Dynamic Inventory

Josh and Diana were planning on moving from Cedar Falls to Forest City tomorrow. A week earlier, Josh had gone to his local UHaul dealer and signed a contract for a 14 foot truck to be picked up on Sunday at 9:00 AM. They planed to make the move on July 31 as they have to be out of their apartment by August 1. So far, so good.

This evening at 4:45 PM UHaul called Josh to tell him that they don't have a truck available to rent to him. They called Josh and then end of the day and he had no opportunity to call others companies or make other plans. And to compensate him for the inconvenience they offered him $50.

Why does something like this happen when you have a signed contract? It happens because according to UHaul they have a "dynamic inventory!" Dynamic inventory? In essence, they lead people to believe that they have a truck secured when in fact, UHaul has no idea if they will have one available for you to use.

When you go to reserve a truck, they might as well say to you, "Call back on the day you want to rent and we will see what we have available." Or, "We have no idea what we will have on the lot. Your guess is as good as ours. It changes every day. We specialize in dynamic inventory." But when you have a signed contract you are led to believe you have a truck. But in fact, you don't.

And this isn't an isolated incident. I've learned this is common practice with UHaul. You can read about it here.

Thanks to friends we were able to secure a trailor and 15 passenger van to help make the move. God provides and Josh and Diana will get moved. It made for an interesting evening as we scrambled to make alternate arrangements.

So, next time you need to make a move, find a hauling company you can count on. One that keeps it's word. One that delivers on its promise. And one that doesn't have a dynamic inventory.

A God Thing

I experienced a God-thing today. An angry man stopped in at our Robins Campus to vent. He wanted to talk to a pastor. Steve Jenkins and I patiently listened and tried to make a few comments. It was pretty intense.

We asked if we could pray for him and all of a sudden the entire conversation changed. He apologized for his behavior and thanked us for listening. We accepted his apology and granted him forgiveness.

We prayed for him and he gave us a hug! He showed us some photos of his son and grandson. It was a touching exchange.

I'm thankful for grace that changes a human heart. I'm thankful for friends like Steve who are willing to stand with and for me. I'm thankful for the cross that has power to reconcile enemies. I'm thankful that Steve and I were there this afternoon to help a struggling brother.

I'm still not sure what all happened there in main street this afternoon. But I'm sure I witnessed a God-thing!

Something New

Jean is second from the left, seated in the golf cart

My friend, Jean Bauer said goodbye to the house that she called home for the past 61 years. The large "white house" on Blairsferry Road was a recognizable and familiar landmark. But on Tuesday, July 19, it was leveled to the ground to make way for progress.

A lifetime of memories were wrapped up in that house. Jean, now 90, and her loving husband Leo, raised their family in this house. I get teary-eyed just looking at the photos. Here is what Jean has to say.

"I lived there 61 years. We bought it April 15, 1950 and I sold it April 22, 2011. We had no water (used an out house) windmill  and heated water in a boiler out in the pump house to do the washing. It was a great place to raise three young boys. We had a lot of family gatherings, dinners and picnics for family and friends. It took a lot of work to fix it up and that is where the boys learned to do so many things. They helped Leo rebuild it to a show place. Then it deteriorated because we knew that it would some day be torn down for something new." 

When I talked to Jean on Sunday and asked if it was hard seeing her home being razed, she replied, "Goodness no! It was time, it needed to go." Today Jean is enjoying her new condo!

I love Jean's attitude! Jean never complains and never feels sorry for herself. She is fully engaged in a life that is moving forward, serving others. Jean reflects on the past, anticipates the future while fully embracing the present. When I grow up and turn 90 years old I want to be like Jean!

As I looked at the photos of the old white house being torn down, I immediately thought about Carl Fredricksen from the movie Up! I wrote about Up! on this post called The Great Adventure.

Carl and Ellie wed and grow old together in the old house where they first met. Unable to have children, they also try to save up for the trip to Paradise Falls but other financial obligations arise. Just as they seem to finally be able to take their trip, Ellie dies of old age, leaving Carl living alone in their home as a sour recluse with nothing to live for and missing his wife terribly. As the years pass, the city grows around Carl’s house with construction as Carl refuses to move.

Desperate and alone, the 78 year old Carl Fredricksen concocts an ingenuous way to save his property. He ties thousands of balloons to his home with the hope of traveling to Paradise Falls to fulfill the dream of his late wife.

There is only one problem, Carl can't escape the person he has become. Carl is stuck in the past, unable to embrace the new adventure that is in front of him. It takes a Junior Wildnerness Explorer scout named Russell to help him move beyond his painful past and regrets. Enough said. Go watch the movie!

Carl lived with regret. Jean lives with gratitude. Carl was hostile to change. Jean embraces new challenges. Carl lived in the past. Jean lives for the future. Carl held on to the familiar. Jean longs for something new!

For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 Corinthians 5:1

Best Men

I'm the richest man in the world! Four sons and a wife who love me for who I am. I can't even begin to express my satisfaction and gratefulness. By grace, God has made me a participant in His story.

Part of my story is the two guys you see above. 23 years ago our lives changed for ever. We went from a family of four to a family of six overnight. Being the father of four boys has brought the best and worst out of me. And it's made me acutely aware that I'm in need of God's grace.

Josh and Jon have brought, and continue to bring, joy to our lives. Our prayer when they were small is that they would grow up to be friends. One of the first words they learned was "cooperate!" And over the years their commitment to pursuing Christ and His mission has only brought them closer.

Josh and Jon are becoming awesome young men. You make me proud. I'm honored to be called your pops!

And just as 23 years ago when our family changed for ever, our family is changing again. In October of this year, Sharon and I will officially become "empty nesters."All four of our sons will be married and on their own!

And so our life comes full circle. It's Sharon and me, four awesome daughters in law, a heart full of hopes and dreams, and new opportunities to trust God. We are leaving one season of life behind in order to press into this new one.

And our boys? Ryan and Natalie are pursuing what God has for them in Oklahoma. Jason and Erin are trusting God for their future direction in Colorado. I'm proud of each of you and the journey of faith you have chosen to pursue.

And Josh and Jon? This summer Josh asked Jon to be his best man as he and Diana shared their vows in Hornick, Iowa. And this fall, Josh will exchange the favor and will be the best man in Jon and Trista's wedding in Johnston, Iowa. Two brothers standing shoulder to shoulder. Much has transpired the last 23 years. But one thing remains the same - Josh and Jon, you're still best men!

Send Me!

I really enjoy Ed Stetzer, pastor, missiologist, and President of LifeWay Research. I recommend that you follow his blog and twitter feed.

Today Ed further develops his series on Developing Missional Churches for the Great Commission titled, Part Five: God Sends. This is a great read. If you time time read the entire series.

Here are a few quotes:

However, in repeating the truth that "God is a sender," we have failed to say, "Here I am. Send me" (Isaiah 6:8). It is a disconnect between believing that God calls and sends, and being willing to be sent.

Perhaps we have stopped contemplating that it is the personal Creator of the universe who has a glorious pursuit for His creation this is calling and sending us. Perhaps we simply have missed that we were created to advance the name of God throughout the whole earth, and God redeemed us to fulfill that purpose through us. Perhaps we have forgotten that Jesus told His disciples to wait until the Spirit comes before they start the mission, and the Spirit came and the disciples went.

We have the same Spirit in us today, and we have the same mission. Perhaps we have overlooked that when Jesus commissioned His disciples there were some there who were full of faith and some who doubted (Matt. 28:17). Because we believe that God only sends those with risk-taking faith, we conclude that God cannot send us.

Perhaps we have not heard that when He sends us, He sends us with His peace (John 20:21) and the assurance that He has overcome the world (Matthew 28:18, John 16:33).

Let me add a few thoughts. In fact, let me personalize this discussion a bit.

Perhaps I'm too comfortable? Perhaps my time spent with Christ is so infrequent that I no longer even recognize His voice. Perhaps my heart is hardened to the extent that I no longer even care about lost people and what's on the heart of God. Perhaps I'm too preoccupied with my selfish concerns.

Perhaps, I need to come to Jesus with the heart of a child, to look into His eyes, to hear His voice. Perhaps I need to decide if I want to really live as a disciple of Jesus or just go through the motions of playing church.

Ed writes:

Ultimately, churches and individuals make the choice to hear the sending voice of God and obey it. Obedience begins with embracing that God has a glorious purpose for His mission and He initiates the mission by sending His Son and His people. The truth is either we are sent or we have missed our orders.

I don't want to miss anything God has for me or our church. I want to live my remaining years on mission, helping bring the good works of the kingdom and the good news of the gospel to those for whom my Savior died. I want to obediently trust God with the heart of a child, ready to answer the call with the words. "Send me!"

The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.
Revelation 22:17

A New Definition of Greatness

I recently came across Martin Luther King's "The Drum Major Instinct" speech. The above video is a short excerpt taken from this speech that he delivered on February 4, 1968 at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia. Here is a link to the entire message.

The "drum major instinct" is the urge we all have to promote ourselves, to seek greatness, to promote our own agenda, or to edge God out. It's the common state of all mankind.

But Jesus says to His followers, "It shall not be so among you!" Jesus has given us a new heart, a new nature, and a new model of leadership. Jesus has given us a new definition of greatness.

You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love. You can be that servant!

Mark 10:35-45

Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.” 

“What do you want me to do for you?” he asked.

They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.”  

“You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?”  

“We can,” they answered. 

Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.”  

When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John.  

Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,  and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.  For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

VolunTour

We had an awesome VolunTour today at our Robins Campus. Hundreds of new volunteers have signed up to help with our new or expanded children's, youth, facility, landscaping, parking, welcome center, weekday reception, cafe, greeter, and kitchen ministries.

On the tour today a met a family for the first time. They have attended four Sundays. They saw our new building and thought they would check us out! I'm thankful to be part of a family of growing disciples who are committed to Christ, community and cause.

I was excited to see Galyn Peterson come for a tour. Galyn is 94 and is looking for new ways to serve! I want to be like Galyn when I turn 90, excited about the future and fully invested in the present.

Our first service at our Robins Campus will be Sunday, August 28. Service times will be 8:00, 9:25 and 11:05 AM.

Achiever

This past week our good friend, Richard Kramer, celebrated his 75th birthday. And so our small group gathered together for a summer cook out and get together. And as our custom, we enjoyed a great evening of food, laughter, friendship, celebration and prayer. You can see a slide show here.

In his earlier life, Richard was a sculptor. His birthday cake had a photo of one of his pieces titled, Achiever. Richard wrote this poem to accompany the metal sculpture.

The crucible of life
Destroys us utterly.
But some are purified
And rise above
This common pool of pain
By vision, faith and discipline
To show the way for others.
Let it be me to show
Yet let me also humbly follow.

Richard is an achiever. He grew up in Cologne, Germany during World War 2. Some of his family members were killed during the relentless bombings. Ricard lived on his own as a teen and then moved to Canada when he was in his early 20s. He was alone in a foreign culture, not knowing the language or any people who could help him.

Richard knows the pain of loosing loved ones through death, even suicide. He also knows of a sovereign God who reveals His ways but sometimes keeps the "whys" of life veiled. Richard knows pain, but he also knows grace.

Richard is a unique, one of a kind servant, beautifully forged from the crucible of life. His faith, his vision and his discipline are an inspiration to all who know him! In Christ, Richard is an achiever.

As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. 
Isaiah 55:10-11

Biggest Fan

Saturday morning Sharon and I made a trip to the landfill to get rid of some "stuff." It's amazing how quickly things begin to accumulate that no longer have a useful purpose. Pleasant memories alone aren't reason enough to continue to hold on to something.

Of all the things we pitched Saturday morning, the item that was the hardest to throw out was our Eureka four-man tent. It was a gift to us from our small group some 30 plus years ago. We have many pleasant memories of camping in the Adirondacks as a family and with our small group. The tent had surpassed it's useful life expectancy, but I was still holding on to it because of it's sentimental value.

But on this Saturday morning, into the landfill it went! We have decided to hold onto the memories but pitch the stuff of life that is no longer useful.

I share this as background to help you understand what came next. From the landfill we traveled south to the College Community campus to watch Prairie take on Wash in a high school baseball game. Matt Thede is the head coach of the Prairie Hawks.

As we sat in the shade on Saturday afternoon watching the game, memories of similar summer days came flooding back. All four of our sons played baseball and we spent many hours on ball fields around the state. Many Mother's Days were celebrated in the stands watching our boys play a game they loved.

But today we traveled to the south side of Cedar Rapids for another reason. We were there to support Matt, not one of our sons. We understand the important role that a coach can play in the life of a young man. We pray for Matt, asking God to use him to shape young boys into men. Today we came to Prairie to support Matt and to cheer on his team.

And as we sat watching the game played by teenage boys that we don't personally know, Sharon sent off the following email to all four of our sons:

It's a perfect summer day for watching a baseball game and dad and I are at the Prairie/Wash game (in support of Matt Thede, Prairie's head coach). I can't help but reflect how much fun (well, not ALWAYS fun) and the sweet memories of coming to/watching all you boys throughout your years in baseball! In the midst of the craziness of the seasons I always wanted to be one of you biggest fans.Those days are long gone (not the memories), however I still seek to be one of your greatest fans in life, encouraging you to live for the Glory of God, trusting Him as you live out His purposes in your life!! I love you - Ryan, Jason, Josh & Jon.

"Play ball!"

Our children have grown from boys into men. Three of our sons are now married and the other is engaged. We are learning to treasure the past, live fully in the present, and to move forward with expectation into the future.

We are still our boys biggest fans! We still cheer for them and root for their success. And we're still trusting God with them and praying for their future.

The past, like our boys baseball playing days, are long gone. The future, full of hope and expectation, is yet to come. But today, someone is waiting for you to just show up, to cheer them on, to be their biggest fan!