Busy days

These have been some busy days. My trip back home was uneventful but I have been on a run ever since. This morning I was at the office shortly after 4:00 AM to go to the warehouse to pick up donated bread. Then at 8:30 AM I led our combined prayer service with our International Office. Recently I have been reading Philippians and was thinking about the Apostle Paul's statement in 3:8 when when he said "I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things."

Paul certainly did give up a lot of things. His career as a rising star in Jewish circles, friends, loved ones, a steady income and a place to call home, just to name a few. As I thought more about it, I feel that it was more an exchange that he made. He put aside many things that we hold dearly to respond to the Christ that he was learning to love focusing on His priorities.

Today we heard from a family that took similar steps, leaving the security and comfort of life in the U.S. to take up residence among the Chinese peoples. Although it has been a difficult assignment, they are excited about how God is using them in a very remote location. They will spend a bit of time in the states getting a daughter settled in college and meeting with supporters before returning to their assignment. As I listen to reports like this one, it thrills me to be a small part of each of these teams.

Tomorrow, neighbor Keith and I are heading back to the lake house where we hope to complete a few chores in preparation of some summer family fun there. It will be a blessing to have him travelling with me as well as giving a hand with awaiting projects.

Thanks so much for your wonderful emails and phone calls. You are appreciated!

Love,

Chuck

Enjoying the lake

Here is a quick update for those of you that have been following my trip. I am doing this blog at the library with a so-so connection at the moment, so I will make this short.

Jeremy & Julianna's wedding in Michigan was wonderful! It was a very full day returning to the lake around 2 AM Sunday. Just in time to get a few hours sleep and than prepare for a family brunch at the lake house Sunday morning. Shortly after brunch Karin took Lisa to the Chicago airport to return to DC, and those of us remaining enjoyed a delightful balance of the day with wonderful weather.

Today (Monday) I am doing some laundry, mowing the lawn and packing for my return to Charlotte tomorrow. Hopefully on the road by 5 AM.

Thanks for your prayers and our wonderful Lord!

Love,

Chuck

Heading North

I always appreciate you wonderful friends and family members that encourage me and faithfully are praying. It is a tremendous blessing to have such a great support group!

Tomorrow I plan to drive to our Indiana lake house where I will spend a little time with the family there and get a quick nights rest. Friday I will be heading for Michigan where Jeremy and Julianna will be married on Saturday at 3:00 PM. Jeremy has asked me to stand up with him, so that will be a very special time. I am sure that it will also be a bit of an emotional time too. It was just about 23 months ago that Carol and I participated in Justin and Laura's wedding in the same church. It was her final wish to be able to attend that wedding and she made it. I am sorry that she will not be accompanying me on this trip but so thankful that she got to know Julianna and appreciate what a blessing it will be to have her joining our family.

Karin will graduate from Law School in Indiana at the same time so the family is splitting up a bit for the two events with Karin and family hopefully being able to get to Michigan in time to enjoy a good portion of the reception.

Do pray for safe travel for the many that will cover a lot of miles during those few day.

Love to you all,

Chuck

Tears teach

Thanks to each of you for your continued prayers. They were especially appreciated as I prepared to speak to the Harbor of Hope group which is primarily made up of cancer patients and caregivers. I recognized that this would be a difficult topic but when praying about it the Lord seemed to be telling me to do it. Numerous approaches came to mind with the predominate thought of keeping it light and not too personal to avoid displaying any emotions. As I thought about it, I realized that most likely that would be of little help to those in attendance so I decided to use some notes that Carol and I had written.

I went back over journal entries and well over a thousand blogs. Many times the tears formed as I read about the events of the day and our reactions to them, and at times I really wondered if I could do it. As you prayed God gave me the strength and I made it through without too much emotion. I trust that in some small way it will be a help to those who are dealing with cancer either as a patient or caregiver.

This morning as I was reading on the patio watching several busy birds tending nests and coming back and forth for a drink or a quick dip to clean their feathers, I was amazed to find a comment about tears by Jane Rubietto in the Indeed. She wrote; “Tears of course, are one of our universal symbols. Though some people cry more than others, scientists say that the chemicals in tears differ depending on the emotion launching those tears. What I know is that they teach us about our own hearts, our needs, and anxieties. They teach us about our past. They guide us into other people’s souls, these salt-water drops that burst or drip or puddle. They are a type of spiritual discipline, if we will but notice. When we pay attention to them, whether our own or another’s tears, we grow. Tears water our soul.” I liked that thought…we grow from tears the water of our soul.

This morning I took little Silas and his parents out to pick strawberries. What fun it was to watch the little guy tank up on the bright red berries, fresh from the plant. We had to laugh as we put him into the car with bulging tummy and very juice-stained face, hands, legs and clothes. But he was one happy picker. I was reminded that like a little child, I too need to appreciate the many simple things coming my way each day.

I trust that you will have a blessed Sunday.

Love,

Chuck

Be truly glad

This morning, referring to the believers hope of Eternal Live, I read; "So be truly glad! There is wonderful joy ahead, even though it is necessary for you to endure many trials for a while." (1 Peter 1:6) As I stopped to question myself if I am always truly glad, I had to admit that I am not. When trials/problems confront me I do not always welcome them as something beneficial. But after they are past, usually I can look back and find something that was actually a learning and growing experience for me. Jesus, his disciples and many other godly people in the Bible had their share of problems, so why should I be exempt?

During the past couple of weeks I have been challenged with a few of those situations. A friendly family of termites decided to invade my house so they needed to be removed and the damage repaired. Shortly after that we had a heavy hail storm that did enough damage to my roof to necessitate replacing it which is still in the negotiation stages with insurance company and roofers. And I just spent an entire afternoon today at the office accomplishing basically nothing, working with a factory technician and our computer department trying to get a special printer that I use, operational again. Tomorrow we will pick up from where we left off today, hopefully getting it back on line. Every now and then I need to remind myself not to let these trivial things take away my joy!

Yesterday I spent a long day (6:00 AM to 8:30 PM) operating voting machines for our state's primary election. I was amazed how tired I was at the end of the day when we were running final documents and wrapping up things. It is always fun for me to see so many neighbors and friends at these events, and with the primary being less busy than presidential elections, there is much more time to chat. It must be all of that chatting was what tired me out.

Wednesday I have the opportunity to speak to a group at church about serving as a caregiver. I am having a difficult time distilling 2 1/2 years into a brief but helpful message for those that currently are, or may soon be in that position. Please pray that I will have wisdom to share the appropriate information that will be helpful for the group and will at the same time glorify our wonderful Lord.

Again...I am indebted to each of you that so faithfully stand by and encourage me.

Love to you all,

Chuck