Teach Us To Number Our Days

This week has been a week of ups and downs.  Monday I learned mid-afternoon of a very sudden death within our church family.  In a phone call later that night I spoke with a man who had just become a widower.  His wife of more than 25 years, had suddenly died.  One minute he was talking with her.  The next minute she was with Jesus.  He never saw it coming.  I sat in that home yesterday joined by two staff members, and we ministered to a grieving family.  They all know Jesus, so there was tremendous hope in that room.

Later in the day I received a call from a member who’s son is battling colon cancer.  Today we visited him.  At the age of 38, he is fighting for his life, with a supportive wife close by his side.  The pain in that room was palpable, but Christ was there too, and His peace was evident even in the midst of their storm.

Next, I went to a hospital here in Syracuse to make a visit to celebrate with a family.  A young husband and wife were rejoicing over the arrival of their brand new baby boy.  That man is one of my prayer warriors, who holds me up to the Lord daily.  What a thrill to rejoice with him over this great blessing in their lives. 

Later in the day, I went to visit my mother in assisted living.  I had some things to bring to her and when I arrived and was signing the logbook into the home, the receptionist said, ‘Hi, Bruce.  Your Mom is at Bible Study.’  She then pointed me in the direction, and as I arrived the gathering was just disbanding.  While visiting her she opened her Bible and asked me about a passage she had read earlier.  My Mom still wants to keep growing, and moving forward with the Lord even in her later years.  I love that.  I love her.

Now back to the start of my day.  My day started with my wife and I taking our youngest daughter to school.  She’s in 11^th grade.  It hardly seems possible.  It seems like a couple of years ago she was born.  Oh how the years go by . . . I’m going to blink and we will be taking her to college. 

I’m now back at my office and getting back to working on this weekend’s message.  This whole week and my day have reminded me that every day is a gift from God.  My challenge to you is to not get so caught up in whatever is on your mind or distracting you that you miss the blessings of the moment right in front of you.  Cherish every day. 

The Bible says, ‘Teach us to number our days carefully so that we may develop wisdom in our hearts.’  Psalm 90:12, HCSB

Problems With My Mouth

 When I was a little boy, I hated going to the dentist.  I don’t like needles, and I’m not extremely fond of pain.  I was always grateful to have very few cavities, and was grateful when I got a good report.  Early in my life, our family dentist in Chateaugay, New York discovered that I was missing several teeth since birth.  He pulled ten of my baby teeth and suggested I get braces, and then be fitted for partial plates.  Needless to say, I wore braces for 6 years.  We were waiting for two permanent teeth (something I had precious few of) to arrive.  That journey took me from the end of fourth grade through the end of tenth.  I was thrilled to go to school as an 11^th grader with no more braces and a full mouth of teeth with my new temporary partials. 

By college I upgraded to a more permanent set.  I’ve continued to do well up to this day, but all that changed two days before my sons wedding.  I discovered I had a serious issue with a back tooth.  I went to my current dentist and learned that tooth would soon be history.  Gratefully, I made it through the wedding and vacation with no real issues.  My dentist recommended a mutual friend, that he knew I would know and suggested I see him soon for my current needs.  I had that visit this week.  I discovered my mouth is a mess.  Two hot fires had to be put out soon, and other issues addressed. 

I’ve been preaching through the book of Ruth, and my message on August 15-16 was entitled ‘God Is Always Ahead of You’.  I seldom preach that God doesn’t allow me to live through my message in some fashion.  This week, I discovered he was truly ahead of me again.  As I sat in a consult room and looked at x-rays and pictures of my teeth, a rush of memories of the issues I’ve had flooded my mind and heart.  At the same time, I was filled with gratitude knowing that for this season I was exactly where I needed to be.  A brother in the Lord, who has a set of gifts I need right now, was coaching me through my next moves to fix my mouth. 

In the last 30 hours we got two fires put out.  He referred me to an endodontist who gave me my first ever root canal, and helped save a tooth.  Then this morning I went to an oral surgeon who extracted the tooth that had broken a month ago.  There was no saving that one!  Tonight I’m sore, but extremely grateful.  The Lord is always faithful.  He’s been ahead of me again.  The Lord is so personal, and I encourage you to know Him that way by surrendering your life to Him, and thank Him for His amazing faithfulness. 

While I have physical issues with my mouth, the Bible also talks about the dangers of our speech.  Psalm 141:3 says ‘Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!’  Ephesians 4:29 says, ‘Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.’  Psalm 19:14 says, ‘Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sigh, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.’ 

Tonight, I am reflecting on the craziness of this week.  I didn’t know how much trouble I was in physically.  My mouth needed serious attention.  That transformation has begun in the early stages.  I’m also finding myself amazingly grateful for the gifts and abilities God gives people to work on those issues.  I am also reflecting that while my mouth is being fixed physically, I want it to also be healthy spiritually, and my words be honoring to God and encouraging to others.  So I leave you with one question.  How’s your mouth? 

Lowville

Lowville

This week, I got a call from a man who serves faithfully at Northside, and learned that his father who had been sick and nearing death had gone to be with Jesus at the age of 89.  My friend, in his 60’s was sorting through the deep emotions of saying farewell to his father, a man he was extremely close to and respected greatly. 

Just a couple days later, I would travel north with one of our associate pastors and his wife to the funeral.  Lowville is south of Watertown, and about an hour and a half north of us.  Lowville, is the typical town that has birthed the vision in my heart for Keep the Fire Burning.  Google says the population was 4,982 as of 2010.  

As we got to Lowville Baptist Church, we saw the crowd already gathering.  I learned that in the family there were six kids, many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren.  The service was the powerful reminder of what matters most in life – faith, family and friends.  Following the service, it seemed like everyone joined the processional to the cemetery.  Veterans were there to honor this fellow soldier.  Scripture was read, and prayer was offered for the family by the pastor of the deceased.

We then returned to the church for lunch together.  I  had begun to realize, remember, and recognize that someone else who had a strategic role in the north was also buried in Lowville. His name was Daniel Nash.  From 1816-1822 he served as pastor of the Stow’s Square Congregational Presbyterian Church.  He would later give himself to a ministry of prayer with pastor/evangelist Charles Finney.

Nash was little known for his pastoral ministry, but his prayers reached heaven and shook the earth.  Entire communities were transformed.  Thousands came to Christ.  This little known man would arrive at a community just a few weeks before Finney would preach there, and rent a room.  He would gather a handful of believers in the town and pray until the scheduled meetings.  God moved greatly in answer to prayer. The power of God would fall on businesses, churches and communities.  

At lunch we learned that my friend’s brother was a pastor in town currently, and knew where Nash’s grave was.  In fact his church owns the property where Nash's church used be located.  He took us further up route 26 to the site of the old church, and then down a very small side road to an old cemetery where he showed us the grave of Daniel Nash.  We prayed together and asked God for revival to come again.  This weekend, I was reminded again with Elmer Towns preaching at Northside, that the call to pray is one of life’s greatest privileges. 

This weekend, as best we know now it seems around a dozen people gave their lives to Jesus and trusted Him as Savior and Lord at Northside.  That’s why Jesus came – to save us from our sins.  Hallelujah, what a Savior!  God worked in Lowville and Adams years ago.  I’m confident He still is – in fact we saw evidence of that.  My prayer is that revival fires burn throughout the 55 million of the northeast and spread to the whole world for the glory of God! 

Don’t ever call a place a small town – there are no ‘little’ places to God.  After all, Bethlehem was little in Jesus’ day.  God raised up a prayer warrior in Lowville and he’s doing it again.  God also loves the cities and has plans for those who live among the millions.  Be strong in the Lord.  He’s at work.  He lived, he died, he was buried, and he rose again.  He ascended into heaven and one day He is coming back again.  Be ready!

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!