Twelve years ago my oldest son, who was eleven at the time, went to Peru on a missions trip. He went with a group of 5th and 6th graders from our church and a LOT of adult supervision. My wife and I were NOT among the adults. However, there were very good friends in the group. People we trusted with our eleven year old. Hey...they were going OUT of the country!!
My wife and I stood at the departure gate at Columbus International Airport. We watched our firstborn walk down the long corridor. We watched the 747 that would carry him 3591 miles begin the process for departure. We were standing at the gate, watching our son take his first plane ride. Not just any plane ride, but one out of the country.
This is somewhat fresh in my mind because earlier this year I took a missions trip to Kenya. My wife and youngest son dropped me off at the terminal door of the Pittsburgh Airport. I then made my way through two layers of security to my departure gate. I sat for and hour and a half (because you have to be there 2-3 hours early) by myself. I texted my wife. Quite a contrast to twelve years earlier when we talked with our son until he boarded the plane.
Why the difference in twelve years? The date of change was 9/11/2001. On 9/11, our lives were forever changed. We do not view the world with the same childlikeness we did on 9/10. Family going to the boarding gates in airports to see their loved ones off became a thing of the past. It is a distant memory like 8-track tapes and the test pattern on TV.
One thing for certain is that life brings change. Some good, some bad. We cannot prevent change. It is part of the existence of our world. But our hope is not in this life. Our hope is in an unchanging God. He is an everlasting rock, unchangeable, immovable.
No matter what change life brings, we can trust in the Lord forever. He NEVER changes.
Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock. Isaiah 26:4
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Interconnectedness
The end of our annual Christmas Shopping Outing was more than we bargained for. What should have been a 3 1/2 hour drive home became an event. Due to the weather, we changed our route home thinking the Interstate would be better than some of the State Routes. However, an accident forced us to sit for over 2 hours. Due to no fault of our own, our plans were greatly affected.
Many times we underestimate the power of our lives. Our influence reaches farther than any of us imagine. Just as our journey was delayed because of other's actions, so our actions influence lives around us.
Our lives are far more connected than we think. My decisions affect more than just me. My family; my friends; my leadership team; people I don't truly know; all are affected by my decisions. The same is true in your life. Your circle of influence radiates from your life like ripples in a pond.
What is your life saying? How are you influencing your world?
Many times we underestimate the power of our lives. Our influence reaches farther than any of us imagine. Just as our journey was delayed because of other's actions, so our actions influence lives around us.
Our lives are far more connected than we think. My decisions affect more than just me. My family; my friends; my leadership team; people I don't truly know; all are affected by my decisions. The same is true in your life. Your circle of influence radiates from your life like ripples in a pond.
What is your life saying? How are you influencing your world?
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Review of The Summit
In a world flooded with books about leadership, this book is not from the same mold. Where most leadership books tell you how to be a leader, how to influence people, or how to be all you can be, Eric Alexander (get to know him here) takes you on a leadership journey...quite literally. You journey to the peak of Mount Everest. But you do not travel alone; or, just with him. You travel with a group determined to ascend the peak with a blind man.
The Summit is full of thought-provoking experiences. The descriptions of the climbs leave you breathless in thin atmosphere and shivering from the bone-chilling cold. You also feel the excitement when the summit is reached, the ice-flow is crossed, and when Erik Weihenmayer (the blind climber) successfully reaches the bottom of Mt. Elbrus after skiing the 9500-foot descent from the summit. But mostly the life lessons from the climbs are what impact you most.
You are faced with the question: "What defines success?" In mountain climbing, most (including me initially) would think that reaching the top defines success. Alexander gives pause to think when he defines success as returning safely to the bottom--even if the summit was NOT reached. My favorite quote from the book details this thinking:
For success, we need to seek the extraordinary, but learn to find joy in the ordinary. It may sound like an aim-low strategy, but what I am trying to understand and apply in my life is I can't walk only on mountaintops. Life is lived in the valleys, and for moments we are able to reach the heights and look out. But these places are inhospitable for the long term.
This book is as much about living life as it is about leadership. But when you think about leadership, it is really about how you live your life. As John Quinncy Adams said:
If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more, and become more, you are a leader.
I highly recommend this book.
Pastor Ric received a copy of The Summit in consideration for this review.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Behind the Accomplishment
Recently, I had the opportunity to visit Mount Vernon, the home of our nation's first president. While there, I visited the tomb of George and Martha Washington. And it just happened to be at the time they were preparing to lay a wreath at the tomb. I have seen them lay wreaths at JFK's tomb and at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier, but I had no idea they did this at Washington's Tomb. But this was not one of those "once-in-a-great-while" events. They lay a wreath in the tomb of Goerge Washington every day--TWICE each day.
As we honored the man who has become symbolic of our early Republic, I began to think of his accomplishments. At the age of 17, he answered the call of the Governor of the Colony of Virginia to survey the land. Washington left his home and journeyed into the unknown of the Allegheny Mountains. In his 20's, Washington answered the call of the king and defended the colonies against the French in the French and Indian War. Later, he left his home to be Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army. And in 1789, he left his home to jouney to New York to be inaugurated as our Republic's first president.
It began to dawn upon me that we know much about the public deeds of Washington, but sometimes we overlook the sacrifices he made for our nation. I realized, once again, that men and women who accomplish great things make great sacrifices of which no one is aware.
What are you doing? What is your motivation? Washington had a vision that was bigger than he. His vision was large and required total commitment. How about you? How large is your vision? How are you impacting the world around you? All of us won't be George Washingtons. But we will never know if we are...until we try.
As we honored the man who has become symbolic of our early Republic, I began to think of his accomplishments. At the age of 17, he answered the call of the Governor of the Colony of Virginia to survey the land. Washington left his home and journeyed into the unknown of the Allegheny Mountains. In his 20's, Washington answered the call of the king and defended the colonies against the French in the French and Indian War. Later, he left his home to be Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army. And in 1789, he left his home to jouney to New York to be inaugurated as our Republic's first president.
It began to dawn upon me that we know much about the public deeds of Washington, but sometimes we overlook the sacrifices he made for our nation. I realized, once again, that men and women who accomplish great things make great sacrifices of which no one is aware.
What are you doing? What is your motivation? Washington had a vision that was bigger than he. His vision was large and required total commitment. How about you? How large is your vision? How are you impacting the world around you? All of us won't be George Washingtons. But we will never know if we are...until we try.
Friday, March 12, 2010
The 411 on the School
Many have asked about my recent trip to Mexico. Over the next several days/weeks, I will download my thoughts and experiences here.
To begin, let me explain about the school. The school is based in Torreon, Mexico. Last year, there were 45 pastors, pastors' wives, and lay leaders who completed the first year course requirements. You can find information about the school and pictures from last year's classes and graduation here. The sessions were intensives meeting one weekend a month for 10 months. Pre-class assignments were given as well as post-class assignments. The academic work of some of these students was amazing. However, God began to move our thoughts in a different direction.
This year we initiated an online component as well as an independent study component. This was needed because the school has received numerous inquiries from Latin American and South American countries. See, presently IETO is the only Spanish-languange extensive Bible school curriculum available online. This has great appeal in the Spanish-language countries. And, due to that appeal, there have been inquiries from 10 different nations. These students are being given the information they need to begin their studies.
God is amazing. In just a matter of a couple of weeks, the limited scope of the school mushroomed to covering half a continent. While this is exciting, this is scary. Logistically, the school is barely able to cover the needs of the students in Torreon. However, God has brought together a team that is making the transition bearable. We recognize that it is not our strength. There is no way that our limited resources and limited abilities can accomplish what is needed. It is not our strength, but His. It is not our ability, but His. He has opened the door; it is His project. He is calling the people; it is His resources that are needed.
Many have asked what they can do to assist in preparing these pastors for the call. Before I answer that question, let me tell you about the staff. All of the staff (the teachers, president, director) volunteer their time. This includes me. We purchase our own airline tickets and pay for our hotel rooms in Torreon. We receive no pay for the weekend. This is truly a labor of love. We see the necessity of pouring into and preparing these men and women to carry out the call of God on their lives. There are overhead expenses for the school. There are printing costs. There are costs of duplicating the CDs and DVDs for the independent study students. There are a few people that are paid to assist with registration at the intensives and there is rental of the church where we meet. The students pay the equivalent of $30 US for each course they take. While that does not seem much to us in the United States, that can be several days wages for some countries where we have students.
With that being said, let me answer the question "What can I do to help?" First and foremost, you can pray. Pray for those of us who journey several times a year to Mexico. Pray for our safety in travel. Pray for us to be able to effectively communicate the material. Pray for those pastors who have sacrificed to come to school. Specifically, pray for me as I write material. I am on the Curriculum Committee and provide much of the Biblical and Theological material.
Second, you can give. As I said, the cost of each class is $30 US. You can sponsor a pastor for a class for that amount. Or, you can sponsor a pastor for a year for $300. You can also give to assist my travel there. It costs me about $1200 each time I travel to Torreon. I will be returning in September 2010, and March, September and December in 2011. You can also give to support the school's overhead expenses of facility rental, printing costs, CDs, DVDs, etc.
If you wish to give, you can give at PR Ministries. Just click on the DONATE button. All donations received by PR Ministries, including the book and tape sales, go directly to ministry in Mexico.
If you have any questions concerning the school or ministry in Mexico, please contact me. I would be happy to discuss it with you.
Next time, we will will recount my airplane journey to Mexico.
To begin, let me explain about the school. The school is based in Torreon, Mexico. Last year, there were 45 pastors, pastors' wives, and lay leaders who completed the first year course requirements. You can find information about the school and pictures from last year's classes and graduation here. The sessions were intensives meeting one weekend a month for 10 months. Pre-class assignments were given as well as post-class assignments. The academic work of some of these students was amazing. However, God began to move our thoughts in a different direction.
This year we initiated an online component as well as an independent study component. This was needed because the school has received numerous inquiries from Latin American and South American countries. See, presently IETO is the only Spanish-languange extensive Bible school curriculum available online. This has great appeal in the Spanish-language countries. And, due to that appeal, there have been inquiries from 10 different nations. These students are being given the information they need to begin their studies.
God is amazing. In just a matter of a couple of weeks, the limited scope of the school mushroomed to covering half a continent. While this is exciting, this is scary. Logistically, the school is barely able to cover the needs of the students in Torreon. However, God has brought together a team that is making the transition bearable. We recognize that it is not our strength. There is no way that our limited resources and limited abilities can accomplish what is needed. It is not our strength, but His. It is not our ability, but His. He has opened the door; it is His project. He is calling the people; it is His resources that are needed.
Many have asked what they can do to assist in preparing these pastors for the call. Before I answer that question, let me tell you about the staff. All of the staff (the teachers, president, director) volunteer their time. This includes me. We purchase our own airline tickets and pay for our hotel rooms in Torreon. We receive no pay for the weekend. This is truly a labor of love. We see the necessity of pouring into and preparing these men and women to carry out the call of God on their lives. There are overhead expenses for the school. There are printing costs. There are costs of duplicating the CDs and DVDs for the independent study students. There are a few people that are paid to assist with registration at the intensives and there is rental of the church where we meet. The students pay the equivalent of $30 US for each course they take. While that does not seem much to us in the United States, that can be several days wages for some countries where we have students.
With that being said, let me answer the question "What can I do to help?" First and foremost, you can pray. Pray for those of us who journey several times a year to Mexico. Pray for our safety in travel. Pray for us to be able to effectively communicate the material. Pray for those pastors who have sacrificed to come to school. Specifically, pray for me as I write material. I am on the Curriculum Committee and provide much of the Biblical and Theological material.
Second, you can give. As I said, the cost of each class is $30 US. You can sponsor a pastor for a class for that amount. Or, you can sponsor a pastor for a year for $300. You can also give to assist my travel there. It costs me about $1200 each time I travel to Torreon. I will be returning in September 2010, and March, September and December in 2011. You can also give to support the school's overhead expenses of facility rental, printing costs, CDs, DVDs, etc.
If you wish to give, you can give at PR Ministries. Just click on the DONATE button. All donations received by PR Ministries, including the book and tape sales, go directly to ministry in Mexico.
If you have any questions concerning the school or ministry in Mexico, please contact me. I would be happy to discuss it with you.
Next time, we will will recount my airplane journey to Mexico.
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