Trip update

Its been 15 days since last post. I had hoped to do so from Israel, but internet access was spotty...and I chose to use the internet time I did have to let the kids know we were doing well.

So what do you say about a two week Bible teaching tour of Israel? I have been home for 36 hours and I am still more or less speechless ( that may be the effect of jet-lag). I doubt that is true... simply put, this trip was incredible. To go and walk in the land of Christ is such a humbling experience.

People ask what I liked the most. It is very hard to say. There was so much. I loved the archeology. I loved places like Bet Shaan. There is a great story behind this archeological marvel. The actual place is where the enemies of Saul and Jonathon nailed their bodies to the wall. It was discovered about 20 years ago by a farmer who was plowing some ground. His tractor hit something and when he started digging and found the very tip of a Roman column. Not knowing what he had, but suspecting something, he let government officials know. They swooped in, took all his land, and begin excavating. What they found was amazing. A large city that had some of the classic columns, a Roman theater that seated several thousand people, a main North/south road commonly called a "Cardo" ( for heart). The East/West road was also very impressive. This was the area that most of the commerce took place. Addiitonally there were major religious sites , along with a "tel" ( or a mound) that was very impressive. The visit there set the stage for much more in the way of archeology that has revealed so much history in Jerusalem.

I loved Jerusalem. Of course the highlight was to study God's Word, looking at many of the steps of Jesus and be able to see it. Besides the walls and the different spots like Gethsamane, Golgotha, Caiahphas'house, the city of David, and the Western ( wailing- a term the jews do not like) wall, I think I was amazed by the topography of the area. Jerusalem is built on a series of hills... with large valleys below. To see the Kidron Valley, the Valley of Hinnom, and the central valley was amazing. I think that seeing that and understanding the physical test of walking all of that area over and over was striking to me.

Multiply that a hundred times when walking down the Mount of Olives as Jesus entered into the city in what is called the "triumphal entry", and you have something pretty special. Then take that feeling and begin to think about what Jesus was really doing when he entered into Jerusalem, knowing that he was on his way to his death! It is almost too much.

Personally, it was so amazing to share this experience with Pam. She had been there 30 years ago. But honestly, so much had changed in that time that it was nearly a new experience for her. She did so great, and was such an encouragement to me. All the while, knowing that her kids were half a world away, and one of them expecting a child in the coming days.

We also shared the trip with a couple from our church. Dale and Linda Pittman had gone to Israel 4 years ago, and since that time had wanted to invite us to go with them. I could not imagine taking that kind of trip on our own and getting as much out of it. They were so reassuring, generous, and good to us. Special friends who love God, love His Word, and the land of Jesus.

There is alot more to write about...so consider this a start. God showed himself to me in some very significant ways. What a blessing.

More to come....hopefully with some of the 900 pictures that Pam took. ( Yes, I said 900! Digital cameras are pretty cool.)

PS- Baby Grace is close to coming- any day now. So pray for Elizabeth and Nathaniel.

A Trip...

Pam and I are leaving tomorrow morning for Israel. We are excited about the trip. We are traveling with some friends from the church. We will be gone about 14 days. Our kids will be in and out...coming and going during that time.

Our "trek" takes us to New York City, the to Tel Aviv, 6 days in Tiberias on the Sea of Galilee, and then 6 more days in Jerusalem. Pam has been before (in college),but I have never been in that part of the world.

I will be posting along the way, so check back once in a while.

Meanwhile if you want you can pray for us...there are a couple things on our minds...

One, we are looking forward to what God will teach us through this trip. To be where Jesus walked, taught, lived and died... and then rose from the dead is a bit overwhelming. We know that God can bring a depth and richness to our lives through this.

Two, this is "getting away." I find that I do better when I am far away. So pray that I will "decompress" from all the church life, and just enjoy the moment.

Three, you can pray that Elizabeth's baby will hold off from coming until we get back. We do not expect the world to stop for us. But it would be nice is baby Grace comes while we are in the neighborhood. It is a small thing, but one of the considerations and matter of prayer for us. So far, everything is great!

Four, pray for our saftey. It is kind of wierd going into a world zone where there is such unrest... just this week Beriut broke out in a kind of mini-civil war. Although we will not be in those areas, again we are in the neighborhood. I think it will be really good for us to be somewhere where they do not enjoy the same freedoms we do here in America. I love our country, but I am sure that I will have a new appreciation for it all.

Last, you could pray for our kids. While we are gone, Lydia and James will be packing and loading to come back to Owasso. ( To arrive on the same day we get back!). Joel is beginning to make new preparations to relocate as well... Abigial will be getting out of college, coming home, flying to Chicago to help Lydia and James move back...and Elizabeth and Nathaniel will be making last minute preps for the biggest change in a lifetime...a baby.

So you can see it is a busy time for us. It is a time of rich blessings from God. We thank Him for our lives.

Thanks for praying...

Blessings

Charlie

A Cultural Experience

Last week, I traveled to Atlanta to attend a conference. It was a little out of the ordinary for me in that I joined Children's and Youth workers for this conference. Gray hair was at a premium.

I went because our Children's Minister wants to introduce an event to our church that will change alot of what we do. He recognized that it would be a different approach and wanted me to see it in action. I won't go into it right now, except to say that it is exciting, innovative and I think has great potential.

But there are some observations that I made beyond just the programming itself.

One, the future of the church is incredibly bright. I believe that leadership is a key to the further expansion of the church in the world. It is not the only thing, but it is very important. Throughout the ages, from the beginning to this day, leadership has been important to God. He uses people. Most of this conference was led by people younger than me. Some were alot younger...young enough to be my sons or daughters. I loved it. I loved their passion. I loved their focus on Christ. And I was especially excited about the desire of so many to learn from the Word and share the Word of God with a future generation.

History proves that different methods are needed to reach future generations. Some think the things we are doing now are things they did in the first century. ( Sunday School, Hymns, church buildings, ministry teams, Bible colleges etc.) All of that looked different then than it does now.

I think I got a glimpse into what the future will hold(to some degree.) It is not neccesarily what I would have designed. But then again, when I was a children's minister we would sit the kids down, sing "Deep and Wide", and then have a sermon. They don't do that any more...and I am glad. Things have changed.

So music styles, leadership styles, dress, and haircuts are different now. But through and through, the messages that came through were focused on Christ and Word based. That is very encouraging.

Two, the creativity of this new generation of leaders is amazing. They are learning to harness technology in order to relate to kids and families. They are bold. They use their imaginations. They are willing to learn from their mistakes, and not go back, but try again.

This is especially encouraging to me, because in just a few weeks our first grandaughter will be born. Baby Grace will be born into a world that is pretty scary. But there are churches out there that are committed to helping families speak into their children's lives in creative and true ways. At one point this week, I just stopped listening for a moment and thanked God for these people who serve each week in nurseries, children's church, as small group leaders, and sponsors.

Pam and I prayed that our kids would have other people who would be in influence in their lives. Each of them did... each of them had godly people who modeled Christ, held them accountable, and encouraged them, often saying the same things we were. But if you are a parent, you know how it is... sometimes it has to come from someone else.

We pray the same thing for our grandchildren as well.

Third, I was encouraged by one speaker who challenged the entire group ( 4,000 strong) to not buy into the current christian fad of cultural relevance and instead just be about Jesus. His message was powerful. It was a call to the Word of God, to the things that Jesus was about, and a challenge to not become part of the "Golden Calf movement of relevance and social justice." He said that Jesus was relevant, but that he called the culture to change... not the the church to change to the culture. He said that Jesus was all about feeding the poor, helping and healing the sick...but he never made that the final goal. This was about transformation and being part of a transcendent kingdom...One that spans the decades and centuries. One that takes the eternal truth of God and reminds people that when Jesus came, John said, "He came full of GRACE and TRUTH." ( John 1)

That message was it for me. There were lots of things, but to hear this group embrace this thought and still want to go back to their churches of all sizes, demoninations and conditions and teach people, young and old about Jesus was so uplifting and encouraging.

The last observation is this. We have a great staff of men and women who give so much of themselves. Our Children's minister is passionate about kids. His willingness to take a risk inspires me. What he is doing is risky. He will get some push back. But I will be right there with Him, because I have seen where he believes that God is taking Children's ministry. His team ( several of whom went with us),are so wonderful, committed and creative. Add to that our Youth Minister, the Assistant Youth minister and their love for FCC and the youth of our community, you have an awesome team.

What's even better is that these "departments" want to work together with families. They want to be more systematic in their approach to teaching the kids and working with parents. They want to see a child come through 12 years plus in the church and not walk away from Christ when they go off to college. These are their concerns.

God is up to something...it looks different. But then it again what God was up to 20 years ago looked really different... the only thing that happened is that we all got older.

Thank God for His creativity and his desire to reach people across the world with the message of Christ.

Today

Our services today were really cool. Tim sang the song "Cinderella" ( Steven Curtis Chapman). We had pictures of dads and daughters on the screen, along with three dads and daughters dancing at the appropriate time. Steve Oliver and his sweet little girl, Sydney, Wayne Hill and his graduating daughter Gloria, and then Gary Jones and his married daughter Lacey, added just the right touch for the song.

This is an example of how we can use media, and music to really bring home a point for the sermon. These things are not the sermons themselves, but they engage people emotionally. And I believe that at those points, many of the barriers that people bring to church are broken down.

The point is that we want to prepare people to listen to God's Word. Tim and his creative team do a great job of coming up with things... and then working them out so that they are presented with quality and clarity.

Considering some of the things we have done in the past, we have come along way. I love those who serve in so many ways. Just for the service alone (not counting First Touch, Nursery, Childrens etc.) we had about 30 different people involved on the stage and in the sound, video and lighting area. That does my heart alot of good. I look at some of those people and know where they were 5 years ago. Some were far from God. Others were just chomping at the bit to serve and use their gifts. Some were strong 5 years ago and still are.

It was a special as we talked about "Parenting in a Chaotic World." Elizabeth and Nathaniel were here... It is their last visit until baby Grace comes. Lizzie will not be able to travel after the first of the month. She looks great... and I am so proud of both Nathaniel and Lizzie.

Abigial was home too, which is a delight. She has had such a great freshman year at Ozark... It will be great to have her home this summer.

Joel had to work today...a first at his new job. But that happens. He is enjoying his job and his apartment.

Lydia will be back in Oklahoma in a few weeks, and she and James join our staff in the Children's Ministry area. Can't wait!

Pam and I have been so blessed by God through our kids.

I got some great comments on the blog and in email about parenting. Thanks to all of you. I settled on 4 things Parents have to provide their children. Affirmation, Discipline, Attentiona and Spiritual Guidance.

We are having some issues on getting the messages up on the website. But hopefully that will be remedied....check out www.fccowasso.com in a few days and we will see.

Parenting

This Sunday I am preaching about the subject "Parenting in a chaotic world."

I was wondering...... In 2008, What do you think are the most important qualities a parent needs to have?

This is called research...so participate and let me know

He is enough..

Well, the NCAA is over. I had all four #1 in the Final Four, both winners in the semi's and Kansas in the final. Additionally I picked Davidson to win their first three games and Sienna to beat Vanderbilt. I did miss a few in the early rounds, but played it pretty conservatively (except for the Sienna game). Best bracket ever for me.

That's the good news. The bad news is that the NCAA tournament is over. Tonight the women's team fight it out ( Tennessee and Stanford). Actually the women's game has improved dramatically. Its pretty good basketball. But after tonight, we are left with NBA.... ugh!

Some ramblings about church...

At church... we have seen a dramatic jump in attendance since moving. Our goal was to follow God's leading in this journey. Some want to make "success" about the number of new people coming, and all that. But even now, as I reflect on the journey of over 10 years... I am reminded that it is really not the number. I have always believed that. But in this part of the journey, I have learned that it is the next step which God uses to shape me.

Buildings are tools for this culture. Without God's people, any "church" building is just bricks and mortar, empty shells that cost alot to build and maintain. But have "the temple of the Holy Spirit" (I Cor 6:19)walk into that building and it is transformed into a place where people can connect to God.

Certainly this happens beyond the walls of church buildings. It happens in gyms, on ballfields, at work, in neighborhoods, anywhere. At FCC, we call it "rubbing shoulders." Life on life, pointing people to Christ , telling people of the difference Christ can make in their lives... that is what interests people.

Today, we hosted area ministers from the Christian Churches in the area. I was struck by how similiar we all are. Even though we serve churches that are different in size and methods, we are very strongly connected by one person. That is Christ. Theirs is a good work.... so is ours, because we are doing it for the same person.

Our community has dozens of churches. Some larger than ours, some smaller. All of them are different in methods and points of emphasis. But for those who preach the Word, focus on Christ, and desire to reach people with the truth of the Bible, we are more alike than we even realize. Some don't like that, thinking that thier distinctivness is what makes them special in God's eyes. I think he is not impressed with that kind of thinking. He is impressed with faithfulness to the Word, love for Him and His Father, and loving others. Each of these churches in our community is a good work. Some are dramatically different than ours, but they are still good. What makes it a good work? I believe it is Jesus.

We can never believe the that we are the only ones right... that we are the sole ambassadors of the Kingdom of God. While some would like to criticize other churches, different approaches, methods, personalities, and leaders their views are extremely short-sighted. Usually such talk is not about truth or mission. It is ego and self righteousness. The Kingdom of God has never been about those things. Jesus said his mission was "to seek and to save the lost." (Luke 19:10)

Ultimately it is the Word of God, which brings about fruit in a person's life. It was Peter who said to Jesus, "To whom would we go, you have the words of life." ( John 6:68). Peter knew Jesus and His Word was enough.

I am thankful for the opportunity to teach the Word of God to more people. I am thankful to sit down with people and hear thier story. Last night I talked with a young woman who had been led to Christ by a member whom she met at the gym. She said she saw something in that person and wanted what she had. When she found out that it was a relationship with Jesus Christ she "bought in." And in the weeks that have followed she has started to grow spiritually.

We are hearing more and more about how people are connecting to Jesus through various ministries and members of the church. There is one consistent thing in all of it... Jesus.

That is what gave me comfort today at a funeral of a former member of our church. He was a great guy. He was described as a man of integrity, a man who loved his wife and kids. He was a man who worked hard, had lots of fun and always seemed to have a smile on his face. He loved our church, and loved the church he was attending in Tulsa.

But all of that, while they are great qualities... are not enough at judgement. Only Jesus is. And He "knew" Jesus.

That is what we are trying to do...pointng people of all ages, of all walks of life to Jesus. He is enough.

I am good with that.

Squares

Two years ago today, I had a stroke...It was a pretty major deal. I am glad to be two years down the road from it. I feel better most of the time, but still have some "reminders" from time to time.

This morning I went to the hosptial for some follow up tests. They are the kind of tests to make sure the blood is flowing through my heart to my head. Of course, the techs are trained to say "nothing." (kind of like the Seargant Shultz on Hogan's Hero's- "I saw nothinnnnnnnng!). They smear you with gel, run machines over it, and then hand you a towell and say, "You may go now."

Neither tech had much personality and offered no results, but I figure the results are okay, since last year when I did this, they sent me to the emergency room for 8 hours. At least this time I got to walk out of there.

I took a book because I knew there would be some down time. John Ortberg is a favorite of mine. His new book is called "It all goes back in the box.." It is pretty good stuff about life management..If you know Ortberg, its pretty standard stuff for him. There are rare surprises, but he makes me think and laugh....at the same time.

I read Chapter 11 this morning...He quotes a man by the name of Lewis Smedes, in talking about time, our days gone by and the ones coming up. Here is a portion:

"I bought a brand-new date book yesterday, the kind I use every year; spiral-bound, black imitation leather covers wrapped around pages and pages of blank boxes. Every square has a number to tell me which day of the month I'm in at the moment. Every square is a frame for one episode of my life. Before I am through with the book, I will fill the squares with classess I teach, people with whom I ate lunch, everlasting committee meetings I sit through and these are only the things I cannot afford to forget. I fill the squares too with things I do not write down to remember; thousands of cups of coffee, some lovemaking, some praying and I hope, gestures of help to my neighbors. Whatever I have to do, it has to fit inside one of those squares in my date book. The four lines that make up the box are the walls of time that organize my life. Each box has an invisible door that leads to the next square. As if by a silent stroke, the door opens and I am pulled thorugh, as if by a magnet, sucked into the next square in line. There I will again fill the time frame that seals me- fill it with my busy-ness just as I did the square before. As I get older, the squares seem to get smaller. One day I will walk into a square that has no door. There will be no mysterious opening and no walking around into an adjoining square. One of those squares will be terminal. I do not know which square it will be."


Well, maybe you can see why that would have struck me this morning...There is a day(square) for all of us that will be our last square. What will matter the most will be not the appointments, meetings, big deals, sermons and all that. What will matter is our relationship to God and the people that we have touched and influenced. All the stuff in life we accumulate, all the accolades, the power, the fame, all of that does not go into the last square. The old phrase could not be more true. "How much did he leave? All of it."

Makes me think two things...

One, I am thankful for 730 more squares to live in...and I am hopeful that there will be more.

Two, I do not know when the last square appears, so I better be ready NOW.

Later today, I am going to a funeral in a little town west of here. The man who died is the father of a friend. His has been a long struggle. He finally got the last square. It's inevitable for all of us. Some just get more squares than others.

I will be reminded again to be thankful for the square I woke up in today, and to do my best to make it count for something that lasts.

Ouch!

I had a new experience this morning... a root canal. Not fun. I had a new dentist, a new dental assistant, and the joy of having my mouth held wide open for two hours.

The dentist was good... the assistant was good... root canals - not so good.

Right now the numbing medicine is wearing off. The dentist told me it would hurt when that happens. He is right...It hurts.

I have some pain medicine but I want to wait... I have to drive this afternoon.

I was nervous this morning...but it was not that bad. It just hurts.

Pam will tell you that I do not have a high pain tolerance.She is right. I am a big baby ( thats me saying that... she is too nice to say it.) It is a good thing I was not made to have children. But I am learning that pain is not always bad. It reminds us that our bodies are not perfect. Pain reminds me that I should not take good days for granted. Pain is good because it forces us to face something and work to get better.

I have had a hurting tooth for 4 weeks. It actually had not hurt over the past few days and I was thinking, "Hey, maybe I don't need that root canal." But those close to me who have experience with such things said, "No way." The way to get healthy is to deal with it. If I had cancelled the appointment (which I really thought about doing), it would have started hurting again and I would have had to go on antibiotics for 10 days before I could get the root canal... So it would do little good to push off the inevitable.

Isn't that the way life is? We can ignore the pain, or mask the pain, but if you don't deal with it, it will always be there. Sure, there are days that it seems better. There are days that you go along and there is little if any pain in that relationship you have at work, at home, at church, even with God. But if you are going to see the pain go away for good, you have to open it up, clean out the infection and deal with it.

Certainly that is true of relationships. When we are hurt, we have a choice. Deal with it appropriately , talk about it, and forgive OR stuff it, pretend like it doesn't hurt and become prsioners of bitterness. Too often I see people choose the latter. But the pain is always there...just under the surface. And then it flares up at the most inconvienent times. That is not good.

This is also true of our relationship with God. That is why wrapped up in the gospel are the ideas of confession and repentance. When we come face to face with God, we have to recognize and admit that we have problems. Sin is real. It is terribly damaging. And there is nothing we can do about it on our own. Thus the need for confession and repentance. That is painful. It is also a daily process for most of us. But the good news is God is able to cleanse us from the unrighteous things in our lives. He willingly does this day after day, even moment after moment. How great is the love of the Father!

So, in the long run, I am glad I had the root canal. Two weeks from now I will get a crown...and the dentist tells me that tooth will be better. It sure beats ignoring it and just hoping that it will all go away.

It still hurts...but better times are ahead.

He's Alive...

Easter services are over... But Easter is not! Tomorrow Jesus will be just as alive as He is today. Isn't that awesome!

FCC Easter was incredible. The power of a choir in a Worship Center bringing the message "He's Alive!" was so amazing. Every part of the day went well. Three services provided us with an opportunity to test some of our "systems" and they went so well. Parking was good... First Touch was good. Early Childhood and Children's programs were very good. And in the Worship service... well that was incredible.. best ever. The staff of our church is so talented and dedicated. And I continue to be amazed by our congregation and how people jump in and serve. Its never been better. They have "bought in" to "helping others know, love , serve and share."

Numbers are not in yet, but estimates put them way above our best ever... We have learned alot through the last three weeks... and experienced some pretty exciting things at the church.

Best of all.... Jesus is alive and we proclaimed the message in every corner of the church...

Some of you have already asked... Three services? How did you do? Well, I got tired... really tired... slept most of the afternoon... and it will take a few days to regain some of the stamina...but that is expected. I am continuing to get better and stronger. Many pray for me every day, and I am so thankful for each of you.

Tonight the house is full of activity. A great dinner at our table with Pam, Nathaniel, Lizzie, Joel and Abigail ( and Shiloh the Dog). Tonight James and Lydia come in from Joliet...long drive for them, but it sure will be fun to have them around a few days. It is always great to have the kids around for a few days...all of them!

By the way have I told you that there will be a grandchild soon? Yah I know...I have. Baby Grace is coming in about 2 1/2 months!

Some Rambling thoughts and questions..

Some questions....( if you want to answer, feel free.)

* Can the common person understand the economy? It seems that in just a few short months (maybe even weeks), the concerns of the nation have shifted from the war to the economy. That makes sense with gas and food prices skyrocketing. It also makes sense when it is all the news media talks about. I know very little about economics. But I do have concerns about national security, immigration, and morality in our nation. Those seems to take a back seat. Are we in a recession or not? Depends on how you define recession... and everyone thinks their definition works.

It does not suprise me that the economy has jumped to the top of the list. After all that has been the pattern for the last 28 years (during presidential election years.) But there are alot of other things to think about too.

* What was Eliot Spitzer thinking? One of the prices you pay for fame and power is that you have to give up your anonimity. People have to lie for you, turn their head the other way, or just ignore the stupid things you are doing. Did he not have ONE person who he was accountable too... who had the courage to confront him and tell him what a stupid thing he was doing.

If you want a great treatment on this, look up Cal Thomas' editorial piece on this ( In the Tulsa World on 3.16). It was masterful.

* Do Americans really care about Easter? We will have record crowds in church. But as the numbers grow, so do the numbers of people who make it only on Easter. We have to be careful that Easter does not just become sort of a marketing tool to get people into the church... and in so doing talk more about our church than we do about Jesus. That is why I preach every Easter. I just believe that the Word needs to be spoken.. the Word about ressurection, sacrifice, victory and change. This year we talk about New Beginnings and how that is wrapped up in the sacrifice and victory of Christ.

* Has there been a year in what is called "March Madness" when the top four seeds were bigger favorites to make it to the final four? NC,Memphis, Kansas and UCLA are the class of the field. There may be some upsets in the lower seeded games...but this is the year that I think all four #1's make it to the Final Four. My pick? Today it is Kansas.

Later

Big Day

As a kid, periodically we would take long journey's to Grandma and Grandpa's house. That trip from Oregon and Montana was 1200 miles or so... pretty long trips that we often made with few stops. ( A pick up camper is a wonderful thing.)

The trip was fun, but the destination was better... Our grandparents had a cool place next a big viaduct, which was a natural place for us to play and run.( although we were not supposed to.) It was a small town, so we could go places that were pretty cool.

Our church has been on a journey for 10 years... toward relocation. I remember the first days of this journey, when we thought about what the needs of the church would be 10, 20, or 30 plus years down the road. Through the faith and foresight of church leaders we made the move.

Today we moved into our new worship center on North Garnett. All I can say is WOW!

There were lots of people... lots and lots of people. People I had never seen before... people I had not seen in a long time... and lots of people who have been with us every step of the way. There were people from out of town... The city manager of Owasso came... as did some of the guys who have been working on the building...And alot of new people.

We showed a clip from Hoosiers (stole that idea from a church in Joplin who opened a couple weeks ago)...I loved it because it gave us the opportunity to say that even though the building is big,new and wonderful... and even though it will bring lots of changes, some things will never change... We will worship, we will preach,and we will celebrate Jesus! That will never change.

I thankful for the journey. I love the fact that the journey continues. The destination was never North Garnett... The destination is Heaven and we want to take anyone we can with us. Today 3 people were baptized, 5 others joined the church.

Problems? Some.... Some technical, but nothing major. Parking looks to be the biggest issue... We need lots more! What a great problem we have.

Easter is two weeks away. Don't know that we are ready...but we will do our best...and preach Christ.

Some asked if I was tired... The answer is "yes." But it it good tired. And I know of so many others who have worked alot harder on this than I have...So many have been so devoted..

It is great to be a part of something that people say, "You can't do it." ( We didn't, God did.) It is great to be a part of something that stretches you, takes faith and lots of trust. It is great to be part of something that goes far beyond brick and mortar... Life transformation is the real work of God... and we are seeing it.

What fun!

A New Thing....

Ah..... the adventure continues. This past Sunday ( 3.2) we gathered together for the last time at 86th Street for Sunday Morning worship. I had been fretting about how to make this service meaningful.

I landed on a couple things that I think were very cool. One, we allowed members to share memories of how God has worked in this place over the past 28 years. There were lots of stories, some laughs and a few tears. We recalled all the people that were baptized, babies that were dedicated, High School kids that stood on the stage on graduate Sunday, missions trips, VBS programs, Camps, and so much more.

I was most pleased about the participation. We could have taken an hour easy. Young and old shared. It was just right.

I talked about Exodus 12 and how God is in the timing of everything. Exoudus 12 says that Israel was in Egypt for 430 years "to the day." I love that... God had a plan and to the very day, he executed his plan in his timing.

Think about that move.... 600,000 men, plus women and children. That is a real challenge that makes moving 1500 people just down the road look like a picnic.

I love the last words of Exodus 12 ( vs. 51) "And on that very day, the Lord brought the Israelites out of Egypt by their divisions."

God opens doors and then leads His people.

Its been a long journey for us as a church. But I can honestly say that FCC is stronger for it. Our focus is on Christ, our mission is clear , and our future is bright. I am sure there are bumpy roads ahead, but that is where you learn to depend on God, learn to focus your worship and faith on God, not man, and learn that God does not dwell in buildings, but dwells in the hearts of men. For that I am thankful.

First Service is next Sunday... What do I preach? Well I really have focused on Isaiah 43:19 where he writes "Behold, I do a new thing among you..." So this Sunday is about a new worship...from Psalm 40.

It should be fun... More about it later.

Pam

Valentines' Day....hmnnnnn.... Last night after church I made the trek to Walmart to pick out a card and a little gift for my love. Some observations....

1. Walmart was packed....

2. I thought by going the night before that I would beat the crowd.....na....

3. Women in line seemed more annoyed with all the people than the men did. Maybe that is because men are more used to experiencing crowds when they shop for Valentine's day. One woman said to me, "You would think it was Christmas." Who knows, maybe some people think it is.

4. Lots of flowers were being purchased. Of course, mostly by men.

5. I saw a bunch of people from church that was there. One lady gave me credit for not waiting until the 14th. She was impressed.

6. While shopping is not my favorite thing... Pam is my favorite person. We met on Feb. 22nd, 1980 at a birthday party at college. Neither of us were looking for our future spouse at the time. I had lots of school to finish, and she was almost done and on her way to Jamaica to work with a missionary. I was unsettled in a lot of ways...she was pretty secure in who she was and what her future held. But that night things really did change. I went to back to my room and told my roommate "I met someone tonight." I was in Luuuuuuuvvvvvvvvv. We spent alot of time together over the next six weeks and they say,"the rest is history..."It was a whirlwind time of campus walking, talking, a date or two to McDonalds, kicking leaves, and a trip to her home in Nebraska. ( all in the first six weeks). I asked her to marry me then. ( Kids... its too quick, but when you know, you know.) We were married in April of 1981.

Over the years we have had lots of great experiences. We have had a few that were not so great. But who in this world could have filled the place of Pam in my life? I don't know if there is only one person for us in life, but I do know that Pam was and is the perfect person in my life.

Let me tell you just a bit about her...

She loves God... from the very beginning there was no "put on" when it came to her relationship with God. She showed me what it meant to love God in real and tangible ways. She also has shown me what it means to love God through disappointment and sorrow, fear and uncertainty. 27 years later, through thick and thin, she still loves God. She is real with her relationship with God. And He so real to her.

She loves me... I am not an easy person to live with. I have been prone to be obsessed about my work, sports and other pursuits. But she has always accepted me for who I am . She expects me to figure things out, and when I don't, she does not beat me up... she often patiently waits for me to learn the lesson and kind of says, "I could have saved you some of that lesson learning." ( its the kind look that I get sometimes.)

She is a great friend. She listens to me vent, unload and unpack things from my day. She laughs at my really bad jokes, always says something good about my sermons ( even when there was not much to say), makes an occasional suggestion and defends me wherever she can. She has sat through countless basketball games, lets me go to any game I want... and knows more about basketball than most serious students of the game. She loves the Huskers. And she loves the Ducks almost as much.

She is a superior mother. I could not imagine that our four children could have ever found a mother that loves them more. She is there for them. She listens to them. She is their best friend. She counsels them. She cries with them. Her phone rings all the time, and I know who it is. It is one of the kids....wanting to ask a question, share a moment, or just say "hi." Sometimes I get grumpy about all the attention they get from her, but then I remember that this is one thing that I love the most about her. Her kids love to come home. And when they do,it is fun. Her kids ( and her husband) eat dinner together and sit at the table, sometimes for hours, just talking and laughing. Our daughters husbands are comfortable here. ( So is the boyfriend). I can assure that that has more to do with her than me. People talk about how great our kids are. Pam is the first to say, "It is God..." And it is ... but it is also a mother like Pam. It is no real surprise to me. She has a mother who is just like her...

She will be a tremendous grandmother. Grace has no idea yet, but Pam will be the best. ( no offense to other grandmothers). One thing is for sure, just as four kids and a husband have been prayed for over the years, Grace will have Pam in her corner, asking God to protect her, bless her and to help her grow to Love Jesus. (She already does).

As we grow older, I would not want to spend one moment of my life without Pam. Wedding Vows say, "till death do you part." That's us. We are lifers....and because of that, the future is bright for us. No matter what comes at us, what places God takes us, we are in it together.

Together... thats what valentines is all about. Together.

I could go on... but you need to go... more about her another day.

Eight Questions.....

It's Friday night. Pam went with some church friends to a Casting Crowns Concert. It s a fun thing for her to do.

I was planning to head to a basketball game, but a bad cold has sidelined me. Rest is important.

So its times for some questions.....

1. The congress passed the economic atimulus package today. Now, a 1200 check sounds good to me... but with a huge deficit in this country, how does this 170 billion dollars get paid for?

2. A football player from Nevada called a press conference and announced that he was "choosing" the California Bears. The problem was the California Bears did not ask him to choose them. Nobody did... not Oregon, not Washington, not Oklahoma State, not California. What was he thinking?

3. I have four great kids and a wonderful wife. How did I get so blessed?

4. John McCain is the "presumptive" Republican candidate. Who is the "presumptive" vice presidental republican candidate?

5. What is going to happen to my nice quiet neighborhood when a apartment complex of 250 units and a Kum and Go invade later this spring? ( Both within 1000 yards of my house. Guess thats progress.)

6. If the price of a barrel of oil drops from 100/barrel to 87/barrell, why doesn;t the price of gas drop 13% in a week. ( I know there is an explanation, but it does not make sense.)

7. Could it be that after all the talk about the longest political campaign ever, that on Feb. 8th we have our two tickets? Obama/Clinton or Clinton/Obama verses McCain/Huckabee? If it turns out that way I will suggest that in 2012 we not spend 200 million dollars just to weed out the long list of "hopefuls"

8. Did we ever think that the strongest college basketball program in the state of Oklahoma would be ORU? Wow....

More questions later...

Super Bowl 42

I wanted the Patriots to win. I just thought 19-0 was too much to pass up.

But the Giants won. My Dad called me before the game to tell me that he was picking the Giants. He wins....

Great game... some great plays by the Giants made the difference.

A few observations

1. When you start 0-2 your season is not over. Just ask the Giants
2. When you start 0-2 the quarterback gets all the blame. But come back and win the
Super Bowl, and the QB gets alot of the praise.
3. Owasso's own R.W. McQuarters must be pretty happy. That moves him into elite
company with others such as Garth Brooks as Owasso residents who have made it
big.
4. It is a long off season for the loser of the Super Bowl, even when you win 18
out of 19 games. When you win 18, you still want to win the last one more.
5. Coach Bill of the Patriots is a very mysterious dude.

6. Entertainment???? Tom Petty was pretty good at half time. Jordan Sparks did one
of the best ever at the National Anthem. I did not understand Alicia Keyes, so
that did nothing for me... and Paul A ( and her dance) was regretable, forgetable and any other "able" you could think of. She needs to stick to judging... Commercials... nothing really jumped out... I wonder if any of them thought they were worth the money?

Well, enough of all that... Super Bowl 42 is history. Now, lets get to the next big day in Oklahoma- Signing Day for college... That is Wednesday

Catching up in 2008

Its been a month since I last posted. Life has been pretty hectic...

The big news is that Elizabeth's baby is a girl. Grace Capri will be her name. We never knew what our children were before they were born, but in this day and age with all the technology, it seems to be the thing. I told Lizzie that even with that technology a set of parents can be surprised. She seems pretty confident.

Yesterday at church, as part of Sanctity of Life Sunday, I put a picture of the sonogram on the screen. The reaction of the congregation was predictably positive. They are excited for Lizzie and for Pam and I as well. We are excited for them.. Nathaniel is in the middle of basketball season which means games ( Junior High and High School)5-6 nights a week! So they are both busy.

Another development.... Joel got a job. He is working for an internet software company called VIDOOP. (Vidoop.com) He is part of the Buisness Development team, researching markets and contributing any way he can. We are are happy for him. It is a job that he waited for, hoping for the last 6 months to get on. And he did. He is apartment shopping and will be moving into Tulsa pretty soon. We are thankful that he is working in Tulsa, although his goal is to be relocated to New York City as soon as possible! Good for him!( If he gets there, we will have a place to stay).

Lydia and James are great. Lydia has had opportunities to go to work with the school districts in the Joliet area... details are being worked out, but she will be great as an assistant in the classroom. She also loves being a minister's wife. James is avery talented leader and even better, he cares for and loves Lydia so much.

Abigail went back to school (Ozark Christian College). She had a very successful first semester... and is now working toward ministry opportunities for this summer. In addtion she got a job at Payless shoes, which fits her schedule well, and will help her prepare financially for the coming three years of college. She also has a boyfriend. Tyler is a great young man from Stilwater Ok. Abigial and him have known each other for several years and decided late this fall to "take it to a new level." They seem really good together. He is also a student at OCC.

So we are close to being empty-nesters. I can not think of anyone that I would like to share this latter part of my life with than Pam. We believe it will be alot of fun... Best of all, we are beginning to see new ways that God wants to work through us. Together!

The new year started off strong for the church. We have had great attendance. In addition we have had a bunch of baptisms... Our staff is praying for 100 this year. The building is coming along and withing 45 days of completion ( phase I). I knew this would be big...but I really had no idea. I am not sure that anyone could have prepared me for the amount of leadership, attention to detail, delegation and stress (yes... I said stress) that this has been. I have managed pretty well, but that is in large part due to a tremendous staff, great leaders and a super Building team. In addition to all that, I have seen God provide in multiple ways, from many different directions. The worship center is close to completion, as is the Early Childhood center. Children's areas are not far away... and believe it or not, Phase II is starting in the next couple weeks.

Health wise, I have ups and downs. I go back to the Dr. in March, which will be almost two years since the first stroke. I am not back to 100 %, but Pam reminds me that the Dr. said "Three years." Fatigue still slaps me down and when it does, my speech becomes a little garbled, and words don't seem to flow very well. One Sunday this last month, it was particularly bad... I had warnings... The Saturday before I was really tired. So when that happens, I try to stop what I am doing and just chill! ( To use Pam's word)

Overall, I am incredibly blessed. And grateful that God has chosen to allow me to live with whom I live with, serve the church I serve with and get to enjoy it all.

I can't ask for alot more than that.

Clarity

One of the things God is teaching me is the importance "clarity." When it comes to expectations, I think I am rather ambiguous.( As Pam would say "You think?!!!) I leave alot open to interpretation, instead of clearly spelling out what it is I expect.

This can be illustrated a dozen different ways. At home, I figure that after almost 27 years of marriage I should not have to explain myself. But then it occurs to me that I am not the same person I was 27 years ago, so how would Pam know what my expectations are?

Our kids are all grown, and pretty much out of the house. But I still think they should be able to predict what I want and execute it. (Those are not nice words in a family setting are they?)

At church, I am finding that I enslave fellow staff members to my feelings, because of a lack of clarity. Instead of me telling them exactly what I think, I hedge, or give options that sometimes are polar opposites of each other. I used to think that this was all good, because it builds teamwork. But as time goes on I believe that it really does just the opposite. It harms unity, and it opens us up to disappointment. I don't want that.

A conversation I had with a member of the church really brought this home. They had an idea about how to spend some money. It is a good idea... maybe even a really good idea. But I could not commit to it without some planning, talking to Elders and praying about it. But as the conversation went, I had a hard time saying it. Maybe it was because I wanted them to give the money. Maybe it was because I wanted them to give the money with no "ideas" attached. I know their heart and it is a heart that is so good. But eventually, I got around to sending a note to them explaining that I could not commit to their idea,( although I think it has exciting possibilities) and then followed that up with a phone call. And after it was over I thought, "Why couldn't have I been more clear with them about it upfront?" I was conflicted and found myself bouncing around on the subject. And that was not fair to them, or to myself.

Most of the time, my first instincts are pretty good. But I don't want to hurt someone's feelings. I want their approval. John Ortberg wrote a pretty good article entitled, "Approval Addiction" which I am trying to take to heart. (More about that another time).

Seems like Jesus said something about wanting the praise of men rather than the approval of God. ( John 12:43). I find myself thinking "What did they think about that?" without much regard to "What does HE think about that."

Soooooooo....I think the New year holds a "resolution" or maybe more like a goal ( certainly a prayer request). I want to be more clear with others about what I expect and feel. Then I can let the chips fall where they may. I think doing this will help my relationships at work, and at home.

2008 is around the corner... and I find myself thinking, " what will it all be like?" One thing that I would like to see in the next 12 months is a some growth in this area of my life.

If you want to pray about something specific for me.... Clarity would be a good start.

Christmas 07

MERRY CHRISTMAS! We celebrated Christmas last night at church with our traditional Christmas Eve Services. We had two, one that was overflowing and one that was about 60 of seating capacity... It was a great service....simple and a really good balance of young and old. It just seemed right this year all the way around... I especially liked us getting the young kids on the stage to hear THE STORY. Aaron(our children's minister) did a great job with that.

Someone said "Next year, we will only have one service, right?" I said, "No way... we will need too." Our new building on North Garnett is about 30-45 days from being done..and there will be twice the seating capacity... but new people will come, and I pray that we will be overflowing in both services as we strive to tell people about Christ and the real meaning of Christmas.

With Nathaniel and Lizzie in town, we ate dinner and then opened gifts. I was pretty wiped out from 4 services in 36 hours, but managed to stay in the game for the evening. This time next year it will be Christmas with a grandchild. How cool is that! They will be fabulous parents... Their world is about to be rocked big time... what fun! I am thankful that they are close to us ( 100 miles.)

We miss James and Lydia, but know that God is blessing them in Joliet. It helps knowing that they are serving Christ there, making a difference with so many people. We hear that they are such a blessing to many. The Crossroads Church is doing so well, and the leadership of Matt and Janice ( James' brother and sister in law) and James and Lydia has been so influential on many people.

It is hard to be away... and this Christmas it double tough for them . It is the first "away" Christmas for both of them, along with dealing with the death of James' mother at Thanksgiving. However, Vicki gets a front row seat at the throne of Jesus this Christmas. She is praising God, hands raised, probably doing a little dance along the way... The kids have done so well through this... their character has shined through in a such a good way through this time.

Today... well I am playing my new Eagles album. WOW! what great stuff... We are getting ready for dinner and then Liz and Nathaniel will head back to Fayetteville.

It is has been really good having Joel and Abigial here as well... I love all our kids and what they bring to our lives in a special way. Abigail just finished her first semester at Ozark. I will brag a bit. She finished the semester with a 3.56 GPA, and that was on top of playing College Volleyball. The best part? She loves her classes and I can see how God is shaping her more and more into a Godly woman.
I am so happy for her. Where did my little Abigail go?

Joel is still on the job search. This has been a real patience building time for him. He is closing in on something that he is really excited about. He should know the end of the next week. Pray for him... and for his continued trust in God to provide for him. He has been working about 25 hours a week at the club and doing a bang up job there. They will hate to lose him there. What a great kid. ( He is not a kid anymore... :)

On top of all that is a special gift that came to our friends Danny and Pam Stout. Danny has been on the list for a liver tansplant for several years. Along the way, he has really battled for his health. Earlier this week he found out he was up to #3on the list. Then on Christmas Eve he moved to #1. Last night Pam and I prayed with Matt and Steph ( Danny's Daughter) that God would provide in his time. Less than 20 minutes later Danny got the call from OKC. "Be there in 4 hours!" And they were off... He went into surgery at 3 or so this morning and as of 10, he was out, with a functioning liver!

What a Christmas gift!!!! I know it is bittersweet, because there is another family on the other end who is probably struggling with the loss of a loved one on Christmas. So we pray for them although we probably will never know who that is.

We are so thankful for Christ, and his willing sacrifice for us. And we celebrate his sacrifice all year long. What a blessing!

Hope you had a wonderful time with your family this Christmas. And I hope that deep in your soul you know that you are loved by a God who is Creator, and a Savior who willingly came to pay the price for your sins... at just the right time.

Blessings

Charlie

Some Saturday Morning Thoughts

Here are some "wierd" things running through my mind. These all give me pause to take moment and give it a second thought.

Steroids....I see why men and women would fill their body with illegal drugs to gain a competitive edge. The money...bottom line it is about the money.

I see why newspapers like the LA Times would say that a certain federal indictment includes the names of Andy Pettite and Roger Clemens. Money... plain and simple.. outside of Barry Bonds, there was one other name out there that would make money. Roger Clemens.

I see why people think it could be true. in '96 his team says he is washed up, on the downside and they refuse to resign him to a huge contract. So he signs with Toronto, and then goes on to win multiple Cy Youngs, another 160 games, pitch for the Yankees ( No way!) and is considered a medical and physiological marvel. Certain Hall of Famer! And then the Mitchell report comes out with Roger Clemens in it.

What I don't get is that the Mitchell report was not a criminal investigation. He had some powers that I would not have, but from my perspective it seems that what Sen. Mitchell did was ask alot of questions, gather information from a couple informants who are marginal at best and then wrote a 400 page plus report, naming names.

The problem? No evidence or proof. No checks in the Mitchell report from Roger Clemens. No cooborating evidence from others. Just hearsay. And with that comes all the doubt, the insinuations and the assumptions that because he was so good at the end of his career, it must been because of needles and pills pushed and popped at just the right time ( give him muscles and to avoid detection)

In the interest of full disclosure, I have been a Red Sox Fan since 1967. That makes me a Roger Clemens fan. I don't really follow or care about baseball except for the Red Sox. ( Which makes 2 out of the last 4 years pretty good). But I have loved the Red Sox. I wear a Red Sox hat every day when I work out. I have a little ten year old boy whose dad works at the place I work out, who comes in and wants to talk Red Sox everyday. I am his best friend, because I know who is hitting the ball, whose not, and what kind of wierd mood Manny Rameriz is in. And I have paid attention to Roger Clemens, no matter where he pitches, even when he is pitching for the Yankees!UGH!

So here is my problem. The mere mention of his name in the Mitchell report has sullied his name forever. If he is guilty of the crime, then he should come out and say so, and let us deal with it. But he has come out and said, "No way,ever.!" Whose to say? I don't know.

But here is what I do know... If someone, anyone, accuses me of immorality, or inappropriate action toward someone else, especially a woman or a child, true or not, I am pretty much done. It would not take proof. It would not take evidence. It would just take the statement, said at the right place and the right time. And it is not just me. Teachers, coaches,Doctors, Dentists, business ownwers and a boat load of other professions face the same kinds of things. It is the reality.

What can I do?( or anyone else). Well, make sure you live a consistent life that reflects the values of Christ in every way. Make sure you do not put yourself in obvious situations that might cause someone to "think" they see something.

And leave it in the hands of God. I don't know if Clemens is doing that or not ( He has been pretty quiet, but his lawyer is making alot of threats about lawsuits). If it happens to you or me, we won't have a 28 million dollar a year contract to fall back on, or high priced lawyers.

But do have God, and those who know us well and know this world well. I will take my chances with him.

It may be that I am being "snowed" by the only baseball player I have really followed closely... but it may be that what he says is the truth.

Whatever happened to "innocent until proven guilty?" In the days of internet , tabloid journalism, Senate committee hearings and GREED, that statement seems strangely distant from the public eye.

Well, that is the rant of the day.

One other thing on my mind... after two weekens of Ice/Snow and more snow due today.

Here it is....

"Why does God plan snow and ice on Saturdays and Saturday nights?"

Hmmmmmmn...something only a preacher or a teacher would give a second thought to. Guess that is why the do not ask me to "play God" in the play.

Have a great day!

Ice and Snow

Ice storms are no fun.

Last Sunday night the freezing rain started pelting NE Oklahoma. At the time, I think we all thought it would pass. In the middle of the night the cracking and breaking of limbs began. That grew into total destruction of many trees in the area.

We live next to Centennial Park,which is full of large older trees. The sound of trees breaking under the weight of ice is erie. Fortunately we have just one young tree in our front yard, so the damage to our property was minimal. However,many in our community and church were not so fortunate.

Then the power went out. 4 days later there are still nearly 200,000 people who have no power. Most of Owasso was knocked out, especially in the older part of the town. We were blessed. Ours was out 10 hours. At first it seemed inconvienent, but as I have seen others go through days of no power, we got off pretty good.

Our church became a shelter on Monday Morning. Our Staff has done a superb job in organzing and directing the shelter. We did not know what we were doing, but with the leadership skills of our team, we have managed to help well over 100 people. We have had alot of help from church members as well. We have good hearted people who want to serve. What a blessing

Now, we have word that a snowstorm is approaching. It could be heavy, but this is Oklahoma, and it seems after living here for 25 years, Weather experts in Oklahoma rarely know how to forecast snow.

Should be interesting.

On my mind...

One of the fun things I have done this fall has been the Leadership class that I have been leading on Wednesday nights. We took a different route than in the past with reading a couple books together (Lead Like Jesus and The Resilient Life). Abotu 25 guys have stayed with it in the class since the first of September. The discussion has been challenging to me. Good for me to listen to the hearts of men.

I am not sure where it will go from here, as this Wednesday night is our last group meeting. But I am hoping that some small groups will evolve out of this that can be an ongoing discipleship opportunity for the men in our church.

Today's services seemed much more alive than the past few weeks. That is encouraging. October and Nov. have produced some 'flat' spots , but hopefully today is an indication that we are ramping up again.

People are ready for the building to get done... Probably still 60 days from occupying, but alot is happening. The work is accerlating for sure. There are still lots of questions about what we are doing once we occupy. I am glad that God is in control. And I am thankful for the staff of the church, which carries on, inspite of some the uncertainty.

Birth Announcement

The announcement of the upcoming birth of a baby can be a life changing event. Think about what we read in Luke 1.

It begins with Gabriel sharing the good news with Zecharaih. Zechariah was old, he had prayed along side his wife for years that a baby would come into their lives. It seems that the time had passed. And then The Angel shows up and says, "Guess what?!!!!"

Zechariah had a hard time believing this news... and so The Angel said, "How about you listen for 9 months, and I will get back to you?" Of course we know how that story turned out. John the Baptist was born..and life was never the same.

The Gabriel goes to the virgin Mary...That must have been a very interesting assignment for Him. "Hmmmmmnnnn.. I wonder how this is going to go over?"

We know the rest of that story too.. Jesus, the Son of God was born.... and life will never be the same.

Both birth announcements were part of a grander plan in which God placed two people, one completely human and one who was both human and divine, on the earth to change things...

As far as I know, an angel did not appear to my daughter Elizabeth recently... but she does find herself "with child." Its pretty exciting... knowing that this child has the opportunity to change the world for God. Elizabeth and Nathaniel will make great parents.

Oh, by the way, there was no "You've got to be kidding me" from Charlie. So sermons will continue for the next 6 months... and I will get more and more excied to see who God brings in to my life... in the form of a little baby. Pretty exciting stuff.

Get out of the way

It is late on Monday night. Today, in between a couple meetings, I have spent time at the hospital ministering to a family who is suffering. This morning, I talked with the husband at length as he tries to get his arms around the fact that his wife's health is suddenly failing, and there seems to be little or nothing he can do about it. It truly is a situation where she is in God's hands... He knows it, and he has been incredibly strong and tender at the same time. I don't know if I would be that way or not. But his heart has no anger, just a combination of sorrow and gratefulness for 33 years of marriage. Strength and Tenderness... qualities that only could come through the love of God. Tom has that.

Tonight, I went back. I took Pam with me. Over the years she has not done alot of this with me, in large part because she has had a job that she was not always able to break away from, and four kids who needed her attention. But now that we are semi "empty-nesters", she has been getting out more and connecting with people in need in a more visible way. I love this new stage of life from this perspective. I have NEVER been disappointed with her, when she enters into ministry in this way. Tonight was no exception. She brings a calming influence, a spiritual strength, an encouraging lift, and a peaceful look. Later in the evening, I was running out of gas and feeling it. So I came home, but Pam stayed.

What was interesting to me was the combination that God brought to the situation. For during the time we were there Nancy came by. Nancy is a Cancer Care Nurse that looks at what she does as a calling... a ministry... She waited till her kids were out of the house, and then heard a call from God to step out on faith and go back to school. Her purpose in life is to glorify God by helping people in these very difficult situations like cancer. She said to me, " It is an honor to help someone through this into the presence of Jesus." I had never really thought of it that way before.

I watched Nancy and Pam work side by side to comfort and strengthen the family. And I realized that even though I am the "preacher", they were bringing something that I could not bring. I can't put my finger on it, but I knew that when I left them with the family, that it would be not only okay, but better.

It reminds me that God gifts his children with special abilities that can not always be predicted. It can not always be coached. It can not always be understood. He just does stuff like this to show that He will use anyone who is willing, at any time and any where. I like that about God. No seminary degree was needed tonight. No resumes. No special doctrinal statements. Just words of faith. Just reminders that Jesus died for people so that when we face the moment of death, there is a way to God. There was no special choir , except for the family members that sang " When we all get to Heaven." and "I can only imagine." There was little in the way of chatter... some tears...but really tears of hope and joy...mixed with some sorrow and pain. There was scripture, and hope, encouragement to her that it was all okay... and when she saw Jesus, she could go.

Its just the thing God specializes in... For he knew from the Garden on that all human being would face a physical death. And in His Grace, he uses people , sometimes surprising people, sometimes suprised people, to bring just the right word, the right touch, the right song, and the right kind of joy to such a situation like this. And In His grace, he provided his Son... whose sacrifice was exactly what we needed for a time like this.

That is a combination that can't be beat....

And to think... no one even asked the preacher if it was okay 0:).He just brought the two ladies together and said to me, "Get out of the way."

I love God for that.

Catching up

Has it really been a month since I last posted? Lots of stuff happening... Let's see... where do I start???

Well, how about some good news? Our oldest daughter Elizabeth is pregnant!!!! How about that! She is 12 weeks along. So that puts her "due" date around June 1. This is going to be great fun. We already have the pics of the baby at 11 weeks (They are ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!) Lizzie and Nathaniel will make great parents... although I have told them that they are in for the ride of their lives!

Our church building continues its progress toward completion. Here is a big surprise for you construction buffs... the completion date keeps moving! Oh well, I am thankful that God has worked it out where there is not a real strong pressure to move out of our current building... so it can be done right and we can watch God work his timing in all of this ( That is the big lesson for the whole project.) So when are we moving you ask? Stay tuned.

We have had to make some major decisions in the past month, many with great pain and angst. The biggest one in my mind has been the decision of the Elders to close Our Little Saints Preschool at the end of this coming school year. This preschool has been such a huge part of our community and church for 28 years. Building restrictions in Phase I have limited what we can do in a "weekday" situation. So with that we have had to take it as God's leading and begin to look at new ways to minister. But that does not minimize the pain that such changes create. So we are trying to be sensitive to how God is working here.

There is alot of change going on here. But I am so proud of our Staff, Elders and congregation who have kept the big picture in mind and see the opporutnities ahead, even though they are requiring alot of different directions and programming.

I just got back from Oregon where I found my parents doing relatively well. I love being around them and watching as they compensate for each other and struggle together through increasing health difficulties. They have big decisions to make in the coming months... so pray for them.

This Thursday is Thanksgiving... We had our Thanksgiving banquet last night and it was PACKED OUT. Great food, entertainment and lots of laughter.

I hope that you have occassion this week to take some time and think about your blessings. I know that Pam and I have done that and will continue to do so, as our family grows... and as we experience both the ups and downs of life. The best blessing? Well, its that no matter what comes our way, we are not alone. I take great comfort in knowing that God is my refuge... and my strength.

Rainy days and Mondays

Mondays are not usually a preacher's friend. I heard a well known preacher once say that he had a rule..."Never write a resignation letter on a Monday." The afterglow of Sunday ( good or bad) can sometimes influence decisions on Monday. I usually try to limit the "big stuff" on Mondays... just in case I am little foggy.( No resignation letter here)

Due to fall break , and I suppose other factors, Sunday's church attendance was not stellar. However, it was a tremendous service. We dedicated the entire 75 minutes to what Christ is doing through a missions team from FCC and missionaries in Honduras by the name of Jim and Teri Riley.

We had alot of video elements,a powerful drama , an internet conference call with Jim Riley and more in the service. That all sounds good, but the potential is there for any one element to not come off well.

Well yesterday it all went well. Each piece seemed to fit with the rest, all the technology was effective, and the spirit of the services was so positive. So many had a huge part in it... I can't really name them all.

The best response came aftewards when a woman came up to me with tears streaming down her face. She said, "I need to know where I can sign up to go on a missions trip... I have to do this." I hugged her, told her who to talk to and she thanked me.

Last evening I had another note from a couple who thanked us for the service and the part that we all do to bring the Kingdom of God alive.

It was a good day... A great day. And it goes to show you ( and me ) that the numbers do not always tell the whole story.

Even though it is rainy today, and is a Monday... it is still a good day

"Face Down"

Many of you know that my Dad has had a real struggle with his eyes. Macular Degeneration is a difficult disease to contain, and his journey with this has been up and down.

At some points in the past year, the news has been good... stabilization and improvement. But other times, it has not been so good. Last week, his left eye completely went blind.

This week he had a procedure done which brings about the possibility of some restoration. It involved putting a gas bubble into his eye, which might push some of the blood clots aside, enabling his eyesight to improve.

What makes this particularly difficult is that as a part of the recovery he is supposed to spend 23 out of the 24 hours a day "face down." Think about that for a second. To give this bubble its greatest chance, he has to spend almost every waking moment and every sleeping moment on his face.

I really can't imagine that. My Mom and Dad are trying to take advantage of some technology that will enable him to sleep, sit, and even watch some TV ( although that is limited because of the lack of eyesight), but this still has to be a very difficult situation.

I was praying for them this morning and couple thoughts came to mind...

* This is what growing older is about. Body parts wear out. Things don't work as well as they used to... and sometimes there is nothing you can do about it. You can't stop it, stall it , or suppress it... It just happens.

* This is why we all have to live as though this life is not all there is. My parents are Christians. They love God, and they love their church. Their faith is in Christ... and although they both have had fairly long lives and lots of blessings, they totally understand that "this is not all there is." Heaven awaits, and in heaven there will be no more tears, sorrow, or death. (and there will be no eyesight maladies....) Whatever Dad is not able to gain back here, he will have in full living color in heaven.

* Sometimes you try things that are really difficult to handle. I thought.."Three weeks face down..." Could I do that? I love my Dad and Mom's attitude. It is going to be hard... really hard, but you do what you have to do. If this gives him some eyesight back, it is worth it.

* Last, I realized that my parents are teaching me some of life's greatest lessons in the late years of their lives. The lessons about resilence, faith, perseverance, and doing the right thing are life lessons that I need reminders on. These lessons that they are living out are treasures to me.

2007 has not been an easy year for them. You could make the case that it has been one of the toughest... but they keep plugging away. They have not given up. They look to God for strength and peace. And they are quick to run to each other's aid, no matter the cost.

I would ask you to pray for mom and dad. They really need those prayers right now.

A different kind of Sunday

Today, I took a Sunday off. Part of the plan for my return from the stroke was that I would limit the long run of preaching which I had been doing in the past.Six to 8 weeks in a row seems to be the limit right now. So, this was a day when I sat back and became a congregational member.

I went to two churches. I attended a downtown Tulsa Church at 8:30. It is always nice to viist, see how some people do things differently. The preacher is one of my favorites... he makes me think and challenges my way of preaching in some very real ways. His messages fill my soul. I am convinced that regular exposure to good preaching is vital to good preaching on my part. And there is something about hearing it in person in the context of the church, not just on the tapes or CD's .

Then I came back to FCC. I sat in the back with Pam and Joel, which was intersting. Some observations....

One, We have some sound problems. I can see how people don't want to sing, because it really does feel like you are the only one singing. So people don;t sing.

Two, people don't know exactly what to do with me when I show up and I am not preaching. Some were making assumptions that I was not well, which was not the case. Others thought that maybe I have had a set back on the health front. That is not the case. Still others took the opportunity to "talk business."

Its pretty hard to be a regular member when you are the preacher. But I also appreciate their concern and confidence. One thing I do have is a small group who allow me to be me, not the preacher.... what a blessing.

Three, Matt Thomason is good preacher... I like his heart.

It was a good day... different for sure,but good.

Interesting question...

I had a friend ask me if I would ever follow the lead of a church out east which had a series entitled, "Our Rotten Sex Life...." The question got me to thinking and doing a little dashing around the internet.

Some observations....

One, several churches have done this. There efforts have garnered some churches nationwide media attention, some have apparently not. Not all of it has been positive. ( but is that what we are looking for?)

Two, my opinion is that it is a good thing to talk about what the Bible talks about. ( Sex is in the Bible, its a gift from God. Its a good thing when done in the right place, with the right person, and with righ motives.)

Three, Squash is still squash to me. My parents love squash. I have never liked it and avoid it at almost all cost. You can cook it, bake, it, bar-be-que it. You can fry it, drown it in butter, or brown sugar... I will not eat it. ( Please, no attempts to change my mind here... It is what it is to me.)

In this case, I am not interested in judging motives... Some will say that such a "marketing" effort is wrong, innappropriate and insensitive. Others will say, " Go for it, More power to you, way to be on the cutting edge."

I figure that if I am going to make a decision about what is good in this case, I ought to at least listen to the messages.

No matter what the outside looks like to me, I am interested in content... Sometimes our efforts can cloud the content. We need to be careful.

Four, In our attempts to be relevant, we all need to be careful that we do not take away from the real message. I did not say, "Do not be relevant." It just seems to me like some discretion is a good thing here.

What may work on the coasts, may not work here. God himself will judge the fruit of such efforts. I am thankful that God is able to use all efforts to share his Word to change people. That is what makes it fun to be in Owasso. There are lots of churches, doing great things, with many different approaches. I am glad that not all churches are not like the one I help lead... Many preachers and churches preach the Word. They just come at it a little different than me.

My calling is to preach the Word in the location I live in. Some like the effort, some don't don't. Some like the packaging, some don't. But my goal is that when people finish listening they will know more of the Word, and the Word will change them. ( Content and application)

I will leave the judging to Him.

So to answer his question... "Probably not..." It's not me.

Catching up

I am back!!!! I don't know if that is good news, or if it should constitute a warning.

Blogging takes time and brain power..neither of which I seem to have alot of. But today, I have a litte of both, so I am going to catch you up a bit.

Health- GOOD! The blood clots have cleared up and the tests seem to be encouraging. More scans in 8 weeks, and go from there. My energy level is up and down, which I am learning to accept and manage. The foggy feeling I have comes and goes. It seems to be related to stress and energy...It is not overwhelming like it used to be. I keep being reminded that the Dr's said, "This is a 2-3 year process" Its been 18 months.

Church- On the one hand it is really good. The people are amazing, encouraging and challenging. I could never imagine a better group of people. On the other hand, it is a real challenge. With the building on North Garnett coming along, we are knee deep in transition planning. ( kind of feels like quicksand) It is like going into a tunnel and seeing a bright light come right at you. ( Yup... that is a train!) This whole process has given new meaning to the "tunnel of chaos." But we have a good staff team and building team. I ask lots of questions and keep saying, "We need to be creative problem solvers." That is good advice, but I sometimes fall into the mode of "Let's sovle the problem" rather than, "Lets pray about this and see how God solves the problem."

Family- All are good. Pam has been going to lots of Volleyball, and I have been tagging along. I enjoy watching Abigial play, and she is really good! Joel is living here while looking for a job in his chosen career field. Lizzie and Nathaniel are gearing up for basketball, which means he is coaching 6 days a week. Lydia and James had a great launch at their church in Joliet Ill. She is doing pretty well.

What have I learned in the past 6 weeks? Good question. I have learned that I am predisposed to say "yes" to almost every request and I have to change. I have learned that what I think I am saying to people is not neccesarily what they always hear.( Especially true when people have requests or demands...) I have learned that with me looking better, people assume I am back to normal and I am not. As a matter of fact, there is a new normal, which I am not even sure about. I have learned that if I don't take the time to replenish my soul, my heart shrivels up. ( Nothing new there... but I need the reminder). I have learned that the future is bright in God's kingdom, but that I ought to enjoy it more, worry less, slow down even more than I am and work better, not neccesarily harder.

I am reading alot more. Good books on the shelf include, "The Big Idea" by Dave Ferguson, "The Truth War" by John McArthur, "The Simple Church" by Thom Rainier, and "Communicating for Change" by Andy Stanley.

Oh, I have noticed something else... I read too much "Church stuff". I am branching out into some fiction ( Pam brought home "Playing for Pizza" by Grisham), a biography or two and see if I can broaden my horizons.

I want to promise that it will not be 6 weeks between posts again...but I can't. My supsicion is that I will pick it up.

later

Charlie

Its a winner

My Parents have had a tough year. Health issues seem to be pretty much on the march in their lives. Add to that some significant stress from other corners of their lives, and they can be quite stressed like days.

I am very proud of them. They are good people who want to do good by everyone. They love their family,and they love the people in their community, and church.

Dad loves to paint. The picture below is one that he finished last spring , before the worst of his eye sight failure. So this is one to be proud of.

It is picuture that my dad took while he was in the Army. He has had the photgraph for decades, and just now decided to tackle it.

It won First Place at the Lane County Fair...Which is a big deal

I hope you enjoy it.

Good times.... tough times

I find the three accounts of Jesus being baptized very interesting. Matthew 3 makes it clear that Jesus sought out John to be baptized. Why? "To fulfill all righteousness." Some people refuse to be baptized for various reasons. But boil it all down to one statement and it seems to me that if Jesus was baptized to fulfill all righteousness, certainly we should be too.

We want to split hairs on the various aspects of baptism which distracts from the beautiful picture it is. Paul wrote that baptism is a picture of the death, burial and Resurrection. Any believer should find it an honor to participate in those three things ( in a symbolic way.)

Mark talk about Jesus baptism and combines it with the temptation in the desert. Mark 11:1 states that God declared, "You are my son, whim I love, with you I am well pleased." Is that not what any son wants to hear from his Father, even Jesus?

The next words in Mark 1:12 are stunning. "At one the Spirit sent out into the desert and he was in the desert 40 days being tempted by Satan."

Wow- that is some "initiation" after the baptism. "At once." No press conference, no book writing for Jesus, or a book tour. No appearances on Television shows. He hears the wonderful blessing of his father and then is sent into isolation, starvation and temptation.

I find that people who are baptized just because they want to know "whats in it for me" really struggle when a period of testing and trial come their way. They can not understand why God would allow such things to happen, especially since they had gone to all the trouble to put on a robe and get in water and be immersed. They can not understand because they have a warped view of the Christian life. It still is "all about me." Sometimes it is the very testing that they hate which shapes me to thinking more about God than themselves.

The Christian Life is full of thorns.Ask Jesus, the disciples, Stephen and others who suffered for their faith. There was nothing easy about the path they chose to follow. Why should we think it would be any different for us? The Christian Life is built around statements like, "deny your self", "take up your cross daily", "the first shall be last and the last shall be first. "Love one another" takes the place of "love yourself." "Be the servant of all" replaces "look out for #1". The list could go on.

The Christian Life is a journey. And there is one goal. Here is the surprise for most. The goal is not to get to Heaven. We have declared that the goal! We talk about it, dream about it, pray about it. But the goal is simply to be "transformed into the likeness of Christ." ( Romans 8:29-- "For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son.") I believe Heaven is the prize at the end of the process. But God desires more for us than just getting into heaven. He wants us to be used by him to be kingdom bringers in this world. And that comes through the process of being conformed into Christ's image.

That process of being conformed to the likeness of His Son is a long one. It is not one you can just pop a pill and wake up being like Jesus. It is a process of shaping, forming, re-forming and re-shaping. It truly is a two steps forward and one step back process.

Jesus provides us with clear understanding of this when he obeys the Spirit and goes into the desert. I am not saying that his Deity was formed in the desert. He was God in the flesh from the beginning of his life on earth. But I am saying that he sends a subtle message to all of us.... "When you go through periods of trial and testing, remember that I did too, right on the heels of on of the greatest moments of my earthly life."

Jesus was successful in navigating those 40 days. You can navigate tough times in your life too. The blessings of God you have received will carry you through.

First day of school

As I was walking the morning, a sudden thought came over me. Today, being the first day of school in Owasso, is also the first time in 19 years that Pam and I do not have a child going to public school. That is kind of a wierd thought. We know that life moves on, but it sure seems like it picks up speed too.

I was reflecting about this out on the street this morning. They have been a part of 4 school systems, with the vast majority of those years being spent in Owasso. They have received great educations, which prepared them for college and beyond. Two have graduated from college and the other two are attending college in Missouri and Illinois.

I thought some about what seemed to be countless first days of school, bus rides to school, concerts, ball practices and games, back to school nights, conferences, awards ceremonies, and yes, even a trip or two to the principal's office for disciplinary reasons. ( No names here).

We have been thankful for the Owasso schools, because they seem to have a good sense of educating the children, while balancing that with the need for parental involvement. There has always been an open attitude by the administration and teachers. Their doors have been open to us, and through the years we have taken advantage of the access.

What makes it possible for a child to go to public school and succeed in getting an education.( the same question can be asked of private schools.)? I am sure that there are many reasons for this. One of them has to be the desire of parents to be involved in the education of their children. We have been pretty visible parents on most levels. From Booster Clubs to Bond Issue committees , to being a room mother, to actually working in one of the schools, people know we have been interested. So did our kids.

I know I am writing with a broad brush here. Parental involvement does not guarentee educational success. Certainly prayer, conversation and involvement at home, and genuine interest as parents goes along ways. There are other ingredients as well. Making sure your kids hang out with the right kids ( whatever that may be for you) is essential. For us, ( no matter if I worked at a church or not) this would have included a peer group of kids from the church. I am already missing some of Abigail's friends who just used to pop in... Now they are off at college.
All of this does not mean your child will be a star athlete, or a cheerleader, or on the Academic All State team. But it does give them a better chance at knowing they are loved and supported, knowing who they can go to, and knowing that there are expectations regarding good decision making.

The new school year has started. Last night Pam and I decided we would wander over to the 8th grade center to .... watch the Volleyball Team thump Union. It was fun. We got to see people from the church and the community. A couple asked, "What are you doing here?"

My answer: "Its what we do..." Now we will follow our church kids... and Abigail whose college season starts next week... and the Elkins Elks ( Our Son in Law is the basketball coach there), and anyone else we can think of. We love the environment... You will see us at Owasso games... and who knows, even a concert or two.

It's what we do.... and we love it.

Some musings...

I am writing from Joplin. Abigail, our youngest daughter, is going to college. Ozark Christian College is getting a real gem.

I told a friend today that it seems like Abigail has been waiting 18 years for this moment. She is , a girl who loves God and her family. She also really likes the idea of being on her own... making her own decisions and ways.

I think we have been blessed. All four of our kids love God and love each other. Abigail has a great future ahead of her at OCC. She will love the Bible classes, the friendships, and the volleyball.

It was really cool to have Elizabeth drive up to spend the day here. I love the fact that all four of our kids love each other and want to share as much of their lives with each other as possible. It's a good thing.

So where do we go from here? Well, we have a great family spread out in the Midwest ( Fayetteville Ark, Joliet Illinois, Joplin Mo and Owasso - {thats Joel for a while...})
We have each other and that is alot of fun. And we have a great church who wants to grow and develop as a great influence in Northeast Ok.

So things are good...there are bumps in the road, real concerns for other family members, and curves in the road that need to be navigated. But things are still good. No matter what is thrown at us, we have to remember, "Nothing can separate us from the love of God."

On Saturday, we will drive back home. Abigail will stay here and begin the next phase of her life. As one mother said to me the other day ( she is sending her last child to college this week ), " It's what we set out to do...raise them to be good adults." That is true... and it is good to see.

New chapters full of promise for the future. It's a good way to live.

Giftedness vs. Character

This morning I read through the story of Samson. ( Judges 13-16). Some observations...

One, Samason's parents were deperate to have him. They prayed, they sought God, and when it happened they were surprised. They were also obedient.

Two, Samson was gifted. Many a leader has "risen to the top" by using their gifts. Leaders have to have gifts. The great thing is that all leaders do not have to have the same gifts. The diversity and variety of the Kingdom lends its self to gifts that are all over the board. Yet, God is the one who can use gifts that seem totally unrelated to weave together a tapestry of leadership that keeps His kingdom going in the right direction.

Three, Samson lacked character. When he "saw" the woman in Judges Timnah, he wanted her. He told his father, "Get her for me." ( Judges 14) The problem was that she was a Phillistine woman... part of the clan that hated God's people. Samson's lack of character introduced alot of problems into his life.

Four, Samson's life was beset with secrecy. The older I get the more I see the devestating effects of secrecy. Much of the secrecy in our lives is the doorway to deceit. Read through the passage and you will see that Samson played fast and loose with the truth, he kept things from his own family, and he dangled his sinful actions (violating his Nazarite vow) in front of others and even God. Ironically, it was the "secret" of his strength, that he did not keep, which ruined his life. But, he had a real character problem.

Lastly, his ultimate undoing was when the Lord left Him. ( Judges 16:20- "But he did not realize that the Lord had left him.") That is a sad statement.

I pray that you, ( and I) will live in the light. I pray that we will be obedient to God's commands in our lives, and realize that without his blessing, we nothing more than a shell of the person that we could be.

WHAT IF....?

I am on vacation this week, in beautiful Chicago Illinois. Today, we venture downtown. We thought about riding the train, but it is kind of pricey, so we are driving... We will go to the Navy Pier, Sears Tower, walk ( not shop) down Michigan Avenue and wander around... Should be fun. We waited until today because the weather was supposed to be good, and it has turned out really good. ( high of 75 degrees and sunny.) I miss that about the north. In the summer the weather fronts clear out the humidity and you get a break. Of course, it all comes around in the winter with 12 straight weeks of wind, cold and snow. God has a hard time pleasing me...but then again that is not his objective is it?

Time off gets me to thinking a bit... So I write some conclusions to the question "What if?" ( Actually they are not conclusions at all, just something to think about.)

WHAT IF...churches really cared about the lost?

WHAT IF ....church members focused more on taking the gospel to those who need it than with protecting their own turf in regards to worship style, preaching style, buildings and programs? ( I guess I am sick of all the ranting and raving about who is doing what and whether it is right or not.... here I go, "ranting and raving.")

WHAT IF ... we all were willing to take a life altering risk once a year? BRIEF COMMENTARY: I mean a real risk which had the potential to go either way. Certainly it should be "God-led." But as I read more about Jesus I see him more as a revolutionary and less as a Mr.Rogers type. He was a dangerous man who called many people to take the biggest risk of their lives. I don't think there is alot of risk in accepting Christ. The ressurection settles it for me. But there is alot of risk in being an "Ambassador of Christ." That can blow away our world.

WHAT IF ... we were free to speak what is really on our mind, instead of what we think the other person wants to hear?

WHAT IF ... relationship really took precedence over programs in the church?

WHAT IF ... we really believed that Hell was real, and Jesus saves?

WHAT IF... we were committed to laugh and smile more and complain and frown less?

WHAT IF ... we woke up in the morning with ONE prayer .... "Lord this is your day... I am your child. Take me where you want, use me where you will, and at the end of the day let's both say, 'It was a good day.'

WHAT IF .... we went to bed at night with ONE thought on our mind... "Lord you were really great today."

WHAT IF .. we had time on a regular basis to ask the question, "What if?"

WHAT IF ... we asked the question "What if?" and it actually led to some sort of change in our life ( for the better)

WHAT IF ? Well who knows...unless you ask the question... and look for the answers.

Vacations do this to me... Sorry. But it is good for me. And better for you as well.

Summer blogging is a challenge...

Today, I find myself in Joliet Illinois. Lydia and James live here now, launching a ministry with the Cornerstone Christian Church.

Some observations...

1. It is kind of strange for us to be making a long trip to see one of our kids. They have always been either home or close to home. Now they are 680 miles away.

2. Each moment I spend with all four of our kids, I am more amazed than ever how much God has blessed us. This summer, one is in Illinois, one is in Maine, one is in Faytettville Arkansas, and one is in Joliet. All four love God and love their families. Does it really get any better than that?

3. It gets really hot in Chicago too. 94 today.

4. Traveling is still hard on me. We spent the night in St.Louis... and headed out on the last leg of the trip Sunday morning. About 30 minutes in, I got sick... and felt terrible all day yesterday. Too much activity I guess..

5. I miss getting to preach on Sunday. Sunday was the third Sunday I have had in a row where I was not preaching... I love preaching...


Our Vacation takes us from Chicago to Lake Tenkiller in Oklahoma later this week. Should be fun... always great to spend time with friends and family.