From Homeless - to - Home at last!

It is awesome to see how God is at work in our life!

In my last posting I shared a portion of the journey to bring
us to date at that time. Here is the unfolding of the following days:

On Thursday morning of October 18th we closed on our house in Raleigh. Sharron and I decided to celebrate with a meal at our favorite breakfast restaurant - Cracker Barrel. We purchased a few needed item and then made our way to our new house. With the turn of the key - Sharron re- keyed the house locks to our set of keys. We returned for our final evening at the home of Phil and Joanie Richards.

We arose early on Friday morning to meet the movers at our house. It was a great crew that unloaded us on the rainy morning of Oct. 19th. It did not take long and our house and garage was full of boxes waiting to be unloaded. The movers laughed when I told them I was a minister and they saw the pulpit come out of the trunk and into my garage.
One asked "Did you move the "kitchen sink" as well?

Sharron and I really appreciate the efforts of Joanie Richards as she began the task of unpacking the boxes marked "kitchen". I did not even notice when she slipped away to the store and returned with a house warming gift of chocolate ice cream (with splenda) to place in my empty freezer. THANKS

Also, Phil Richards was there with a pencil behind his ear - his tool box and drill to hang blinds on the windows of our home. WOW! I tried the night before to hand the blinds in our living room but did not have good success.
Phil went to task and I admit I was impressed that he actually read the instructions and placed the blinds in perfect position on all our windows
through out the house. I am thankful and my wife is thrilled to have this task accomplished!

It was so nice to welcome our first guest to our home when Donna and Roy Philemon stopped by with a basket of fresh fruit and cookies. This short visit really encouraged Sharron and I as we felt the transformation of seeing our house become a home.

One of the final task was the removal of our empty boxes and paper to the local recycle center. When Cindi Whiteside heard of this need she moved into action. Jan LaLone (left) and Cindi (right) arrived at our house with a
truck which we loaded to capacity with empty boxes and they took them away for us. This is a real blessing and helped us soooo much! Thanks to Cindi and Jan for their labor of love.

The biggest surprise of all came when Josh, Stephanie and Alyse arrived for their first visit to "Grammy and Papa's house". We enjoyed an
evening together and then Josh returned to Charlotte and Stephanie and Alyse have spent the remainder of this week with us. Our house has become a home. There has been the sounds of laughter by our granddaughter. Tonight there were even tears before she settled for the night.

On Sunday morning my voice was almost gone due to my allergies however, I was able to preach the final message in the current series.

The church board surprised the pastoral staff with a special presentation
for Pastoral Appreciation Sunday. I was so thankful for the church family at
North Raleigh and the generosity shown to me and my family. I am so blessed!
Sharron and I are so happy!

We are now home at last!

Thank you for your thoughts and prayers for us during this time of transition. Sharron and I have dedicated our home to the Lord! It is amazing to see how God set everything into order, in the perfect time, in His perfect way. I am reminded of a passage of Scripture I recently shared on a Sunday morning:

"The One who called you is completely dependable . If he said
it, he'll do it!" 1 Thess. 5:24 (MSG)

This my friends, is truly a trustworthy statement!
PR

HOMELESS

It's true - Sharron and I are now truly homeless! It was about 2:30pm on Monday October 15th when we received a phone call from our realtor in Topeka,KS to report that the closing was complete and that we are no longer home owners in Topeka. Then came the best words about our house: "The money is in the bank!" We have never been so excited about being homeless.

Though sometimes I do feel like Mr. Farlow - Right now - all seems well!

On Tuesday we met with our realtor in Raleigh and conducted our walk through of our new home. Wednesday was the day to purchase blinds and needed "stuff" for the move in day. I spoke to our driver (Bill) this afternoon who reported that he was in Missouri with all our personal belongings. This afternoon we secured our cashiers check for the scheduled closing of our new home.


The closing takes place in the morning at 8:30am. This means this is our last night to be homeless. Our moving van is scheduled to arrive at our new home on Friday at 8:30am

We once again wish to express our thanks and deep appreciation to Phil and Joanie Richards for their hospitality. The guest room in their home has been my home away from home for several months now. I cannot imagine my ministry in Raleigh without their support. The sweet tea with "splenda" and the chocolate ice cream has been more that I could have ever hoped for. My wife Sharron is convinced that truly you have "spoiled me" - THANKS.

I also want to thank the family of NRN for thier patience and support during this extended time of transition. The prayer support and the words of encouragement have meant sooooo much!

THANKS Josh and Steph - Thanks for opening your home to use for such an extended time. We love you, Alyse and Danielle so much!

I look forward to my next posting to give you an update on our new home. We have felt God's presence through this time of transition.

God is good all the time - All the time God is Good!

This my friend is a trustworthy statement . Thanks for stopping by. PR

Moving Day in Kansas

On Tuesday Oct. 9th Sharron and I returned to Kansas to meet with the movers and begin the final phase of our transition to North Carolina. We appreciate the members of Topeka Transfer and Storage that packed our belongings for the move. They did a GREAT JOB!

On the day we met the "packers" at the house we noticed the road in front of our house had been recently prepared for paving. As the morning began the equipment arrived to pave the road in front of our house. Our house was filled with activity as the moving process began and the smell of fresh and hot asphalt filled the air. The packing took place on Wednesday and Thursday.

Sharron and I enjoyed the Wednesday evening meal with Pastor Alfredo Barreno and his family. They invited us into their home for a delicious meal and great time of sharing. We will truly miss Pastor Alfredo and his family.

Today (Friday Oct. 12th) The moving truck arrived. The crew began about 8:30am and by 2:30pm the truck was driving away. Thanks to Bill and his crew for a great loading day! Sharron and enjoyed a lunch with David and Nell Deck as we shared goodbyes. Our heart is filled with many emotions. Sharron and I thought of the first time we saw our home in Topeka. The last time we stood beside a moving truck filled with our belongings was on the morning of September 11, 2001. Today was a much different day!

Though we miss many friends in Kansas, we are very excited about our future and the ministry at North Raleigh Church of the Nazarene. It is a new chapter in our lives. We say goodbye to Kansas for the final phase of transition and look forward to closing on our new home next week and unpacking our belongings into our new home before the end of next week.

Sharron and I realize that we have said goodbye to Kansas. In many ways it has been difficult to say goodbye. The many friends we leave behind mean very much to us. The labor of ministry for six years has given me a love and appreciation for the church family in Kansas. We will miss them!

A new ministry awaits us in North Carolina. This is a dream being fulfilled to return to NC. As we explained our move to many people we simply said "We are going home." Those words to explanation seemed to satisfy every inquiry. It is amazing to see the hand of God upon our lives. Sharron and I are truly amazed at the faithfulness and trustworhtyness of our great God.

As I finally began reading my book of the week I read a very simple yet profound dedication in front of the book. The book is "One thing you can't do in heaven" by Mark Cahill. The dedication reads as follows:

Very special thanks to: Jesus Christ for giving me a reason to live, and a reason to die.

WOW! That is a great and powerful trustworthy statement for consideration!

- Hey - let me know you stopped by by leaving me a comment. Thanks PR

LIFE COMES AT YOU FAST

Since my last posting - my life is been hectic and full. Just like a current commercial on TV says: "Life comes at you fast". We enjoyed a great family vacation and then prepared to resume life in the fast line.

On our way back to Raleigh for our first weekend back - I was sitting in the passenger seat as Sharron drove. She asked me "did you feel that?" Soon we were on the side I-85 with a flat tire.

About an hour later we were on our way to the home of Phil and Joanie Richards. Sunday was a great day in the Lord with a time of worship and service and God's presence was with us!

On Monday Sharron and I departed for the mountains of North Carolina for the annual pastor's retreat with the NC District of the Church of the Nazarene. It was a time of making new friends. It was a time of reflection as I took in the sights of beautiful mountains of North Carolina. The last time I was on a retreat at Ridgecrest was shortly after graduating from college when I served as youth pastor at St. Paul Wesleyan Church in Charlotte, NC.Sharron and I especially enjoyed meeting the area General Superintendent for the Church of the Nazarene. We asked the pastors to join us in the request for the sale of our house.

As we gathered in NC for our retreat I remembered that many of the pastors in Kansas were gathering for the annual retreat in the Colorado mountains. I contact our friend Rob Stewart and asked that the pastors join us in prayer.

On Tuesday evening I received a phone call from our realtor, Jerry Brosious, and after several counter offers - WE SOLD OUR HOUSE IN TOPEKA! When we shared the good news with our Nazarene brothers and sisters a cheer was raised with praise!


NOW a NEW CHAPTER of our life begins to unfold:

The next Monday Sharron and I met with our agent with Countrywide Home Loans to pre-qualify for a house loan. Tuesday we met with our new realtor in Raleigh and by Wednesday we had signed a contract for a new house. Words cannot express our excitement when the offer was accepted and Sharron and I stood outside our new home in Raleigh.

God has richly blessed us with a new 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath home with a living room, family room, dining room and a loft upstairs for a home study. We are scheduled to go to closing on Thursday Oct. 18th and the moving truck is scheduled to arrive on the morning of Friday October 19th.

I have shared with several friends that Sharron and I had prayed and prayed and finally shared with the Lord that we were at the end of our rope. We believe that God heard not only our prayers, but also those of the pastors in NC and Kansas and the faithful prayers of the family at North Raleigh. I am so thankful for the patience shown by the family at North Raleigh and their support for us during this extended transition. We can hardly wait to establish our new home in Raleigh NC.

I also believe that when God answered our prayers it was like a row of dominoes set forth. I could picture my heavenly father looking down at us with a smile on his face. When we asked in faith it was like God saying "Okay, you asked for this... then with a thump of his thumb on the first dominoes - the progression took place quickly as each piece of his will for us began to unfold. When I look back at the last 2 weeks it is almost a blur to see the powerful hand of God at work in our lives. It is always good to see God active in our lives and give credit where credit is due.

I was out of the pulpit for the first Sunday since becoming Lead Pastor at North Raleigh as Sharron's father and brother traveled from Canada to join us for the Canadian Thanksgiving weekend (over our Columbus Day weekend). We enjoyed the family gathering on Sunday with the traditional Thanksgiving meal. It was a special treat to have Sharron's Dad - Emerson Wiltshire with us to see his first great grandchild. The four generation picture is of Em with his daughter Sharron and her daughter Stephanie with her daughter Alyse. I really enjoyed the time with Dad and Les (Sharron's brother). We appreciate the hospitality of Josh and Stephanie. We also appreciate Joyce Ford opening her home for us for the overnight time. God has blessed us with family and friends.

Dad and Les departed from Raleigh on Monday. Sharron and I departed on Tuesday for Kansas to meet with the movers as we pack the house on Wednesday and Thursday and plan to load the truck on Friday ( in the morning) and see the truck depart for our new home in Raleigh. Sharron and I fly back to Raleigh on Saturday and I look forward to preaching on Sunday!

"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing." 1 Thess 5:11 These my friends, are trustworthy words which I want to apply to my life. PR

Reflections from a family vacation

Sorry for the long delay in my posting. On September 9th I preached during the morning service at North Raleigh Church of the Nazarene. You can hear this message at http://www.nrnazarene.org/services/services/servicepodcasts.html Soon after the worship service Sharron, Danielle, Alyse and I departed for North Topsail Beach on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. I did not have Internet access for almost a week.

When we arrived at the house we rented "Dolphin View" we were thrilled! Josh and Stephanie had gone ahead on Saturday and opened the house ready for our arrival.

The next five days established the memories I had longed for. Each morning Josh, Stephanie and Danielle made their way across the dunes and laid out on the beach. They enjoyed the time splashing in the Atlantic Ocean!

Sharron and I spent very little time at the beach - but lots of time holding our granddaughter and enjoying quiet moments together. We needed this time together. The separation caused in our current situation has caused a stress in our lives that we have not experienced since the early days of beginning ministry.


We appreciate the linens, beach chairs and "stuff" loaned to us by Phil and Joanie Richards. Once again they have expressed kindness to our family. A deep sense of loneliness came over me when the vacation ended by driving to Raleigh to retrieve Danielle's car and then see her, Alyse and Sharron depart for Indian Trail. On Sunday morning I struggled to go to church (wow - that's being transparent) -but God reminded me that I am the PASTOR. When I stood to preach on Sunday I felt an unusual anointing of the Holy Spirit and a real freedom to preach.


I remained in Raleigh through Thursday of this week. I jumped in with both feet to tackle several administrative task and responsibilities in the office. It was good to meet with each pastoral staff member individually and then together at our weekly staff meeting. The church board meeting on Tuesday evening began with 45 minutes in prayer. I departed the Richards' home on Thursday and today I am at Josh and Stephanie's house in Indian Trail. It is good to be with Sharron again and to enjoy our family. I am looking forward to preaching on Sunday as we continue in our series of messages entitled The Church That God Designed as we survey the book of 1 Thessalonians.


On Sunday we will look at First Thessalonians 2:17 - 3:13 As Sharron and I have gone through the experience of not have a home of our own and my commuting twice a week between Raleigh and Indian Trail we have faced tensions. stress and obstacles that we have not faced before. It has been difficult to stay content in these times, but God is continually proving His faithfulness to us. Paul said to those in the church " Night and day we pray most earnestly that God will supply that which is lacking in your faith." ( 1 Thess. 3:10b) There are three aspects to the prayer Paul prays for us. He prays that we might have a strong relationship with God; an ever-growing love for all people; and steadfastness in faith.


WOW! These my friends, are truly Trustworthy Statements! Check back again after Sunday!

Oh, by the way, now this my blog site is linked to the web site of the church http://www.nrnazarene.org/index.html - please post a comment that let me know you stopped by. Thanks PR

A TIME FOR TEARS

TEARS OF PAIN - TEARS OF JOY. Over the past few weeks I have found tears flowing. I always get emotional when I see my grand daughter Alyse. We call this picture "Warm Sheets"
- Think about it !

Sorry for the long delay in returning to my blog. As I shared in my last blog entry, Sharron and I were in Concordia, KS for the trail of Pastor Brian Sprung. One aspect of this experience was that I was sequestered for two days. When I was able to testify the time on the stand was very brief. Sharron and I departed Kansas to return to North Carolina for an expected time of great service at North Raleigh. Then came a time for tears.

My heart was deeply saddened by the news of death of Greg Wright. Greg Wright, 44, passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, August 22, 2007. Greg is survived by his wife, Suellen Russo Wright and children, Kevin and Erin. He was known for his quick wit and great sense of humor. He was an avid woodworker and tennis player. His love for Christ was expressed in his role as an outstanding husband and father. He provided never ending support for those in need. He was most proud of watching his children play sports, and his ability to provide for his family. The funeral for Greg took place on Sunday August 26th at North Raleigh. I had only spoken to Greg once. Truly, I was moved by the memorial service. I was thankful to have the opportunity to pray with Suellen and the family on that day. I was also very moved by the response of the members of their small group and the family of North Raleigh. The installation service by Dr. Mark Barnes has been rescheduled for last Sunday of October.

Another time for tears occurred after hearing the news of the verdict in the Brian Sprung case. I received a phone call from Kansas District Superintendent Ed Rotz notifying me that the jury found Brain guilty on four felony counts. Brian is current incarcerated in the Cloud County Jail awaiting his sentencing hearing on October 1st. Brian has served in pastoral ministry for over 25 years. I have only known him as a person living above reproach. This decision of the justice system is very disturbing. My heart breaks for Brian and his family during this difficult time. I also pray for those who brought these charges against him. It is a reminder to me as a pastor how fragile ministry really is. I thank God every day for the privilege to serve Him and ask God to protect me and keep my heart and mind pure in Him. I strive daily to live to the praise of my Savior.

I am very thankful for the privilege of serving as Lead Pastor of North Raleigh Church of the Nazarene. When I think of the journey Sharron and I have been on for the past 6 months I am so happy to be in pastoral ministry. Sharron told me recently that she has seen the joy in my preaching at North Raleigh. As I prayed last evening tears came to my eyes as I shared my thanks to God. If you would like to hear my most recent message click here:http://www.nrnazarene.org/services/services/servicepodcasts.html

TEARS OF JOY came forth on September 1st as our grand daughter Alyse celebrated her six month birth day. Sharron, Stephanie and Alyse met me last Friday in Lexington, NC saving me the drive to Indian Trail. We met at one of our favorite "grandpa" spots - Cracker Barrel.

YES - That is a BIG SMILE on my face as I hold Alyse. Of course she is looking around at other "stuff". She is very observant but when she looks up at me with those deep blue eyes - tears of joy often fill my eyes. I love my family so much.

Finally - the reason I shared with entry with the title of A Time for Tears.

I am sitting in the family room of my new friends - Phil and Joanne Richards. They are in Richmond, Va. and have opened their home to provide me a place to stay in the Raleigh area. (Thanks for the chocolate ice cream!) Sharron, Danielle and Alyse arrive in Raleigh tomorrow as Josh and Stephanie travel to Topsail Beach to open the rental house for our vacation. On Sunday I begin a new series of messages at North Raleigh. We plan to depart after the service for a family vacation on Topsail Beach, NC. When I asked the home owner how close the house we have rented is to the water of the Atlantic Ocean - I was pleased with her response of "only 19 paces!"

Tonight - Friday evening - I am alone and for the first time in several weeks watching a fresh episode of MONK on USA network. YES - tears were in my eyes as I laughed out loud. It never fails - Monk always makes me laugh! This episode reminds me that we all make mistakes - we are only human.

"There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven: ...a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance..." Ecclesiastes 3:1,4

These my friends are trustworthy sayings...

Time to re-Wesleyanize

On Sunday August 12 there was a reception for Sharron and me at North Raleigh Church of the Nazarene. The office manager - Donna - took several pictures to document this event. You can view the slide show at the church web site (note the post below and click on the web site).


On Tuesday the 14th I conducted my first church board meeting as Lead Pastor. As the meeting was coming to a close a board member shared with me that it was really good to laugh at a board meeting. I am greatly encouraged by the great leadership team at NRN (North Raleigh Nazarene).


God truly met with us on Sunday morning August 19th as Tom Alsbury and Crystal Bennett with the praise team lead us in worship. I enjoyed preaching the message entitled "Why are we here?" You can hear this message on the church web site - just click on the worship podcast.


An emotional event took place later in the week when we finally secured auto insurance and placed North Carolina license plate on our vehicle. This sounds so simple, but I had NC tags on every car I had until God lead Sharron and I to Christian Fellowship Church in April 1981. Now, 26 years later, we celebrate going home with the reality of NC tags on our vehicle.

When Sharron and I departed from Josh and Stephanie's on Saturday morning we knew we would not be back in Indian Trail for 10 days. I couldn't believe that Stephanie accused us of trying to pack Alyse in our suitcase to take her to Kansas with us!
Why would she ever think we would do that?


The pastoral team departed Sunday afternoon for our first Pastoral Team Advance. We enjoyed a time of sharing, praying, planning and of course pigging out! I believe God has placed a great team together!


A short note of appreciation to Phil and Joanie Richards for their hospitality as Sharron and I stayed in their home on Tuesday evening. I am thankful for the Richards and their open hearts and open home to provide a place for me to stay when in the Raleigh area. I enjoy the laughter with each visit! It was Joanie that gave me a recent copy of Holiness Today - the magazine of the Church of the Nazarene. In this edition I read comments from General Superintendent Nina Gunter as she addressed the M7 conference in Kansas City. She was quoted as saying the following:


"Gunter warned that the rate of change in our culture has increased so quickly that what used to take a generation now changes every 5 years, which presents challenges for our church, some of the biggest challenges in our 100-year history.

Gunter called upon her hearers to rise to those challenges, to re-Wesleyanize the Church of the Nazarene. She asserted that this church is a vigorous 100-year-old, who can still give birth! “We can embrace new methods, new structures, and new ways to connect, serve, and resource our church, all for the ultimate work God has called us to, the work of making Christlike disciples in the nations.”

I shared with the Richards that I am doing my part in this challenge to re-Wesleyanize the Church of the Nazarene!


Today, Sharron and I are in Concordia, KS in compliance to a subpoena I received to testify on behalf of Rev. Bryan Sprung in the entitled action pending in the Cloud County district court. I did not testify today but will be called upon tomorrow. Sharron and I will return to NC on Saturday.


We look forward to Sunday with special guest Dr. Mark Barnes - District Superintendent of the North Carolina Church of the Nazarene. Dr. Barnes will be preaching and conducting an installation service. Next Sunday (September 2) I am planning to preach from Acts 17:1-9 as we explore the establishment of the church in Thessalonica. In the days ahead I plan to preach through the book of First Thessalonians. My heart is stirring as I prepare my first series of messages for NRN. My desire is to preach with the empowerment of the Holy Spirit and share the message of Christ clearly.


Acts 17:3b says "This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ." This my friends, is truly a trustworthy statement.