A Joplin Journey: Letting Go

4 July 2013

(continued from 3 July 2013)

When the tornado missed Betty Jo's house, God was convicting her about her priorities. And the conviction did make a difference in her life. From that point on, her unneeded shopping and collecting stopped. But she still had all this stuff.

The Lord was not giving up on Betty Jo. He was pursuing her heart, fully desiring to give her back the wholeness that she was lacking. God was telling her that He could bring her life under control. She would, though, have to let go.

It was now almost two years since the tornado had struck Joplin, but she was now ready for help. Responding to God's caring hand on her heart corresponded to a time that students from the University at Buffalo arrived in Joplin. Betty Jo called the organization Mission Joplin which was coordinating with Samaritan's Purse and asked if they would be willing to take her stuff.

Accompanied by leaders from Mission Joplin, I accompanied eight students to Betty Jo's house, not really knowing what to expect. She admitted to us that she was a hoarder, but we really did not know what we would see or what she would allow us to do.

I don't know if you can ever be prepared for what we were about to see. You just need to adapt. As we came into the driveway, we saw the yard had various items scattered about, but the house looked fine enough on the outside. To the right of the house was a six-bay metal garage. As Betty Jo opened the first bay of the garage, it caught my breath. This huge building was full of stuff. All I could say was, "Oh no!"

But here is the thing. She was ready to let go.

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Matthew 6.19-21, NIV

One more blog about Betty Jo coming!

A Joplin Journey: Why Not Me?

3 July 2013

(continued from 2 July 2013)

Betty Jo had watched the tornado hop over her house. Realizing that this tornado had spared her, but not her community, she left her home to go be an angel of mercy to those around her. Though she literally saved lives during this time, her activity masked her own imminent needs. 

Betty Jo is a brilliant woman. She has held significant jobs in the banking industry for years, supervising hundreds of employees and millions of transactions. After a series of devastating losses - including divorce and a son with difficult learning issues - her life began to spiral out of control.

She compensated for these losses with possessions. She became a master of bargain hunting and collecting objects on the side of the road. It is not that this is bad, unless you are buying and collecting things for which you have no need. Betty Jo became a hoarder. She knew it was not good. She knew it was not healthy. But she could not find the emotional strength to stop. These "things" were a comfort to her.

When the tornado missed her, her guilt increased. In her mind, she deserved the tornado. Possessions possessed her, but she could not say "no." So many of her friends lost everything, but not her. She still had everything. Her life was full of stuff. And then to make it worse, she could not find the will to let go of objects perhaps other people could use.

Her story is not the typical story regarding Joplin's tornado. But what we found is that God was very much at work in Betty Jo's life. Though she was ready to give up, God found her worth loving and pursuing.

Turn my eyes away from worthless things;
preserve my life according to your word. 

Psalm 119.37, NIV

More of Betty Jo's story to come!

A Joplin Journey: Angel of Mercy

2 July 2013

(story continued from 14 April 2013)

It did not take long for Betty Jo to understand the destruction that was taking place a few miles down the road. She knew she had to help. She hopped into her minivan and headed to Joplin.

On the way, she came across a man walking along the side of the road with a plank as a crutch with the hope to get to the hospital. Neither he or Betty Jo knew at the moment that the hospital had been severely damaged by the tornado and was being evacuated. They did find a triage tent and she left the man there who was more than grateful for her help.

Many days later, Betty Jo would find out that this man's leg was crushed from the hip to the ankle. She was told if that she had not picked him up, he would have most likely died before getting to town.

Later in the day, she stopped by a man laying on the edge of the road. He was being ignored or passed over by so many, because his situation looked hopeless. Many must have thought he was dead. He had a piece of wood that had pierced his face and he was a bloody mess. Managing to get him into the van, she also took him to the triage tent. Again, she would learn later, that she had literally saved his life.

At another point, she came across a family who was in a panic. The tornado had knocked over the chimney and it had fallen on their five-year-old son. Because the ambulance was struggling to get to their location, she offered to take them to the tent or just take the van themselves. This boy, too, would miraculously live.

Betty Jo continued to be an angel of mercy over the next weeks. She looked for those in need and did what she could to meet those needs. At the same time, she was largely ignoring her own needs - physically, emotionally and spiritually. It would have a cost.

Lord, hear my prayer, listen to my cry for mercy;
in your faithfulness and righteousness come to my relief. 

Psalm 143.1, NIV

More of Betty Jo's story to come!

Legacy - James Albert Decker (15)

21 June 2013

This is the third verse of one my dad's favorite hymns: "Victory in Jesus." So today I dedicate this to my dad who received renewed vocal chords exactly one year ago. See you soon Pops!

I heard about a mansion
He has built for me in glory,
And I heard about the streets of gold
Beyond the crystal sea;
About the angels singing
And the old redemption story,
And some sweet day I’ll sing up there
The song of victory.

O victory in Jesus, my Savior, forever!
He sought me and bought me
With His redeeming blood;
He loved me ere I knew Him
And all my love is due Him –
He plunged me to victory
Beneath the cleansing flood.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade — kept in heaven for you...

I Peter 1.3-4 (NIV)

Throwing Some Cold Water on the Situation (Infusion 2013)

INFUSION
17 June 2013

I am not proud of it. When I have the blessing of baptizing someone as a recognition of their faith in Christ Jesus, I like the water to be warm.

Though I know it is not true, I feel like an expert when it comes to cold water baptisms. At Infusion this year, the water was cold - very cold - 30-something degree cold - where is the ice kind of cold.

It was our privilege this year (Tim and me) to baptize the chairman of our leadership council for this coming year. Brian came on strong for us this past year and we discovered what an excellent leader he is becoming.

Brian's desire to be baptized at this point seemed wonderfully similar to Jesus being baptized by John the Baptist to signify the beginning of His ministry. 

I will venture a guess here, but I bet that the Jordan River's water was warmer.

After the baptisms were finished, one student came up to me and said, "Pastor Paul! This was all so thrilling and you were so enthusiastic. You even dove into the water to show how excited you were for Brian's baptism." This is one of those moments that get frozen in time for you. I was thinking, "Oh, if only that were true!"

What really happened went like this. Knowing that there was no way I could enter the frigid water by walking in slowly, I fully committed by jumping in. When I landed, however, I lost my balance and I was having trouble stopping my momentum. Not wanting to end up in the deep end, I decisively dove into the water to bring my momentum to a halt. It worked.

After that, things really moved fast. Because I was struggling to breathe, I called for Brian and Tim to position themselves. With lightening speed, I said these words: "Brian, because of your stated testimony to follow Jesus and your desire to follow Him in baptism, I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit."

Then down he went, and up he came. We all raised our hands in victory and high-tailed it out of the water.

Never have I done a baptism faster.

Never have I struggled to breathe like that.

But I wouldn't have missed it for the world. Let's do it again!

(Quick, before ice begins to form on the top!)

Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. 

Romans 6.3-4, NIV

Irresistible Worship (Infusion 2013)

INFUSION 2013
13 June 13

Beth came to the Fall Retreat and did not like it.

She came, because her twin sister, from Oneonta's CA, invited her. Becky has been praying that her sister would understand the truth and respond to it. But it has been hard.

Take one look at Beth and Becky, and there is no doubt about it. They are identical twins. But not so much when it comes to the personality. Beth is outgoing and outspoken. Becky is quieter and unassuming.

Though Beth did not enjoy the Fall Retreat, Becky invited her again, this time to Infusion. It was a bold move, since Infusion is more intense than the Fall Retreat. And, it takes a greater commitment, since it lasts for six days. Though we invite all students to come, at the heart of Infusion is leadership training.

Nevertheless, Beth came. Just like in the Fall, she was outgoing, engaging, and opinionated. And though I would not say she was antagonistic before, this time she was intrigued and involved. There was no doubt. Beth was searching for the truth.

One evening, during an especially enthusiastic worship song, she found herself dancing in the middle aisle with Paul Marsh, the campus minister from Colorado University in Boulder. He is one of our elder statesman at CA. The floor was bouncing, and we were all enjoying the Lord's irresistible Presence.

For Beth, though, a change had taken place. She meant every word that she was singing. Worship had brought her into God's Presence, and she believed.

"Look at what's happened! This is our God! We waited for him and he showed up and saved us! This God, the one we waited for! Let's celebrate, sing the joys of his salvation."

 Isaiah 25.9, The Message

Party in Session (Infusion 2013)

INFUSION 2013

11 June 2013

It was unusual to say the least. It was early in the evening and worship was going full blast. That was not unusual. What was unusual was the presence of the state troopers.

After spotting them through the windows, I accompanied two others and we went outside to see what they wanted. After all, we are not accustomed to the state police walking around the grounds of this out-of-the-way location. Camp Pinnacle is not on the beaten path.

The two officers explained that there was someone at our location who had called 911. They were especially concerned because it sounded like a big, noisy party in the background, and they were afraid someone might be hurt. 

It did not take long for the three of us to conclude that we had an infamous "butt call" on our hands. Naturally, the troopers wanted to talk to the person in question. What was peculiar is that when we invited them into the building, they declined. Their hesitation was firm, but we wanted to show them that the "party" was harmless as far as they would be concerned. With a little more prodding, they came in, and we located the offending phone. Soon they were gone.

Afterwards, I had two thoughts of note:

1) While I am sure the troopers need to maintain a degree of objectivity in such matters, it felt like we were not believed. This is only my opinion, of course, but it came across that we were not to be trusted, as if we were a cult. It was an interesting feeling, perhaps even helpful experientially.

2) On the other hand, I was delighted that our worship time was described as a party. It was! We were celebrating and enjoying our awesome God!

Celebrate God. Sing together — everyone! All you honest hearts, raise the roof! 

Psalm 32:11, The Message