I was in a hurry this morning at church, one Sunday before Christmas, setting up for my 9:30am Sunday group of post-high youth. I crushed my pinky between two pieces of metal as I was unfolding a collapsible stand for the audio system.
I’m sure “crushed” is too strong a word, but it helps me justify the pain it’s giving me about 12 hours later as I sit trying to type out a blog entry. It actually hurts to type!
So am I justified in writing a short blog entry this month?
We’ve all had these kinds of stupid accidents happen to us, and the first thing you think is something to the effect, “Just 3 minutes ago everything was fine! Can I just turn back time and try that over again? I promise I’ll do it differently.” I felt the same way after having an encounter between my car and lightpost in a parking lot.
Finally we begin to accept the reality of the situation, and then gradually we discover what the incident is going to cost us. The largest cost is often in terms of inconvenience.
In this case, I have to baby my baby finger. A finger we might think is not very important until we have to suffer its pain. Suddenly things that were simple actually become painful. Things like shaking hands, putting on a glove, picking up a cup, and worst of all, typing, are now painful.
Such a minor part of my body suddenly becomes my focus. I should not have overlooked it.
In 1 Cor 12:27 Paul writes about the church being the body of Christ. Each person does their part. When one of us hurts, we all hurt. It’s appropriate for us to encourage and uplift those parts of our church body that are in pain.
It’s also important to realize the importance of every one of us in the body. No task is small. We all have our part to fulfill.
Is there someone in the church body that I’ve been overlooking? I’m sure there are. Often, the people I overlook are the people I am in the most contact with.
People do their part of being the church every day. I hope I learn to stop overlooking them and say a word of appreciation occasionally. Taking the time to care for all the parts of our church body keep the church body functioning it’s best.
Happy Hiking, and God Bless,
- Allen
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Not entirely about Penn State
There has been enough about Penn State. We’re all sick of it. But I have to say something about the plight of Penn State Students. When I try to get inside the head of a Penn State student I can’t help but see that through the lenses of myself as a young student that experienced undergraduate school at Drexel University in the 70’s.
I absolutely loved life at Drexel University. School was hard, but not always. I “studied” in the student lounge, listened to LPs of The Moody Blues, The Who, Pink Floyd, Yes, and Emerson Lake and Palmer. I read “underground newspapers”. I went to a few concerts, like Captain Beefheart at U of P’s Irving Auditorium. I could kick myself for not springing for the money to see the Beatles when they were in town. Lunch was typically a cheap meal from the broken down cheese steak truck on 32nd street. During finals I pulled the caged door shut behind me in one of the tiny little cubbyholes in the basement of the library and studied for hours. On the way to your final, it was tradition to rub the big toe of the brass water boy in the Great Court for good luck. We lounged on the quad, played volleyball, ping pong, darts, and celebrated the end of finals week at Cavanaugh’s Railroad Restaurant on Market Street.
Bad things happened too. Protests were not much of a big deal at an engineering school but I did hear of one in the 60’s. Students pulled out a fire hose to use but it fell into pieces it was so old. Having my new car stolen was not fun. A friend of mine was attacked and seriously injured leaving a dance. There was an organization next door to my TA’s apartment called “MOVE”. They washed cars to make money. Seemed like nice people. They were quiet at the time but became infamous for some terrible wars with the police a few years after I graduated.
In those days, Drexel had a reputation as a great, but boring, engineering school. In my freshman year there was an announcement that the Drexel football team would be playing their last game ever! The most common reaction was, “Oh, I didn’t know we had a football team”, which may explain their extinction.
Like me, PSU students today certainly have their traditions and are building wonderful memories to romanticize on someday.
It’s no less than tragedy what has happened at PSU. It’s terrible for the victims and the focus deserves to be on their tragedy, their recovery, and their justice. But PSU students are among the causalities too. Their college lives have been invaded.
Into the midst of their college experience came scandal, media, police, and a riot. The honor of the school they attend was damaged, and suddenly one of the keystones of their existence, Penn State Football, suffered defamation. Ultimately this is all the result of one man’s actions. Once exposed, one man’s actions had devastating, far-reaching impact in a very short time! Why?
I think it has something to do with idols. When we allow anything but God to become “Holy”, there is a problem. The worship of PSU football probably caused many to discredit any possibility of a blemish on that idol. But blemish came. The idol fell fast and hard, taking many casualties along with it. PSU students were caught in total disarray. Imagine trying to go to class that week or to study for a test when there’s a riot outside your dorm.
This is not a trivial aspect to this tragedy. Of course we must pray for the victims. But pray also for the students. Pray for PSU football. Pray for PSU administration. Pray that the memories of these students will not be permanently scarred beyond honorable recognition.
The idol of PSU football has fallen. The reputation of PSU is suffering. In time I believe it will be the sound mind and honor of individual PSU students that corporately rebuild that reputation. I am proud to see they have already begun that healing and rebuilding.
We all put things before God. We know we shouldn’t. But we do. I think that might be one definition for sin, putting something else in place of God. Pray that we all stop making and worshipping idols. Only God is Holy and deserving of our worship.
Happy Hiking, and God Bless,
- Allen
I absolutely loved life at Drexel University. School was hard, but not always. I “studied” in the student lounge, listened to LPs of The Moody Blues, The Who, Pink Floyd, Yes, and Emerson Lake and Palmer. I read “underground newspapers”. I went to a few concerts, like Captain Beefheart at U of P’s Irving Auditorium. I could kick myself for not springing for the money to see the Beatles when they were in town. Lunch was typically a cheap meal from the broken down cheese steak truck on 32nd street. During finals I pulled the caged door shut behind me in one of the tiny little cubbyholes in the basement of the library and studied for hours. On the way to your final, it was tradition to rub the big toe of the brass water boy in the Great Court for good luck. We lounged on the quad, played volleyball, ping pong, darts, and celebrated the end of finals week at Cavanaugh’s Railroad Restaurant on Market Street.
Bad things happened too. Protests were not much of a big deal at an engineering school but I did hear of one in the 60’s. Students pulled out a fire hose to use but it fell into pieces it was so old. Having my new car stolen was not fun. A friend of mine was attacked and seriously injured leaving a dance. There was an organization next door to my TA’s apartment called “MOVE”. They washed cars to make money. Seemed like nice people. They were quiet at the time but became infamous for some terrible wars with the police a few years after I graduated.
In those days, Drexel had a reputation as a great, but boring, engineering school. In my freshman year there was an announcement that the Drexel football team would be playing their last game ever! The most common reaction was, “Oh, I didn’t know we had a football team”, which may explain their extinction.
Like me, PSU students today certainly have their traditions and are building wonderful memories to romanticize on someday.
It’s no less than tragedy what has happened at PSU. It’s terrible for the victims and the focus deserves to be on their tragedy, their recovery, and their justice. But PSU students are among the causalities too. Their college lives have been invaded.
Into the midst of their college experience came scandal, media, police, and a riot. The honor of the school they attend was damaged, and suddenly one of the keystones of their existence, Penn State Football, suffered defamation. Ultimately this is all the result of one man’s actions. Once exposed, one man’s actions had devastating, far-reaching impact in a very short time! Why?
I think it has something to do with idols. When we allow anything but God to become “Holy”, there is a problem. The worship of PSU football probably caused many to discredit any possibility of a blemish on that idol. But blemish came. The idol fell fast and hard, taking many casualties along with it. PSU students were caught in total disarray. Imagine trying to go to class that week or to study for a test when there’s a riot outside your dorm.
This is not a trivial aspect to this tragedy. Of course we must pray for the victims. But pray also for the students. Pray for PSU football. Pray for PSU administration. Pray that the memories of these students will not be permanently scarred beyond honorable recognition.
The idol of PSU football has fallen. The reputation of PSU is suffering. In time I believe it will be the sound mind and honor of individual PSU students that corporately rebuild that reputation. I am proud to see they have already begun that healing and rebuilding.
We all put things before God. We know we shouldn’t. But we do. I think that might be one definition for sin, putting something else in place of God. Pray that we all stop making and worshipping idols. Only God is Holy and deserving of our worship.
Happy Hiking, and God Bless,
- Allen
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Steve Jobs: Death of an Icon - and a Hero?
October 5, 2011 at 10:02p I was riding the train home when I glanced down at my iPhone to see a tweet from one of my Twitter followers. “Steve Jobs passed away”. Two minutes later a text from my daughter appeared on my iPhone, confirming the news. I think it was appropriate to have received the news of his passing on a device he was largely responsible for putting in my hands. I had an immediate sense of great loss. I entered the computer industry right out of college in 1975. I lived much of my career following and using products developed by Microsoft and Apple.
Steve Jobs was Apple Computer. Steve Jobs was an icon. He is probably responsible for many people even knowing the meaning of the word, “icon”. In 1979 Jobs was invited to Xerox PARC to see their mouse-controlled GUI (Graphical User Interface). That trip led to the GUI developed for the Apple Mac. Jobs may have been first, but Gates and Microsoft quickly followed suit, replacing command-line based MS-DOS with its “Windows” Operating System. In 1988, Apple sued Microsoft, to which Microsoft responded, “We both stole the GUI from Xerox’s PARC”, as if that makes it ok.
Jobs, CEO of Apple, once suggested that Microsoft’s Bill Gates might do better if he’d loosen up a bit, maybe pop a pill, he’d get better ideas. Jobs accredited his ability to think outside the box to having taken LSD. I have to draw a line here. Actually, way before we get to “here”. I have some sympathy to the Hippie generation. I grew up in it. I actually look fondly at the influence the Hippie culture had to shake up the “establishment”, to influence us to be more authentic as individuals, to influence some to become Jesus-Freaks, and to influence us to be better stewards of planet Earth. But seriously, LSD? This is very dangerous talk! I think all drugs are potentially dangerous and to be avoided as much as possible, even caffeine (I’m down to an average of a cup a day now). LSD is so dangerous it’s off the map. Suggesting an LSD trip to expand our mind is not just ridiculous, it’s totally irresponsible for anyone with any influence whatsoever. There is no excuse for such a remark, let alone making it a public remark.
So, I have mixed feelings. The passing of any human is sad and we need to celebrate their life and accomplishments. But, as I’ve said before, please, let’s be careful who we choose for our heroes!
I don’t see Jobs as a hero to aspire to emulate. But God works to bring good through all people, whether they acknowledge God or not. I’m surrounded by others who would say, along with me, that the iPhone has changed their lives in many positive ways. I am very thankful to have my cell phone, my texts, mobile eMail, portable web browser, GPS, travel guide, to-do lists, calendar, notes, SkyMap, Running Log, Alarm Clock, radio, voice recorder, UPC reader, music collection, downloaded devotional materials, camera, emergency flashlight, several versions of the Holy Bible, even my spare “emergency sermon”, ALL conveniently in a single small device in my pocket. When I was I kid in the late 60’s I delivered “The Philadelphia Bulletin”. I thought Dick Tracy’s watch-radio was an impossibility. Steve Jobs took things quite a bit farther!
Jobs once remarked that he wanted to put a ding in the universe. With God’s help, he did! I think it IS appropriate to celebrate! And to say as I believe Romans 5:2 suggests, “Glory be to God for the life of Steve Jobs and for all the good that God has worked through his life!” Steve Jobs was an icon. But Jesus is my hero. Amen.
Happy Hiking, and God Bless,
- allen
Steve Jobs was Apple Computer. Steve Jobs was an icon. He is probably responsible for many people even knowing the meaning of the word, “icon”. In 1979 Jobs was invited to Xerox PARC to see their mouse-controlled GUI (Graphical User Interface). That trip led to the GUI developed for the Apple Mac. Jobs may have been first, but Gates and Microsoft quickly followed suit, replacing command-line based MS-DOS with its “Windows” Operating System. In 1988, Apple sued Microsoft, to which Microsoft responded, “We both stole the GUI from Xerox’s PARC”, as if that makes it ok.
Jobs, CEO of Apple, once suggested that Microsoft’s Bill Gates might do better if he’d loosen up a bit, maybe pop a pill, he’d get better ideas. Jobs accredited his ability to think outside the box to having taken LSD. I have to draw a line here. Actually, way before we get to “here”. I have some sympathy to the Hippie generation. I grew up in it. I actually look fondly at the influence the Hippie culture had to shake up the “establishment”, to influence us to be more authentic as individuals, to influence some to become Jesus-Freaks, and to influence us to be better stewards of planet Earth. But seriously, LSD? This is very dangerous talk! I think all drugs are potentially dangerous and to be avoided as much as possible, even caffeine (I’m down to an average of a cup a day now). LSD is so dangerous it’s off the map. Suggesting an LSD trip to expand our mind is not just ridiculous, it’s totally irresponsible for anyone with any influence whatsoever. There is no excuse for such a remark, let alone making it a public remark.
So, I have mixed feelings. The passing of any human is sad and we need to celebrate their life and accomplishments. But, as I’ve said before, please, let’s be careful who we choose for our heroes!
I don’t see Jobs as a hero to aspire to emulate. But God works to bring good through all people, whether they acknowledge God or not. I’m surrounded by others who would say, along with me, that the iPhone has changed their lives in many positive ways. I am very thankful to have my cell phone, my texts, mobile eMail, portable web browser, GPS, travel guide, to-do lists, calendar, notes, SkyMap, Running Log, Alarm Clock, radio, voice recorder, UPC reader, music collection, downloaded devotional materials, camera, emergency flashlight, several versions of the Holy Bible, even my spare “emergency sermon”, ALL conveniently in a single small device in my pocket. When I was I kid in the late 60’s I delivered “The Philadelphia Bulletin”. I thought Dick Tracy’s watch-radio was an impossibility. Steve Jobs took things quite a bit farther!
Jobs once remarked that he wanted to put a ding in the universe. With God’s help, he did! I think it IS appropriate to celebrate! And to say as I believe Romans 5:2 suggests, “Glory be to God for the life of Steve Jobs and for all the good that God has worked through his life!” Steve Jobs was an icon. But Jesus is my hero. Amen.
Happy Hiking, and God Bless,
- allen
Saturday, October 1, 2011
DOUBLE EXPOSURE
October. Summer vacations are behind us and we’re back at work and school.
Many of us are glad to be moving on, but did fall have to start quite this abruptly? Even the weather changed abruptly. From one day to the next, the morning temperature dropped almost 25 degrees! I love cold weather, but, it would be nice to be eased into it just a little bit slower.
It might be nice to be eased back into work and school a little bit slower too, but there’s little use in fighting the reality of homework, earlier school starts, and job deadlines. Society says it’s time to buckle down and produce!
And maybe that’s appropriate. But I don’t think we should allow God to be squeezed out of our schedules. I may not have the time to sit down and read a book by my favorite spiritual author, because I need to repurpose that time. But there are still slots of time through my day when my mind isn’t fully utilized. For example, when I’m driving, when I’m waiting in line at WaWa, when I’m walking from my car to my office. Even many of those transient times are often consumed preparing for what’s next, but if I can include and engage God, in my daily processing, even for a moment, I am reminded of others God cares about that need prayer.
Sometimes instead of being just ANOTHER frazzled person waiting for my hoagie at WaWa, maybe I can find a way to minister to some of the OTHER frazzled persons, even if only through a simple gesture of kindness or a genuine smile that cares about the face of Jesus hidden behind the mask of that other frazzled person. The mental scene reminds me of an old “double exposure” movie I have from my childhood. Somehow, we accidentally used the same film twice in the movie camera. The result was a movie of people sitting on a dock looking at a lake, but the lake had a parade marching through it! As if the world is running around on speed while we observe from our place sitting on the dock.
At the end of the day, I hope I can look back and see that the Holy Spirit was able to slow me down so that even though the world is in HIGH GEAR, in my mind at least I am occasionally sitting on the dock, listening for God’s still small voice while I watch the parade. Maybe I’ll even be encouraged to discover a brother or sister sitting on the dock with me!
Happy Hiking and God Bless,
- allen
Many of us are glad to be moving on, but did fall have to start quite this abruptly? Even the weather changed abruptly. From one day to the next, the morning temperature dropped almost 25 degrees! I love cold weather, but, it would be nice to be eased into it just a little bit slower.
It might be nice to be eased back into work and school a little bit slower too, but there’s little use in fighting the reality of homework, earlier school starts, and job deadlines. Society says it’s time to buckle down and produce!
And maybe that’s appropriate. But I don’t think we should allow God to be squeezed out of our schedules. I may not have the time to sit down and read a book by my favorite spiritual author, because I need to repurpose that time. But there are still slots of time through my day when my mind isn’t fully utilized. For example, when I’m driving, when I’m waiting in line at WaWa, when I’m walking from my car to my office. Even many of those transient times are often consumed preparing for what’s next, but if I can include and engage God, in my daily processing, even for a moment, I am reminded of others God cares about that need prayer.
Sometimes instead of being just ANOTHER frazzled person waiting for my hoagie at WaWa, maybe I can find a way to minister to some of the OTHER frazzled persons, even if only through a simple gesture of kindness or a genuine smile that cares about the face of Jesus hidden behind the mask of that other frazzled person. The mental scene reminds me of an old “double exposure” movie I have from my childhood. Somehow, we accidentally used the same film twice in the movie camera. The result was a movie of people sitting on a dock looking at a lake, but the lake had a parade marching through it! As if the world is running around on speed while we observe from our place sitting on the dock.
At the end of the day, I hope I can look back and see that the Holy Spirit was able to slow me down so that even though the world is in HIGH GEAR, in my mind at least I am occasionally sitting on the dock, listening for God’s still small voice while I watch the parade. Maybe I’ll even be encouraged to discover a brother or sister sitting on the dock with me!
Happy Hiking and God Bless,
- allen
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Good always overcomes evil
This day reminds us that the power of evil is very great. But we know the power of good is even greater. This is a battle that a Christian must fight every day, even within ourselves.
“Wherever you have power, can you lend it to someone without power? Wherever there is inequity in this world, can you speak out? Is this not the work of Christians in the post 9/11 world?”-UM Bishop Peggy Johnson
“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” - Romans 12:21
And therefore in the face of evil, I don't consider it a trivialization to say Happy Hiking, God Bless, and may you know that God IS With You on your journey,
Happy Hiking and God Bless,
- allen
“Wherever you have power, can you lend it to someone without power? Wherever there is inequity in this world, can you speak out? Is this not the work of Christians in the post 9/11 world?”-UM Bishop Peggy Johnson
“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” - Romans 12:21
And therefore in the face of evil, I don't consider it a trivialization to say Happy Hiking, God Bless, and may you know that God IS With You on your journey,
Happy Hiking and God Bless,
- allen
Thursday, September 1, 2011
The meaning of my summer.
Although I would say that all of the summer youth activities this year were quite successful, I also have to say in all honesty that the summer of 2011 was not an easy one for the Olivet Youth community.
June started things off innocently enough with an outstanding trip to the Creation Festival with 33 youth. The highlight for me was praying with seven of them at the “prayer tent” on Saturday evening. The prayer tent itself was actually too crowded to meet in due to the heavy response to the evening’s speaker. As pastor Davis would say, Praise God !
On our way home Sunday, news was beginning to spread about a terrible car accident that tragically took the lives of four Coatesville Area High School students earlier that same morning. I don’t think there is any CASH student who didn’t know at least one of these young men since their ages ranged from 14 to 17. Several Olivet youth and friends were very close to those who passed away so prematurely.
The funeral for one of the young men was held at Olivet. There was not an empty seat in the sanctuary, or balcony, and many were standing. Just two days after the funeral, 32 youth and adults departed on our Olivet ASP youth mission trip. A few youth choose not to go due to the tragedy. In contrast, there was a youth I had gotten to know at Creation that I invited to ASP on the day of the funeral and he joined us on the trip two days later. Different people handle grief in different ways. And that’s ok.
The ASP trip was, in spite of several adversities that we encountered, the best ASP trip ever. Every year is actually the best trip ever. I honestly feel that way. My team worked on a wheelchair ramp for a man who had lost his legs due to diabetes. As usual there were other churches there at our ASP center, one from Pennsylvania, another from New Jersey. A few days after we returned from ASP we learned through FaceBook that one of the young men from the New Jersey church collapsed and died two hours after returning to New Jersey. I met the distraught parents at his viewing that evening.
A few weeks later, I was visiting my daughter Katie at her place of work, the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. While we were there, my wife Karen and I had an opportunity to visit a 5-year old boy there named Conner. Conner is struggling with Leukemia and the effects of it’s treatment. Many people at Penn State and Olivet have been praying for him and it was an honor to pray with him and his mother. Keep praying for Conner and his family. He is in hospice care now.
I have not mentioned them all, but I have been exposed to many people, adults and youth, suffering great emotional pain this summer. I am certain I can’t fathom the pain these people are suffering. I struggle to understand what life must be like living in a bed and a wheelchair, watching the news and cartoons to pass the time. I struggle to understand why a mother and family has to suffer so desperately because of an evil disease that seems to have randomly chosen to attack an innocent young boy. I struggle to understand the depth of pain when I look into the eyes of two mothers whose teenage boys have passed away after they have cared for them so lovingly for the last 16 years. I struggle to understand. But I can’t.
And then I realize yet another thing I don’t understand. I don’t understand how these people cope with such pain. But I see a glimpse of hope in their ability to cope, their ability to press on. No. Actually, it’s more than a glimpse.
In Conner’s mother I met a young woman of tremendous character and strength. I suspect the same character and strength drives the others as well. I know that at least in Conner’s mother’s case the character and strength comes from a deep faith in God. Little Conner was screaming when we first entered the room because he thought we were medical personnel. He didn’t need one more needle prick. Despite everything that was happening in that hospital room, Conner’s mother had a strength of character that showed itself in a beautiful, gentle, peace. She gently crawled into bed with her son and assured him everything was ok. And her son responded with peace while we prayed over them.
Her loving care for her child was to me a reflection of the same loving care that God the Father has for her. The same loving care that God the Father has for every one of his creation. God has so much loving care for us that in Christ, God even enters into and participates in our human pain.
In Conner’s mother I found the meaning of my summer: Those who allow God to nurture and love them are the strongest of all people you will ever meet. May they be examples to us, and may God deliver them every day from the pain they experience, into his loving arms, assuring them that everything is ok, because God is with them. May we have such strength of character, by learning to receive from a loving God. A God that crawls into bed with us when we are screaming, and assures us through his gentle but infinitely strong presence, that everything is ok, He is with us in our suffering.
God is with you.
Happy Hiking, and God Bless,
- allen
June started things off innocently enough with an outstanding trip to the Creation Festival with 33 youth. The highlight for me was praying with seven of them at the “prayer tent” on Saturday evening. The prayer tent itself was actually too crowded to meet in due to the heavy response to the evening’s speaker. As pastor Davis would say, Praise God !
On our way home Sunday, news was beginning to spread about a terrible car accident that tragically took the lives of four Coatesville Area High School students earlier that same morning. I don’t think there is any CASH student who didn’t know at least one of these young men since their ages ranged from 14 to 17. Several Olivet youth and friends were very close to those who passed away so prematurely.
The funeral for one of the young men was held at Olivet. There was not an empty seat in the sanctuary, or balcony, and many were standing. Just two days after the funeral, 32 youth and adults departed on our Olivet ASP youth mission trip. A few youth choose not to go due to the tragedy. In contrast, there was a youth I had gotten to know at Creation that I invited to ASP on the day of the funeral and he joined us on the trip two days later. Different people handle grief in different ways. And that’s ok.
The ASP trip was, in spite of several adversities that we encountered, the best ASP trip ever. Every year is actually the best trip ever. I honestly feel that way. My team worked on a wheelchair ramp for a man who had lost his legs due to diabetes. As usual there were other churches there at our ASP center, one from Pennsylvania, another from New Jersey. A few days after we returned from ASP we learned through FaceBook that one of the young men from the New Jersey church collapsed and died two hours after returning to New Jersey. I met the distraught parents at his viewing that evening.
A few weeks later, I was visiting my daughter Katie at her place of work, the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. While we were there, my wife Karen and I had an opportunity to visit a 5-year old boy there named Conner. Conner is struggling with Leukemia and the effects of it’s treatment. Many people at Penn State and Olivet have been praying for him and it was an honor to pray with him and his mother. Keep praying for Conner and his family. He is in hospice care now.
I have not mentioned them all, but I have been exposed to many people, adults and youth, suffering great emotional pain this summer. I am certain I can’t fathom the pain these people are suffering. I struggle to understand what life must be like living in a bed and a wheelchair, watching the news and cartoons to pass the time. I struggle to understand why a mother and family has to suffer so desperately because of an evil disease that seems to have randomly chosen to attack an innocent young boy. I struggle to understand the depth of pain when I look into the eyes of two mothers whose teenage boys have passed away after they have cared for them so lovingly for the last 16 years. I struggle to understand. But I can’t.
And then I realize yet another thing I don’t understand. I don’t understand how these people cope with such pain. But I see a glimpse of hope in their ability to cope, their ability to press on. No. Actually, it’s more than a glimpse.
In Conner’s mother I met a young woman of tremendous character and strength. I suspect the same character and strength drives the others as well. I know that at least in Conner’s mother’s case the character and strength comes from a deep faith in God. Little Conner was screaming when we first entered the room because he thought we were medical personnel. He didn’t need one more needle prick. Despite everything that was happening in that hospital room, Conner’s mother had a strength of character that showed itself in a beautiful, gentle, peace. She gently crawled into bed with her son and assured him everything was ok. And her son responded with peace while we prayed over them.
Her loving care for her child was to me a reflection of the same loving care that God the Father has for her. The same loving care that God the Father has for every one of his creation. God has so much loving care for us that in Christ, God even enters into and participates in our human pain.
In Conner’s mother I found the meaning of my summer: Those who allow God to nurture and love them are the strongest of all people you will ever meet. May they be examples to us, and may God deliver them every day from the pain they experience, into his loving arms, assuring them that everything is ok, because God is with them. May we have such strength of character, by learning to receive from a loving God. A God that crawls into bed with us when we are screaming, and assures us through his gentle but infinitely strong presence, that everything is ok, He is with us in our suffering.
God is with you.
Happy Hiking, and God Bless,
- allen
Friday, July 1, 2011
Doldrums
Someone I know had an opportunity to participate in a yacht race sailing around the world. It took most of a year to complete. I went to Boston to see the sailboat’s finish one leg of the race and then again to see them start the next leg a few weeks later. There was plenty of excitement as they came into the dock in Boston with everyone on deck cheering. There was also plenty of excitement when they began the next leg, with a fire boat salute, lots of small boats, and people lining Boston harbor on their way back out to the ocean. Even in the midst of the race there was plenty of excitement, especially in rough seas. One of the 12 identical 70 foot sailboats capsized in a storm. People suddenly found themselves underneath the boat in the middle of the Atlantic. My friend wrote an eMail from the Southern Ocean about how his faith sustained him when their sailboat was being “launched” off of 70 foot waves! Pretty exciting!
But there were also the “doldrums”. As you approach the equator, there are areas of the ocean where the sea can be like a lake. Wind is non-existent. You can’t make up any time in a sailboat race when there is no wind. Those times can be, BORING.
How do you get through the doldrums? Some people pretend they don’t exist. That might work if the doldrums don’t last very long. Especially if you’ve just come out of an exciting storm and you know that at the end of the doldrums is a glorious celebration. Maybe your mind will never get to “doldrum reality” because you never finish reflecting before you have to start planning again. For me, that’s exactly how life is in-between our youth trips to the Creation Festival and our mission trip to Appalachia Service Project. But prolonged doldrums can be downright depressing.
My Golden Retriever, Raleigh, loves routine. He makes his own excitement even in the doldrums. When I show up at his dinner time with a boring bowl of the same EXACT thing he has had for dinner every day for the last 4 years, he LEAPs in the air with excitement!
Then there is Helen, our cat. Yes, her full name would be, Helen Keller. Helen is our little Jesus. She lives the abundant life. She is “legally blind”. She gets seizures occasionally. When she leaps up on our bed she has to think it over for about 45 seconds and she comes down like an airplane having a rough landing. Not your typical “cool cat”. She runs into walls and doors. She is yelled and swiped at by our other cats, and Raleigh chases her.
But, like Jesus, Helen doesn’t seem to care. All of this can happen and the next minute you’ll find Helen chasing her tail, hopping around the living room, nuzzling up to your leg, or rolling over for you to scratch her belly. Then she’ll curl up content on a pillow and rest. Helen loves life. No matter what life delivers, and I’m pretty sure for a blind cat, life could be the doldrums, Helen loves life.
I think this is how Jesus would live through the doldrums. I know Jesus loved to spend quiet time “curled up with God”. The doldrums can be a blessing in that our mind can be quieted so we can hear God’s still, small, voice. I think Jesus also found humor in everyday life, even in the miracles he did sometimes. They think there isn’t enough food to go around? Ha! Check out what can happen when God gets a hold of 5 loaves and 2 fish! Is the lake too calm for you? If you keep your eyes on Jesus, you can walk on water, that’s pretty exciting!
Jesus doesn’t get depressed in the doldrums. Jesus uses the doldrums as opportunities to learn self-control of our attitude to choose to bring both excitement and contentment into everyday life. Just as there is a blessing for us in every person we meet, there is also a blessing for us in every moment we meet. Especially in the doldrums.
Have a blessed summer, Happy Hiking, and God Bless,
- allen
But there were also the “doldrums”. As you approach the equator, there are areas of the ocean where the sea can be like a lake. Wind is non-existent. You can’t make up any time in a sailboat race when there is no wind. Those times can be, BORING.
How do you get through the doldrums? Some people pretend they don’t exist. That might work if the doldrums don’t last very long. Especially if you’ve just come out of an exciting storm and you know that at the end of the doldrums is a glorious celebration. Maybe your mind will never get to “doldrum reality” because you never finish reflecting before you have to start planning again. For me, that’s exactly how life is in-between our youth trips to the Creation Festival and our mission trip to Appalachia Service Project. But prolonged doldrums can be downright depressing.
My Golden Retriever, Raleigh, loves routine. He makes his own excitement even in the doldrums. When I show up at his dinner time with a boring bowl of the same EXACT thing he has had for dinner every day for the last 4 years, he LEAPs in the air with excitement!
Then there is Helen, our cat. Yes, her full name would be, Helen Keller. Helen is our little Jesus. She lives the abundant life. She is “legally blind”. She gets seizures occasionally. When she leaps up on our bed she has to think it over for about 45 seconds and she comes down like an airplane having a rough landing. Not your typical “cool cat”. She runs into walls and doors. She is yelled and swiped at by our other cats, and Raleigh chases her.
But, like Jesus, Helen doesn’t seem to care. All of this can happen and the next minute you’ll find Helen chasing her tail, hopping around the living room, nuzzling up to your leg, or rolling over for you to scratch her belly. Then she’ll curl up content on a pillow and rest. Helen loves life. No matter what life delivers, and I’m pretty sure for a blind cat, life could be the doldrums, Helen loves life.
I think this is how Jesus would live through the doldrums. I know Jesus loved to spend quiet time “curled up with God”. The doldrums can be a blessing in that our mind can be quieted so we can hear God’s still, small, voice. I think Jesus also found humor in everyday life, even in the miracles he did sometimes. They think there isn’t enough food to go around? Ha! Check out what can happen when God gets a hold of 5 loaves and 2 fish! Is the lake too calm for you? If you keep your eyes on Jesus, you can walk on water, that’s pretty exciting!
Jesus doesn’t get depressed in the doldrums. Jesus uses the doldrums as opportunities to learn self-control of our attitude to choose to bring both excitement and contentment into everyday life. Just as there is a blessing for us in every person we meet, there is also a blessing for us in every moment we meet. Especially in the doldrums.
Have a blessed summer, Happy Hiking, and God Bless,
- allen
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
In-Between
By the time you read this we will be living “in-between”. In-between Pastor Tyson and Pastor Davis.
We will be tempted to mourn over the past, and I think we should, to a degree. I think it is always appropriate at such a milestone to reflect on the past and to cherish the memories. Then of course we should look to the future while learning from our past in order to know how to avoid some of the same mistakes, while at the same time carrying some of our successes forward. But if we simply look into the future only through the eyes of the past I think we are limiting ourselves.
It is important to learn from our history, but God is doing a new thing. I expect to be surprised by our future. We always find it interesting to look at our past and realize how different things were then, as if we are surprised by our past. I’m sure if we could look into our future we would also be quite surprised about it.
Twenty years ago I could not have imagined text messages, social networks, or that I would have a device in my pocket with far more computing power than Eniac, the first computer that was so large it filled the room. God does some new things that we may think are ridiculous! Yes, I think God has his hand in these things. God created the universe. I think God has an influence in everything in the universe. But who can say how God chooses to work God’s miracles? God may choose to express influence in many cases by allowing the creatures God created to work toward the solutions to their own problems. I think it is a privilege that God allows, even delights, in our participation in our own future in this respect. We take part in “our” continuing creation story. But let’s be sure to acknowledge that “our story” is not just us, it includes God with us. I’m excited to see how God’s hand works in the future through Pastor Davis, just as God’s hand has worked in the past through Pastor Tyson. And let’s never forget that God is always with us and that there is always. Always. ALWAYS AND FOREVER. there is. always. HOPE. God Wins.
Until next time, Happy Hiking, and God Bless,
- allen
We will be tempted to mourn over the past, and I think we should, to a degree. I think it is always appropriate at such a milestone to reflect on the past and to cherish the memories. Then of course we should look to the future while learning from our past in order to know how to avoid some of the same mistakes, while at the same time carrying some of our successes forward. But if we simply look into the future only through the eyes of the past I think we are limiting ourselves.
It is important to learn from our history, but God is doing a new thing. I expect to be surprised by our future. We always find it interesting to look at our past and realize how different things were then, as if we are surprised by our past. I’m sure if we could look into our future we would also be quite surprised about it.
Twenty years ago I could not have imagined text messages, social networks, or that I would have a device in my pocket with far more computing power than Eniac, the first computer that was so large it filled the room. God does some new things that we may think are ridiculous! Yes, I think God has his hand in these things. God created the universe. I think God has an influence in everything in the universe. But who can say how God chooses to work God’s miracles? God may choose to express influence in many cases by allowing the creatures God created to work toward the solutions to their own problems. I think it is a privilege that God allows, even delights, in our participation in our own future in this respect. We take part in “our” continuing creation story. But let’s be sure to acknowledge that “our story” is not just us, it includes God with us. I’m excited to see how God’s hand works in the future through Pastor Davis, just as God’s hand has worked in the past through Pastor Tyson. And let’s never forget that God is always with us and that there is always. Always. ALWAYS AND FOREVER. there is. always. HOPE. God Wins.
Until next time, Happy Hiking, and God Bless,
- allen
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Holy Week
What is the purpose of a blog entry? Of course that varies. The central purpose for my blog entries is to try to consider where God is with respect to my contemporary topic, while at the same time, being mildly entertaining, thought provoking, and maybe even inspiring. My blog entries actually serve that purpose for myself. I hope that occasionally I connect with a reader and God’s purpose is fulfilled.
As I write this it is Holy Week. Holy Week is so complex to me emotionally and spiritually. It’s a difficult week but it’s a wonderful week. Someone once expressed to me the question, “Couldn’t God have found a better way rather than to become human and die a sacrificial death for the creatures God created?”
Well, I believe God knows all, is all-powerful, and works for good. Since I believe that, I also accept that this is it. That this IS the best way God could have arranged things. So I believe that when God created us, God knew God would also have to die for us. Why would God create something God had to die for? It’s all about love. God desires to love and be loved back. But it’s not that simple either. God wants more than that. God wants to love and be loved back by creatures that love each other as well.
For the record, I don’t believe that God consciously controls every very detail. If God did, then love would not be a choice. I believe that God delights in seeing us make choices, especially decisions of our own to follow Christ. But to allow God’s self to be “surprised” by our choice to love, God also has to permit us to make those decisions outside of God’s control. And that means sometimes God will be “disappointed”, as well as surprised.
But I wonder if it’s even appropriate for me to tell you what I believe, because I’m afraid that I might influence you to believe the same thing, just because I said it. That’s really scary on many fronts. What if I’m wrong and I mislead you? That’s one reason it’s important for you to listen to people and decide for yourselves where you discern God’s truth. Otherwise, it’s not really YOUR faith at all, it’s mine, or whoever’s you decided to believe for the sake of believing the same thing as they did.
You must own your own faith. Contrary to St. Augustine’s point of view, I believe that I cannot beat my faith into you. You must come to know God on your own terms. Otherwise, I don’t even believe God will accept it, even if you were to say all the right words. Saying the right words for the wrong reasons isn’t love.
So, I hope by the time you have read this, that you are looking forward after Holy Week with a renewed zest to come to know and love God, for your own right reasons.
I feel led to share a secret with you. A little tradition I share with God. Sometime after the Good Friday service, I find a moment to go to the landing behind the sanctuary door by what used to be the men’s choir loft. On the wall above that landing is a painting. It depicts what I perceive is that same very moment, following the crucifixion. John is leading an exhausted and distraught Mary to her home. Three crosses are in the distance. The sky is menacing. It is a sad picture. But it captures the essence of that moment in time. From then until Sunday morning we live in darkness. Wondering why Christ had to die.
But as Tony Campolo says, it’s Friday, but Sunday’s a-comin. It’s Friday, but Sunday’s a-comin. It’s Friday, but Sunday….. Sunday’s a-comin.
Easter people – Sunday is here ! Praise God almighty, Jesus Christ is alive and the very Holy Spirit of the Creator of the Universe lives in you! So Love God! Love People!
Until next month, Happy Hiking, and God Bless,
- allen
As I write this it is Holy Week. Holy Week is so complex to me emotionally and spiritually. It’s a difficult week but it’s a wonderful week. Someone once expressed to me the question, “Couldn’t God have found a better way rather than to become human and die a sacrificial death for the creatures God created?”
Well, I believe God knows all, is all-powerful, and works for good. Since I believe that, I also accept that this is it. That this IS the best way God could have arranged things. So I believe that when God created us, God knew God would also have to die for us. Why would God create something God had to die for? It’s all about love. God desires to love and be loved back. But it’s not that simple either. God wants more than that. God wants to love and be loved back by creatures that love each other as well.
For the record, I don’t believe that God consciously controls every very detail. If God did, then love would not be a choice. I believe that God delights in seeing us make choices, especially decisions of our own to follow Christ. But to allow God’s self to be “surprised” by our choice to love, God also has to permit us to make those decisions outside of God’s control. And that means sometimes God will be “disappointed”, as well as surprised.
But I wonder if it’s even appropriate for me to tell you what I believe, because I’m afraid that I might influence you to believe the same thing, just because I said it. That’s really scary on many fronts. What if I’m wrong and I mislead you? That’s one reason it’s important for you to listen to people and decide for yourselves where you discern God’s truth. Otherwise, it’s not really YOUR faith at all, it’s mine, or whoever’s you decided to believe for the sake of believing the same thing as they did.
You must own your own faith. Contrary to St. Augustine’s point of view, I believe that I cannot beat my faith into you. You must come to know God on your own terms. Otherwise, I don’t even believe God will accept it, even if you were to say all the right words. Saying the right words for the wrong reasons isn’t love.
So, I hope by the time you have read this, that you are looking forward after Holy Week with a renewed zest to come to know and love God, for your own right reasons.
I feel led to share a secret with you. A little tradition I share with God. Sometime after the Good Friday service, I find a moment to go to the landing behind the sanctuary door by what used to be the men’s choir loft. On the wall above that landing is a painting. It depicts what I perceive is that same very moment, following the crucifixion. John is leading an exhausted and distraught Mary to her home. Three crosses are in the distance. The sky is menacing. It is a sad picture. But it captures the essence of that moment in time. From then until Sunday morning we live in darkness. Wondering why Christ had to die.
But as Tony Campolo says, it’s Friday, but Sunday’s a-comin. It’s Friday, but Sunday’s a-comin. It’s Friday, but Sunday….. Sunday’s a-comin.
Easter people – Sunday is here ! Praise God almighty, Jesus Christ is alive and the very Holy Spirit of the Creator of the Universe lives in you! So Love God! Love People!
Until next month, Happy Hiking, and God Bless,
- allen
Friday, April 1, 2011
Lent
There is just way too much going on in the world today. Egypt. Libya. Japan. Not to mention all of the things each of us has going on in our personal lives. Of course these vary according to our season of life but even those of us without places to report for work each day have our own burdens. The pace of life is for me at least, and perhaps for some of you, sometimes a bit overwhelming.
And Lent arrives. How do you fit Lent into this? How do you fit Jesus into this?
I don’t expect that many of you even have the time to read this blog entry, let alone fit a Lenten Bible Study or Daily Lenten Devotion into your life. This is sad. And I include myself right in there in my lament. I found something very helpful to me this Lenten season, a Lenten Devotional I could download to my smartphone or laptop. I put it on the youth website so you can download it. Just go to www.coatesvillemoca.org and click on the link to download the .pdf. But, even with this convenience, I find it difficult to keep up. Yesterday I confess, I read 4 devotions in one day to catch up.
Before long, Good Friday will arrive, whether I’m ready or not. Good Friday means a lot to me. I think it should mean a lot to every human. It’s such an ugly day to get through. It reminds me of my imperfection, but it also reminds me of how my imperfection is viewed through God’s very own self-sacrifice. I am perfected only when viewed through God’s gift of Christ. I am tempted to feel a tremendous debt to God, a debt I have no hope to repay. And neither does our world have any hope to repay for the tragic choices we make in the way we treat our fellow humans.
But - God does not desire repayment. Our life, our free will, and our perfection in Christ, are all freely given gifts from God our Creator. All we need to do is come to a place where we say, “God, I owe a huge debt. Thank You Jesus for paying it on my behalf. Holy Spirit, how can I do anything else with my life but love you back, by trying my best to live a life that puts a smile on your face? I know I will fail time and time again, but time and time again, You will cover my imperfection. Thank You Jesus. Amen.”
Happy Hiking and God Bless,
- allen
And Lent arrives. How do you fit Lent into this? How do you fit Jesus into this?
I don’t expect that many of you even have the time to read this blog entry, let alone fit a Lenten Bible Study or Daily Lenten Devotion into your life. This is sad. And I include myself right in there in my lament. I found something very helpful to me this Lenten season, a Lenten Devotional I could download to my smartphone or laptop. I put it on the youth website so you can download it. Just go to www.coatesvillemoca.org and click on the link to download the .pdf. But, even with this convenience, I find it difficult to keep up. Yesterday I confess, I read 4 devotions in one day to catch up.
Before long, Good Friday will arrive, whether I’m ready or not. Good Friday means a lot to me. I think it should mean a lot to every human. It’s such an ugly day to get through. It reminds me of my imperfection, but it also reminds me of how my imperfection is viewed through God’s very own self-sacrifice. I am perfected only when viewed through God’s gift of Christ. I am tempted to feel a tremendous debt to God, a debt I have no hope to repay. And neither does our world have any hope to repay for the tragic choices we make in the way we treat our fellow humans.
But - God does not desire repayment. Our life, our free will, and our perfection in Christ, are all freely given gifts from God our Creator. All we need to do is come to a place where we say, “God, I owe a huge debt. Thank You Jesus for paying it on my behalf. Holy Spirit, how can I do anything else with my life but love you back, by trying my best to live a life that puts a smile on your face? I know I will fail time and time again, but time and time again, You will cover my imperfection. Thank You Jesus. Amen.”
Happy Hiking and God Bless,
- allen
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
She's got a ticket to ride
I just started a course in “boundaries”. I am really excited about this course ever since I visited Children’s Hospital 5 years ago and the Chaplain there recommended the course to anyone who provides pastoral care in any form. He indicated the course gave him tools to be able to deal with the successes, but most especially the failures that are inevitably encountered in his vocation.
Here’s a case study related to boundaries, based on a real situation that just happened to me moments ago before I boarded the train on which I am now writing this blog entry. The specific case may not be familiar to you, but I suspect the nature of the case will indeed ring a bell. I’ll place the case in third person for you to place yourself in the scenario.
You are waiting for your train to arrive at the station on a winter night at 9:25pm, after a long day at work and an evening at school. You’ve had a good night in class because the professor is outstanding, the material you are learning is engaging, and you just barely covered enough of the required reading prior to class that you were able to follow the professor’s points in an effective way.
A distressed middle-aged woman comes up out of the pedestrian tunnel from the inbound tracks and asks you when the next train comes bound for Thorndale. You reply, “Your timing is great it is just 3 minutes away”, to which she responds, “I hope they let me on, my boyfriend’s truck is broke down and I don’t have any money. I’m not sure what to say to them.” Meanwhile you realize you have 15 tickets in your backpack that you bought ahead at $3.75 each. What do you do?
This is no longer a simple decision for me. Ever since I was a college student at Drexel back in 1970 I learned to simply say, “I’m sorry but I’m a college student” whenever someone asks for money. But she didn’t ask me for anything except information about the next train. I’ve also had people give me huge stories before that I choose to believe and I end up helping out. The course I’m taking is teaching me that healthy boundaries mean that saying “NO” is something you need to be able to do. If you don’t say “NO” to a person who always “has a story”, then you are enabling their behavior by helping them when perhaps they didn’t really need the help or wouldn’t need the help if they managed their life differently.
I might have asked her why she needed to get to Thorndale, so I could evaluate her situation. I didn’t ask. In my estimation her distress was real and it wasn’t just about the timing of the train. Am I going to grill her and cause more distress? That might be the right thing to do if she does this every night. I am at the train station a lot. I never saw this person before in my life so I don’t think her behavior is habitual.
I asked her if she does this often. She said “no”. I believed her, and handed her the ticket I had ready in my hand with the words, “use this”. She thanked me, and boarded the back car as I got on the front car with another ticket from my pack.
A mistake? Maybe. For me I think the criteria comes down to discerning on the spot whether the individual is in a situation that they really need help with, or is this normal behavior they use and their entire life is a sequence of scraping by from one handout to the next, never taking advantage of opportunities to live a better life. Is that rude? I’m not sure. I can’t help everyone, I have to have a boundary somewhere. For now, this is where I place it. If in my estimation you are dealing with a burden that is out of your control, I will try to help you. Galatians 6:2 and Galatians 6:5 form a dichotomy between sharing one another’s burdens but carrying one’s own load. My take on the text from our course interprets that to say that if it’s out of your control and it’s a hardship, then I am called as a Christian, and also as a Deacon who is called to a life of service, to share your burden. What do you think?
Until next month, Happy Hiking, and God Bless,
- allen
Here’s a case study related to boundaries, based on a real situation that just happened to me moments ago before I boarded the train on which I am now writing this blog entry. The specific case may not be familiar to you, but I suspect the nature of the case will indeed ring a bell. I’ll place the case in third person for you to place yourself in the scenario.
You are waiting for your train to arrive at the station on a winter night at 9:25pm, after a long day at work and an evening at school. You’ve had a good night in class because the professor is outstanding, the material you are learning is engaging, and you just barely covered enough of the required reading prior to class that you were able to follow the professor’s points in an effective way.
A distressed middle-aged woman comes up out of the pedestrian tunnel from the inbound tracks and asks you when the next train comes bound for Thorndale. You reply, “Your timing is great it is just 3 minutes away”, to which she responds, “I hope they let me on, my boyfriend’s truck is broke down and I don’t have any money. I’m not sure what to say to them.” Meanwhile you realize you have 15 tickets in your backpack that you bought ahead at $3.75 each. What do you do?
This is no longer a simple decision for me. Ever since I was a college student at Drexel back in 1970 I learned to simply say, “I’m sorry but I’m a college student” whenever someone asks for money. But she didn’t ask me for anything except information about the next train. I’ve also had people give me huge stories before that I choose to believe and I end up helping out. The course I’m taking is teaching me that healthy boundaries mean that saying “NO” is something you need to be able to do. If you don’t say “NO” to a person who always “has a story”, then you are enabling their behavior by helping them when perhaps they didn’t really need the help or wouldn’t need the help if they managed their life differently.
I might have asked her why she needed to get to Thorndale, so I could evaluate her situation. I didn’t ask. In my estimation her distress was real and it wasn’t just about the timing of the train. Am I going to grill her and cause more distress? That might be the right thing to do if she does this every night. I am at the train station a lot. I never saw this person before in my life so I don’t think her behavior is habitual.
I asked her if she does this often. She said “no”. I believed her, and handed her the ticket I had ready in my hand with the words, “use this”. She thanked me, and boarded the back car as I got on the front car with another ticket from my pack.
A mistake? Maybe. For me I think the criteria comes down to discerning on the spot whether the individual is in a situation that they really need help with, or is this normal behavior they use and their entire life is a sequence of scraping by from one handout to the next, never taking advantage of opportunities to live a better life. Is that rude? I’m not sure. I can’t help everyone, I have to have a boundary somewhere. For now, this is where I place it. If in my estimation you are dealing with a burden that is out of your control, I will try to help you. Galatians 6:2 and Galatians 6:5 form a dichotomy between sharing one another’s burdens but carrying one’s own load. My take on the text from our course interprets that to say that if it’s out of your control and it’s a hardship, then I am called as a Christian, and also as a Deacon who is called to a life of service, to share your burden. What do you think?
Until next month, Happy Hiking, and God Bless,
- allen
Saturday, January 1, 2011
NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION FOR 2011
I am pretty excited right now.
I probably share that with a lot of people as we anticipate celebrating the birth of God coming to live with us as a Human.
I know I also share another excitement with other college students. I am finished another semester! Thank you Jesus! 4.5 years down and only 3.5 years to go at my rate.
I’m also excited about my January term course, “The Holy Spirit and Christian Spirituality”. I wonder what changes that will bring in me. Usually the changes are not at all what I expect. That probably makes sense, since if I expected a particular change, it probably wouldn’t really be a change at all. I wonder if anyone remembers my “Transformer 101” sermon. We talked about change and how some of us like it, but most of us don’t. When I get right down to it, I think I look forward to change because I find it exciting, but at the same time I fear change too.
One of the authors on my personal reading list is Shane Claiborne. I’m actually a little scared to read his stuff. Because it might bring changes in me that I don’t think I’m ready for. I don’t want to pre-suppose what Claiborne’s work will do to me. But, I do suppose that is exactly what I’m doing when I fear reading him. I have heard just enough about “ordinary radicals”, which I believe Claiborne is one, to know that if I follow his suggestions, I may have to make some radical changes in my life that I feel uncomfortable with.
What scares me is that I believe Claiborne is probably right-on, and that not just Claiborne, but Jesus the God-Man whose birth we celebrate now, also calls me to the same changes. I believe I will discover that Claiborne will act as a prophet to me, and as such his work will challenge me in some major ways. Just as much and probably much more than my courses at seminary challenge me to become someone a little different for every course I take. At the same time, I hope that Claiborne can help me learn how to love and place God’s value on my neighbor, and that I can realize who my neighbors are. If I get what God and Jesus are telling me all over the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, I am told that my neighbors are everyone, but most especially the broken, the poor, the aliens among us, and the oppressed. I think Claiborne is going to teach me that I need to love my neighbor not just with my prayers and my money, but in the way that seems the hardest today, with my presence and my time. That scares me. I don’t have any time to give away, do I? I’m not rich. But I’d rather give my money than my time.
Then again, I don’t know that is the change I will be called to. I guess I need to start reading to find out. So on January 1, 2011, I will begin my New Year’s Resolution. I intend to open up Claiborne’s work, “The Book of Common Prayer: A Liturgy For Ordinary Radicals”, and begin to find out, how it might change me.
Who’s with me?
Happy Hiking and God Bless,
- allen
I probably share that with a lot of people as we anticipate celebrating the birth of God coming to live with us as a Human.
I know I also share another excitement with other college students. I am finished another semester! Thank you Jesus! 4.5 years down and only 3.5 years to go at my rate.
I’m also excited about my January term course, “The Holy Spirit and Christian Spirituality”. I wonder what changes that will bring in me. Usually the changes are not at all what I expect. That probably makes sense, since if I expected a particular change, it probably wouldn’t really be a change at all. I wonder if anyone remembers my “Transformer 101” sermon. We talked about change and how some of us like it, but most of us don’t. When I get right down to it, I think I look forward to change because I find it exciting, but at the same time I fear change too.
One of the authors on my personal reading list is Shane Claiborne. I’m actually a little scared to read his stuff. Because it might bring changes in me that I don’t think I’m ready for. I don’t want to pre-suppose what Claiborne’s work will do to me. But, I do suppose that is exactly what I’m doing when I fear reading him. I have heard just enough about “ordinary radicals”, which I believe Claiborne is one, to know that if I follow his suggestions, I may have to make some radical changes in my life that I feel uncomfortable with.
What scares me is that I believe Claiborne is probably right-on, and that not just Claiborne, but Jesus the God-Man whose birth we celebrate now, also calls me to the same changes. I believe I will discover that Claiborne will act as a prophet to me, and as such his work will challenge me in some major ways. Just as much and probably much more than my courses at seminary challenge me to become someone a little different for every course I take. At the same time, I hope that Claiborne can help me learn how to love and place God’s value on my neighbor, and that I can realize who my neighbors are. If I get what God and Jesus are telling me all over the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, I am told that my neighbors are everyone, but most especially the broken, the poor, the aliens among us, and the oppressed. I think Claiborne is going to teach me that I need to love my neighbor not just with my prayers and my money, but in the way that seems the hardest today, with my presence and my time. That scares me. I don’t have any time to give away, do I? I’m not rich. But I’d rather give my money than my time.
Then again, I don’t know that is the change I will be called to. I guess I need to start reading to find out. So on January 1, 2011, I will begin my New Year’s Resolution. I intend to open up Claiborne’s work, “The Book of Common Prayer: A Liturgy For Ordinary Radicals”, and begin to find out, how it might change me.
Who’s with me?
Happy Hiking and God Bless,
- allen
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
The Wilderness Map / Christmas Expectations
Hello!
The Olivet Youth Ministry team has a new monthly youth newsletter, “The Wilderness Map”. December 2010 is the first issue. The Wilderness Map is sent to Olivet Youth and Friends via US Mail. If you know someone who isn’t on our mailing list but should be, please contact our office manager Darlene McCormick, or any of us on the Youth Ministry Team.
Because The Wilderness Map is rich in graphic content, a special “Tidings-friendly” version, without the graphic content, is included in Tidings.
It is our hope that The Wilderness Map becomes the one-stop reference for information about all of the youth ministry programs. However, because any publication is out-of-date as soon as it is printed, we are also working to determine the best ways to communicate updates directly to youth and parents.
There will be a major update to the youth website, www.coatesvillemoca.org. There is also a FaceBook page, Coatesville MOCA (Mount Olivet Climbing Association). If you type MOCA in the FaceBook search window, you should find it quickly. Today we have 43 members. The FB page and the youth website eMail list are both used in tandem to distribute eMail / FB message updates of a timely nature.
For a few years we have been using and will continue to use short automated phone calls direct to youth and parents for ASP and Creation events. We are considering and have also begun to experiment with the use of concise text messages, direct to youth and parents for urgent updates.
Anyone on the distribution of any of these forms of communication will always have to ability to easily “opt-out” for whatever reason.
Hopefully, The Wilderness Map provides part of the solution for youth and parents to find their way through the pleura of youth activities going on.
Well, that has all been rather technical, hasn’t it?
It is almost the Christmas season. The anticipation is building. What are your expectations this Christmas? What do you value most and hope to get from this season? Would you like it to be different, or the same? I hope to spend some time considering the meaning of Jesus Christ in my life. What could be more important than God becoming one of us? God, being willing to come live with us in all the dirt, sweat, and blood of a human birth 2000 years ago? Christ became the God-Man, Jesus, for each and every one of us. Miracle of miracles. Hallelujah! A Messiah is born!
Happy Hiking and God Bless,
- allen
The Olivet Youth Ministry team has a new monthly youth newsletter, “The Wilderness Map”. December 2010 is the first issue. The Wilderness Map is sent to Olivet Youth and Friends via US Mail. If you know someone who isn’t on our mailing list but should be, please contact our office manager Darlene McCormick, or any of us on the Youth Ministry Team.
Because The Wilderness Map is rich in graphic content, a special “Tidings-friendly” version, without the graphic content, is included in Tidings.
It is our hope that The Wilderness Map becomes the one-stop reference for information about all of the youth ministry programs. However, because any publication is out-of-date as soon as it is printed, we are also working to determine the best ways to communicate updates directly to youth and parents.
There will be a major update to the youth website, www.coatesvillemoca.org. There is also a FaceBook page, Coatesville MOCA (Mount Olivet Climbing Association). If you type MOCA in the FaceBook search window, you should find it quickly. Today we have 43 members. The FB page and the youth website eMail list are both used in tandem to distribute eMail / FB message updates of a timely nature.
For a few years we have been using and will continue to use short automated phone calls direct to youth and parents for ASP and Creation events. We are considering and have also begun to experiment with the use of concise text messages, direct to youth and parents for urgent updates.
Anyone on the distribution of any of these forms of communication will always have to ability to easily “opt-out” for whatever reason.
Hopefully, The Wilderness Map provides part of the solution for youth and parents to find their way through the pleura of youth activities going on.
Well, that has all been rather technical, hasn’t it?
It is almost the Christmas season. The anticipation is building. What are your expectations this Christmas? What do you value most and hope to get from this season? Would you like it to be different, or the same? I hope to spend some time considering the meaning of Jesus Christ in my life. What could be more important than God becoming one of us? God, being willing to come live with us in all the dirt, sweat, and blood of a human birth 2000 years ago? Christ became the God-Man, Jesus, for each and every one of us. Miracle of miracles. Hallelujah! A Messiah is born!
Happy Hiking and God Bless,
- allen
Monday, November 1, 2010
TRANSFORMER12-2 : The Colors Tour
In my last blog entry, I talked about how the Transformer 12-2 concert came about. Now I owe you a report of how it went. In a nutshell, it was wonderful, just an all-around wonderful experience!
The name of the concert is based on Romans 12:2, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds".
Leading up to concert day, our youth were thrilled to have a concert at Olivet, and helped tremendously with the publicity. One of our students got approval to put up posters at CASH. When I visited CASH for “See You At The Pole”, I was told by one of my students, “The posters are up all over the school, everyone is talking about the concert!”.
Finally, on September 26, Olivet Church became the venue for the final stop of “The Color’s Tour” and hosted our first Contemporary Chirstian Music (CCM) Concert. CCM concert is “Christian-speak”, for rock concert. The bands, Leo, and Shine Bright Baby, gave an awesome high-quality performance and were absolutely the nicest group of outstanding young musicians you could possibly ever want to meet. Our adults and youth also did an outstanding job “working the concert” by selling tickets, taking tickets, selling merchandise, cooking and selling hot dogs and beverages, serving food, working with the bands and the sound engineer to load equipment in and out, move and store furniture, work the lights and DVD player, provide wireless internet service and a green room for the bands, and provide security personnel to keep the high-school group of about 70 youth, from wandering into back-stage or office areas of the church. The bands raved about Harvey’s home-cooked meals for lunch and dinner.
In addition to band merchandise tables, Good Works, TWLOHA, and Compassion International had tables setup in the Garden room. Compassion even provided a speaker for intermission, with a video to show. I briefly talked about TWLOHA and we also presented a dynamic Rob Bell video during intermission. TWLOHA, (To Write Love On Her Arms) is an organization that works to help people in self-abusive habits of many forms.
There were not enough attendees to quite cover all the expenses but Olivet church was financially isolated with the exception of providing the venue, heat, and electricity.
We only had 70 youth show up, but, WOW, WE HAD 70 youth show up! We didn’t cover expenses but after the first song and I saw all the kids get up in front of the band doing “their concert thing”, I knew that my primary message was getting across, “You can be a Christian and you can still listen to rock music and have fun!”
The bands were wonderful to work with and expressed that they were doing what they do, for Jesus. I love when bands express that from the stage! My favorite quote of the night was from our senior pastor, when the fog machine set the fire alarm off. Someone was running to answer the call from the fire department, and Joe said, “Tell ‘em the youth set the church on FIRE!” Yes, I think, with the help of the Holy Spirit, they did!
Happy Hiking and God Bless,
- allen
The name of the concert is based on Romans 12:2, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds".
Leading up to concert day, our youth were thrilled to have a concert at Olivet, and helped tremendously with the publicity. One of our students got approval to put up posters at CASH. When I visited CASH for “See You At The Pole”, I was told by one of my students, “The posters are up all over the school, everyone is talking about the concert!”.
Finally, on September 26, Olivet Church became the venue for the final stop of “The Color’s Tour” and hosted our first Contemporary Chirstian Music (CCM) Concert. CCM concert is “Christian-speak”, for rock concert. The bands, Leo, and Shine Bright Baby, gave an awesome high-quality performance and were absolutely the nicest group of outstanding young musicians you could possibly ever want to meet. Our adults and youth also did an outstanding job “working the concert” by selling tickets, taking tickets, selling merchandise, cooking and selling hot dogs and beverages, serving food, working with the bands and the sound engineer to load equipment in and out, move and store furniture, work the lights and DVD player, provide wireless internet service and a green room for the bands, and provide security personnel to keep the high-school group of about 70 youth, from wandering into back-stage or office areas of the church. The bands raved about Harvey’s home-cooked meals for lunch and dinner.
In addition to band merchandise tables, Good Works, TWLOHA, and Compassion International had tables setup in the Garden room. Compassion even provided a speaker for intermission, with a video to show. I briefly talked about TWLOHA and we also presented a dynamic Rob Bell video during intermission. TWLOHA, (To Write Love On Her Arms) is an organization that works to help people in self-abusive habits of many forms.
There were not enough attendees to quite cover all the expenses but Olivet church was financially isolated with the exception of providing the venue, heat, and electricity.
We only had 70 youth show up, but, WOW, WE HAD 70 youth show up! We didn’t cover expenses but after the first song and I saw all the kids get up in front of the band doing “their concert thing”, I knew that my primary message was getting across, “You can be a Christian and you can still listen to rock music and have fun!”
The bands were wonderful to work with and expressed that they were doing what they do, for Jesus. I love when bands express that from the stage! My favorite quote of the night was from our senior pastor, when the fog machine set the fire alarm off. Someone was running to answer the call from the fire department, and Joe said, “Tell ‘em the youth set the church on FIRE!” Yes, I think, with the help of the Holy Spirit, they did!
Happy Hiking and God Bless,
- allen
Friday, October 1, 2010
A Train Ride and a Concert
It’s 10:20 pm and I’m sitting on a train just out of 30th Street Station, on my way back to my family shore vacation after an afternoon and evening class at seminary. Tidings input is due tomorrow morning. I’ll walk into our rented apartment in Ocean City, NJ after everyone is asleep, a few minutes after midnight.
There are lots of things I could blog about. I could complain about the life of a half-time seminarian, full-time engineer, and round-the-clock father, grandfather, and husband. But then, I signed up for all of that. So I have no right to complain, after all, most of the time, I love it all. At least, I can definitely say I love seminary after I finish each semester. You might say that’s like saying it feels good to stop hitting yourself too. But, as I’ve told many of you many times, I can truly look back on each semester and be thankful for the changes I see in myself from every seminary course I’ve taken. Changes that I have a responsibility to take into the ministry God calls me to. It is my privilege and joy to do that.
Now, some courses I am excited to take, and some courses God drags me in kicking and screaming. “Theological Field Education”, known to most of you as “internship”, is close to the latter. The course only earns 1 credit per semester even though it requires 10-12 hours of work at my assigned church. I choose to apply for a “home-church waiver”, so I could do my internship at Olivet. My assumption was that I could do what I do now, most of the time over 10 hours most weeks already, and all I have to do is show up for the weekly class and mentor meetings.
Not so fast. I received a reminder letter stating that I am expected to do something new with my internship time. This isn’t what I’d planned. I can’t spend another 10 hours a week. I don’t have another 10 hours a week in addition to what I’m already doing.
But God had something in mind.
Not long before I received the reminder letter, I was working on the Main Stage Crew at the Purple Door Arts and Music Festival. I’ve been doing that every year since about 2001. In a conversation with one of the bands they suggested they come to my church for a concert. This is not the first time that has happened either, and it’s not the first time I brushed it off, this time saying, “you guys are too big for us”.
It was a week later that the letter came, and I began to realize that God may have created this opportunity for a reason, to take advantage of the opportunity to do something new in my ministry. So, I have literally now become a rock concert promoter/producer.
By the time you read this blog entry in tidings, the concert, on Sunday, September 26, will probably be over. You will probably know what went wrong and what went right.
Conversely, I’ll get off the train tonight without much of a clue of exactly what God has in mind for this concert. Will anyone show up besides a few faithful curious church members or will our sanctuary be filled to capacity at 500 attendees?
I pray God will be glorified and that people are drawn closer to Christ through this concert. I pray some of our church members are blessed to be a blessing in providing hospitality to the band members. I pray someone who attends learns something new about what it is to be a Christian. I pray someone walks away with the realization that Christians are real people, some of who enjoy good rock music with good lyrics. I pray they develop a seeking personality because they’ve realized maybe some of the other generalizations they may have come to believe about Christians may not be true either. I pray that God’s love shines through the bands Shine Bright Baby and Leo on September 26.
And for my immediate future, I just hope someone remembered to leave the side-door of the shore rental unlocked because there wasn’t a spare set of keys to take with me tonight and everyone else will be asleep when I arrive!
Happy Hiking and God Bless,
- allen
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
It has been a great ASP summer.
It has been a great ASP summer. I thought I'd share some of it.
As well as the youth trip during ASP week-5, July 10-17, Jay Widmayer made a special trip during week-8, August 1-7, especially due to a special need that ASP encountered mid-summer this year, namely, "Bobby".
Here is a compilation of Jay’s Widmayer’s Texts, and final STATUS from ASP staffers Jill Thrasher Hauserman and Kat Reach, after Jay’s ASP2010 week-8 excursion –
Following that is a Final Summer’s County Update message from ASP Staffer Kevin Lynch –
Happy Hiking, and God Bless,
- allen
JAY’S TEXTS –
RT JW@1230sun- “I have safely arrived in Hinton wv” – Reply with “YES” to get on distribution for Jay’s texts
RT JW@550pmMon: Hey Allen great first day go to meet little Robbie and chuck today awesome people just wanted to put out a prayer request for chucks wife Stacey she in the hospital and having trouble regulating her EKG numbers and keeping her until that happens
RT JW@701pmTUE- So kat’s dad put the oil line thru Coatesville and down business 30, 2 ny volunteers have ties to the area one from Boyertown the other grew up in wc and met 4 sisters at dq one living in Hershey and the other near Chester weird coincidence
RT JW@839WED: I’m with a first time church-by helping them out and bouncing around finishing up small stuff for the staff, Bobbys house has 3 teams working on it, the goal is get the addition Bobby start weather tite anymore that gets done is a bonus and it looks like it should be that way by tomo
RT JW@818wed: It’s hot down here but had a big thunderstorm come thru tonite should cool things off and it’s a bit odd walking around the center and not have any olivet people running around but it’s going well
RT JW@1001wed: Yea they’re great(team jay is helping) and yes I’ve been out there making a lot of their deliveries(staff’s) so I’m not on the job I’d like to be but I know I’m where god wants me to be
RT JW@943PmThurs: 3/4 rain tight and I’ll probly work late tomo & then leave sat morning-(see allens fb 4 pic jay took-robert@asp picnic2dy)
RT JW@832AMsat: Just passed James Madison univ
RT JW@1005AmSat: Made it back to Pennsylvania
RT JW@1015AmSat: I’ve been thinking about that past week, it feels like I’ve only been driving for 30 mins
RT JW@1242pmSat: Asp 2010 excursion has come an end, I’m home --- Thank You Jay for your service & your reports- welcome home & God Bless!
JILL THRASHER HAUSERMAN FB STATUS ABOUT 7:57PM SUN: today, i watched bobby use running water for the first time! thanks to all who donated to make this possible!
KAT REACH FB STATUS ABOUT 9:55PM SUN: was with a man when he watched water run from his faucet for the first time. Thanks to all who gave him that opportunity.
ASP Staffer Kevin Lynch –
----- Forwarded Message -----
From: "Summers County West Virginia"
Sent: Sunday, August 8, 2010 10:43:28 AM
Subject: Final Summes County Update!
Hello Everyone!
I hope you are all having a fantastic summer! I wanted to send you all one final update from Summers County: As of right now, we have finished all of our homes! We have been so blessed by the hard work that you gave to our families each week, and consequently we have been able to complete more on each of our projects than we had anticipated. And thanks to your generous donations, we have been able to get Bobby and his brother David running water and a septic system! The gifts you have given to all of our families mean the world to us, and we are so grateful we were able to serve alongside you all this summer. We hope that we will get to see you all again sometime, and we pray that you will be a blessing to your community just as you were to Summers.
Pictures of our county and work sites have been posted and will continue to be posted on our website: www.BuildANew You.org. Click on the Login button on the top right of the homepage, and you will be able to create an ASP profile, then join the Summers, WV group to see all our photos and updates!
Again, I wanted to thank you all for the amazing work you did while here in Summers. You were a blessing to the staff and a blessing to the families, and we sincerely hope that you will return next year to continue sharing your gifts with the deserving families of Appalachia.
God Bless,
Kevin Lynch
Summers County
As well as the youth trip during ASP week-5, July 10-17, Jay Widmayer made a special trip during week-8, August 1-7, especially due to a special need that ASP encountered mid-summer this year, namely, "Bobby".
Here is a compilation of Jay’s Widmayer’s Texts, and final STATUS from ASP staffers Jill Thrasher Hauserman and Kat Reach, after Jay’s ASP2010 week-8 excursion –
Following that is a Final Summer’s County Update message from ASP Staffer Kevin Lynch –
Happy Hiking, and God Bless,
- allen
JAY’S TEXTS –
RT JW@1230sun- “I have safely arrived in Hinton wv” – Reply with “YES” to get on distribution for Jay’s texts
RT JW@550pmMon: Hey Allen great first day go to meet little Robbie and chuck today awesome people just wanted to put out a prayer request for chucks wife Stacey she in the hospital and having trouble regulating her EKG numbers and keeping her until that happens
RT JW@701pmTUE- So kat’s dad put the oil line thru Coatesville and down business 30, 2 ny volunteers have ties to the area one from Boyertown the other grew up in wc and met 4 sisters at dq one living in Hershey and the other near Chester weird coincidence
RT JW@839WED: I’m with a first time church-by helping them out and bouncing around finishing up small stuff for the staff, Bobbys house has 3 teams working on it, the goal is get the addition Bobby start weather tite anymore that gets done is a bonus and it looks like it should be that way by tomo
RT JW@818wed: It’s hot down here but had a big thunderstorm come thru tonite should cool things off and it’s a bit odd walking around the center and not have any olivet people running around but it’s going well
RT JW@1001wed: Yea they’re great(team jay is helping) and yes I’ve been out there making a lot of their deliveries(staff’s) so I’m not on the job I’d like to be but I know I’m where god wants me to be
RT JW@943PmThurs: 3/4 rain tight and I’ll probly work late tomo & then leave sat morning-(see allens fb 4 pic jay took-robert@asp picnic2dy)
RT JW@832AMsat: Just passed James Madison univ
RT JW@1005AmSat: Made it back to Pennsylvania
RT JW@1015AmSat: I’ve been thinking about that past week, it feels like I’ve only been driving for 30 mins
RT JW@1242pmSat: Asp 2010 excursion has come an end, I’m home --- Thank You Jay for your service & your reports- welcome home & God Bless!
JILL THRASHER HAUSERMAN FB STATUS ABOUT 7:57PM SUN: today, i watched bobby use running water for the first time! thanks to all who donated to make this possible!
KAT REACH FB STATUS ABOUT 9:55PM SUN: was with a man when he watched water run from his faucet for the first time. Thanks to all who gave him that opportunity.
ASP Staffer Kevin Lynch –
----- Forwarded Message -----
From: "Summers County West Virginia"
Sent: Sunday, August 8, 2010 10:43:28 AM
Subject: Final Summes County Update!
Hello Everyone!
I hope you are all having a fantastic summer! I wanted to send you all one final update from Summers County: As of right now, we have finished all of our homes! We have been so blessed by the hard work that you gave to our families each week, and consequently we have been able to complete more on each of our projects than we had anticipated. And thanks to your generous donations, we have been able to get Bobby and his brother David running water and a septic system! The gifts you have given to all of our families mean the world to us, and we are so grateful we were able to serve alongside you all this summer. We hope that we will get to see you all again sometime, and we pray that you will be a blessing to your community just as you were to Summers.
Pictures of our county and work sites have been posted and will continue to be posted on our website: www.BuildANew You.org. Click on the Login button on the top right of the homepage, and you will be able to create an ASP profile, then join the Summers, WV group to see all our photos and updates!
Again, I wanted to thank you all for the amazing work you did while here in Summers. You were a blessing to the staff and a blessing to the families, and we sincerely hope that you will return next year to continue sharing your gifts with the deserving families of Appalachia.
God Bless,
Kevin Lynch
Summers County
Thursday, July 1, 2010
On The Threshold of a Dream ...
In the Beginning (Graeme Edge) -
I think...
I think I am.
Therefore I am!
I think...
Lovely to see you again my friend (Justin Hayward) -
Now that you're here, you're going to stay, cause it's...
Lovely to see you again my friend
Walk along with me to the next bend
Turn up the volume!
I once heard a great preacher (H. Joe Tyson) express that the Christian life is an endless series of three major movements: Reflection, Vision, Action … Reflection, Vision, Action … Reflection, Vision, Action. Of course every individual is very complex, and this sequence, or thread, can be operating in different phases in many various aspects of our lives all at once. I’m pretty sure each of us has hundreds of these threads running simultaneously.
Sometimes several of these strands line up together when a significant event occurs such as a wedding or a graduation. Such “rite of passage” events are markers in our lives. Life on either side of the marker is very different. It’s as if the life you lead coming up to the marker has a little death, but leads to new horizons spreading before you as you embark on the new life just on the other side of the marker.
Spiritual events can be markers too. Accepting Christ as our Lord and Savior is an obvious one. As we lead our Christian lives there may be other times when we sense the presence of God in special ways such that we are no longer the same. An experience at summer camp, ASP, the Creation Festival, a retreat, an Emmaus Walk or Chrysallis experience, a seminar, a word said during a sermon, an inspirational reading, or perhaps God speaks to us in a way we’ve never noticed before through God’s word.
The first set of markers are somewhat predictable. Graduation, a wedding, your first full time job, have fixed dates we know when they are coming. Conversely, significant spiritual events are not predictable. Who can know when a person will respond to the urging of the Holy Spirit?
As this summer begins, we have a lot of graduations and weddings to celebrate! Hallelujah! These major rites of passage provide natural times for reflection and vision, as we anticipate and prepare for our next actions to follow.
I am very excited about the graduates and newlyweds that I know and I’m sure they are enjoying wonderful, and sometimes appropriately teary, times of reflection. I am also very excited for the spiritual rites of passage that we cannot see but I believe will be happening in the lives of many of our youth as they spend time at summer activities where I know the Holy Spirit will be hard at work in their lives.
In my ministerial life, the beginning of summer is a very exciting time for me to be reflecting on the lives of our youth, allowing the Holy Spirit to direct my vision as I prepare for the very active spiritual events of the Creation festival and ASP. On a different “thread”, I also must be appropriately open to the work of the Holy Spirit in my own life. As I move into the action season I can all too easily fall into the mindset of a busy, consumed, work-a-holic, and I could completely miss the “movement of the spirit”.
I pray God invites every one of us to appropriately slow down our minds, to allow a space for the Holy Spirit to take residence, to grow, and to transform our minds.
So graduates, newlyweds, church camp lovers, Creation enthusiasts, ASP team, lovers of the Holy Spirit, may we ALL reflect, and dream, as we prepare for action. But let us dream big dreams, colossal dreams, appropriate for our awesome God to fill. Let it be with you as Luke puts it in God’s words in Acts 2:17, “I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.”
I am a product of the Hard Rock Music Generation of the 60’s. Please excuse the slightly new age sound of these lyrics. I read them as a Christian and I read what I want to read. To the pure, all things are pure. Intended or not, I see God in these lyrics. So, as the Moody Blues put it in April 1969, I think we are at every moment, but most especially at the beginning of this summer, “On The Threshold of a Dream” …
What dream is at YOUR feet? Reflect, Vision, and then take Action! Put your foot “On The Threshold of a Dream” …
The Dream (Graeme Edge) -
Just as new life will come from death
Love will come at leisure
Love of love, love of life
And giving without measure
Gives in return a wondrous yearn
Of a promise almost seen
Live hand-in-hand
And together we'll stand
On the threshold of a dream....
Happy Hiking and God Bless,
- allen
I think...
I think I am.
Therefore I am!
I think...
Lovely to see you again my friend (Justin Hayward) -
Now that you're here, you're going to stay, cause it's...
Lovely to see you again my friend
Walk along with me to the next bend
Turn up the volume!
I once heard a great preacher (H. Joe Tyson) express that the Christian life is an endless series of three major movements: Reflection, Vision, Action … Reflection, Vision, Action … Reflection, Vision, Action. Of course every individual is very complex, and this sequence, or thread, can be operating in different phases in many various aspects of our lives all at once. I’m pretty sure each of us has hundreds of these threads running simultaneously.
Sometimes several of these strands line up together when a significant event occurs such as a wedding or a graduation. Such “rite of passage” events are markers in our lives. Life on either side of the marker is very different. It’s as if the life you lead coming up to the marker has a little death, but leads to new horizons spreading before you as you embark on the new life just on the other side of the marker.
Spiritual events can be markers too. Accepting Christ as our Lord and Savior is an obvious one. As we lead our Christian lives there may be other times when we sense the presence of God in special ways such that we are no longer the same. An experience at summer camp, ASP, the Creation Festival, a retreat, an Emmaus Walk or Chrysallis experience, a seminar, a word said during a sermon, an inspirational reading, or perhaps God speaks to us in a way we’ve never noticed before through God’s word.
The first set of markers are somewhat predictable. Graduation, a wedding, your first full time job, have fixed dates we know when they are coming. Conversely, significant spiritual events are not predictable. Who can know when a person will respond to the urging of the Holy Spirit?
As this summer begins, we have a lot of graduations and weddings to celebrate! Hallelujah! These major rites of passage provide natural times for reflection and vision, as we anticipate and prepare for our next actions to follow.
I am very excited about the graduates and newlyweds that I know and I’m sure they are enjoying wonderful, and sometimes appropriately teary, times of reflection. I am also very excited for the spiritual rites of passage that we cannot see but I believe will be happening in the lives of many of our youth as they spend time at summer activities where I know the Holy Spirit will be hard at work in their lives.
In my ministerial life, the beginning of summer is a very exciting time for me to be reflecting on the lives of our youth, allowing the Holy Spirit to direct my vision as I prepare for the very active spiritual events of the Creation festival and ASP. On a different “thread”, I also must be appropriately open to the work of the Holy Spirit in my own life. As I move into the action season I can all too easily fall into the mindset of a busy, consumed, work-a-holic, and I could completely miss the “movement of the spirit”.
I pray God invites every one of us to appropriately slow down our minds, to allow a space for the Holy Spirit to take residence, to grow, and to transform our minds.
So graduates, newlyweds, church camp lovers, Creation enthusiasts, ASP team, lovers of the Holy Spirit, may we ALL reflect, and dream, as we prepare for action. But let us dream big dreams, colossal dreams, appropriate for our awesome God to fill. Let it be with you as Luke puts it in God’s words in Acts 2:17, “I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.”
I am a product of the Hard Rock Music Generation of the 60’s. Please excuse the slightly new age sound of these lyrics. I read them as a Christian and I read what I want to read. To the pure, all things are pure. Intended or not, I see God in these lyrics. So, as the Moody Blues put it in April 1969, I think we are at every moment, but most especially at the beginning of this summer, “On The Threshold of a Dream” …
What dream is at YOUR feet? Reflect, Vision, and then take Action! Put your foot “On The Threshold of a Dream” …
The Dream (Graeme Edge) -
Just as new life will come from death
Love will come at leisure
Love of love, love of life
And giving without measure
Gives in return a wondrous yearn
Of a promise almost seen
Live hand-in-hand
And together we'll stand
On the threshold of a dream....
Happy Hiking and God Bless,
- allen
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
ASP Olympics Report
The Olivet ASP Olympics were held on the afternoon of May 16, 2010.
A MAJOR THANK YOU to everyone who was there and to those who support our ASP team. It was a great day!
I love God’s coincidences. Unbeknownst to me until I heard it on KYW that morning, it was 20 years to the day after the passing of Jim Henson, the man behind the Muppets. I believe it was actually the day after he passed, May 17, 1990, I was at my daughter’s elementary school, waiting to be the starter for the 75yd dash at their Field Day event. One of those “you-know-where-you-were-when” events.
Back on that day in 1990, I stood in the Rainbow Elementary School gym while they played their school theme song over the PA system, “The Rainbow Connection”, by Kermit the Frog, in tribute. All of this came together, in my head at least, in the midst of a gorgeous day for our first ASP Olympics, at the moment when Libby Snyder pointed out a beautiful rainbow in the sky, on a sunny day. I can’t say I’ve ever seen such a thing before. A rainbow, with no rain. Go figure!
Here are the official standings for our two major events -
Official Standings: Quarter-Mile
Gold - Wayland Washington (finishing at 1:30, a 6:00/mile pace)
Silver – Beau Wilson (only a few seconds behind)
Bronze - Josh Kuhn
Runner-up – Danny Kuhn
The gold metalist will receive a $15 iTunes card. The Quarter-Mile Race consisted of 4 quarter-mile heats, followed by a quarter-mile final.
Official Standings: Obstacle Relay
Gold - Team Turtle 11:21
Silver - Team Beau 11:23
Bronze - Team Hannah 11:29
Runner-up - Team Short 11:37
Racing Order:
Team Hannah 11:29
Team Short 11:37
Team Turtle 11:21
Team Beau 11:23
The obstacle race consisted of a joist walk, wheelbarrow-walk, under-the-house crawl, board-walk, ladder-climb-for-a-nail, saw-a-board, nail-a-board, level-a-board, run-like-the-wind, relay race.
Team Turtle was Josh Kuhn, Wayland Washington, Laura Selin, Georgie Snyder, and Brandon Moore.
- they were so proud standing on the podium it looked like a statue of Iwo Jima!
Team Beau was Stephen Kuhn, Ashley Moore, Anna Kuhn, Beau Wilson, and Bryan Esworthy.
Team Hannah was Hannah Reczek, Taylor Wilson, Megan Sandoe, Abby Sauer, and Libby Snyder.
Team Short was Danny Kuhn, Christine Moore, Millie Dorminy, Zachary Patterson and Josh Wagner.
Becca Tritt, sidelined with a ski injury, served as judge for the level-a-board obstacle. Thanks Becca!
Mindy Esworthy, budding professional photographer, served as our photographer. Thanks Mindy!
I apologize for trashing any names with misspellings!
Other events included Frisbee, eating Hot Dogs, Bananas, Pink Lemonade, Water, cheering Spectators, Sunning, Walking, and Spotting. Thanks to all the group leader adults who participated and to our spectators!
As the Olympic Theme played at the beginning of our “games”, Hannah Reczek proudly carried the Olympic torch (a battery operated candle). The torch for us symbolizes the presence of the Holy Spirit living amongst and in us, drawing us to Christ, and drawing us into Christian community.
I believe God has instilled every person with a yearning to know something that is beyond ourselves. As the song goes, “Someday we'll find it, that Rainbow Connection, the lovers, the dreamers and me”. I think if you’re one of those whose already found the Rainbow Connection, then you have already recognized the life-giving breath of God - The Holy Spirit of God Almighty the Creator of the Universe, living within you - breathe deeply!
Happy Hiking, and God Bless,
- allen
A MAJOR THANK YOU to everyone who was there and to those who support our ASP team. It was a great day!
I love God’s coincidences. Unbeknownst to me until I heard it on KYW that morning, it was 20 years to the day after the passing of Jim Henson, the man behind the Muppets. I believe it was actually the day after he passed, May 17, 1990, I was at my daughter’s elementary school, waiting to be the starter for the 75yd dash at their Field Day event. One of those “you-know-where-you-were-when” events.
Back on that day in 1990, I stood in the Rainbow Elementary School gym while they played their school theme song over the PA system, “The Rainbow Connection”, by Kermit the Frog, in tribute. All of this came together, in my head at least, in the midst of a gorgeous day for our first ASP Olympics, at the moment when Libby Snyder pointed out a beautiful rainbow in the sky, on a sunny day. I can’t say I’ve ever seen such a thing before. A rainbow, with no rain. Go figure!
Here are the official standings for our two major events -
Official Standings: Quarter-Mile
Gold - Wayland Washington (finishing at 1:30, a 6:00/mile pace)
Silver – Beau Wilson (only a few seconds behind)
Bronze - Josh Kuhn
Runner-up – Danny Kuhn
The gold metalist will receive a $15 iTunes card. The Quarter-Mile Race consisted of 4 quarter-mile heats, followed by a quarter-mile final.
Official Standings: Obstacle Relay
Gold - Team Turtle 11:21
Silver - Team Beau 11:23
Bronze - Team Hannah 11:29
Runner-up - Team Short 11:37
Racing Order:
Team Hannah 11:29
Team Short 11:37
Team Turtle 11:21
Team Beau 11:23
The obstacle race consisted of a joist walk, wheelbarrow-walk, under-the-house crawl, board-walk, ladder-climb-for-a-nail, saw-a-board, nail-a-board, level-a-board, run-like-the-wind, relay race.
Team Turtle was Josh Kuhn, Wayland Washington, Laura Selin, Georgie Snyder, and Brandon Moore.
- they were so proud standing on the podium it looked like a statue of Iwo Jima!
Team Beau was Stephen Kuhn, Ashley Moore, Anna Kuhn, Beau Wilson, and Bryan Esworthy.
Team Hannah was Hannah Reczek, Taylor Wilson, Megan Sandoe, Abby Sauer, and Libby Snyder.
Team Short was Danny Kuhn, Christine Moore, Millie Dorminy, Zachary Patterson and Josh Wagner.
Becca Tritt, sidelined with a ski injury, served as judge for the level-a-board obstacle. Thanks Becca!
Mindy Esworthy, budding professional photographer, served as our photographer. Thanks Mindy!
I apologize for trashing any names with misspellings!
Other events included Frisbee, eating Hot Dogs, Bananas, Pink Lemonade, Water, cheering Spectators, Sunning, Walking, and Spotting. Thanks to all the group leader adults who participated and to our spectators!
As the Olympic Theme played at the beginning of our “games”, Hannah Reczek proudly carried the Olympic torch (a battery operated candle). The torch for us symbolizes the presence of the Holy Spirit living amongst and in us, drawing us to Christ, and drawing us into Christian community.
I believe God has instilled every person with a yearning to know something that is beyond ourselves. As the song goes, “Someday we'll find it, that Rainbow Connection, the lovers, the dreamers and me”. I think if you’re one of those whose already found the Rainbow Connection, then you have already recognized the life-giving breath of God - The Holy Spirit of God Almighty the Creator of the Universe, living within you - breathe deeply!
Happy Hiking, and God Bless,
- allen
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Earth Day #1 – 1970 – and other ramblings about a 17 year old kid (me) .…
I better start off saying that if you expect some great theological insights here or a great reflection on “Earth Day”, then you better find another article to read. But, you might find this mildly entertaining, and it does have a point of practicality.
Earth Day #1 was in 1970, 40 years ago. I was 17. Sure, do the math. I’m 57 now. It’s all-good. :-)
That first Earth Day in Lower Bucks County, PA was celebrated by a 26 mile walk.
I was a Senior at Neshaminy High School and I had been accepted at Drexel University. I loved High School. I was in concert choir. We did tons of concerts every year in and out of the school. When I was a Junior we went to Florida to sing at the DeSoto Celebration. That was awesome, except for our train crash on the way down. I was in lots of school plays. Each year I was in the school musical, a drama, and the musical we would do in summer stock. I never had anything close to a lead role, only a few speaking parts here and there, and “chorus”. A part in the chorus was what everyone got who tried out and didn’t get a real part. Kindof like the “participation” ribbons everyone gets today. It was still fun taking part, dressing up, and on show nights some girls would put makeup on you. Always enjoyed that part.
I was a volunteer fireman, so I had equipped my dad’s Dodge Polara with a CB, a PA, my fire radio receiver, and blue emergency lights. I kept my “dress uniform” fire hat on the dash. The girls thought I was pretty cool. Well, I guess actually, I thought I was pretty cool. Not sure about anyone else. I had not yet met my wife. I did not even go to my High School Prom. Still, an inflated ego. Somehow, I lived through it.
So, being the fine volunteer, civic minded young man I was, I volunteered to help out at the Walk. In case you missed it, that’s an exaggeration. I was no different from most of any other high school guy – I just wanted to have fun – especially anything with a car.
So at Earth Day #1, I was a go-fer. I visited various aid stations along the route through the day, bussing some of the organizers around. Honestly, the day itself didn’t really mean much to me. Of course I thought it was a good thing. But, I certainly wasn’t passionate about saving the Earth. I was too interested in cars, girls, electronics, and fighting fires. Not much intentionality in my life. Somehow, I lived through it.
One of the kids at my school ran the whole 26 miles, literally a marathon distance. I thought he was nuts.
Somewhere along the way I pulled up behind a guy (a real adult) on a ramp to route #1 South. His brake light was out. So, I just thought I’d be a nice guy and let him know, while we were waiting to get onto route #1, so I got on my PA and told him his taillight was out. So he opens the door and walked back toward my car! I had no idea what was going to happen. He walks up and starts apologizing to me for not getting it fixed yet. I regained my composure, straigtened up a bit, told him it was ok, but he should get it fixed as soon as he could. This man was probably 20 years older than me. I was a kid in my dad’s car. I had no authority. I guess the fireman’s hat (which was actually, yes, on my head at the time) made him think I was some kind of authority. Well, I never did that again. Not sayin’ I didn’t have other fun with my PA though. Youthful craziness. Somehow, I lived through it.
Years later, I did find out my wife was one of the participants in the walk! Also found out years later, she also lived next-door to the church I went to as a kid. Right next-door! We figured out we were probably both at VBS together at least once or twice, as little kids. Feasterville Baptist. A few years ago when my in-laws were moving out I had the chance to spend some time in the old sanctuary there. The pews weren’t there. The church was changing hands and being completely renovated. So I had to imagine where I was sitting when I responded to an altar call the “first” time, when I was about 7.
Gotta say, it was kinda cool to be there in that room again after all that time. I felt like I was looking back at myself 50 years ago. I’m glad my Aunt suggested to my mom that I go to that church with her and my cousins.
So today, of course I do care about the Earth. It’s God’s Creation. I care immensely about my faith and I value the place and day it began, and all the Saints who tried to guide me along the way. My old Sunday School teacher was a pretty cool guy. He used to take us to Phillies games, at Connie Mack Stadium. Maybe he’s one reason I do what I do today.
Funny. He used to try to tell me rock and roll was the devil’s music. But I loved it. My parents didn’t know it, but, I used to sneak-listen to a transistor radio I bought, under the covers after I went to bed. Now I love Contemporary Christian Music and work at some of the concerts. I was a little off the mark from where my mentor wished I was. Somehow, I lived through it.
Somehow, maybe God is at work in spite of everything I do. And, maybe somehow, God was able to work in and through everything my mentor did, whether it was exactly the right approach or not.
Maybe that’s a good point to end with. Youthful craziness, just how critical should I be of the youth I pastor? As a youth pastor, it’s really hard to figure out what you are doing right, exactly where to take a stand, without alienating kids. Maybe it doesn’t matter so much. Like parenting. I’m no authority, but I don’t think it’s the day-to-day decisions individually that make that much difference. Just that we are there, to bring God into a kid’s life, and make them think about God once in a while. Maybe what really counts is what God makes happen between God and each kid. Maybe I should not be so concerned about making all the right calls like a good umpire. After all, the Pharisees probably would have been great umpires, but they couldn't recognize the Son of God.
Maybe sometimes at least, I just need to stand to the side, get out of the way, and let God in.
Happy Hiking and God Bless,
- allen
Earth Day #1 was in 1970, 40 years ago. I was 17. Sure, do the math. I’m 57 now. It’s all-good. :-)
That first Earth Day in Lower Bucks County, PA was celebrated by a 26 mile walk.
I was a Senior at Neshaminy High School and I had been accepted at Drexel University. I loved High School. I was in concert choir. We did tons of concerts every year in and out of the school. When I was a Junior we went to Florida to sing at the DeSoto Celebration. That was awesome, except for our train crash on the way down. I was in lots of school plays. Each year I was in the school musical, a drama, and the musical we would do in summer stock. I never had anything close to a lead role, only a few speaking parts here and there, and “chorus”. A part in the chorus was what everyone got who tried out and didn’t get a real part. Kindof like the “participation” ribbons everyone gets today. It was still fun taking part, dressing up, and on show nights some girls would put makeup on you. Always enjoyed that part.
I was a volunteer fireman, so I had equipped my dad’s Dodge Polara with a CB, a PA, my fire radio receiver, and blue emergency lights. I kept my “dress uniform” fire hat on the dash. The girls thought I was pretty cool. Well, I guess actually, I thought I was pretty cool. Not sure about anyone else. I had not yet met my wife. I did not even go to my High School Prom. Still, an inflated ego. Somehow, I lived through it.
So, being the fine volunteer, civic minded young man I was, I volunteered to help out at the Walk. In case you missed it, that’s an exaggeration. I was no different from most of any other high school guy – I just wanted to have fun – especially anything with a car.
So at Earth Day #1, I was a go-fer. I visited various aid stations along the route through the day, bussing some of the organizers around. Honestly, the day itself didn’t really mean much to me. Of course I thought it was a good thing. But, I certainly wasn’t passionate about saving the Earth. I was too interested in cars, girls, electronics, and fighting fires. Not much intentionality in my life. Somehow, I lived through it.
One of the kids at my school ran the whole 26 miles, literally a marathon distance. I thought he was nuts.
Somewhere along the way I pulled up behind a guy (a real adult) on a ramp to route #1 South. His brake light was out. So, I just thought I’d be a nice guy and let him know, while we were waiting to get onto route #1, so I got on my PA and told him his taillight was out. So he opens the door and walked back toward my car! I had no idea what was going to happen. He walks up and starts apologizing to me for not getting it fixed yet. I regained my composure, straigtened up a bit, told him it was ok, but he should get it fixed as soon as he could. This man was probably 20 years older than me. I was a kid in my dad’s car. I had no authority. I guess the fireman’s hat (which was actually, yes, on my head at the time) made him think I was some kind of authority. Well, I never did that again. Not sayin’ I didn’t have other fun with my PA though. Youthful craziness. Somehow, I lived through it.
Years later, I did find out my wife was one of the participants in the walk! Also found out years later, she also lived next-door to the church I went to as a kid. Right next-door! We figured out we were probably both at VBS together at least once or twice, as little kids. Feasterville Baptist. A few years ago when my in-laws were moving out I had the chance to spend some time in the old sanctuary there. The pews weren’t there. The church was changing hands and being completely renovated. So I had to imagine where I was sitting when I responded to an altar call the “first” time, when I was about 7.
Gotta say, it was kinda cool to be there in that room again after all that time. I felt like I was looking back at myself 50 years ago. I’m glad my Aunt suggested to my mom that I go to that church with her and my cousins.
So today, of course I do care about the Earth. It’s God’s Creation. I care immensely about my faith and I value the place and day it began, and all the Saints who tried to guide me along the way. My old Sunday School teacher was a pretty cool guy. He used to take us to Phillies games, at Connie Mack Stadium. Maybe he’s one reason I do what I do today.
Funny. He used to try to tell me rock and roll was the devil’s music. But I loved it. My parents didn’t know it, but, I used to sneak-listen to a transistor radio I bought, under the covers after I went to bed. Now I love Contemporary Christian Music and work at some of the concerts. I was a little off the mark from where my mentor wished I was. Somehow, I lived through it.
Somehow, maybe God is at work in spite of everything I do. And, maybe somehow, God was able to work in and through everything my mentor did, whether it was exactly the right approach or not.
Maybe that’s a good point to end with. Youthful craziness, just how critical should I be of the youth I pastor? As a youth pastor, it’s really hard to figure out what you are doing right, exactly where to take a stand, without alienating kids. Maybe it doesn’t matter so much. Like parenting. I’m no authority, but I don’t think it’s the day-to-day decisions individually that make that much difference. Just that we are there, to bring God into a kid’s life, and make them think about God once in a while. Maybe what really counts is what God makes happen between God and each kid. Maybe I should not be so concerned about making all the right calls like a good umpire. After all, the Pharisees probably would have been great umpires, but they couldn't recognize the Son of God.
Maybe sometimes at least, I just need to stand to the side, get out of the way, and let God in.
Happy Hiking and God Bless,
- allen
Monday, April 19, 2010
The Great Olivet ASP Olympic Obstacle Race
I am pretty excited about this new ASP event this year. It will be held at the South Brandywine Middle School Track on May 16, starting at 1PM.
Each participant will have the opportunity to compete in 4 quarter-mile races (that's 1 mile total), with a final run-off of the winners from each heat. There will also be an obstacle race with some simulated exercises such as crawling under the house, walking on rafters, ladder work, and a construction exercise. I'm pretty sure God will give me some other nifty ideas before the day arrives.
Of course, sensitivity is one of the 3 S-'s at ASP, so this event will be as competitive or as non-competitive as each individual makes it. We never force anyone at ASP to do something they are really uncomfortable with. A little uncomfortable, well, then we might help you push yourself.
I'm taking requests for "Olympic competition music" to play during the events, so if you know any great songs to get us moving, please let me know! I wonder if I can get a hot dog vendor, or, at least a gatorade table, maybe some banannas! This is gonna be so much fun! :-)
I'm planning on having chairs available for plenty of spectators to watch so please come on out and cheer on your Olivet ASP Youth Trip Team!
Happy Hiking, and God Bless,
- allen
Each participant will have the opportunity to compete in 4 quarter-mile races (that's 1 mile total), with a final run-off of the winners from each heat. There will also be an obstacle race with some simulated exercises such as crawling under the house, walking on rafters, ladder work, and a construction exercise. I'm pretty sure God will give me some other nifty ideas before the day arrives.
Of course, sensitivity is one of the 3 S-'s at ASP, so this event will be as competitive or as non-competitive as each individual makes it. We never force anyone at ASP to do something they are really uncomfortable with. A little uncomfortable, well, then we might help you push yourself.
I'm taking requests for "Olympic competition music" to play during the events, so if you know any great songs to get us moving, please let me know! I wonder if I can get a hot dog vendor, or, at least a gatorade table, maybe some banannas! This is gonna be so much fun! :-)
I'm planning on having chairs available for plenty of spectators to watch so please come on out and cheer on your Olivet ASP Youth Trip Team!
Happy Hiking, and God Bless,
- allen
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