Pastor Dave's Blog

A Strong Foundation

2011-12-29T11:22:00.000-08:00

I'm sitting in my office and wow things are noisy outside my window! The reason? The contractors are busy digging up our land and getting it ready for the day we will build our new Worship Facility! The interesting thing is, prior to their being on-site, we spent several years in meetings with city engineers and planners, along with the contractors to make sure we followed all the proper guildlines and rules so everything was done correctly. You see, as much as we want to see this new facility built, without the proper preparation and the proper foundation we could never build. Without a sturdy foundation, a house could collapse, twist, or sink. There are so may possibilities for failure, and depending on the environment you are living in, it could happen sooner or later. Without question, the foundation is the most important part of your house because the entire structure depends on it. A house can not stand up without the foundation. It would just cave right in. Ouch!

Reflecting back on all the meetings, listening to all the noise outside, and watching the contractors work on our land reminds me of what Jesus said almost 2,000 years ago about having the right foundation. Not only is having the right foundation vital for the safety, health, and longevity of a house, it's also true for our lives. In Matthew 7:24-27 Jesus said, "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had it's foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."

It's interesting that the same storms came to both houses but the only one that was safe and remained standing was the house that had the right foundation. If you're not facing any storms right now, that's awesome, but sooner or later we all will. The question is, Will you be standing afterwards? If you have the right foundation . . . you will!

His Love, His Grace, His Care

2011-04-28T15:45:00.000-07:00

I recently attended our Annual Conference in Yakima Washington and while I was there I heard an incredible testimony from author and speaker Carol Kent as she shared about the story of her son Jason, who was convicted of murdering his wife’s ex-husband, and how God through his grace and his mercy has turned an unbelievable tragedy into something good. As I listened it was hard for me to imagine how any parent could live through what she has lived through and still have a strong faith in God; and yet she does. I was absolutely amazed at how God used this tragedy to impact and influence so many lives and to turn it around for good.

As I reflected on what she shared I realized afresh that God’s love, God’s grace, and God’s care stays consistent no matter what we go through. He really is the same yesterday, today, and forever. GOD’S LOVE….His love is unconditional. He loves me as much on my good days as he does on my bad days; and he will never love me more than he does right now. That last line is a little hard to comprehend and yet it is so true. His love is different than human love. It’s consistent! GOD’S GRACE ….His grace is available to me no matter what I do or what I face or what I go through. I love the fact that God has made it possible that I don’t get what I deserve; but I’m able to get what I need; His grace! I don’t have to be “good enough” or “work hard enough”; He’s simply made it available. It’s consistent! GOD’S CARE… this one at times is hard to see. What God is teaching me is that sometimes what I think is a lack of God’s care; is really the exact opposite. He knows exactly what I need in my life. My job is to trust him by casting all my cares upon Him; and to know that he really does care for me all the time. It’s consistent!

Most of us will never face the kind of tragedy I mentioned at the beginning of this blog; but we ALL do face tough circumstances and it’s comforting; it’s reassuring; and it’s encouraging to know that the love, grace, and care of God is real, it’s available; and it is life changing. Are you facing a tough time right now? Tap into what He’s made abundantly available to you, His love, His grace; and His care. You’ll be amazed at what God can do when we trust Him!

Remember!

2011-01-07T15:18:00.000-08:00

I admit it….I LOVE CHRISTMAS! Opening presents! The chaos! The food! The fun! Lot’s of noise! More noise! And then more noise! Isn’t it great? There’s nothing like getting together with those you love. Each year we have a tradition that on Christmas morning all our children and their families come over for Christmas brunch and then we open presents and spend the day playing games, eating and just enjoying being together. Once again everyone came Christmas morning and gathered around the table, ( actually three tables as our family is getting so big.) Sitting there I couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride and gratitude for God’s incredible blessing to me . . . my wife; my three children; their spouses; and my incredible ten grandchildren! I felt so blessed! This was definitely a “do over" day for me!

Since that time as we've entered this new year, I’ve spent a lot of time rehearsing the goodness and the faithfulness of God in my life. It’s so easy in the midst of a hectic, fast-paced lifestyle, and pressures that life brings; to forget to give thanks to God not only for today’s blessings but for God’s past faithfulness in our lives. Why is this so important? Because God’s faithfulness in the past casts a shadow of hope for our future! So, now that Christmas is over and we're beginning this new year, why not grab a cup of Starbucks, a pen and paper, and take the time to think back as far as you can in your past; and list every detail of God’s faithfulness in your life. Remember . . . God’s faithfulness in your past casts a shadow of hope for your future.

You're Never To Old

2010-10-25T10:32:00.000-07:00

Last week all my children and grandchildren and other family members got together to celebrate my father-in-law's 90th birthday! It was a surprise so we all hid in the house waiting for dad to arrive. You should have seen the surprise on his face when he walked in and heard the shouts of "Happy Birthday" and "We love you, Papa.” (Papa is the name we affectionately call him). What struck me was not only the look of surprise on his face, but the joy of being appreciated and loved by so many! You see, it doesn’t matter how old we get we want to know that we are cared for, loved, and appreciated! It was awesome to see my children and my grandchildren, one by one go up to Papa and give him a hug and tell him how much they loved him, and to wish him a Happy Birthday. The truth is, we don’t need to wait for a birthday to let others know we love them! We can and should do it often to those people in our lives that we care for.

Does anybody in your life need to know they are loved and appreciated? Why don’t you send them an e-mail, a letter; or better yet pick up the phone! Everyone loves to hear “I love you!”

The Legacy

2010-06-17T15:40:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago some of my kids and their families were over for lunch one Sunday after church. After we had eaten we were all sitting around talking when my three year old grandson Jordan came up to me and wanted me to play with him. Never turning down an offer like that - we played for a little while and then I asked him a question, “What’s your last name?” He looked at me kind of funny and then he said in a somewhat loud voice “McBroom!” I said, "That’s right! " And then I asked him, “What’s your full name?" And just as emphatically he said, "Jordan David McBroom!" I told him it was awesome that he knew his name and then I asked him if he knew what my last name was. He answered, “Papa Papa!” (I had to hold in my laugh!) So I told him that my last name was McBroom too, and that my full name was David McBroom, just like his. And without hesitation he said, “Papa David McBroom!” (We both had a great laugh with that one!)

I turned to my kids and I said, "Wow, I sure have a lot of children named after me! My own son, David Jeffery, Conner David, Jordan David, and most recently Josiah David." And then someone casually said, “That’s your legacy!” When they said that, I didn't say anything but I lodged that thought in my mind.

Later, however, l began to reflect on the statement, “That’s your legacy”. Honestly, I was a little overwhelmed at the thought of having so many people in my immediate family that I have the opportunity to influence….for good or otherwise. And it got me to thinking, “What kind of legacy do I want to leave? What do I want to be remembered for? And more importantly, how do I leave a lasting, permanent legacy?” As I thought more about it I came to the conclusion that . . . I have to be a man of character in all areas of my life if I truly want to leave a lasting legacy. As an individual person, a partner, a parent, a papa, and pastor! Wow! What a great opportunity I have to model and to pass on to my children and grandchildren what a man of character looks like; so they too, can pass on their legacy from generation to generation. I’m so glad I had the chance to have that conversation with my three year old grandson… for out of the mouth of babes!

So what do you want to be remembered for? What legacy do you want to leave? Maybe it’s time to have a conversation….?

Three Things!

2010-04-27T17:23:00.000-07:00

This past month I’ve been doing my devotions reading the book of Philippians and it’s challenging me on every level of my life as a Christ follower. Even though I’ve been a Christ follower now for about 40 plus years; if I’m not careful I can go from “relationship” to “religion” without noticing the gradual slide. It’s so easy to get distracted from what’s really important. One verse in particular that rocked Christian world and life is found in Philippians 3:3 which says, “For we are the circumcision who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.” Wow! Three things, which those who are in “relationship” with God do, versus those who are in “religion” who don’t do.

Worship!
Rejoice!
And put no confidence in the flesh!

And you need all three to be in an intimate, personal relationship with God! I’m convinced that a true follower of God has all three of these characteristics operating on a consistent basis in their lives. In other words my life needs to reflect an attitude of worship! A lifestyle where I don’t just go through the motions but meaning it from the heart! God doesn’t just want me physically; he wants my heart and my soul! (And man am I challenged to reflect the joy of knowing Jesus)! My life should not be characterized by discouragement, depression, or a victim mentality. (So many who claim to be Christ followers live this way). The bottom line is that if I lost everything but still had my relationship with Jesus then I have a reason to rejoice. Worship is needed! Rejoicing is needed!

But also, I should never put my hope in the arm of the flesh. Yes, use my talents! Yes, use my gifts and abilities, but put on my trust and confidence in the flesh….no! Certainly, we should do all we can and give it our very best; but always remembering what Paul said in Philippians 2:13 “For it is GOD WHO WORKS IN YOU both to will and to do for His good pleasure”. When I’m living in the will of God my life should be filled with praise, joy, and trust so that God gets all the glory!

For me, one of the ways I’m learning to “worship more intently”, “rejoice with more passion;” and “putting no confidence in the flesh” is by living my life through the lens and the grid of eternity! You see, in life, it doesn’t really matter how long you live…what matters is…how you live! It’s not the “duration” of your life that matters; it’s the “donation” of your life. I’m learning (and you would think I would have learned this by now), that there is no way I could ever accomplish what God had called me to do on my own. It’s WAY bigger than me! So how are you doing these days with worship? Are you living a life of joy, rejoicing in your relationship with God through Christ? Are you trying to do what God has called you to do on your own? Why not commit today to serve God where you are with a worshipful and joyful heart that is trusting completely in God!

BTW – When I’m doing all three of these….my STRESS LEVEL goes way down and the JOY goes way up! Three things….three choices….what are you going to choose to do?

Reading The Red

2010-02-24T15:14:00.000-08:00

For about two months now I’ve been “reading the red” (the words of Jesus) and specifically the Sermon on the Mount; and I have to tell you that Jesus is turning my world upside down. I’ve read the Sermon on the Mount many, many times but I’ve never approached reading it and meditating on it like what Bill Hyble’s describes as “saturation reflection”. For me, that means reading the Sermon on the Mount everyday for the rest of 2010.

A few days ago as I was reading I stopped at Matthew 5:46. I had one of those “aha” moments when God zeroed in on my heart like a laser and I knew the Holy Spirit would not let me leave this verse. I had to ask myself some very tough questions. Am I applying this verse to my life as a pastor and as a person? How well is love operating in my life when it comes to “all people”?

If I'm being honest - it’s easy for me to love those who love and appreciate me back. But what about when people wrong me, or say unkind things, or become very critical? My first reaction when people hurt me or do unkind things is to retaliate and get even. (I hate to admit that but it’s true). I guess I didn’t realize how much Jesus raised the bar regarding relationships in this one verse. According to Jesus, just loving those who love me - well even the tax collectors do that…ouch…! That doesn’t take much effort at all. There's nothing great about that. But CHOOSING to LOVE the unlovable, that’s a whole different thing all together.

What Jesus is teaching me though is that when I do that I’m positioning myself to be like my heavenly Father. What He is asking me to do is to have the kind of love that is all-inclusive that really does SEEK THE GOOD OF ALL. It doesn’t mean that I’m best friends with everyone, but I do seek THE BEST for them. Jesus is saying that instead of following the example of sinners who love only those who love them, I’m to be like my heavenly Father in also loving those who don’t love me! I can only do that with His help.

I love "reading the red"!

Heroes

2010-02-03T16:46:00.000-08:00

We all have heroes in our life, don’t we? Every once in a while God will remind me that heroes come in all shapes, colors, and sizes. We just have to keep our eyes open to see them.

This past Friday night I had the privilege of going to watch my granddaughter Hailey perform in her grade school’s Talent Show. (She was definitely the best in the show as I'm sure you would of agreed had you been there!) Hailey is six years old and in kindergarten and honestly, I never dreamed that she would get up in front of a gym full of people and sing and dance. But she did . . . and she blew me away!

Most of the kids in the show sang songs by their heroes; Miley Cyrus, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, and others. Now there’s nothing wrong with that – back when I was in grade school boys were singing, “She Loves You Yeah Yeah Yeah”, by the Beatles with black mops on their heads - so I understand how these young kids emulate their heroes. We all did it when we were young.

But what stood out at this Talent Show and made this “Papa” so incredibly proud was that Hailey and her little friend Cora sang and danced to the song, “Jesus Is Our Superhero”. At age six they were the only ones to sing about JESUS in a room full of peers and adults. And guess what? Everyone cheered and clapped loudly for them – and no one more than me!!

My prayer is that Jesus will always be Hailey’s superhero no matter how old she gets. I’m so proud of you Hailey girl and you were my hero that night!!

The Christmas Coats

2009-12-01T19:22:00.000-08:00

(As told by my wife Cathy)
It had been one of those damp and very wet Decembers in the Northwest. And now, as Christmas was soon approaching the temperature had dropped and the days were starting to get frosty and cold. Each morning I would bundle up the children for school with coats, mittens and even stocking hats. They would march off to the bus stop snug and warm along with all the other kids on our street. That is, all except for the two little children who lived in the corner house. They were a brother and sister who were being raised by their grandparents. They never played much with the other children. In fact, the only time we ever saw them was when they would walk up the street to the bus stop and then home again. They were always neat and clean but I could tell by their clothing that their family didn’t have much money. In fact, since the weather had turned cold I had noticed them going off to school in tattered jackets, far too thin for the cold December weather. But what could I do? I really didn’t even know them.

Christmas was in the air! My thoughts and days were filled with shopping, baking, decorating, and the anticipation of family gatherings. I loved this wonderful, magical season. The carolers, the lights, the kid’s Christmas program at church, the eggnog, the presents - all of this and more filled my heart with happiness and joy. My children loved this time of year, too. They talked of new toys, new clothes, video games and the list grew and grew with each advertisement they saw on television. Even though we didn’t have a lot of money I wanted this to be the best Christmas ever for them so I was determined to buy them as much as I could. I couldn’t wait to see their faces on Christmas morning when they saw the tree filled with presents waiting to be opened.

But as each day passed and Christmas drew nearer, I became less and less excited. I was uneasy, unsettled. I prayed and asked the Lord to help this be the best Christmas ever for my family but still the nagging feeling that something was wrong wouldn’t leave. Then one morning, while standing at the window watching my children walk up the street to the bus stop - I SAW THEM! The children from the corner house. And all at once I knew what was wrong - what had been tugging at my heart. An overwhelming shame and conviction filled me. I realized that the “Spirit of Christmas” in my home had been placed on getting – rather than on giving. I asked the Lord to forgive me and I asked Him to somehow help us teach our children the real meaning of Christmas this year.

That evening Dave and I shared the Christmas story with our children and told them how God gave His most precious gift to us – His Son Jesus. We talked about how Christmas is a season of love and sharing. We asked the kids if they would be willing to sacrifice some of their gifts in order to help others less fortunate have a happy Christmas. With excitement in their voices they all said, "YES!"

The next day we went shopping and picked out two warm coats – one for the little girl and one for the little boy along with toys for each of them. We came home and everyone helped with the wrapping. Something had changed in our family. I felt it and I know everyone else did too. We were happy – not for ourselves but for the feeling that only comes in giving. . . of ourselves.

Late on Christmas Eve Dave loaded up the gifts along with a ham and a few other things we’d bought for a Christmas dinner and he walked across the street. I prayed that the elderly couple wouldn’t be offended but would accept our gifts with joy. A few minutes later he returned empty-handed and told how the grandma and grandpa thanked him over and over with tears in their eyes.

Christmas morning arrived sunny and very cold! It wasn’t long before our kids were out of bed and squeals of excitement were heard as they ran to the tree. Wrapping paper was thrown everywhere as presents were opened and hugs were given. As we began to clean up the mess, my son Jeff looked out the living room window and very quietly, almost reverently called for all of us to come look.

What we saw that morning will always be in my memory. Outside were the two little kids from the corner house, buttoned up tight in their new coats running up and down their driveway with huge smiles on their faces. We stood there in silence, every one of us with tears in our eyes. No one said a word but we all knew that somehow, almost magically, the true meaning of Christmas had come into our home.

Those children never did know who gave them those gifts that year - none of us ever said a word - but every time we saw them wearing their new coats we secretly smiled - having learned that it truly is - more blessed to give than to receive! We also experienced a wonderful lesson about life that Christmas. Something that works every day of the year – not just during the holiday season. We realized that the giving of ourselves to others is so much more rewarding than the taking.

The years have come and gone and Dave and I are much older now, my children are all grown with families of their own – but that Christmas memory many years ago is one that my family will never forget.

So as this Christmas season approaches, share some kindness and generousity with someone in need - believe me . . . it's the best way to fill your heart with Christmas Spirit!

Merry Christmas!

Game On!

2009-11-03T16:40:00.001-08:00

As many of you know I’m a die-hard Husky fan! Man do I love college football! Last Saturday Cathy and I went to a UW Husky game. We had great seats up in the third tier on the 40 yard line. At the opening kickoff the stadium was filled with exuberant fans, it was sunny and warm; we could see the whole field, the boats on Lake Washington and even the Cascades in the distance. It was a perfect day for football and the excitement in that stadium was crazy! In the end the Huskies won and it was an amazing game!

At one point during the game Cathy turned to me and said, “Wouldn’t it be awesome if people came to church as fired up about Jesus as they come fired up to play and watch a football game?” I later thought about that statement and I thought, you know, she’s right - that would be awesome. In fact, what a novel idea!

Many people come to church each Sunday expecting to be inspired and motivated so they can go out and maintain during the week until they can come back again the next Sunday for more encouragement to keep them going for yet another week. Now I know that we all need encouragement from time to time and having a good coach on any sports team is essential for the team, but in reality - it is the players themselves who go out there and do all the work. During the week they practice running lines, throwing the ball and running the plays. They have great discipline in their workouts and in the time spent on the practice field so when game day does come – they are pumped up and fired up and ready to play!

Wouldn’t it be great if Christians put that much effort and discipline into their spiritual workouts each week – things like time spent in prayer, Bible reading, journaling, and just drawing close to the Lord – so when Sundays came, they were already filled up and excited to come and worship God with their whole hearts. Just think how much more effective our services could be if we all came fired up and ready to give God our very best!

I’m challenging each one of you to practice those spiritual disciplines during the week so you won’t need to come and sit each Sunday and be encouraged – you’ll be the one encouraging others with your excitement and enthusiasm for Jesus! He’s far more worthy of our passion than any football team!

Up for the challenge? Game on!

The "Good" News and the "Bad" News

2009-11-03T16:39:00.001-08:00

It all started about five months ago when we got a phone call from my wife’s sister who was in Arizona with the “bad news” that mom was in the hospital ICU with heart problems. When we first heard the news my wife and I were, to say the least, greatly concerned and worried because of mom’s age at the time. We didn’t know it then, but the next five months would be the last five months we would have with mom on this earth. It’s still very painful for me to even write about this because I loved mom so much. You see, my biological mom lives about 3,000 miles away and I love her more than I can describe; but I also loved my wife’s mom. She has always made me feel like her very own!

The “bad news” is that I never get to hear her voice again or give her one of those bear hugs that she liked. The “bad news” is that I will never be able to engage in conversation with her about the bible which we did on so many occasions. (She loved talking about the bible). The “bad news” is that I won’t be able to tell her on Mother’s Day how much I love and appreciate her love, her faith, and her incredible influence on me and in particular on my family. The “bad news” is that I will never experience a Thanksgiving again with her at the dinner table. For as long as I can remember mom has always been with us at Thanksgiving; and I wish now I would have taken the time to let her know just how thankful I was to have her in my life. The “bad news” is that I will never be able to listen to mom tell the Christmas story to the children, the grandchildren and the great grandchildren. I know the little ones were impatient to open their gifts but what they didn’t know is that one of their best gifts was the one telling them about the greatest gift of all. I suppose I could go on and on about the “bad news” and really it’s only “bad news” because I can’t see or touch or talk to mom anymore for myself.

The “good news” in all this bad news is that Nana didn’t really die. That sounds strange doesn’t it? And yet I’m reminded of the words of Jesus when He said, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die”. Yes, mom’s, (Nana’s) earthly life is over but she has never been more fully alive than she is right now! The “good news” in the bad news is that Nana has no more pain, no more suffering, and no more difficulties physically. The “good news” in the bad news is that Nana left us a tremendous legacy: Her model of true Christianity, her prayers that never die and her unwavering love for her family. The really “good news” in the bad news is that one day I’m going to see Nana (mom) again.

What bad news are you facing today? Somewhere in that bad news I’m convinced that you can find some “good news”. Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that all things work together for “good” to them that love God….” Not all things are good but somehow, someway God can bring good out of any situation or event in life. And it’s for those who love God. Being a Christ follower makes all the difference in the world!

Why not take the time to ask God to show you “The Good News in the Bad News” as you live each day for Him! In time, you’ll see and discover that God has a plan that is much bigger and better than we could ever imagine. And it could be that that is an opportunity to rethink the way we live our everyday lives and in the process, to learn a new reliance on God.

So long for now, Mom! I'll see you someday in Heaven!

Your son, Dave

How Are You Doing REALLY?

2009-11-03T16:38:00.001-08:00

One of the things I really enjoy doing is reading. It seems like I’m always looking for a book on leadership; or maybe a biography to read. But one book in particular that I read a few months ago was a book by Bill Hybels called “Axiom”. Bill describes axioms as powerful leadership proverbs. To be honest, when I first bought the book I had no idea what an Axiom was. But I’ve since learned first hand the power they can have in people’s lives personally and in a team environment when used in the right way.

After I had finished reading the book I decided to try an experiment at one of our monthly “all staff meetings”. I had decided ahead of time to use one of the axioms’s I read in Bill’s book called, “How Are you doing…Really?” As Bill says in his book, in American culture, when you ask people how they’re doing, they’re nearly always “fine”. So if you want to convey that you are actually interested in hearing the truth about what’s going on in that persons inner world, and if you want to give the other person permission to answer you honestly, then you have to pose the question just a bit differently.

As we were all sitting around the room getting ready for the meeting to start I just simply asked “how’s everyone doing”. And I got the typical response; good, fine, everything’s great. But then I went around to each person individually and simply asked, “How are you doing…really? And wow! What a difference when I just took a minute to pause and show a deeper interest in the lives of those that I lead. What transpired over the next hour and a half was simply amazing as people began to open up and share from their hearts. With tears running down their cheeks they began sharing with the group the pains they were currently facing; their hurts, and their fears. Needless to say, the Holy Spirit ministered in a way we had never witnessed before. Hearts were encouraged; burdens were shared; and the whole atmosphere changed dramatically!

And now, several months later, even though we have many axiom’s that we use on a monthly basis; we always begin every meeting with the question, “How are you doing….really? As I was thinking about what transpired those many months ago; I was reminded of a verse out of Galatians 6:2 which says “carry one another’s burdens”. That’s what we were doing! I was so glad that I took the time to find out what was going on their world; not just for leadership sake; but for love’s sake too. The Lord taught me that the people I lead need to know that they’re part of a “burden-carrying team”. When you create an atmosphere of genuine community it helps to keep our hearts tender toward each other and our collective prayers more focused.

For the people in your life, (you’re family, you’re friends, and you’re co-workers and neighbors) I want to encourage you to take the time to simply ask the question “how are you doing….really?” You might be surprised at the response you get when people know that you genuinely care about them!

By the way….”How are you doing….Really?”

A Powerful Force

2009-11-03T16:37:00.001-08:00

This past week Cathy and I decided to drive up to Snoqualmie Falls. We thought that after all the snow, rain and flooding it would be magnificent to see. And it was!

As I was walking up to the observation deck I could hear the loud rushing sound of the falls even before I got close. Once there, the powerful force of the spray was so strong that I could only look for a few seconds without turning my face away. I felt like I was being blasted with water! In all my years visiting there I had never seen the falls flowing with such force.

This past week many of the cities in our area have been devastated by flooding. I saw this first hand as we drove around the city of Snoqualmie where it seemed like they took a good brunt of the flooding. I had never witnessed anything like this before. As we drove down the streets we could see that home after home was damaged by the flood. Carpets and furnishing were out on the front lawns; sump pumps were running all over the city pumping water out of basements, people were sweeping mud out their front doors and wading around in muddy boots trying to somehow sort through the devastation.

As we were driving around I stopped and talked to one person who told me "his story" of what had happened. Five feet of water had engulfed their entire basement and two inches had covered their living room. After about ten minutes of talking he suddenly turned the conversation and said, “But you know, we have lots of family who are coming to help us, and everything is going to be okay." And sure enough before we were finished talking with him people did start arriving to help.

As we drove away, I thought about what he'd said and realized I'd just witnessed a picture of the Body of Christ. How many times have things gotten out of our control in life? Life happened . . . and we were devastated. And yet when those trying times have come, it’s been so great to know that there are people who care about us and are willing to come and help in our time of need. I’ve seen this happen over and over in our church family! People step up, reach out and help with whatever the need.

I’m so glad to be a part of a church family that really cares about one another. Love is shown by word and by action. I love Solid Rock!

P.S. I'm also very thankful I don't live by a river!

A "Perfect" Christmas

2009-11-03T16:36:00.001-08:00

Have you ever had one of those days where you had an almost “perfect” day? Well, I did this past week. Each year in December on the Friday before our anniversary, Cathy and I go into Seattle to Christmas shop, see all the lights and decorations and then go out to dinner. It has become somewhat of a tradition for us and one that we really look forward to.

So once again this year we headed out on a very cold but sunny afternoon and arrived in Seattle, where we proceeded to go to our usual Starbucks and get our favorite drinks. (This too, is tradition!) We then spent a couple hours wandering around the downtown stores and admiring all the beautiful decorations.

As we were waiting at a crosswalk a man and woman approached us and asked if we liked the theater . . . we said, “Yes”. They told us they had two tickets to opening night at the 5th Avenue Theater to see “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” and since they weren’t able to use them they asked if we would like to have them . . . FREE of charge! Well YES!!! They handed them to us and said, “Merry Christmas” as they walked away. We just stood there in amazement.

As it got dark the lights of the city came on and lit everything in beautiful colors. There were groups of carolers everywhere lining the streets as this night was the famous “Figgy Pudding” caroling contest. What fun we had stopping and listening to the carolers sing the songs of Christmas. We grabbed a bite to eat and then walked up to the 5th Avenue Theater and for the next several hours enjoyed a wonderful musical production.

It’s funny how God sometimes just blesses us unexpectedly. Cathy and I call this “The blessings of God”!

Remember I said it was an almost “perfect” day? There was a sad moment when we were walking down the crowded street and we came upon a young woman and her boyfriend standing on the street corner holding a sign that said, “My life is worthless.” As I passed her I felt such sadness . . . and then I stopped. I knew I had to go talk to her. So I walked up and asked her why she felt her life had no meaning. She proceeded to tell me her story. When she was finished I looked right at her and said, “Your life does have meaning and you are important to God.” Her boyfriend just rolled his eyes but she looked right back at me and said, “Thank you, I needed to hear that.”

In retrospect maybe this was a “perfect” day after all. Cathy and I had a wonderful time together and I had the privilege of sharing Christ’s love with someone who truly needed it. It really doesn't get any better than that! Merry Christmas!

Happy Thanksgiving

2009-11-03T16:35:00.002-08:00

Wow! Where does the time go! In just a couple of weeks we’re going to be celebrating Thanksgiving; and then in just a short few weeks after that it will be Christmas!

One of the things I love the most about Thanksgiving is spending it with family. It really doesn’t get any better than that! I was thinking how over the last 20 years or so we have developed some traditions in our family that I look forward to every year. To me it serves as a reminder of how precious time really is and that we should appreciate every moment we have together.

One of the traditions we do at Thanksgiving is have everyone write down what they are thankful for. We roll up the paper with their answer, tie a ribbon around it, and put it away for next year! And then, right before we eat our Thanksgiving dinner, we have each one read what they wrote from the year before. I always look forward to hearing what was written. On more than one occasion I have shed a few tears . . . and many times I’ve busted a gut laughing at some of the stuff that was written.

Sometimes as we are eating I will just look around the table at my wife, each of my children, my grandchildren, Cathy’s parents, and whoever else may be sharing Thanksgiving with us and I think to myself, “It truly is a wonderful life”. I realize in those moments that it’s not the things I have that bring me the greatest joy; it’s the people I love. I am truly blessed.

But I do need to confess - I eat way too much at at this time of the year. But what's a guy to do when you’re married to a great cook like Cathy! I can’t wait for the leftovers!

The Corn Maze

2009-11-03T16:35:00.000-08:00

I just love the fall! This season is one of my favorites because it’s so beautiful and also because I know it leads into my favorite holidays, Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Last weekend Cathy and I went with four of our grandkids to a pumpkin patch and corn maze out in Buckley. The sun was shining, the air was crisp and the trees were vibrant colors of red, yellow, and orange. It was a beautiful day.

As we ate carmel apples the kids ran through the pumpkin patch checking out the biggest pumpkins. My grandsons even talked me into taking a “monster truck” ride and it was great! But the best thing we did together was go through the corn maze. Before we began we had to get a question sheet with 10 questions on it. There were also 10 sign posts inside the maze corresponding to each question. In order to continue in the right direction we had to answer each question correctly. We had several categories of questions we could choose from such as: movies, history, sports, etc. We chose the category, the Bible. Inside the maze we went, laughing and running through the cornstalks. As we got to each question I was amazed at how many answers my grandkids got right!

It made my heart so happy to see firsthand that my grandchildren are being taught the Word of God. The Bible has been such an important part of my own spiritual journey and I’m thrilled that it is being planted in the hearts of my legacy.

It was a perfect fall day for me. I guess it’s true that some of the best things in life can be seen through the eyes of little children. I felt like a kid again myself as I ran through the corn maze with them. I’m thinking I should hang out with them more often!

The Spider

2009-11-03T16:33:00.001-08:00

I HATE SPIDERS! OK – I said it! I hate them with a passion! I was working on the computer this past Friday morning when all of a sudden I heard this blood curdling scream from Cathy. She was yelling, “David! David! Get in here!” I immediately ran into the rec room to see her pointing and screaming, “SPIDER!” I looked and sure enough there was this huge (and I mean huge) spider sitting on the floor beside the chair.

At first I thought Cathy was faking me out and trying to scare me but when I realized she wasn’t . . . my knees got wobbly. As she screamed, “Get it! ’ I grabbed my shoe and threw it at the spider. It didn’t move! I cautiously crept closer to it and only then did I realize it was a fake rubber spider! Then I felt really stupid . . . but my insides were still shaking.

Alright . . . who planted that stupid spider in our house? I figured it had to be my daughter Jamie since she was the only one over the day before but when I called her she swore she knew nothing about it (amidst her laughter)! Our small group had met at our house on Wednesday evening and I wouldn’t put it past any of them to do it either but even so, why didn’t we see the spider before Friday morning? I don’t know who planted that spider to scare me but I want to tell whoever it was – it worked! And I’m determined to find who the culprit is and when I do – watch out!

This incident made me think back on the many times in my life when I allowed fear, worry and doubt to fill my mind about things that later turned out to not even be real. How many times have I worried about problems that ended up never even happening? God's Word says in 2 Timothy 1:7, "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, of love, and of a sound mind." I need to apply this scripture more than ever whenever fear creeps in and tries to rob me of my joy! I think I also need to remember it next time I see a spider!

Work Those Muscles!

2009-11-03T16:30:00.001-08:00

I enjoy going to 24 hour fitness to try and keep my “growing older body” in shape. To be honest, sometimes it is very difficult to get motivated to get dressed and go to the gym; but I’ve noticed that when I do go; and when I am consistent to go 2 or 3 times a week that my workouts go well; the results are better; and I feel so much more energized. I’ve also learned that in order to get the most benefit I have to make sure that I don’t cheat when I’m lifting weights. (I would love to impress those around me but lifting my weights just doesn’t cut it!)

As my nephew Scotty, (who is a personal trainer) will tell you, the amount of weight you use is not nearly as important as doing the exercise properly. Doing it the right way always produces the best results; which in turn increases your overall strength and endurance. In other words, there are no short cuts to being physical fit; you have to be faithful to do the workouts in the right way!

That same truth also applies with spiritual disciplines as well. There are no short cuts to spiritual growth. Sometimes I don’t feel like reading the Bible or fasting or praying, but I’ve always found that when I do, (regardless of how I feel); I’m always glad I did. It’s doing what I know I should do, even when I don’t want to do it; that causes my spiritual muscles to develop. And over time I can see the results of that in my personal relationship with the Lord.

Summer Camping

2009-11-03T16:28:00.001-08:00

Cathy and I just returned from a week long camping trip to Lake Siskiyou in northern California with my brother and his family. What an awesome time we had sleeping in a tent, cooking outdoors, laying on the beach, drinking Starbucks each morning while watching the sun rise (and yes, I brought my own Starbucks for the camp stove), sitting around the campfire each night and gazing at the millions of stars in the sky.

It did my soul good to get away from the busyness of life and just kick back and do nothing for a few days. I had no computer, no email, and only checked my cell phone for messages a few times. There was something so refreshing about getting out in nature and seeing the beautiful handiwork of God.

One afternoon we went exploring and followed a winding mountain road up for miles and miles until we came to the very end where we stumbled upon the most beautiful pristine lake surrounded by meadows, trees and wildlife. I felt like the psalmist when he wrote in Psalm 19:1, "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims His handiwork." I marveled that day at the beauty of our God. I was amazed by His power and might, and I stood simply in awe of Him.

I'm so glad Cathy and I had the opportunity to get away and get refreshed and now, as the summer comes to an end I'm excited to see what God has in store for us and our church family as a new season aproaches.