Moving On

I've been thinking a lot lately about moving on...in two very different ways.

One of my dear friends is fighting cancer. One of my favorite people in the whole world. It's finally come down to these last days when God is going to heal her - one way or the other. I know that if He wants to, He has the power to miraculously heal her of this awful disease and let her stay here with all of us for many more years. He could do that. And what an incredible testimony that would be to so many who know and love Carol. But I also know He may choose to heal her once and for all by taking her home to be with Him. If that's His decision, then Carol will be great. But we will all miss her so much.

I was talking to Danielle, one of my daughter-in-laws, yesterday about this whole awful process of death. The process itself can be so painful and hard for everyone involved. And I was sharing with her about what it was like when my mom died. She also had cancer. And I was there with her many years ago when she died. The process of her death was a very dark and confusing time for me. I remember clinging to the verse from Isaiah that says (my paraphrase) "Who among you loves the Lord and walks according to His commandments, yet walks in darkness and has no light. Let him trust in the name of the Lord." Sometimes we hurt so bad in this world, and are so confused, that we just have to cling to the truths we know about God.

That's what I was doing as I watched my mom slipping away from us over those last days. But then that final moment came when I was alone there with her. And after all the pain and darkness...that moment was a miracle. In that one moment she was set free from all the pain and sorrow of this world. I knew she would never have to deal with any of that again. And in that moment, I couldn't see it, but I knew that she had become more alive than she had ever been before. I remember thinking, and being surprised by the fact, that her "death" in this world, in that moment, was as much a miracle as the moments when my children were each born. A brand new life. Such a miracle!

If God chooses to take Carol home to be with Him now, I will miss her so much. But I will once again be in awe of God's awesome power and His incredible plan for us. This life here on earth is only the beginning. There's something so much better up ahead for all of us.

The other "moving on" that I've been thinking about lately has to do with the fact that Dave and I are once again waiting for God to show us what's next. I'm not sure why He chooses to work with Dave and I this way...telling us to pack up and be ready to go...somewhere. But we're ready. The house sold. Most of our worldly possessions are in storage somewhere. And we are waiting for Him to point us in the direction He wants us to go next. Exciting times. But one thing we're doing different this time - we're not making any lists or even trying to figure out what God might have in mind. We tried that last time and God ended up taking us somewhere totally unexpected. So this time...no lists. We're just sitting back and waiting for Him to lay out the road map. Then we'll follow.

Dancing with God

As I was packing up some files in my desk at work this week, I ran across the lyrics to a song that I heard at a Coast Hills Music & Worship Conference back in my ABF days. It was an original song that the author/composer (is that what you call him?) sang at the conference. I've never heard it since then, but it's a song I've thought about a number of times over the years.

The Dance
by Eric Goetze

Who’d have thought I’d ever take a chance. I’ve always known the steps, but never dared to dance. I just watched. It seemed to suit me well. I never had to trust anybody but myself. Jesus, take my hand and lead me through the dance, That moves our love and makes it our romance.

I’ve got a way of never letting go. I hold on to the past, because it’s all I really know. The more we move, the more I feel the ebb and flow. I’m finding that Your will has a rhythm all its own. So when tomorrow comes, I’ll be right where You are, Dancing safely in the comfort of Your arms.

It’s all right that I don’t know exactly what tomorrow holds. I don’t have to leave the future up to chance. There’s so much that I don’t see. So, I’ll follow where You lead. And though I may not love the steps, I’ll take Your hand, And learn to love the dance.

Things I Will Miss From My Time In The Desert

Cathy Morgan - God must have been smiling as He led me into the desert seven years ago and saw my tears and felt the sadness in my heart. He must have been thinking "Oh Bernice, if only you could see the incredible gift I have waiting up ahead for you here." Cath and I joke about how together we make one incredible person. It's been such a blessing to not only have her as my friend, but also as my partner in crime and ministry. Well...I don't think we've ever actually broken the law...except maybe that time she drove through that gate. heehee I will cherish her friendship forever.

Bethany Bible Church - When we left ABF after 25 wonderful years of life and ministry there, my heart was so full of the people there that I couldn't ever imagine loving another church family that much. I just didn't think there was enough room in my heart. But God has shown me through our time here that He can expand our hearts. I have loved ministering to and with the people God had waiting for us here and the people He's brought to BBC since we came. This place is truly filled with people who are opening their hearts and hands to God and saying "Lord use us all together to do something great for you." And He's answering that prayer day after day after day.

The Music Pod People - Cath, Gay, Dave Merdick...it's been an incredible ride together. Who knew when Dave said, "I want you to start a contemporary service" that we would end up where we are today with The Chapel. And that we would have so much fun together along the way. What a blessing to to be able to work with all of you. You're the best!

The Chapel - oh my goodness. Every weekend I am in awe at what God has done, and is doing, in that building and those services. The incredible team of people God has brought together to minister in there continues to amaze me. It's truly a place where week after week people from any walk of life can come and connect with God and learn more about who He is and what it truly means to walk with Him.

Sunsets - I must admit that the desert has some of the most beautiful sunsets ever! I can still remember that time while Dave & I were still waiting to see where God was going to take us after ABF. Dave had just done a Walk Thru at a church up in the high desert in SoCal. We were driving back home and there was a gorgeous sunset. I remember staring at it and thinking (1) wow...the desert has incredible sunsets! (2) It was as if I heard a little voice saying, "Even in the dry and dead and ugly desert, I will give you glimpses of heaven." (3) Oh no God...that's not a sign to me that you're taking me to the desert is it? No no no.

Wildflowers - There really are a lot of flowers in the desert. Who knew?! When ever I see them I smile and remember that even in the midst of a dry and dead and barren place, God is there and gives us glimpses of heaven.


Things I won't miss:

• Scorpions - Oh Lord, why did you create those awful creatures?
• Five+ months a year of blazing hot weather - Who were those crazy people who first came through this area in their covered wagons and said, "Hey, let's stop here and build a city" ?

Here We Go Again

Dave and I are once again in the place where God has made it clear it’s time for us to move on...and He hasn’t told us where we’re going yet. Sound familiar? Seven years ago God led us away from ABF and brought us to Bethany Bible Church in Phoenix. Though we came to the desert simply because God made it clear He wanted us to, He has shown us clearly through these past six years why He wanted us at BBC. We’ve both grown to love being here. Well, not the desert part, but the church and the staff and the ministries we’re involved in and especially the people. It has been an incredible adventure as we have watched God work through the team He brought together here at Bethany. When we first came here I never would have believed I would ever say this, but...our time here has truly been a gift to us from God.

In the services this weekend Dave let the congregation know that we are now moving into a transitional time here at BBC. When we came back from our extended vacation this past summer, Dave, along with two of our elders and our administrative pastor, began praying about and planning for this process. They, and the rest of the elder board, have agreed that Dave will continue as the senior pastor as he helps them find the new pastor who will continue the great work God is doing here. And we will also now begin seeking God’s direction for where He wants us to go next. All we know is that it will be closer to our kids over in California.

We've been in this place before - following God's leading, stepping out in faith without knowing what His plan is, trusting that He will make His will clear. Both Dave and I have spent our lives since college telling God that we are willing to go wherever He wants us to go and do whatever He wants us to do...and once again He's taking us up on that. We're excited about whatever is up ahead and would appreciate your prayers as we seek His leading.

Simple Church

There's a book out called "Simple Church." The title sounded great when I heard about it, but when I read a little of it online I realized it doesn't seem to be about what the title made me think it was about. Which reminds me of that scene from Princess Bride. You know the one - there's that character who's always saying with a very surprised tone "Inconceivable!" But he keeps being proven wrong. So finally another character says to him, "I do not think that means what you think it means." Well, I don't think the title means what I thought it meant.

I think the reason the title appealed to me is because I've been thinking a lot this past year about the bottom line of what the "organized church" is all about. Or rather...what it should be all about. I would guess 90% of churches have some kind of vision statement that says they exist to glorify God, edify the saints, serve the savior, reach the lost world for Christ. That's all true, but what does that actually look like on the bottom line?

The Bible is a good place to start. Acts tells us the early church ate & studied the Word & sang & prayed together. We do all those things in the organized church today. And BTW we could also do all those things in a small group in a home....like the early church. Hmmm, simple church. :)

Hebrews 10:24 says "And let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds. Not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as we see the day drawing near." Most churches also use that verse when explaining why they meet together for services, classes, etc.

When believers gather together (ie the church) it's so we can encourage each other to live a life of love, which will be demonstrated by good deeds. It's so we can encourage each other to be fully devoted followers of Christ.

To me, a fully devoted follower of Christ is someone who loves God and loves others. It's someone who spends time on their own with God...in His Word, talking to Him, listening to Him. It's someone who wakes up each morning and opens their hands and heart and mind to God and says "Here I am Lord. With all my strengths and weaknesses and gifts and time. Use me today Lord. Help me to show my love for you by walking worthy and by showing love to whoever you bring across my path today." Bottom line.

I think the organized church should have that as their simple purpose. To bring people to Christ, and then to help believers be that kind of fully devoted follower of Christ. In a sense, the organized church should be raising up believers who realize that they don't need the church.

Now don't read me wrong here. Take a deep breath. I'm not saying that at some point Christians should get to where they don't need to go to church (ie. gather with other believers) anymore. As long as we're in this fallen world, we need the encouragement of other believers so we will keep walking worthy and living a life of love and good deeds.

What I am saying is that for many Christians (maybe even most?) the church becomes the center of their spiritual life. They spend more time at church services and Bible studies and social events and service projects with the "church" than they do on their own worshiping and studying and praying and serving others in the world. Their Christian life becomes dependent on (and maybe synonymous with?) their church life. And somehow I don't think that's what God had in mind.

There's a quote of Abraham Lincoln's that I've talked about a lot over the years. And every time I do, I think "sheesh...was that really Abraham Lincoln? It sounds more like something CS Lewis would say." But for some reason I think it really was Abraham Lincoln. Anyway...it's a good quote. He said, "Your times of corporate prayer and corporate worship and corporate good deeds don't mean much to God if you aren't also praying and worshiping and doing good deeds on your own, all by yourself, when no one else is looking or listening." That's my paraphrase, but it was something like that.

So again I say, I think the bottom line goal of the organized church shouldn't be to build a church with all it's programs and ministries, but rather to raise up believers who realize that they don't need the church. All the ministries and programs that a church provides are great...as long as their goal is to raise up fully devoted followers of Christ who are walking closely with God on their own - outside of the church and its ministries - and are waking up every day and sharing the love of God in whatever way they can with whoever God brings across their path.
Wouldn't it be great if every time we attended a church service or event, we came away encouraged and prepared and challenged to live life fully for God every day out in our world until we met up again with the church? I think that's more of what God had in mind. But I never went to seminary, so what do I know. It's just something I've been thinking a lot about. And it's the kind of fully devoted follower of Christ that I want to be.

BTW - I may still read "Simple Church." There's probably some good stuff in there. I'll let you know if I do.