Friday, May 6, 2011

Four Moms and My Family

I spent the better part of today trying to take care of some legal maneuverings in Mexico, prior to heading out to Southern California and then to Central California to celebrate Mother’s Day. Yes, I have a mother. Actually, I have four!

I suppose that bears some explaining: 1) My birth mom, who raised me a good portion of my childhood and is largely responsible for the person I am today; 2) My step mom, who married the man who was married to my mom when I was born, and who remains involved in my life over the years; 3) My mother-in-law, who took me in as a son when I began stalking her daughter Penny (who I eventually married); and 4) A wonderful lady in Central California, who through a serendipitous series of events came to be known and referred to as “mom” during my years pastoring the church she attended. To this day my children still refer to her as Grandma Nancy. It makes for a somewhat interesting time of year, considering I also must remember the mother of my children (and the love of my life!).

Life is interesting. People are fascinating. God is amazing. How can we ever become apathetic or bored? God just keeps on surprising me every day with His gentle pleading and His more assertive prodding. I am sure glad God does not give up, even when we are tempted to do just that. I’m looking forward to seeing three of my moms this weekend and the fourth on May 10 (the officially recognized Mother’s Day in certain Latin countries—including Mexico).

Happy Sabbath!

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Happy Cinco de Mayo

It’s Cinco de Mayo! It’s also 6:30 a.m. and I am in the office for a 7:00 a.m. Personnel Committee teleconference with a candidate for the Registrar’s position at TAA. Resumes are coming is at a pretty good clip for most positions that have opened up. It has been a very busy week. Considering it’s Thursday already and I have not blogged since last Saturday, that alone speaks for the pace for this week.

Mainly it’s been keeping up with the paperwork associated with the Superintendent’s role. It’s really not an overwhelming amount of paperwork; it’s more a matter of trying to get through the paperwork in the midst of interruptions and a multiplicity of other tasks that call for your attention. In all honesty I do not like paperwork, never have, never will. It’s a necessary evil, so I have to do my best to satisfy those who require it.

On the other hand, the people side of what I do has been enjoyable, through and through! Even when conversations have been tense, and perhaps not enjoyable in the classic sense, it is still working with people. That’s the reason I do what I do—the people! Whether they come in pint-sized shaped elementary kids, hormones with legs adolescents, questioning young adults, combative adults, cantankerous seniors (and by the way, these characteristics are not specific to any age group, by any means) —underneath all those types of people are children of God. I have to do my best to treat them with respect. That is no guarantee that I will not be misunderstood or our motive questioned, but ultimately I have to be at peace with the knowledge that I did my best to do what’s right.

Something out of the ordinary took place yesterday, I was asked to come to TAA and have a short Question & Answer period with the students. It was incredibly rewarding! The students asked some very poignant questions regarding the future of TAA and the changes that are in the works. I answered as best I could and it seemed as if they would have continued asking questions if more time had been available. Perhaps we’ll have to make it a regular event. People want answers regardless of their age. Keep praying for TAA, and quite honestly for all our schools inside and outside of the Arizona Conference. There are looming challenges across the gamut of schools across this land that will have to be addressed by Spirit-led people willing to step out in faith and attempt innovative and creative interventions. It’s an exciting time to be part of education.

Gotta go! Teleconference duty….

Saturday, April 30, 2011

Happy for Sabbath Calm

It is about 5:00 p.m. and normalcy (if such a thing exists) is beginning to return to my life, at least for the moment. I took an afternoon walk around the campus of TAA after having taken a short nap after coming home from my morning preaching commitment (and a tasty pot luck). I have no commitments this afternoon, although I am planning to be present to make a plug for TAA at the Jesus Loves Jeans Youth Event this evening.

My evangelistic meetings ended this morning at the Central Valley SDA Church. I realized this morning that the 35th Avenue church is the same church I visited when I was an 18 year-old back in the late 70s. I had come to spend the summer with two friends who had convinced me I should sell religious books door to door in Phoenix. In Phoenix! In the summer! In spite of the apparent lunacy associated with that decision, the summer ended up being a watershed time in my life. I met some fine people who still live in the area. Tom Bledsoe I believe was treasurer of the conference at the time. My immediate literature evangelist supervisor was gentleman by the last name Reedy, I believe. He was enthusiastic as all get out!

I met Mr. and Mrs. Parra, who welcomed my friends and I as family. They were wonderful people. I found out a cousin of mine who I had not seen for many years was student at TAA. My canvassing buddies and I spent a good portion of the summer living in a trailer with no air conditioning. The swamp fan had no water attachment, so it served an alternative use—clothes dryer. I do remember spending at least a couple of nights in the comfort of the TAA dorm. That was incredible! I didn’t sell many books that summer. But I had a spiritual reawakening. In the long run that was a more valuable result that the money.

It’s interesting how things that seem to be totally disastrous often end up changing the entire direction of a live—for the better. Others, for the sake of full disclosure, end up being outright disasters. But I have learned that even those may reap collateral results that produce something positive. Life is a string of events that together form a tapestry of our lives. Some of those patterns or designs appear at the moment they are taking shape to be dissonant or out of place. But when the entire masterpiece of our lives is seen from the perspective of eternity, they will make perfect sense or have a unique beauty to them in the context of the whole. I am thankful for that. God is good—all the time!

I, for one, at this particular moment, am delighted to be enjoying the Sabbath hours without the cacophony of life. There is a calming effect to the Sabbath that God knew we needed at least once a week. Happy Sabbath, everyone! Enjoy it while it lasts. The work week begins in a few hours.

Friday, April 29, 2011

That Friday Feeling

Hallelujah! It’s Friday! I am sitting in my office at the Conference Office working on the day the office is closed for business. I am not alone. There are other people here who, like me, find the quietness of the office on Fridays an excellent opportunity to catch up on some work.

Of course it helps that I am typing on my new Sony Vaio Computer. What is Vaio, you ask? It stands for Video Audio Integrated Operation. Pretty cool, huh? My old ASUS computer is going through a rebellious stage and has been sent in for a major overhaul. Maybe they’ll gut it while they are at it! On a positive note all my files and pictures survived the transfer. The IT guy was able to move every file from the server and from the old computer on to the new one. All I had to do was to load on my programs in order to utilize my files. (I actually worked with a person in the Philippines on the transfer of my Intuit business program.) I am up and running!

Personnel Committee is slated to meet on Monday to begin the process of going through resumes submitted for the positions opening up at TAA. It is a daunting task, considering we are already entering the month of May. Resumes are coming in occasionally, in addition to names being recommended by various sources. It’s interesting when you see certain names appear on more than one list. Those are the ones that call your attention. I have been making phone calls all week between my other duties. The responses to my calls run the gamut from “that’s interesting,” a polite way of saying “are you crazy?” to “tell me more,” a good sign that will not always translate into “keep me on the list.”

The phone calls have led to some very interesting discussions about the direction Adventist Education is headed and the need for new approaches to funding, student work, vision, and such things. It is refreshing to hear people all over the country who are passionate about education. It is possible to fall into the “Elijah Syndrome” and believe you are the only one fighting the battle. That’s crazy! There are people everywhere that want something better for our system. It will be exciting to see how and where God will lead through and often times in spite of our interference.

I am finishing my “Good News” Series at the Central Valley Spanish Church tomorrow. 25 Fundamental Beliefs down and only three more to go after tonight’s meeting. I’ve had a hoot! I am surprised people come coming back night after night. I’ve made some new friends (I need some right now!). I am all too aware that God once used a donkey to convey His word for the day. I am only too happy to allow Him to spread some good news through me wherever there are people willing to hear them (and we could all use some good news!).

Sabbath is a welcomed friend. Even if Sabbath is the busiest day of the week, it still is different from the rest if for no other reason than the fact that it is Sabbath! I miss the family! My daughter, Amanda is preaching her final sermon at the Garden Grove Church. She’s preaching on some topic related to the new heaven and the new earth. Wow! She has a gift. I don’t know how she is going to do it, since she is also moving homes today, even as I am writing these words. God bless you, Amanda!

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Stretched, but Not Snapped

Off and running on Tuesday morning. I went through a list of possible candidates for the position of Principal at TAA. Made the calls and spoke to a number of them. People are hard to find—I guess people are busy. What’s that about? Come on---busy? In some ways it might be problematic to have candidates just sitting around waiting for someone to call them.

My sermon series at Central Valley Spanish Church keeps developing as I go through the week. Tonight I will be speaking on the Sabbath. We are in Exodus 3:4. That is the verse that will launch my message. I am pretty excited about the direction the messages are taking. I am trying to keep all the themes Christ-centered and anchored in love, not fear. Maybe a book will come out of this series. I have been tempted to do something like that for many years, but I have always used my busy-ness as an excuse for not submitting a manuscript of some sort to someone. Who knows?

I get my car back tomorrow—hopefully! I have been riding around in a blue Honda Insight. I don’t like it. It smells funny. I am beginning to feel a bit of pressure to find the time for a final visit to all the schools before the end of the year. Just one more thing to do. One last observation. Summative evaluations. Contracts. Campmeeting planning. Town Hall planning. Securing personnel for Thunderbird. Find a Principal. Find a Registrar. Science Teacher. Math Teacher. Sabbath School at Campmeeting Planning. Hispanic Campmeeting planning. Family Ministries. Hurry, call the “whambulance”!
Actually I love it—it leaves little time for waste. I find myself doing my 24 Hour Fitness routine after midnight. And let’s not forget Penny’s Swamp Smoothie Recipe I concoct for myself every morning.

Irony of the day-- My boys threaten to kill me if I don’t take care of myself better….oh well—let me take a last swig of my lukewarm Swamp Smoothie I brought to work in my 200 oz. 7-11 plastic drink container. Yum yum!

Monday, April 25, 2011

God is Good-- What a Concept!

Another new week! It’s been an exceptional week already and it’s only Monday. I began my evangelistic series at the Central Valley Spanish Church, which is on the west side of Phoenix. The pastor is quite a character and the members are warm and inviting. It’s a new experience for me—all over again. It’s been years since I last conducted an evangelistic series. Back in those days we still called them “crusades,” which seems to politically incorrect today in light of the negative implications that word carries for many fine people of the Muslim persuasion.

In any case I am trying a new approach to evangelism—a 100% guarantee of good news the whole week. No beasts. No plagues. No arbitrary rules. Just Good News! It doesn’t seem far-fetched since the belief that God is good all the time is at the core of my picture of God. If there seems to be an occasion when God appears to be less that good, I would submit that the misperception lies in us, not in God’s act. Our limited understanding of God’s omniscience will keep us from grasping decisions God has made, which in the big picture and provided His knowledge of the end from the beginning, would in fact be loving choices. I recognize it is a personal choice to hold to this worldview, but the option is to concede that God has at times (and presently) acted in ways that are not loving because He is sovereign and we just have to trust Him when he acts “strangely.” You can see I have strong feelings about this. It’s a character of God issue to me.

Oh, by the way, my entire series in anchored in the story of Moses in Exodus 3. Oh yeah, I am covering all 28 fundamental beliefs of the church (as good news) out of that story. I’m quite excited about the journey. Every day a new message with a new slant on my core beliefs flowing from a unmovable tenet that God is good. Good News!

Personnel decisions at TAA are beginning to crystalize. The principal announced to the conference committees that he and his wife will not be returning next year. I believe they have been offered a new position in Texas. The Science teacher announced in class that she will not be returning next year. That opens the possibility that the Athletic Director for the school may not return, although he is more than welcomed to remain. The Math teacher is not returning for the new school year. On a positive note, we have secured a new Music Director for the school. The new music teacher will be an amazing asset to the TAA staff. I am delighted. There is a formidable list of candidates for the principal position. It will be busy week. Lots to do!

But God is good…all the time!

Friday, April 22, 2011

Penniless in Phoenix

It’s almost 10 o’clock on a Friday night and Penny is not here in Arizona as she would otherwise be on weeks I am not scheduled to be in California. Amanda is having her big Children’s Cantata tomorrow afternoon. It’s the same Easter cantata I directed when my children were young. I’ll miss seeing my granddaughter in the play with my daughter directing. Duty calls here as well.
All my children have ministry genes in them. It’s a special thing to see them use those God-given gifts to impact other lives. I will keep praying that God will find a place for all of them to use their gifts to impact the church for the Kingdom of God. Penny won’t be back next weekend either. It’s Amanda’s final sermon at Garden Grove. Maybe I’ll get to see it on a DVD. Bummer!

Speaking of bummers, I had a close encounter with some ill-placed debris on northbound Interstate 10 between Tucson and Phoenix last night. I had not thought that much of it when it happened since it did not seem to affect the drivability of my new Prius. I was minding my own business when all of sudden I see what appears to be a pile of somewhat shining refuse on my lane. I was on top of it before I had a chance to react. Had I swerved to miss the obstacles I fear I may have lost control and impacted the cars following me.

I actually imagined, in that moment when the world seems to go into slow motion, my transmission flying in different directions or my tires being flattened by some sharp object hidden underneath the unexpected obstacle in my path. Alas, all I felt was the feeling of the car going over a blanket—a sort of muffled thump. I looked out my rear view mirror and saw a cloud of dust and cars trying to swerve around the debris that I had spread over the highway. No air bag deploying. No tires rolling past me. No metal-crunching sounds emanating from my undercarriage. Just a smooth ride as if nothing had happened.

I did not think about it for quite a while, since the car was performing as if nothing had happened. It wasn’t until I felt a need to stop at a 7-11 to purchase some refreshment to keep me alert (I bought a Payday candy bar) that I saw the damage. Apparently there was something hidden in the bundle I ran over. I don’t know what it was, but it left quite an indentation on my bumper, grill, and spoiler. My baby had taken the beating for me and kept on running like a trooper!

All that remained was contacting my resident lizard insurance representative to find resolution for the carnage administered to my auto. In brief, my car is in the vehicle hospital being mended back to health. She will remain there until next Wednesday. I am saddled with a Prius wannabe—a Honda Insight. Can you believe it? It actually suspends air conditioning when in idle! What’s with that? This is Scottsdale! You can’t change air conditioning into ventilated air at will simply because you are at a red light! The car smells like something crawled in and died underneath the seat somewhere. I was tempted to complain to Enterprise, but I was afraid they would discover it was me.

Happy Sabbath!