Hanging with Jesus!

Just had to show you this. Sherri and I had our picture taken with Jesus. I asked to be on His right hand but Jesus told me not to worry about it and then promptly put Sherri at His right hand. Hey! Anyway here's the picture!

Cube-Light!

This morning as I sit in my cubicle the sun is shining on my computer screen. This is odd because my screen faces away from the windows which are two rows away. I'm kind of in the corner of the building so the other windows are three cubes away if that makes any sense.

Anyway, for a few minutes, less than 10 I would guess, between 8:25 AM and 8:35 AM or so the bright sunlight pours into my small area. How does this happen? Well, First Data has two buildings right next to each other here in the Aksarben campus. The sunlight reflects off the other building's windows and then makes a beeline for my area. For me, I enjoy the sunlight and its nice to have for those few minutes.

The light that brightens my day doesn't last long enough for me to get a tan but I like it all the same. Sunny days make everyone a little happier don't they? There is something wired in us to enjoy the light. In a way we are attacted to the light like bugs on the porchlight on a summer day.

This morning as the light arrived again I thought about how we should be reflectors of The Light. How we can brighten people's day by our attitudes and actions and words. This doesn't mean every sentence we speak with others has to include the word 'Jesus'- but He did call us to be 'bright' people saying, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." Have we caused this reaction in anyone lately?

I can still see the prism of light poster we studied in Bethel Bible study. The poster was a depiction of the call to Abraham where he was 'blessed to be a blessing' (I still remember this is in Genesis 12). That is our call today as well. We've been blessed so that we can reflect that blessing to others - maybe like my cubicle sunlight only for a short time - but that short time will be used by the Holy Spirit to make a difference in the lives of others.

I saw a bumper sticker a long time ago that has stuck with me ever since. Maybe you've seen it or read it somewhere as well. It read, 'God said it, I believe it. That settles it.' Jesus called us to reflect His light, to let our little Gospel light shine in our actions and words. He said it. I believe it. That settles it. And to add a Nike line, now we need to - Just do it!

So today's call is to brighten someone's day, to reflect a ray or two of God's great blessings upon you towards others. As Augustine said (in a rough translation), use words if necessary. The sunlight is gone now from my cube but the Sonlight can still shine bright - time to go find a place to reflect.

Blest regards,
kp

When a Plan Comes Together!

I went to church last night - Tuesday. And every once in awhile you get a sense of what church should really be like, a glimpse of how God intended our gatherings to be. Last night was one of those times for me.

Walter Lamoureux died this past week at the age of 87. He was a longtime member (over 50 years) of St Bernards parish. To say he was well loved and respected would be an understatement. The proof of this statement was brought to life with a packed church.

A cathedral full of people is a pretty cool thing. There were no empty seats, the way God intended a church to be filled. Then people sang out. Not a common thing to hear in a Catholic church, but they did. The words to the songs echoed off the renovated high arched ceiling and flooded back down again over the congregation. It was truly beautiful and powerful.

After the service which was well done, filled with a great Gospel message and sweet rememberance stories, people didn't leave. They stayed to encourage the family and each other. I saw a community of people caring, loving, and providing support to each other- just as powerful as any hymn - it was love in action.

We all know church isn't a building, it's God's people. Last night I went to church, I was with God's people and they were in rare form. God's church last night lived up to their billing, stepped up to the plate and encouraged and consoled Walt's family and each other just as God planned for His church to do.

Do you remember the TV show 'The A Team' and how the leader would say in almost every show, 'I love it when a plan comes together.' Walking back to the car on a perfect cool Fall evening I couldn't help but think how maybe God loves it when His plan, His church comes together as they did last night. Sometimes God's people get it right, and that is a blessing to see and be a part of.

I want to encourage you to be part of it as well, to be a faithful encouragement for others by your attendance at church, by using your voice to praise God, and by taking time to love others you meet there. That's what God's church, God's people, are intended to do. That is God's plan. And I have to tell you, I love it when HIS plan comes together.

Blest Regards,
Keith

Bearing Vegetables

This past weekend ended the flower and garden season at our house. I took out all the pumpkin and watermelon vines with the exception of a couple watermelon which are making a final effort to get up to size in our cool fall weather.

So far the harvest has netted three watermelons and thirteen pumpkins. Not bad considering I planted them just to fill in some empty space out in the front flowerbed. They ended up going crazy, climbing over the retaining wall and taking over a portion of our yard and half the steps leading to our front door. At first I tried to point the vines back into the garden but they were persistant in their escape attempts and ended up winning that war.

We all enjoyed watching our crop grow. Pulling into the driveway we were greeted each time by a couple good sized watermelons that I was sure would one day mysteriously disappear- but they never did and instead ended up being fine additions to our Sunday evening family dinners. Some days it seemed as if you could see them growing they grew so fast.

The pumpkins grew fast as well and they came in all shapes and sizes. We had long tall pumpkins and perfectly round pumpkins. Some turned orange early, way back in mid September, and some are still a bit green. Our last and biggest pumpkin (about the size of a basketball) is on the steps trying to ripen even as you read this.

In addition we had some radishes, jalepenos and tomatoes. The petunias and marigolds bloomed brightly all summer and fall as did a couple hanging plants I don't know the names of. All in all it was a very successful growing season at our house unless you wonder about my lawn - that is another story itself.

Bearing vegetables, that's what we all need to be doing. I think bearing fruit gets far to much credit. Trees bear fruit. The hard work of bearing vegetables is done at or below ground level. It's a ground war of sorts against bugs and rabbits and birds. We lost some tomatoes, even a pumpkin to bugs. But our plants pressed on and we harvested a great crop.

Of course I'm going to encourage you to bear vegetables of a different sort. To keep working to climb out of the retaining walls of your life and bloom and well, bear vegetables that, with the help of our Gardner, the Holy Spirit, bring Life to others. Bearing vegetables, I like the sound of that. Next time you hear some child being told to eat their vegetables think of your role in sharing God's Good News. See you vegetable producers Sunday in church.

Blest Regards,
kp

OK, maybe you've read this far and have been screaming all along that pumpkins and watermelons are fruits - and that would be correct except this fact ruins my blog so let's just pretend that via a proclaimation I order they are now vegetables as I think they rightly should be. The story now once again makes sense except to those of you who are fruit radicals and will not accept any recatagorization that reduces fruit numbers. Fruity people can be that way. I still call on everyone to bear vegetables! : ) kp

United We Stand - Delayed

I'd learned this lesson before on numerous occassions, but it was one I was learning again. I shook my head in disbelief at my stupidity, what was I thinking? Now I was paying the price for my bad decision.

So what was my error? I had chosen to fly to Indianapolis on United through Chicago's O'Hare airport. Here's the lesson I'd learned many times in the past and was now being taught again, DON'T FLY UNITED ANYWHERE THROUGH O'HARE. So I sat in the Springfield Missouri airport wondering if I could even get to my Indianapolis meeting the next day.

The brand new Springfield airport is an interesting place. Ten gates makes it about the size of one of Eppley's two terminals. I had just glanced up at the TV which was on the Weather Channel when I saw a line of clouds approaching Chicago. I know from experience that just the threat of clouds is enough to send O'Hare into a tailspin. Only a minute later the announcement comes over the public address system, " United Airlines Flight 629 to Chicago has been cancelled." Cancelled? Really? On just the threat of a few clouds? EEESCH.

I looked around the empty terminal. Just two other guys were booked for this flight from what I could see. I then thought the honest announcement should have gone something like this, "Based on only having three people purchase tickets, United has decided it is better for us to cancel your flight. To bad for you because we're going to blame this on the weather so don't be asking us for a free lunch or a hotel for the evening- don't ask us for anything! And thank you for choosing United."

So the three of us weary travelers headed for the United desk - back in the main lobby, back through security whose number of employees exceeded the total number of travelers in the entire airport. Long story short, I ended up watching another three hours of the weather channel and flying to Dallas to get to Indy - arriving at my hotel at 1:30 AM. A stiff but fair punishment for my poor United decision.

Flying home the next day I again was punished for flying through O'Hare. This time I got to Chicago but when I arrived, the board didn't show a time for my Omaha flight. Instead it said 'Servicing Jet' in the time spot. Let me tell you if you ever see that comment, don't expect to leave anywhere near on-time. What that ended up meaning to me was an after midnight arrival at home. Ahhhh, the joys of business travel.

I'll let you make your own analogy when it comes to faith lessons you've learned and forgotten. In the end, as in THE END, forgetting those lessons could mean more than a delay to our final destination - it might mean ending up in a less desireable destination. Enough said. Hope to see you all on that FINAL flight to our exciting, exotic eternal home - which luckily won't go through Chicago!

Blest Regards,
Keith

IDI - 'Know Doubt'

I think I've told you before that the absolute worst thing I can say to my wife, the thing that fires her up almost immediately, the way to get into instant hot water... is to say, 'IDI'. Those three little letters can dig a pretty deep hole.

What does IDI mean at our house? I doubt it. Being doubted, questioned, having your sincerity and honesty reviewed doesn't sit well with anyone really. So when it comes to matters of faith, how does Jesus respond when we put the 'IDI' on Him which everyone has done at some point?

Have you ever heard of what some call the 'Doubter's Prayer'? The prayer consists of words spoken directly to Jesus. A man comes with his demon possessed child and asks for healing. Jesus replies healing is possible for one who believes. The father responds, 'I do believe, help me in my unbelief'! Those are the words of the doubters prayer, words that we can all in some way relate to. And Jesus responds by healing the boy - He understands we all struggle at times with faith.

John Ortberg in his book 'Know Doubt' quotes Madeleine L'Engle, 'Those who believe they believe in God but without passion in the heart, without anguish of mind, without uncertainty, without doubt, and even at times without despair, believe only in the idea of God, and not in God Himself.' Those words ring true for me. We are all in a way Jacobs, Isrealites, wrestling with God for the blessing of a stronger more sincere faith, to be helped in our unbelief.

Maybe you think doubt is something only you deal with. Not so - not even close. Ortberg goes on to tell an interesting story about Martin Luther. 'Luther was approached for help by an elderly woman troubled by doubt. "Tell me", he asked her, "when you recite the creeds - do you believe them?" "Yes, most certainly." "Then go in peace," the reformer said. "You believe more and better than I do." Peter sank in the waters of doubt, Thomas the disciple got a doubting nickname, you and I are not alone in times of doubt, in fact I'd say we are in impressive company.

Ortberg writes that 'doubt is a good servant, but a poor master'. Having doubts is okay, we can use doubt to encourage prayer, worship and time in God's Word. Luther said the opposite of faith is not doubt but pride. The bottom line is that we trust in the One who gave us the very gift of faith. Romans 1 explains the evidence for God and our faith is plain to see and visible all around us. I agree, no matter what happens.

Let me encourage you today to be a championship wrestler, to take on your doubts when they appear. You've been guaranteed a win if you'll only enter the ring- sorta like a scripted WWE match I might guess. Unchallenged, doubts will make you a wave tossed about in the sea (James 1:6) with no point or direction. Put the IDI on doubt itself when it comes around, engage the battle, reach into your shorts and pull out the brass knuckles of God's Word and you'll win hope, the sure confidence of salvation, that faith brings. Faithfully wrestle so as to win the prize Paul would say, a prize worth fighting for without a doubt.

Blest Regards,
kp

Always Been Faithful

I haven't heard much from Sara Groves lately. Maybe that's more due to my focus on other things lately.She is an independent artist who found a label and some success in the Christian music industry in the early 2000's. When we were doing concerts at Atonement I helped provide some information to a church in South Omaha on how to bring in a Christian artist. The artist they selected was Sara Groves.

And she put on a great show telling stories and playing the piano and singing. I was thinking about her as I was surfing some YouTube videos. Two of them stood out I think and I wanted to share them with you here. Hope you enjoy them as I do. kp

Dragonflies

Read a great illustration of life and death and eternal life by Bruce Theilmann this week in John Ortberg's book 'Know Doubt'. I found it to be an insightful look at our present situation and what is to come. See what you think.

Imagine a colony of grubs living on the bottom of a swamp. And every once in a while, one of these grubs is inclined to climb a leaf stem to the surface. Then he disappears above the surface and never returns. All the grubs wonder why this is so and what it must be like up there, so they counsel among themselves and agree that the next one who goes up will come back and tell the others.


Not long after that, one of the grubs feels that urge and climbs that leaf stem and goes out above the surface onto a lily pad. And there in the warmth of the sun, he falls asleep. While he sleeps, the carapace of the tiny creature breaks open, and out of the inside of the grub comes a magnificent dragonfly with beautiful, wide, rainbow-hued, iridescent wings.

And he spreads those wings and flies, soaring out over those waters. But then he remembers the commitment he has made to those behind, yet now he knows he cannot return. They would not recognize him in the first place, and beyond that, he could not live again in such a place. But one thought is his that takes away all the distress: they, too, shall climb the stem, and they, too, shall know the glory.


Bruce Thielemann, "Christus Imperator,"

Roddy!

Sherri and I went to church this Sunday at Christ Community and saw Roddy Chong. If you don't know who he is, don't feel bad- we didn't know either, other than the fact that he was a violinist with the TransSiberian Orchestra. Turns out is he a great musician but an even better Christian witness. Anyway, great service and thanks to Christ Community for bringing him in and putting a flyer up in No Frills so we could find out about it! Here's a YouTube clip for you to see what Roddy sounds and looks like (with Celine Dion) ......

Difference Makers

I'm going to share a hard story with you. One of those stories that just makes you wonder why things are the way they are. A story that encourages us to be difference makers in this world.

Through my daily radiation and and weekly chemo treatments I've have a pretty positive attitude. I don't claim any special mental powers in saying this, rather I have the good fortune of going through these treatments as a way of trying to prevent a reoccurence of my cancer. Sherri and I meet others however for whom treatment is at best only extending for a short time the little time they have left.

We met just such a person and family last month. Some of the meds I take with my chemo put me to sleep pretty quickly. During these times Sherri has the opportunity to talk with nurses and other patients. Not to long ago she talked with a lady and her husband and son. She was getting treatment for her stage 4 cervical cancer.

Our hearts broke for this young family as we learned of her bad news diagnosis. Time was not on their side. Sherri called her this week and learned that things have not gotten any better - that cancer has made life difficult. Out of respect for their privacy these are the only details I'll share with you. But you get the point, you've known family or friends or neighbors who had the same difficult story - unfortunately this young lady isn't alone.

My thoughts keep returning to this family. How different treatment is for them than it is for us. How sad it is to think about leaving a young son. How unfair it all seems sometimes. Life comes with great joys but also with amazing hurts doesn't it?

I keep thinking about Jesus' answer when asked about others who were killed through no fault of their own- were they bad people? Jesus answered they were no different- certainly not worse- than anyone else, but then He moved the focus from 'why' to those who were listening- including you and me, and said we need to repent or perish as well. I want to know why young moms die of cancer and I want it to stop and Jesus says to me - focus instead on what is important- eternal life where there are no tears and there is no cancer. Stop concentrating on the broken box of our life and look instead at the perfect gift inside of eternal life.

Even knowing this, we grieve over this situation. Jesus does too I am sure. He wept at Lazurus' death. He understands losing loved ones is never easy. So we consider our own hearts then respond in love. We have a gift certificate charity of sorts where we give prepaid cards to various stores to the nurses to give to patients who need some help. We'll do this here as well. If you'd like to help just let Sherri or me know. Sometimes making a small difference in someone's life can make all the difference. May God grant us the opportunity to make a difference in this story.

Blest Regards,
kp

Books vs Boxes

Today I added a bookshelf complete with a few books to my blog- my web world. My wife wouldn't find this unusual as I can't help but continually add to my book collection in real life as well. I love books.

It's not like that TV show 'Hoarders' where people have an uncontrollable habit of collecting and having their stuff overwhelm their house - but I do have to admit to having boxes of books in the garage. Today was the start of the Keystone neighborhood garage sale and so garage sales were everywhere. And of course I bought some books- but just two which I thought showed great restraint on my part.

Today's purchases included 'Johnny Tremain' an old classic from my grade school days and 'The Good Life' by Charles Colson who writes with great insight. Getting through a Colson book takes me a long time so it may be awhile before I get to it. In the meantime I'm looking forward to a reread of 'Tremain'.

I have this dream that one day I'll turn one of the kids rooms into a library and all my books will regain their freedom. I think books hate boxes. A number of my books reside on living room shelves and bedroom dressers and nightstands- that is till their number grows to big and I am asked to get a box. Sherri's uncle Tom owns 'The Antiquarium' a used bookstore that used to be an Old Market icon. He moved it to Nebraska City and converted an old school and gym into one giant bookstore. What a great life Tom has living in and amongst books where boxes aren't needed!

I'm sure some of you know what I'm talking about. Some of you love books and have way more of them than you'll ever read. You keep old books because you may want to read that one again- even knowing you never will. Some of you understand the thrill of finishing a great read. A few of us know what its like to finish a book we had to work to get through- for me that was 'Atonement'. I think every reader secretly thinks about writing their own book like my friend Bob Huerter (see 'Irish Twins' on my bookshelf). For some of us books are so captivating that we captivate as many as we can on shelves and in boxes. We can't help ourselves.

I also have a collection of sorts of 'the Good Book'- Bibles. Some are in different versions, some are study Bibles, some are just a single page, leaves that are hundreds of years old. I like to take them out and open them up and read 'em. They all do really contain in my opinion 'the greatest story ever told'. Plus I have to admit I like a story with a happy ending.

Make sure your Bible isn't gathering dust on a shelf or worse yet in a box somewhere. As my friend Dave says, 'the best version of the Bible is the one that gets read!' I hope to keep my blog bookshelf updated with what's on my reading agenda. I'd like to hear what you are reading as well. Time to stop writing and start reading- have a great weekend!

Blest Regards,
kp

Evil

"You know, evil comes in many forms, be it a man-eating cow or Joseph Stalin. But you can't let the package hide the pudding. Evil is just plain bad. You don't cotton to it. You gotta smack it on the nose with the rolled up newspaper of goodness. Bad dog! Bad dog!" -The Tick

Saw this quote today on another blog and I thought it was worth sharing. Maybe I would only change the end to read - You gotta smack it on the nose with the rolled up newspaper of the Gospel.

Smack a little evil this weekend! kp

'11'

I just finished reading '11' by Leonard Sweet. The full title is '11 indispensible relationships you can't be without'. I like reading Sweet's books but I have to do it with no distractions because I am always amazed at the number of unique thoughts he presents on almost every page.

When I read a book like this I do so with a highlighter or at the very least a pen to mark the passages that resonate with me. I have to be careful not to over-highlight as I try to set apart those thoughts that I want to be reminded of the next time I pick up this book. I thought it might be interesting to review some of those highlighted excerpts with you.

In just the introduction here are the insights I noted:
'You need others to get the job done. And it's also a lot more fun that way.'
Sweet adds a quote from Larry Crabb a psychologist who said, 'The church is a community of people on a journey to God.' I liked both those thoughts as I am a firm believer in the power of people when they come together. Reminds me of the great concerts and balloon events and sold out dinner theatre events we did together as a church. Most of all I am reminded of the power and beauty of encouragement that believers offer each other.

Sweet adds, 'Disciples of Jesus are "finishers", sprinters who finish races, who "press toward the mark", toward "what lies ahead" and end up at the places to which they are summoned.' And I think how cool it would be to be a part of a congregation, or just a group of people who fit that description. How great it would be to 'end up at the places to which we are summoned' by God. How fulfilling would it be to be able to say 'Okay here we are, made it, got that done for You, now what?'

Another '11' introductory insight: 'The Greek work "morturos" means witness from which we get our word martyr. Martyrs were people who "witnessed", who put their lives where their lips were. Sweet writes a sentence later, 'But before the apostles could be "witnesses to Him" they first had simply "to be with" Him, to be "Withnesses".' I'm sure Sweet would agree that 'witness' and 'withness' are one in the same. I don't think we can be hit and run witnesses - we need to be 'love and stay' withness witnesses, people who 'care and then share' God's great Gospel news.

One last fun quote, 'Yes, sometimes we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. Other times we are surrounded by a great cloud of witlesses. But most of all we need to be surrounded by a great cloud of 'Withnesses'. I believe that. We need each other as Paul wrote in Romans 1:12 'I'm eager to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours. In this way, each of us will be a blessing to the other.'(NLT) Paul calls us Withnesses for each other and to be 'Home on the Range' where 'Seldom is heard a discouraging word'.

These highlights come just from the introduction- and I marked even more in this opening chapter - so there are plenty of things for me to forget and then be reminded of later. The good news is we should all be encouraged by our time together, as we work towards presenting a thankful response to God's great free gifts of love, grace, and eternal life. Here's to each of us being a 'withness' to someone today, an encourager, a care-er, a share-er. See you at the finish line!


Blest Regards,
kp

Elevators and Stairs

As many of you may already know I work at First Data in one of the buildings on the old Aksarben property. Our office building has four floors and I work on the third floor of the south building, what we call AK2.

So this morning I am the last guy on the elevator. Turns out all of the other five folks or so are going to the 4th floor. I announce that I need to go to the third floor. I then commented that I knew what they were all thinking - 'why can't this guy just walk up two stories?' 'Hey', I said, ' I know this because it's exactly what us third floor people think about second floor people - why can't you just take the stairs?'

We then all shared a laugh - and then the fourth floor people agreed that when second floor people get on they better have a good reason - a crutch or a big bag or something. I guess no one likes second floor elevator riders. Turns out fourth floor people can be pretty funny and very insightful.

Anyway, I was just thinking that we all have a pretty good idea of what others need to do - including knowing that second floor people need to take the stairs. But we also know more than that don't we? We know (as we eat ice cream and sit and watch people) that the guy over there needs to loose some weight - why would he let himself get like that? And that gal over there needs to do something with her hair- it looks terrible. Those are just for starters.

Maybe we are best at knowing what others need to do when it comes to faith. They need to come to church more often, and those folks over there need to pay attention to the sermon - this message seems to be a perfect fit for them. And that guy over there? He shouldn't even be here with the way he lives. We can do a pretty good job of seeing around the log in our own eye to see the flaws in others can't we (Matt 7:3-5)? We are pretty good judge Judys and Keiths and and and....

Jesus gave a warning about just this sort of activity towards the end of His sermon on the mount. Maybe when He started talking about giant floor beams (logs) in someone's eye seeing a small splinter in the eye of another He got a laugh or two. But they quickly got a serious message just a sentence later- calling folks who see around logs 'hypocrits'- pretenders, actors. Jesus knew how to turn a funny story serious in a hurry.

So the call this morning is to examine our own lives first and foremost. To make plans to do some beam removal work. Let's put our bad activities underfoot where they belong. Today let's not be judge-mental let's be develop-mental and self-improve-mental if you know what I mean. Oh, and if you are going out today to a second floor location - and I say this to all without any judgement whatsoever - please take the stairs.

Blest Regards,
kp

The Soundtrack of Your Life

I've determined that movies without music would be boring. Actually I think they still make those- they're called documentories. Music seems to make the action more exciting, the loss greater, the love deeper and the ending more meaingful.

Don't you agree? I mean can you imagine the 'Titanic' without 'My Heart Will Go On' or 'Top Gun' without 'Danger Zone'. Sarah McLachlan sang the haunting song 'Angel' in 'City of Angels'. I came up with a few movies to see if you can 'Name That Tune'- the song or songs that you remember from each:

The Guardian
Rocky
Back to the Future
Caddyshack
Ghost
Mrs. Doubtfire
The Big Chill

That list has some oldies but goodies as far as movies go (probably showing my age) and great music as well. Maybe you have some personal favorites - songs in movies. At our house Jake knew every song from Beauty and the Beast - even though he now claims to not remember a single one. Oddly, Sherri knows every word by heart of 'Youre a Mean One Mr. Grinch'. And she has worn out two copies of the soundtrack from 'Simon Birch'- just another 'thing I love about Sherri' oddity. Anyway, I think we all have our movie soundtracks and song favorites.

I like the ones from my list and a few others. As far as touching music goes, Van Morrison sings 'Someone Like You' in the first Bridget Jones movie - very cool ending. Bob Seger sings 'Living Inside My Heart' in 'About Last Night'. A couple songs from 'Notting Hill' were great heart-touchers as well - 'Ain't No Sunshine' and 'When You Say Nothing at All' which I'll link below:



Chris Tomlin did the impossible, made 'Amazing Grace' even better in the film of the same name. I love his version. Songs from 'The Sound of Music', Disney's 'The Jungle Book' and 'Sister Act' are all on my ipod as well. Ok, I'm odd too.

I guess in a way what I'm really thinking about here is how great the gift of music is. How it not only makes movies better but our lives as well. How music can deepen our worship experience or just our drive to work. In short, music is just another great gift brought to us by our wonderful creator. The soundtrack of our lives is how we need to give thanks for music and all His gifts of love and amazing grace, and eternal life. Any powerful music in your life's thankful soundtrack so far?

I want to see a few comments on your favorite movie music. I'll close with one more great song for a movie ending. This one comes from 'Dirty Dancing'- 'Time of My Life' maybe the best song and scene combo to end a movie. I can't put the video link here but can give you the web address to see it again: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpmILPAcRQo .

Have a great weekend and sing out in church this Sunday! kp

OK- I couldn't resist- one more link for 'Tootsie' (from 1982! almost 30 years ago -man am I getting old) - remember the ending song? If you don't well then just click 'play' below:

Diamonds!

I debated about telling you this story but I thought it was kinda funny so I will share it with you. It takes a bit of a warped sense of humor to appreciate - see what you think.

Last weekend Sherri and I and my mom and dad headed down to Maryville Missouri to get the house ready for another school year. There was more than plenty to do as our son Jake will never be mistaken for a home improvement guy or a lawn professional. So the first line of attack was to get the yard looking good.

My dad had brought along his weed-eater and was raising Cain with the fenceline tall grasses when he suddenly came to an abrupt stop. 'Keith, come over here and look at this', he told me. I stepped over to see what he was pointing at. It was a beetle of sorts with two beautiful intricate diamond designs on his back.

'Look at that will you. Isn't creation amazing?', he said with a bit of awe in his voice.
'Absolutely dad. It's amazing see how much beauty, detail, time and attention God put into His creation. Very cool.'
And with that said dad crushed the bug as he tried to scramble away.
'Let me remind you to always take time to admire God's handiwork before you kill it.' was his final comment on the subject with a wry smile. Which just struck me as funny. Like I said, it's funny for those like me with a bit of a warped sense of humor.

But maybe squishing bugs after admiring them isn't so odd, maybe it's something we do all the time without thinking. Like admiring how cool it is to have friends and then a little later doing some gossiping about them. Or having a great experience at church, then in the afternoon swearing or using bad language for no reason. Or loving your wife so much, then being cold or heartless when it comes to those in need. We all have some bug squisher in us.

Maybe I'm trying to stretch to make a point - maybe things like this don't 'bug' you. Maybe trying to do good, wanting to do good and then not doing good and in fact doing the opposite of good - which clearly bugged the apostle Paul - seems normal to us. It shouldn't. God is calling us to fly higher, to be a beautiful new creation ourselves.

Remember the guy in the Bible who was forgiven much, then went out and wouldn't forgive little. He ended up getting tossed in the clink for life because of his bug squishing attitude. The encouragement for today is for us to live as people ever mindful of God's great gifts of forgiveness and eternal life. Enjoy life, savor creation, thank God and then pay it forward - let the bug go.

Blest Regards,
kp

Wayfarer!

I saw this YouTube video today and thought you might enjoy seeing/hearing it as well. Of course it takes me back to the day when 'Selah' came to Atonement and we were blessed with a wonderful evening of music and faith. I'll never forget the ending to that evening- a packed church singing 'Amazing Grace' as 'Selah' silently exited out the side door. Gives me goosebumps just thinking about it.



The words to this song can do the same. Enjoy. Blest Regards, kp

Back Home

Back home and feeling good. My neck is wrapped up in a giant bandage which looks impressive but I'm told I will only have a little scar. Doc said the node he removed was firm which may be a cancer indicator but it could still be a benign inflamation so we'll wait till the results come back the middle of next week.

Even if it comes back as cancer, the cancer was confined to this one node and my throat looked good and clear. If it is cancer we can use some radiation to make sure everything stays clear. So lots of good news and reasons to praise God!

Thanks for your prayers, you do good work on my behalf!

Blest Regards,
kp

Surgery!

Tomorrow is another day of surgery for me. I told the guy who checked me in for a pre-surgery scan that if the hospital had a reward program for frequent users I'd have millions of points. My first ultra-sound to locate and mark the inflamed lymph node in my neck that needs to come out went quickly. Upon my return to the lobby I told Sherri I had good news- 'It's a boy!' I told her.

According to my scan, I am all clear except for this slightly over-sized node. Doc said we could watch it or take it out though he preferred to have it removed. Sherri and I quickly agreed we wanted it out as well. If it's just inflamed well then that's good news and if it is cancer of a sort then it's good news to get it out as well.

Day of Surgery
OK... ready for another cut. I've had nothing to eat or drink since midnight which may not sound like a big accomplishment but on the good side this may serve as the start of a reduced eating plan which I am sorely in need of (sorry to end that sentence with a preposition for all you English majors). OK, gotta go grab one last shower and a clean pair of underwear. Be back shortly to tell you what God told me while I was under anesthesia. : )

Blest Regards,
kp

Jet-Skis, Ziplines and Pastors! Oh My!

As you may have noted from my last post or from Sherri's post on www.werejoice.blogspot.com we spent the last week on vacation in and around Branson Missouri. We had a great time.

For Sherri and I, vacation time is time to be with family. We especially love spending time with our boys whom we bribe to join us. Bribes include jet-skiing, zip-lining, golf and whatever food they want to eat. It's a week we enjoy so much and well worth the price. These days we don't get to see our four boys all at once very often.

So this past week we did all the normal vacation stuff- saw some shows, spent time on the lake, played miniature golf, shopped and did everything we could except rest and relax. That is what Sunday will be for.

Of all the things we did, maybe the most memorable was meeting old friends- two different families on the same day, people we don't get to see very often any more. And maybe visiting with two former Atonement pastors and their wives in Branson seems like an odd vacation activity but it was not odd at all- it was a great blessing.

Pete and Liz Ave-Lallament spent the afternoon at our rented house and we shared a thousand laughs as we sat at the kitchen table and recalled the old days along with my mom and dad. Then later in the evening we all shared a dinner with Ralph and Susie Guetersloh - with the added bonus of Bill and Lynn Mammel. In short, what a great day.

What a blessing it is to count your spiritual mentors as friends. It is truly one of God's richest blessings when your Pastor becomes a friend as well. I remember very well and with a smile how Chuck Easton sang 'Friends' on Pete and Liz's last service at Atonement. Part of the song proclaims (using only my fading memory):

'And a friend's a friend forever if the Lord's the Lord of them.'
'Though it's hard to let you go, in the Father's hands we know, that a lifetime's not too long to live as friends.'

I think the friendships we form in Christ with one another are indeed special, life-long, even eternal bonds. And seeing each other after a long time apart is wonderful. At Atonement, a banner hangs in the narthex which talks about 'making friends in Christ'. Let me encourage you to do just that this Sunday no matter what church you find yourself in. It is a bonus gift of God that you will be blessed by even on vacation years and years later.

Your Friend in Christ!
kp

Noah in 3-D

It finally happened, I got to see Noah! Noah the musical play that is. In Branson this past week it seemed like we were so busy that it wouldn't happen. Day after day went by and Noah wouldn't fit into our busy schedule. Then on the last day an afternoon opening turned into a wonderful experience- seeing Noah!

Maybe some of you have seen this play. If so you know how hard it will be for me to explain the sheer size of the stage and sets. The ark itself is a prop that weighs over 18,000 pounds. Animals of all sorts run into ark. The 2000 seat auditorium then becomes surrounded by the animals and cages as the audience sits inside the ark. Amazing really and way to hard to describe.

As the story unfolds, you realize just how much faith it must have taken to build an ark. Ever work for over 100 years on a project for God that brings you continual ridicule? Building an ark in the dessert did just that for Noah. Today 100 seconds of ridicule might be too much for us.

At the end of the play, the ark transforms into a very large cross and Jesus emerges to remind us of His words recorded in Matthew 24, "For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be."

Lots of folks had an opportunity to get on the ark- some thought they might consider it in the future, some just declined the offer. Its a lot like today. Jesus is indeed our ark and we are headed for a final rainy day. Where will you be? On the ark (a risen King) or on the outside looking in?

I'm reading "Mere Christian", a book about the imact C.S. Lewis' writings had on people's lives. And one quote from Lewis' "The Personal Heresy" struck me as I thought about Noah- Lewis wrote, "I must look where the writer looks and not turn round to face him. I must make of him not a spectacle but a pair of spectacles." I realized that God is calling us to view our current world through Noah colored glasses.

Have you ever watched a 3-D movie without 3-D glasses? You can still see what's going on but everything is out of focus. When you put on the glasses not only does everything come into focus, but things surround you and pop out at you. What Lewis noted about books in general applies especially well to God's Word (and the story of Noah)- when you view the world through 3-D Bible glasses things come into focus!

What came into focus for me from Noah was that in his day life was godless and evil held sway all around him even as everyday life went on. My Noah 3-D glasses help me see we are living in the same kind of world today. The end is indeed near and the time is now to get on the ark. I was so busy I almost missed Noah- let's not be so busy we miss his message. Grab your glasses and let's go!

Blest Regards,
kp

Feel Like Exulting?

Exult- now there's a word we don't see very often. One of those words you have a general idea of the meaning but not an exact meaning. Exult came up as my wife started a new blog which you can see at www.werejoice.blogspot.com. She's the better writer in the family so I recommend you take a look sometime.

Anyway, we were looking for a blog title when I asked her about her favorite Bible verses, Romans 5:3-5. The verses start with 'We Rejoice' which we concluded was a good title- at least to get things started. I really like the title because it speaks to a general attitude we try to have at our house.

Curious about 'we rejoice' I looked up the Greek translation because I'm kinda weird that way and found that the word translated 'rejoice' is 'Kauxwmai' - which doesn't mean much off the top to all us non-Greek scholars, but the commentary noted that it really means much more than 'rejoice', it means more like 'exult'. I didn't know 'exult' was bigger than 'rejoice' but you live and learn.

Turns out dictionary.com says 'exult' means 'to show or feel a lively or triumphant joy; rejoice exceedingly; be highly elated or jubilant'. The word history is from the Latin in the 1500's from 'ex' meaning 'out or up' and 'ultare' meaning 'leap'. What you get is a 'jump up' or 'jump for joy' meaning. We don't really jump for joy much anymore, but the Bible says we should.

And here is the strange part- do you know when we are to be more than rejoicers, when we are to be jumping for joy? In our trials and tribulations! Why? God tells us through Paul that 'tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.'

So the end gift of a trial is hope- a sure confidence in salvation. OK then, I get it, a sure confidence of God's greatest gift to us is indeed reason for celebration so let's exult, let's jump for joy! We need to learn from Luke and Logan my jumping grand-boys how to lead exulting lives.


We've had our share of trials at our house recently. We've been persevering. We're clinging to this promise for character and hope. I need to get a bit better at the jumping for joy part. I can do it, I know I can- who says 'white men can't jump' when God calls us to do just that?

I leave you with the Gospel according to the rock music group Van Halen - maybe they were considering Romans 5:3 when they wrote 'Jump'!

I get up, and nothing gets me down.
I like to jump. and then go round and round
And I know, just how it feels.
You've got to roll with the punches to get to what's real

Might as well jump. Jump !
Might as well jump.
Go ahead, jump. Jump !
Go ahead, jump.


Blest Regards to you my Jumping Friends,
kp

In the Mood for Fast Food??

OK, I saw this on another blog this morning and thought it was pretty funny. Actually a pretty good song. I think it's worth a listen. Have a laugh and a great weekend!

Daisies Gone Wild!

It started as a fluke really- I had tomato plants that didn't get planted. As they sat in front of my house I walked by and quickly planted them in the front flower garden. They turned out to be tomato plants from the Amazon. They took over an entire section of my flowers and sprouted tomatoes like crazy. Four small plants produced so many giant tomatoes we couldn't give them away fast enough.

Fast forward a couple years to today. The entire garden has become a competition among plants to see who can grow the biggest. I don't know what's in the soil there but everything grows Texas sized in my front garden. The tomatoes are again showing off, the pumpkin plants are way out of control, jalapenos plants are showering us with peppers, the watermelons are making a run for the lawn and the daisies, well the daisies have gotten so big and so full they have enveloped my hanging plants.

We kind of laugh about it now- how big everything seems to get in front of our house. Maybe its because I pick up the hose pretty regularly and make sure everyone has water, maybe its the perfect amount of morning and early afternoon sun followed by shade, maybe its the constant weeding I do, maybe there really is something special in the soil there.

And maybe, to draw the simple analogy, all these factors should impact our fruitfulness as well. Watered by baptism. Luther considered his baptism daily. Think that this daily baptismal watering had anything to do with his fruitfulness? And what about our time in the Son? Ever do that? Spend time in prayer or meditating on the Word? And what about weeding out the things in our life that choke out time for the things that really matter? How good are we at that?

I was raised in great soil- parents who loved me- still do I think. Raised in a church that taught the important things in life start with faith and grace and love, gifts from our God who gave us the fruit of salvation. We should all be growing like crazy in faith, but are we? We should be producing fruit one hundred fold- does that sound like us?

It's never to late to get after it and get growing, its okay to be a late bloomer and then produce fruit. We were planted here for just that reason. So bloom where you are planted, be a shining plant in God's great garden.

Won't be long till we have tomatoes galore at our house- hopefully with a watermelon or two and a few giant pumpkins. The fruit of the vine will be fun to harvest. In the meantime, it is fun to see our garden grow. Maybe God enjoys looking at His garden as well- planted in His soil let's do our best to produce fruit for Him. See you plants in the Son this Sunday!

Blest Regards,

kp

Picture This!

I went to the very last College World Series game at Rosenblatt last night. It was a fun evening as I got to use company tickets to entertain guests- which meant I had great seats right behind the first base dugout and a VIP pass to get into the air-conditioned glass clubhouse which came with all the food and drink we wanted. It's nice to see how the other half lives once in awhile!

We had a perfect evening- cool with only the slightest of breezes. And on this perfect evening, the game went into extra innings. In the bottom of the 10th and 11th innings, something sort of amusing happened. On every pitch, hundreds of flashes went off. It was quite the sight really- the stands lit up with points of light as fans tried to catch for posterity a picture of the last winning hit at Rosenblatt. Finally that hit came and I am sure there are pictures of it all over the city this morning.

Pictures are amazing- how they can capture more than a moment. They also capture for us the history or maybe the excitement and feelings we had. I have on my wall at work a picture I took of Jake playing basketball at the University of Missouri in front of their student section. The photo shows Jake shooting a 3-pointer (which he made) and a high flying Missouri player trying to block the shot. If you look close enough you can see the ball in mid-air and Jake (in green) still in shooting form. It's a great picture that captures the excitement and thrill of the moment.




How great would it be to have pictures of our greatest moments? The times when you were at your very best- not just in sports or fun things like vacations, but at your very best as a Christian- helping others, encouraging, loving. How great would it be to not only see those moments again but feel the love and excitement and thrill of them?

On the other extreme, this past weekend I saw a show from Israel that talked about Peter and his denial of Christ. And in the courtyard of this church in Israel was a statue of Peter and his denial. So Peter gets more than a photo, he gets a life-size recreation of the worst moment of his life? How would we like that? 'Oh, and this statue over here is a tribute to my worst selfish and sinful act ever- thankfully only one occurance of my shortcomings has been saved for posterity for everyone to see.'

Truth be told, the world couldn't hold all the statues to shortcomings we would need if we each got one - not to mention if we each could have more than one for each of our most noteable foibles. I could build a museum around my statues of badness. 'And over here in this wing of my museum we have my greed collection which is next to my mean-ness masterpieces, behind my recent additions of coveting.' I'd have the Louvre of 'Peter' statues. Maybe your collection would rival mine?

Sherri and I made a poster out of Jake's cool Missouri picture which he then put up in his room. What a fun reminder for him of a fond memory. One day God will blow up the picture of His forgiveness and love into an eternal heavenly monument just for us - what a cool way to always remember what He did for us! Now that's a picture worth remembering, worth lighting up the stands of our church for to carry around with us in our heart for a lifetime. See you photo-friendly people Sunday.

Blest Regards,
kp

My Bike and Wonderful Wyoming

I got a bike this past weekend for Father's Day. Not a new one- a used Cannondale with 18 gears. Which really didn't mean much to me as I was bidding on it at an estate auction- I liked the color. I won the bid paying $60 which I thought was a lot. Then the lady who owned the bike told me she paid more than $600 for the bike in 1982. I liked my new bike even better after that comment and was proud of my bargain purchase.

The bike was only one of many bids Sherri and I won. We bought boxes filled with 'stuff' for a dollar, boxes of books for two dollars and bags of new blankets and linens for a dollar. In the end we spent over $150 (including the cost of my bike) and filled one side of our garage with lots of 'things'.

Some of the dollar boxes were filled to the top with unique oddities- like the small 'Wonderful Wyoming' plastic toaster shaped salt and pepper shakers circa 1960's which our son Dan found funny and entertaining (original price tag on that beauty alone was $1.47). It's cool because of its age and the fact that the toast comes out to be used as salt and pepper shakers. See for yourself what a neat find this was and remember, coveting my toaster is a sin!



Sherri liked the professional grade hair curler she found in one of the boxes which was most likely worth $50 or more. I liked the outdoor gas grill complete with a brand new almost full propane tank which I got for $5. The old milk box came with an old-time bug sprayer inside which looked to me like an immediate way to get my cancer to return- just by touching it. Eight boxes of Christmas goods cost one dollar total- I guess no one else was in the mood for Christmas in the heat.

It was all just one more big reminder for me of the real value of 'things'. When you leave this world, all your stuff will be divided up among family or sold for mere pennies on the dollar to strangers at an auction. Some stuff you really liked will just be thrown out (like the candle in a sea-shell we tossed). By the next generation it will all be dump material- maybe even 'Wonderful Wyoming'.

So why do we value our stuff so highly? Why do we pay so much for so little that lasts such a short time? Why does our heart become so easily distracted by shiny gotta-have objects? Why, why why? In short, why don't we set our hearts on things above instead? If we did we would discover God's boxes of grace, bags of joy, and salt shakers of love, all for free.

I do try to set my mind on things above. And in the meantime, I enjoy an occasional auction of things here below. That's ok I think as long as I know nothing's coming with me in the end. I may try to sneak in the salt shaker with me just for fun though- you can ask me if I was successful one fine eternal day in the future!

Blest Regards,
kp

Mr. Tamate'

In the movie 'Sister Act' the nuns sing a hymn, 'Hail Holy Queen' which includes some lines that date back to somewhere around the year 1000. Anyway, part of the song says, 'Mater ad mater inter marata' which I believe refers to Mary as the mother of all mothers. But that is a topic for another day- I have another reason for mentioning these words.

Yesterday our foreign exchange student Mate' went back to Hungary after a 10 month stay with us. It was sad to see him leave even though we knew he was going home. Early on in his stay it became apparent that bread and especially tomatoes were foods very much like what he enjoyed back home- and so these two foods became an early American staple of his diet.

Luckily we had a few prosperous tomato plants last summer and Mate' could eat his fill without us having to go to the store. He ate so many tomatoes I started calling him Mate', Mate', Mr Tomate' - which was a slight variation 'mater ad mater inter marata'. It's a funnier name in real life than it is in a blog.

Anyway, all that to start a story to tell you Mr. Tomate' was a great fit for us. He did everything we asked of him with the exception of a missed time or two taking the garbage to the street- a shared task which our son Caleb forgot about just as often (or more). We enjoyed showing Mate' all the features and benefits of life in America.

Somewhere along the line Mate' ceased to be our exchange student and instead became a part of our family. He took his fair share of teasing at our Petersen Sunday evening family dinners and dished out some of his own. He traveled with us on our annual trip to Okoboji where Sherri's side of the family gathers for food and golf and food and shopping and food and time on the lake- not to mention the soccer Cale's team played. Mr. Tomate' went tubing, swimming and spent an evening at Arnold's Park in addition to all the other family activities.

His adventure with us provides a few life lessons- that time does indeed fly by- just as the years seem to fly by for us. One day we will all be going home as well and that time comes faster than any of us can imagine. Sherri helped Mate' pack, no easy task when you are limited to 50 pounds. He ended up leaving a few things behind- of course we'll leave everything behind on our final trip home.

There was rejoicing in Hungary when Mate' got home- a family so happy to see their son again. I'm confident there will be rejoicing upon our arrival home as well. Till that day comes, we enjoy the company of each other just as we enjoyed the company of Mate', Mate', Mr. Tomate'. So here's to a season of tomato fun with Mate', a lifetime of happiness with family and friends, and an eternity of joy in heaven.

Blest Regards,
Keith

Octopus Beaks

Its been a busy time at our house, especially with my treatments and cancer surgery. The good news is all the remaining cancer has been removed. Soon I will begin radiation and resume some light chemo treatments to try and stay cancer free. In light of all we've been through our family took a welcome trip to Okoboji for a long weekend of family and fun.

On the drive up Sherri and I shared a funny conversation as we worked a crossword puzzle:
Sherri: 44 across, four letters, ends in 'K', clue is: octopus feature.
Keith: Oh, that's easy, (and trying to come up with a goofy answer adds) 'beak'. Very few people know octopus have beaks. Did you know that hun?
Sherri: (Shakes her head and sighs quietly at my stupid answer) No, and I'm not accepting that answer. 52 down, four letters, clue is: jambalaya ingredient.
Keith: You'll never get this one so I'll just tell you, the answer is 'rice'.
(Which is funny because of our Chris Rice discussion on a Kansas City trip-see an earlier blog for that goofy conversation - and even funnier because Sherri makes great and spicey jambalaya).
Sherri: (Smiling as she remembers the last time 'rice' was an answer she couldn't recall) Yeah, 'Raman' wasn't going to fit.

So we come to the end of our abilities, completing almost the entire difficult puzzle (Sherri is pretty amazing at these things) but never filling in 44 across. Sherri then turns to the answer page and you know what? The answer to 'octopus feature' is indeed 'beak'. We both shared a good laugh over that one. I said 'I told you so' and then unsuccessfully tried to convince everyone that I wasn't kidding, that I really knew that octopus had beaks but no one bought it. So we got to share a few good laughs on the long drive.

Laughter is pretty important at our house. Mate' said he knew he was part of our family when we laughed at things he said and did, just like we do about everyone in the family. Like how we still laugh over the monster tubing spill Dan took on vacation last year, how mom made some very sticky macaroni once for church that people said some funny things about, how Kathy made hamburgers once that we didn't need to flip because they were so perfectly round they just rolled across the grill- and those are just for starters.

I'm kinda surprised really that the Bible doesn't have a few verses of Jesus laughing because I'm confident He smiled and joked and laughed a lot. I think maybe Jesus walking on the water and scaring the disciples in the boat was the subject of a few laughs over lunch the next day. Can you really believe no one teased Peter about sinking after walking on water? Those funny comments should have been recorded.

When you picture Jesus in your mind is He laughing? smiling? or does He have a stern look? or maybe that Mona Lisa mystery look? I remember a picture that used to hang in the church basement of Jesus with children. That was a smiling Jesus. Maybe we think He was different with children but really, aren't we all His children- not just those who are young in years? I think Jesus smiles when He thinks of you.

Creatures with beaks like octopus don't smile. But we can and we should. We were designed to smile and encourage. After all, we have plenty to smile about- a Savior who loves us, died for us, and offers eternal life, all the while calling us friend. So the next time you see a beaked octopus, let him be a reminder for you of all you have to smile about!

Blest Regards,
Keith

A Shout-Out for Shavuot

We had wind advisories around Omaha Monday. Maybe that's appropriate since Sunday was Pentecost reminding us of the day the wind of the Holy Spirit blew at gale force! Wouldn't it be great if Pentecost caused a spiritual wind advisory today that folks around town would notice - lots of witnessing and good works and love and well you know all the traits a good Christian should exhibit. What if Pentecost and the Holy Spirit caused each of us to go deeper in our faith and propelled us to get out of our faith boat and take some actions even more scary than walking on the water?

That seems a bit far out doesn't it? But should it really? Shouldn't Pentecost remind us of the call we have by the power of the Holy Spirit? Wouldn't Pentecost today be as powerful as Pentecost then if we would all just hear His call? He's speaking our language but are we hearing?

On that first Pentecost (50 days after Passover) the Jews were celebrating Shavuot- a day to remember the giving of the Torah- the first five books of our Bible. Passover celebrated their release from Egypt and Pharoh, Shavuot celebrated who they really belonged to all along. They also celebrated this day as a day of First Fruits- giving back to the One who had given them so much.

Maybe Pentecost some 2000 years ago was a slightly breezy day already. Maybe the disciples were watching people bring their 'Bikkurim' (first fruits) to the temple when the wind picked up and Pentecost suddenly got a new and improved meaning. God brought a gift to the disciples they would never forget, one that would change them forever, the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit called them to share a message that went beyond the Savuot's Torah focus. When the Gospel was preached that first day, thousands responded.

Today, though we are gifted with the Holy Spirit as well, our spiritual wind seems to be at best a soft breeze, at worst a quiet, still silence. And yet the Holy Spirit continues to call us to be 'blow-hards' of a sort, a refreshing breeze of faith for others to see and feel. I'm praying Pentecost becomes a reminder for us to be just that.

Interestingly, tradition holds that the first Shavuot was celebrated by Noah. So really Shavuot represents the gift of a promise to Noah- to never flood the earth again, the gift of the Torah- God's Word, and lastly we would add the gift of the Holy Spirit. Thinking of these three great gifts sorta makes Pentecost a bit more meaningful and powerful doesn't it?

So let's have a shoutout for Shavuot and Pentecost. Let's rejoice in all of God's rich gifts to us and respond as we should, faithfully and actively. I read where 'drafts' move vertically and 'winds' blow horizontally. Makes sense then that God 'drafted' us on Pentecost to be His 'wind' here on earth touching others. Pentecost reminds us to breeze though life with this greater purpose. By the power of the Holy Spirit we can impact the lives of others for God with gust-o!

Shavuotly Yours!
Keith

Sock Giving Duh!-ciples

I had to laugh out loud on the plane even though I'd heard it before. I was listening to comedian Jim Gaffigan deliver a slighly irreverent comedy routine that Caleb had put on my iTunes (which I then added to my ipdod). Gaffigan wonders how hard it was to buy a birthday present for Jesus. He talks about Jesus' reaction to opening a package containing a pair of socks. 'Oh a pair of socks, thanks! You know I'm dying for your sins right? Yeah, but thanks for the socks. They'll go great with my sandals. What am I, German?'

Giving Jesus socks in return for His gift of eternal life sounds funny to me. But maybe that comment is more true than funny. Maybe we often think we are doing good things for Jesus. We've all been proud good works 'sock givers' more often than we care to admit. The German sandal wearer Luther got it right when he made 'sola gratia' (grace alone) one of his three 'solas'.

Luther's 'A Treatise on Good Works' in 1520 doesn't dismiss good works but calls us to place them in their proper light as he reminds us to be 'diligent in the works of your earthly calling as commanded of God, but only after having first strengthened, by the consideration of God's mercy, the faith within you, which is the only source of all truly good works and well-pleasing to God.'(Project Wittenberg and ICLnet , Reverend Bob Smith, Project Coordinator)


I like that brief sentence overview. It fits perfectly what we learn in Ephesians 2:8-10 which says, 'For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.' Faith indeed calls us to good works, but it is only God's gift of faith that saves us!


Leonard Sweet in his book '11' writes that at times the disciples might better have been called 'duh!-ciples'. Some things they didn't get right away. And again, I think that fits us as well. That some things Jesus clearly taught we struggle to understand, to remember, to live out. We want our good works to count for something besides what Isaiah called them- 'filthy rags'. I guess as I think about it, old socks often end up in our rag piles in this earthly life as well don't they?

Loving God and loving our neighbor as ourselves definately requires good works. As James says faith without works is dead. We duh!-ciples need to remember though that good works come from God's gift of faith- a gift we can't take credit for- or the resulting good works.

As a self-admitted sock-giving duh!-ciple I take joy in my God given opportunies for good works. How awesome that each of us has been created for good works which the Holy Spirit uses to draw others to God. Turns out we not only walk by faith, but we also do good works by faith! I pray we will respond to our saving faith's call to good works as the old song says, 'Carry your candle, run to the darkness, seek out the lonely, the tired and worn. And hold out your candle for all to see, take your candle go light your world.'

Blest Regards,
Keith

A Poem for Your Weekend

Here's a favorite poem of mine. Whaddya think???

The Calf Path Sam Walter Foss (1858–1911)
One day, through the primeval wood, a calf walked home, as good calves should;
But made a trail all bent askew, a crooked trail as all calves do.
Since then two hundred years have fled, and, I infer, the calf is dead.
But still he left behind his trail, and thereby hangs my moral tale.

The trail was taken up next day by a lone dog that passed that way;
And then a wise bell-wether sheep pursued the trail o'er vale and steep,
And drew the flock behind him, too, as good bell-wethers always do.
And from that day, o'er hill and glade, through those old woods a path was made.

And many men wound in and out, and dodged, and turned, and bent about;
And uttered words of righteous wrath because 'twas such a crooked path.
But still they followed — do not laugh — the first migrations of that calf.
And through this winding wood-way stalked, because he wobbled when he walked.

This forest path became a lane, that bent, and turned, and turned again;
This crooked lane became a road, where many a poor horse with his load,
Toiled on beneath the burning sun, and travelled some three miles in one.
And thus a century and a half they trod the footsteps of that calf.

The years passed on in swiftness fleet, and the road became a village street;
And this, before men were aware, a crowded city thoroughfare;
And soon the central street was this of a renowned metropolis;
And men two centuries and a half trod in the footsteps of that calf.

Each day a hundred thousand rout followed the zigzag calf about;
And o'er his crooked journey went the traffic of a continent.
A hundred thousand men were led by one calf near three centuries dead.
They followed still his crooked way, and lost one hundred years a day.

For thus such reverence is lent to well-established precedent.
A moral lesson this might teach, were I ordained and called to preach;
For men are prone to go it blind along the calf-paths of the mind,
And work away from sun to sun to do what other men have done.

They follow in the beaten track, and out and in, and forth and back,
And still their devious course pursue, to keep the path that others do.
How the wise old wood-gods laugh, who saw the first primeval calf;
Ah, many things this tale might teach — but I am not ordained to preach.

Journal Notes

This Thursday is the National Day of Prayer. In 1952 President Truman signed the bill into law which created a National Day of Prayer. In 1988 President Reagan set the date as the first Thursday in May. On April 15 of this year, federal judge Barbara Crabb declared the 1952 law unconstitutional. The government has appealed this decision. In the meantime, President Obama will issue a proclaimation calling for a National Day of Prayer.

I don't think prayer is something that comes easy for any of us. Even Luther struggled with prayer at times. He wrote to his friend Melancthon in 1521, 'I sit here like a fool and hardened in leisure, pray little, do not sigh for the church of God, yet burn in a big fire of my untamed body. In short I should be ardent in spirit, but I am ardent in the flesh, in lust, in laziness, leisure, and sleepiness.' Luther was a great pray-er but even he found it hard at times it sounds like.

I'm reading John Ortberg's 'Know Doubt'. He's one of my favorite authors because he writes from a common man point of view. I'm still early in the book but I want to share a few quick excerpts for your consideration:
'Those who believe they believe in God but without passion in the heart, without anguish of mind, without uncertainty, without doubt, and even at times without dispair, believe only in the idea of God and not in God Himself.'
and
'Doubt is a good servant but a poor master.'
and one more...
'I would like some assurance that when they play taps over my body down here, Someone will be blowing reveille on the other side.'
lastly...
Ortberg quotes martin Luther, ' Faith is a free surrender and a joyous wager on the unseen, unknown, untested goodness of God.'

I read this week that researchers from Noah's Ark Ministries International believe they have found Noah's Ark. "The search team has made the greatest discovery in history. This finding is very important and the greatest up to now," said a team archaeologist, Prof. Oktay Belli, in an April 25 press conference. Although many "people have searched the mountain for the holy Ark," he added, this recent discovery "is the first serious search (and) that the team found a wood structure under ice." Makes me wonder, is science proving our beliefs again??? And how cool would it be if the picture below really is the ark and I'm looking at the same wall Noah did???


A Chinese explorer inside one of the wooden structures on Mt. Ararat. Credit: Noah's Ark Ministries International.

Going to go hear Ollie Olson lead a Bible study at Calvary Lutheran (a Keystone neighbor church) tonight. He does a great job and when he comes to town they get about 50 people or more in his class. Tonight's topic, The Revelation Churches of Philadelphia and Laodicia.

Anfechtungen!

I had a PET scan on Monday of last week. I had a doctors appointment to hear the results of the scan on Friday. That made for a whole work-week of uncertainty. I went back and forth, from thinking I would get good results- after all I was taking treatment to stop future activity, to concerns of a worst case scenario. What if the cancer was now in my lungs or another organ - maybe in my brain. Every ache became a cause for concern last week- and let me tell you, at age 50 new aches have become way to common!

The results came back somewhere in the middle- with more good news than bad. The good news is all my organs came back clear as did a very important area- my neck where some pretty dangerous cancer has resided in the past. The bad news showed a few lymph nodes in the arm pit that are suspicious (especially with my cancer history). So we'll need to get after them starting with a possible biopsy. Maybe radiation will follow, my team of doctors is talking about next steps and best treatment options.

So that was my yo-yo week, my long distracting week. I liked the stretches of time where I didn't think about it at all. I didn't like hearing I wasn't 'all clear'. In the end, I am thankful for the healing I have received and pray for continued healing where necessary.

I'm also thankful for the diagnostic technology which makes treatment more focused and successful. Pinpointing suspect lymph nodes which are only 1.7 millimeters big is an amazing thing really. The brand new giant donut-like machine at Bergan Mercy did its job. In the not to distant past, I might have gotten 'all clear' news because something so small would not have been detected.

So now what? I'll keep getting weekly chemo to try to prevent the spread or new growth of any cancer. This could last up to a year. Then of course we still need to figure out what we are going to do with those 8 little problem nodes. Stupid, bad nodes. So they remain a concern- but not an 'anfechtungen'.

Anfechtungen was the word Luther used to describe the deep worry and despair he felt about the possibility of God judging and condemning him because he was a sinner. After dealing with a week of uncertainty I can understand better Luther's worst case senario concerns. Maybe you can remember times where you had deep worries and a time of uncertainty- maybe you too can understand Luther's anfechtungen- his dark worries. I wonder, are we ever as concerned as Luther about our eternal life?

Luther overcame his fears to a large degree after the Reformation. I like what Dr. Richard Bucher wrote concerning Luther 'His anfechtungen were valuable because they drove him to Scripture and compelled him to cling to God's promises. They taught him by experience, how sure, mighty, and comforting, God's promises can be. Thus, he not only knew, but lived God's Word.'

Here's to overcoming our fears and worries this week! Let's go to the Word as Luther did to find our source of strength to do just that. And let's all pray for the killing and destruction of 8 tiny nodes and the worry that goes with them. Have a great anfechtungen-free week!

Blest Regards,
kp

Organ Donor

Sherri and I went to the Annual Donor Family Reception event this past Sunday. It was held at the LaVista Convention Center which is a fantastic new facility out by the new Cabela's just off I-80. The event drew about 500 people and was very touching.

Three families spoke about how organ, tissue or cornea donors had changed their lives. In a couple of the families the donation had actually saved lives. Little Amanda got a new liver, and baby Watson got tissue to build a new aorta. Without these life-giving donations, these families would have experienced heart-breaking losses.

I can't really describe here adequately how much emotion these families spoke with, how thankful they are for such a life-giving gift. Tears flowed. Touching slide shows with smiling children reminded us how precious and awesome life is- especially when it's the life of your child.

At the same time though, there is another side of the coin. Some family did experience loss to make these donations. Yet they made something good come out of their tragedy, their great loss. And at this event, 40 or so organ donor reciepients from years past came forward to honor and give thank-you plaques to the 75 or more families who had loved ones who made life-giving organ donations. It was a wonderful and powerful time, filled with tears and hugs and thank yous.

The whole event was a testimony to the goodness that sometimes we can muster as humans. I couldn't help but think that every worship service we take part in should be just as powerful, just as touching, just as emotional - even more so really. The analogy is obvious. Jesus died so that we might live. We have a new lease on eternal life thanks to Him!

So why do we take that gift so lightly? We all do really. We grumble over getting up to go to church, we skip service opportunities, the list goes on from there. Don't we know we were more than sick, we were dead? Do we really understand, can we comprehend the magnitude of what our new heart means? Why is this gift so easily taken for granted - in my opinion by all of us?

I'm not saying we need to be basket cases, but rather that we need more power and joy in our singing, more heart in our confession, more attention in our hearing, more gratitude in our prayers- you can add to this list. Our gift was great- so our response should be great as well. I want to encourage each of us to truely consider the cost of our gift and respond accordingly. By God's great gifts of the Holy Spirit and faith we can do just that. Each Sunday should be for us from now on a life-giving Donor Reception event! See you fellow reciepients in church this Sunday.

Blest Regards,
Keith

Vacation Time!

It's family vacation planning time again at our house. Some folks enjoy new cars or houses or furniture- in my family, we enjoy life experiences- time together on vacations. So again this year we are looking for someplace new and fun to decend upon.

We are like decending locusts in a way. When I say family, I mean the whole family- as in grandma and grandpa (now recently great-gma and gpa), Sherri and I and our boys, Mark and his family including Kathy's brother and wife, and of course our newest additions- soon to attend their first family vacation, Luke and Logan.

Last year we rented a big million dollar house in Colorado Springs and had a blast. We went to the top of Pike's Peak where Jake promptly went to the edge, climbed a pole and did a gymnastic move that scared his mother half to death!
We played golf, went to the Air Force Academy, toured the Royal Gorge, visited Focus on the Family and went white water rafting- which as you can see was wet and cold!

In the past few years we've been all over, we took a giant motor home to Atlanta, did a resort in Brainard MN, loved the beaches in Los Angeles and Lake Las Vegas and jet skiied till we were exhausted at the Lake of the Ozarks.

This year we will return to Missouri to spend time on Table Rock Lake and finding things to do in Branson. Should be another fun trip. Now I know there is nothing more exciting than listening to others talk (or write) about their family vacations- so I really do have a point beyond listing our past summer experiences. Here it is- how would you like to take an all-expense paid eternal vacation?

And while maybe that sounds a bit goofy- or simplistic, how amazingly cool is our adventure in heaven really going to be? What new sites will we see, how many will there be, will we get to explore and enjoy for an eternity? Is that even long enough to discover all the wonders God has planned for us? It all starts with a giant banquet and then some praising and then, well, we can only imagine.

Start planning for this vacation today. Confirm your room reservation by spending time in the Word and prayer, by going to church and taking communion- a foretaste of the feast to come. The price has been paid for us by Jesus Himself! This is going to be one big family vacation you won't want to miss. In the meantime, a short week of vacation is on tap- and I can't wait.

Blest Regards,
kp

Adieu

The E-Tidings is coming to an end. Six years of sorta weekly updates comes to a close. Pastor has decided go another route to keep you informed. And so my weekly column comes to conclusion as well.

Or maybe not. You can find this short blog and many previous ones at www.bottomcorner.blogspot.com
where I write even a little more often than I do here. If you are interested, stop by and look- I try to make sure to add thoughts at least once a week. Who knows, maybe you'll see an email every so often in a new and improved format from me.

February 11, 2004 marked the very first E-Tidings. The premiere issue reminded us of our Monday night Bethel Bible study, a possible 'The Passion of the Christ' movie event (which we later did, selling out a theatre), the opportunity to hear our very own Pastor Chris Boehnke on KCRO each week and to pray for Phyllis Rhodig who was having a back issue. Lots of things were going on in 2004!

In the almost 300 columns since, my intent has always been to encourage. Hebrews 10:25 tells us we are to encourage one another because the day of the Lord is drawing nearer. That verse has driven me to try to speak an uplifting word of encouragement into your life each week through seven short paragraphs.

I've enjoyed commenting on life and our church in this small space. Maybe most meaningful to me were the times I wrote on those we lost from our church- like Max, Joe, Jack and Jeannie, Viola, and Bev. Even tougher was writing about the loss of family, Sherri's mom Bette, her aunt Peg and our nephew Christopher. All these losses still sting but they also remind me of faithful witnesses who now know how awesome heaven really is!

I've also learned alot while writing. I learned about the legend of St. Dennis (while trying to figure out if my new 'Sedona' van had any meaning to it's name) carrying his head while preaching a sermon in France. I learned lots of Latin phrases including Coram Deo- the face of God. I learned about Titus, Barnabas, St. Francis and Mother Theresa. I hope maybe you learned a little as well while being encouraged.

So blest regards to you my friends! Keep encouraging one another, and stay strong in your faith. Maybe the best encouraging word of farewell I can leave you with is 'adieu'- which means 'I commend you to God'. This thought I can't say any better than the children sang in the Sound of Music- so just picture me singing......
'So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, adieu
Adieu, adieu, to yieu and yieu and yieu.'

Adieu! And Blest Regards,
Keith

Ring My Bell....

This Sunday is Quasimodo Sunday. Really? A Sunday in our church year named after a hunchback bell ringer at Notre Dame? What symbols on the paramounts do we use for that?

Actually 'quasi modo' are the Latin words which begin the traditional Introit verse (Introit is latin for entrance- as in the beginning of the Lutheran service) 1 Peter 2:2 which says, 'as newborn babies desire the pure milk of the Word, that you may grow thereby,'. So, literally, quasi modo means "as if in [this] manner".

In the book, 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame', Quasimodo was found abandoned on the doorsteps of Notre Dame on the Sunday after Easter, 1467. As Hugo wrote: 'He baptized his adopted child and called him Quasimodo; whether it was that he chose thereby to commemorate the day when he had found him, or that he meant to mark by that name how incomplete and imperfectly molded the poor little creature was. Indeed, Quasimodo, one-eyed, hunchbacked, and bow-legged, could hardly be considered as anything more than an almost.'

I think it would have be cool to use this 1831 Victor Hugo character as the theme for the Sunday after Easter. Today the name Quasimodo has become synonymous with a courageous heart beneath a grotesque exterior. I think that can describe us after our Easter salvation- rough looking people, sinful people even, yet people with a courageous heart based on Jesus' saving work.

We could use our courageous hearts to be post-Easter bell ringers, calling people back to the church and the sanctuary of the Gospel. In the book Quasimodo rescues Esmeralda from the gallows- from certain death. She finds safety in the church under the 'law of sanctuary'.

Sadly, the book does not have a happy ending (unlike some of the movies based on the book). Quasimodo can't save Esmeralda when the priest gives her back to the king's people. He then pushes the priest to his death, and goes to the graveyard to lie next to his dead love until he starves to death. Maybe Quasimodo Sunday is best celebrated afterall as a reminder of 1 Peter 2:2 as noted above.

Maybe instead 'Got Milk?' should be our theme. On this Sunday after Easter let us return to church to get fed- laying aside our grotesque traits outlined in verse 1: deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking. It would be kinda cool to have everyone leave church with a spiritual milk mustache. Some churches have Ash Wednesday, some could have Milk Mustache Sunday!

Anyway, back to Quasimodo Sunday. The good news is that each of us, even though we too are a 'poor little creature', is loved by God with a great Easter love- on this Sunday and every Sunday and every day in between. May God grant us the courageous heart we need to share this message wherever we can, to proclaim it from the bottom of our heart or maybe even in storybook fashion, from the top of a belltower.

Blest Regards,
kp

And the Survey Says....

The results of the latest Barna study are stunning to me. I realize that fewer people go to church these days but I hadn't considered what that would mean until I saw these numbers. Let me share just a couple of them with you.

Of those who don't go to church, what percentage of people identify Easter as a religious holiday? Seems pretty obvious doesn't it? Should be a big number shouldn't it? The answer? Only 46% of non-church goers attach any religious meaning to Easter. Ask what that religious meaning is and the number drops even further - only 25% can tell you Easter is about Jesus' resurrection.

Certainly the numbers are much better for church goers right? Ummmm, not really, I mean not anywhere near where I think they should be. For Protestants, 78% said Easter is a religious holiday but only 51% could identify Jesus' resurrection as the meaning. Eeeesch! Catholics scored even worse at 65% and 37% respectively. There is no pride to be taken in any of these numbers.

There are plenty more breakouts of percentages, liberals versus conservatives, young verses old, gender, marital status, region and more. The news isn't very good in any category though. You can see all the results for yourself at: http://www.barna.org/barna-update/article/13-culture/356-most-americans-consider-easter-a-religious-holiday-but-fewer-correctly-identify-its-meaning

What the numbers tell me is that there is a consequence to not sharing the Gospel message. Keeping your faith to yourself has a result. Not following the Great Commission to make disciples encourages people to be disciples of an MTV world- where faith is mocked and truth is scorned.

I think it is becoming clearer every day that we are no longer a Christian nation- we may claim to be, but we don't even know what Easter is, what it means- how God's greatest gifts of atonement, redemption, forgiveness, grace and eternal life came flowing out of this day. How can Christians not know that? How can Christians not share that? How can we not live differently because of that?

Let me encourage you this week to live so that others ask about the hope that is in you. Let me encourage you to share, even in the smallest of ways the Gospel message. Visit the sick, help the widows and orphans, love your neighbor - be a doer of the Word that encourages others. These are the things that we do in joyful response to Easter- and they raise the spirits of others (hopefully to an eternal destination) and maybe even survey numbers as well!

Blest Regards,
kp

Feelin Good!

I'm sure I've told you, Easter is my favorite day of the year- by far. The meaning of Easter is so important to me- Jesus is risen! means I will too. I'm saved for an eternity and that's a perfect length of time as far as I'm concerned.

I love sunrise services, Easter breakfast and hearing 'Jesus Christ is Risen Today'. I love bright Easter clothes and the message of hope. I love family and friends gathering to worship. I love big Easter meals. All these things taken together form the best day of the year.

Last year I took Cale to Philadelphia to see a blues guitarist and singer Joe Bonamassa. If you like your blues mixed with a little rock then Joe is worth checkin out. He wrote a song that I'm sure didn't have an Easter intent but it perfectly describes how I feel on Easter. Check out a couple of the verses:

Birds flying high , you know how i feel
Sun in the sky , you know how i feel
Breeze drifting on by , and you know how i feel

It's a new dawn
It's a new day
It's a new life for me
And i'm feelin' good


Stars when you shine , you know how i feel
Scent of a pine , you know know how i feel
Oh freedom is mine , and i know how i feel

It's a new dawn
It's a new day
It's a new life for me
And i'm feelin' good
Yes i'm feelin' good oh oh
Mmmmmmm Mmmmmm
And i'm feelin' good

A new dawn on that first Easter day means a new life for me- an eternal one. And especially on Easter morning, that has me feelin good! Yes I'm feelin good!

I hope you realize the 'hope', the sure confidence of salvation, is yours also thanks to Jesus' work on that first Easter morning. Its a new dawn, its a new day for you as well. I hope this morning you're feelin good! You should you know. The creator of the universe loves you- yes you- with an everlasting love.

So have a great Easter morning, a great Easter day. He is Risen! He is Risen indeed- and I'm feelin good!

Easter Blessings,
kp

It is Finished Means He Ain't Finished

When I was in high school drafting class we had an assignment to draw something. I took an HO train engine and drew it. It actually came out pretty good and when I finished, I felt pretty good about my drawing. Mr. Johnson agreed and gave me a good grade but he could never let a drawing go by without adding a few red marks here and there where improvements could be made.

Years later Sherri and my mom and dad took that drawing and framed it along with the HO scale train engine as a present. Today I walk by that train every day as it hangs in our hallway- you'll have to see it sometime. Anyway, that drawing came to mind as I was thinking about 'finishing' about how when you finish a big project you feel a real sense of accomplishment and pride. I remember that feeling with that drawing.

'It is finished'- Jesus' last words. A life perfectly lived. A perfect 'finish' as in a life polished to the highest degree of excellence. A perfect 'finish'- as in a life completed and perfect in all details. These two definitions of 'finish' fit Jesus' life perfectly don't they?

As Easter quickly approaches, we thank God for His perfect finished work- for His cry that 'It is finished'. The red marks on His body demonstrate His perfect love, not mistakes. They show the real cost of Atonement, of redemption. The big project of delivering righteousness to those of us who don't deserve it was finished perfectly, accomplished completely.

What does Easter morning mean in light of 'It is Finished'? To me it means He ain't finished with me! He's committed to finishing with me as well. Brandon Heath sings a refrain that runs through my mind often. He sings:

There is hope for me yet
Because God won’t forget
All the plans he’s made for me
I have to wait and see
He’s not finished with me yet

I love that last line- 'He's not finished with me yet'. Sanctification seems like such a big word just to say 'to make holy, to set apart, to purify'. 'Finishing' sounds much better- like I'm a work in progress. With His work on the cross finished, Jesus has begun a new work in me!

Seems to me sometimes that Jesus' perfect work on the cross might have been easier than the work, the training He does in me- which seems to keep getting lost in my attitudes and actions. Thankfully we have a faithful God who loves us with an Easter passion, an Easter joy, an Easter faithfulness. He won't quit on us- He didn't at the cross and He won't with you. Use His gifts of love and faith and grace to finish your race as He works on you- if you do, you have a shining perfect finish to look forward to.

Blest Regards,
kp