in a place like South Chicago). That seems to have thrown him into some pretty notorious company--wacky preachers, criminals elements, terrorists …

If nothing else, people say he is guilty by association, although the law says we are innocent until proven guilty. Really, Barack Obama is a pretty dangerous character. After all, he came from nowhere--born in outside the 48 states, a poor kid that had to get up at 4:00 a.m. to prepare school lessons; he only went to college by scholarships and working his way.

Its true, he did spend 3 years as a brilliant community organizer, become the first black President of the Harvard Law Review, create a voter registration drive that registers 150,000 new voters, spend 12 years as a Constitutional Law professor, 8 years as a State Senator representing a district of over 750,000 people, become chairman of the state Senate's Health and Human Services committee, spend 4 years in the United States Senate representing a state of 13 million people while sponsoring 131 bills and serving on the Foreign Affairs, Environment and Public Works and Veteran's Affairs committees. What kind of leadership experience is that?

He is the only candidate who stayed faithful to his only wife. They have a 20-year marriage, 2 beautiful little girls, and they model enviable family values. But, here is where I find Barack Obama such a dangerous threat to our American status quo. You know why? If I am any judge of character at all, this man believes deeply in the things that made this country great, and he dares to believe that every person deserves an equal opportunity at obtaining a share of the American Dream, that under God every individual has a right to life, liberty, and equal justice for all.

That threatens some people, but I will be proud with that kind of President! He will face challenging forces, and some failures, but I am convinced he will disturb the status quo of partisan politics, corruption, and racism, for here is a man, I believe, who has the common good of our country and its values deep in his soul of souls --a man with a faith in God that calls for walking the walk as well as talking the talk.

At least, he got my Absentee Ballot!

Worship Wars

Recently I came across a used copy of Robert Weber’s WORSHIP IS A VERB. I find more books of interest than I can read, but I am interested to determine how Dr. Weber handles this subject.

I find that I strongly react against the current contemporary worship music for a variety of reasons. On the other hand, I know that such matters change in style, format, and personal taste. I am also aware that music is a vehicle for touching people’s hearts and communicating thoughts and expressions that help them relate to a personal encounter with God. Therefore, although I have some personal hearing issues with sound levels of some contemporary music, I try to keep my personal responses to a minimum.

Pastor Gary Brown recently preached a sermon to his new congregation from Ephesians 5:18-21. He titled it “No More Worship Wars.” Coming on board as the new Senior Pastor, Gary recognized worship music as a much-discussed subject among his people.

Since I have a copy of Gary’s manuscript, I may return to this later. For now, here are four points as I recorded them in the margins of my worship folder.

1. We’ve not been at war over essentials. If we’re going to war, we need issues worth dieing for.
2. A worship war is fighting a battle that has never stayed the same. Here he referred to the armies of the Hymn-ites and the Praise-ites.
3. A worship crisis is a faith crisis and he gave an extensive history of worship across the centuries.
4. He gave this affirmation: “I’m going to do my best not to dictate worship style, but also to keep you from dictating.

He concluded by inviting those who wished to do so, to come forward for prayer. For those remaining, he gathered them together by leading them in moments of meditation and prayer.

This has been a subject of wide interest in church circles. Perhaps you have a reader response. Wayne

The Biblical Jesus

I cannot take credit for this piece of writing. However, I wish I could, for it expresses a conviction in which I deeply believe. It is a theme in which many of us believe. It came through a sermon by Pastor Rick Webb, July Evangelist at Southwest Michigan camp Meeting (a camp that shows increase at a time when some camps are slumping).
WHO IS THIS MAN?

In Genesis He’s the Seed of the Woman
In Exodus He’s the Passover Lamb,
In Leviticus He’s our High Priest,
In Numbers He’s the Pillar of Cloud by day and the Pillar of Fire by Night,
In Deuteronomy He’s a Prophet like unto Moses,
In Joshua He’s the Captain of our Salvation,
In Judges He’s our Judge and Lawgiver,
In Ruth our Kinsman Redeemer,
In 1st and 2nd Samuel He’s our Trusted Prophet,
In Kings and Chronicles He’s our Reigning King.

WHO IS THIS MAN … ?

In Ezra He’s our Faithful Scribe,
In Nehemiah He’s the Re-builder of the Broken Down Wall of our Shattered Lives,
In Esther He’s our Mordecai,
In Job our Ever Living Redeemer,
In Psalms He’s the Lord of Shepherds,
In Proverbs and Ecclesiastes He’s Our Wisdom,
In the Song of Solomon He’s our Lover,
In Isaiah He’s the Suffering Servant,
In Jeremiah and Lamentations He’s our Weeping Prophet,
In Ezekiel He’s the Wonderful Four-Faced Man,
In Daniel He’s the Fourth Man in the Burning Fiery Furnace,

WHO IS THIS MAN … ?

In Hosea He’s the Faithful Husband forever married to the backslider,
In Joel He’s the Baptizer in Holy Ghost and Fire,
In Amos He’s our Burden Bearer,
In Obadiah our Savior,
In Jonah He’s the Great Foreign Missionary,
In Micah He’s the Messenger with Beautiful Feet,
In Nahum He’s the Avenger of God’s Elect,
In Habakkuk He’s the Prophet Crying for a Revival,
In Zephaniah He’s the Mighty to Save,
In Haggai He’s the Restorer of the Lost Heritage,
In Zechariah He’s the Fountain Open Wide for the Sinful and Unclean,
In Malach, He’s the Son of Righteousness Arising with Healing in His Wings.

WHO IS THIS MAN … ?

In Matthew He’s the Messiah,
In Mark the Wonder Worker,
In Luke He’s the Son of Man,
In John He’s the Son of God,
In Acts He’s the Holy Spirit,
In Romans He’s our Justifier,
In 1st and 2nd Corinthians He’s our Sanctifier,
In Galatians He’s the Redeemer from Curse of the Law,
In Ephesians He’s the Christ of Unsearchable Riches,
In Philippians He Supplies All of my Needs… Simultaneously,
In Colossians He’s the Fullness of the Godhead Bodily,
In 1st and 2nd Thessalonians He’s our Soon Coming King,
In 1st and 2nd Timothy He’s the Mediator between God and Men,
In Titus He’s the Faithful Pastor,
In Hebrews He’s the Blood of an Everlasting Covenant,
In James He’s the Lord Who Raises up the Sick,
In 1st and 2nd Peter He’s the Chief Shepherd Who Soon Shall Appear,
In 1st, 2nd and 3rd John He’s Love,]
In Jude He’s the Lord Coming with 10,000 other Saints,
And in Revelation … Lift Up Your Eyes Church For Your Redemption Draweth Neigh…
He’s the KING OF KINGS AND THE LORD OF LORDS!
___
So Come, Lord Jesus,
Wayne

United, or Divided, by Faith?

Is “white Christianity” the norm and other racially specific congregations only “special ministries?“ Curtis Paul DeYoung, Michael O. Emerson, George Yancey, and Karen Chai Kim respond to this question in their volume entitled United By Faith: The Multiracial Congregation As An Answer To The Problem of Race (NY/Oxford University Press/2003).

Part One
considers biblical antecedents for multiracial congregations. Ch. 1 shows how scripture reports the church as a house of prayer for all nations. Ch. 2 describes Pentecost as the birthing of the early church in its multi-ethnic, multi-lingual splendor. That church spread throughout the Acts of the Apostles like wildfire, in spite of adjustments needed to maintain it (cf Ch. 2).

Part Two
traces the history of multiracial congregations in the United State (1600 to 1940) and shows the emergence of the color line. The multiracial congregation re-emerged between 1940-2000, primarily a result of the Civil Rights Movement.

In Ch. 4, Ghandi suggested to a group led by Howard Thurman that “it would be through the African American struggle for freedom in the United States that ‘the unadulterated message of nonviolence’ would reach the world.”

This was fulfilled in the context of the civil rights movement. From there, the authors examine four multiracial congregations: Riverside Church of NYC, the Mosaic Church of LA, St. Pius X Church of Beaumont, TX and Park Avenue United Methodist Church of Minneapolis.

Part Three
offers rationales for, and responses to, racial segregation of the worship hour. Chapter Six details events that result in the rejection of the white man’s church by ethnic minorities, and the failed attempts of a Euro-white Anglo society to assimilate ethnic Christians into “white definitions of Christianity.”

Chapter Seven argues separate but equal, whereas Chapter 8 calls for multiracial congregations, as illustrated by Richard Twiss. This native American, asked how to relate to his native culture as a Christian. The revealing answer came back with a reading of Gal. 3:28, acknowledging neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female. Everyone is one in Christ. The reader then concluded, “So Richard, don’t worry about being Indian; just be like us.”

Part 4
suggests developing multiracial congregations in the 21st century as an answer to the race problem.

“If we claim to follow Jesus Christ and to have inherited the Gospel of the first-century church,” the authors contend that “present-day congregations should exhibit the same vision for and characteristics of those first Christian communities of faith.” Therefore, “we even go so far as to say that a Christian, by biblical definition, is a follower of Jesus Christ whose way of life is racial reconciliation” (129).

“A church that does not aim to become multiracial almost never does” … “Leaders will fail if they are not thoroughly convinced that being multiracial is God’s design” (170).

In our research, we found that “all racial groups experience the benefits of multiracial congregations, but the costs are disproportionately born by the congregational minority groups” (172).

Multiracial congregations require intentionality and adaptability as well as multicultural worship (pp 175-79)

Successful multiracial congregations generally begin by “redesigning their mission statements, worship styles, and social practices in ways that reflect the New Testament call to be multiracial” (185).

We need people, say these authors, who not only speak truth to racism but who can envision a future church where racism is no longer a defining characteristic of our faith. Unequivocally, they insist that we must move forward with the task of reclaiming the vision of Jesus Christ and the New Testament model of inclusive congregations. “We are calling for a movement in the church toward multiracial congregations!” They conclude.
_____
Further quotes:
P4 When religious people make choices based on their individual rights, they largely end up in homogeneous congregations
P5 …the United States is more racially diverse than it has ever been but not as racially diverse as it will be in the coming years.

P19 The author of Mark understood that the last four words of that quote from Isaiah--for all the nations--SUMMED UP WHAT CAUSED THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS TO FEAR Jesus and look for a way to kill him (ll1:18).

P20 Jesus offered a counter kingdom proposal: he foresaw a time when every people of every nation would call God’s Temple their house of prayer. (Brian Blount)

P22 The church was multicultural and multilingual from the first moment of its existence.

P26 The Greek word Gentiles literally means nations. (David Rhoads)

P32 Ben Witherington believes, ‘It is here in Ephesus that he has the longest stable period of ministry without trial or expulsion, here that he most fully carries out his commission to be a witness to all persons, both Jew and Gentile.

P37 Their broad inclusiveness decreased only when the church became more aligned and identified with the Roman Empire and the culture of the elite.

I’m passing my copy on to a friend in KY who has launched a multicultural congregation. I highly recommend friend Curt’s works, and others are COMING TOGETHER, 1995; RECONCILIATION OUR GREATEST CHALLENGE--Our Only Hope, 1997; BEYOND REHETORIC, Reconciliation as a Way of Life, 2000 (which I keep for reference).
Wayne

Onward Christian Soldiers

In the 1970s I attended a Preaching Conference in Dayton, OH, hosted by Dr. David Grubbs. Dave has since retired from pastoral ministry, but his son Marty leads a church family of more than 4,000 souls at Crossings Community in OKC.

Attending that preaching conference with me was self-described “Black Kojack” - Horace Shepherd. I have long treasured that experience, especially when Horace shared his story and preached his practice sermon for our small group.

Racially and educationally, we were a diverse lot. Horace was surprisingly intimidated, I thought. Most of us had white skins and several had higher educational degrees. Yet, some of us were far less gifted.

Horace, in his prime, was a powerful preacher-evangelist and had wanted to be an entertainer when young. His ability to entertain became a scalpel in the hands of a gifted gospel surgeon and I loved to sit under my older black brother’s ministry!

Horace’s boys are now preachers. Son Paul, spoke again at our summer North American Convention. Paul left his dad in Philly to take a small CA church under 50, a ministry now serving more than 6,000 people. It impacts communities like Mountain View, East Palo Alto, Menlo Park, Redwood City, and Palo Alto as well as Stanford University. Their members drive in from 153 different cities and towns throughout the Bay Area.

More than 100,000 persons tune in weekdays to “Enduring Truth,” Paul’s daily radio voice. The church supports full-time missionaries in Germany, Holland, France, Russia, China, Thailand, Sudan, Africa, and South Africa. Scores of members took short-term missions trips to Germany and Guatemala as recently as 2006.

Eric Denton is another preacher’s kid on a mission. I met Eric online, remembering him only as one of the Denton‘s (the Denton brothers remain a respected Church of God name). Eric’s dad, Wilfred, is now 93.

My earlier recollection of Eric was a bright young upstart. He was very different in style from what I thought proper at that time. Today his church faithfully ministers in Africa, Mexico, and elsewhere. His online newsletters from Siempre keeps me posted on events at their Tijuana orphanage. Their Jackets for Jesus ministry takes them weekly to the streets of downtown LA, where they minister with meaning to the down and out and the up and out.

In Lexington recently, I met a new friend, DeJesus Butto--all the way from Venzeuela. DeJesus works out of an Anglo church facility in Louisville serving Hispanics through Cantares Ministries Int’l. They present the gospel to the young through music and drama, via a mobile unit, and other social outreaches.

I have a stand-up cast metal memorial plate that celebrates 100 years at Warner Memorial Camp--1892-1992. As a retiree and care-giver I now find it difficult to maintain pace. At times, I feel my old body wearing down. Yet, in my heart burns a bright fire, even when needing retooling.

Etched on my Centennial Plate are drawings of D. S. Warner and Warner’s Home. Warner, Warner Camp, and the global movement of the Church of God significantly influenced my life. They shaped my belief system, occupied much of my life, and dominated my beliefs and behaviors.

Beginning with Warner, their passionate and powerful message resonated in a manner reminiscent of first century witnesses. Although I hear negative talk here-n-there about the church losing its way, look around and see vigilant followers of Jesus serving in His name--in the trenches. The Church of God continues to build community among separated races, extend open hands of friendship to vulnerable and dispossessed individuals, and heal the wounded.

Hurricanes of political upheaval, socio-economic crisis, and human failures increase our burden. Meanwhile, faithful witnesses heroically spread faith, hope, love and friendship - in Jesus’ name. Passionate pioneers birthed our beginnings, but there are 21st century saints leading passionate charges that are neither lost, detoured, nor dead.

Like a mighty army moves the church of God;
Come, now, we are treading where the saints have trod.
We are not divided, all one body we:
One in hope and doctrine, one in charity
_____
Onward Christians soldiers, Wayne

Ballgames Without Umpires

ELAINE NOGAY WALKER is the Mayor of Bowling Green, KY. She chairs the U.S. Conference of Mayors' Women Mayors' Caucus. She offered these comments in response to a question regarding the two contenders coming to her town. They illustrate some of what is happening on every local level under the current political administration. I quote:

“How will the next president address the growing list of local government needs that have been consistently ignored or underfunded the past eight years? Since 1993, when the federal Community Oriented Policing (COPS) program was instituted, Bowling Green has grown by more than 25 percent, to nearly 53,000 residents, yet funding has been slashed for this and other programs that put police on the streets. Every year, the administration has attempted to eliminate the only local discretionary funding program we have, Community Development Block Grants. We're left scrambling for dollars to provide low-income housing, social services and other programs to serve our poor. Congress passed but has yet to fund the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program. That money would help Bowling Green, in cooperation with Western Kentucky University, appoint an energy and environmental conservation coordinator and provide incentives for local businesses and residents to reduce energy consumption and reduce our dependence on foreign oil. How would you help us expand our police programs and social services, repair crumbling infrastructure and take steps to increase energy conservation?”

The collapse of Freddie and Fanny and other financial agencies has reduced us to a dither! I don’t know how many Congressional Republicans I have heard screaming “Naughty! Naughty!” It surprises me as they demand that these bad-boy financial barons on Wall Street handled their investments and our monies very badly. They insist “They need to be caught and punished!!”

McCain accuses Obama and his Democratic allies of elevating taxes. This results because Obama insists on transferring some of the tax burden to the 5% of the wealthiest while relieving 95% of the country. Yet, months ago I heard Bill Clinton admit paying proportionately lower taxes than most of us ordinary folk.

Now this week I see that Warren Buffet told Charlie Rose in a 10-5-08, NYT interview that “to help pay for the rescue, the government should raise taxes on the wealthy“. This wealthiest man in the world then concluded, “I’m paying the lowest tax rate that I’ve ever paid in my life,” adding, “Now, that’s crazy.” I agree; it is unfair, and its wrong.

The growing financial crunch precipitated a world crisis in the financial market. Books proliferate, like Kevin Phillips BAD MONEY. They show the unleashed greed of unregulated Capitalism and the reckless investment practices resulting from our regulated market (mostly the result of 30 years of Reagan‘s “trickle down“ theory).

On the other hand, I watch George Bush and John McCain lead the charge for privatizing government regulatory issues like Social Security, while maintaining a free “deregulated” market.

McCain, a veteran of over 26 years in the Congress has fought hard to defend the free market (Reaganomic deregulation). I recall that McCain was one of the Keating-5 and that he fought for continued deregulation that contributed to the huge S&L bailout that sent Keating to prison and cost us the biggest bundle ever, up to that time.

People amaze me denouncing socialism (government intervention)! I understand their dislike of atheistic Communism, but what I do not understand is their failure to recognize that life is about being social (relationships require discipline and accountability).

We relate with appropriate social behavior, or we react antisocially. When I learn that Lehman Brothers seeks government assistance, while simultaneously preparing top executives to opt out with huge benefits, I call this antisocial behavior. When one of those upper execs includes a Walker--cousin to the current president that opposes government intervention--I find both the behavior and the underlying philosophy antisocial, as well as unacceptable!

Now: do I want the government regulating my life? NO! Absolutely not, but I also expect the government to protect me from financial predators like Charles Keating and the political philosophy of John McCain, Cousin Walker, and President Bush. The unregulated market they insist on only produces bad money and unleashes unvarnished greed that results in further reckless and unsecured investments. When payday comes, as it always does, someone has to become accountable (the financial industry thought they could avoid this).

Let’s apply this politic to athletic entertainment. I love to watch UK’s Wildcats win basketball games. I have followed Oklahoma’s football team since the days of the legendary Bud Wilkinson. As a faithful fan, I note the special teams, the numerous referees, head linesmen, etc, I see coach upon coach, scouts recruiters, trainers, ad infinitum!

Now, apply Ronald Reagan’s famous dictim - less government to the game I’m watching. The game requires only 2 teams, no special teams, only 1 coach for each team, and 1 referee for each game--plus a place to play. Reagan, Bush, and McCain all carp for less government, while leaving larger government. Moreover, I discovered on moving to CA in the 70’s that Gov. Reagan left the highest deficit up to that time in CA history. I could also tell some horror stories about what his deregulation did among State institutions.

Then I note what George Bush has done to Bill Clinton’s surplus and grieve for my grandchildren. That makes me wonder about McSame’s politics … ?

When I apply Capitalism and government to the business of athletics, the comparisons go on and on, but the very issue of “less government” that they propose is what makes the game enjoyable for me, the fan. Multiple referees keeps it fair and honest between the players. Coaching Staffs allow coaches & recruiters et al to provide the entertainment and make it a successful venture for the people funding the athletic business.

Truthfully, we need a new model of democratic politics that is neither Republican nor Democrat. We need the personal integrity and social accountability that Jesus modeled. When intentional integrity is personally applied to political relationships, it provides all the ingredients we need for our democratic process to thrive in this world of fear, mistrust, and selfism that has produced war, genocide, ethnic cleansing, and accelerated arms build-up.

The regulated and the regulators (government and its people) must responsibly relate and intervene (cooperate), to provide all the infrastructure our complex society has developed in this 21st century. The world fears our unleashed capitalistic greed, but the world will follow our leadership as we push for the common good of people everywhere.

Free-market capitalism leads to unvarnished greed (it is human nature). Reagan Republicans can no longer have their cake and eat it too. Responsible government intervention provides things like infrastructure, regulations for industry et al (rules that keep the game fair between all the players, big and small), and a people and government that acknowledge the common good of all (rather than the few).

Wayne

Gratitude With Purpose

When the going gets tough, the tough get going.

September 4 … I ranted on John McCain. The following day, I left for a month in Kentucky. In Winchester, my wife stayed busy keeping company with our daughter, off on disability leave. I pushed on down the Mountain Parkway to Prestonsburg, where long hours filled my days at Reformation Publishers.

Sept 7--Pburg--the new shelving for a reorganized Archive was not yet completed. The print shop had been greatly remodeled and reorganized. Progress evidenced everywhere, and Summer book consignments were back from camp meetings et al--piled and stacked everywhere … amid ongoing remodeling and reorganization.

Seeing the progress, we vigorously pursued reorganizing the Inventory Room, achieving a level of satisfaction. We took orders, prepared shipping and invoicing. We did whatever the day called for. When the time came, we taught Sunday School and such, all the while maintaining details of printing and production for Reformation Publishers and Williams Printing. (As in days of old, WP helps underwrite RP and sustain local church needs, revealing a multi-pronged level of assault on the work to be done).

Many days went 14+ hours. One night, a volunteer crew worked until 3:00 a.m. meeting a printing deadline. Fun, food, and fellowship were always in evidence. The torrid pace takes its toll on Steve and Martha (she has more than her share of overload, between her teaching job, her church duties, and assisting Steve in the Warehouse, not to mention being the lovely Queen of the Parsonage) but each remains committed, gracious, and appreciative.

One morning, lay leader Jack Crider (a relatively new convert) came in with one of Barb’s home grown, home made, apple pies. Jack hand-delivered it to Yours Truly while it was still steaming hot and fresh from the Crider oven (the UK jacket I wear came as a gift from Jack, a rabid UK fan).

Jack and Barb, like other of the locals, are special people. Freddy, Jimmie, Janice (from Winchester) and I all enjoyed this special gift (I’m not sure if Bobby got any, but my wife got a few bites).

The work is time and labor intensive, both manually and technically. There are never enough laborers, nor enough time, to do all that needs doing (I never knew just how much work is involved in making an ordinary book). Reformation Publishers has been a gift from God to Church of God publishing.

I would love to see Warner Press (Anderson) accomplish what Pathway Press has achieved. Pathway Press made space in their Cleveland, TN traditional printing plant and opened Derek Press as an “On Demand” digital printer-publisher. It expanded and enhanced all levels of printing and publishing for their whole denomination.

The more closely Warner Press/Chog Ministries and Reformation Publishers work together, the more our churches benefit, even from the distance of Anderson, IN and Prestonsburg, KY. In actuality, Reformation Publishers has the capability to meet most every need WP/Chog Ministries currently has (Joe Allison, Chog Ministries, is working hard to keep our church publishing up to quality and quantity).

My time at RP included 3 days that my wife and I spent in Lexington manning the book tables at the KY General Assembly and the Saturday CE leadership conference. It was satisfying to renew old acquaintances and make new friends. I found a new friend in an online acquaintance from Chogtalk (Dave Hardin). I had an interesting conversation with DeJesus Butto from Louisville para Jesuscristo. I even met a young pastor for the first time who reads and appreciates my blogs (that was pretty nice!).

I found new appreciation for Dr. Ron Duncan, for the patience and skill with which he led KY Ministries in a discussion of Congregationalism and Autonomy in the Church of God. Ron truly has a servant’s heart and we can rally together with great expectation. Renewing friendship with Jeff Jenness (Pensions Board), I was reminded that we have some truly quality and caring executives leading our church ministries, regardless of some of the negatives we frequently harp on.

This being my second year at the KY GA, it gave me a better feel for Kentucky Ministries, led by Dr. Randy Montgomery and staff. Now in his 3rd year of executive leadership, Randy may find making budget tough sledding (many are in the current cash crunch), but KY Ministries is no different than the rest of the country. It seems to be in the political air we breathe.

I believe if Randy will control his own youthful impatience and listen to the counsel of wise and loving brothers and sisters, young and old, this splendid group of Kentucky pastors and church leaders will enable him to become the kind of leader he aspires to become. That is, after all, what leadership is all about.

That weekend allowed me to attend the morning service at nearby Winchester 1st. I salute pastor Gary Brown for his excellent sermon he titled “No More Worship Wars!” (more on that in another blog). Pressed for time, I pushed on to Prestonsburg that evening, after a quick lunch with my family, to set up our RP book display at nearby Little Paint Chog.

That service signaled a Reformation Witness Rally for SE KY churches. It followed with a 4-day revival with Frank Curtis, retired from Middletown, OH Towne Blvd. I spent the weekdays at the RP Warehouse and evenings I headed out to Little Paint, making new friends and enjoying good music and solid preaching.

As the end of the month approached--9-26--we had been away from home as long as our bills would allow. Thus, on Friday evening I headed toward Salyersville, driving the colorful Mountain Parkway back to Winchester, enjoying the already-changing Fall colors, and thankful to God for what I had been part of.

Back in Winchester, I put in another 2½ days assisting our daughter as needed and attending Gary Brown’s Installation Service with Bob Russell. I had met the retired preaching pastor from Louisville SE Christian Church earlier, in Anderson. I met him with my friend Sam Stone (former editor of Christian Standard).

Bob did a masterful job as the installation speaker, adding stature to Gary Brown and 1st church. Sam Stone’s son Dave now fills the pulpit Bob once occupied at SE Christian. One need not wonder at the phenomenal ministry Bob Russell had at that church and I, for one, am happy that more of our people are coming out of our institutional shell and doing more to complement the larger church family, than compete with it.

Before leaving Winchester, I made sure I thanked Rufus Cravens for the Pink Ponderosa low acid tomato plants he gave me in May. They produced all summer and my acid-intolerant wife especially appreciated them (My biggest prize was 27½ ounces and we love blt’s!). I staked them, nurtured them, and when I returned to KY they stood over my head having produced well. (Rufus attends Winchester 1st and is a brother to Arley Cravens, retired State Administrator in WVA; Arley remains a longtime friend from bygone days further south).

I’m home now. Battle Creek is 20 degrees cooler than SE KY and I am busy winterizing. Hassling storm windows, painting, mowing, doing catch-up, and all that good stuff makes me feel my years. I used to knock it out in hours and days; now it seems perpetual, taking far too long--if at all …

That brings me to this … like the day Bobby called Steve warning us to go gas our cars; gas would top $5 a gallon before the end of that day. It didn’t quite happen, but turbulence fills the air as I turn to Thomas Chisholm in the hymnal. One day, he read that great passage from Lamentations 3:22-23. It filled him with rejoicing in the assurance of his faith - even as I rejoice today:

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father!
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions they fail not:
As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.
Great is Thy faithfulness
…
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided--
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

I may not be all I once was; I may be overwhelmed with uncertainty and clouds of wonder. Nonetheless, God is faithful today, as He was the day Daniel Webster encountered John Quincy Adams on the street. “Good morning, Mr. Adams, how are you feeling today?” Webster inquired.

“Why, I’ve never felt better in my life, Mr. Webster, than now. It’s true, the house in which I live is getting shaky. The roof is leaking, the walls are caving in, and soon I’ll be moving out. But” he concluded, “Mr. Adams is quite well, thank you.”

With that, the old gentleman tottered off down the street, and with that I leave you - thankful for “strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow. . .Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside (Chisholm). It was true when Jeremiah first wrote it and it is true today as America faces its (moral and spiritual) economic and political crisis . . .

Wayne