Journal of My Journey

Think It Through

2010-06-12T09:28:00.005-04:00

This is so good and I wanted you to read it. I copied this post from Pastor Mark Wilson, pastor of Hayward Wesleyan Church in the Northwoods of Wisconsin. Read his blog at http://revitalizeyourchurch.blogspot.com/

The quality of life is not a matter of luck - but of choice!

Some choices don't make much difference - like "What should I wear today?" (Although some people take an extraordinarily long time deciding this!)

Other choices can change the entire course of life - like "Who should I marry?" or "How does God fit into my life?"

Sometimes small choices can turn into disastrous outcomes:

"Should I cheat?"
"Should I take this drug?"
“Should I visit this website?”
"Should I protect myself and tell a lie?"
"Should I go out with this person?"

Think it through!

Dr. Harry Emerson Fosdick invented the following six-point test for making excellent decisions:

1. Does the course of action you plan to follow seem logical and reasonable? Never mind what anyone else has to say. Does it make sense to you? If it does, it is probably right.

2. Does it pass the test of sportsmanship? In other words, if everyone followed this same course of action would the results be beneficial to all?

3. Where will you plan of action lead? How will it affect others? What will it do to you?

4. Will you think well of yourself when you look back on what you have done?

5. Try to separate yourself from the problem. Pretend, for one moment, it is the problem of the person you most admire. Ask yourself how that person would handle it.

6. Hold up the final decision to the glaring light of publicity. Would you want your family and friends to know what you have done? The decisions we make in the hope that no one will find out are usually wrong.

Poor choices bring negative results. On the other hand, things usually turn out better when we make the right decisions. It pays to think first and act second.

Thank God for Small Things (and my wife)

2010-06-08T18:09:00.004-04:00

Two weeks ago last Friday I had an accident riding my motorcycle on the Blue Ridge Parkway. I had taken a couple vacation days to go ride the parkway. I was having a blast! Rode all day on Thursday, May 20, rode the entire parkway in the state of Virginia. Stayed Thursday evening at a motel in Waynesboro, Va., where the parkway ends and the Skyline Drive of the Shenandoah National Forest begins. Friday I started back towards North Carolina, and about 10:30am Friday morning the bike and I went down.

I still do not know what caused the bike to go down, probably will never know for sure. A couple thoughts; one, I hit a slick spot when applying the front brake and locked the brake causing the bike to go down, two, I dozed off. I know the dozing off theory sounds weird but I was so relaxed, was by myself and there was hardly no traffic. One reason I came up with the dozing off theory is I don't remember going down. All I remember is sliding along the road after I went down.

Thankfully I was not severely injured. I did suffer a broken collar bone and some broken ribs (ouch), it still hurts two and a half weeks later.Hurt also was my pride, it took a big hit, it's a man thing, men think they can avoid stuff like this. The injury has limited what I can do. With arm in a sling, I could not dress myself, shower, lay down, drive (at least for a few days), very hard to keyboard on the computer, on and on I could list small things that one takes for granted every day I could not do. I had never broken a bone in 64 years of life before. All of a sudden I realized how thankful we need to be for the ability to do the small tasks of life everyday. It's unbelievable how difficult life is when you can't do the small everyday ordinary tasks. God surely knew what He was doing when He gave us two good hands, two good arms, two good feet, two good legs, etc. Wow they are so necessary. Be thankful for the ability to use the members of the body.

My good wife has been such a blessing. With me whining and complaining, you know how men get when they are hurt or sick, she has been a tremendous help. I am pretty much a do it for myself type of man, but I needed help with just about everything and my wife gave me all the assistance I needed.

After two and a half weeks I am getting back to doing most things for myself, still can't put on my socks very easily.........another small thing we take for granted everyday. I am slowly healing and slowly doing most things for myself again, still cannot lay down (Oh! I miss being able to lay down and stretch out), little by little, day by day, I am accomplishing (very carefully) the small things of life.

Will I ride again? I love riding my motorcycle and never want to go down again!!!!!
However as of now I am thinking, yes, I will ride when I heal.

Thank God every day if you have the ability to do the small things of life!!!! The every day small things we take for granted are really big when you can no longer do them.

Every Church Needs a Little Conflict

2010-03-09T13:33:00.004-05:00

Last week I attended a Church Conflict Resolution training event. About 20 of us gathered at the beautiful Table Rock Conference and Retreat Center near Pickens, South Carolina. Dr. George Bullard who is part of the Columbia Partnership and an expert on resolving church conflict was with us for two days. Dr. Bullard shared with us some pretty heavy stuff.

One of the things Dr. Bullard shared is that not all church conflict is unhealthy. Matter of fact, according to Dr. Bullard, every Church needs a little conflict and he gave seven reasons why:

1. Congregations without a healthy intensity of conflict do not have passion around their mission, purpose, and values.

2. Congregations without a healthy intensity of conflict do not have clear beliefs and core values.

3. Congregations without a healthy intensity of conflict are into an avoidance life style.

4. Congregations without a healthy intensity of conflict make shallow decisions that come from a group-think mentality.

5. Congregations without a healthy intensity of conflict do not have the opportunity to learn how to handle decision-making around complex issues, and thus handle transitional and unhealthy conflict when they are experienced.

6. Congregations without a healthy intensity of conflict do not learn how to keep conflict from escalating to an unhealthy intensity.

7. Congregations without a healthy intensity of conflict do not take risks because they are afraid it will create conflict it cannot handle.

What do you think..............

Voting on The Man of God

2010-02-24T14:22:00.003-05:00

The church where I am a member this past Sunday had a recall vote on their pastor. Yes, there are a few churches around who still operate that way. Voting on the pastor is something I have given a good deal of thought to over the years. Here are some of my thoughts.

-Whoever came up with the idea of having the church decide by a secret ballot vote of the members on whether or not they want to keep their pastor came up with a very strange and cruel method.
-I can't find any Biblical foundation for such an idea. The only time the New Testament church voted on something was when the apostles cast lots to determine who would replace Judas. The lot fell to Matthias. Matthias was never heard from again. In due time God raised up His own man to replace Judas, the replacement was the Apostle Paul.
-Voting on keeping the Man of God. The Man of God who is the shepherd of the sheep, who prays, preaches, counsels, and helps direct you in the ways of God. The Man of of God who is God's anointed leader of the church. Then we want to turn it into a popularity contest as to how many people like him enough to keep him as pastor.
-From my experience when a church has a plan in place to have their members vote on keeping the pastor from time to time it creates an unsettled atmosphere within the church. Particularly unsettling around the time of the vote.
-Pastors are humans and have family. Can you imagine the stress having an entire congregation of members vote on the pastor puts not only on him but his entire family?
-Church is not the place for politics. We are people of God seeking the will and way of God. We find God's will and way by prayer, Bible study, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
-Voting never settles anything. People feel the say way after the vote as they did before the vote.
-Kids know it doesn't sound right. When our church announced a vote on the pastor two weeks before the vote was taken my grandson who is 11 years of age looked at me and said, "what is this about", you could see the look of something about this doesn't sound right in his eyes.
-The church has a mission to accomplish that is the greatest mission on earth. We should not be wasting our time 'voting on the Man of God'.

In case you are wondering the vote on our pastor came out very good. Oh yes, a few people voted no, now I suppose church folk who have nothing else better to do are trying to figure out who voted no. How ridiculous!!!!

I can't help but wonder what God thinks about such a strange way of doing things. What do you think. Please leave a comment.

Major Truths from Minor Prophets

2010-02-19T13:59:00.002-05:00

The last few weeks I have been leading Wednesday night Bible study at the local church where I am a member. Our church has many different Wednesday night activities; pre-service meal, children's meeting, youth meeting, choir rehearsal, a small group or two may meet from time to time, church committees may meet from time to time and there is a Bible study. With all that is going on the Bible study usually has 25 or so present.

When I was asked to lead I asked the group what they would like to study. We came to an agreement to study the minor prophets of the Old Testament. To date we have studied two of them, Joel and Amos.

At first read one is not sure what can be drawn from these prophets that is applicable today. However as you study and probe into what they are saying we have discovered some very major truths from the minor prophets.

Joel gives us two major truths to ponder:
1. The Day of the Lord - This is a phrase mentioned often in the scriptures. Life is full of the hum-drum, ordinary days, at times we may think nothing is really happening. We may think God is not noticing and rewards/judgments are not coming. But God is active and throughout the history of mankind God has had HIS day and there are more Days of the Lord to come.
2. Pentecost - What a mighty day! The birthday of the church! Yet today I don't think we have discovered all the meaning of Pentecost. The coming of the Holy Spirit into the world and the ushering in of the church/grace age is of epic importance to us yet today.

Amos gives us five major truths to ponder:
1. God speaks to His people - We are not left to wonder about the answer. Through the Holy Spirit and the WORD the voice of God give us all we need to know God's will and gain eternal life.
2. Sovereignty of God - God is in control! He has the whole wide world in His hands! He does what He wills! He is the Supreme ruler!
3. The problem of sin - Mankind has a fatal flaw, it is called sin!
4. Visions/Dreams - In the past God used unusual means to make His ways and will known, does He still speak this way today?
5. Restoration - The architect of this world, God Himself, is more interested in our restoration than anything else!

Get to digging in the garden of the Minor Prophets you will find some major truths to live by!

Reminiscing

2010-01-08T08:17:00.004-05:00

From time to time my mind rolls back over the years. This time of the year I have a great memory from the month of January in the late 1950's to reminisce about. I grew up 12 miles northwest of the city of Indianapolis, Indiana. Every January the Nazarenes, Pilgrim Holiness, Wesleyan Methodist, Free Methodist, Missionary Band, Salvation Army and other like minded Wesleyan Armenian groups would put on a mid-winter indoor camp meeting at Cadle Tabernacle in Indianapolis. A few days ago a boyhood friend, James Scales, from Indy posted the pic of Cadle Tabernacle below on my face book.

The tabernacle was huge, I don't know the seating capacity but it was in the thousands. In that day the biggest Wesleyan Armenian church around that I knew of had an attendance of 300-400, walking into that huge tabernacle that would seat thousands got my attention as a young boy. Thousands would come for the ten day meeting.

The camp meeting was led by Dr. P.F. Elliot who at the time was President of Owosso Pilgrim College in Owosso, Michigian, his booming voice and ability to work a crowd made him an excellent leader for the services. The camp had the best Wesleyan-Armenian evangelists and singers of that day. Too this day, one Nazarene pastor who was a camp evangelist stands out in my mind, his name was Lawrence B. Hicks, he pastored First Church of The Nazarene in Ashland, KY. Too this day I remember a title of a sermon he preached at the camp meeting, it was titled "This is That", taken from the words of Peter in Acts 2:16. I remember Jim Bohi singing "Until the Storm Passes By" and Orval Butcher and his trombone. It was a mighty gathering, great fellowship, tremendous singing and powerful preaching. Eternity will show the results, but it sure made a impression on this young lad.

I mentioned the camp was in January, you guessed it, it always snowed. The snow did not cause the meetings to be cancelled and did not keep people away. Through the snow and ice the thousands would come service after service. We took the snow, ice, and cold in stride it was just part of January winter in Indiana.

Today the Tabernacle is gone, the camp meeting era is pretty well gone as well. The memories remain.

Blessings for the New Year

2010-01-01T09:02:00.002-05:00

Blessings for the New Year. They are adapted from the English theologian William Barclay's writings from Matthew 5:3-10

-Blessed is the man who has realized his own helplessness and put his whole trust in God. He will be a citizen of God's kingdom.

-Blessed is the man who has a sense of his own sin. He shall be comforted.

-Blessed is the man who is self-controlled and knows his own ignorance, weakness and need. He will be king among men.

-Blessed is the man who longs for total righteousness as a hungry man longs for food or a thirsty man longs for water. He shall be satisfied.

-Blessed is the man who is concerned with the feelings of others. Others will be concerned with his feelings.

-Blessed is the man whose motives are pure. He shall see God.

-Blessed is the man who works for others highest good. He will be a son of God.

-Blessed is the man whose life is disrupted, insulted, and feels the hand of evil against him for Christ's sake. He will enter the kingdom of heaven.

Snow

2009-12-23T08:41:00.002-05:00

This past Friday, December 18, we had a significant snowfall for central North Carolina. At our house there was 4-5 inches. We do not get much snow in central North Carolina and a snow of 4-5 inches this early in the winter is unusual. Snow in our area shuts everything down, actually it becomes a social day for the family and the neighborhood.

I have always marveled at snow. How can tiny flakes come down in such numbers to accumulate across the landscape in inches and feet?

Snow reminds me of so many things:

1. A fresh fallen unmarked snow reminds me of a new beginning. Everything has changed from the night before, the tracts made will be brand new.

2. A fresh fallen snow covers everything, it is like a blanket insulating the cold barren earth.

3. No two snowflakes are alike, yet they blend together to make a beautiful picture.

4. Snow brings people together. Plowing, shoveling, sledding, making a snowman is usually done with others.

5. Snow brings an opportunity to help others. The elderly, and handicapped need help to get the car out, get to the mailbox, delivery of supplies.

6. A warm fire. Working and/or playing in the snow gets one cold and wet. A warm fire to cozy up too, warms us up and dries us out.

7. Memories. One of my fond childhood memories is winter camp meeting. I grew up around Indianapolis, Indiana and each winter there was a mid-winter indoor camp meeting at Cadle Tabernacle. The tabernacle's seating capacity was 10,000. The camp brought in the best Wesleyan/Armenian preachers and singers of that era (1950's). It always snowed during camp meeting but we always had great crowds, great services, great fellowship.

Let it snow!

Christmas Season

2009-12-04T11:08:00.002-05:00

Don't wish me Happy Holidays or Merry Xmas! For me it is and always will be Merry Christmas. For us Christians Christmas is the day we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, it is not just a holiday time or a celebration we leave Christ out of.

I know December 25th is not the actual birth date of Jesus. However, we Christians celebrate it as such and have for a very long time. I know some say to celebrate is to recognize a pagan holiday, and in past history some may have celebrated it that way. Too us Christians in today's world it is a very sacred religious celebration. The word Christmas originated as a compound meaning "Christ's Mass". It is derived from the Middle English Christemasse and Old English Cristes mæsse, a phrase first recorded in 1038.[6] "Cristes" is from Greek Christos and "mæsse" is from Latin missa.

As far back as I can remember in my lifetime Christmas has always been about celebrating the birthday of Christ. Yes, we had a Christmas tree when I was a child and we received presents but the focus was on celebrating Christ's birthday. I thank God for the rich Christian heritage I have. I have fond memories of Church Christmas programs, plays, cantatas, and caroling the great religious Christmas songs to shut-ins. It was truly a time to proclaim Joy to the World Christ has come.

Today our political correct world wants to leave Christ out of Christmas entirely. I have many Christian friends who use Happy Holidays, but not me and I never will. To me it is and always will be Merry Christmas.

Thanksliving

2009-11-20T09:20:00.004-05:00

At our house preparations are underway for Thanksgiving Day. The Scruggs' clan, about 25 of us, will gather for a Thanksgiving feast and family gathering. I am glad the USA has set aside a day for us to give thanks. It is a reminder to all of us how blessed we are.

However, I don't want to just celebrate Thanksgiving one day a year. I want to be thankful every day all the time. In order to do that I need to live with an attitude of Thanksliving. Thanksliving is a lifestyle,daily being thankful for all the blessings God so richly allows me to have.

Everyday I want to live a Thanksliving life for following:

God- He is my heavenly father, saviour, guide and comforter, I would be nothing without him.

Wife- She is my friend, helpmate, partner, and lover. We married as kids. She was 19 and I 18. I have often said she took me to raise. Whatever I am she has been a big part of.

Family- I came from a big family, there were six of us children plus dad and mom. The godly heritage they gave me, the values they instilled within me, I am so thankful for. My wife and I have two children, two grandsons, and a daughter in law, we are so blessed. In addition both my wife and I have brothers and sisters who bless us along with their family members.

Health- I have had excellent health all my life. Only have had two bumps in the road to speak of. I had prostate cancer surgery five years ago and a recurrence of cancer in the prostate area about a year ago. I was never sick and surgery along with painless radiation has cleared me. I am thankful for the health God has allowed me to have.

Church- My parents were saved when I was about 5 years of age. I have been in church ever since my parents found the Lord. Church has become my life; member, pastor, and church administrator. I love the church and am so thankful for it's blessing on my life.

Material Blessings- As I look around me I don't have as much as others, but I have more than many. I am so thankful for what God allows me to have, enjoy, and manage to His glory.

The joy of daily living- What a joy to wake up every morning and have the privilege of living the day to the glory of God. Working as a church administrator, helping my family, keeping my home maintained, attending church, helping friends, and in my spare time enjoying some recreational activities.

I want to live everyday with a Thankslving attitude. When my family gathers in a few days, yes we will celebrate Thanksgiving and be thankful, but I want to live daily with a spirit of Thanksliving.

Fall and the Outdoors

2009-11-06T11:05:00.005-05:00

Pic of old country church 50' from the trout stream we fished yesterday

This time of the year is my favorite. I love fall with its cool nights and beautiful colorful days. It is a great time to be outdoors. Just yesterday me and a couple fishing buddies went to Stone Mountain State Park in Roaring Gap, North Carolina to trout fish. The scenery was gorgeous. The fishing was great, the trout were hungry and catching them on a fly rod is a thrill.

Tomorrow here in Central North Carolina deer season comes in for muzzle loading rifle. I plan to be in the woods and in my tree stand before daylight. I enjoy hunting butI also enjoy the outdoors. Sitting in my stand watching it break day, then the sunrise glistening through the trees is beautiful. The squirrels run up and down the trees, from time to time other wildlife bound through, and when the deer come through there is nothing quite like it.

Pic of my trout fishing buddy fishing yesterday.

A Workable Health Care Plan

2009-10-16T13:41:00.005-04:00

My previous post WHAT'S THE UPROAR has provided some dialogue on the ongoing debate over a national health care plan. I had some comments all against what I posted. However no one offered a solution to the health crisis in America without me first asking them what do they suggest as a solution? The solutions they offered once I asked are not workable solutions in my mind.

I still think a national health care plan is a workable solution to the health care crisis. However let me suggest a Biblical solution to health care costs.

I do not have health insurance. I belong to Christian Healthcare Ministries a faith-based alternative to health insurance. In the past 15 years members of CHM have shared more than $450 million in medical bills. It works like this. Members send a monthly financial gift to the CHM office. Members monthly gifts for gold level is $150.00; silver level is $85.00; bronze level is $45.00. The gifts are then used to meet participants medical bills.

You asked does CHM work? This past spring I had to have 35 radiation treatments for a recurrence of prostate cancer. The bill was over $60,000.00. I told the medical providers I was self pay. When the bills started coming in I begin negotiating with the medical providers as a self pay patient. I was able to get the medical providers to reduce the total bill to around $30,000.00. I then submitted my bill to CHM and they paid all but $500.00, the $500.00 was my gold level deductible. Yes,CHM works!

CHM carries out the command of Galatians 6:2: "Carry each others burdens, and in this way you fulfill the law of Christ." This is the foundation upon which CHM is built. Together, thousands of CHM members support each other in the critical life need of meeting health care costs.

Advantages of CHM:
-No application fee
-No annual fee
-No waiting period for accidents
-Maternity program
-Chose your own health care providers
-No physical required
-No one is dropped because of medical conditions
-The confidence and joy that comes from knowing you are providing for your own health care needs as you also help fellow Christians.
-CHM members pray for one another.

Qualifications for joining are simple:
-be Christians living by Biblical principles
-abstain from the use of tobacco and the use of illegal drugs.
-follow biblical teachings on the use of alcohol
-attend group worship regularly if health permits.

Do some research and you will find CHM was featured August 12, 2009 on the CNN Situation Room. CNN went on the road with the health care debate and CHM was one of their features.

Wouldn't it be great if everyone in America would join CHM? We know they will not and that is why I favor a national health care plan. But for me and possibly for you CHM works. If you would like to have more information about joining CHM send me an email.

What's the Uproar!

2009-10-08T13:31:00.002-04:00

This post is meant to bring about a dialogue. Seriously I would hope you would leave comments and help me work through my thoughts.

Our country is seriously considering a national health care policy. It seems that it has come down to a liberal vs. conservative debate, which frankly I think is ridiculous. Politics should not be involved when it comes to our health and getting proper medical care. I am having a hard time understanding why the conservatives of America are in such an uproar over national health care.

I think we would all agree that the cost of health care in America is staggering. I recently had thirty-six radiation treatments for a recurrence of prostate cancer and the bill was around $65,000.00. For many just paying the health insurance monthly premium is a struggle. It is also without question that there are a lot of Americans who do not have proper health care because they cannot afford it. Something has to be done in America to solve the health care costs dilemma we all face.

One of the things that seems to fuel the uproar is fear. For some reason the conservatives in America fear what happens when the government takes over health care. On this point I refer them to the government run Medicaid program. We are raising a grandson, who was born cleft lip and cleft palate. When he was born to our daughter, a single mom, he qualified for Medicaid. Our grandson is ten years old now. Medicaid has been fantastic! He has had the best of medical care with doctors of our choice and neither we nor his mom have ever had to pay a cent. If the proposed national health care is run like Medicaid I see no reason to fear.

Another argument about the fear factor. When a person reaches the age of 65 they automatically go on Medicare, a government run health program. I have yet to hear one senior complain about the health care they receive through Medicare.

The second argument I hear is it will cost too much. The cost is projected to be $1 trillion over a 10 year span. A lot of money I agree. But the projected costs for the Iraq and Afghanistan wars is projected to be $2.4 trillion over 10 years. I don’t hear conservatives saying the wars cost too much. To be honest I never thought we should have gone into Iraq to start with and it appears Afghanistan is headed toward another Vietnam. The war thing will wait for another post.

Another argument I hear is that people illegally in the country will be able to get national health care. I say “what’s the big deal about that”? Shouldn’t we as followers of Jesus Christ want every person to be cared for body, soul, and spirit?

Another argument I hear is they are going to pay for national health insurance by cutting Medicare benefits. The cry is this will hurt the senior aged population. Come on now let’s get real. Do you think for one minute the congress and president is going to do something that would be political suicide. The age 65+ voting block is powerful. You go cutting their benefits and come next election you will be voted out. I don’t think the congress and president are that stupid.

For me the real uproar is from doctors, pharmaceutical companies, and health insurance companies who know they will not be able to keep getting rich and richer at the expense of we average Americans if national health care is passed. They are smart enough to realize the conservatives of America are against national health care so they are feeding them with the fear factor, cost factor, and illegal status factor to keep them whipped up into a frenzy opposing so they can continue to get rich and richer.

What is the uproar? When I was a boy growing up I heard the same uproar from conservatives about civil rights? The conservatives were wrong on civil rights! I sensed the same fear over the first ever Catholic president. John F. Kennedy although he didn’t get to serve long didn’t seem to do worse/better than other presidents of my lifetime. What is the uproar? I would love to have dialogue with you, leave your comments.

Reunion

2009-09-18T16:41:00.002-04:00

House Darrell lived in when 5-6 years of age

Last winter I received a friend request from someone wanting to be my Facebook friend. The name did not ring a bell. I didn't want to just ignore it without checking to see if there was a past connection I had forgotten so I replied back "help me with our past connection." I received a reply back saying the person was an old high school friend and he was helping with a search to find the Pike High School class of 1964 (my class). The class was planning their 45th year reunion for September 12.I had not seen any high school classmates since high school. This past weekend my wife and I made the trip to Indiana and attended the reunion.

While in Indiana we made other reunion stops as well. We stayed with my brother and his wife (the only one of my siblings still in the area where we grew up). We visited our childhood homes, mine is now gone and a beautiful new home is there now. We visited some relatives we had not seen in several years. I stopped by and said hello to an old neighborhood friend, was he surprised to see me after 45+ years. We visited with some dear friends of ours who live in the area.

Naomi's childhood home

Reunions are a grand time of renewing old acquaintances and remembering old times. However there is a grand reunion coming someday that none of us want to miss. Jesus said He is coming back for us someday. Someday, I don't know when, neither do you, but the call to go up higher for an eternal reunion is going to come. We call it the rapture of the church. In an instant we will go up. There will be no email notice, no phone call to say it is coming, no fax to say get prepared, no text message saying, "I am coming", it is just suddenly going to happen. I want to be ready when the call comes. How about you?

Marriage

2009-08-25T09:16:00.006-04:00

Saturday, August 15, I had the honor of serving as the minister for my son and his bride’s wedding ceremony. Shawn Allen Scruggs and Bethany Nicole Vestal were married atBrookstown Inn in Winston Salem, North Carolina in a beautiful outdoor wedding ceremony.

I have performed a bunch of wedding ceremonies in my life and to be quite honest for the most part did not find them particularly enjoyable. In too many cases the minister is there because he is needed to sign the paperwork and make it official. Too few grooms and brides see the wedding as a spiritual coming together of husband and wife with the blessing of God on the marriage. Too many marriages leave God out all together.

I was proud of Shawn and Bethany as they both proclaimed to the wedding party the night before the wedding they wanted their marriage to be built on God’s love and truth. Again during the wedding reception they shared with the guests the same desire. This wedding was truly a blessing to perform. No doubt it was special because it was the wedding of our son. However, I must say it was a blessing to witness two young people proclaim to all they wanted their marriage built on the solid rock, Jesus Christ.

Every time I perform a wedding ceremony I wonder do the bride and groom really realize the depth of the commitment they are making. A commitment not only to each other, but in the presence of witnesses they make the vows to God as well. The wedding vows are words of deep commitment. “for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part, according to God’s holy law, I pledge you my faith.” With today’s divorce rate at an alarming rate, over 40% of all first time marriages end in divorce. Sadly to say the divorce rate among professing believers in Jesus Christ is no different than unbelievers. Statistics don’t lie and they clearly show us that too many couples do not take the vows to heart.

Shawn and Bethany I am proud of you for your declaration to build your marriage on a firm foundation. May you know nothing but martial happiness and joy through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Vacation

2009-08-06T21:18:00.004-04:00

Last week my wife and I and grandson Derek went on vacation to New York City. It sure was a change. NYC is an amazing city of 13+ million people, five large burroughs; Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx, and Staten Island, each a large city in itself. Manhattan is where we spent our time. Manhattan is home to skyscrapers, a beautiful harbor, financial district, Times Square, media centers, broadway plays, Chinatown, little Italy, Harlem and much more. We toured Manhattan atop an open air cruise bus, with guide on board, every sight and sound of the city was pointed out.

It is said of NYC, it is the city that never sleeps. We would go from early morning to late night and it never seemed the city slowed down.

We also went by ferry to Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island and Staten Island. Went shopping in Macy's and other NYC stores. Derek got his first subway and bus ride.

Big cities are teeming with all kinds of people going here, there, and everywhere. They seem to always be in a hurry. One can see why the Apostle Paul was drawn to the big cities of his day to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ, what a mission field for Christ.

Summer Ramblings

2009-07-18T13:58:00.003-04:00

An update on what is going on in my life this summer. It seems summer comes and goes quickly, maybe because it always brings so many activites.

District Conference Preparation
One of my responsibilites for The NC East District Wesleyan Church is to make preparations for our district conference. Preparing for a district conference is more than meets the eye. I spend hours, days, and weeks in preparation. Our conference has about 300 delegates and we like to make it a inspiring day.

District Conference Day
Conference was at Durham newhope church July 16. In addition to seeing that everything runs smoothly througout the day, I also assist in recording all the daily activiities. This year God blessed us with one of the most inspiring conferences in years.

Intentional Interim Minister Certification
I have been working on finishing my certification from the Center for Congregational Health as an Intentional Interim Minister. The last step was my field project. I finished this summer and delivered a final report on the field project to the church I was working with. I have received my certification.

Supply Pastor
Late June the Pastor at Ramseur Kildee in our district suddenly resigned. I have been looking after the church and preaching for them.

Gardening
I enjoy raising a garden. This summer I have gardened and enjoyed spinach, brocolli,squash,beets, blackberries, peppers, green beans, tomatoes, and potatoes from the garden. A lot of work and sweat!

Raising a grandson
My wife and I are raising our oldest grandson. He has lived with us since he was born, he is now 10. A 10 year old can keep you moving in the summer. Little league baseball, repairing his 4 wheeler, and general dad stuff.

Yard and House Work
There is always plenty to do around the yard and house during the summer. We have a little over an acre of grass to mow and a 2,800 square foot house to keep up with.

District Camp Meeting
Our annual district camp meeting will begin Sunday evening, July 19 through Thursday, July 23. Although my district job does not include camp meeting responsibilities I will attend every service.

Our Son's Wedding
Our son, Shawn, age 24 is getting married August 15. In addition to performing the ceremony I have had the usually dad things to get done in preparation for his wedding.

No wonder suummer comes and goes quickly. I am ready for a vacation. It is coming last full week of July.

My New Ride

2009-07-10T09:28:00.003-04:00

I have always enjoyed the outdoors and outdoor activity. I grew up in the country, twelve miles out from the city of Indianapolis,Indiana. We had no TV. What we did have were fields and woods to roam, and hunt rabbits and squirrel, creeks to fish, plenty of country roads to ride a bicycle on. In the summer I was up early and out the door and usually not back home until evening. There were some boys in my neighborhood about a mile away and we would spend most summer days in the fields and woods, fishing, playing sports, hanging out, or bicycling to a nearby small town. Recently I connected with one of my boyhood friends on Facebook, he now lives in Oregon, had not heard from him since I was a boy.

The love of the outdoors has stayed with me over the years. Recently I took up two new outdoor activities I had never tired before, fly fishing and motorcycle riding. I posted earlier and put up a pic about catching my first trout on fly rod.

I have rode a bicycle all of my life and to this day still do. I had never been a motorcycle rider before. To be honest I thought there was just too much danger and did not think I would enjoy it because of what I seen as the danger involved. However, since I started working at the district office and making the daily 5 mile country ride from my house to the office and back daily I began to think this would make a great motorcycle ride and since it is a country ride should not be much danger.

This spring I purchased a 2004 Harley Davidson 883C. I took the motorcycle safety course at a local community college. I got the motorcycle endorsement on my drivers license and begin to ride. Wow! I have enjoyed it. I not only ride back and forth to work, but find myself riding it to run errands to town and back. I love the wind blowing in my face, the roar of the engine and the freedom one feels on the bike.

I have always been one to try new stuff. Although the years are piling up, I enjoy greatly new challenges and adventure. Who knows what I might try next!

Praising God

2009-06-01T21:00:00.002-04:00

I posted on my blog about three months ago that I was undergoing radiation treatments for a recurrence of prostate cancer. I had thirty-six radiation treaments, which ended April 28. On May 28 I had an appointment with the radiation oncologist to have a PSA test which would determine the effectiveness of the radiation. The test showed the radiaton treatments are working effectively in killing out the cancer. Another PSA test will be taken in 90 days and the hope is it will show a continuation of the cancer going away.

I say Praise God! Anytime the doctor mentions the C word, it is scary! I have heard it twice in my life, the first time a little over five years ago and again at the beginning of this year. I am glad to report that both times it seems the doctors are going to be able to effectively treat the cancer and hopefully I will be cancer free.

I am praising and thanking God for the knowledge and ability He has given the doctors to know how to treat sickness and disease. I am also praising God for I know His hand has been applied in a healing!

The last portion of the book of Psalms is on praise. I close this post with verses from the very last Psalm, Psalm 150. "Praise the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness. Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with tambourine and dancing, praise him with the strings and flute, praise him with the clash of cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord."

A Sad Commentary About Evangelicals

2009-05-22T11:37:00.002-04:00

A Pew survey reported at CNN.com found that evangelical protestants were the religious group most likely to say that torture of suspected terrorists is "often" or "sometimes" justified (54 percent) and the group least likely (one in eight of them) to say that torture is "never" justified.

So-called unaffiliated respondents (people who seldom or never attend church services) were less likely to say that torture is sometimes warranted (42%) and more likely (one in four) to say that it is never justified.

An unnamed atheists comments, “Interesting but I must say, not surprising. The blend of right wing politics (hawkish foreign policy, judgmental and intolerant social policy, and a screw the poor economic policy) and "Christianity" that finds expression in the American evangelical movement has always contained enough hypocrisy to gag a horse. Still, when you see data like these, you still get left shaking your head. And to think, we atheists are supposed to be the ones lacking a moral compass.”

Too often we evangelicals so align ourselves with the political right that we do not see the plank in our own eyes. Matthew 7:3 says, “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye an pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?”

I remember my boyhood years of the 1950-60’s hearing evangelicals rant against civil rights legislation. As a pastor I have witnessed evangelicals showing racial prejudice against those of different color and race.

There are some questions in my mind for evangelicals?
1. Where do these views of inhumane treatment, social injustice, and racial prejudice come from?
2. Are we so afraid of any political view that is not politically aligned to the right that we accept any and every thing the political right does?
3. Don’t we need to think for ourselves and ask the question, “What would Jesus do”?
4. Do we need to pray and ask forgiveness from God for holding and expressing views that clearly are unscriptural?

What do you think? Leave a comment.

Busy, Too Busy......................

2009-05-08T05:25:00.003-04:00

Lately I have been so busy I have felt like I do not have time to catch my breath. Have you ever been so far behind that you felt like you were a lap ahead? Well that has been my feeling lately. Busy, too busy.............I am wired so that I enjoy having a full plate of things to do.......but sometimes my plate is not only full but running over.

It seems spring time has brought with it a lot of things to do. We are rasing a grandson, Derek, who is 10 years of age now. Derek's spring baseball practice has been in full swing. With the coming of spring I love gardening. I have been working up the ground, planting seed and plants and caring for them. We have 1.2 acres of yard work and grass to mow, not a hugh amount but it takes time.

This past winter I became interested in a couple recreational pursuits that I have not tried before. One is learning to trout fish with a fly rod. To get to the nearest mountain stream is an hour and a half drive there and another hour and a half back. The second recreational pursuit (I will talk about it in another post) I took training for all of last weekend.

In addition I am trying to finish up my certification for Intentional Interim Ministry. In so doing I am working with a local church helping them renew their mission focus.

My full-time job as district office administrator with the NC East District Wesleyan Church starts getting real busy this time of the year. I have been knee deep in getting out reports and report instructions to over 200 ministers and 75 churches. To top it off the denomination has launched a new online statistical site that I have had to spend some time learning and getting all our ministers logged onto.

Many of my wife's family is coming from Florida, Indiana and Asheboro, North Carolina, to spend the Memorial Day weekend with us. So you know the drill, the house and yard must look super good.

I also am volunteer pastor of Spiritual Formation at Kernersville Wesleyan Church and have been teaching a 7 week membership class this spring along with leading a small group.

To say the least I have been busy, too busy.

I always want to remind myself of what Jesus said to Mary and Martha. You remember Martha was the worried housekepper. In Luke 10:38-42 Jesus comes to visit. Mary sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. Martha came complaining to Jesus that Mary had left to her all the work. Jesus said to Martha, " Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken from her." Wow! I want to listen to what Jesus is saying. Yes, I have a lot on my plate but may I always take care of the one thing that is needed.

The Holy Bubble

2009-04-24T15:06:00.004-04:00

In a March 25 blog post titled 'Church Without a Mission'I was writing about my Intentional Interim Ministry field project. The field project when finished will be the final hurdle in receiving my Intentional Interim Ministry certification from the Center for Congregational Health.

In that blog post I mentioned the church I was working with wanted me to do the field project on Mission. Their request prompted the why question from me because it appeared they had no Mission.

I have been working with the church for about 6 weeks now and have affirmed my initial impression was correct, it is a church without a mission.They remind me a group of christians living in a holy bubble.

The particular church I am referring to meets three times a week and has church for themselves. They are sheltered, protected, and intentionally keep themselves free from what they call "the world". In effect they have isolated themselves from the very people they need to be the salt and light of Christ too.

The church people remind me of what Jonathan, a 22 year old young adult, says in the book by David Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons title UnChristian Jonathan says "Christians enjoy being in their own community. The more they seclude themselves, the less they can function in the real world. So many Christians are caught in the Christian bubble."

I have been trying to communicate to the particular church people I am working with they are living in this Holy Bubble. I am challenging them to pray, think and become creative with ways they can burst the Holy bubble and become real salt and light in the world for Jesus.

First Fly Rod Trout

2009-04-16T13:43:00.005-04:00

I have been trying to learn the field sport of fly fishing. Yesterday I caught my first brook trout on my new fly rod. Fly fishing is much different than fishing with spin cast The presentation of the fly must appear to the trout as normal, that in itself is a skill to learn. You must also learn to read the water and know where the trout are. Both are skills that am I just beginning to learn the basics. Caught the one pictured on a Green Wooly Buger. Hopefully many more fun days on NC mountain streams.

Champions

2009-04-09T15:36:00.003-04:00

Monday night at about 11:45 pm Eastern Standard Time the University of North Carolina Tar Heels became NCAA college basketball champions for the 2008-09 season. Being a Tar Heel fan I enjoyed every minute of the celebration. I have watched Tyler, Danny and Bobby, who are now seniors from the time they were freshman; and Ty, Wayne, and Deon came along a year later. Those boys put on quite a show in the championship game, a very impressive display of playing excellent basketball. Now they are champions!

I begin to think about what is a champion. To me a champion is one that stands out above all and wins the prize. A champion demonstrates excellence. A champion has climbed the mountain and now stands on the pinnacle. A champion is one who through hard work, strict discipline, and focused effort, using ones talents and abilities, setting its eyes on the prize, not giving up or giving in, and wins.

As much as I love my tar heels and am glad they won the championship I must say there is a cause greater than basketball to be champion of. Most of all I want to be a champion for Christ. Hebrews 12:1-2 says, “Therefore since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus…………………” This verse tells me the heavenly grandstands are full of those who have already gone on before cheering me on to victory. They are saying, whatever it takes, it will be worth it to claim the prize of the high calling in Christ Jesus. Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus and win the prize.

I someday want to stand on the mountaintop with Christ as a champion for His cause.

2009-04-02T20:05:00.002-04:00

Pray for a pastor Friend and his wife. The pastor's wife 85 year old mother was shot and killed in a nursing home shooting rampage in Carthage, North Carolina.

No matter which way you turn an event like this there is no way to understand it. What do we as Christians do when we don't understand?

1.Deal with it one moment, one hour, one day at a time.
2.Realize we may never understand.
3.Keep the situation in God's hands.
4.Stand on the promises of God.
5.Know God's grace is sufficient always.
6.Look up our help comes from the Lord.
7.Stand firm, hold fast to God.
8.Pray without ceasing.
9.Read the Pslams.
10.Trust God no matter what.

A Church Without A Mission

2009-03-25T12:07:00.001-04:00

In the last few days I have been meeting with a local church working on my field project to be certified as an Intentional Interim Minister. I asked the church to choose which focus point they wanted me to do the field project on; 1. Heritage, 2. Mission, 3. Connections, 4. Leadership, and 5. Future.
To my surprise the church choose Mission. You asked, why was I surprised? Because it appeared to me the church did not have a Mission.

I met with the Pastor and we chatted about the church and it’s ministry and mission, my fear confirmed, they have no Mission. I met with the church board to clarify in my mind why they choose Mission. The board confirmed my fears, they have no Mission. However the board did say we need to do something about getting our church moving forward. I met with the committee chosen by the board to work with me on the field project, again my fears were confirmed, they have no Mission.

I’m scratching my head trying to figure this out. How do I do a study with a church on Mission when they have no Mission?

How would you describe a church without a Mission? Leave a comment, it will help me greatly….and stay tuned for more, I will let you know how this goes.

It's Tourney Time...but does it really matter?

2009-03-17T20:28:00.006-04:00

March madness we call it. Thirty-two games this Thursday and Friday; sixteen more Saturday and Sunday. Buzzer beaters, upsets, tears, and joy; coaches, players and fans will experience it all.

I plan to take in the first and second round games at Greensboro. Hopefully the tar heels will go on to the sweet sixteen, final four and eventual '09 NCAA champions. Tyler, Ty, Danny, Wayne, Deon, and Bobby have been a lot of fun to watch the last 3-4 years. I want to see them one more time, because most of them probably will not be back next year. Tyler should break the NCAA all time scoring record this weekend.

But does it really matter? Yes, I will scream at the heels when they play stupid, enjoy their offensive runs, gloat and brag when they win (especially to Duke fans), but in the end it is just a entertaining game. In the end, at least for me and for most, it really doesn't matter.

There is a much bigger game we all are in. It is the game of life, and that is the one that really counts. In the game of life we all can win. We win through Jesus Christ our Lord, He died for everyone of us. Through Him we win eternally! That's what really counts!

But for fun........Go Heels!

Spiritual Lessons from The Radiology Room

2009-03-14T13:09:00.002-04:00

I am currently on a 36 day journey to the Forsyth Regional Cancer Center in Winston Salem, North Carolina. Every morning, Mon-Fri. I have a radiation treatment. The treatments are to kill out a recurrence of cancer in the area where my cancerous prostate was removed a little over five years ago.
Being a curious person I asked, what is radiation? The National Cancer Institute says “Radiation therapy is the use of a certain type of energy (called ionizing radiation) to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Radiation therapy injures or destroys cells in the area being treated (the “target tissue”) by damaging their genetic material, making it impossible for these cells to continue to grow and divide. Although radiation damages both cancer cells and normal cells, most normal cells can recover from the effects of radiation and function properly. The goal of radiation therapy is to damage as many cancer cells as possible, while limiting harm to nearby healthy tissue.” My radiologist called the radiation, “pockets of energy.” The pockets of energy are externally beamed into the treatment area.
Cancer cells are unhealthy cells that divide and multiply faster than normal healthy cells. Radiation destroys cells in the area being treated. The unhealthy cells, cancer cells, are unable to recover; the healthy cells recover. The desired outcome is for the radiation to kill out the cancer cells that would otherwise continue to divide and multiply.
Learning how radiation works in destroying cancer cells I thought of a spiritual parallel. All of us are born with a cancer called “sin”. Unless we are set free from sin it spreads in our life like a fast growing cancer, tearing down and destroying our life. There is a remedy! I Peter 2:24 says, “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.” Jesus Christ is our radiologist through the Holy Spirit he beams into our sinful lives pockets of divine energy cleansing us from all sin.
Every morning I lay on the table surrendered to the radiation machine. The arms of the machine rotate around me beaming in pockets of radiation energy to destroy unhealthy cancer cells. Another spiritual parallel. Daily I must lay myself down surrendering my will to God's will. As I stay surrendered He perpetually beams in the divine energy of His Holy Spirit. Acts 1:8 says, “...you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you.” The greek word for power in Acts 1:8 literally means divine energy. My daily prayer is, “God I surrender myself to you, give me your divine energy.” His divine energy is the antidote for our sin. Set free from sin by God's power I can live a life free from sin's destruction. I can live a life bringing glory to God.

A Change Only God Can Make

2009-03-02T13:03:00.003-05:00

We had our first significant snowfall for our area in the past 6-7 years last night. Shortly after dark last evening snow begin to fall. During the night 6 inches of snow fell. This morning we woke up to a beautiful winter wonderland. What a change from the day before! A fresh snowfall reminds me of only a change God can make. Man can't make this change only God can! Yesterday the ground was barren and empty. Today it is covered in winter beauty!

The same is true for us only God can change our lives into something beautiful. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! - 2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV

Trusting God When The News Is Not So Good

2009-02-26T11:41:00.002-05:00

Do you ever get some news that you wished were not true? All of us from time to time have to deal with the “not so good news.” However, as born again Christians, we deal with “not so good news” in a totally different way than the person who is not born again.

In the fall of 2003 following my annual physical it was discovered I had prostate cancer. I had been thankful over the years for exceptional good health and the news came as a shock to me. The doctors reassured me that the cancer was in its early stages and most likely surgery would take care of it. I had surgery and the pathological test confirmed that the cancer was local and I would not need any additional treatment.

Each subsequent year following the surgery my annual physical was clear. However my annual physical in December of 2008 indicated that the prostate cancer might be returning. A second blood test was taken and it was confirmed the cancer had returned. The doctor felt I needed radiation treatments, matter of fact when I visited the radiologist I was told there would be 36 daily treatments.

This second go around with prostate cancer has been more difficult to deal with. The first time things happened so quick. I was reassured from the beginning it more than likely could be taken care of gave me hope that this was just a bump in my life. The second time drove home to me that I could be dealing with something that may not go away. I knew that this was a time for my faith in God to hold me steady and keep me looking up.

As I face the beginning of radiation 36 daily radiation treatments beginning in a few days here is my thoughts:

1. God is sovereign and in control I will trust Him.
2. God does heal and if He wills to do so He will heal me.
3. God has given the medical field great tools to work with and if He chooses to heal me through
the radiation treatments I still will know my healing came from God.
4. I believe in the prayers of God’s people and that we are to share our burdens. I will ask them
to pray for my healing.
5. Christians are not exempt from the troubles of life, however we are promised grace sufficient
to deal with whatever we have to face.
6. I will accept whatever God allows me to go through with knowing His way is always best.
7. I will always believe in God no matter what.

Intentional Interim Ministry

2009-02-24T11:43:00.001-05:00

In 2008 I took 80 hours of classroom training with the Center for Congregational Health (www.healthychurch.org) to become certified as an Intentional Interim Minister. I am currently seeking a local church field project which when completed will grant me my certification. You might be asking, what is Intentional Interim Ministry? As an Intentional Interim Pastor you sign a contract with a local church for 18-24 months to shepherd them through a process that is designed to help them become a healthier church. One of the agreements in the contract you sign with the church is that you will not be a pastor candidate when they are ready to do a pastor search.
Intentional Interim Ministry is working with a local church as an interim pastor taking them through an intentional five step process. One of the first important steps an Intentional Interim takes after coming to a church is with the help of the congregation they form a transition team. The transition team is to be formed so that it represents a cross section of the church constituency. The transition team will work with the Intentional Interim guiding the church through the intentional process.
As mentioned it is a five step process, the steps are called focus points and they are as follows: 1-Heritage; 2-Mission; 3-Leadership; 4. Connection; 5-Future. One step at a time the Intentional Interim and the transition team examine what is needed and not needed for the church in each of the focus points. As each focus point is worked through the goal is to bring the church to a point of spiritual health in the particular focus point. Step five is about the future and prepares the church for the calling of a new pastor. If the Intentional Interim process has been effective both new pastor and church should be ready for a new start as a healthy church.
I am excited about the prospect of this ministry. I look forward to working with churches in North Carolina East District Wesleyan Church where I will continue to serve as district office administrator as an Intentional Interim Pastor.

Back to North Carolina

2009-02-20T13:17:00.001-05:00

In January 1997 we moved back to North Carolina. I accepted the call to pastor the Bannertown Wesleyan Church in Mt. Airy, North Carolina (one of the garden spots of the world). Bannertown was a much smaller church than our previous two pastorates and that took some adjustment. We were thrilled to be back in North Carolina. I was 50 years of age now and thought maybe this would be the place where I would spend the rest of my ministry years. During our first 5 years there the ministry went well, the church nearly doubled in attendance and people were finding Christ. About the 5th year trouble began to brew, some long time church members who had fallen out with most every pastor begin to stir trouble. I did everything I could to keep things together but they were seasoned at trouble making and eventually tore the church too pieces. I tried to outlast them so they left the church. Once they left the church they took more liberty to tear things apart. I was now 58 years of age and was not sure where my ministry would go. After the experience at Bannertown prospects did not look bright.

I had resigned the church and had nowhere to go. The kids were nearly grown and they did not want to move away from North Carolina and I did not either. A few days before we were to move out of the parsonage a friend called and said I was being considered for the position of District Office Administrator to work with the newly elected North Carolina East District Wesleyan Church district superintendent. I had always had a knack for administrative stuff; planning, organizing, etc. In a day or two after my friend called the newly elected DS called and said he would like to talk with me about the position. To make a long story short, within two days I had the job.

I went to work with NC East District Wesleyan Church as District Office Administrator first of August 2004. Office is in High Point, NC., we moved there first of September 2004. I have continued to serve in that position to the present. About a year after we moved to High Point we bought a 1.2 acre lot west of town and begin plans to build a home. We moved into our new house first of January 2006. God is good. I miss pastoring very much, however I believe I am serving where God placed me. I enjoy the work and as long as God leads will continue to serve with the district.

The Ups and Downs of Ministry

2009-02-19T09:33:00.001-05:00

In October 1988 we moved to Asheboro, North Carolina, to pastor the Neighbors Grove Wesleyan Church. This was a big change in our life. Not only did we move 600 miles from the area where we had lived all our life, (Central and Southern Indiana) we left old friends behind, the legalism we had grown up with, and Naomi’s family. We did not know anyone in North Carolina, except Darrell’s family who lived in Salisbury and a couple ministerial friends who previously had moved to North Carolina. Immediately Darrell fell in love with the area, it took Naomi a while to adjust.

Neighbors Grove Church had been a leading Wesleyan Church in North Carolina but had fallen on some hard times. We plunged into our ministry there and the church began to take on new life. During our 6 years there the Sunday morning attendance increased from 140 to 210. The church built a new Family Life/Day Care Center. We built our first home to live in outside of a parsonage. During our years there we finally freed ourselves from the legalism we had always known. It had been a slow struggle. Always wanting to do what was right and the legalism so ingrained in us as the “only way” it had been painful and difficult to get free. Once free from the legalism we realized what bondage and suppression it had been. In our sixth year at Neighbors Grove we begin to experience difficulties with pastoral staff. During a time of tension and staff interference I made a hasty decision to resign. This was a decision I soon regretted and realized it was a mistake.

The year following us leaving Neighbors Grove was difficult. I was not able to find myself. We continued to live in the home we had built, did some pulpit supply, worked at a couple jobs, continued to look for a new pastorate.

In the summer of 1995 I accepted the call to pastor the Forest Hills Wesleyan Church in Evansville, Indiana, a move back to Southern Indiana. Again I made a bad decision. Forest Hills was a leading church in Southern Indiana and I thought this would be a good move for us. We sold our house and moved. I remember as we pulled out on the highway Naomi asked me, “do you think we will ever return to North Carolina”? Right then and there I should have stopped, and said "let’s don’t go", none of us really wanted to make the move. I had recently had a chance to go to another Wesleyan Church north of Greensboro and should have. We moved on to Evansville.

The Evansville Forest Hills Church was a good church, I tried to put myself into it. After we were there about six months, I looked at Naomi one day and said, I am not happy here, she was not either. Right away I made contact back in North Carolina hoping to find a pastorate there again.

The Years of Transition

2009-02-17T09:59:00.001-05:00

We pastored at Aurora, Indiana, for 7 years. During the last year of ministry there in 1984, I began to feel stirrings for something different. I had a desire to step out of the boundaries I had always known. One area of interest was planting a new church. Although this desire was real I never felt the climate was right for it in the circle of ministry I was in. During the last years at Aurora I also was slowly breaking free of the legalism that had been a part of my life since childhood.

In 1984 we accepted the pastorate of a Wesleyan Church in Martinsville, Indiana. The move to Martinsville was a move that I soon realized was a mistake. I did not wait on God to work out His will although it took me some time to come that realization. We were at Martinsville for only 18 months.

During out short stay at Martinsville we adopted our second child, our son Shawn came into our lives when he was 11 days old.

The Wesleyan Church at Greenwood, Indiana, just 25 miles from Martinsville came open and I felt on my heart to go there in 1986. The Greenwood church had declined in the last several years to almost nothing. Our first Sunday there we had only 23 people in Sunday School. The parsonage there was in a declining section of town and not a good place to live with my young family. Despite the negatives it seemed this was a move that God was in. The church responded to my ministry and we began to grow and see new people come in and come to the Lord. I took on my second building project there as well. We built a very nice new parsonage near the church. Although we only were there 2 ½ years it was a good pastorate. The church more than doubled in attendance and my confidence was rebuilt from the bad move I had made to Martinsville. Greenwood church was like many southern Indiana churches, a small mindset and no real desire to really step out and do something “out of the box” for God. I longed for a more challenging ministry. I began to search and God moved us nearly 600 miles away to Neighbors Grove Wesleyan Church in Asheboro, North Carolina. My parents had moved to Salisbury, North Carolina with my younger brothers and sister 13 years before. Although our move to North Carolina was not related to them being there, it was an extra blessing that God sent our way.

Early Years of Ministry

2009-02-13T09:48:00.002-05:00

I graduated from Frankfort Wesleyan Bible College in May of 1970 with an AB degree in Religion. Previous to graduation I had sent my resume to various Wesleyan Church district superintendents seeking a pastorate.

I was called to be pastor of Shelbyville West Side Wesleyan Church in Shelbyville, Indiana and we moved there in June. The church agreed to pay me $40 per week, $5 more per week if I would be church janitor along with being pastor. The church also provided us a parsonage to live in. We spent two years in Shelbyville learning the ropes of pastoring. In the church were five widow ladies who were sisters, they couldn’t get along with each other let along other people. They certainly taught me those two years.

In June of 1972 we move to pastor the W. Terre Haute South 8th St. Wesleyan Church in Terre Haute, Indiana. We served there five years. During our years there some young high school girls found the Lord, one of them went on to be a pastor’s wife. It was a good five years. Also while there Naomi and I decided to try and adopt a child. We made application for adoption in 1974. While serving there my dad died suddenly of a heart attack, he was only 54 years of age. It was difficult because my parents had moved 4 years prior to North Carolina. Trying to help mom over the next several months was difficult with the miles between us.

In June of 1977 we moved to pastor the Aurora, Indiana, Wesleyan Church. We served there seven years. It was there I took on my first church building project. The church needed to relocate and we purchased land outside of town and built a new church building. When we moved to the new location the church became known as the Wilmington Hill Wesleyan Church.
During the years at Aurora I went through an intense spiritual battle. As I referred to in earlier posts I was raised in a very legalistic setting. Women were not to cut their hair, not wear slacks or shorts, no short sleeve blouses, no jewelry, no makeup. Men were not to wear jewelry or shorts, not even short sleeve shirts. We were not to have TV. We were to avoid mixing with the world in any way. In my personal study of the scriptures and from my own experience with God I began to wonder if the legalistic standards were required for salvation. However, I wanted to do right, I struggled within, the struggle was burdensome and wore me down. Slowly I began to be free from the legalism, it took years but the steps to freedom had begun.

During our years at Aurora, Indiana, we adopted our first child. Lorissa, our daughter, she was placed in our home at the age of 2 ½ months, in the summer of 1979. While we lived in Aurora my mother married Cleon Cloud, he was a great man and God gave them 19 years together before Cleon's passing.

The Years of Preparation

2009-02-05T11:38:00.000-05:00

Naomi and I were married August 1, 1964, at Salem Park Wesleyan Methodist Church, in Indianapolis, Indiana. I was planning on attending Union Bible Seminary, a small Bible school run by people that had roots with the Quakers or Friends as they are called today, in Westfield, Indiana. Our first home was an apartment in Westfield. I went to Union Bible Seminary for 1 ½ years of their three year program. In the summer of 1966 we moved to Frankfort, Indiana, where I planned to attend Frankfort Pilgrim College. From 1966-70 I attended college in Frankfort, while I was there the school name changed to Frankfort Wesleyan Bible College. I graduated in June 1970 with an AB degree in Religion. Although both Union Bible Seminary and Frankfort Wesleyan Bible College were small schools I learned much about the Bible, theology, and the work of a minister, as well as receiving training in basic college courses. Also at Frankfort I make friendships that have lasted a lifetime. While I was in college we worked to support ourselves and pay for college. I worked in a grocery store and Naomi worked first in a factory then later in the college library.

Attending college at Frankfort Wesleyan Bible College was a leap from where I had come from. No one in my family put much value in education. My father had no more than a second grade education and could not read and write. My mother had a high school education but her narrow “spiritual” views had kept me in a very closed and legalistic environment. My parents were concerned about me attending Frankfort College. In their mind they thought I might become too “liberal” from my College education and training. Looking back on those days I have seen the providential hand of God at work getting me to Frankfort and Bible College. Although Frankfort Bible College lacked in many ways, it was what I needed for that time in my life.

My Teen Years

2009-02-02T14:36:00.000-05:00

Before I was a teenager we moved, once again, back to the country, twelve miles northwest of Indianapolis. Although many households now had TV we did not. My teen years were spent playing outdoors, working mowing lawns and later in a grocery store, and going to church.

During those years I developed a love for sports, ball of any kind, and I could hold my own with my peers and then some. However my parents would not let me play organized sports. To this day I still love ball of any kind. Also in my teen years I developed a love for fishing and hunting and to this day still enjoy both very much.

My heart was always tender and open to God. My teen years were filled with the normal ups and downs of a Christian teen struggling to resist temptation and follow Christ. I had my share of ups and downs, although at times I would stray from God's way, I would soon return to the foot of the cross. In my mid teen years God spoke to me and I heard Him say, not literally, but I knew it was God, that He wanted me to be a preacher of the gospel. A short struggle followed, but I soon said “yes” to the call of God.

My parents were wonderful and I value my heritage. I don’t know where I would be today if it was not for Christian parents. However, my parents did get into legalism. In my early teen years our family left the church I had always known, and began a church hopping journey from one legalistic group to another. My mother in particular could not find a church that was "strict" or”spiritual” enough. I did not realize it then but during those years the legalism was having an influence on me that would shape my future and bring some tremendous struggles in later years.

I always liked girls and began dating early. Two months after graduating from high school I married “my love”, I have often said, “we were kids when we were married, we have raised each other.”

The Early Years

2009-01-30T11:11:00.000-05:00

I remember in my early years we moved often. I can remember five different places we lived. We would move from the country to the city and from the city to the country. Three incidents from those early years I remember. One, my mother by accident stabbed me in one of my eyes with a knife. She was trying to cut something wrapped tight around one of my fingers and the knife slipped and came up straight into my eye. I remember wearing a patch over my eye playing in the neighborhood. Second incident, I almost drowned. We were living near downtown and the White River flows through the city. I and another neighbor boy were down at the river where a fast flowing stream of sewage water emptied into the river. I fell in to the fast flowing stream of sewage water emptying into the river. When I fell instinctively I grabbed hold of some vegetation on the bank. The vegetation held long enough for my friend to grab hold of my arms and pull me out. I went home soaking wet from head to toe. Mom said “what happened”. I said, “I fell into a mud puddle”. This was in the summer and mom said “we have not had rain for awhile.” I said, “Oh, this is a big mud puddle that is there all the time.” A few days later the neighbor boy’s mother told my mother what had happened. My parents were so scared I did not get punished for being down at the river, I remember my father asking me to take him to the river and show him the place where I fell in. Down through my life I have believed a miracle form God saved my life at the river. Third incident, lightning struck our house. One late afternoon a storm came up and struck the back of our home and went all way through the attic and came out in the front room. I was terrified and to this day still battle the fear of lightning.

My childhood was sheltered and protected. I never heard a curse word come out of my parent’s mouth. I never knew what it was to see a pack of cigarettes lying on the kitchen table, or a six pack of beer in the refrigerator. I did know what it was to have the Bible read and prayer made in our home on a regular basis. I did know what it was to attend church religiously every time the church doors were open. I did know what it was to hear preachers warn of hell and point one toward heaven. Growing up in the days when Rock 'n Roll music was getting its start, I never knew what it was to hear it in our home, but I did know what is was to hear Amazing Grace and When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder. “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” –Proverbs 22:6 NIV

My Journey's Beginnings

2009-01-27T19:12:00.000-05:00

My journey began June 11, 1946, at City Hospital, Indianapolis, Indiana. I was the firstborn son of Charles Wesley Scruggs and Gertrude Beatrice DeBord Scruggs. My father was from Sumner County Tennessee, he had come to Indianapolis after being discharged from the Army following World War II looking for family members. My mother was from Ironton, Ohio, she had come to Indianapolis looking for work. My father and mother met through mutual friends. Three brothers and two sisters came after me and joined this journey.
My journey had a dramatic turning point early in my life. My mother found Christ when I was around five years of age. Not long after my mother found Christ, my father found Christ. At a young age, 6 or 7, I remember walking down the aisle of West Side Church of the Nazarene in Indianapolis and giving my life to Christ. My parents finding Christ and then me finding Christ as a young lad put my journey of life on to the right path.
It has been a wonderful, delightful, journey, walking with Christ down through the years. I have always been thankful my parents found Christ when I was young and led me to know Christ at a young age. Wow, that has been a blessing. My heart echoes what St. Paul says, “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection...........” -Philippians 3:10 NIV.

Why Blog?

2009-01-24T09:40:00.000-05:00

Lately I have thought of starting writing a blog. In my mind questions arose. Why blog? If I do blog what would I title my blog? Would anybody read my blog? When people read my blog would it be worth reading?
The past year or so I have enjoyed and learned from reading others blogs, so maybe, just maybe, somebody can get some good from my blog. If no one else benefits from it, I think I will. I will learn better how to write my thoughts. Putting my thoughts, what I learn in life and my life experiences in writing will be a time for reflection and introspection for me. If I continue to blog I will leave to my family a journal of my thoughts from what I learn in life. In addition I will have a written record about my experiences in life from this point forward.
I will title my blog, “Journal of my Journey”.
For as long as I can remember I have seen life as a journey, a beginning and an end, a starting place and a destination, I am not standing still I am going somewhere. From the day of my birth to the day of my death life is a journey. Beginning today here is the blog of my journey.