Jan and I traveled across town on Saturday for a bbq with several friends that we have known for thirty years. Actually it was a mini-reunion of three old friends and their spouses (spice?).
Great time catching up and seeing how the Lord is working in our lives. He is good! One couple are returned missionaries, one a Bible teacher at Moore College, and the other is a prayer warrior deep in the heart of the commercial world--reaching her business world with the Good News. (And we were there too.) All of us have been through some hard times over the years but (as one of my favorite gospel blue grass song goes) "we're still here"...because of His great grace and faithfulness.
Everyone gets old (and dare I say it...eventually dies). Mortality rate in Australia in 2004 was still at 100%. But I can't begin to imagine how those who don't know Christ personally deal with the relentless march towards "that day". I can only keep on because of the promise of joy set before me. Being with him (there) becomes more and more desirable...so that it eventually outweighs wanting to stay here.
Monday, February 28, 2005
Sunday, February 27, 2005
A Big Perspective
On the following Monday, my "deep" thoughts on winning and losing at basketball games received a severe reality bite when I attended the funeral of the 19 month old son of one of our missionaries. Owen didn't wake up from a nap a couple of weeks ago. The family returned to Australia from the field to support their extended family and to bury little Owen in the family plot in country New South Wales.
The pastor (a friend of the parents) shared how this was serious business. If Owen's death didn't cause those present to do a check on their own mortality and need to get things right with God...what would it take? Both father (eulogy) and mother (testimony) shared how much Owen meant to them and thanked God for loaning him to them for even such a short time. His mother shared how grateful they were for his presence even if it meant great hurt and sorrow...and that the former far outweighed the latter.
Now talk about "perspective" when it comes to "losing". Kinda puts basketball a little lower on the ladder of priorities.
The pastor (a friend of the parents) shared how this was serious business. If Owen's death didn't cause those present to do a check on their own mortality and need to get things right with God...what would it take? Both father (eulogy) and mother (testimony) shared how much Owen meant to them and thanked God for loaning him to them for even such a short time. His mother shared how grateful they were for his presence even if it meant great hurt and sorrow...and that the former far outweighed the latter.
Now talk about "perspective" when it comes to "losing". Kinda puts basketball a little lower on the ladder of priorities.
Monday, February 21, 2005
A Little Perspective
On Friday night I travelled down to Wollongong to be with the Kings for their last regular season game with the Hawks (and penultimate game of the season). I was feeling pretty good about the game when I sat down and pretty bad when I went into the dressing room after the game. Thought: Losing a game is hard.
On Saturday I chose to spend the evening with my wife. I was feeling pretty apprehensive about the Kings final game of the season when I laid down (without checking the internet for the boxscore)...and pretty good when I read early the next morning that we had won the game against West Sydney...and secured the third straight minor premiership in three years.
Thought: Winning is a lot easier to deal with.
Third Thought: Probably not a good idea for me to bet on how I feel!
On Saturday I chose to spend the evening with my wife. I was feeling pretty apprehensive about the Kings final game of the season when I laid down (without checking the internet for the boxscore)...and pretty good when I read early the next morning that we had won the game against West Sydney...and secured the third straight minor premiership in three years.
Thought: Winning is a lot easier to deal with.
Third Thought: Probably not a good idea for me to bet on how I feel!
Tuesday, February 15, 2005
UK Billy's Visit
I invested a very enjoyable afternoon on Monday with a sports chaplain from the UK who is traveling on a grant from a secular trust to research the value of chaplaincy to sporting clubs.
I think it's great that there is such a developing interest in the spiritual side of a player's life.
Anyhow, thanks for the time together Billy! We shared a long talk at Starbucks...and a longer walk around the Opera House and Rocks area, visited a couple of Rugby Bars--just to pay "homage" of course--stopped by Krispy Kreme (doughnuts) for a sugar fix and strolled through Darling Harbour. Ended a most encouraging avo with some prayer and promises of keeping the network working.
I think it's great that there is such a developing interest in the spiritual side of a player's life.
Anyhow, thanks for the time together Billy! We shared a long talk at Starbucks...and a longer walk around the Opera House and Rocks area, visited a couple of Rugby Bars--just to pay "homage" of course--stopped by Krispy Kreme (doughnuts) for a sugar fix and strolled through Darling Harbour. Ended a most encouraging avo with some prayer and promises of keeping the network working.
Wednesday, February 09, 2005
After Effects of Singapore
I forgot to mention in my former Road Trip "ramblings" that we were invited to the Australian High Commission for a function on Australia Day while we were in Singapore. I had so much fun chatting with a number of different guests that I hardly ate any of the beautiful finger food provided in great abundance.
I met a couple of US Coast Guard officers who were on permanent duty assignment in Singapore. While the three of us were talking together with a Singaporean "socialite", she asked what my role was on the team. When I told her I was the chaplain she almost choked on her drink. Her first audible reply was "I didnt know basketball was that dangerous! Have you had to deal with many deaths?" As I went on to explain how more and more professional sports were seeing the benefit of someone who could help the athletes in their spiritual quests (and thus enhance their lives...and possibly even their "game"), one of the Coast Guard officers kept nodding his head in agreement. Found out later his father was a long serving chaplain in the US Navy.
Just before leaving I started chatting with a Singaporean government official and we really seemed to hit it off, but we got the call for the players to return to the bus before I could shift the conversation to spiritual matters. I told my new friend that I wasn't really sure about the proper protocol at the High Commission in regard to exchanging information, but would he "be offended" if I were to give him a small booklet that might help him on his spiritual journey. He was very gracious in receiving the "Knowing God Personally" booklet with profuse thanks and we said a quick "goodbye".
Several days later I received an email from my friend saying..."thanks very much for the booklet on "Knowing God Personally". I found it very enriching and helpful."
To which I replied with (a little bit longer note) saying...
"What a pleasant surprise the receive your email today. I have great
memories of the function and the Australian High Commission last
Australia Day...and I especially enjoyed meeting you.
The famous historian Arnold Toynbee once said, "Most people haven't
really rejected the person of Jesus. They have pieced together a straw
man, put a sign saying 'Jesus' around it's neck, then proceeded to tear
it apart and finally said, 'This man has no relevance to me.'" And I
would concur, rightly so...our misconceptions about the person of Christ
usually don't have much relevance. The tragedy is that (rather than
explore the authentic message about Christ from the New Testament
historical documents) we simply "stop" (or postpone) our investigation
after we have "dismantled" the counterfeits.
Anyhow (friend), that's why I like to suggest via the "Knowing God
Personally" booklet, that the starting point of a successful spiritual
journey with Jesus is in actually "meeting him". The booklet explains
that rather simple (almost too simple?) process in the prayer of
invitation on page 13. Millions of people around the world...regardless
of gender, race, or nationality (and even regardless of religious
background) have found the common denominator in their walk with God is
a heartfelt prayer similar to the one here...where a person simply asks
Jesus to come into their lives.
He delights in responding to this invitation...and enters into a
relationship with us that will last for eternity. I am praying for
you...that when the time is right for you, that you will also pray this
prayer and enter into God's "forever" family (if you haven't done so
already!).
To which he promptly replied, " I just found out that 2 of my fellow colleagues
also found out about God from the Campus Crusade while studying in Japan. Had the impression that Campus Crusade is exclusive to Australia. I'm happy to tell you that I've not only accepted Jesus but he is alive and kicking in all aspects and facets of my life.
I really appreciate you giving me the "Knowing God Personally" booklet. Prayer is a really powerful tool to communicate with God.
Thanks very much for your prayer and am pleased to inform you that
I'm already in God's "forever" family. :-) I feel so blessed to be able to
know God."
I found it interesting to reflect on the fact that even with several hundred people meeting together at a secular function with a very small timeframe window, God sometimes draws Christians together for fellowship and mutual encouragement.
I am continuing to write to my new friend (and brother) and we plan to get together for coffee and chat again sometime--even if we have to wait until we get to "glory".
I met a couple of US Coast Guard officers who were on permanent duty assignment in Singapore. While the three of us were talking together with a Singaporean "socialite", she asked what my role was on the team. When I told her I was the chaplain she almost choked on her drink. Her first audible reply was "I didnt know basketball was that dangerous! Have you had to deal with many deaths?" As I went on to explain how more and more professional sports were seeing the benefit of someone who could help the athletes in their spiritual quests (and thus enhance their lives...and possibly even their "game"), one of the Coast Guard officers kept nodding his head in agreement. Found out later his father was a long serving chaplain in the US Navy.
Just before leaving I started chatting with a Singaporean government official and we really seemed to hit it off, but we got the call for the players to return to the bus before I could shift the conversation to spiritual matters. I told my new friend that I wasn't really sure about the proper protocol at the High Commission in regard to exchanging information, but would he "be offended" if I were to give him a small booklet that might help him on his spiritual journey. He was very gracious in receiving the "Knowing God Personally" booklet with profuse thanks and we said a quick "goodbye".
Several days later I received an email from my friend saying..."thanks very much for the booklet on "Knowing God Personally". I found it very enriching and helpful."
To which I replied with (a little bit longer note) saying...
"What a pleasant surprise the receive your email today. I have great
memories of the function and the Australian High Commission last
Australia Day...and I especially enjoyed meeting you.
The famous historian Arnold Toynbee once said, "Most people haven't
really rejected the person of Jesus. They have pieced together a straw
man, put a sign saying 'Jesus' around it's neck, then proceeded to tear
it apart and finally said, 'This man has no relevance to me.'" And I
would concur, rightly so...our misconceptions about the person of Christ
usually don't have much relevance. The tragedy is that (rather than
explore the authentic message about Christ from the New Testament
historical documents) we simply "stop" (or postpone) our investigation
after we have "dismantled" the counterfeits.
Anyhow (friend), that's why I like to suggest via the "Knowing God
Personally" booklet, that the starting point of a successful spiritual
journey with Jesus is in actually "meeting him". The booklet explains
that rather simple (almost too simple?) process in the prayer of
invitation on page 13. Millions of people around the world...regardless
of gender, race, or nationality (and even regardless of religious
background) have found the common denominator in their walk with God is
a heartfelt prayer similar to the one here...where a person simply asks
Jesus to come into their lives.
He delights in responding to this invitation...and enters into a
relationship with us that will last for eternity. I am praying for
you...that when the time is right for you, that you will also pray this
prayer and enter into God's "forever" family (if you haven't done so
already!).
To which he promptly replied, " I just found out that 2 of my fellow colleagues
also found out about God from the Campus Crusade while studying in Japan. Had the impression that Campus Crusade is exclusive to Australia. I'm happy to tell you that I've not only accepted Jesus but he is alive and kicking in all aspects and facets of my life.
I really appreciate you giving me the "Knowing God Personally" booklet. Prayer is a really powerful tool to communicate with God.
Thanks very much for your prayer and am pleased to inform you that
I'm already in God's "forever" family. :-) I feel so blessed to be able to
know God."
I found it interesting to reflect on the fact that even with several hundred people meeting together at a secular function with a very small timeframe window, God sometimes draws Christians together for fellowship and mutual encouragement.
I am continuing to write to my new friend (and brother) and we plan to get together for coffee and chat again sometime--even if we have to wait until we get to "glory".
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