Picture one is of my parents on their wedding day, June 30, 1956.Picture 2 is of Reva's parents (married August of 1946) and her in the early 60's.

WHAT A YEAR!

What a year this is! Our oldest daughter, Heather, graduated from high school and will attend college this fall. Jason enters his sophomore year(note the cool pose) and Christy (SECOND FROM LEFT) joins the ranks of middle school and enters 6th grade.

This year, we also celebrate my parent's 50th anniversary. We celebrate Reva's folks' 60th anniversary. Somewhere in there, we celebrate our very own 25th anniversary. What an amazing year. God is good - ALL THE TIME!

Next post will include pictures of my parents and Reva's parents!

A New Normal

Today, I listened to KTPT, “The Point,” on the way out to family camp. A group of 43 people (associated with the station) recently returned from a short term mission to Sri Lanka.

People talked about this life changing experience. They ministered to the people and helped build an orphanage. One theme came through time and again: “How can I go back to ‘normal’ after being in a place like that, seeing the things I saw and doing the things I did?”

What a GREAT question!

Yesterday, I talked with LaVina (who, by the way, just returned from Cambodia on Monday). She taught in the Bible school at Phnom Penh for 2 weeks. She noted that it’s been difficult to somehow return to “normal.”

Participating in a short term mission changes your perception about almost everything. All of a sudden, things seem different. A dinky house doesn’t seem so dinky after meeting a family that has 10 people sharing a 10X12 living space.

You hope that you never again take blessings for granted. Things like: When you turn on the water, you can drink it without boiling it; Air conditioning, soft beds, clean streets, fast food places, medical care readily available – everything that we consider part of life. These things aren’t reality for most of the rest of the world. Even if they are, most couldn’t afford them.

Having been on several short term missions myself, (the West Indies, India, Mexico and 2 trips to Cambodia) I relate to the dilemma. How can things ever go back to “business as usual” after experiencing something so life changing?

Not only that, but it seems absolutely impossible to adequately relay your experience. Somehow, normal now seems “dull!” Why can’t people relate? Why do they look at me with the “There, there now, you’ll get over this soon enough!” look.

But, what if we don’t want to “get over” it? What if we want everyone to somehow experience what we experienced? Maybe then they’d understand! What if we want them to REALLY understand that we’ve changed as a result of our experience?

HOW CAN WE ADJUST TO A NEW NORMAL?

If we don’t come to a new normal, we’ll simply go crazy. Here are some thoughts for people desperately seeking a new normal.

· Keep in mind that ministry in another country and culture under difficult circumstances is very intense. However, that doesn’t mean God isn’t doing REAL ministry here and now!

· Not everyone WILL understand and appreciate your new perspective. Let God bring them to that place – when, and IF, He so desires.

· Do what you can to continue making a difference. Give in new and sacrificial ways.

· Invite someone to come with you next time. Perhaps they’ll need to find a “new normal” too!

· Pray for the field you visited and the people that live and minister there. Ministry doesn’t just occur while you’re there. You can still return, daily, through the power of prayer.

· Recognize the temptation to think you’re now somehow “more spiritual” than other mere mortals. Pray for God to deliver from any budding element of spiritual pride.

· Thank God for the new perspective He’s opened up to you. Never look at some of the same “little” blessings the same way again.

· LISTEN! Is God calling you to something?

How about you? Have you had experiences that made it tough to somehow get back to normal? How has God helped you establish a “new normal?”

Yesterday morning, a dear friend died. Rev. R.L. Gowan lived a long and full life. He died peacefully, at home, at the age of 91.

This man spent his entire life serving others while serving God. He loved people and had a passion for sharing Scripture wherever he went. He distributed Bibles, Testaments and books to help people discover a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Once, I had preached a message on the theme, "I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation for all who believe. . ." During the message, I noted that the original word for power is the same root word from which we get the word, "dynamite." It means "explosive power."

Well, Rev. Gowan went out and had some bumper stickers made. "Carrier of Dynamite" became his trademark.

I thank God for his influence on my life. He always listened and gave godly advice when requested. He also PRAYED FOR ME, my family and the church.

Though I grieve our loss, I celebrate his gain. He now KNOWS the power and glory of the God he loves.

Sideline Experts:

On Saturday, June 3^rd, Jason, Christy and I went to Sioux Park for a soccer game between the Sioux Falls “Spitfire” and the Boulder “Rapids” professional men’s soccer teams.

While we were sitting there, with one of Christy’s friends and her family, enjoying the game, people were “pumping” the crowd by throwing out all sorts of freebies. We caught 3 water bottles – YEAH! But, that’s not the story.

Directly in front of us was a man with several of his friends. It looked as if he was a soccer player too. He seemed to personally know many of the players on the Sioux Falls team.

Sioux Falls scored early, but went on to lose the game.

Throughout the game, this fine upstanding young man had advice for EVERYONE in the game. No one seemed exempt.

• The ref couldn’t make the right calls
• The line judges were making “pathetic” judgments

After all, why would anyone think the officials on the field were better positioned to make calls than this “sideline expert” in the stands? He even had “encouragement” for players on the Sioux Falls team.

• They missed plays they should have made
• They passed – only to have the opposing team steal the ball

What encouraging words did he offer? He shouted, UNACCEPTABLE repeatedly. He reminded them that they should be winning, because shortly into the game, the Rapids had a player red carded and leave the field. That put Colorado at a (10 players to Sioux Falls’ 11) disadvantage. Who can’t win with one extra player?!

Have you ever noticed the same thing happening in life? Sometimes, people on the sidelines shout the loudest about how “players” and “refs” should do their job. The world teems with “sideline experts.” You know the type. They have all the right answers and can point out all the mistakes and inconsistencies from their vaulted position off the field.

Here’s a more penetrating thought: Have you ever been guilty of being a “sideline expert?” I have – far more often than I care to admit. At those times, I try to remember one of my favorite quotes. Teddy Roosevelt said:

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”

How about you? What thoughts can you throw my way on this?

Grace and peace