Revitalize Your Church

This morning, I'm heading off to the Vatican -- er, I mean Headquarters -- in Indianapolis, for the Doctrinal Symposium. I'm going a day early so I can plunder the Archives, and dig up the 1843 abolitionist Wesleyans. (The guys in my church go fishing in Canada for fun. I go to dusty libraries. Isn't that odd?) My computer decided to stay home, so, unless I can pilfer one for a few minutes, there won't be any posts here for the next few days.

Jim, one of our members at Hayward Wesleyan Church, had a pancreas transplant last week. It's mystifying, really. Through the death of a young Utah man, and the kind generosity of his family, Jim will have a new life. Everything was going well until Sunday morning. Just before I was going up to preach, someone came to me with an urgent message. Jim was not doing well. He had a fever of 104, and there was serious concern about his body rejecting the new organ. We stopped and had a special prayer for Jim in the middle of our three worship services. Monday, I called the hospital. Pandora, his wife, answered the phone. "How's Jim doing?" "Great! Really Great!" she replied. "We heard that you prayed for us during the worship services. Well, guess what?? At each service, while you were praying, his temperature went down a degree or two! By the time the 11:00 people had finished praying, it was down to 99!"

At the Doctrinal Symposium later this week, I am responding to this paper , by my good friend from California days, Dr. Frank Robinson. His "outside the box" thinking inspired my faith, and has led me to pray more boldly. That's my kind of theology! By the way, how many theologians does it take to change a light bulb?

O God, Who has taught us to keep all your heavenly commands by loving you and our neighbor. Grant us your Spirit of peace and grace that we may be both devoted to you with our whole heart and united with each other with a pure will, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. (AD 460)

Yesterday, at the end of the worship services, I invited people who desired prayer to come forward. I prayed with over a dozen different people with a wide variety of needs. It was a joy to pray with a friend to commit her life to Christ. One lady, whose husband is suffering from a serious illness came forward. "I know why you're here." I said, assuming it was on behalf of her husband. To this she replied, "I am concerned for my son. He needs Jesus." In her heart, this was the most urgent and pressing need. I stood properly rebuked. Christina, a young lady with downs syndrome came forward for prayer. "I hurt right here," she said, pointing to her ear. I anoined her with oil, laying my hand over her ear, and prayed for her healing. Later in the day, Cathy and I ended up at Christina's house for her brother's graduation party. "How's your ear?" I inquired. "ALL BETTER!" she beamed. Then a cloud of concern came over her fac...

It was a presence, not faith, which drew Moses to the burning bush. And what happened there was a revelation, not a seminar. -- Aiden Kavanaugh (OSB)

Cathy and I are holding our son, Ryan's graduation party this afternoon -- rain or shine. We're praying for the shine! Ryan has developed into quite an outstanding young man. We're really proud of him. He is an excellent musician, a creative writer, a deep thinker, and a fully devoted follower of Jesus. I'm also proud of Cathy, who has homeschooled him to the finish line. I guess you could say he's our " Valedictorian", and Cathy was once again selected "Teacher of the Year " by the Wilson homeschool administration. (photo by Chris Comstock used with permission)