Read Revelation 21:1-5

The fire was roaring as we stood around it on a cold night. The group that circled the fire was friends who have known each other for years. On the picnic table near the fire were all the fixins for s'mores; that delicious campfire treat made with roasted marshmallows and a chunk of chocolate smashed together between two golden graham crackers. There was plenty of talking and sharing and some impromptu singing as the marshmallows were cooked to a golden brown.

Speaking of singing, that is what we had been doing earlier. We had been singing some of our favorite songs from summer church camp. The camp band had been rocking out the sanctuary where we had all come together. Good times.

What was the occasion you might ask? It was Heather. Heather Nicholas has been a camp counselor for 10 years with Linda and me. She and Linda led a girls Bible study group together for two years. She has been a camp prankster who loves to spray kids with the hose on hot days. She is also a special needs teacher with 4th grade kids in a city school that has 98% of the student body on free lunch. We gathered to celebrate with Heather's family. They came all the way from Georgia. Good times.

We were celebrating Heather's recent trip to heaven. For the past 2 ½ years Heather has been fighting a brain tumor. It was a surprise to all of us. She was 34 when she died. During her struggle she kept in touch. She was in Georgia with her parents who gave her daily care but a big part of her was still in Indiana where she had gone to college and found a job and led the youth group at her church and made it her home. Her family came to the memorial service that we planned here because we could not make the funeral there in Georgia. They wanted to see and meet all the folks that Heather talked about when she visited home. They wanted to catch a glimpse of her life away from home. We wanted to meet the parents of our good friend and sister in Christ. So we celebrated. Good times.

We shared God's word, we shared stories of Heather, stories of faith and songs of faith. At the end of the service we retired a camp T-Shirt in her honor. Then we ate a big meal and headed out to the fire. Good times.

I'm convinced that good times are in the eye of the beholder. God allows us to take challenging circumstances and call them good! He allows us to turn our tears of sadness into joy. With God in our midst and Christ in our hearts, we have the ability to look upon all things as good regardless of how much our hearts are breaking. Now Heather carries on in the heavens as we seek to carry on here. Our goals are the same; to bring God's Kingdom to earth as it is in heaven. Good times.

Today, choose to look upon your life and circumstance and call it good.

Read Psalm 139

It was Super Bowl week in Indianapolis. The hype was at an all-time high as people from all over the country poured into Indy. I was dying to go to the city to experience the zip lines over Capital Ave, the "Super Bowl Experience" pavilion, the 33 Indy cars with all of the NFL teams represented, the giant XLVI sign in front of the circle monument and much more. I couldn't go, however, because I was still gimpy from my knee surgery. But, in the midst of all the activity there was another important event that took place during that week.

Cameron Shomo, aged 16, went with his Mother and Dad and sister to the "Sports Zone. They were all very excited because Cameron was going to be presented, along with several other youth, with a brand new set of state-of-the-art hearing aids. The donating company invited these kids and their families to come and experience the Sports Zone while they waited for their turn to be fitted.

Sometime during the wait a man came over to introduce himself to Cameron. They exchanged names. His was Garth. He wore an oversized cowboy hat. He has cut a few records and played to some large crowds. He hugged Cameron's mother which, by her own admission, made her blush. She appeared much more excited to meet Garth Brooks than Cameron. Cameron shared about his hearing aids and they struck up a short conversation and then Garth left. It left a huge impact on Cameron's mom to not only meet Brooks but to have him take time for her son. But it didn't end there.

Cameron got to meet one of my favorite players in the NFL, Jim McMahan, from the 1985 Chicago Bears Super Bowl champion team. He had his picture taken with him, but he was more interested in meeting the Colts players. (My influence only goes so far) Cameron and the other kids had the front of the building but behind a curtain were the celebrities. Cameron spied Dwight Freeny. He made his way to the curtain but when he got to the threshold he was not permitted to go beyond it. But Cameron saw his friend, Garth Brooks in the area. "Hey Garth," he called out. Garth heard Cameron and went over to his new friend to see what he needed. When Cameron explained that he wanted to meet Dwight, Garth went and got him and introduced Cameron by name and made it possible for Cameron to get Dwight's autograph. With all the hundreds of people in the area, Garth remembered Cameron.

That's Cameron's gift. Not the hearing aids he received, not the celebrities he met or anything that he was given or experienced. Cameron's gift is the impact he has on others. This young man with Downs Syndrome has the gift to touch the lives of others with his very presence. The celebrities and football greats' lives were touched by his. And he has touched mine as well. Whether it is a "hello" he shares before youth group or a joke he plays on me at Wednesday Family night meal, his love and joy of life are contagious. Just as Garth remembered Cameron's name, so does God. God knows all of our names and cares deeply about us. God cares so much for each of us that God calls us by name.

Today, remember that God knows your name and will never forget you. And when you get the chance, introduce yourself to this extraordinary young man named, Cameron.

Read Romans 8:28

Dad has been battling pneumonia officially since January 23rd. Since that time he has been tired and weak and certainly not up to par. Though he has been to the doctor twice and received medication that has been helpful, he has just not regained his strength. So, this past Monday I responded to my Mom's phone call and discovered Dad in a much weakened state and took him to Parkview ER. We would spend the next five and a half hours there. The service was great and Dad needed to be there.

But Dad received more care than just the ER staff. Before we ever left the ER I received a prayer e-mail to my phone. Many of you may not realize that when a prayer is placed on the Good Shepherd prayer chain and sent out it immediately comes to my I- phone. I always pause and pray for those who are listed. As I looked at the list there was my Dad. I took my I-phone over to Dad so he could read the e-mail. As he read he uncharacteristically began to cry. It touched his heart to know the church was praying for him. Please, never take our prayer chain for granted; never treat those prayers as a bothersome interruption. A prayer goes a long way for those who need them.

The next day, Tuesday, Mom was excited to share with me that they had a visit from Don Talbert, Good Shepherd's chaplain of visitation. She was so thankful that he came by and so grateful for his prayer that brought the talkative visitors, who were visiting the patient next to Dad, to an appropriate hush. Once again, this touched their hearts.

Dad will be coming home this afternoon. Though these past 48 hours were not planned and were stressful at times, we were all comforted to know that with God's power and God's people, "….that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28) Faith in God opens our senses to God's presence even during the most stressful moments and opens the floodgates of care from a loving community of faith.

Today, look for God's presence in your situation.

Read John 1:6-9

I'm surprised that it doesn't happen more often. I had just finished some work on my lap top in the dining room and was just about to get up to hobble to the other room when everything went dark. The electricity went out. It was 11:33am (I know this because I texted my wife as soon as it happened). Though it was day, the electric lights that had been illuminating the indoors was now off. I could see to get around just fine but it was gloomy. And the silence…. No hum of the refrigerator, no background talking from the television, no trickle-trickle-bubble from the aquarium filter.

I had not yet taken a shower that morning since one day runs into another day's debilitating wandering. I managed the stairs one painstakingly at a time and found the upstairs to be even darker. Then I performed this amazing task…I opened up the curtains. In came the light. The gloom was gone and the revelation of illumination that it brought to the furniture, closets and doors around me was nothing short of miraculous. I was glad I had a source of light to draw from during that dark time.

The electricity was out for only one and a half hours. But during that short time it deepened my appreciation for that bright star in the morning sky. I have been drawing from another source of "light" during my convalescence. It has been the light of Christ that John writes about in the first chapter of his gospel. "He himself was not light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world." (John 1: 8-9) The love of my family and prayers from the church I serve have been a witness of the light of Christ into my darkness. I've needed it.

It's a funny thing, the way my knee surgery has caused me to think beyond my own pain into the lives of others and their challenges. (I have to admit that this was not the case the first few days as I learned to manipulate crutches and navigate on one leg. I was not looking very far beyond my own situation). But in time, it has caused me to rely on my faith for my healing and to contemplate the plight of others who find themselves in a gloomy place as the "light" has appeared to have gone out of their lives for a time. I hurt for those who have not discovered the "true light" for their lives, who have not encountered any witnesses to the "light." That is why our lives must be a lifelong witness lest we miss such an important encounter.

When I got up this morning, the blinds and curtains were open all over the house. The sun was streaming into the room making patterns and designs on the floor. It was a nice welcome.

Read Psalm 3:1-8

I'm not sure how others prepare for knee surgery. I suppose some rest up until the big day or perhaps read about one's procedure and the importance of post-surgery care. Me? I go to an all night concert!

(As you read this, I will have already had my knee surgery early this morning for a torn meniscus. Arthroscopically, the doc will go into my knee and remove the torn cartilage and smooth out my arthritic knee cap. All the while I'll be sleeping.) So why go to a concert with 23 middle school kids? Because I wanted to be able to remember. I'm an ol' head-banger any way, and I love being at a Christian concert where the music is loud, the crowd is screaming and the kids are dancing in the wings. And that is exactly what Sunday was. The kids were dancing and flipping their hair to the music. The crowd of 10,000, at Winter Jam was screaming and the music, especially Skillet, the last band to play, was amazing rock-your-brains-out sound with pillars of fire and fireworks on stage; all of this done to lyrics about God, faith and life situations.

I wanted to remember how to dance. I wanted to have a taste for it in my mouth and feel the music pounding in my heart the moment I awake. And I will awake. "I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me." (Psalms 3:5) When I awake and feel the big bandage on my knee I want to feel the urge to dance again. I want the motivation of God's Spirit to pulsate through my veins and cause me to stand and move toward the next dance floor, concert, and celebration of God with youth and start to dance.

I want to wake from my sleepy slumber, sustained by the Lord and remember; remember that God is real and alive and healing my knee before I ever get off the table. All the repairs to my knee are done while I am asleep, but all of the joyous pain of recovery will happen while I am wide awake reminding me that I am alive!

Today, be thankful for the repairs to our body and spirit while we are asleep, but be even more thankful for the dance of life that happens while we are wide awake. May you hear the music and begin flipping your hair as you prepare for your next challenge. And during each challenge may you remember that God will sustain you until the next dance of celebration comes along.

Read Lamentations 3: 21-25

He had just finished his college education and decided to follow his father's advice and begin in business in a village some 1000 miles away in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Although the rebels had been fighting the government soldiers, there was little concern that the war would be anywhere close to this particular village. Traveling by train with a friend, Okitakoyi (O-keet-a-coy) and his companion arrived at 1:00 a.m. to the train station. The station platform was filled with soldiers who instructed them not to get off the train until daybreak the following morning for fear of rebel activity. The war had arrived before them.

The next morning as they got off the train the firing began. The rebels had surrounded the town in the night and as Okitakoyi made his way toward the house where they would be staying the soldiers began to flee as the rebels attacked. The rebels were vicious people who needed little excuse to kill. Even speaking a language other than the native Swahili would get you killed.

Over the next week Okitakoyi and several others huddled in their house, sleeping under the bed at night for fear of bullets. He witnessed the murder of 17 people on one particular day. It was a frightening and uncertain time. He says, "Each morning we would wake up and give God thanks for the new day. We did not know if we would see the next day, but we praised God for the start of a new morning."

That was 1997. Today, he sits across from me in my doctoral classes of practical theology and the stewardship of institutions and ministry. This man from the Congo escaped the horrors of that day to live another one. He praises God for God's mercy and grace. But I am more inspired that he praised God in the midst of uncertainty and the lingering odor of death.

The book of Lamentations is Jeremiah's lamenting (crying out) to God during persecution and capture. Yet, in the middle of his laments are praises. As the old hymn says as a reflection of today's verse; "Great is thy (your) faithfulness." Today, give thanks for the start of a new day and the faithfulness of God in the uncertainty of life.

Read Psalm 139: 7-14

There was a time when I never thought it would be possible. For four and one half hours the class is focused on one thing; God. We are discussing practical theology which is the study of different types of theological reflection (discerning who God is and how God works in a variety of situations. Basically, it is the study of God). How does one communicate God to others in various contexts? There is the theology of the heart which is called the Living Human Document. This is followed by constructive narrative theology, canonical narrative theology, corporate theology, correlation, praxis and theology in the vernacular. Each one of these methods of theological reflection have been developed to help others communicate God to others.

We will spend two weeks looking at all kinds of theologians (those who study God) and various theological methods (ways of communicating God). In a class of 12 it is quite an experience to discuss and dialogue about the ramifications of one type of theology versus another. The conversation is complex and confusing and challenging and enlightening all at the same time. Wow!!

What does all this jargon from my time at seminary working on a degree mean? It means that God has a depth that we will never fully reach. The instructors are men and women who have made their life work the study of God and they will be the first to admit that they have only touched the service. We are learning how the brain works and how our ability to tell a story is strongly connected to our brain function and that our roots of understanding the world around us are dependent upon story telling. I enjoy spending time in such deep and challenging conversation about the nature of God and the way of God.

But when all is said and done, I am thrilled to know that as deep and vast as God is, what really matters is that this great big, intelligent, incredible God knows me by name. God was there at my birth and put skin over my bones and vessels and arteries in my muscles and put love in my heart. If God is so deep that we cannot reach God's depths, then isn't it comforting to know that this vast awesome God can handle our everyday needs, desires, anxieties, hurts, joys and challenges?

As exciting as the study of God in a theological context is, it can never replace the joy I feel in knowing that God knows me…and loves me…and holds me… and hovers over me lest I go astray. Today, celebrate the depth of God knowing that it is deep enough to encompass humanity…human beings…you and I.

Read Psalm 46:10

I had never had one of these before and so I was a bit apprehensive. I walked in the door and entered the small lobby and made my way to the registration window. The two ladies behind the counter were discussing recipes for the coming holiday. After finishing her emphasis on the type of butter used she said, "How can I help you?" Interesting phrasing of the question instead of "May I help you?" I wanted to say you can help me by expediting this test, by adding extra hours to the day, by healing my pain, by…..you get the idea. But instead I simply said, "I have an appointment.

"Do you have to go to the bathroom?" was her next question. I didn't think that I looked bladder full or that I was dancing up and down. "No. Is that a concern? Will the test take that long?"
"It will take 20 minutes but once you are up on the table you will have to hold still because we don't stop the test." This made me suddenly think that I had to go to the bathroom. She led me to a small room with lockers and asked me to put on a gown instead of wearing my clothes.
"Do you have any body piercings?" she asked.
"My ear is pierced," I answered. "Do I need to take it out?" She replied that I would be able to leave it in and then asked me about allergies and meds. She also asked me what kind of music I like to listen to as well. She wanted to know if I had injured my knee in an accident. It was hard to explain that it just went out on me as I was running back to the lodge at summer church camp with a bunch of kids. We were in a race and my group really wanted to win. I succumbed to their desire and the cartilage in my knee tore. So here I was for my first MRI.

I had a bad sinus infection (I think I have had one forever these past months) so my head was clogged. I was asked to lie down on a long "table" that stuck out of a donut shaped machine. I was informed that I had to lie still for 20 minutes and not to move. Mmmmm. If I moved the pictures of my knee would be blurry. They placed large headphones over my ears and a small pillow under my head. Then they again reinforced my need to lie still and slid the table toward the donut so that my legs and bottom torso were in the circular machine. My music, classic rock, began to play as the loud vibrating of the machine began. Right away I noticed that the mucus in my head was starting to run down my throat. I wanted to sit up and cough or blow my nose but they had told me to "lie still!" As I listened to some classic screaming guitar from the Stones my foot began to keep time and once I noticed it I stopped the motion. It was so hard not to move when the music is beckoning you to dance.
The next 20 minutes were agonizing as I was so conscious of every movement I was forbidden to make. My head felt like it was about to explode and I so wanted to get up. Finally the woman's voice came into my headphones and said, "just a few more minutes." I was so relieved. It never occurred to me that I could have spoken with the nurse during all that time.

Once it was done the table slowly pulled me away from the donut and I was free to go. Just like that. All that preparation and questions and music and pillow and instructions just to get me to be still. The nurses are fully aware that it is not a normal experience for most human beings; being still that is.

"Be still and know that I am God," says Psalm 46:10. God knows that we need to learn stillness so that we can hear God's voice in our "headphones." Has it occurred to you lately that you can talk to God whenever you want? But you hear the voice of God most often when you are still. In the stillness a lot can be revealed just like the way my knee was completely revealed after just 20 minutes. Today, take some time to be still. Then listen. It really works.

Read Isaiah 11: 6-8

When my family moved to Fort Wayne it was apparent that we had moved to a big sprawling city. It was also clear that we moved into a home in the suburbs. If you have been reading, you know we live in a neighborhood with plenty of trees. But it also has plenty of wildlife despite the cars, leaf blowers, snow blowers, kids, fences, barbecues and the like. What is it with this animal kingdom in the burbs?

I bought my first set of L.E.D. lights this year. Less energy; brighter lights. I place them at the top of a 12 foot tree we have in between the garage and the front porch. Took a bit to place them high enough and spread out enough to look full when it is dark. The first night I saw them lit up I have to admit that I was impressed. 2 weeks ago I look out the window that night and noticed that one strand is not lit. "Golly Darn!" I say, or something to that effect. I figure it's a fuse and I'll look at it the next day. My wife, Linda, finds the evidence to assure me it is not a fuse. In the middle of the drive-way she found a single light bulb from the strand, still in its sleeve but completely separated from the wire. Why? You ask. Because a ding dang squirrel chewed threw the electrical wire rendering the whole strand worthless for anything but a fancy rope or necklace for Babe the blue ox that Paul Bunyan owed. My only hope was that the little sucker may have gotten electrocuted as his teeth hit the wire. To my chagrin I found no carcass. What's up with these animals?

ANOTHER DAY: It's just before 5:00am on a week day and I hear the solo bark of my beagle. The short bursts of barking sounded like a very slow Morse code. This bark usually means, "I'm not playing, there is no intruder but you need to come and see what my 'sister' (our other dog, Roxy) has done." I make my way down the stairs in the dark and flip on the back porch light. The dogs appear to be playing as I notice their restlessness and their tails wagging. I start to admonish them for being so active while I am trying to sleep and then I see it. Laying strewn out in the middle of my enclosed porch floor is a full grown dead rabbit! The killer, Roxy, evidently chased it and actually caught it for the first time and killed it or the rabbit had a heart attack. Now faced with a dead rabbit Roxy figures the best thing to do is to pull it through her doggy door and lay it on the porch floor to surprise her master. Her face said, "Hey, look what I brought you!" I'm tired and I don't want my family to have to wake up to a dead rabbit so I use one plastic bag as a glove, put it in another plastic bag (thanks Walmart) then put both of those in a third plastic bag and carry the carcass through my house, out the front door into the rain in my pajamas and give it a funeral in our big brown waste container. It just so happened to be trash day. What's up with these animals?

I long for the day that Isaiah speaks of in chapter 11 when the animals will get along, when kids can play near a viper hole without getting bitten. In short, I long for a day when squirrels stop biting my lights and rabbits stop dying on my porch. The prophecy says it will come. Maybe this Christmas will be the beginning of new peace among the animals in the burbs and among the humans in the world. Wouldn't that be great?!

Read Luke 2: 1-7

The Christmas garland was that cheap kind made out of colored tin foil. In the one corner of the tiled floor room was an inexpensive nativity sitting on a small table. There were aqua blue lights draped from the ceiling tile and there was a 12" tall angel figurine holding a candle on top of the old piano. The simple "pulpit" at the front of the room faced 5 rows of plastic chairs with metal legs with a center aisle dividing the two sections of chairs. The chairs were full; full of men who had come to the simple service for a time of worship and gathering together. Others sat in chairs on the perimeter or stood in the back. As the piano tinkled away I joined in the singing of Christmas carols. "O Come All Ye Faithful" we sang with no particular concern for harmony, tune or melody.

I sat in the second row with the men at the Rescue Mission in downtown Fort Wayne.

"I'm just glad that I didn't take a drink today," said a man in my row as he responded to the invitation to share prayer concerns. "I'm trying to get an apartment this week. I was turned down before but I pray to God that I will be able to get this one," said another. And they also lifted up blessings. "I'm thankful for what God has given me," "I'm thankful that I have this place to stay," "I'm glad to be here," they shared.

Next I listened as a devotion was shared and then a sermon about the three kings with an invitation to accept and know Christ. It was all led by non-clergy. After the closing prayer the men were invited to come forward to receive gift wrapped packages that each contained a sweatshirt for the cold weather. There were also cookies and coffee. As they slowly left they thanked me. They said "God bless you." Some smiled and nodded as they went down the hall to the lobby or back to their bunks. They don't know me, they don't know I am a pastor, they don't know why I was there. They only knew that we had worshipped together and that I was part of a group that offered hospitality, refreshments and Christ through worship.

Read Luke 12:22-30

I was excited to finally have a morning to decorate the outside of our house. Since this would be our first Christmas in the new place, I had a whole new "canvas" to "paint" with Christmas lights and decorations. I began with our outdoor nativity that a friend hand-painted for us years ago. I brought down the boxes of decorations from the attic and began hanging and arranging and plugging in extension cords. It was then that I noticed the problem.

In front of our house are two very tall, large trees. They are beautiful. The former owners evidently liked ivy because there are an abundant amount of vines growing up both trunks of both trees. Although it is fairly pretty in the spring, I prefer to see the trees more than the ivy. The ivy was blocking the large wreath on our house from the sight of cars passing on the street. In addition, I thought that if the ivy was cut away then I could possibly hang some cool stuff on those large trees. I wanted to the place to look great as new folks in the neighborhood.

So off I went to get my hedge trimmer and extension cord. (I have since bought a new one after I cut the other in half, you may remember, the last time I encountered ivy.) My plan was to cut the ivy away from both trees. I placed my 10 foot ladder in front of the first tree, carried the hedge trimmer which was connected to the large cord. I climbed up the ladder and was preparing to flip the power switch to "on" and begin cutting when I saw it. Clinging to the tree and staring me in the face eyeball to eyeball was a gray squirrel. He or she ( I never know) had popped out of its rather large nest, which I could now see, and was curious to see what I was about to do.

I have to admit that it was like a moment out of a Donald Duck and Chip 'n Dale cartoon. The cruel home owner had come out to destroy the home of the helpless squirrel. The devious look on the squirrel's furry face was an indicator that if I began cutting near the nest then there would be consequences. I couldn't believe it and said out loud, "REALLY?!" After conversing with the squirrel for a short time I climbed back down the ladder in defeat and moved over to the other tree which had no residents and cut the ivy away from the one tree. The ivy is still on the other tree complete with a squirrel condo!

If you drive by our house you will see two tall, large trees; one with ivy and the other without. I'm sure this knocks us out of the "best decorated" award for our neighborhood. It was not what I planned. It was not the outcome I hoped for but let's face it…I'm not in control of much anyway. This was just one more little reminder. It certainly was not worth worrying . Today, may you be reminded that God is in control of our circumstances and we are not. God loves us and will provide for us in the midst of frustrating albeit laughable circumstances of life.