A Day at the Beach!

What a time we had at Virginia Beach last weekend. The outside temperature was just right, and the water was warm and not very rough. But just spending time with good friends is reason enough to head to the beach. Now, it might be a bit different in the next couple of days with Tropical Storm Ernesto arriving but last weekend was perfect...at least on the beach.

The plan was to either gather in front of the Old Coast Guard Station at 3 PM or meet at the church building at 2 and travel over in the church van. Due to the air conditioning being on the fritz in the van we decided to carpool instead.

It was clear sailing traffic wise until we got to Hampton. The traffic was at a standstill on I-64 near the HRBT and delayed us in arriving at our destination. Once we got to Virginia Beach, we then had to find a parking spot and that turned out to be a problem. It seems that many people had the same idea of going to the beach as we did and the parking area we generally use was filled so we checked another parking area. It too was filled and so we checked a third and alas, it was filled as well. With options running out we began to meander around looking for a place to park. By the time we found a place, we had lost those who were following us. Every man for himself became my motto. Finally, we got our parking spot and headed for the beach.

Since the parking garage we parked in was five blocks down from where we wanted to be we began the long walk. Good thing the weather was nice! When we got to our meeting spot, we began to look for familiar faces but we saw none and so we waited, and waited and waited. A band was playing in the background so it was not a total waste of time but I was more interested in getting on the beach. I knew some had gone on ahead of us and so I combed the beach looking for them but never did find them. It turned out they were there but just not where I expected.

Finally, through a series of cell phone calls, the remainder of the group arrived and so we found a good place in the sand to claim and put our stuff down. It was now two hours after our original planned time to be on the beach but we were determined to make the best of it and so we played in the ocean, threw the football around or just soaked in the sun.

We spent a total of 90 minutes there and everybody was ready to leave and get something to eat. I had planned that we would be there from 3-8 PM but nobody at that point wanted what I wanted. To be honest I did not want what I originally wanted either. Nevertheless, the time we did spend together was good.

Was it worth it? Hey, like I said the weather was nice, the water was warm and we got to spend time with some good friends. What more could I want? God is good!
Phil 4:4-5 (NIV) Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.

Being A Hero

I came across an interesting story from a daily devotional I receive from AllPro Dad. It was about a student at the University of Central Florida who was accused of setting a fire to a sofa on campus as a way to meet women. He figured that as they were escaping who could help them and be a hero. Can you imagine the thought process that would cause someone to do such a thing? Whatever happened to just strinking up a conversation verses striking up a match and igniting a couch?

I don't need to hear any WVU football jokes concerning the burning of couches either!!!

While this was an extreme form of manipulation we are all probably guilty of doing a little manipulation from time to time. You know, trying to work things out so that we look good in front of others. Whether it is to get job, or meet the right person, or look good in front of a certain crowd we want to impress. But we forget who we really are. We are the children of God and we need to have integrity in all we do.

With so many opportunities to serve others at home, at church or in our local communities we don't need to make up situations. Next time you want to be a hero think of what Jesus did when his disciples argued who was the greatest and do likewise and then give all the glory to God.

Mark 9:33-37 (NIV) They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, "What were you arguing about on the road?" 34 But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest. 35 Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all." 36 He took a little child and had him stand among them. Taking him in his arms, he said to them, 37 "Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me."

Roger, over and out

Hymns and Hounds

H Y M N S & H O U N D S Dog-Friendly Church I came across this website while checking out another and I must say it has some appeal. Keri and I are currently raising a Springer Spaniel puppy and have noticed that he gets a case of separation anxiety when left home alone. He has destroyed several TV remote controllers (I don't have to tell the guys how heartbreaking that is!!!) and chewed up assorted other items of lesser value. It seems the only time our home is safe is when we are present or when he is with us away from the house, otherwise who knows what debris we might find waiting for us when we return. We've taken an extreme next step by getting him "Calm" an over the counter herbal drug (doggie valium) to see if that will help...stay tuned!

But what if we could take our pets to church with us? What if we at Denbigh could reach out to other pet owners with a pet-friendly worship service like they do at Hymns & Hounds Church? Their proof-text for supporting this worship addition comes from Psalm 150:6 "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!" I guess dogs have breath so why not include them in worship, right? I'm not sure how to apply our mantra "decently and in order" to this outreach effort but we could surely give it a try... couldn’t we?...PLEASE!!! I don't know if I can take another ruined remote control. :)

PS: On their website is this message "Due to our meeting place moving and not having enough room for us - services will be on hold til further notice!" I guess they grew themselves out of a meeting hall.

Roger, over and out!

Soaring As An Eagle

I'm back!!!
It has been a busy month for me and I will use that as my excuse for being lax in blogging regularly. This summer I've had a child get married, another child have a baby and still yet a third child move out of the house. I've traveled to Mexico with a bunch of teens on a mission trip, traveled to South Dakota for a wedding, traveled to North Dakota to see my first grandson (Ethan Thomas Brown), and traveled to Athens, GA to visit with the newlyweds. It has been a good summer but I must refocus on the task at hand.
Last night I had the honor to speak on behalf of one of the teens in our high school youth group. Matthew Bean was awarded the Boy Scouts highest rank of Eagle Scout and he asked me to be a part of the ceremony. I've gone to several of these in the past but this was my first to be involved. To achieve the rank of Eagle Scout you must complete and master over 350 specific tasks by your 18th birthday. How many specific tasks have you mastered? I know that would certainly be a stretch for me. What is truly amazing is that this is nothing new for the troop in which Matthew is a member. They have only been in existence since the 1990's but over two dozen scouts have achieved this level of excellence and leadership and it is not because they have hundreds of boys in the troop. As Matthew noted in his talk it is because of the strong dedicated leadership of the adults involved including the parents. They operate like a well-tuned machine for the benefit of the boys.
Scouting holds the boys to a high standard of living called the "Scout Law." The tenets of the "Scout Law" state that a scout must be trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent. Whether a boy is a Tenderfoot, the beginning rank in scouting, or an Eagle Scout, he must pledge himself to this ideal.
As Christians we too have a law to live by. The Law of Christ states that we are to “carry each others burdens.” The law of the Spirit of life in Christ sets us free so that we can bear fruit. Galatians 5:22-23 tells us what the fruit looks like. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
While we may not all be eligible to be a Boy Scout we all are called to a high standard of living as Children of God. Bearing fruit is our proof of membership. How do you like those apples!!!

Roger, over and out!

Marriage For A Lifetime

The wedding day went without a hitch and the weather even cooperated. The next week though seemed to bring everything but cooperation. From the long drive through the night to find a motel that was open, to car troubles and reluctant rental car companies, to locked keys and bad directions, our honeymoon was stressful and less than perfect Had it not been for a young bride who refused to be discouraged and looked at these "troubles" as adventures to remember we may not have lasted being married even a week. That was 27 years ago and we are still married.

This weekend I have the privilege to perform a wedding ceremony for another young couple (Matthew and Kasey) who have a desire to stay together no matter what...only time will prove this out because their marriage will be tested like all marriages. The wedding day may go perfectly but the marriage relationship that follows will have its share of troubles.

It has been noted by a number of marriage counselors that when couples are more willing to invest in a "perfect wedding" rather than in a lasting marriage then when troubles come they will not have the foundation to ride out the storms of life
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As committed as Keri and I are to each other and determined that nothing will separate us, our relationship with God is really what has given us the perseverance to succeed in our marriage.

I pray that the couple I marry this afternoon will have God as their foundation in marriage too.

What have you found helpful in your marriage or in the marriage of those you have observed? If you have any tips on what to do to make a marriage strong please respond and lets build a compilation of things a husband and wife can do to strengthen their marriage. I will then pass this list on to these newlyweds.

A time to decompress

What an incredible week we had serving at the City of Children from July 29-Aug 4, 2006. Our group of teens and adults was of minimal size and were not able to accomplish what larger groups were able to do, but God used us anyway to His glory.

For those who do not know about the City of Children let me give you some information about this wonderful ministry. The City of Children is located on the outskirts of Ensenada on the Baja Peninsula in Mexico and has been in existence since the 1970's. Its purpose is to heal the spiritually, emotionally and physically needy Mexican children. The City of Children is an orphanage, but not just any orphanage. It was created to save the troubled children of Mexico from poverty and abuse and in turn, raise them in a loving Christian environment so that they can come to know our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Mission groups travel there and over the course of the week usually conduct a VBS, do work projects in and outside the orphanage, and most importantly, just spend time loving and playing with the kids.

Our week was not unlike other previous groups in that we conducted a VBS, did work projects and just spent time with those living there. There is a longing for the gospel among these people. They don't need nor desire to be Americanized but they do need Jesus just like the rest of us. Moreover, as other groups have reported the impact on us is as great as or greater than our impact on them. We go to serve and in turn are served. God is great and God is good!

Because of this ministry, many Mexican children (over 600) have been saved, and hearts have been touched because of God's refuge for his children in Ensenada, Mexico. Because of this ministry, many Americans have been saved and or revived in Christ as well.

To learn more about the work at the City of Children and Baja Missions, and how you too can support this ministry please visit their website at www.cityofchildren.com.

Roger, over and out

WWJD?

Well it is the end of another good day at the City of Children. The house we were assigned to insulate and drywall was compleated ahead of schedule because of the desire of some of our men wanting to do more. That left us with what to do for today. Pilar, the director of Baja Missions in Mexico showed us a home that already had half of it compleated and so Jim Craig, from Winchester Church of Christ donated the cost of materials to complete the other half. This gave our Wednesday crew another opportunity to share the love of Christ with others.
Without Jesus and the impact He makes on our lives we would be left to fend for ourselves. Some, like the guy in the picture may think things would be better without Jesus. When I first saw this picture I was angry and did not think kind thoughts about him. But now I'm mostly sad. Jesus died on the cross while the rulers sneered and the soldiers mocked. He died not only for those in the first century but he died for all of us and the neat thing is that he died for this man too.
What do you think? Was this man worth dying for... and if not, are we?

Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."[
Luke 23:34 (NIV)

Roger, over and out!