Crossing Bridges

When we were on our recent mission trip to Vancouver, British Colombia, we had the chance to see several beautiful bridges. One stands out above the rest called the Lion’s Gate Bridge. Not only was it beautiful but also we got to see it seven different times, crossing one way or the other. Only three of those crossings were on purpose.

The first time we crossed the bridge we were looking for a grocery store and our “smart phone” said there was a Walmart on the other side. We did not find the Walmart but we found a nice grocery and bought the breakfast items we needed for the week. On the way back across we found that four lanes of traffic merged into one lane crossing from north to south so it took a long time to make the crossing. We decided we did not want to do that again, or so we thought.

The next day we went to The Community of Hope in the morning and helped Pastor Yong Kim by talking to the homeless who came for the lunch they served. I had the opportunity to share a message of hope from the Bible. Afterwards we went to Gateway Baptist Church to prayerwalk the area. Later in the day we headed for our apartment. Our GPS systems worked great getting us everywhere we needed to go. However, the GPS was not able to tell us that we could not make a left turn during that hour of the day. We found ourselves on the inside of four lanes of traffic with no way to get off headed directly for the Lions Gate Bridge. Once across we had to get back by turning around and following the flow of four lanes as they merged into one, again.

The next day we did it again. I tried to be smart and watch for an opportunity to turn left before the traffic closed up and swept us across the bridge. But, there was no such opportunity. A day or so later we were in a different area, North Vancouver. By the time we realized the GPS was taking us home by way of the Lions Gate Bridge it was too late. We just followed the flow and practiced our patience, a fruit of the Spirit.

The last day in that area I tried a different tactic. I knew what was coming so I went for the right lane instead of left. I discovered a turn around that allowed me to get to the other side of traffic by a park. Hallelujah!!

Our experience reminded me of Jesus talking about the narrow and wide gates. “Enter through the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the road is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who go through it. How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it.” Matthew 7:13-14 (HCSB)

The wrong way is easy to find. The right way requires help. It is good to know that Jesus is the Way! (John 14:6)

Bro. Robin

Working on Scaffolding (in Unity)

A few years ago we watched as the old education building that was attached to the church was torn down. After the building was removed a group of volunteers from the church met together and closed in the end of the building that remained. It was a flat side with a high roof and we covered it with wood and metal siding. We had a couple of experienced carpenters but the rest of us knew how to handle screws and nails where they told us to put them and hand stuff to the men who knew what they were doing.

I was most fascinated by the carpenters. I like to work with wood in my shop making furniture and shelves but this was a whole different level of skill. One carpenter was on the scaffolding measuring and calling out numbers while another carpenter on the ground cut pieces according to those numbers. I never saw them need to recut any pieces because the measuring and cutting was always precise. The rest of us were either in the middle handing pieces up or on the scaffolding screwing in the extra screws needed to finish each piece.

We worked like a team. We all knew what needed to be done and when we finished one task we quickly moved on to the next. There was no competition or jealousy.  When one needed help we helped without asking or needing to be asked. We discovered the true meaning of unity.

Paul describes unity by comparing the body of Christ to our own bodies. He said, “Now as we have many parts in one body, and all the parts do not have the same function, in the same way we who are many are one body in Christ and individually members of one another.” (Romans 12:4-5 HCSB)

We are made up of many different parts that work together and are dependent on each other with one brain, the mind of Christ. When one part hurts the whole body hurts. When one part celebrates, (like the sense of tasting comfort food), the whole body feels good.

It took all of us to close in the wall. This is the way it should be in the church. The skilled and unskilled, one gift or gifted with many, all are important. It takes all of us working together in love and support to fulfill the Great Commission.

Bro. Robin

Color Wars

When our kids go to Camp Siloam for a week of summer camp they are always excited about a camp wide competition called Color Wars. Every church group is assigned a color, either red or blue. Every day there is a huge group activity involving all the campers and many of the sponsors. They get points each day and by the end of the week a winner in determined.

Our group has been on the blue team for the last four years. Many of the students have been together every summer and brought their blue shirts and hats to show their blue pride. This year they did not tell us what team we were on until we checked into camp. Of course, this year we are on the … Red Team.

I thought the kids would be sad about the color change. I was sad for them. But kids being kids they took it all in stride. The girls asked for red paint and talked about trading with a church that came prepared to be red but ended up blue. Matt found red bandanas for all the kids and they were happy with that.

The kids were not upset about the color change because they did not go to camp to identify with a color of clothing. They were prepared to go to camp to be with their friends and learn more about Jesus.

Jesus told a story about heaven in which he compared the kingdom of heaven to a wedding banquet. (Matthew 22) In the parable, (a story with a message), Jesus tells about a King who had invited guests to a wedding for his son. But those who were invited mistreated the messengers so the King said they were unworthy. He sent his servants to invite everyone they could find. When the King came to see his guests he found one who was not dressed for a wedding and asked how he got in there without wedding clothes. The king had him thrown out, into outer darkness.

The story is about being prepared for heaven. We have been invited and we know it is a special occasion for the King. We need to look, live, and act like we are going to see the King.

Bro. Robin

The Wheels on the Bus

“The wheels on the bus go round and round…” I thought about that song this week as I drove the bus for the summer children’s program. Terrific Tuesdays and Tremendous Thursdays have been a tradition around here for many years. This week we are taking the kids to the library in the morning and a swimming pool in the afternoon.

Driving the bus is a big responsibility. I check with the group’s leaders and verify the time and destination. There is a pre-trip check to make sure the bus is safe. I check location of the day’s event and pick the best route. We load the kids and make sure everyone is safe in their places. Then we drive to the destination. All along the way I am watching the road and other traffic. I keep alert for hazards to avoid along the way. I stop at railroad crossings. After I drop the kids off I find a good place to park the bus so I can get out easily for the return trip.

Anyone who leads a group should be able to see similar responsibilities. Whether it is a Sunday school class, small group, or your own family, you are taking them to a chosen destination and you want everyone to arrive safely.

Our ultimate destination, Heaven, is the same for all our church groups. There are long-term destinations such as Discipleship, Worship, Fellowship, Missions, and Evangelism. There are also short-term destinations that take us in the direction of the long-term goals. The summer children’s program is short-term but supports our other destinations in many ways.

No matter what we are doing we need to be sure of our destination. We need to make sure our plans are in order and people going with us are on board. We need to look out for danger along the way and make stops when necessary. When we arrive we need to park in a place where we can go again easily because the journey is not over until we reach the final destination.

In Acts 13 the Church sent out the first missionaries. They answered the call of the Holy Spirit to send out Barnabas and Saul to go where God led them. It was not easy, there were many dangers, but God led them to tell the good news of Jesus to most of the known world of their day. They did it all on foot. Imagine how much we can do in a bus?

Bro. Robin

Grandchildren and Imagination

I just got home from vacationing with my grandchildren, and their parents.  A few observations came to me based on what was seen and heard during the week:

#1 - Grain elevators can look like castles to a three year old. The first time she noticed a grain elevator she exclaimed with awe in her voice, “Is that a castle?” Of course we all laughed at the retelling of the story. It got me thinking, however, what happened to my imagination that I only saw elevators where she saw castles? Did something kill my imagination or did it simply die from lack of use?

#2 - Being an adult can also be fun. I found this to be true while enjoying a public pool that observes adult only swim time ten minutes out of every hour. This was designed to give the kids time to rest and reapply sunscreen. It also gave the adults a chance to swim unimpeded or, as I discovered to my delight, skip long lines on the giant water slides, over and over again. I was heading up for my fourth trip down the slide when the look on my grandsons faces, who were near the top when the whistle blew, caused me to stop and wait with them for time to run out and go down together. Sometimes we need to jump in and enjoy ourselves in good clean fun.

#3 - Our family can turn anything into a game complete with rules and prizes. We started out with the little ones blowing bubbles on the porch. Next thing I knew we were all competing for biggest bubble, most bubbles, most bubbles caught, etc. In the end everyone got a prize for something. The women took the young kids to Target and the men took the older boys to Cabela’s to find their prizes. Bubble blowing turned into an all-around fun afternoon.

Solomon also enjoyed his grandchildren and may have gotten some of his wisdom from observing them. He said, “Grandchildren are the crown…” of their grandparents, (Proverbs 17:6, HCSB). They not only give us joy they give us wisdom and a lot to think about.

Bro Robin