One Great God. One Big Test. One Brave Girl

Eleven years ago, our youngest daughter was diagnosed with scoliosis.  Our oldest has also dealt with this condition.  Seven years ago, our youngest began to wear a brace and that process lasted almost seven years.  A year and a half ago, it became obvious that surgery was extremely likely in her future.

The first miracle was to get her through her growth spurt, so that surgery would only have to happen once.  We are grateful for that miracle.  The second miracle happened last Friday.  After weeks of being scheduled and also timed following a piano guild annual evaluation, toward the end of school, and two months before her brother's wedding, the surgery took place.

Our family received tremendous support.  Family members travelled from afar, and church family surrounded us.  Five hours after taking her to the operating room, one of her surgeons came out and indicated that it was complete, and all went according to plan.  What we discovered later that day we will never forget.

Kathy was the first to see her and happened to see the X-ray from post-op.  God had worked a miracle in our daughter's back.  The results were exceptional.  He used two of the finest surgeons we've ever met.  They were humble, and strong.  The hospital staff was great.  Today we brought her home.  It is the greatest memorial day we have ever had.

To Dr. Stephen Albanese, who has cared for her for 11 years,  and Dr. William Lavelle, we say a sincere thanks.  To our family and friends, we are deeply indebted.  To our church family, we love you so much.  To all who prayed for her and for us through these days, we could never thank you enough.  It was indeed the greatest gift you gave us.

To our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, you are faithful.  Always.  To you be all the glory.  You are the one true living God.  You are great and you are good.  This was one big test.  You created one brave girl.  We are grateful.

Reflection

This morning I went to the gym.  That's not out of the ordinary.  I try to get there four or five days a week.  I call it temple maintenance.  The Bible reminds us that our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, and thought bodily exercise is not the most important thing in life, it is important.  For me it matters for my health and quality of life.

Today as I was working out on an elliptical machine, it appeared that it was lit up with green as I was looking at the data concerning my workout while I was working out. That was totally different from anything I had ever seen before and I've been on those machines many times.  The machine is sort of gray/black.  It has the data in color as you workout (red or orange I think) - but the whole thing looked green - like neon green.  Then it hit me - that was the color of my shirt and it was reflected on the machine off the sunlight through the front windows.

Instantly I thought of how I want my life this day and in the days ahead to reflect Christ as surely as my shirt was reflecting green from the sunlight back onto the machine.  It was a bit surreal.  Today may we reflect the love of Christ, His truth and grace in everything we do, all for His glory.

One More Trip To Liberty

In 2005, we took our son to college. He was a freshman at Liberty University. Our oldest daughter was a senior at Syracuse University. We were blessed to have her close to home and she graduated Syracuse Orange. Seems only appropriate for the oldest Aubrey kid in the family!  Number two headed to Liberty. Syracuse was right for Andrea and Liberty was right for Dave. In 2008 our second daughter joined her brother at Liberty. For seven years we travelled to Lynchburg and went to two graduations on that campus, as we celebrated David and Charity's degrees.

I graduated from high school 39 years ago. I headed to Roberts Wesleyan College and graduated with a B. A. In Religion and Philosophy. I headed to Memphis, Tennessee at the age of 22, to go to Mid-America Seminary. Three years later I graduated with my Master of Divinity. I was soon to be 25 and had been in school for 20 years of my life. By the 90's and into the 2000's I continued to have a passion to grow and learn. I found it significant and important for life and ministry. In December 2007, God made it clear to me from the book of Proverbs that He was leading me back to school. With the support of my family and church family, I enrolled in the Doctor of Ministry program at Liberty in 2008.

My course work was completed over the next three years. This blog came as a result of one course. The theme of the blog and ultimately my thesis title came out of my sixth class. Tonight my wife and I and our youngest daughter, Emily, are headed to Liberty for the third Aubrey graduation there. My degree was granted in December 2014. I get to walk this Saturday. To all who prayed for me, encouraged me and walked with me I say thank you. This was never simply for a degree but prayerfully more effective ministry. I'm grateful for the past and excited about the future.

My family has been amazing. Northside Church is very close to my heart. The ministry of the gospel is my life's calling. Who knows, we may come to Lynchburg from time to time in the future but for this weekend it's one more very special trip to a place where God has spoken to me many times. It will always be holy ground to me.

Lessons on the way to the doctor

I don't like being sick.  I've been battling a cold for five days.  I'm ready to move on and be done with it.  Today I went to my doctor's office and was seen by one of his staff.  They were helpful and I should be on the road to recovery.  It's what I saw on the way there and in the waiting room that I can't get off my mind.

In the elevator I saw a young Mom with her baby in a stroller.  My mind went immediately to my grandsons.  I missed them greatly in that moment.  I have two daughters who are young moms and I am so grateful for both of them and their families.

Upon arrival at the doctor's office, I sat to wait for my appointment.  In the process an elderly man came in and was later assisted by someone I presume to be his daughter.  He was older, struggling to breathe, and my mind raced again.  I thought - if Jesus doesn't come first and I don't die younger, how will I handle that stage of life?  I want to do it well.  Granted it's a number of years away, but it impacted me today

Then on the ride home I listened to Fox News on the radio and heard more about the troubles of this world, most notably the riots in Baltimore.  The images from the morning TV shows are ingrained in my mind.  On top of that there is disaster in Nepal with now more than 4600 reported dead.  Tensions are building with Iran and there is so much strife in the world.

In the midst of it all, Jesus is still the answer.  He is mighty.  He is Lord.  He is Savior.  He's our only hope.  Please join me in praying that every day God gives us breath we will use it to share the glorious good news of the gospel with love and compassion and that many will come to Christ at every age and every stage of life.  God has a purpose for your life.  Never doubt that!

When Life Comes Full Circle

Today I’m sitting in the lobby/student center at Grand Rapids Theological Seminary.  My son-in-law is a student here.  He’s 24 years old.  When I was his age, I was a seminary student at Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary in Memphis, Tennessee.  Walking in this building today, I’m reminded my school days are done.  I not only finished that degree, but recently another graduate degree at Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary.  I’ve done what I believe the Lord wanted me to do.  I didn’t go to have titles added to my name, or letters at the end of it.  I did it to sharpen the axe and be the best equipped I can be for the ministry to which God has called me.  Ultimately I did it in obedience to the Lord’s plan for my life

Ironically, I teach now as an adjunct faculty at the college where that same son-in-law graduated in 2012.  I guess I’m on the other side of the table now – but I’m still learning, and I don’t ever want to stop.  I believe the day you stop learning is the day you start dying.  I say ‘no thank you’ to that idea.  On the table before me today are books to be studied for ministry today and for a message this weekend at Northside.  I enjoy places like this, and I find the academic community stimulating to my own thinking and creativity.

I’ve had a fantastic day.  I took my Michigan daughter to breakfast while her husband was at Hebrew class, later enjoyed some amazing time with my grandson, and then we had lunch with the whole family.  Tonight Kathy and our youngest daughter will watch Sully, while his Mom and Dad get a date night.  I slipped over to the school to get some work done in the next three and a half hours.  It’s time to study some more from Luke 15:8-10.

Easter is in the rear view mirror, but the hope of the resurrection is still right in front of us.  Every day is Easter and Hallelujah is our song.  My prayer this year is that what we celebrated at Northside last weekend will not be the ‘super bowl’ of Sundays – and now it’s over.  I pray – more than ever – in these strategic times in which we live – that last weekend will serve as a launching pad to the greatest days in the history of Northside.  I pray we see more people come to Christ than ever before, and that multitudes find hope in Him.  To that end, I can’t wait for the weekend!!!

I was trained for that more than 30 years ago.  It’s the same training my son-in-law is getting now.  The gospel is for every generation.  Praise God for the cross.   Praise God for the empty tomb.  The theme of Josh’s seminary is ‘Learning, Serving, Leading . . .for Ministry . . . for Life.’  Those words greet you on the wall when you walk in and I love them.  Pray for him.  Pray for me.  Pray for lives to be impacted in Michigan, New York and all over the world for the glory of God! 

A New Hero

This weekend, we celebrated the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus.  I'm so grateful for the gospel.  I'm so grateful for Jesus.  What a privilege it is to celebrate Him.

I'm grateful for a prayer team of 10 men who carried me to the Lord faithfully this week in prayer.  I'm grateful for our staff and a host of volunteers who served the Lord effectively and graciously.  And I'm grateful for a new hero.

The choir special was led by a soloist I had not heard before, but I have seen at church often.  I usually see her in a scooter.  This weekend, at five services, she sang her heart out about the victory that is ours in Jesus Christ.  God used her greatly to remind us that there is power in the name of Jesus!!!!

There is a scene etched in my mind many would not have seen.  After she had sung at the last service, I saw her back in her scooter sitting in the front corner of the worship center. We were all singing 'Jesus, Only Jesus' and she was singing and worshiping with her hand raised to the Lord in praise out of the sight of the crowd.

I learned that she would often come to choir just to sing along.  This weekend, God raised her up to lead us to His throne.  There are many lessons, but the one that stands out is don't let your limitations become reasons for not serving the Lord.  She didn't.  We all love Jesus more because of it.  Hallelujah!  What a Savior!!!!

Making Memories

We will always be Syracuse fans first, but today my youngest daughter and I made a memory that will last a long time.  Emily and I went to the NCAA East Regional Final.  It was the elite eight right in our own city.  We saw Michigan State play Louisville.  Rick Pitino used to be an assistant many years ago at Syracuse, but my grandson was born in Michigan so today, I was a Spartan fan.  What a game it was.  It went into overtime, and Michigan State prevailed.  Congrats to Coach Izzo and his team!  Kudos to Coach Pitino on a great season (but did I mention that Syracuse beat the Cardinals on this court this season?!!!  I was at that game too!)

More and more I'm learning that life is about seizing the moment and cherishing the memories.  It's about embracing the present and being hopeful for the future.  Today I spoke with a man from our church who is 22 years older than I am.  He is a great example to me and I cherish our monthly breakfast together.  I didn't know we would see each other at the game, but it served as a reminder that memories keep on being made through the years - as he was there with his son.  

You see ten years ago, I went to another elite eight game in the Dome where my son and I saw the North Carolina Tar Heels defeat the Wisconsin Badgers for a trip to the final four.  North Carolina would go on to win that national championship.  Today I was amazed at my daughter's grasp of a game my family loves.  As the game neared the end, and was ever so close, she said 'it's not the first nail-biter in the dome!'  I smiled on the outside and the inside.  

Today I saw a great basketball game.  I watched it in my favorite venue:  The Carrier Dome on the Syracuse University campus.  I witnessed the hard work and passion for the game of two storied programs - Louisville, and Michigan State.  I would rather watch the Orange, but there's no one I would rather watch it with than the young lady I did today.  Today I was blessed to share that memory with my youngest daughter.  I cherish the memory.  I wore green.  She wore 'Cuse gear. Love that girl.  

You want to keep the fire burning?  I recommend you start with faith.  Following that, I highly recommend you cherish every minute God gives you with your family.  I did today.  I will never regret it.  Neither will you!  Keep the Fire Burning!