ERC - Week 1

What if a blog was just a blog?  You know, or maybe I don't - a web log.

Emmanuel Reformed Church - Week 1

Saturday, Jan 25, Installation Service, 4:30pm.
Wonderful service, great participation, amazing reception - a God glorifying evening.

I'm so grateful for those who participated in the service, previous pastors of ERC, previous co-laborers, members of the Reformed Church of America, pastors from the area, musicians, and many brothers and sisters in Christ.  I couldn't picture a better installation for me and ERC.

What do I want to remember?  That it was a nasty cold, snowy night - but the room was still full.
Wes Van Ort took the time to thank people who had gotten us all to that night.  Linda Baker who calmly pulled it all together with me.  And this list of pastors who participated in the service.

Rev. Glenn Van Oort, ERC Pastor 1974-2000

Rev. James Brumm, Blooming Grove Reformed Church

Rev. David Corlett, Delmar Reformed Church

Rev. Abby Norton-Levering, Regional Synod Staff

Rev.  Matt Eachus, Temple Baptist Church

Rev. Rick Behan, Third Reformed Church

Rev. Amanda Nesvold, Trinity Lutheran Church

Father Gregory-Francis DesMarais, St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church

Rev. Roger Krutz, Professional Interim Pastor (ERC from 2001-2012)

Rev.  Adam Egan, St. Stephens Episcopal Church

Wow, I'm humbled by the fact that they all took the time to be there, and participate, and then there are the people who came, supported, prayed, and celebrated who are not named!  All in recognition of what God is doing in this little part of a very big world.

What do I want to remember?

• Put your hand to the plow and don't look back.  Guide the plow, let the church family pull it.  Again, humbling - who am I?  Break up the surface and see what God grows.
• Work with ERC like I worked with Dave Corlett.  Serve the congregation, in trust and cooperation.
• Listen to the church.  Actually the charge was for the congregation to speak to their pastor, but my part is to remember to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry.

Then the unforgettable reception, the food, the lighting, the sharing, the warmth of the room!  What a great evening, including that my kids wanted to be there, had a blast playing with other kids, and feeling genuinely welcome.

Then, 13 hours later it was worship service #1 - Don't get stuck, and if you are, get spiritually unstuck.
        Read the Bible and reflect on what God is saying to you and your life.  Simple but true.  I know only Christ and him crucified - the foundation.

www.ercrca.org 

You never know - unless you ask...

Two cardboard signs spelling out his plight.  I looked him in the eye, said hello, and swept past.  He was standing at a rest stop along Interstate 5 in Oregon, literally with his hat out (white hardhat to be specific).  After all the Gieser boys were done in the facilities, we headed back out to the fresh air.  I felt compelled to acknowledge his existence - I asked what was going on in his life.

Short story even shorter, a job possibility didn't work out in Oregon and he was trying to get back to Colorado.  True or not, I gave him some cash.  Life was hard and he wasn't there for fun...  But then he continued - seemingly out of nowhere with a gush of "my son is a missionary in Mexico."  To be clear, I laid no bait for this information, not even a 'God bless you', or mention of prayer.  I was just a guy who took the time to ask what was important in his life. And I learned that more than a guy in the midst of hard times, he was a proud father.

In a matter of a minute or so I learned that not only was his son a missionary in Mexico, but a Christian rap artist with a youtube hit.  "Look up Sean Cates, S-E-A-N  C-A-T-ES, you'll find him, his video 'to know you' has over a million hits."  My family was heading back to the van, so I did as well.  However, not everyone was there, so I pulled out the smartphone and started searching.

I don't do well comprehending things spelled out for me - I didn't have his son's last name in my head.  Now I was curious so I opened the door to go ask again - before I had my foot on the ground he was dropping his cardboard signs and heading my way.  We met in the middle, he gave it to me again, then we each returned to our different worlds...

Not a beggar - a proud dad.  I'm glad I asked.