Ansible-One

Last September we switched churches. We loved our old church home, but we wanted more for Ethan than what the family there could provide. We moved to a church that is much larger. In fact nearly 10x larger by my estimate.
Well this provides some benefits for me as well. For example, I was able to join the men’s group in January on a short mission trip to Pine Cove camp in East Texas. There we worked on several construction and renovation projects to help prepare and enhance the camp for the next season. Plus it provided a good chance for me to meet several of the men in the church.

This weekend I am heading off into the woods again with the men’s group, but this time its more of a real “camping” experience. Before you start giggling like my wife did, realize that I HAVE been camping before, and I do like it. It just doesn’t happen very often. In fact the last time was several years ago when my brother returned from assignment.

To prepare, I needed gear. I had several needed items already so I had to take stock first. Sleeping bag, check. Flash light, check. Call to Dad to grab a couple of things, done. Basically, I only had two major purchases to make to be ready. A large backpack (as we are hiking to the site) and a tent. The pack was a no brainer for me. Cheapest, biggest, and as light as possible. I found a brand new one on eBay for $30. It doesn’t have all the bells and whistles of an expensive pack but it’s a LOT better than something from Wal-Mart and a LOT cheaper than anything at REI.

For the tent, I knew I had to spend quite a bit more time researching. I dug through reviews, shopping sites, and forums. My requirements were simple. Long enough to fit my height, light enough to not mind carrying, and cheap. I know you can spend hundreds on tents, but I needed a tent for a virtual first timer. I have been camping, so I know a thing or two about what is needed, but I have always used someone else’s tent…and they have been really nice. I decided to go cheap since it was my first, and it only had to survive a single night. Anyway, if you want to ready my review of the tent, check it out here…

http://www.amazon.com/review/RUWS5PBO9LV3E/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm

It’s kind of funny though how sometimes we find ourselves preparing for something like this little camp excursion by spending so much time, money, brainpower, and then spend so little time preparing for the Kingdom. I am hoping this little trip will help me take stock of my own life reset my focus on Jesus.

Seems to me that I should have more than enough time to get the things done that I want done within a day.  If I want to go to work and then come home to play a game I should have time to do that.  If I want to hit a few golf balls and then come home and dig out the Legos for my son, there should be time for that.

I suppose it culture or the devil working through our culture that is demanding time from us.  I love last years experience at Glorieta when my family and I actually had time to hike, play, or simply be.

That reminds me, I need to make time to plan for another trip this year…

There are tons of references in the Bible to people “who have eyes but do not see, who have ears but do not hear” (Jer 5:21).  I think it is important to be aware of the hand of God at work on our lives.  I believe it takes two things to see it in motion however.  Seeing takes both the faithfulness that God calls us to have in Him and the Son, and it takes a bit of seasoning.  Not necessarily maturity or experience exactly, but a mixture of the two which makes a person seasoned in life.  My family had an experience recently that I fully believe was masterminded by God and conducted by the Holy Spirit.

As we move into the fall, there are many things in which that my family re-engages.  For most people, school is starting, sports, etc., but as homeschoolers, we haven’t really stopped school at all.  This past summer, though our home has been comfortable, we are constantly reminded of the challenges of living in an apartment.  Late night yelling outside our door, irresponsible pet owners, inconsiderate neighbors that are happy to run you over while we are walking the dog, parking spaces…don’t get me started on parking spaces.  These are challenges that exist everywhere but they are amplified considerably when you live 4 feet away from next person.
A family member pointed out a house for rent in a neighborhood in a good location.  Wifey and I decided to take a look to see if it might suit our purpose and budget.  The house was…ok.  The owners were questionable, but it got the ball rolling.  We decided to check out other houses around the city by spending $5 in gas a couple hours.

In one of the last neighborhoods we drove through, we saw an older house in great condition from the front (never underestimate curb appeal!), but it appeared to have some kind of notice sign on the front door.  These days, papers taped to doors are usually eviction or foreclosure notices, but we figured we would check it out anyway.

A couple of facts to put into play before I go on: 1) we discovered that our apartment lease was up at the end of September, a month sooner than expected. 2) we know our budget requirements and our limitations on raising cash quickly for moving 3) many other things have to fall in place perfectly too.  Deposits, credit, services, move in date, etc. all had to fit a certain mold before we would be able to select a new place.  Otherwise, we would simply renew the lease and deal with the chaos that is building at the apartment complex.

So we call the house owner and ask about the papers on the door.  They were electrical permits and not foreclosure notices.  Interesting, the person is very keen on taking care of the place.  Rent, a little high but within the budget.  So we expressed interest in seeing the house.
We meet the next day and do walk through.  We start talking and beginning the dance of negotiation.  We are hoping to get a bit of a discount off her original price.  The owner comes down $75.  Nice.  This is when it happens.  Before we had a chance to begin listing our other requirements, she informs us that yard care is included in the rent, the deposit can be paid in two payments, and there would even be an additional discount during summer months for water costs.  At that moment, I vividly remember praising God inside.  We really liked the place.

I had to stop myself at this point.  How in the world could each of the things that worried us the most be instantly cared for?  So, we played our hand next.  We could move in until the end of September so we would not break our apartment lease.  No problem.  We would like at least the weekend before the end of the month to move in so we can recruit help instead of paying movers.  No problem.  Our previous old credit history would have to be overlooked in favor of our current rent history and income.  No problem.  Ok wow.  Not only did God need the praise for the incredible find, but it was becoming apparent that He wanted us to find this house.

Finally, one last intangible requirement was that we had to have a certain level of trust for the person.  After talking about pasts for about 5 minutes we realize, the owner was a teacher in the district we grew up in.  A little deeper and it turns out she knew of people my wife’s family.  Ok cool, so she has been around our town for a while.  I mentioned my mom works in the district.  That did it.  She instantly recognized the name.  Not only that, but they are friends and see each other often.

We pursued the house, and were approved.  Each requirement met perfectly, and then she added some more on top.  How could this not be orchestrated by God?  Luck or chance…no way!  Only when God is involved are things perfect in everyway.  We will be faithful stewards of what we have been entrusted to.  We will care for the property and make it our home.  Keep your eyes open to see and your eyes open to hear.  God is constantly at work in this world.

This past July the family and I accompanied the Youth group to Glorieta, NM.  Our job was to drive a van and provide additional chaparone support as needed for the group.  The past several years I have gone as part of the team so to speak so this year was quite a change.  As it turns out, we were needed.  There was an emergency situation that required my wife heading in one direction to the hospital while I stayed behind to provide authority if needed.

Glorieta Main Entrance

All of that aside, Glorieta is awesome.  We played, worshipped God, and studied in the Word.  We will definately return as a family.  It is easy to relax and enjoy God’s creation and to be renewed by His spirit.

At home, it is nearly impossible to explore and experience raw creation like you can at Glorieta.  Everything is city.  Parks are small, and the larger ones are dangerous simply because people can be dangerous.  Not that I would let my son roam free at camp, but the attitudes of the people around us were quite different.

For example, the first thing the kiddo wanted to do was climb a mountain.  He ran to the back door of our building pointed through the glass and said, “that’s the one I am going to climb.”  The next morning we go out and start looking at our assigned challenge.  No paths.  No trails.  No sign any human had picked this spot to start climbing.  So we intrepidly dive into the woods up the slope.  We had made it maybe 20 feet when the volunteer building manager came out onto the back porch.

Instantly I’m thinking, here it comes, she’s going to tell us not to go this way or we can’t do this.  She asked if we are going on a hike?  After about 30 seconds of exchange she said, “Well, have a great time!”

I was floored.  Not that there wasn’t some part of me that expected her to just give us the thumbs up, but the whole conversation was genuine and direct.  None of the positioning and rationalizing that normally happens.  Off we go into the woods.

About an hour in we spot a road obviously used by horses and work trucks so we start to follow it.  (NOTE: it is nearly impossible to get lost.  Glorieta is at the bottom of the slope and the bell tower chimes every 30 minutes.)  In a few minutes we see a truck coming and we move out of the way so they can pass.  Friendly smiles and waves pass us and we keep on walking.  A few minutes later the truck is back.  I slip back to my “city” mode and think this guy is here to gripe at us for being there.

The worker asks if we are looking for a particular trail.  Since we weren’t looking for anything we asked there were any nearby we could check out.  He not only described the trail but when he drove away he motioned toward it as well.  Again just like the woman, this man was genuine.

I don’t know if was just the mountains or the camp, but after that morning I didn’t care about where I was or who I was talking to the rest of the time.  I know it is easy to see God’s presence in the midst of camp “spiritual highs”, but there is something to be said when Christians are acting like Christians.  If at home, church, or far away at camp we should always remember to love one another.

At some point in their lives, everyone gets tired.  Not the I just ran a mile as fast as possible tired, but the my heart isn’t in it anymore tired.  I can understand that.  We are human.  We have emotions that can control our actions more often than we care to admit.

When it comes to service in the church though, when have you had too much?  I believe I have seen the extremes of church servitude.  A person has lead Sunday school for 40 years.  She only stops to let other younger people have a chance to build and develop the work she has done.  If called upon, and if her health held up, she was there without a second thought.

The other extream would be the couple that thought it would be good to teach a class.  They discover the kids that normally attend are only there some Sundays and the interest of the teacher begins to fade.  Finally after only a few months they quit teaching and never offer to help again.

You have the teachers that are seeking help so they can have a break after teaching every week for the last 5 years.  The church is small so their students are the same students…week, after week, after week.  The response to their calls for help are answered with, “Oh no thanks, we’ve already done all that years ago, it’s time someone else serve.”

I’m sure there is a stack of great books about how to get the church to serve in more than the one-off situations, but when your church family is pushing their average age to 80 what can you do?

I don’t know the answer.  Talk is easy, reading an inspiring book or hearing a speaker is easy.  But to actually commit to the service…

For those that are looking for help, keep faithful and God will give you strength to serve and change lives.