After a high school youth retreat I dropped off an only child on my way home. Mom came out of their home with a smile on her face and her arms open wide! Her daughter bounced out of the car and gave her mother a great big hug…and then surprised us both. “Guess what Mom; I believe God wants me to be a missionary!” Her mom stood there, stunned. With a stern face, she said “I do not care what God wants, I won’t have it! You are staying here with me.” Even as that moment burned its way into my memory, I am sure it did into her daughter’s. Year’s later, we received a call from her – she had not stayed with her mother or with the Lord. She was living in a commune on the west coast. She wistfully said, “I remember the good times we had in our youth group.”

Michael Woodham, Woody, was also on the trip, was also an only child. During the week following the retreat I ran into Woody’s parents. They had huge smiles on their faces as they excitedly told me Woody believed God wanted him to be a missionary.

When Woody graduated from college, he married Debbie, a girl from our youth group. Debbie worked as a draftsman while Woody went to Seminary for his Master’s of Divinity Degree. Woody’s parents remained excited – we know this because for many years his parents kept in touch with us, often sending us pecans and lovingly made gifts.

A few years ago Woody looked me up on the internet, and we continue to communicate through e-mails. WHILE WRITING THIS I WENT TO CHECK MY E-MAIL FILE to see what I had on Woody, from several months back. THE FIRST E-MAIL I SAW WAS A NEW E-MAIL FROM WOODY with pictures of Woody and Deb. I called for an update.

I told Woody that after I wrote last Monday’s IPWG and told about the impact of Norton Mullens “Let me tell you of the goodness of the Lord”, I wrote this week’s IPWG: “God’s Assignments Are Tough!” which is the story of how we ended up in Bakerville, CT. I felt good about what I had written…but it began to bother me that I had only written one IPWG on our Dothan experiences. At this point Woody interrupted with “how could you do that – those were the most important years in your ministry!” Then I read to Woody what I had just written about him…which was up to where I put the capital letter sentence above. God’s timing is all that can account for my experience. I asked Woody to briefly review his life in Christian ministry.

While in college, Woody was almost killed in a head on car accident. His friend died and Woody lay in bed, severely injured, totally blind. During the previous semester he had taken a course on Hebrews. While lying in bed, he had one chapter of Hebrews read to him each day. On day 14, he realized he could see through one eye. The Zondervan Study Bible introduction to Hebrews writes “the theme of Hebrews is the absolute supremacy and sufficiency of Jesus Christ as a revealer and mediator of God’s grace”. Woody told me that suddenly the Scriptures became alive to him.

After serving in pastoral ministry in South Carolina and Georgia, Woody and Deb went to plant the first two Presbyterian Churches in Quito, Ecuador. While in Quito he learned that the Ecuadorian government had contracted with U. of Alabama to provide a continuing education program for Ecuador’s teachers. Woody had come to realize how much of a pastor’s time went into administration, and began his EdD in Administration and Planning with the U. of AL. In 1984 Woody, Debbie, and their children moved to Jamaica where he started IONA Centres for Theological Study for lay pastors. In 1988 they moved to Miami from where he continued to develop theological training centers for lay pastors in the Caribbean & Latin America. In 2006 Woody became the Executive Pastor of a Presbyterian Church in Coral Gables, FL.

I did not know much of this until this afternoon. It was a wonderful reminder of how the Lord has used Sally Jo and me to impact the lives of others. Woody and Deb were two kids in the youth group we led for two years. God had brought us together. God’s timing was perfect – as was the arrival of Woody’s e-mail this afternoon. Question: How many lives have Woody and Debbie encouraged and equipped to live as God’s servants? Promise: If you are living In Partnership With God, you have no clue of all of the ways God is using the partnership.

By last Sunday evening, as I finished my IPWG “Let us Live Thankful”, I was very encouraged about what I anticipated my response would be if the results of my surgery were seriously “not good!”

On Monday the bottom fell out, it really did! I have a friend at church who has had nothing but trouble with his hip replacement – which had to be replaced. Now every step is painful. Then there is Harriet Hutchinson who had a staph infection after her surgery. Soon my mind was running wild. I was ready to cancel the surgery – no joke, I was. I was, flat out, filled with fear.

Then I remembered how the Lord had gone before us as we transitioned from Dothan, Alabama to a church in Connecticut.

After earning my Master’s in Divinity and while serving as an assistant pastor, Sally Jo and I realized the time had come for me to further my education through earning a Master’s degree in Christian education. While in seminary I learned about the Hartford Seminary Foundation which had an excellent religious education program. I knew the school was “liberal” theologically, and figured this would be a good challenge. The school was in New England, and living in New England was appealing. I applied and was accepted.

The school agreed to seek out a small pastorate where I could serve while a student. Soon I had a communication from a very active church with a regular attendance of about 200. Would I consider becoming their pastor? Sally Jo and I realized I could not pastor a “large” church and complete a master’s in one year. We turned down the opportunity, but shipped our furniture to a warehouse in Hartford. I confidently waited for another opportunity. None came in the next two months. No problem. Wheaton College had asked me to teach Christian Education for the summer term at Honey Rock Camp. While teaching at HRC we kept checking the mail box. Nothing! During the last week of teaching we received a letter from the District Superintendent of the Methodist Church in Connecticut. He knew that I was a Presbyterian and there were no Presbyterian openings in the area. He had a congregation of 219 members – with an average attendance of 8. He could not get any Methodist minister to take the pastorate. The Bakerville United Methodist Church was located about 30 minutes from the grad school. Perhaps we could make a deal!

We left Honey Rock Camp for New Jersey, where we left our daughter with Sally Jo’s sister, and headed out to meet the District Superintendent. He led us to Bakerville, a town with one blinking light, a gas station and an auto-body shop. He took us to the church – which turned out to be a typical New England church with granite stairs, four pillars and a clock in the steeple. The church was set back on a beautiful lawn, surrounded by woods. Incredible! We went inside. Here was a perfectly kept, old style sanctuary – light blue with clear windows up the sides, two pulpits, doors on the pews AND a Mohler pipe organ. We took the job! We would live in the old parsonage, have our utilities paid, and receive $4,000.

Eleven years before the old facility burnt to the ground. The new facility had been essentially a gift to the church. For the previous ten years the congregation had a minister who did not believe the Bible was God’s word or that Jesus Christ really was God’s son, or in personal salvation. But he did believe that the people should not smoke or drink or work on Sunday – and they must tithe.

What a privilege to introduce these people to Jesus Christ. The church was desperate for the Good News we could bring – and we were getting desperate for a place to serve that would also provide a roof and some food. God had cared for the people of Bakerville and for us. If God did this for us once, He could do it again. I also realized that His care might be what I had in mind – but it might be like the care he brought to Stan and Norton. “Come here boy, let me tell you of the goodness of the Lord” I once again enjoyed peace.

I met Norton Mullens in 1964 – and he made a lasting impact upon my life. Soon after I was ordained and became an assistant pastor, I was asked by the senior minister to visit Norton. He was an attorney and had taught an adult Sunday school class for over 100 every Sunday morning for many years. Norton now had Multiple Sclerosis and was no longer able to leave his bed.

As I walked up to Norton’s front door, one of his two teenage daughters greeted me and took me to her father’s room. From the door I could see a very frail man in his bed, his eyes moving with a jerking motion. As I stood there, stunned by what I was seeing, Norton called out in a high, rather unsteady voice, “Who’s there?” And I responded with “Chuck Gieser, from the church.” Norton said, “You sound scared” “I am – I have been asked to bring you comfort, and I am not sure how”. Norton responded, “Come here boy; let me tell you about the goodness of the Lord!” And he did!!! I would often visit Norton to receive his wise counsel and encouragement. Norton lived out the joy of the Lord – which was his strength.

Dr. Stan Barnett MD was a Green Beret, a triathlon athlete, and a DL Lone Eagle. I asked Stan to bring the charge at my Lone Eagle ceremony. He quoted to me: “Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” — Joshua 1:8-9

Stan and his wife returned to DL for two weeks about fifteen years after my ceremony. Stan had become a prisoner in his own body. Due to disease he could barely walk, his skin would not let him smile, and his voice had very little volume or endurance. When he brought devotions at the 7:00 a.m. staff meeting he had typed out what he would say so, when he was no longer able to speak, his son Shawn could complete his devotional challenge. Throughout the day staff person after staff person went to Stan, who brought to each his wisdom and encouragement. Stan lived out the joy of the Lord – which was his strength.

The Bible includes a multitude of examples of people who were in incredibly difficult situations – and they continued to praise God their Savior. Joseph in prison, Daniel in the lion’s den, Stephen when being stoned, Paul while in jail.

When life is tough, sometimes beyond measure, and there is nothing that we can realistically do about it, do we live with thankful hearts? Norton and Stan lived with thankful, trusting hearts long before the struggles of this life hit hard!

A thankful heart comes from our understanding of, and belief in, the love and wisdom of God. A thankful heart means that we will be thankful in the context of daily living. This is a tough assignment…just as living out the fruit of the spirit is tough! Discipline is required…along with our understanding. Satan seeks to pull us from thankfulness. A thankful heart does not suddenly arrive when the difficult challenge comes. Our foundation of thankfulness must be built, must be a life attitude. If for no other reason, we can be thankful that God is with us in our present struggles…even as He will be with us in eternity.

I am thankful I have known Norton Mullens and Stan Barnett. These men demonstrated thankful hearts throughout their lives – regardless of their circumstances. Thursday morning I receive a hip replacement. If all goes well, it will be easy to be thankful. And if it does not, will my daily attitude of thankfulness continue? A friend in our church, a great golfer who has shot 7 “holes in one”, has had hip replacement problems, and now struggles to walk.

“Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ”. — Ephesians 5:19-20

As a first grader, I watched my teacher, Mrs. Kay, use a tool shaped like a very small crow bar to pry up thumb tacks. One day I took her thumb tack puller (it probably cost all of five cents) When my mom saw the puller, she asked if Mrs. Kay knew I had it. I admitted she did not know. My mom took me by the hand back to Mrs. Kay’s class room where I had to tell my teacher what I had done and return the tack puller. I was in tears. I remember Mrs. Kay taking me up on her lap and giving me a big hug…while reminding me never to steal anything again.

I was the Associate Pastor of a large church when I heard a staff member tell a secretary she would be getting a raise when he returned from his vacation. While away, the secretary’s old car broke down. She asked me if she could count on the raise – it would affect the car she bought. I confirmed that she would receive the raise. When the staff member returned, the secretary did not automatically receive the raise. She went to the staff person, told what had happened and that she needed the promised raise. The staff person denied he had made the promise. I went to the staff member and again he denied he ever promised the raise. Since I was the person who told the secretary she could count on it, Sally Jo and I gave her the amount needed until, several months later, she received the raise.

George Clark was a good friend and the CEO of the second largest bank in Dallas. While at a gathering in the Clark’s home I overheard someone tell George he understood the federal bank examiner was coming to Dallas to check out the banks there. When I asked George if he was concerned, his said “Why should I be?” George Clark was man of integrity.

I personally knew a camp director who drove large, sometimes overloaded trucks of building materials up to the camp. He knew the road to camp very well, and I was told that if the truck was over-loaded he would get off the main road so he could go around the weigh station on a back road. When I asked the camp director about this, he said it was true, but that in the Lord’s work it was sometimes necessary to do this to reduce transportation costs. His lack of integrity disappointed me

As the result of these, and other experiences, I have worked to live above reproach and often said at DL “do what is right – every time” and “never do anything that you would not like published on the front page of a news paper”

I told the DL staff that if they said I said something, I would accept their understanding as being true. I was determined that no staff member would ever be able to think I had been dishonest. In my 23 years as the DL Director I believe only one person took advantage of my promise.

Before I became Director of DL there was no annual audit. I insisted on DL having an annual CPA audit. I told the Board of Directors that if I had made mistakes, I wanted to know about it. I could accept the auditor or DL Board telling me I had made a mistake…but I did not want them to ever be able to say I had been dishonest.

At the end of camp, during the final sharing/communion service, Garret Larsen said he had learned “integrity” that summer at DL. I am certain Garret already understood integrity. His summer had underlined the importance of integrity. Garret is now the Director of a camp in Texas. There is no question in my mind: Garret is a man who lives and leads as a man of integrity.

I remember the words of a Billy Joel song….”Honesty is such a lonely word”.

“I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity” — I Chronicles 29:17

If we are going to Live In Partnership With God, we must accept the on-going challenge of Integrity.

My freshman year at Wheaton Academy, the football team lost their last game…and the championship. Jim was a senior, and was selected as a tackle for the all-conference team. I wondered what it must feel like to be all-conference. My junior year we won the conference championship – wild excitement! Our school had just over 200 students! Shortly thereafter I learned I had been selected for the all-conference team. My excitement was short lived, for I soon realized I was the same person I had always been and people treated me just as they always had. Life went on as usual. My senior year we went undefeated and I was again selected for the all-conference team. Excitement – and then life was back to normal. Just last year the school asked the members of the undefeated team to return for a 50th year celebration. At the half time of the homecoming game we were each given a football. Does anyone want my football? This year my un-defeated college team is planning on getting together for a reunion. I have decided there is no point in going. Neither my children nor grand children really care that I was a good football player. Excitement – Satisfaction – Indifference.

Sally Jo’s parents traveled extensively, and after each trip her mom would put together a wonderful scrap book….pictures, tickets, notes. It was fun to go through the scrap book with her mom, for through the scrap book she would tell the story of their trip. When her mom died, the scrap books stayed with Sally Jo’s dad. When he died, no member of the family really wanted the scrap books. Excitement –Satisfaction – Indifference.

This past Tuesday, Jonathan Clements, a financial columnist for the Wall Street Journal, wrote his “Parting Shot: what I learned from writing 1,008 columns” “The short answer is, you save now so you can spend later. But what will you spend your money on? People dream of endless leisure and bountiful possessions. Unfortunately, after a few months, endless leisure often seems like endless tedium. Similarly, you might imagine that a flashy new car or a fancy new home will be your ticket to eternal bliss. But a year after you make your purchase, the thrill will likely be gone, and you will be lusting after something else. My point: The right life of popular imagination is no great shakes. Money can give you the freedom to pursue your passions. Ideally, you want to spend your days engaged in activities that you find absorbing and satisfying, that you feel you are good at – and where you feel you’re doing good. Indeed the happiest retirees are typically those who have a sense of purpose, whether it is volunteering for their pet cause, coaching a children’s sport time, helping their church,…”
Excitement – Satisfaction – Indifference…or Purpose, Investment in People, Satisfaction.

I attended Seminary in Decatur, Georgia. One afternoon when I returned to my dorm room, I was totally surprised to find my father taking a nap on my bed. When I walked in he woke up. “Dad, what are you doing here?” He said he had come to Emory University for a medical conference – and to see me. He went on to say “your mother and I want you to know how proud we are of you. Chuck, all that matters in life is what we do for the Lord.” We stood there, both in tears. He gave me a big hug, told me he loved me…and left.

I thought what he said was over-kill. But I have come to believe the absolute truth of what he said.

I work at being a man God can work through – at living In Partnership With God. It has been good to experience the reality that when I obey and trust the Lord, and invest my life in the care and feeding of His children, God often brings change and joy into their lives, and into mine. Almost weekly I receive an e-mail from a person I know through which he shares the impact of my life upon his. This past week it was an e-mail from Andres Segovia, a DL counselor from Mexico, who is now a school teacher in Bolivia.

What I have done as a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ has mattered.
Lasting Satisfaction and Joy!!!

Twenty five years ago we began the planting of well over 200 Colorado blue spruce, red and white pine trees on our five acres. The trees grew and provided incredible privacy for the deck and back yard. Wonderful!!!

A few years ago I got to thinking that I should take out a few 25’ red pines and replace them with 6 to 8’ blue spruce trees. They would grow and provide continued privacy, even if the red pines got a disease. Good planning!!!! Two years ago I asked a friend, Ken, to come with his chain saw to cut down selected red pines – to be replaced with the blue spruce trees. Ken went to work…and it was going so well that I decided we should cut a few more…and why not open up the side yard a bit by cutting a few white pines?

When Sally Jo returned home from a wonderful day in New York City, she was stunned by what she found, but she said very little. One night I woke up and heard Sally Jo crying. When I asked why: “the trees reminded me of our cabin at Hills Lake.”

Trees have been transplanted and will grow… but it will take years before the privacy we enjoyed returns. I feel ashamed of my bad decision…made because I was caught up in the excitement of the moment. Daily I am reminded of the foolishness of my decision through seeing the impact it has had upon our property. Physical and emotional scars remain.

There are many other ways we can create scar tissue – much more significant scar tissue! Twice in high school attractive, wonderful Christian girls asked me to have sex with them. Emotion almost overtook reason…but I never crossed the line. But oh, so close! With both girls I had to stop our relationship. If I had accepted the invitation, think how my life would have changed. Through one emotional decision I might have become a father…and chosen my wife. I would have disqualified myself from receiving the wife God had prepared for me. I have not forgotten what happened – and what could have happened! Scar tissue remains.

This week I received the following e-mail: “…The past two years has felt like a roller coaster. I made the mistake of getting into a relationship with a woman that really brought me away from everything that I had believed in…my priorities got completely flipped upside down. I’m finally now starting to get things back on track. I got out of my relationship which helped me stay focused… Spiritually, I was struggling a lot, but have recently been trying to get back to where I want to be. I won’t lie though, it’s been a struggle. After being away from it for 2 years, it’s been a slow process coming back.” Scar tissue will remain!

God gave us His Ten Commandments for our good. When we break the Ten Commandments, in a sense, we break ourselves. Scar tissue will come to us if we covet, steal, lie, miss-use the Sabbath (this commandment has more explanation than any other), worship success, murder…dishonor our parents,

Paul wrote: “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” I Corinthians 10:13

But…let’s be real….”If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” I John 1:10& 9 BUT even with sins forgiven and relationships restored, scar tissue will remain.

Let us work at Living In Parnership With God…so we do not waste precious time – time during which we could be receiving God’s perfect provisions for us – to enable us to do the work which He has prepared for us to do! Let us not miss the continual joy, excitement and challenge of Living In Partnership With God!

Becoming a medical doctor was the logical choice: My father was a doctor and my older brother was in medical school. Sally Jo knew I planned to be a doctor.

A week before the Christmas vacation of my junior year of college, I asked Sally Jo if she would become my wife. She said “yes”! The next week she headed to Alaska where her brother was in the military. She had a great trip…including skiing at Alyeska. She skied! I drove a USPS truck delivering packages!

While Sally Jo was on her trip I made the tentative decision to switch from going into medicine to going into the ministry. This was a huge shift for me…and I really did not know how I should tell her about the change in my thinking – or how she would respond!

When she returned we had dinner together at an excellent restaurant, and somewhere during the evening, with knots in my stomach, I asked “What would you think if I decided to go into the ministry instead of medicine? Sally Jo quickly came back with:

• “What caused the sudden change?”
• “Do you think you are tactful enough?”
• “Didn’t you know…I have always wanted to be a minister’s wife?”

My heart came out of my throat…my heart started beating – fast!
“Let’s go back to the question: “What caused the sudden change?”

Such decisions are seldom sudden. Three factors led to my somewhat tentative decision.

• For two years I was the paid tenor soloist for the First Presbyterian Church in Oak Park, IL. The beautiful stone church had stained glass windows, a great pipe organ…and good music. The minister, Dr. Watermulder, spoke each Sunday morning for 20 minutes. When he was finished, I got his point! At the end of the service he stood at the door in his black robe and, looking each person in the eye, he shook their hand firmly. One night a week he played basketball with men from the church. I was impressed. The ministers I knew generally spoke for 30 minutes…and to me, either did not make a clear point or what they said seemed irrelevant to my life. Their hand shake was anything but firm…and if they had tried to play basketball? Out of the question! Dr. Watermulder was a minister with whom I could identify.
• While delivering USPS packages with my crew of peers, who had not grown up in the Christian faith, over our bag lunches we would talk. One young man in particular asked me the most basic questions about the Christian faith/life. One evening he asked if I would tell his girl friend what we had talked about. The story of Jesus Christ was totally new to them. This was a thrilling challenge for me.
• The pivotal point for me occurred when Mr. Garret Groen, a lawyer I knew, said he would like to talk with me. We set up a time, and I walked the two blocks to the beautiful Groen home. The living room ceiling went up like the front of a ship…perhaps 15-20 feet, and the sides of the “bow” were glass. It was in this setting Mr. Groen said ”Chuck, I cannot get it out of my mind: I think you belong in the ministry, not medicine. I would like to challenge you to bring to people the best product in the finest packaging. So often Christ is presented to the world in shabby packaging.”

God had been preparing me for my meeting with Mr. Groen, just as He had prepared Sally Jo’s heart for my question. Sally Jo’s response finalized my decision: I would go into the ministry.

Are you open to having God change your plans? To become a Sunday School Teacher, change your work patterns, change job, become a foreign missionary, change giving pattern, to present Jesus Christ in better packaging?

Remember: If we desire to live In Partnership With God, we must follow His written instructions and His leading.

Chief,

…..I wish I could honestly say something like ‘but God is good,’ but this is a hard place to be. Not that I’m doubting, I have seen too much of grace and power to doubt. But I’m questioning, because this isn’t good. It is hard. And it probably won’t end or get easier until mom is gone. And she’ll leave two high school girls behind, one of whom has questioned ‘mom, don’t leave me like my Chinese mother did’ (she was adopted at 4). God gave my parents, during a trip to china last fall, a vision of service to orphans there- what of that?” That looks pathetic to read. It’s where I am- and I covet prayer (the ability to pray) and peace.

……..

(My response: I am completing this after spending 3 days with Nancy – with whom we have been close friends since 1968. Nancy went through a tough divorce situation…and then soon had to watch her sister die of breast cancer. Sometime after her sister died, Nancy married her sister’s husband – and 10 years later she found out that she had breast cancer…”cured”…and then five years later learned she had pancreatic cancer. After radical surgery and chemo she has lived 2 years – but the battle is very close to over. The day after we returned home I spent two hours with Jan…another close friend of ours. She could die very, very soon. Both of these women – and Shelley Schenkel, whom I will write about in the following, have demonstrated an internal peace…smiles of contentment, of joy.

Bart and Nancy have both read what I have written and both feel it is true. Bart’s actual response: “With certainty! You have clarified the “Big” picture well and the story of my journey fits that picture. Hurting people need to know how (like others before them) to work through tough parts of God’s perfect provision in their life. It’s a journey that always comes before the answers. Bart”}

Dear……..
Through out your life you will have many unanswered questions. I certainly do. But this is where faith comes in…and, to some degree tested. I have learned so much from Bart Schenkel and his kids. For seven years they cared for Shelley -mom/wife – hoping against reasonable hope that Shelly would be healed. And she died….

Bart said to me over the years…”I must have faith, for if my faith fails me now, what good is my faith? He has also said several times….”There is no point in asking why”. Does this mean that Bart did not suffer? When things got too much for Bart, he would get on his bike and peddle and go and go…with the tears flowing down his cheeks –Then Bart would regroup…and go back to his role of husband, caregiver, and father – seldom able to leave their home.

Sally Jo and I new Shelly for several years before the tumor began to grow – continuing to visit with them during the years before she died. Though her body slowly broke down, her spirit, her joy did not! Shelley was given peace that passed all understanding…she radiated joy, even when she could barely be understood – or walk. Bart and the children also reflected this peace that passed all human understanding.

Six weeks after the memorial service Bart was in our home and said…”I must trust God…one thing that cannot be shaken is my faith in God” This sounds like Job: “Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him” Job 13:15

How does this happen to the believer? Satan is a very powerful force in this world. God does not cause pain, but Satan is continually pulling on God’s people. And we are caught in a tug of war. Satan desires that we turn from God…and turn to him! The Bible, God’s word, begins telling of Satan and his power…and our human weakness.

Why God took his protective hand off Job (except to protect Job’s life) it is difficult to understand. In time God did restore to Job what he had lost…and more (that is if it is possible to replace one person with another). Today we look back at Job’s “story” and have many more insights than Job had as he went through his earthly “hell”. And today we are, at least I am, encouraged by Job’s story. God did not forsake Job.

In many ways Job was like Jesus, for Jesus had everything stripped away from him – except God’s ability to raise Him from the dead. For the disciples, it was incredibly difficult time – watching while Jesus suffered and died. It just did not make sense…until 40 days later.

When pastor of the little country church in Bakerville, CT. Billy Warner died…very suddenly of a brain aneurism/ hemorrhage – pain and death within a couple hours. I remember the evening only too well. Linda and Billy had 2 children with # 3 on the way.

I remember holding Linda the night before the funeral. We stood together on the small porch with northern lights above in the sky. I could feel the unborn child between us…Linda was devastated…we all were! I remember her saying…”once you have had candy, it is so hard to live without it “. Billy was an outstanding young man – I could go on and on about my experiences with him.

Everyone, not only in the church, but in the little farming community knew Billy (area had only a blinking yellow light, a small gas station and the church). We all knew his parents, his family. Billy’s dad was a farm worker, living in a very small house on Hal Glowsky’s farm. They turned to me to pick out the casket. There was almost no insurance money…it was tough on all of us in the church – and in the community.

Two days later we had the funeral. The 200 seat church was jammed with people standing in every spare inch. I remember saying – “Billy died in the Lord – he is now in heaven because Jesus Christ was his Savior….etc. and then I went on….None of us can ever say we have not been warned! Death can come to us at any time.” Billy was 28 years old…I was 28 years old.

The impact upon our little church was incredible…a turning point in the lives of many people….a lasting impact. Jesus Christ, Savior and Lord, was invited into many hearts – seen in many lives.

Some time later I had the privilege of being the minister for the wedding of Linda and John Sear. John had been Linda’s boyfriend in high school – gone into the military…had never married. John was another incredibly wonderful husband for Linda. I have the very large saw blade from Billy’s firewood saw (turned by belt from power takeoff of tractor) hanging on our barn…a thank you gift from Linda and John.

Back to Shelley Schenkel. Shelley died just over three months ago. It will be interesting to see the impact of Shelley’s physical death upon the congregation of which she had been such an active part, to whom she had been an incredible servant. At the memorial service several told how Shelley had shared the message of Jesus with them. She had walked with many others through very tough times. Shelley has gone to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The final chapter has not yet been written.

Bart said to one of his daughters…”Oh that the Lord would have taken me!” And his daughter responded, “Dad, no offence, but if you had died it would not have had near the impact that mom’s death did”.

Where I really struggle personally – with how the love of God plays out is when I look at the suffering of Christians in other countries – starvation, rape, murder, etc. These are the best answers I have found for myself to this point in my life.
Regardless of the hell people live through on this earth – God’s people know God’s presence.

• It seems that the closer the people are to God…the more they experience His presence.
• The greater the trauma, the greater the tragedy, the greater the experience of God’s presence.
• The length of our lives here on earth is proportionally tiny in comparison to the length of our presence in eternity.
• When we read that all things work together for good, for those that love God, for those that are called according to his purpose ….the Lord must have in mind life on earth AND in eternity. How else can I make any sense out of :

  Romans 8:28 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

  Ephesians 6:20 “Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

  James 1:2 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

Our God sees the total picture…He is the Alpha and Omega….He knows the beginning and the end! We must never forget this. God sees the total picture. God is all loving – of others as well as us. I do not think our physical comfort is of great concern to God.

When (not if) we are caught in an incredible struggle, let us hang on, in faith believing, that God knows what He is doing …and we do not need to know, we do not need to understand. God is God…His ways are not our ways. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts”. Isaiah 55:9

Someday we will see our Lord face to face. God knows this and He knows He has nothing to be ashamed of. Oh to hear Him say at that moment…”well done good and faithful servant!” And He may then explain to us our unanswered questions…or He may not. I have not yet had that experience.

I love you …., you know this…in fact I have tears flowing down my cheeks as I write this. Life on earth can be incredibly tough! – for some, their entire life seems to be tough

God is loving and faithful…yes…even now – with your bewilderment and intense personal frustration and pain. I know this …even as I ache over situations in my life.

If we do not hang onto the truth that is taught in the Bible over and over again, what good is our faith? We would have a God led false hope…and we do not!!!

HEB 11:1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for.

And this final thought. If we become bitter against God…how can we know the joy of living In Partnership With God? How can we any longer be of use to our Heavenly Father? How can we have the comfort that He says the Holy Spirit is here to bring us? “when the comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father” John 15:26 KJV

And, let’s face it; people on earth do not want to be around a bitter person. We must work through our pain, even if the only resolution becomes…”I just do not understand” and then we get on with our lives. We can remember loss… but we cannot hang on to it, acting as if it did not happen. This process will take time, but we dare not drag it out!

And yes, the loss, the struggle will come back to us. Recently I had a dream about what happened to me, to our family, 26 years ago. I had thought the inner pain, the reality of the unfairness was gone…I was wrong. I was totally surprised! I thought I had forgiven – and I think I have…but this does not remove all of the pain. Life is sometimes incredibly unfair…ugly if you will – as the direct result of sin. We must acknowledge this reality and not abandon the great reality of God’s love. We must move our focus from the one to the other.

chief chuck

Sally Jo and I attended a 200 student Christian high school: Wheaton Academy. The school had both “town” and “boarding” students. We lived in town and during my senior year I often had permission to use a family car. Sally Jo and I would double date, and our dates were dorm students. After we took our dates back to the dorm, we would drive the 6 miles back to Wheaton. That ride began to take longer and longer. After a several months we realized we did not need to drive to the Academy to pick up our dates. I would drive the three blocks to Sally Jo’s home…and we would head out for a great time together.

We slid into our relationship. There was no thought, I assure you, that we were dating because we believed it was God’s will for our lives. None! We wanted to be together.

Sally Jo spent 16 summers at Hills Lake. While living on the South side of Chicago her mom and dad purchased a summer cottage…complete with an out-house in the garage and a pump at the kitchen sink. Each June, her dad would take her mom and the four kids up to the lake for the summer, and he would drive the six hours to be with the family each weekend – and then for two weeks each August.

At “Hoppe Pine Vista” Sally Jo learned to swim, row, fish and clean fish, canoe, water ski – and to take her baths in the lake. She had summer friends – and school year friends. Sally Jo learned to live in two very different worlds…comfortably.

During grade school Sally Jo’s family built a home in Wheaton…and indoor plumbing arrived at the cottage. While in college I had many wonderful days with the family at the lake – learning the world which was so much a part of her life.

Twenty years later we were living in Texas…and each June I would take Sally Jo and our three children to Sky Ranch for the summer. Through the week I lived in Dallas, where Sky Ranch had its primary office…and each Friday I would drive to the ranch to be with our family for the weekend. Twenty seven years later we moved together each summer to Deerfoot Lodge – a wilderness camp for boys. Sally Jo already had the pattern of moving each summer to the lake…and for her to have running water and a hot shower in our cabin was luxury! God had prepared Sally Jo well.

Did Sally Jo and I choose each other…or did God engineer the whole thing? Or both? While we were dating the 5 ½ years before we got married I do not remember thinking that God had prepared Sally Jo to be my wife. I do remember struggling through many differences/challenges during those years – and wondering…”is this the girl I should marry?” Today it is easy to see God’s careful preparation for the work He would give us to do…together. For 45 years we have worked together at Living In Partnership With God. Always easy? Are you kidding? But…God has blessed us, used us beyond what we could ask or think.

Remember how this relationship began – no more planned by us than I planned to go to Pioneer Camp in Canada at age 9 – or prayerfully chose to work on a farm, or wash pots and pans for Young Life, or help build a house in Costa Rica.

May it be that when I say to a girl, `Please let down your jar that I may have a drink,’ and she says, `Drink, and I’ll water your camels too’–let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac. By this I will know that you have shown kindness to my master.” — Genesis 24:14

Seek to live your life pleasing to God – and smile!

It was spring vacation and snow was still on the ground at Honey Rock Camp in Northern Wisconsin. Coach Chrouser had taken several of us teenagers for a work week. Coach was the camp’s founder, Athletic Director at Wheaton College, and my craft instructor during Christmas vacation several years before.

We used the outhouse as the camp water system had not been turnd on for the summer. My friend, Dave, was one big boy…and when he stepped on the outhouse floor…down he went! We heard his desperate call for help – and went running. We found Dave hanging by his hands…and started laughing so hard it was a challenge to pull him out – before he was into a really significant problem!

Coach decided I should be the cook for the week…in between my other work. Each morning he would talk me through the menu and tell me how to prepare the simple, but excellent, food. We worked hard, ate well, and laughed much as we worked getting camp ready for the coming season.

Each of us knew that we were important to Coach, and we learned that his high expectations of us were a demonstration of this relationship. With Coach we always learned new skillls – and that we must do our work well.

When we made a mistake under Coach, if we had done our best, we were encouragedd, received further instruction and we continued on with our work. When we did something wrong becaue we were lazy, or because we “broke the rules”, we were soon reminded of the fact…very explicitly, very intensely. When he was sure we realized the folly of our ways …we never heard about the incident again. Coach never changed – we did! It was a privilege to work for and with Coach Chrouser.

When we invite a person to work with us on a project for which they lack the necessary skills and/or self confidence, the person is almost always pleased we thought they could handle the resonsibility – even if they say “no thanks”. Our challenge is to match the person with the right opportunity through which they can learn and succeed. When beginnning a new responsibility, the person needs to know what is expected of them and that they will receive the necessary instruction/coaching. And then encourage…praise…thank! As the person grows into more of what the Lord would have them be, the person feels good about themselves – and appreciative of the person who gave them the opportunity to grow. (NEVER dump work you do not want to do on an unsuspecting person!)

Coach showed me that I could do more than I througt I could through the Christmas vacation craft program a few years before. And so if Coach said I could cook for 8 people, I believed I could…with his help. Coach would not let me fail! Soon I was cooking on the trail at Honey Rock, and a few years later I cooked for 200 college athletes.

When we have the opportunity to work or play with a person who has more knowledge/skill than we do, we should welcome the opportunity. When we have the opportunity of having someone work with us – planting a garden, repairing a car, leading a Bible study, teaching a class, building furniture or a log cabin, painting a barn, preparing a nice meal – let us welcome the opportunity to teach, to encourage, to buid up one of God’s special people. This is part of living In Partnership With God.

Think through the things that Jesus did alone…it will not take you very long!

“Blessed is he who has regard for the weak; the LORD delivers him in times of trouble. The LORD will protect him and preserve his life; he will bless him in the land.” — Psalm 41:1-2