Replotting Christian Radio

I know what you're saying:"Two posts in one week, to what do we owe this service?" Though you're free to contribute money, goods, and services, this post comes free of charge...you're welcome! I told you I was back and armed with plenty to write about. Hopefully, multi-post weeks will continue as this Blog evolves.

This post has been in the works for awhile now; since June 22 to be exact. I have delayed it for two reasons. 1. If you read my last post you are well aware of my travel schedule this past month. This has kept me from posting anything. 2. One of the examples in this devotion is my friend, Lauren Castanza. A year ago today while hiking in New York Lauren left us. To honor her memory, I decided to wait and post this entry on the 1 year anniversary of the greatest day of her life...when she left this world filled with sin, grief, pain, and despair, and met the person whom she dedicated and lived her life to and for. To you Lauren (and the Castanza Family) I dedicate this entry.



[The following post is an edited, less conversational version of the devotion I closed our Middle and High School VBS with.]

I did not know Lauren well, but there was one thing I did know about her. Lauren loved the Lord with all her heart, mind, soul, and strength. The love of God oozed out of every one of her pores. There are several memories I have of her. One happened during Finals Week, Spring Semester 2005. Lauren was a Biology major, which means she had a lot of work/studying to do; especially during Finals Week, especially at Grove City. My ICO Malawi team was meeting one last time before many of us said good-bye to the Grove. Lauren was "studying" near us. I remember the smile on her face and the fun she was having during that stressful time. Along with her "study group", Lauren was hitting some sort of ball around. She knew several of the members of my ICO team so they were taking part in this fun as well. While others might retreat to the "Stacks" (For those unfamiliar with the GCC Campus: desks that sit among all the shelves or "stacks" of books in the library; only quiet area in the library.), Lauren was in the SAC (I refuse to call the Student Activities Center/Student Union the STU), in the heart of Campus, spending time with others. I remember watching Lauren dance in Orchesis Chapel Dance, and the time she spent helping a friend who was struggling to master a move. Lauren showed love and patience and continued to work with Kelly until she had learned the move. Lauren did this out of her genuine love for others. She was dedicated to, and loved dearly, her family, her friends, and her God. On a Christian campus where many are nonchalant about their faith and their walk with Christ, Lauren prayed for revival and acted upon these prayers. I could go on and on.....

On Monday, June 19 we spent time replotting the cemetery here at Pilgrim. We were divided into teams and went along the rows notating "Who's in Grant's tomb". We also noted which plots were empty. I asked the youth the age of the youngest person buried in their section. I got a plethora of answers from birth to pre-teen. At this point, I mentioned the fact that Lauren passed away last summer at the age of 19.

In 1 Thessolonians 2:11, 12 Paul urges, encourages, and pleads with the Thessalonians to "lead a life worthy of God". The same is true for us. We are called to go from "idleness to action". This is the same thing we Lutherans here at Pilgrim pray every week after the offering. Leading a life worthy of God is exactly what Lauren did and we can all learn from this example.

On Tuesday, Steve Sunshine, the host of "The Family Friendly Morning Show" on WMHK, the local Christian radio station, stopped by to give his testimony and to talk about Christian music and radio. I was fascinated by the stories this man shared about all the behind the scenes stuff, the places he's been, and the people he's met. However, the most fascinating story was Steve's conversion story. Steve did not become a believer until he was an adult. Believe it or not, this happened at a Contemporary Missouri Synod Church (oxymoron)! Some time later, Steve who had been in radio since college, switched to Christian radio. He shared countless stories of the lives touched by this ministry. As I entertained him (one of the many perks of my ministry/job), countless people stopped by thanking him for his ministry and the ministry of WMHK. I don't know about you, but I don't hear about this happening to secular radio DJ's.



1 Peter is arguably one of my favorite books of the Bible. In 1 Peter 4:10,11, Peter pleads with us to be good stewards of our gifts. We are to serve one another with the gifts we have received. The reason for this...glad you asked..."So that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ". We are to use our gifts for Him and give Him glory!

Plotting the cemetery and hearing Lauren's story reminds us that we never know when it will be the end. We also learn through Lauren's story and the example of Steve Sunshine, that we never know who we will touch or who we will inspire. Use your gifts to glorify our Father in heaven in all that you do (see also 1 Corinthians 10:31)!

LEAVE A LEGACY AND GIVE HIM GLORY THROUGH YOUR GIFTS!

~June 22, 2006
Vacation Bible School
Closing Night (edited)

Where Have You Been?!?!

I know, I know, I haven't posted in awhile and you are all waiting on the edge of your seat for my next post. Just so you don't think I totally forgot about this Bloging thing, I have been home a total of 11 days so far this month. I have gone on 3 trips with a max of 5 days in between them. This gives me enough time to do laundry and catch up what I have to do here at the church. Now, I want to make it clear, I'm not complaining. These 3 trips have been some of the best in my life. I went to the beach for Pilgrim's annual Family Beach Retreat, San Antonio for the ELCA Youth Gathering, and just got back from a much needed Staff Retreat. I will be sure to post some reflections from the Gathering shortly as soon as I catch my breath.

Another item has taken up a lot of my time lately...much more than I anticipated...and no it's not a girlfriend (I wish this wasn't the case!)! I have finally succumb to the pressure and started a MySpace. It is quite addicting. I enjoy this medium for keeping in touch with people, especially with the youth here at Pilgrim; which is my primary reason for getting an account. In fact I haven't used it much for contacting my friends...I'm much more of a Facebook guy.

Thanks to those that read this...especially you Glenn!

What would one my posts be with out a little insight?

On our Staff Retreat we saw a t-shirt that had a picture of Jesus on the cross and said "Rebel With a Cause".
Think about that. I know I have (obviously, Paul)! Comments with your thoughts are greatly appreciated. My thoughts to come later...that way I don't influence you!

Until then,
Paul

2500 In One Mound!

For the few that might be reading this that are not from or have never spent any length of time in the South I need to do some explaining. Fire Ants are all over the place here in the South, especially South Carolina. They are more numerous than Baptist Churches! Fire Ants can be quite dangerous and in a recent case, deadly. Besides leaving unsightly mounds all throughout your yard, they make it next to impossible to walk anywhere barefoot. Those who have ever been bitten by a Fire Ant I'm sure are nodding their heads right now.

I've always been fascinated by these little ants. I'm fascinated by how much pain they can inflict upon me. Yes, I admit I'm skinnier than most, however, I am at least 100,000 times bigger than one of them, and believe me, they can inflict some pain. With what appears no effort, they can leave a grown man crying, when it might take several strong punches, or a swift kick by a human to create the same amount of tears.

However, I'm not here to talk about the strength they posess. Though that in itself could be a great lesson on no matter how small we are, through faith, we can do great things.
~ "Let no one despise your youth, but set the believers an example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity."
- 1 Timothy 4:12
~ "He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can
say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."
- Matthew 17:20

What I'm here to talk about is my main fascination with these little creatures...they are constantly building! I was cutting my mom's grass the other day and when I went over one of the mounds (which houses an average of 2500 ants), the ants immediately started to build. All of them working together as a team. You could not find any of them resting. All were in a hurried panic to rebuild the mound.

The book of Nehemiah is a great one. We can learn a lot about the type of leader God calls us to be. Nehemiah has concern for his flock and goes into Jerusalem to rebuild the wall. He saw a need, organizes, and carries out his mission. Throughout the rebuilding, enemies threaten Nehemiah and his group. Half end up building while the other half stand guard. Every builder even kept a sword strapped to his side. The enemy calls out to Nehemiah and he responds in chapter 6 verse 3 by saying, "I am doing a great work, and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it to come down to you?"

Just like the ants, Nehemiah doesn't panic. He doesn't scream, yell, and panic first, then rebuild. He continues to work. Just like the ants who never stop building, or Nehemiah who continued to work/lead/build and did not come down from the wall, we too are called to continue with our calling and our task. We are called to specific tasks, careers, ministries, and areas of service; however there is a larger calling which is placed upon us; and that is to build the Kingdom of God. That is the "mound" we are called to continually build no matter what set backs we encounter or who tries to destroy us by placing those little pellets or powder over our "mound".

Jesus tells us in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19) to "Go and make disciples". "Go" serves as an imperative action verb. We are to do it immediately. What do you do when the light turns green...and say you're running late? You floor it! You don't wait around you immediately take off to reach your destination. As a youth responded today while I was leading this devotion, "I get mad at those that sit and wait". Many of us are not go-ing. Are we mad at ourselves for this? Are we working to "build the mound" no matter what happens? Or are we doing the opposite of the Fire Ants and waiting around for someone else to do it? I encourage all of us this day to "build the mound", to continually work like those little ants, to constantly build, even when someone seeks to destroy, to "Go and make disciples".

~July 2, 2006
Sunday School
1st Sunday of the Month Trip to Bojangles (edited)