TAKING MY BOAT OUT ON LAKE ERIE

“I didn’t know you had a boat!” you say? Well, technically, I don't. I’ve heard it said that the two best days of owning a boat are the day you buy it and the day you sell it. How many times a year do you suppose a person could actually get out on their boat in Cleveland, Ohio when they’re working a full time job – maybe 5 times at best? It would cost quite a bit for those 5 trips when you add it all up. So I simply purchase a ticket about 5 times a year and take the GOODTIME III out on Lake Erie, head for the top deck with a good book and occasionally enjoy a box of popcorn and ginger ale. Yep, they even have a concession stand on “my boat”! Dr. Richard Dobbins said, "we don’t live with our reality but rather the story we tell ourselves about our reality.” So what’s the story you’re telling yourself about your reality?

The gift of ALONE

I’ll admit, I was a little nervous snapping this picture with my cell phone. What if I drop it to the bottom of… oh, just don’t think about that. On my day off this week, I rented a kayak, one of my favorite “day off” things to do.

Paddling furiously across the open lake, I can get a great work out. Then moments later, I will put my feet up, lean back and sit very quietly, sort of becoming one with the water. I feel God’s presence in the wind, in the bounce of the water, the glow of the sunshine dancing on the water and the serenity of nature. In a single seated kayak in the middle of the lake, it’s a place where alone seems natural. It's a place where alone is wrapped as a beautiful gift that pulls my heart in close to Jesus in a way that just can’t happen quite the same amidst the noise of life, in the presence of people. When was the last time you experienced the gift of alone?

My Fathers' Day Thoughts

It was a moment frozen in time but I didn't really stop. I thought of him this morning when I put my guitar back in the case at the end of the church service. He was meticulous about the gentle care of musical instruments, always positioning the guitar strap in the case in such a way to avoid pressure and fold overs.

I grinned to myself this afternoon when, during my shopping trip looking for hanging flower baskets, I bought a flame broiled burger and roasted ear of corn from an outside vendor at the farmer's market. "Now that's the kind of Fathers' Day 'dinner' my dad would have appreciated,” I thought to myself. Two reasons: It was inexpensive. When we'd take him to an upscale restaurant, he would comment on how we just "bought a whole lot of atmosphere". Secondly, I remember him comparing home grown, fresh corn on the cob to lobster. Not just because they both taste best dripping in butter. He said, "Corn tastes best when it's picked from the stalk and dropped right into the boiling water ... like a live lobster."

Those were some of the simple memories I treasure the most. What a guy! Gone but never forgotten. Happy Father's Day, Dad.

FRIENDS DAY at Rockside Church

After a great concert with the vocal band, Praise-apella (http://www.praise-apella.com/), we spent the afternoon in picnic mode enjoying incredible food, a volleyball tournament, snow cones and games for kids. But by far, my favorite part of the day was what you see pictured here ... visiting with so many special people. Our regular attendees brought their parents and co-workers, neighbors and friends. I loved meeting each one of them. And I was especially honored when several of my neighbors I had invited showed up (pictured here). See their blog at clevelandrumi.org. They also brought some delicious Turkish and Indian food that was a huge hit. It was a good day of meeting one another's guests and making new friends. What a great "FRIENDS DAY!"

A TITLE OR A TOWEL

This morning, I had a front row seat as the Honorable Mayor Gregory P. Kurtz presented the state of the city address to the people of Independence. He talked about his vision for reducing debt, the no place like home plan to assess the felt needs of senior citizens and the conversations taking place with neighboring communities about regionalization as far as sharing resources.

What really impressed me about the morning was that the Mayor and his leadership team, (council members, city employees, elected officials) served breakfast and poured coffee to the several hundred in attendance.

It reminded me of the words of Jesus Christ as recorded in the gospel of Luke 22:25-27 where Jesus responded to an argument about who was greatest.

In this world the kings and great men lord it over their people, yet they are called 'friends of the people'. But among you it will be different. Those who are the greatest among you should take the lowest rank, and the leader should be alike a servant. Who is more important, the one who sits at the table or the one who serves? The one who sits at the table, of course. But not here! For I am among you as one who serves. (New Living Translation - Luke 22:25-27)

What a great example of men and women who carried the towel of service rather than the title of position. God bless our city leaders in the City of Independence!

PHIL KEAGGY CONCERT

Since we’re doing a study on HEAVEN at my church, it was nearly impossible to put all I’ve been hearing out of my mind as I stepped into the Phil Keaggy “Master and Musician” Concert last Saturday in Youngstown’s Powers Auditorium. philkeaggy.com The truth is, I was emotionally overwhelmed on a few occasions as my present experience interfaced with my newly uncovered reminders, and strong anticipation, for the HEAVEN that awaits those of us who follow Jesus.

We arrived to our 4th row seats early. The stage was exposed, so my nephew, Jimmy and I scurried forward to peer at the 18 guitars and other instruments waiting to be played by the band that would join Phil Keaggy. We leaned forward to point and gawk in amazement. “I think this is what Heaven’s going to be like,” I couldn’t hold back from saying. “Really, dya think so?” Jimmy responded. Just then a man on the other side of me said, to no one to everyone, “Wow, this is like guitar heaven!”. I looked over and smiled at him. “You got that right!”

So where could my God given imagination take me to define HEAVEN? Right up to the stage to sit between Phil and Jonathan (oh, yeah, now they are my good friends) to be IN the band! Of course, God would have to give me a heavenly skill level so I could play better than I do now. We would exchange glances of affirmation and smiles as we played, finishing the song with a big ending followed by hearty laughter because we’re all having so much fun and amazed at the collaboration.

Okay, so I have a big imagination! Let me hear from you. What does your God given imagination do to define heaven for you?

Learn more about HEAVEN at http://www.epm.org/

VOTING FOR A DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT IN OHIO

Last Sunday evening, I attended a banquet in my city attended by several hundred Muslims. It was the 6th annual gathering (report, fund-raiser, inspiration, maybe not too different than our upcoming District Council) of the Council on American Islamic Relations, Cleveland Chapter. One of the guest speakers, Imam Johari Abdul Malik, in his talk entitled Persevering in Difficult Times observed (and I paraphrase and summarize) that as individuals, Muslim people are intelligent, disciplined, moral, financially conservative then generous with the excess. I would agree with him based on the friends and neighbors I know who are Muslim and the gracious people with whom the 3 of us shared a table that evening. The Imam went on to relate that other organizations are stronger only because they have more institutional strength than the sum of their individual members. (He had my attention.) He then encouraged his listeners to unite and bring their individual strength together.

As I often do, I came away saying “search me, O God, and see… in me” (Psalm 129:34 from the Bible). I asked my Lord Christ Jesus what He wanted me to do as a result of what I heard. I was challenged to not only continue praying for our upcoming election of a new District Superintendent in our organization, but to be less concerned about the one man who gets elected, and more concerned about the 428 of us who don’t get elected.

It is good to discuss the qualities we want in our next leader. But what if 100% of ordained ministers in our organization in Ohio committed to these qualities over the next four years:

1) Lovingly care for and mentor our staff members and younger pastors in our circle; foster mentoring relationships for ourselves
2) Participate in a monthly peer group of colleagues for prayer, growth, accountability and personal health
3) Voluntarily stay current on our personal dues/tithe so no resources or resolutions are needed to collect them
4) Be a positive participant in our section and district (whether by elected position, influence, or just seeing the need)
5) Initiate hosting our district’s missionaries and aggressively lead our churches (and by personal example) in supporting missions.
6) Stay current on reports (if required) and quickly ask for help when needed so problems don’t compound
7) Pray regularly for our district leaders and show them grace as people with feet of clay.

After all, isn’t that what we long for from our own congregations? Maybe then, the District Superintendent could focus all of his energy and attention (with all of our help) on the “duties” described for him in our bylaws, Article III, Section 1. Paragraph a. (again I’ll paraphrase) which is to promote and coordinate efforts toward worshipping God, encouraging God’s followers and giving people around the world a chance to personally know The Lord Christ Jesus.