Trunk-n-Treat

Well today is Halloween and tonight is dress up for many kids (and adults) as they go through the neighborhoods looking for some treats. Many churches and individuals denounce the yearly event as a Satanic celebration. Others, like Denbigh Church of Christ try to redeem the time by offering the neighborhood community a safe alternative to door-to-door trick-or-treating by having church members park their vehicles on the church front lawn and giving away treats from each participants trunk.

We have been doing this for several years now and have found it to be a lot of fun. We have even had contests for the best decorated vehicle and best costume. I believe this to be a great way to meet our community and would like to continue doing this for years to come.

Tonight Keri and I and some others will dress up like Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. I will probably be "Dopey" as that probably best represents my personality. My question for you is "Should we continue doing this because it is a good thing or are we dabling in an area of concern because it falls under the "abstain from all appearence of evil" (KJV 1 Thess 5:22)

Let me know your thoughts.

Roger, over and out!

A Smiling God

Have you ever wondered what pleases God? What may put a smile on His face? In the movie "Chariots of Fire" the main character is convinced that he was given the gift to run fast and that when he did it pleased God. One of my favorite quotes from that movie is when Eric Liddell says, "When I run fast, I feel His pleasure."

Numbers 6:24-25 (NIV) The LORD bless you and keep you; 25 the LORD make his face shine upon you (read SMILE) and be gracious to you;

Have you ever felt the pleasure of God smiling on you? The passage above was a blessing that Aaron was to give to the Israelites. It is often used today as a blessing on the church at the end of a worship service in some congregations. I wish we used it more often then we do. I even like it as a song even though I get just a little confused in the seven fold amen section. Just thinking of God smiling over us is an awesome.

To look at me now you would not know it but when I was in school I was a track athlete. I ran sprints up through the quarter mile and also long and triple jumped. Some of my fondest memories came when I did my best and won. I felt like I was doing what I was gifted to do and it pleased God.

But there were many times I did not win, in fact more times than not I lost. On those days I do not know if I felt God's pleasure. Paul though says that when we are weak that is when He can be strong in our life (2 Cor 12:10). I never thought about how God could have used my failures in running and jumping. I would just mope around for a while and wish things had turned out differently (like me winning instead of losing).

The idea of God using my human frailty (weaknesses) to bring about his good will is a comforting thought because just like in running I still fail more then I succeed. Nevertheless, to be totally honest I still would prefer being a winner in everything I do but if what Paul says is true then maybe I should thank God for my failures.

Maybe though what God really wants for me and for you too is to trust in Him in all of life's ups and downs. Then whatever we do as we walk in the light (1 John 1:7) is what really brings a smile to Gods face.



Roger, over and out!

Marriage For A Lifetime Part 2

Below is a brief excerpt of the latest news item from smartmarriages.com I received in my email this morning.


It seems a graduate student in economics at Cornell University released a study showing that men who are married are more likely to finish doctoral programs than are single men. ...Joseph Price’s new study shows that married men do better than single men in academe not only in finishing their Ph.D.¹s, but in publishing and landing a first tenure-track job…The study was based on data from 11,000 graduate students from 100 departments over a 20-year period.

There are many reasons for both men, and women by-the-way to get married and just as many reasons for them to stay married. The one mentioned above is just one example. But the greatest reason for men and women to get married is found in scripture.


God said, "It's not good for the Man to be alone; I'll make him a helper, a companion." Genesis 2:18 (MSG)
When the God of all creation recognizes the need for companionship then we should all take notice. There are other passages pertaining to the purpose of marriage but the one found in Genesis chapter two is relational. If marriage is meant to bring companionship then divorce just takes us back to square one “It is not good for man to be alone.”


God, not you, made marriage. His Spirit inhabits even the smallest details of marriage. And what does he want from marriage? Children of God, that's what. So guard the spirit of marriage within you. Don't cheat on your spouse. Malachi 2:15 (MSG)

I like the quote found in Iris Krasnow’s book “Surrendering to Marriage: Husbands, Wives, and Other Imperfections.”


My dream is when my four sons 20 years from now are picking wives they look at marriage as a lifetime adventure. I hope they look at divorce as some ancient trend that came out of the hippie movement and just died.

While divorce as been around for 1000’s of years it seems that since the 1960’s it has become the normal and acceptable thing to do when difficulties arise. Let's start a new trend today by guarding our marriage relationship.

My question to all of us is… What are we doing on a daily basis to guard the spirit of our marriage? If you have let your relationship with your spouse slip recently why not take him or her out to dinner and spend some time together. It will not only reconnect the two of you but it will be pleasing to God.

Roger, over and out!

Heaven Is Waiting

This is my last installment thoughts on Kevin Wolfgong. Through out the year he faced many ups and downs in terms of fighting cancer. The joy of being declared cancer free one week to the realization that it had come back a few weeks later. The last email update I received from him was this summer. Kevin loved church camp and had looked forward to directing the teen week. When he returned he had this to say...

Greetings! I am happy to report that this update contains good news.
Let's all praise the Lord ... for His lovingkindness is everlasting!

First, yes I did go to Camp Concern for Senior Week,
and yes I did survive. In fact, I felt better during that week than I have
felt in a long time, and I have continued to feel good all of this week as
well. I thank God for allowing me to feel so good!

Kevin always seemed to look to God in both his good times and bad times. He continued in his email stating a number of other good reports from his doctors and ended the message with another thank you for all the prayers and encouragement on his behalf. This turned out to be his last update in his own words.

His loving wife Amy finished the email updates a couple of months later with the report of his passing on October 7, 2006.
She writes...

Kevin lost his battle with cancer last evening, Saturday, October 7th. He left
this earth peacefully around 6 PM surrounded by a few family members and friends at Shadyside Hospital... I would like to ask for your continued prayers for
myself and Heidi and the rest of our families in the days that lie ahead.

I heard from a friend who attended the memorial service and he said the evening could basically be summed up with much laughter in the midst of many tears over the short life Kevin had on the earth. Kevin will surely be missed by many but as I said in the first of these blogs a reunion will one day be held in Heaven with him waiting for us all.

Ray Boltz wrote a song titled "Thank You" that expresses in lyrics what it might be like for Kevin in heaven. I realize we have no clue what it will actually be like, but consider these words from the song as I close.

One by one they came
Far as the eyes could see
Each life somehow touched
By your generosity
Little things that you had done
Sacrifices made
Unnoticed on the earth
In heaven now proclaimed

And I know that up in heaven
You're not supposed to cry
But I am almost sure
There were tears in your eyes
As Jesus took your hand
And you stood before the Lord
He said, my child look around you
For great is your reward

Thank you for giving to the Lord

I am a life that was changed

Thank you for giving to the Lord

I am so glad you gave

See ya soon Kevin

Roger, over and out!

Kevin Wolfgong continued...

Kevin's memorial service was held last night and from what I hear the place was packed with friends and family. Both tears and laughter marked the evening as the crowd celebrated his life.
Roger, over and out!

Sent: Thursday, June 30, 2005 2:23 PMTo: Subject: Second Follow-up to Prayer Request
I went to the doctor's office today, and I did receive the pathology report. The news was not the best ... but it was not the worst either.
During the surgery, 31 lymph nodes were removed. One of the lymph nodes had the squamous cell carcinoma in it. Normally, one lymph node would not merit radiation treatment. However, the section of the tongue that was removed showed evidence that the cancer had begun to infiltrate the nerve in my tongue. Because the nerve can serve as a pathway for the cancer to travel to other locations, radiation treatment will most likely be utilized sometime in the very near future.

I will admit that I am a little down because this is not the news that I was expecting to hear. Please continue to keep me in your prayers!

Thank you all!
Love,
Kevin Wolfgong

From: Amy & Kevin Wolfgong [mailto:kevinamy@fyi.net]
Sent: 7/20/2005 12:00:16 PM
Subject: Update on Kevin Wolfgong

I have been feeling pretty good. I was able to go to church camp last week, and I survived that week without any problems. My tongue is healing nicely, and my neck is healing as well. When I saw my surgeon last week, he gave me a continued positive report. In fact, he stated it something like this: "As far as I'm concerned, you are cancer free. We are going to prescribe radiation therapy as our insurance policy."

Amy & I went for a consultation with the radiation oncologist today. In a nutshell, the plan is for me to begin treatment within the next 10 days to two weeks (after all of the prep work, such as CT scans, is complete).

There are, of course, side effects that will come from this treatment.

Finally, let me thank you again for all of your prayers and concern. If you will continue to pray for me--specifically that this treatment will be effective and that the side effects will be minimal--I would greatly appreciate it.
Love,
Kevin Wolfgong

From: Amy & Kevin Wolfgong
Sent: Thursday, December 22, 2005 2:47 PM
Subject: Six-Month Update on Kevin Wolfgong
Hello! It has been six months since my surgery, and it has been a few months since I last sent out any kind of update. Many have been wanting to know how I have been doing in recent weeks, so please allow me a couple minutes to share an update with you.
I saw my surgeon today, and he said the latest CT scan looks good. There was a bit of a mix-up in the tests that should have been scheduled, so I will have to get a PET scan done in the near future, and then we will have a better report on how things look. This additional scan is not because of any kind of problem; it is merely routine follow-up, and I will have to have PET scans on a regular basis.
I am happy to report that I am feeling very good and that I am back to most of my normal activities. My tongue and throat are feeling much better, and I have been able to preach for the last couple months. My energy level, my weight, and my taste are still not back completely, but those are things that will continue to improve with time.
Please accept my sincere thanks for all of the prayers that you have offered on my behalf. God is good! He has heard our prayers, and he has blessed me beyond measure. Thank you all! And thank God!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Kevin Wolfgong

to be continued...

I Can Only Imagine...

The words of the song "I Can Only Imagine" are being realized by a brother in Christ I knew who lost his earthly life to cancer only to enter eternal life with our Lord!!! Hallelujah!

A friend of mine from Pennsylvania, Kevin Wolfgong, passed away this weekend after a long battle with cancer. His time on earth was very short (36 years) but the impact he had on those who knew him will be eternal. He leaves behind a young wife and three year old daughter, a loving extended family, and many, many friends. Kevin followed in the footsteps of his father as the pulpit minister at the North Hills Church of Christ in Pittsburgh, PA. Prior to that he was the North Hills youth minister for a number of years. Kevin was very active in Camp Concern, a local summer church camp, from the time he was a camper up through this past summer where he directed teen week. I remember Kevin in his early adult years being involved in RSVP, a drama troupe that toured local youth rallies and other church events. My two older boys remember him as a camp counselor. Kevin had a heart for teens and family. But his one true love was God. Through out his season of trial with cancer he always reminded everyone about God and his loving-kindness, as he puts it, in his final update this summer. With that in mind I want to share some of his thoughts with you. This may take several blogs but I want you to see what a person who is dedicated to God’s will looks like in the midst of suffering. From: Amy & Kevin Wolfgong Sent: Monday, June 20, 2005 11:17 PMSubject: Prayer RequestHello everybody! This is Kevin Wolfgong, and I am writing to ask you to be praying for me and my family. Several weeks ago, I developed a sore on the side of my tongue, and I realized after a few weeks that it was not healing on its own. My dentist referred me to an oral surgeon, and about 10 days ago the lesion was excised and biopsied. Today (Monday, June 20) I learned that the pathology of the lesion showed sqamous cell carcinoma, which is cancer. This is a cancer that is, as my Ear, Nose, Throat doctor emphasized repeatedly, "very treatable and very curable."I will be having surgery on Wednesday, June 22, at Montefiore Hospital in Pittsburgh. I will probably be in the hospital for two to three days. If all goes as expected, I should be back to full functioning capacity in a week to ten days.
If you would be so kind, please be praying for:1) the best case scenario, which would be that the initial pathology was incorrect2) me, Amy, Heidi, and the rest of my family and loved ones -- for our faith to be strong, etc.3) test results to verify that there is no cancer in other parts of my body4) complete removal of the cancer and complete healing5) a smooth, safe, complication-free surgery with no long-term post-surgical concerns6) the doctors, nurses, and anyone else who will be caring for me.
Also, please include a word of thanks for:
1) the problem being found quickly2) God's providence in bringing yet another doctor into the North Hills Church Family who helped me to be seen and treated by a doctor who is an expert in this field3) the blessing of so many loving friends and family members.
Thank you so much!Love in Christ,Kevin Wolfgong
From: Amy & Kevin Wolfgong Sent: Sunday, June 26, 2005 10:57 PMSubject: Follow-up to Prayer RequestHello again, everybody! First and foremost, please let me say a huge, heartfelt thanks for the outpouring of prayers, love, concern, offers to help, etc. I cannot put into words how thankful I am for all that has been done for us! I have been blessed in more ways than I can list in this brief email, but I do thank you for being a part of that, and I certainly thank God for blessing me so much!If I can be so bold, I would like to ask you to continue to pray for the things that I requested several days ago ... with an additional huge helping of thanks and praise for the "Yes" answers we have already witnessed to our prayers.
Love in Christ,Kevin Wolfgong

To be continued…

Roger, over and out!

Forgiveness Trumps Personal Retaliation

What a difference a few days make!

Rage and hostility on Sunday...remorse and repentance on Thursday.

Yesterday Andre Gurode said he's decided not to press legal charges against Albert Haynesworth following the NFL game between the Cowboys and Titans. While the repentant Haynesworth won't be charged with assault for cleating Dallas Cowboys center Andre Gurode in the face (requiring 30 stitches) he will still have to submit to a five game suspension and the possibility of not being allowed back on the field at all by his current team.

This story in my opinion though is more about Andre Gurode than about Albert Haynesworth. While football is a violent sport you cannot get away with abuse. There are rules to follow and penalties to mete out... and if flagrant enough legal retribution as an option to consider. If you saw this brutality on Sunday as I did (over and over again thanks to instant replay) you might wonder why anyone would forgo their right for legal justice as Andre did.

But what overshadowed the vicious cruelity on the football field was the senseless murder/suicide in the Amish community of Pennsylvania on Monday. A usually quiet and peaceful part of the country was plunged into violence that no one deserves to experience. However, what shook the heads of many people was the response of the Amish families. Instead of retribution they chose to pray. They even reached out to the wife of the murderer and invited her to the private funerals of those killed.

Forgiveness is a choice of the heart but it is not always easy. Forgiveness costs something each time it is given. In the case of the Cowboys football player it cost him his legal right to seek assault charges. Greater still I believe was the response of the Amish community. How could anyone be that compassionate? I believe that kind of compassion can only come from above.

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

When was the last time you forgave someone who intended to harm you? While there is a place for justice there is an even greater need for Jesus!

Roger, over and out!