It's About the People

Each year just before Christmas the district office puts together gift baskets to give to our vendors. So, just before the big day, several of us will grab several baskets and fan out to play Santa to the various vendors who supply our office with goods and services.

This year, with list in hand, Joyce and I started out. My objective was to distribute the baskets and check each basket off the list as it is handed off. The list was to be conquered, then I could move on to something else! Then something amazing happened.

Our first stop was at the business that maintains our heating & air plant. The owner's wife was there by herself. We explained who we were and gave her the basket. My intention was to smile and head out the door for the next delivery. However, she must have been lonely as she wanted to talk. At first I became a little anxious - then I remembered -this lady is more important than the list. We enjoyed the visit!

The next stop was to our attorney. Not to worry - they are always busy! He came down the stairs to received his basket of appreciation. To my amazement he asked how we were, and then reminisced about our past legal adventures. Then we talked about family, friends, and possible future exploits together. It was truly a wonderful visit.

Sometimes I forget, It is about the people.

Merry Christmas

Throughout the year there have been difficult decisions, long hours, and many nights laying awake wondering if I had done things correctly. Looking back to a time when we ministered in a small western Alaska village, I used to secretly wish that James Miller were there. He could do anything. He could sing, play the piano, and he was a wonderful orator. He, at times, would prophesy over people and would be right on. I came to know the Lord under his ministry, he had written in my brand new bible, "Remember this: This book will keep you from sin, or sins will keep you from this book." It would seem that I drew strength from his life, his confidence, and his assurances of trust in the Bible! I grieved when the Lord took him home some years later.

Last night, ministers from Anchorage and as far away as Houston (Alaska) gathered to have a meal together and Celebrate the birth of Christ. Still carrying the thoughts of past and present difficulties, I began to mingle with the group. There was John C. he's getting up there in age, but his smile was confident, genuine, and eyes radiated life. There was an amazing number of younger ministers there. Some were headed for the mission field, others were planting a new church, and several were tackling the most difficult of assignments, reaching those from dysfunctional lifestyles. My daughter and her husband were there. They guide young married couples through their first years of relationship, in a wonderful church here in Anchorage.

All-in-all, I began to see, and feel, confidence being generated from one person to another . We were gaining strength from each other, encouraging each other. Faith was alive and there was hope for tomorrow, all in that one room. I was glad to see that what Jim Miller gave to me, those many years ago, has not been lost. Last night I saw, and felt, it again.

May the Lord bless you as you celebrate His birth.

Skillfully Resourcing Our District

When the new General Superintendent, George O. Wood, came into office, he stated five core values that would enable the Assemblies of God to fulfill their mission. The results of these five Core Values would be that we are "Serving Christ's Cause with Effectiveness and Excellence."

One of those core values is stated this way, "Skillfully resource our constituency." Always being underfunded and having a philosophy of scarcity, though it sounds very spiritual, will not accomplish what we are called to do. "Our picture of a successful district must change from how well the district is doing to how well the local churches are doing and how the district is helping those churches do well." In this district we have done a couple of significant things to help us to assist the churches. 1) Constitution and Bylaw changes that allowed decisions to be made by the Presbytery more readily. 2) The creation of the Ministry Development Fund (MDF) which has already put thousands of dollars into the ministry of this district. But, we cannot stop there!

We need to rethink what constitutes a successful district. We can no longer only be about crisis management and credentials. We have to step up and do our best to resource our ministries. To be legitimate in ministry we must resource ministry.

I believe we have to find ways to become the head and not the tail, be progressive, and find ways to equip the next generation. Other than that it is a piece of cake!

[Portions quoted from: Core Values, George O. Wood, with Randy Hurst, Gospel Publishing House, 2007.]

More Core

Shannon in Chattanooga

We had just driven into Chattanooga and had stopped at the Crackle Barrel Restaurant for something to eat. In addition to food, we needed directions to the downtown Aquarium. Shannon K. came to our rescue.

Shannon was our waitress, and she was stereotypical of what we had come to expect in Tennessee. She was bright, lively, and fun to visit with. We also found out that she was an Affiliate Broker with Keller Williams Realty in Chattanooga. So, if you are in that part of the country and find yourself in need of a real estate agent, give her a call or stop by the restaurant. By the time we had finished lunch (or dinner as some call it), we had directions to the aquarium, and Shannon had added 'visit Alaska' to her must do list.

Shannon, thanks for helping to make our trip to Chattanooga so enjoyable. Also, you might try The Melting Pot on 2nd Avenue North, in Nashville, its a Fondu restaurant. I didn't know there was still fondu stuff around - wasn't that in the 70's?

Core Values

While looking at the National Community Churches’ web site, I came across their core values (aspects of one’s life & character that are non-negotiable). While reading them I got really charged up as I believe we are, at times, risk averse and are traditionalists by nature. Please don’t take me wrong, I don’t believe we should risk everything, or even a great deal, on a whim. However, I do believe God gives us opportunities to excel – if we are willing to recognize them. The ability to recognize and take hold of these opportunities is directly tied to our core values, individually and corporately.

Let me share the National Community Churches’ core values with you. “1) Expect the unexpected. 2) Irrelevance is irreverence. 3) Love people when they least expect it and least deserve it. 4) Playing it safe is risky. 5) Pray like it depends on God and work like it depends on you. 6) Everyone is invaluable and irreplaceable. 7) Everything is an experiment. 8) You cannot out give God. 9) Maturity does not equal conformity. 10) Go the extra mile. 11) It’s never too late to be who you might have been. 12) Do it right and do it big.”

Such core values are crucial in accomplishing one’s mission in life.

Cookeville Tennessee

We were in Cookeville, not far from Nashville, and we were trying to figure out the best way to get to the Cumberland Gap in the northeast part of the state. Our choices were to go north to Kentucky and then east or straight east across Tennessee and then up to the Gap. So, we asked the waitress at Shoneys.

From there it got interesting, because she openly confessed that she didn't travel much, and, as she lived out in the boonies, she couldn't even describe how to get to her place. However, "the cook travels a lot, I'll get him for you! she said."

The cook, being gracious and more than willing to help, came out to assist. He listened, then admitted that he had only been to Kentucky once, so he told us our best bet was to stay in Tennessee and avoid the unknowns. You would have thought we were talking about Canada! (We were about 40 miles from Kentucky.) Before going back to work, he made sure that we knew to turn left out of the parking lot - later we found out that all points east to the Cumberland Gap took a right turn out of the parking lot.

All the people we have met in Tennessee have been wonderful and pleasant, though maybe they should get out out of town a little more often.