Reflections

Avalon Cheerleaders Advance!

They did it again! What a run the Avalon Wolves Cheerleading squads have had. Yesterday, we watched our daughter, Kimberly Kern, and her team win first place in the Southeast Regional Pop Warner cheerleading competition. That makes two years in a row winning the "midget" large advanced division. (BTY, the dynasty continues as the three other age-groups all moved on as well.) Next stop? Nationals at the Wide World of Sports in Walt Disney World!

Stephanie's First Solo Show

 

This Thursday, November 15th, our daughter Stephanie will have a solo show in the cafe at the Gallery at Avalon Island in downtown Orlando. We've updated her web-page to feature some of her latest work. You can check it out through the link to the right.

This picture is one of four paintings Stephanie did for her final project while studying at the School at the Institute of Art of Chicago. She calls the set "The Hope Series". She was inspired by her summer trip to South Africa where she and her sister, Katie, worked among the poor in a village called Qua Qua. As she has gotten educated about the AIDS pandemic in Africa, she noticed that you often see faces of children. She also noticed that associated with those faces are numbers--statistics of orphans and those infected with the HIV virus.

In her paintings the numbers mean something different. They are actually pointers to books, chapters, and verses of the Bible. They are verses of HOPE. So instead of statistics of the spiraling problem, Stephanie points us back to God--the real hope for those suffering.

Father's Arms

Stephanie goes pro! The Curator for the Gallery at Metro saw "Father's Arms" at the Orlando Public Library High School Art Contest. He contacted us and asked for permission to make it one of the three featured pieces for his June-July showing. We had a great time last Thursday in the downtown arts district visiting the various art galleries for the Third Thursdays Events.

This is one of my favorite pieces. Stephanie painted this when she was just 15 years old. The girl in the painting is our second daughter, Katie. When the piece is not being shown, I have it hanging in my office. As the kids grow and start spreading their wings (like going off to Africa and stuff), I often glance up at it and am comforted to know that He has them in His arms.

Monday's Inspiration--Don and Sheri Deluzio (part 2)

" He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers" --Malachi  4:5,6

Don shared this verse with me during our interview. It is a promise that he and Sheri have been clinging to and believing God for.

Recently, Victor Thomas finished serving his time and was released from prison. Naturally, his first desire was to re-connect with his children and to set about the process of re-building his life. However, accomplishing that goal wouldn't be as easy as it may first appear.

Before Natalie Thomas passed away, she carefully set up her trust and guardianship for the children. She entrusted their care to the Deluzio's and set up guidelines as to how their father could re-enter the children's lives.

As you can imagine the legal, ethical, and spiritual issues would make anyone's head spin. Victor's release from prison would create one more opportunity for the Deluzio's to "lean into God" and express dependency on Him.

I'd like to say it's all worked out to this day, but this one is still in process. The good news is that real progress being made. Don has earned Victor's trust, is helping him spiritually, and working with him to rebuild his relationship with the kids.

As Don and I wrapped up our conversation we spent some time praying together. I remembered the verse "this is pure and undefiled religion, to take care of widows and orphans..." (James 1:27). And I remembered how God describes Himself as "a father to the fatherless and a defender of widows" (Psalm 68:5).

I felt like I had just experienced a piece of God's heart. Don was extremely humble--almost surprised that I would want to feature his story. From his perspective he and Sheri are merely doing what they believe God would have them do. But I saw a glimpse of the heart of God living in and through their Christ-like response of love, compassion, friendship, sacrifice, and faith. This is pure and undefiled religion indeed.

"The Marriage Show"

Last night my wife Jill and I attended "The Marriage Show"--a new event put on by Summit Church where James Raffenaud guided us through a variety of humorous activities in the "Late Night" format. The featured guests were Dr. Joel and Becky Hunter. Joel is senior pastor of Northland Community Church here in Orlando, and Becky serves as the President of the Global Pastors' Wives Network. They have 35 years of marriage experience to draw from.

I had the privilege of meeting Joel and Becky when we moved to Orlando back in 2001. As a well-respected leader in the community, Joel graciously hosted a reception and welcomed our ministry to the city with open arms. Over the years, I credit Joel with helping me in a number of ways both directly and indirectly; including helping me to grow in my value of the "Church Distributed". He was also an encouragement during my transition from full-time ministry into the marketplace back in 2005. I have a ton of respect for he and Becky.

I call Dr. Hunter the "Cal Ripken" of preachers. Ripken is known as the "iron man" for setting the record for the most consecutive games played in major-league history. He steadily performed at Hall of Fame levels day in and day out for over 16 years--2,632 straight games. Under Dr. Hunter's leadership, Northland quickly grew beyond the capacity of its building. To accommodate they began adding new service time-slots. For years now, Dr. Hunter faithfully preaches 7 times each weekend! If you've ever done much teaching you'll know that is no easy feat! Iron Man!

He and Becky gave us some great stuff last night. Here's some of what I took away (I'm focusing more on what Joel had to say to me as a man--I'll leave the reflection on Becky's points to Jill)

• While God calls wives to "respect their husbands" Dr. Hunter reminded us that God wants us to BE respectable. I thought of the verse in Psalm 18, "What is desirable in a man is his kindness." I know that is what most engenders Jill's respect for me.
• Joel made the interesting point that whenever God gives us "strength" it is for the purpose of serving. Biblical strength is never a positional or power-trip thing. We are to use our strength to lay down our lives for our wives and family.
• I appreciated Joel's vulnerability about the differences between his and Becky's upbringing. Joel shared that he was raised in a home with alcoholism; and like many who were raised in that sort of environment, anger and fighting became a normal way of relating for him. He shared about a time early in their marriage where in his anger he yelled at Becky who was raised in the opposite kind of household. He described hers more like "Ozie and Harriet" of the Clever family. This is a mirror for Jill and me who have a similar backgrounds (me to Joel and she to Becky). I saw again last night how times of my own anger have been particularly hurtful to my wife. I hope the remainder of my days with Jill that I will be able to say like Joel, "While I have be angry from time to time, I have never yelled at her since."
• Joel also reflected on the power of words. God spoke the universe into existence in his magnificent act of creation. Obviously, we are not God--but we should never estimate the life-giving and creative power of our words. After 19 years of marriage and with 4 children I know the truth of this point. The tongue can be life-giving it also can pierce like a sword.
• The final take away for me was how genuinely Joel relies upon Becky. He reflected on Genesis 2 where God described Eve as Adam's helpmate. Joel taught us that the connotation of this word is that she is "one who talks back". God did not want Adam to be alone--He designed us for intimacy, relationship, and community. Out of deep respect for her character, intellect, and wisdom she helps Joel by speaking into his life and decisions--an invaluable source of learning for him.

The next "Marriage Show" will be August 21st.

Off to Africa

I woke up at 2:25 am this morning thinking about my girls. Earlier in the day we dropped them off at Summit Church for their 2-week mission trip to Africa.

When I led an international missions agency, I was on and off a plane as a routine part of my job. I know first hand how tiring that can be. But, I never had a flight as long as the one they are taking. We left the home at 8:30a on Wednesday. They won't arrive in Johannesburg until 4:00p Thursday (or 10a "body time"). Anyway you slice it, that's a long trip.

We won't have much direct contact over the next 15 days of their trip. So, I am sure my nights (and days) will be filled with prayer, wonder, and concern. Both Stephanie and Katie have so much to offer the children and the suffering from the AIDS pandemic in Africa. I look forward to hearing how God uses them and how He shapes their lives and hearts through this experience.

Monday's Inspiration: "Mamaw and Papaw"

Our kids were given a gift that will only grow more precious to them as the years go on.

"Mamaw and Papaw" wrote the book on grandparenting. Our children still remember how their excitement and anticipation would build knowing that Mamaw and Papaw were coming to visit. Minutes seemed like hours as the kids awaited their arrival. When they finally pulled into the drive it was like the start of the Kentucky Derby. The kids burst out of the door, raced to Mamaw and Papaw, and the celebration was on!

Of course there were all those gifts that grandparents are famous for. But, it was much, much more. Mamaw and Papaw became part of their lives. They gave far more than gifts, clothes, toys, fun activities, parties...They gave something money cannot buy. They gave something that kids soak up like a sponge and can't get enough of. They gave love. They gave the gift of presence.

In 2002 and 2003, over a short 18 month period, we sadly watched Mamaw and Papaw both succumb to cancer. It's been nearly 4 years since Papaw died and almost 6 for Mamaw. While we miss them terribly, their legacy of love still lives on.

In December 2003, it was clear that Papaw would soon pass away. We loaded up the family to visit him one final time and to say good-bye. Man was that hard. But it was also precious. He told the kids about his faith and how he was not afraid of dying. He spoke of heaven and wondered what it would be like. He told the children that he and Mamaw had given them their love and that they will always have that with them. He told them he was now going to heaven to be with Jesus and to be reunited with Mamaw. He encouraged the kids to take that love and to pass it along to others as well.

His life taught us how to live and love. His death taught us how to believe and hope.

Jack and Alberta Wallace lived their lives in service to God and Country. As a young man Jack joined the Navy and while stationed in San Diego, California came to faith in Jesus Christ through a new ministry founded by Dawson Trotman called "The Navigators." After serving four years, Jack and Alberta set out for Seminary. God led him back into the military where Jack served as a chaplain in the US Army, retiring as a Lt. Colonel. He then served 12 more years as a United Methodist pastor and dedicated husband, father, and Papaw. And Alberta served as the ever-loving wife, mother, and Mamaw.

The Scriptures say, "And now dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died, so you will not grieve like people who have no hope." (I Thes. 4:3 NLT). Moments of grief still come rolling into our lives from time to time. In those moments I personally reflect on how much richer my life has become and the many lessons about faith, patience, family, and love. And I think about the importance of presence. While we miss them terribly today, as believers we have the great hope of being reunited with them in heaven.

So, for now it is a time of remembrance. But, it's also a time of anticipation. It's waiting by the front door for what seems like forever...

But, one day, the build up of excitement will burst forth in that blessed moment when our hope is realized.

The gift of their presence will be restored and the celebration will be in full swing.

What a celebration that will be.

Stephanie with Papaw, Michael with Mamaw, Kimberly with Papaw, Katie with Mamaw