It's a God Thing

Tonight I received an e-mail through my old website. The old website has a confidential prayer request link where people can send me things to pray for.

This e-mail was from a guy (Greg) that grew up in my home town and graduated from high school a couple years behind me. At some point in his teenage years, Greg and his dad came to my house to do some construction type work and my dad talked to them about God and church.

Fast forward 30 years and a LOT of hard living.

Greg likes to read our small town local newspaper online. Well, today he was reading the obituaries and noticed my name. A name he remembered from 30 years ago -- NO, not as an "obituary customer" but as a pastor officiating a funeral.

So he found my old website and sent me an e-mail with his remarkable story.

After my dad talked about God to Greg and his dad, they came to church a few times. And he has memories of Pastor Roberts and a few people in the church.

Now the interesting part, after living a tough life for many years, Greg found himself back in church. And finally, God got ahold of his life, introduced him to a woman that he eventually married and ((( drum roll ))) yup, you guessed it, he is a pastor himself.

Can you believe that? THAT my friends, is TOTALLY a "God Thing".

30 years ago, my dad made a few passing remarks to a couple guys doing some work at our house about God and church.

And today, one of those guys is a pastor with clear distinct memories of that conversation -- a conversation that eventually helped guide a stray soul back into the fold. Is that a supernatural miracle? There is no other explanation.

God LOVES to take our weak & insignificant efforts and turn them into supernatural miracles where ONLY He can get the credit.

You NEVER know what God has in store for some good deed you do for someone that is down and out.

You NEVER know what God has in store for some passing remark you make to someone who needs a word of encouragement.

You NEVER know what God has in store for some kind gesture you offer to someone who is hurting.

The good Lord takes special pleasure in taking our LITTLE and making MUCH out of it.

Your spiritual take-away from this is: "Little is much, when God is in it".

So to keep me from becoming proud,
I was given a thorn in my flesh,
a messenger from Satan to torment me
and keep me from becoming proud.
Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away.  
Each time He said,
“My grace is all you need.
My power works best in weakness.”
So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses,
so that the power of Christ can work through me.
That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses,
and in the insults, hardships, persecutions,
and troubles that I suffer for Christ.
For when I am weak, then I am strong."
2 Corinthians 10:7-10

A Defining Moment

Defining Moment

As soon as I graduated from high school, I left for Chicago to attend Bible College.  A friend of mine coordinated for me to stop in Denver and pick up a student that needed a ride. I spent the weekend in Denver and attended church with my rider and his family.  If my memory serves me well, the church sanctuary seated about 1000 people.  At the end of the service, my rider took me to the front of the church and introduced me to the pastor.  He was an amazingly gracious older gentleman that was kind enough to take time out of his busy day to spend a few minutes with an 18 year old “pastor-want-to-be”. 

I distinctly remember this amazing pastor looking silently into my eyes and saying, “Son, God has plans to bless your ministry in ways you would never believe.” 

He then placed his hands on my head and prayed a prayer of blessing. 

That my friends, was a defining moment in my life. 

To my dying day, no matter where the good Lord guides my steps, I will always remember that man of God. 

What is interesting is, I have always had a problem understanding all the reasons that I was so impacted by his actions. 

Was it a very vulnerable time in my life where I was filled with doubts about the direction of my life?  (probably)

Was it because a very successful pastor expressed a belief that I could follow in his footsteps and fulfill my lifelong dream?  (without a doubt)

Was it because an amazing man of God moved my dream of being a pastor, over into the reality category?  (yes)

I could go on for pages, speculating on why my life was so touched by this pastor. However, what is perhaps most powerful is how this experience made me aware of my ability to encourage and impact individuals into service for the good Lord. 

My ministry will touch, perhaps a few thousand lives.  However, if the good Lord guides young people into my life, and if I am faithful, much like the pastor that spent a few minutes with me when I was 18 years old, there is no telling how many 100,000’s of people that will be impacted for God’s Kingdom. 

And that, my friends, I find humbling and terribly exciting. 

There is another aspect of my experience that makes my head spin. 

That pastor only spent a total of 5-7 minutes with me.

Today, I am 48 years old.  That means, 30 years later, I am still moved to tears by the memory of what that faithful man of God did. 

Your spiritual take-away from this blog is:                                  

 “Little is much ~ when God is in it”      

When God leads a person into your life that needs to be encouraged, and you are faithful to God’s plan, God will take the seed you plant and bring forth a thousand fold beyond anything you expect. 

“He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others.

When they are troubled,
we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.”    
2 Corinthians 1:4

Their Stories

In the course of my duties as a Pastor, I have the privilege of meeting many wonderful people. Often these people are at the sunset of their lives and are preparing to step into eternity.

I always find myself a little overwhelmed as I consider that the dear soul I am talking to, will be in the presence of God Almighty in a few short breaths.

All the questions that niggle at the back of our minds about death, eternity, and God -- are answered in a moment.

All the worries, cares, priorities, dreams, and aspirations that consumed so much of our thoughts, passions and resources -- are diminished to naught in the light of God's presence.

So the life stories that cling close to my heart, are often those that surpass my expectations and surprise me and restore my faith.

Welcome to "their stories".

During World War 2, a remarkable woman joined the U.S. Coast Guard. I have no contact information for her family, so I have no way to obtain permission to disclose her name.

The young lady was sent to San Diego for Coast Guard training. During her time there, she met a strapping young Navy man that she called, "The Swede".

Over the course of two weeks, the Swede and the young lady fell deeply in love.

If there is any doubt in your mind, as to the strength and authenticity of of "love at first sight", then this story was written with you in mind.

After a couple blissful weeks, the Swede received orders to report to his ship. The U.S.. Navy ordered his ship to sea in an effort to stop the German Navy. His destroyer sailed and never returned. It was sunk by a German U-Boat. There were no survivors.

The Swede's devoted girlfriend served her nation with honor. At the end of the war, she became a very respected management assistant and enjoyed a remarkable career in business.

However, the most remarkable part of the story has yet to be told.

The Swede's girlfriend remained faithful to their love -- for the rest of her life.

Throughout her life, she told stories of her time with the Swede, his character, his bravery, and their love. She faithfully honored his memory and their love.
Her friends commented to me that they always wondered if the Swede was real. Her memories of the Swede sometimes seemed to good to be true. But she clung relentlessly to his memory and their love.

This story gives honor to my favorite Bible passage.

Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love?
Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity,
or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger,
or threatened with death?
No, despite all these things,
overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.

And I am convinced that nothing
can ever separate us from God’s love.
Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,
neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow
—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.
No power in the sky above or in the earth below
—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever
be able to separate us from the love of God
that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Romans 8:35-39