K.C. Wahe

This would describe how I’m feeling given several things I am trying to accomplish this week and on top of it a good ol’ fashion presbytery meeting that I need to attend.

ysmarko

While away at the Abbey yesterday someone said that one of the ways we help others know the love of Christ is by looking for the turtles. The way a child would pick up a turtle and what the child does by looking inside the shell of a turtle is what I think this person was trying to get at when it comes to making Christ known. The child wants the turtle to appear and do what turtles do best. How do we as followers of Jesus get people to come out from their shells? How do we motivate them to do what God has called them to do?

I was a reading something my friend Steve posted and I wonder if we Christ followers have briefly returned to our shells? I have this need to be overly connected and to stay in touch with folks which I think on some days has kept me in my shell. As a pastor I need to somehow move out from behind my computer screen and into the world where authenticity is better lived out, “live and in person.” Authenticity would require me being intentional with others, looking for those who need a little encouragement, who need to experience hope in the midst of the stuff of life. It ultimately means living by example and deciding that the imprint I want to have on the kingdom of God is the actual time I took to go visit someone in the hospital, take someone to lunch, or make that unexpected phone call. On the other hand and some of the tension in the need to be connected is that there are others who would say that by sending the occasional text message, writing a quick note on facebook, or even an occasional email is just as important and leaves the same imprint and is another way of being connected especially with groups in the church who are difficult to reach.

From The Message Paraphrase
A Future in God
13-16So roll up your sleeves, put your mind in gear, be totally ready to receive the gift that’s coming when Jesus arrives. Don’t lazily slip back into those old grooves of evil, doing just what you feel like doing. You didn’t know any better then; you do now. As obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God’s life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness. God said, “I am holy; you be holy.”

For those of you who read my blog and who know me, you know my parents died several years ago. Over the years the Lord has blessed me with some wonderful surrogate parents who have helped shaped my faith in Christ and in many ways are the reason I do what I do now as a follower of Jesus, husband, father, and now a pastor.

Our friend Frank Frankman went to be with the Lord this past Thursday.

For Debbie and I Frank on more than one occasion cared for us in so many ways. His fatherly love and his heart for Jesus ministered to us and gave to us the peace of Christ. The kind of peace that encouraged us to not give up and to trust that the God of peace is what gives us strength to get through the best and worst of times.

What I loved about Frank was that he was a surrogate parent to Deb and me, he was a spiritual father, and for this we give thanks to God. My fondest memories of Frank were sitting in his home with Jane as they regularly welcomed young adults into their home from the church. I also remember receiving some of the biggest “Frank Frankman” hugs that were the kind of hugs that I so desired from my own father. They were the kinds of hugs that said, “man, I’m proud of you kid!”

What I truly remember about Frank is that every time he talked about me with my friends or people at church, I would always hear from my friends on how proud he was of me. And every time Debbie and I would see Frank he would make it a point to tell us how proud he was of us. This always gave me hope and encouraged me in so many ways. He was our cheerleader. He was one of our biggest fans in the kingdom. He even celebrated like a father would celebrate with his kids, when I told him I finally finished seminary and that I was becoming a Presbyterian minister. On more than one occasion he would tear up when he would talk with Deb and me about the joy he had for us.

Thank you God for our friend Frank. Although we grieve, we celebrate the life you now have with God Frank. We continue to pray for your bride Jane and for your kids. We thank you for loving us as Jesus loved us. Thank you for giving us your heart. And most of all thank you for being proud of me Frank! I love you brother!

Because of the kindness of some folks and the graciousness of my wife and kids, I have been given the chance to take a trip to the Holy Lands. I will keep you posted on the details and I will make use of my blog and my facebook to post pictures and reflections on the tour I will be taking. I am thrilled that I will go and witness what I’ve heard about for so many years and what I’ve studied as a follower of Christ and as a pastor. I am very thankful and can’t wait. Will share more details later on.

Very cool. We have seriously pondered going to the other side. Forgive us almighty PC. Change is coming.

ht:ysmarko

ht: churchonthemove

YO!

26 years ago I got to attend my first Jr. High Winter Camp at Forest Home when I was in the 7th grade with my home church.

26 years ago at Winter Camp at Forest Home I gave my life to following Christ and to serving him.

I remember everything that happened that weekend.

This Friday our middle kid will attend Jr. High Winter Camp at Forest Home as a 7th grade kiddoe with a very cool church. I pray that it will be a powerful time in his life.

I am ever so grateful and will be praying for people like Nick and other folks and especially Forest Home staff like Nate and Joel who will be ministering to kids in the name of Christ.

I joined High Calling Blogs today, a blogging faith community composed of followers of Jesus seeking to be faithful to God’s calling to sharing God’s love in the blogosphere.

This is in essence will keep me accountable to being a faithful blogger. Will it work? I certainly hope as I know there will be a couple of more readers who might show up. I also know this will continue my desire in my last post to being faithful in my writing. Thanks for granting me “permission to enter” high calling blogging big whigs!