Dale's Blogby
Thoughts on God, Life, Church and Whatever Comes to Mind that's Worth Writing About -
What if there really is an all-powerful omnipresent Creator God who knows us and for some odd reason wants to pursue a relationship with us anyway? What might be some of the implications for life? At times this blog will wrestle with some of those implications. If you would like to be notified when new entries are posted, click on the orange RSS feed button at the bottom of this column.
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Dale's Blog - Entries from July 2009 Home - Blogs - Dale's Blog - Dale's Blog - Entries from July 2009
FriFridayJulJuly31st2009
Beating the Natural Drift toward aging and inward focus
I want to encourage everyone to read what I consider an
insightful article by James Emery White called “Forever Young” at http://www.serioustimes.com/ . Dr.
White is pastor of Mecklenberg Community Church
in NC. In terms
of contextualizing the gospel without compromising it he is one of the better interpreters of U.S. culture that I know . I’d love to get some
comments here on the blog and see where the discussion leads.
SunSundayJulJuly12th2009
Days 9-10 - Scotland 09
Saturday was originally supposed to be rainy but the rain didn't come until late at night and the day was beautiful. Those who went to Edinburgh had a great time and got back without any problems. I stayed back for a morning of retreat and prayer. In the afternoon, Angus and Carol Mcneil, invited me to go with them to Loch Sween. Angus and Carol are retired missionaries who served in the Congo, Thailand and as executive leaders of the Baptist Mission Society - the one founded by William Carey. Along the way we saw more seals and pups sunning on rocks, two white swans, and a red deer with large antlers. We also viewed some old gravestones, some having Christian symbols dating back to around the year 1000. The history of the USA is really recent history.
This morning, there were several families of children visiting as a result of the Holiday Club. The gospel was presented and there was a cook-out afterward. The rain cleared up enough for us to enjoy being outside.
Tomorrow we and several Scottish friends are going about an hour's drive to the city of Oban for touring and shopping. We plan to get to bed as early as possible tomorrow night as we hope to leave Loch Gilphead at 5:30 am local time on Tuesday to get to the Glasgow airport for our flight back to the USA. Please keep praying.
FriFridayJulJuly10th2009
Day 8 - Scotland 09
We ended the week on a really positive note. The weather was absolutely gorgeous, around 70, low humidity and without a cloud in the sky. Children were very attentive to the gospel presentation and nearly everyone had memorized Psalm 91:15. The youth had their last official meeting this evening with Ultimate Frisbee, touch football and a devotional message led by Whitney. They are all at the huggy stage now, knowing that there are just a few more days to all be together.
Most of the American team plans to travel to Edinburgh. Pray for them as it’s probably a 3 and a half hour drive each way. Pray especially for Aaron, one of the only Scottish teen boys. He is going with the American team to hang with Scott who has been a great encouragement to him this week. Sam will stay with a local family and I will stay back as well to take sort of a retreat day. Also pray for the Sunday service at Loch Gilphead Baptist as the children who attended the Holiday Club and their families are invited with a barbeque to follow.
ThuThursdayJulJuly9th2009
Day 7 - Scotland 09
Only one more day of the Holiday Club left and the children seem to be having a great time. We’re praying that the truth of God’s word is working its way into their minds and hearts. For many of them, this is the only exposure to biblical teaching that they will receive until next year, assuming they come back to the club. Please pray for a strong finish to the club on Friday.
Thanks for your prayers about my trip to get the tire replaced. I made it there and back without incident on the highway. However, I almost wasn’t able to get the new tire. The tire that was damaged was a Michelin and I called to make sure the shop had the same model tire to put on and they did. For some unknown reason, the other three tires on the car were not Michelin but Continental. The agency insisted on approving only a Continental tire. The shop did not have the Continental tire to match. No one seems to know how the Michelin made its way onto the car in the first place, but after several phone calls they agreed to put a Michelin back on it to get me on my way. Thanks be to God.
Joe, Kjell and Ann went to Inverary this afternoon to climb a large hill there. The weather was perfect.
The teens had their messy games night tonight and the event lived up to its name. It was a hit with the youth. Please pray for a teen name Marion. She is aware of her need for Jesus and seems to be wrestling to make a commitment to Him.
WedWednesdayJulJuly8th2009
Day 6 - Scotland 09
We are now over the hump for the week of Holiday Bible Club. We thankfully had another smooth day. The children participated in a talent show this afternoon that was very entertaining – everything from ballet and singing to poetry recitation and illusions. Several parents attended the performance.
Plans for the circus this evening fell through, so we had a pretty relaxing night which was probably needed.
Please pray for me tomorrow as I drive about an hour away to try to get a new tire for the rental car. The emergency roadside assistance couldn’t come to where I am until Saturday morning and we need the car before then.
WedWednesdayJulJuly8th2009
Day 5 - Scotland 09
Today was quite full and gratifying. I took the morning to
prayer walk some of the neighborhoods and try to sense what God might be
saying. I had hardly left the house when I greeted a woman on the sidewalk on
the next block and she said, “I saw you on Sunday.” It turns out that she is
not a member of the Loch Gilphead church but attends fairly regularly with a
friend. She complimented me on the message from Sunday and said that she has
two daughters living in the USA
– one in Oregon and one in Tennessee. I mentioned that Sam, from our
team, was heading to the university in Knoxville,
TN and she said her daughter actually lives in Knoxville
and is getting ready to have her first baby. I said that knowing Sam’s
affection for the people of Loch Gilphead, she would probably be happy to ring
her daughter up and meet her. Trish, the woman, then gave me her contact info
so Sam can get in touch with her. A good start to the morning as it seemed God
was working in the timing of my walk.
The Holiday Club itself went smoothly with a little over 40
children attending. This afternoon, we had a meeting with members of the Scotland team that are interested in coming to
the USA
in the summer of 2010 as part of the mission partnership. We answered as many
questions as we could but plan to give some immediate and serious attention to
suitable projects for a team that could number between four and twelve people
next summer. Input from LGBC members is welcomed and sought.
Tonight the time with the teens was special. I had met a 16
year old girl at the church building earlier in the day. She had volunteered
that she had quit school due to being pregnant (I wouldn’t have known about the
school part but the other I could have easily guessed.) As I was leaving I asked if anyone had invited
her to the teen activities in the evening and she said “no.” When we explained
what was going on, she said she would try to make it. She did make it along
with an aunt and two younger cousins. After the games, Whitney shared a
testimony of recommitting her life to Christ after a time of trusting in things
that had let her down. It was a great testimony that opened the door for me to
ask the aunt about her faith and relationship to Christ. We also had clear
opportunity to share with the soon-to-be seventeen year old single mother. The
gospel hasn’t yet captivated either one of them, but we have introduced it and
are now praying for them. It doesn’t get much better than sharing God’s
redemption story in our own lives and then being able to engage others with how
it can become a part of their lives.
MonMondayJulJuly6th2009
Day 4 - Scotland 09
The first day of the Holiday Bible Club at Loch Gilphead
Baptist went smashingly. Though there was a strong downpour most of the morning
outside (and slight drips in a couple of roof leaks inside) the main room of
the church building housed five classes of children. That open space is about
2/3 the size of the sanctuary at Long Green Baptist. There were probably 45
children participating plus the club staff members from the American and
Scottish teams.
The theme is “Show Stoppers” and incorporates music and
drama as means ofproclaiming the good news about Jesus Christ. He was and is
the true “Show Stopper.”
As I write this, we are at a community athletic facility
which is quite nicely equipped with Astroturf, soccer (football) goals and
tennis courts. Whitney and Scott are directing activities for twelve youth on
the soccer field. All but one of the youth are members of the Holiday Club
staff. It’s an encouraging time for them as the church does not have any
ongoing youth ministry for them at this point. There are also ten young
Scottish men playing a game of soccer on the court next to ours and four more
playing tennis just a wee bit down the way. Maybe in the evenings ahead we’ll
have more interaction with some of them.
Tomorrow should be much like today in terms of activities.
There will be a talent show Wednesday afternoon when we’ll hold an audition for
the budding stars of the club. That evening we are scheduled to travel with out
Scottish counterparts to Oban, about an hour away, for the Berlin Circus,
touted as the best in Europe. We shall see, but since it will have been the
only circus in Europe I have seen, I may
simply have to take their word for it.
Please pray that we will be filled with the Holy Spirit,
demonstrate humility and unity with our Scottish brothers and sisters and that
God will open hearts to the gospel of those we have opportunity to interact
with.
SunSundayJulJuly5th2009
Day 3 - Scotland 09
This morning's worship service at Loch Gilphead Baptist was very encouraging as we set the stage for the coming week of Holiday Bible Club activities. We set up a relatively large tent outside that will house activities and draw attention from the street. I'm hoping and praying that the wind doesn't turn it into a kite as the current stakes and tie-downs won't anchor much in the soft ground.
After the service and preparation this afternoon, we went to Inverary, about 40 minutes away to tour and shop. There was a power outage though soon after we got there so not much shopping was done. Everyone is doing well.
Please pray for the club in the morning and especially for Whitney and the team heading up a teen ministry for the first time. There is very little for teens to do here and many young people head to the cities for education and work when they complete secondary school. I learned today that movies are seen when an 18 wheeler type of truck comes with a projector and seats inside to show a movie. This traveling cinema doesn't appear too frequently We'd really like to show love to these young people and present the gospel to them clearly. That should take place around 2:00 pm your time thanks for your prayers.
SatSaturdayJulJuly4th2009
Day 2 - Scotland 09
Today was another great day. Most of us are still adjusting to the time difference as evidence of me writing this at 12:07 local time - 7:07 DST. We went to Port Oban this afternoon for a cook-out, games, marshmallow roast and a ceilidh - Scottish square dance - to celebrate the not-so-Scottish 4th of July. The area is on a peaceful bay of the Atlantic and for the first time I saw seals in the wild, swimming and sunning themselves on rocks. One mother seal with babies sharing a rock was spectacular. Hope to get some photos posted here or on Facebook soon.
Everyone on the team may be a bit fatigued, but are otherwise healthy, developing friendships and seem to be having a good time. I was pleased to have some conversations with a couple of pre-Christian young men this evening and hope to have further chats that will bring the gospel into play.
Please pray for our kick--off service tomorrow at 11:00 local time. I'll be preaching on Psalm 78, focusing on the need to pass the gospel message on to succeeding generations. Probably too late to pray for most of you but you can pray for the results :) We'll spend much of tomorrow afternoon making final preparations for the beginning of the Holiday Bible Club on Monday. We'll be remembering those going to Fuquay Varina as well as those who have been "left behind."
FriFridayJulJuly3rd2009
Day 1 - Scotland 09
It did not get dark until around 10:45 here in Loch Gilphead. We are grateful to be here, safe and sound. The flight from Philadelphia left the gate on time and arrived in Glasgow on time. We had some unexpected challenges with customs officials at the Glasgow airport who grilled us with questions and said groups coming for volunteer activities need to first received permsision from the government. Joe McGraw, our team leader was the last one to make it through and they made us sweat to see if they would allow him in.
We were happily surprised to get a new diesel Volvo station wagons as our rental cars. Someone Volvo's reputation made me feel a little safer as we headed on driving on the left side of the road. Whitney's job was to remind me "Stay to the left ... not too far to the left." She did a great job even though our trip had some complications. Yesterday, a Royal Air Force fighter crashed into the side of a hill casuing the road we intended to take to be closed. We had to detour onto a narrower and more circuitous road ... us and all of the big buses and trucks that would have gone on the other road as well. In trying to share the road with one of those buses who thought it was my responsibility to give him a good portion of my lane, Whitney needed to say "not too far left" as I chose a sharp rock over a closer encounter with the bus. The tire looked like it had gone through a buzz saw. So it was a team effort to put on the doughnut spare as God provided a large pull-off space for all 3 of our vehicles to safely change the tire.
We arrived at Loch Gilphead around 1:00 local time. All of our hosts have been wonderfully gracious. An organizational meeting brought the two teams of Scots and Americans together this evening. We should all sleep well tonight. Thanks for your prayers.
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