Merry Christmas

Well it is now past, but wow was it awesome. I keep waiting for Pearl to become like every other kid I now that wants more and more gifts. However she just keeps on surprising me. She wanted to give more than receive. Pearl was content after opening one or two gifts to just be and enjoy the company and fellowship of those there. Pearl also made it through the sermon for both Sunday and Christmas Eve service. My prayer is that this will continue through out 2008. I think we have found a home for just about all the new stuff Pearl got for Christmas. Who would have thought such a little girl could get sooooooo much stuff. She is very blessed and loved. From what I can tell pearl's favorite two things of the Christmas season has been talking to Baby Jesus and looking for him as we see Christmas decorations, and counting down to Christmas using the Nativity count down calendar we have hanging in our kitchen.

Great Escape Clergy Retreat 2007!

Great Escape Clergy Retreat 2007!

The recent Western Pennsylvania Conference Clergy Retreat titled ‘The Great Escape’ was a wonderful opportunity to gain new insight on some life principles as well as “The Life Journal” approach to teaching members of the body to self-feed.

The guest speaker was Bishop Wills and one of the ways he conveyed 5 excellent principles was through a video by Wayne Cordeiro. The principles are:

1. Know what fills and drains you. Figure out what gives you energy and what takes it away. This extends to anyone with spouses so that they can write down what fills and drains themselves and exchange it with each. If someone is single focus on what fills and drains yourself and if someone is married make sure you do not drain, but rather fill yourself and your spouse. This is also helpful for the spouse. Wayne took some time to talk about the rising divorce rate of people in ministry.

2. Understand balance in life. There is a balance between family/home life and ministry. One needs only to understand that the fulcrum moves. The fulcrum being the point two objects are balanced on needs to be moving and not static. If we allow room for following the Holy Spirit’s lead then when there is a push in one area or another then we can adjust the fulcrum so that if there is more needs at family move the fulcrum toward family and so move the fulcrum toward the push or direction from the Holy Spirit. This works the opposite so that if there is a need toward ministry the fulcrum can be adjusted as long as we remember this is not fixed and thus should not stay stronger to one or the other when the balance is shifted because of the push of the Holy Spirit.

3. Lead out of rest. Schedule rest points even though we might not always keep them, but make them the norm. An example of this is that Monday nights is family night for my family as well as Friday’s are my day off. On top of this I work a half day on Saturdays. Granted I am only a student local pastor supposedly only working part-time at the church and the rest of the time is to be devoted to studies while I am in Seminary. However, the point is if you do not even schedule times of rest then you are already behind the eight ball.

4. Find a lighting rod. This is to say when problems arise there needs to be a less biased person that is not related to you or the church you are serving that is reliably confidential like a professional councilor, but if that makes you uneasy then find a friend or mentor and share with your family from what Wayne Cordeiro calls “sharing from the victory side”. The victory side means that you share once the problem, dilemma, frustration, or tension has passed.

5. Disciplined daily devotions. This is important because “you can not give what you do not have”. This is the place where the Life Journal was discussed. The Life Journal is an approach to help everyone, all followers of Christ, be better devoted to God, coming closer to God, following Jesus way better, and seeing the guidance of the Holy Spirit. This Life Journal is a daily devotional where there is a plan to read the bible in a year, but if you follow it you will read the entire Old Testament in a year and read the New Testament twice. Wayne Cordeiro explains that the Life Journal follows the S.O.A.P. technique so that you read scripture, write out one or two verses that stand out. Then briefly write out observations about it and then write out the application usage. This is followed up by writing out a prayer.

***** Disclaimer: This is an oversimplified and out of context example only meant to show the basic idea of the S.O.A.P. technique and this is not meant to limit people, but guide the general populace. If this does not work for you it can be altered to fit the person..

This S.O.A.P. may looks something like this: if the passage chosen was “Jesus wept” an observation might be that Jesus cares and an application might be that if Jesus cares this much so should I. This leads to the prayer that the Holy Spirit might show me how to be more caring and follow Jesus example.

God bless,

Corben

Pearl is Learning and Teaching

On Sunday evening there was a hymn sing at Bridgewater and since there is nobody in the congregation who could lead the singing and Corben is not a song leader we recruited my Dad. Therefore, I decided to cook dinner and have both my Mom and Dad over for dinner before the hymn sing. We were getting ready to eat the menu was homemade chicken noodle soup and Italian bread. Everyone was getting ready to eat and Pearl decided that she was really going to say the blessing so she did. I understood she said God at the beginning and Amen at the end with a huge smile when she opened her eyes. I did not understand a word in the middle, but I know God did. That would have been enough for me but she showed us more latter. When we were about done with dinner, Pearl ran to the kitchen for more bread. She grabbed the end of the loaf that I had not cut and took off. My Mom told her to wait she would cut it for her. Pearl said no I do and ran to the dinning room. She proceeded to come to me rip off a piece of bread and hand it to me, Corben, than my Dad, than my Mom. She than stood in between her Grandma and Grandpap and said "now eat." She continued to do this until there was no bread left. I guess she is listening and learning in church when I think was this really worth the effort this morning. Jesus said "Let the children come," some may believe children should not participate at the Lord's table, because they do not understand, but I say as Jesus said let them come for they do understand. They understand better than we do at times.

Our night of Bishop on the Butler District!

Well we had our night of the Bishop on the Butler District and it was held at the Harmony Zeilenople UMC on September 18th, 2007.

It was a word of encouragement from our bishop to continue the increasing paid mission shares which are already higher then where we were last year at this time as well as a pep talk and a reminder of our purpose as a body of believers united as one.

The Bishop reminded us of our vision, mission, and core value as:

Vision: "To ignite and sustain a spiritual connection with Christ among all people in Western Pennsylvania"

Mission: "To provide leadership, connection, and resources to make disciples for the
transformation of the world"

And the

Core Value: as "Love" as especially seen in Matthew 22:37-39 which is a reiteration of
Deuteronomy 6:5 (loving God) and Leviticus 19:18 (love neighbor), at least in part.

I do like these, but I wonder if I would be deemed a heretic if they were changed just a little...

I much prefer

Vision: "To ignite, sustain, and feed growingly a spiritual connection with Christ among all
people especially in Western Pennsylvania"

Mission: "To provide leadership, connection, and resources to make disciples for Christ for
the transformation of the world"

And the

Core Value: as "Love" as especially seen in Matthew 22:37-39 which is a reiteration of
Deuteronomy 6:5 (loving God) and Leviticus 19:18 (love neighbor), at least in part. And in so
loving that the 10 commandments are re-focused upon as loving and glorifying God in
commandments one through four and loving our neighbor as well as edifying others in
commandments five through ten.


________

The slight changes in Vision are meant to support underlying need for constant growth instead of the common vision of sustaining only in some bodies of believers as well as expanding beyond just Western Pennsylvania while focusing on Western PA as the foremost goal.

The slight changes in Mission is meant to keep the focus on Christ and more deeply remind us of our purpose.

The slight changes in Core Value is less of a change, but rather a deeper expansion of inclusion as to what is meant by love and how that is translated into a deeper purpose and understanding.

__________

the other main aspect of the Bishop on the District was the pep talk to share with everyone that we need to be churches that are, in my own words, dieing to live instead of living to die. In other words are we following the "leading causes of life or the leading causes of death". In life then there are 5 main principles which are "Connection as a sense of meaningful relationships, Coherence as a sense that life makes sense in relation to our expectations, fears, and hopes, Agency as the ability to act and do, Blessing as a web of life that flows across generations, and hope that draws us together towards life".

It is great to get such encouragement and guidance and I know it will be personally edifying for me as well as when I share it with all those in the congregation I serve that were not able to attend.

Pearl's Communion

Sunday, September 9 was communion at Bridgewater. Pearl knew as soon as we got to church that it was communion Sunday because of the difference at the altar. She immediately went up front and wanted to take communion. I talked to her and told her that it was not time yet and that she had to wait until after the sermon and than she could take communion with everyone else. Well of course as usual we did not make it that far in the service before we had to leave due to Pearl being a two almost three year-old. So after church Corben brought the elements to the house to use latter in the week for shut-in's and we ran out to lunch with Aunt Dottie and Aunt Linda.
So on Monday I was preparing dinner and Pearl came into the kitchen saw the communion bread and wanted communion. So we cleared off the table and sat down. Corben read some scripture with the elements on the table before us. Pearl sat there legs swinging and listening to Corben read. She never made a noise and I could tell was listening intently. She would look at the elements and than at her Dad. After Corben was done reading scripture he gave Pearl and I communion.
Wow. What a moment. I do not think I will ever forget that night.

Bulletin Mess ups

Bulletin mess ups can be so embarrassing. I recently read one in a book on church jokes that told everyone attending the weenie roast to remember to bring your own hot dogs and guns.

This inspired me to write down a few that I have thought of:

Suicidal tendencies Church Seminary to be held Thursday only!

United Methodist rally on anti-pro war September 14th.

Celebrate our Open House, doors will be closed until 10:00 A.M.

Please remember to enjoy our Hospitality after the service.

Enjoy our chore singing Amazing Grace for todays special music.

Please remember to put out your buts before entering the church.

and finally...

UMW will be held this Thursday in the Parlor at 12:00 P.M. which will be followed by the prayer group.

*** Disclaimer: In no way do these Bulletin entries reflect any church, secretary, or personnel even if it is resembling ***

100 year celebration!!!

This weekend the Bridgewater family celebrated 100 years in our current worship center (our church)

We had two services a 3:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M. service with a dinner to follow on Saturday and an 11:00 A.M. to 12:00 P.M. service on Sunday with a light lunch to follow.

I can not believe it has been a 100 years in a single building for Bridgewater United Methodist Church. I had a great time leading the celebration this last weekend and we had great weather on top of it.

It was extremely encouraging to have guest speakers like Rev. Frank Sherman, Rev. Jim Treusel, Rev. Bonnie Rupp-Fisher, and Rev. Jeff Bobin come and share memories of their time serving here at Bridgewater as well as from the many congregational stories.

Our Scripture celebration set the tone with Matthew 7:18 through verse 29. The celebration was not about miracles, prophecies, or works of wonder, but rather relationships and faith building experiences that were focused on Jesus and the peoples response to Him.

We heard stories of people coming to faith because of Jesus’ love shining through certain members. We heard stories of object lessons that have stuck with people for at least 30 years like the worm story.

The worm story is about a person who always taught the worm lesson once a month. This person would bring in two worms and two tubes of clear liquid. The person would drop a worm in one tube and the worm would be fine and then drop the other worm in the other container and it would immediately shrivel up and die. Then there would be a follow up message explaining the other liquid was, I am going to call a similar substance to, grain alcohol. Now that is quite a lesson and on top of it they did it over and over again for possibly years.

As I was leading both services I realized that Bridgewater had their first Pastor appointed in 1808 which was only 24 after the first two Bishops Coke and Asbury where commissioned. For me it is much more of a big deal that Bridgewater has been faithfully serving the community and sharing Christ as a group of people for 199 years, and as of 2008 a full 200 years of service. I can still appreciate the 100 year celebration in one building especially since the focus was on relationships and sharing Jesus love instead of things that happened in this particular building.

With this said I am still blown away by almost 200 years of Pastoral care and support to a single group that has been together almost as long as the origin of Methodism that has become our modern denomination as a whole.

Go Navy

On August 31st we got to see Justin for the first time since he left for boot camp on July 5th. Wow. What a change. The boy that lived with us a few short months ago and I was arguing with about doing his homework and throwing away his McDonald's garbage, and telling him I needed his clothes so that I could wash them was now standing in front of me in his dress whites saying yes mam thank you mam opening doors for people and wait did I really see him eat broccoli. He is no longer a high school boy trying to just get by but now a US Sailor flying out this morning for further training in Texas. He told us that there is a chance that after that he might go to Iraq. God knows where he will end up and we a trusting God for Justin to be ready for whatever that is and where ever that might be when it happens in about six weeks. We are very proud of Justin and the things he has done thus far. Pearl really enjoyed her time she got to spend with Justin and has been telling everyone about their trip to Six Flags and the Chicago Zoo. Until we see him again we will have these memories and many more and being praying for his safety. Please join us in praying for him and all other military throughout the world.

Check out my Slide Show!

Check out my Slide Show!

August What a Month

This month is almost over and we have had a very busy but wonderful month. We started the month off by traveling to Wilmore Kentucky as a family so that Corben could take his last class of the summer. I planned on Pearl and I playing outside a lot on the playground on campus and other local parks....however when on the first day there when Pearl wanted to leave the play ground at 9:30 in the morning because it was too hot I knew I had to make other plans. So we made a trip to Walmart to buy paint, paper, glue, and siccors. That kept us very busy and she brought home with her a book bag full of wonderful art work. On Friday afternoon we took a drive to the Shaker Village. Pearl enjoyed the animals and watching them make brooms the best. It was very neat to see how the shakers used to live. We were told that there is only one living Shaker left and that they live in Main. On Saturday morning we headed for Tennessee for a week of vacation. Our first stop was in Nashville. We stopped by the football stadium to take pictures for our cousin who for some crazy reason is a Titian fan. We still love him though. We had dinner at the Aquarium a restaurant where while you eat fish swim around you. Than it was off to the Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg area in the Smokies. We spent a few days at Dollywood Park, an evening at the Ripley's Aquarium in Gatlinburg, and an afternoon driving through the Smokies on the Cades Cove loop. We headed for home on Thursday morning so that we were home in time to end our vacation at the Pittsburgh Pirate game against Philadelphia on Friday for Sky Blast two, with Bishop Bickerton throwing out a first pitch. Pearl spent a few innings at the playground, but returned to her seat for the fireworks and concert. Last week was called doctor appointment for me and catch up week for Corben. Pearl enjoyed seeing and hanging out with Grandma and Grandpap Price and Aunt Dottie. My sister won two tickets to last nights Steeler game against the Philadelphia Eagles. She was unable to go so she gave them to Corben and I. It was a great night out for us, and Pearl had a great night with Grandma and Grandpap. Her and PapPap cut grass with the tractor and swam in their pool. What more could a two year old ask for. On Thursday we are headed for Great Lakes Illinois to see our cousin Justin graduate from Navy boot camp.

Greaser Babies

Pearl Loves this video! It is rather cute and strange.

CONCIERTO MARCOS WITT DIOS ES BUENO / VENGAN TODOS

Languages are so amazing. This Spanish song really captures the heart we should have when we want to enter the presence of God and worship Him.

This is the the translation as it has been given to me:

Hey! Vengan todos,
es el tiempo de alabar a Dios//
Everyone come, it is time to praise God
(Repeat)

Con la musica y con nuestra cancion le alabamos hoy.
With music and with our song we praise you today
Con el jubilo de la adoracion le alabamos hoy.
Rejoicing in adoration we praise you today

Coro:
//Hey! Vengan todos,
es el tiempo de alabar a Dios//
Everyone come, it is time to praise God.
(Repeat)

Por su eterno amor y su fidelidad le alabamos hoy.
For your eternal love and your faithfulness we praise you today
Por su salvacion y su gran bondad le alabamos hoy.
For your salvation and your great kindness we praise you today

Coro:
//Hey! Vengan todos,
es el tiempo de alabar a Dios//
Everyone come, it is time to praise God.
(Repeat)

Con la musica y con nuestra cancion le alabamos hoy.
With music and with our song we praise you today
Con el jubilo de la adoracion le alabamos hoy.
Rejoicing in adoration we praise you today

Coro:
//Hey! Vengan todos,
es el tiempo de alabar a Dios//
Everyone come, it is time to praise God.
(Repeat)

Por su eterno amor y su fidelidad le alabamos hoy.
For your eternal love and your faithfulness we praise you today
Por su salvacion y su gran bondad le alabamos hoy.
For your salvation and your great kindness we praise you today.

Coro:
//Hey! Vengan todos,
es el tiempo de alabar a Dios//
es el tiempo de alabar a Dios
Everyone come, it is time to praise God (Repeat)
It is time to praise God


God bless,
Corben

Corben's personality test results

Well I knew I was crazy and this just proves it :-)

"ENTPs are idea people. Their perceptive abilities cause them to see possibilities everywhere. They get excited and enthusiastic about their ideas, and are able to spread their enthusiasm to others. In this way, they get the support that they need to fulfill their visions"

Next 30

Well here it is. A little over a week ago I turned 30 and I said that I wanted to make a list of things I wanted to do. So the next day as I sat waiting to see the dentist I made my list, and now I am putting it out there for all to give their 2 cents.

Routine exercise
Eat healthy
Daily quiet timme with God in prayer and study of His Word
Yearly Doctor visit
Bi-yearly Dentist visit
Monthly date night with Corben
Monthly girls day with Pearl to coinside with Corben's spiritual day
Call and talk with my Grandparents on a weekly basis
Famliy devotions
Nighty devotions with Corben
Weekly family night
Weekly family day
One meal a day @ the table as a family
One week a year vacation with just Corben and Pearl
Monthly day away
Establish family traditions

Some of these things I already do some will be new. Some of these things need a lot of work others are consistant and do not need much work at all.

I Took the Test

I did it I took the personality test. I wonder what Corben is.

How long is too long for a sermon?

I found this online at a sermon humor website: http://www.javacasa.com/humor/sermon.htm

"A preacher was on program at a district convention to preach for twenty minutes. The other preachers from the district were sitting behind him in the choir section, giving him moral support and throwing in an occassional "Amen" to help the preacher along. The preacher preached his twenty minutes and continued on despite alloted time. He preached for 30 minutes, then forty minutes and then for an hour. He even continued for an hour and ten minutes. Finally, a brother sitting on the front row took a song book and threw it at the preacher that was still going strong in his message. The preacher saw the song book as it was hurled his way and he ducked. The song book hit one of the preachers sitting in the choir section. As the man in the choir section was going down, you could hear him say, "Hit me again, I can still hear him preaching!"

Pastoral Family

Well it has been a year since Corben got his first appointment as a United Methodist pastor, and since we became a pastoral family. It has been a very exciting year with many ups and downs along the way. I am very blessed to be a part of this journey in many ways and God is showing me new things on I would say pretty much a daily basis. One of the things that has surprised me most over the past year is how much I have enjoyed being a part of the church where up until January Pearl was the only child and Corben and I were the age of must of the member's grandchildren. I had always told my parents that I would always do youth ministry, because I hated working with old people. Boy does God have a sense of humor. It has been wonderful getting involved with the United Methodist Women's group here at Bridgewater, and as a result believe it or not starting next year at the District level. I always thought of the UMW as a old ladies group. My mom always told me to keep an open mind and not say that sort of thing. Well I will say it, she was and is right (if not all the time most of the time). Pearl has not yet let me sit through many worship services over this past year so that is still a work in progress and I would say at times one of my most frustrating weekly experiences. I have also found it hard to believe what we as a church have in place for the mentoring and accountability of Pastors and their families. I can not believe that for the local pastors they meet as a group for one to two hours six times a year and that is to be their accountability group and also mentoring time with their clergy mentor. One mentor for 15 to 20 pastors, and an accountability group that size. Pretty dysfunctional if you ask me. I also have been left a little dismayed at the spouses activities. I have in the past year not once been contacted by another Pastor's spouse to ask me how things are going or to give me advice. I think that we as a church need to do more for the spouses of pastors as well as do more for the pastors, especially for new pastors and their families. With that said I would say that the local church has been a true blessing, the connectional church well let's just say we need to ask God for help. I do have some ideas from what I have experienced if there is anyone out there reading this who might be in a position to make some changes and wants to listen.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows:

I will write SPOILER WARNING if someone plans on readying the book and has not just before the paragraph that could possibly give a clue to the last of the Potter books, Deathly Hallows.

Is Harry Potter compatible with the bible and Christian teaching? Magic in the sense of the book is fiction and not reality. There are those in the world today who believe it to be true, but alas it is an illusion. It may not be a mere illusion since anything Satan gets his hands into can be not only tempting and seem real, but it usually contains at least a grain of truth so that it more convincingly entices. In Harry Potter and the chamber of secrets there is a plant called Devil’s Snare and it would seem the more you struggle the more you get intertwined and sucked in. The interesting part is when light, real light, hits the snare it shrinks away into the nothing that it really is.

Of course the magic that is presented in Harry Potter is not true, but one thing can not be denied.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows sold a record breaking 15 Million copies worldwide in the first 24 hours of its release which was noted in the Dateline interview with the famous author J.K. Rowling on NBC that aired July 29^th, 2007.

15 Million Copies in the first 24 hours seem inconceivable, but it is true. What is the most common global language today; it may just very well be ‘Potterian’. The language of world and person hood J.K. Rowling’s has created.

If we are going to speak to people with cultural relevance than maybe we need to know what they are talking about. This is why I was so excited to see the truth of the Gospel in the Harry Potter series even though it may not have been intentional.

The Dateline interview previously mentioned J.K. Rowling talks about redemption and forgiveness and that after the last book ends a new beginning is enabled. All very similar to one special person Christians everywhere hold dear, Jesus. In fact Harry Potter is called the ‘chosen one’. Jesus is God’s chosen one is he not? The series though speaks volumes on so many different levels and in so many different ways. I DO NOT WANT TO GIVE ANYTHING AWAY for those that have not read the last book yet, but the Christ like examples in it are amazing. I know there are holes, but it is something that culture knows and is interested in talking about and on top of that the face of Jesus can be seen in it.

At another point in the interview with J.K. Rowling she says, “We all have a choice like the Malfoy’s of the world”. The Malfoy’s are a family that makes some bad choices and chooses to follow greed, pride, and other things many church goers would today call sin, but J.K. Rowling is so right. ‘We all have a choice” and we are responsible for that choice.

I have many acquaintances that spasm at the idea of talking about Harry Potter let alone reading him as if they might get tainted, infected, or tempted to go down the wrong path, but Harry Potter shows, mortality, humility, selflessness, compassion, mercy, and grace in multiple forms (prevenient, justifying, and sanctifying). Harry Potter also shows these previously mentioned in balance with faith, love, truth, righteousness, and justice.

SPOILER WARNING

In the end the Harry Potter series is a made up world, fiction, but the truth of the bible, and especially Jesus Christ dying on the cross for the forgiveness of sins so that all who believe may have ever lasting life, redemption, is represented in one way or another, even the resurrection.

That is all I can say at this time so that I do not spoil the book

Happy Birthday to me

It is my birthday. Today is the big 30 as some may say. I am grateful for the blessings, challenges and growth God has given me the past 30 years and am looking forward to the next 30 years. Today Tim McGraw's song the next 30 years is my song. So I am going to make a list of what I am going to do. I will post it latter after I make it.

Worship God Tonight

Tonight we went to worship with our Christian family at Concord UMC for Saturday Celebration. Usually Corben is up front and pearl and I are in the pews with me trying to keep her quiet and there and Pearl wanting to either get up front with her dad or to the nursery to play. Not tonight. Tonight during the beginning of worship, a time of singing praises to God, Pearl wanted her Dad to hold her while we praised God. Corben was holding Pearl with one hand and raised his other hand while he sang praises to God. Pearl was looking at him and than the next thing I knew she put her hand in the air and was singing. I do not know what she was saying, but I am sure God knows. Pearl than went to the nursery to play, which is staffed, at Bridgewater if Pearl has to go to the nursery than so do I. So I got to actually sit and listen to the sermon. Which was great. The title of the sermon was "I did it my way---and still got to heaven! Why Mike is not a Christian." A few of the things that I want to remember from the sermon tonight are: 1)Know that Jesus is the ONLY way. 2) Know the truth and be concerned that others know the truth. 3) Be ready to give reason for my belief in a respectful way. It was a great evening and a truly needed worship time.

Justin is staying

Thanks for all of your prayers. Justin called Grandma and Grandpap yesterday and talked to them for a little over an hour. He said that things are looking up and that he is staying in the Navy. He said the food is great that they have all the stuff he likes. He said that he is getting mail now, he did not realize that he had to go pick some of it up at the mail room. He said that he learned how to iron, and that they get up everyday at 2:00 AM and spend an hour ironing their uniforms. My dad his Uncle Leonard said at least they could do is let them iron at a more reasonable hour. Justin said that he has passed the test that he had to take and that they have pointed him out for how he does his push-ups. He is looking forward to seeing all of us when he graduates on August 31st. I will be driving Grandma and Grandpap out along with Corben, Pearl, and myself for the graduation. He only has 4 tickets so Corben and Pearl are going to stay at the hotel while we go to the base for the ceremony. Than after the ceremony we will bring Justin back to the hotel to see them. He sent a message that I better bring Pearl with me, because he wants to see her. Please keep praying for him as he continues to train to defend our country.

"The Cross Makes Murderers Of Us All" from Becky Pippert

"The Cross Makes Murderers Of Us All" is such an interesting true story that when I read I knew I needed to share it with blogland.

The following is an excerpt from:

Hope Has Its Reasons, Rebecca Manley Pippert (pgs. 102-104)

"Several years ago after I had finished speaking at a conference, a lovely woman came to the platform. She obviously wanted to speak to me and the moment I turned to her, tears welled up in her eyes. We made our way to a room where we could talk privately. It was clear from looking at her that she was sensitive but tortured. She sobbed as she told me the following story.

Years before, she and her fiancé (to whom she was now married) had been the youth workers at a large conservative church. They were a well-known couple and had an extraordinary impact on the young people. Everyone looked up to them and admired them tremendously. A few months before they were to be married they began having sexual relations. That left them burdened enough with a sense of guilt and hypocrisy. But then she discovered she was pregnant. “You can’t imagine what the implications would have been of admitting this to our church,” she said. “To confess that we were preaching one thing and living another would have been intolerable. The congregation was so conservative and had never been touched by any scandal. We felt they wouldn’t be able to handle knowing about our situation. Nor could we bear the humiliation.

“So we made the most excruciating decision I have ever made. I had an abortion. My wedding day was the worst day of my entire life. Everyone in the church was smiling at me, thinking me a bride beaming in innocence. But do you know what was going through my head as I walked down the aisle? All I could think to myself was, ‘You’re a murderer. You were so proud that you couldn’t bear the shame and humiliation of being exposed for what you are. But I know what you are and so does God. You have murdered an innocent baby.’”

She was sobbing so deeply that she could not speak. As I put my arms around her a thought came to me very strongly. But I was afraid to say it. I knew if it was not from God that it could be very destructive. So I prayed silently for the wisdom to help her.

She continued. “I just can’t believe that I could do something so horrible. How could I have murdered an innocent life? How is it possible I could do such a thing? I love my husband. We have four beautiful children. I know the Bible says that God forgives all of our sins. But I can’t forgive myself! I’ve confessed this sin a thousand times and I still feel such shame and sorrow. The thought that haunts me the most is how could I murder an innocent life?”

I took a deep breath and said what I had been thinking. “I don’t know why you are so surprised. This isn’t the first time your sin has led to death, it’s the second.” She looked at me in utter amazement. “My dear friend,” I continued, “when you look at the cross, all of us show up as crucifiers. Religious or nonreligious, good or bad, aborters or nonaborters—all of us are responsible for the death of the only innocent who ever lived. Jesus died for all of our sins—past, present, and future. Do you think there are any sins of yours that Jesus didn’t have to die for? The very sin of pride that caused you to destroy your child is what killed Christ as well. It does not matter that you weren’t there two thousand years ago. We all sent him there. Luther said that we carry his very nails in our pockets. So if you have done it before, then why couldn’t you do it again?”

She stopped crying. She looked me straight in the eyes and said, “You’re absolutely right. I have done something even worse than killing my baby. My sin is what drove Jesus to the cross. It doesn’t matter that I wasn’t there pounding in the nails. I’m still responsible for his death. Do you realize the significance of what you are telling me, Becky? I came to you saying I had done the worst thing imaginable. And you tell me I have done something even worse than that.”

I grimaced because I knew this was true. (I am not sure that my approach would qualify as one of the great counseling techniques!) Then she said, “But, Becky, if the cross shows me that I am far worse than I had ever imagined, it also shows me that my evil has been absorbed and forgiven. If the worst thing any human can do is to kill God’s son, and that can be forgiven, then how can anything else—even my abortion—not be forgiven?”

I will never forget the look in her eyes as she sat back in awe and quietly said, “Talk about amazing grace.” This time she wept not out of sorrow but from relief and gratitude. I saw a woman literally transformed by a proper understanding of the cross."

Hope Has Its Reasons, Rebecca Manley Pippert (pgs. 102-104)

Wow, that is something to think about and it really levels the playing field. No one is better then anyone else so no one should be prideful or hypocritical.

Justin Update

We got a letter from Justin yesterday. He is still at Great Lakes participating in training. However he still does not like it. By the sounds of it it's not the Navy he doesn't like it is being away from family that he dislikes. He tells us that he needs his family. We wrote him letters encouraging him to hang in there that after the first couple of weeeks we will be able to visit and see him as often as he wants to see us. He wants to try to switch to the Navy reserves or get out on medical from when he broke his arm when he was in kindergarden. I have encouraged him not to do anything to quickly and to always be honest and tell the truth. Still praying for him.

Brenda's Turning 30:-)

I can not believe it. Brenda is turning thirty. It is amazing to think she is still so young and yet so mature. Birthdays come and birthdays go, but I am forever grateful for Brenda being born. She truly is God's helpmate for me and I for her. As this momentus occasion approaches, July 29th of 2007, we already celebrated a surprise party tonight at Brenda's mother's house. I am not sure how surprised she was, actually she was not surprised at all. Brenda is one smart cookie.

I would be lost without her. There is no gift great enough, there is no appreciation strong enough, there is no words to convey thanks for everything Brenda has done, is, and continues to be and do.


Happy birthday

Daddy's coming home

Well here it is Friday afternoon and Pearl is very excited. I am also. Corben has been in Kentucky this week for the second of his three classes for the summer. He called at about 12:30 and said he was done and on his way home. I gave Pearl the phone for him to tell her, and she got a smile on her face so big I can not describe it. We are also very proud of him because he got an A in his class. The class he was taking was on Technology in ministry. He was learning how to produce videos and do powerpoint for worship services. I do not think he'll be able to use the knowledge here at Bridgewater, but I know God is preparing him for the future ministry He has in store for us. We can not wait to see him he will be home this evening. Pearl will be a little bigger at the next graduation. This picture was taken May of 2005 when Corben graduated from Geneva.

Please Pray

Last Thursday we went up to the Federal Building in Pittsburgh to say good bye to our cousin Justin as he shipped out for the Navy. He will be at Great Lakes Naval Base in Illinois for the next nine weeks. He called home yesterday and said that this is harder than he thought and did not know if he could make it. I know that he can. Please join us in praying for Justin. This is a picture of Pearl and Justin that day right before we left.

God of Wonders

It is amazing to see special relationships. I am amazed when I see Brenda and Pearl sitting together in the chair watching a kids movie.

God is so amazing and watching Brenda and Pearl relate as they bond today reminds me what God of wonders we truly have.

This thing God created called motherhood is such an amazing gift. It not to say mothers have it easy for Pearl gives us all, mom, dad, gramma, papap, and the like all a run for our money, but to see mother and daughter relate and relax together, the way God designed is awesome.

Russell Family Update

Wow it has been a long time since I have posted a blog. Here is what has been happening around here. In May Corben finished up the spring semester. Pearl and I were very happy it was over and proud of Corben for all of the hard work he put into the semester. We took Pearl to two Pirate games in May she seems to like going to the ball games alot. We traveled to White Lake Onterio for a weeks vacation. We took my sister with us. Pearl had a blast "fishing" and hanging with everyone. No phones, no TV, no computers. It was great. Pearl did have a portable DVD player and Aunt Dottie did not want to even her the name Shrek upon our return to the states. After vacation Pearl develped an ear infection which caused a high fever and resulted in a trip to the ER with a sevrille seisure. The doctors say they cause no damage and that she will grow out of them, the key is to keep her tempertures down. Than it was off to Annual Conference @ Grove City College. This was a very eye opening event. I enjoyed getting to catch up with old friends, getting to meet some of the other bloggers face to face, and meeting new friends. I was a little disappointed with the clergy spouse event. It seemed like everyone for the most part had their group of friends and did not want new people to come in. We'lll have to wait and see what happens next time. After Annual Conference we picked Pearl up from Grandma and Grandpap's Sunday night, unpacked, and repacked to head for Pigeion Forge Tennessee @ 7 AM Monday morning with my parents, grandparents, and cousin. Two cars with eight people and a whole lot of stuff headed to a cabin in the Somokies. Awsome time was had by all even in the mist of construction traffic and one car breaking down on the way home. On Father's Day Corben left for a week at school in Kentucky. Pearl and I took my Dad and sister to the Pirate Game for my Dad's birthday and Father's Day. We also took my sister, she said it was too hot and that we parked too far away. Corben came home to a very happy Pearl that Daddy was home. She meet him at the car and would not even let him get out. This past week Pearl went to the community Bible School. She loved it did not even want us to take her in after the first night just wanted to say by love you have fun and run in. To her dimay however someone always took her in. She is defintly going to miss it, and so will I two hours to get stuff done. Maybe Pre-shcool is a thing for her. Yesterday we celebrated Justin's graduation from high school, and his leaving for the Navy on July 4th. We are so proud of him. We can not wiat to see him in his Navy Uniform. Pearl will miss him, but she will survive along with Justin and the rest of the family. Today we are done with church and are now getting ready to go to the Pirate game, it is kid's day, Pearl will get an autograped baseball. After that we will come home and the family is comeing over for homemade icecream and staying for Bridgewater's Fireworks. Wow what a start to summer. Will post a few pictres latter.

By the Grace of God!

By the Grace of God I have my first publish work: a Sermonet :-)

On Saturday June 9th, 2007 I had a small excerpt posted through the cooperation of Christians United in Beaver County in the section entitled: FROM THE PULPIT

ANYONE GOOD ENOUGH?

Passages like James 4:17 are a hard pill to swallow for people who believe Jesus Christ to be their Lord and Savior. It is a struggle to come to grips that sin is sin no matter how great or how small. Then to realize as James 4:17 explains even if someone only knows of the good they are supposed to do and they do not do it they sin. Is anyone good enough?

So often people look at those believers of Jesus Christ, the ones often called Christians, and see people who think they are better then everyone else. The fact is no one is better then anyone else, there is no pedestal, and more over anyone who is a believer is worse off since they know the good they are supposed to do and yet do not always do it.

I remember a young man calling himself a Christian once came across a couple whose car had ran out of gas and when the couple asked for a few dollars because they had left their money and credit cards at home the young man told them to hold on. So they waited a few minutes, the young man came back and said “I have something better then money” and handed the couple a pamphlet about Jesus Christ and who He is. The good the young man did not do was that He did not help this stranded couple in their time of need. Is anyone really good enough?

No one, not a single person, is good enough except for one. This one was and is perfect. This one died on the cross so that all who believe may have everlasting life. This one took on all the sins past, present and future for himself. This one who did not deserve to be punished, was humiliated, shamed, tortured, died on the cross, and rose from the dead three days later so that there could be real hope. Hope in being good enough. People who believe in Jesus are no better then anyone else, but should strive to do all the good they ought to do.

Niagra Falls

On Friday after Justin got out of school we left for Niagara Falls. I had taken Justin to Niagara Falls back in 2001 in February and told him that someday we would go back when it wasn't so cold. Well he leaves in less than 2 months for the Navy so Corben and I decided it was time to go and we figured Pearl would enjoy the trip also. Everyone had a great time. Pearl's two highlights were swimming at the hotel, and going up to the top of Skylon Tower. Pearl kept calling the falls, "falls water," instead of water falls. Here are a few pictures.


Pearl at the top of Skylon Tower


The falls from the top of Skylon Tower


The three of us


Justin and Pearl outside of the Souvenir Store

Nothing But Nets

On April 19th Bridgewater had their semi-annual Braised Steak Public Dinner. There are usually around 200 people who come through the doors of the church for this dinner. So we decided to have a display for the nothing but nets campaign. We took Pearl's pack n play and placed it at the entrance to the church with a net on it. We than had a information sheet to give to anyone who asked what is this about. The pack n play is now sitting in the sanctuary as a reminder to the congregation. If you would like more information go to www.nothingbutnets.net and check it out.

Pap Russell

A few weeks ago we went to visit Corben's family for Easter. We had a good time and while there we got to spend time with Corben's Gram and Pap. They are an amazing couple and have so much to offer us. They have been there done that and if we just take the time to listen to them we can learn so much. This is a picture of Corben and Pearl with Pap.

Can Not Believe It

For the past couple of weeks we have been working with Pearl on attending Sunday School. Here at Bridgewater there is only one Sunday School class and it is an adult class. So, since coming here Corben has been attending Sunday School and Pearl and I have chilled at home. It has been going pretty well for the past couple of weeks today during Sunday School Pearl of course had to go potty so we left came back than she said she had to go again. Not so she was just playing games...therefore we had a talk about lies and she got very upset. Back to Sunday school eventually after she calmed down. Than she had a mental breakdown. She wanted to go upstairs and pray she told her Dad. He told her they would, but after we prayed downstairs first. That is when she ran to the door threw her self down and yelled cried and kicked. (I have no idea where she would get that from.) So I was like this is going to be one long church service and did not expect to make it through announcements let alone the whole service. However God is amazing and we Pearl and myself were in church the whole time. At the end of Corben's sermon there however was a scary and than amazing moment. He asked for a moment of silence...Pearl stood up put her chin on the pew in front of us...I held my breath and was ready to grab her and run...than I heard it...absolute silence...you could hear a pin drop. Than came the benediction, Pearl imitated her Dad from begining to end. Hands in the air talking and even coughed when he did. Next week? I pray for the same, but time will tell,

What Church Father are You?

I recently took a brief survey to determine which church father I most closely resemble the results are scary:

You are Origen!
You do nothing by half-measures. If you’re going to read the Bible, you want to read it in the original languages. If you’re going to teach, you’re going to reach as many souls as possible, through a proliferation of lectures and books. If you’re a guy and you’re going to fight for purity … well, you’d better hide the kitchen shears.

http://www.fathersofthechurch.com/quiz/

What Superhero are You?

Your results:You are Green Lantern
Green Lantern
85%
Spider-Man
80%
The Flash
70%
Iron Man
70%
Superman
60%
Supergirl
60%
Wonder Woman
60%
Hulk
60%
Catwoman
55%
Robin
50%
Batman
20%
Hot-headed. You have strong will power and a good imagination.
Click here to take the "Which Superhero are you?" quiz...

I always thought I had a good imagination, but hot-headed? My wife agrees, at least, at times

Brenda took the test and she came up as Superman

Potty Time

For about a month now we have been working with Pearl on using the potty on a regular basis. Peeing on the potty has been going very well for about a week or two now. However pooping was a different story. But, on Thursday we had a break through. Corben and I decided that we were not going to give in and about two hours latter Pearl pooped on the potty. She was excited and so were we. We are still going to use diapers at night and at nap time, but that is it. Pearl also last night took the potty seat off of the toilet and is sitting on the big people's toilet seat.

Easter Week Almost Done

Well, it is Saturday evening and our week of Easter celebration is just about to come to an end. We started the week with church, and family visits and ended the week with family visits and icecream. We got to go and spend time this past Thursday and Friday with Corben's grandparents and parents. We had a great time visiting with all of them. Pearl enjoyed the car ride both ways(and no potty mishaps either), and also enjoyed her time having Easter egg hunts and playing with Grandma and Grandpap Russell's dog, Oatsie." Upon returning home we had Aunt Dottie's Mac and Cheese and went to J & T's with Aunt Dottie. This was our first trip of the year and while there we ran into Uncle Mike and cousin Michael. Michael told us all about baseball practice while we waited for our icecream. Pearl really enjoyed her first J & T icecream, last year she would not eat icecream.

HAPPY EASTER

Prayer

We all know that prayer is a very powerful thing. This afternoon a friend of ours who is a missionary with the Mission Society is leaving for Peru. She will be doing ministry throughout Peru for the next four and a half weeks. Please join us in praying for her and the people of Peru who she will be ministering to.

Father God,
I just ask you to be with Sue today as she leaves for Peru. I ask you to go with her, to give her a peace while she travels. Allow her time to rest. Please God be with the people of Peru as they finish preparing for Sue's arrival.

Cousins living in one house

At the begining of March our cousin Justin came to stay with us. It has been a great time and a learning experience for all of us. Corben and Justin have enjoyed some quality time (that's what they say at least) playing video games. They have also enjoyed some long talks. Justin and I have had talks about forgiveness, truth, and grace. He has given me a lot to think about. He might not relize it, but he is living like Christ in ways that some of us strive for on a regular basis. While Justin has been here the past few weeks Pearl has started to understand the concept of school. She has also learned to say his name, up until yeterday she has called him Just all the time. When Justin came so did his drum set. Pearl really enjoys that addition to the house. Both Pearl and Justin love to play the drums. We have all enjoyed having Justin around and will mess him greatly when he leaves for the Navy. However there is alot to be done till that time. We are planning on hosting Easter dinner for the family, a trip to a Pirates game, family vacation to Canada including my sister Dottie and Justin, Justin's graduation from high school, a trip to Dolly Wood with my parents, grandparents, and Justin.

Spring...I Think it is Here!!!

I think spring is here. This morning I could here the birds singing while I was making the beds and getting ready for the day. When I went out to get the paper this morning Pearl ran out the door with me and did not yell cold. So I said to her do you want to take a walk. She of course said with a huge smile and jumping up and down yes. Pearl than ran inside told her Dad we were taking a walk and gathered up her dolls and bears to join us. Daddy could not join us this morning, because he had to go visiting. We walked down to the newspaper recycle bin dropped off our newspapers and than walk down to the river. On the way to the river I saw a robin. I told Pearl that the bird over there was a robin because it had a red tummy and that when we see a robin that means spring is here. She started singing bird has red tummy. The last time we were at the river was about a month ago when it was frozen over and covered with snow, and she asked where are the ducks. We told here they would be back when it got warmer. Well, this morning when we got to the river the ducks and geese were back she was so excited. Tonight after dinner Daddy was able to join us for a walk. We walk back to the river and the ducks were still there. After walking to the river we walked down to Bruster's. Pearl is just barely short enough (40 inches or shorter and you get a free baby cone)39 inches for a free cone. She got purple dinosaur, it was just the right size for her. The next time we will have to take a picture. On our way back we even got to stop and talk to Mr Anderson, and Jean Lopes from church, who were also out enjoying the nice spring weather.

Partnersteps!

Is this a plug for another one of Conferences one size fits all program to rebirth dying churches or is there a different way of thinking then what we are used to that can help us be, act, and do in a way that is more God centered, Jesus focused, seeking to specifically do whatever God wants his followers to do right here and right now and do it together. I know this togetherness thing is different then the way we have always done things, different then the way we are used to thinking, but maybe, just maybe this whole one body thing with many parts in the New Testament is an old idea and not a new one. An opportunity to work together, utilizing each of our talents, skills, abilities, gifts, and graces in the way God intended, sharing in Ministry.

I like to reflect on I Corinthians 12 when thinking of working together.

SNOW DAY

Here are a few of the pictures from our morning in the snow. We walked down to the river. Pearl must have thought we were going to see the ducks, because when we got there she asked, "What happened to quack quack?" To say the least we could find none for her to see.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

Valentine's Day

There are many myth and lore about Valentine's day,
but I never hear what the bible has to say about a day
devoted to celebrating loving relationships.

There are over 500 verses in the bible that mention love,
but one that is not mentioned often is in Genesis 29.
The story of Jacob and Rachel where he worked seven years
for Rachel's father to gain her hand in marriage.

I implore you during this wonderful season of celebrating loved ones
and our relationships with them to read the passage in Genesis,
Genesis 29:1-30.



What does it mean to love? or maybe easier what is love? especially in
todays culture.

Would I work 14 years of hard labor to gain my wife's hand in marriage?
I hope I would not let myself get tricked.

I love my wife Brenda very much and we together work at better "loving God
with our whole hearts, souls, strengths, and minds, as well as loving our neighbors as ourselves" (Matthew 22:38-39).



Love is not just an emotion, feeling, state of being, or euphoria, but also an action, a way of life that shows integrity, honesty, truthfulness, passion (sometimes both kinds), and perseverance.

May we all love better each day holistically in a way that honors God.

Corben's Theological view Point

The web address for you to take the test:

http://quizfarm.com/test.php?q_id=43870

You scored as Evangelical Holiness/Wesleyan. You are an evangelical in the Wesleyan tradition. You believe that God's grace enables you to choose to believe in him, even though you yourself are totally depraved. The gift of the Holy Spirit gives you assurance of your salvation, and he also enables you to live the life of obedience to which God has called us. You are influenced heavly by John Wesley and the Methodists. Evangelical Holiness/Wesleyan 79% Emergent/Postmodern 68% Reformed Evangelical 68% Neo orthodox 54% Roman Catholic 54% Fundamentalist 54% Charismatic/Pentecostal 46% Classical Liberal 32% Modern Liberal 14% What's your theological worldview? created with QuizFarm.com

Let us know where your results are.

My Theological View

You scored as Emergent/Postmodern. You are Emergent/Postmodern in your theology. You feel alienated from older forms of church, you don't think they connect to modern culture very well. No one knows the whole truth about God, and we have much to learn from each other, and so learning takes place in dialogue. Evangelism should take place in relationships rather than through crusades and altar-calls. People are interested in spirituality and want to ask questions, so the church should help them to do this. Emergent/Postmodern 68% Roman Catholic 57% Evangelical Holiness/Wesleyan 54% Fundamentalist 43% Charismatic/Pentecostal 39% Classical Liberal 36% Modern Liberal 21% Neo orthodox 21% Reformed Evangelical 18% What's your theological worldview? created with QuizFarm.com

My Favorite Pics

This are some of my favorite pictures of Pearl over the past couple of months.
Mom and Dad want me to use the potty. I am using it as a necklace, but I have a feeling they mean use it in another way.

Mom was trying to clean and pack some stuff away after the holidays. How can she be mad when I am sooo cute.

Bring it on I can handle the truth.

What are you talking about this is my shirt. (Pearl uses a shirt any T-shirt will do like most kids us blankets)

Pearl is telling her baby that it will be OK, and she understands that it is hard to accept that we can not choose our family. But God will help us to love our family.

Loving It!!

I just got done doing one of the most exciting wonderful things in the world. I just came in from shoveling snow. It is so beautiful to look at the snow covering the area. Tomorrow morning we are planning a family walk around Bridgewater. I am going to take some pictures. So check back to see the beautiful pictures of the beautiful snow covering the world God made for us to temporally do His work in. This picture is old but the only one I could find tonight.