Entertaining Angels

A homeless man approached Holt and I at Walmart between Thanksgiving and Christmas, 2010.  It was cold.  The man's name was Michael and we talked for about 10 minutes. I gave him the measley $5.00 that I had in my pocket (I don't carry cash these days) and shared Christ with him.  He told us that he lived in a tent behind Wal-Mart with his wife who needed surgery. 

Holt and I got into my car and drove away, leaving the homeless, cold man in the parking lot.  Holt asked (like this man was a friend of mine), "Who was that?"  Where do you begin?  Where do you begin to tell your 7 yr old son that there are people who live in the cold with no hope, no food?  How do you tell your 7 yr old son that this world is cruel and there are physical needs that go unmet. That there are 7 yr olds all over this world that will die today of starvation?

Idon't have to tell himall of this right now.  Christ is allowing Holt to see these things a little at a time...so it can sink in.  So that I can simply answer his questions that he asks with no more explanation. 

This chance meeting with Michael in the parking lot made a huge impact on my son.  The questions have not stopped...they haven't been all at once, but just as the Holy Spirit burdens his little soul.  Holt has been sure to pray for Michael and all of the other homeless every night.  He is burdened.

I have a chaplain friend on my team at Marketplace Chaplains who runs a homeless tent and food ministry.  I talked with Steve at the beginning of February about the possibility of Holt and I helping some time.  Steve's wife, Marcia, sent me the information about the next meal.  You should have seen Holt's face when I asked if he wanted to go help serve the homeless with me! 

I had previously answered a question about how the homeless keep warm in the winter by telling him about their use of coffee cans and candles (which actually do a pretty decent job of heating up a tent).  Holt asked if we could go buy some candles and he asked how many we could get with $40 (his Christmas money).  This is compassion.  There is a difference in feeling sorry for someone and having compassion.  Having compassion spurs one to action.  Most times having compassion means giving of your resources, mainly time and/or money.  Holt has compassion for the homeless.

As soon as we arrived with our candles, Marcia put Holt to work. He was in charge of the dessert table.  After he carefully placed all of the cookies on the trays, Steve began introducing Holt to several homeless "regulars" who frequented the meals.  I was shocked to see that Holt was in his element.  This normally shy little boy was now a strong youth who befriended men less fortunate than he.  It was beautiful watching him interact with them and watching these humble men interact with my son.  His smile put smiles on the faces of the downtrodden.

At one point, I told Holt to take a plate and eat. I manned the table.  I expected him to sit down right behind me and eat.  He took his plate and began walking toward a group of folks eating on the ground and then he took a sharp left and went and sat right beside a guy who was by himself.  I heard Holt say "Hi, I'm Holt." as he sat down for a chat.

Keep on loving each other as brothers. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. Hebrews 13:1-2

Holt the Scout

Mama did great sewing the patches!

Acee (our next door neighbor) shaped
Holt's car for him.  Holt and I painted and stickered it.
Next year we WON'T place 3rd on all three races!

I looked more beat than Holt once we hiked
to the top of Pine Log Mountain.

Snow In The South

It doesn't snow much in the deep South (as you can tell by the grass laughing at us).  My kids (and their parents) have been blessed with three snows in the past two years that were worthy of mention.  We built a snowman, threw snowballs and found out that snow actually tastes like dirt (Carolina).   Mostly, we did a lot of sledding. I love to hear the sound of squealing children (and Suzanne) as they bound, uncontrollably, towards flat ground.

The world seems to stop, even rewind, to a time when I was a kid...no worries, no responsibility, no sickness, no pain, no stress...just good, ol' fashion fun.  Oh yeah, with my best friends in the world-my family.

Jonah

In June, our family began fostering a newborn baby boy that I will call "Ford" since I cannot put his real name in print.  He was born meth positive.  No one in our family could turn off any part of our hearts as we fell instantly in love with this tiny bundle.  Suzanne and I have wanted more children as evidenced by the last two pregnancies (we already have 3 children).  Both of those pregnancies ended in two still-born little boys.  We decided to foster, with hopes of adoption, knowing the possible heartache that it might ultimatley bring. 

From the first day we brought "Ford" home, Suzanne and I began praying for God's will in his life as well as ours.  Two full weeks had passed and I was spending my daily time with Christ in His Word and in prayer.  I was praying for the lost.  Christ commended me for praying for the lost. I smiled proudly and said, "I was once lost. I know the feeling.  It's easy for me to pray for the lost."  I then began praying for those who were  inprisoned by addiction.  Christ commended me for praying for those addicted.  I smiled proudly and said, "I was once addicted. I know the feeling. It is easy for me to pray for those addicted."  Then Christ said "Birch, you're not praying for this mother of "Ford."  She may be lost and is most certainly addicted."

Here is one reason that Christians are not supposed to act on "feeling."  I told Christ that I did not "feel" like praying for her.  I "felt" like she had made some choices that were unforgivable.  She had made some choices to which there were natural consequences.  I told Christ that I would pray for her salvation and her recovery in order to be obedient but I wouldn't mean it.  My family had fallen in love with this little boy and we so desperately wanted to keep him and provide a safe-haven for him.

Now, I don't want to ever be hypocritical so I changed my attitude somewhat and asked God to begin changing my heart so that I could genuinly pray for her. He did.

What if the people that Christ enlisted to pray for me had refused because I wasn't worth it?  What if the people who supported me through my recovery had thrown me away?  Christ loved me in my sin.  He offered me forgiveness and grace and so did several people along the way (namely my wife and my parents and in-laws).  How ironic that I would for a second become a Pharisee, a Jonah, thinking that there could be such a person who doesn't deserve a new lease on life.

God has worked on the heart of Suzanne as well.  We are supporting this young mother in her recovery.  Christ died for her, loves her and has us praying for her rescue and recovery. 

Now I have more understanding of the story of Solomon and the two women claiming to be the mother of a small child.  Solomon said to rip the child in two pieces and give half to each.  The real mother said "No, give the child to her."  Right now I am his "daddy."  I ultimately want him to be safe.  God will provide that in His perfect will...even if this house ends up not being his home and I end up not being his daddy.

"Daddy, does that mean you're not in God's will right now?"

Juliana told me in February of 2009 that she felt like God was calling her into full-time foreign missions.  This was both exciting and scary for me. I wanted her to be sure because to travel that road without God would be stupid but to travel that road with God with be an adventure.  I set an appointment with her to teach her a thing or two about discerning the will of God. 

We sat in my basement office on the old church pew going through a book that had helped me many years ago.  I told her that now that I was a committed Christ-follower that the most frustrating thing in life had become knowing the will of God.  I had come to the point of desiring obedience and the ability to obey (Holy Spirit) more than any time in my life (funny how far I still need to travel).  Anyway, I told her since I had graduated from seminary two months back that I had been crying out to God to reveal to me what His will for life was to be.  I was chasing MY passion to be the Associate Pastor of Evangelism and Prayer at the church where we were members.  I told her that I was waiting and that it was frustrating. 

I will never forget Juliana interrupting me, looking up at me and saying "Daddy, if you're waiting on the will of God, does that mean you're not in God's will right now?"

Wow.

I told her that she knew far more about what I was trying to teach her and sent her upstairs.  I immediately crawled onto the floor and laid on my face and cried.  I apologized to the Lord for not realizing where I was. I was right in the center of God's will.  I had come to Bartow County to plant a church(es). We had been here for 8 months and I was antsy to get on with MY role which God had for me. I remember Christ picking my face up and telling me to look at the chair behind my desk.  He said " Birch, rest in Me.  Sit in that chair. Let Me guide, lead and direct you.  You have been to seminary but you still have much to learn.  Spend time with your family, continue to spend time with Me, let Me bring people around you that will help Me with the ministry that I will ultimately have you do in Bartow County.

It is now August of 2010, a year and a half later.  I have rested.  I have taught Sunday School, mentored teachers, filled the pulpit in over twenty churches and been an interim pastor. I have spent time with my family. I have dated my wife and my children.  I have realized that my work at 84 Lumber is my life-blood financially and a ministry as well. 

I recently read a book given to me by Ms. Sarah Jane from a church where I was interim. The author is Watchman Nee and it is entitled Sit, Walk, Stand.  It is a simple commentary Paul's letter to the church in Ephesus.  God continues to teach me and I want to share some excerpts from this book:

If the life of a Christian is to be pleasing to God it must be properly adjusted to him in all things.  Too often we place the emphasis in our own lives upon the application of this principle to some single detail of our behaviour or our work for Him.

Our Position in Christ--Sit
Our Life in the World--Walk
Our Attitude to the Enemy--Stand

God raised up Christ and made us to sit with Him. I was trying to walk before I had truly sat (rested) with Christ. That day in my basement with my daughter, God taught me that I needed to sit just as His principle from the very beginning.  In creation, God worked from the first to the sixth day and rested on the seventh. Adam was created on the sixth day. God's seventh day was Adam's first.  Adam had no part in the work.  Adam began His life on the Sabbath; for God works before He rests, while man must first enter into God's rest,and then Man can work with God's guidance. It was because God's work of creation was truly complete that Adam's life could begin with rest.  And here is the Gospel;  that God has gone one stage further and has also completed the work of redemption, and that we need nothing whatever to merit it, but can enter by faith directly into the values of His finished work.

God was waiting till I ceased "doing."When I ceased "doing" then God began.

God has moved in so many ways, through the Great Commission Initiative, storying, Celebrate Recovery, The Bartow Baptist Association, David Franklin, pastors, friends and family.  God has challenged me to rest in Him, to sit.  For those who know me, I think I have done a pretty good job of that over the last year and a half. 

God has asked me to walk in the world now.  He is planting "Church of the Underground", house churches through me.  Simultaneously, He is planting a Celebrate Recovery Group through me that prayerfully will spin the lost into these house churches.

God, You sat me down when I was unable to walk.  Now lend me your hand and lead me to walk with You in these days. Amen

My Amazing Oldest When Facing A Storm

This family has lost children in stillbirth and could eventually lose our foster baby through the "system." Juliana wrote a powerful message concerning this in her blog:

http://junebugdramaqueen.blogspot.com/2010/08/cry-to-jesus.html

My Three Kids

Yesterday I told each of my kids that on Saturday they would have an hour to spend with me just by themselves (sad that this is a rarity, I know).   Since we have had Z (our foster baby boy) for the last 2 months things have been more than a little crazy.

Holt picked going to work with me for a half hour and then he wanted to round out his hour at home playing vids.  We left the house about 8:45.  Holt and this mutt that lives at 84 have taken a real liking to each other.  You should have heard the dog when we pulled into the parking lot...whining and yelping with glee.  Holt and Ely (the dog's name) played for awhile outside and then Holt and I went in to get a nutritious breakfast from the snack and drink machines...Strawberry Pop-Tarts and a Dr. Pepper...no wonder he picked 84 Lumber to spend his time with me. 

The kids always get a snack and a drink when they come to work with me.  I can still remember being four and five years old drinking grape and orange Nehis with my dad in the fellowship hall of FBC Laurel where he worked.  Good memories. 

Holt and I were sitting at my desk when my manager (Jeff) comes running toward my desk with Ely in fast pursuit.  You should have seen Holt's face light up like a Christmas tree (Ely doesn't EVER get to come in to the building).  Ely jumped up on Holt almost knocking him to the ground as Holt giggled like a school girl.  Jeff told Holt that since it was so hot outside that he thought Holt and Ely would enjoy playing inside until we left.  He is good people.  Holt decided to forgo playing pinball on my laptop since the dog was inside.  Holt gave him treat after treat that he had brought from home (sorry Walter) and they both finally ended up in the chair with Holt petting Ely and Ely licking Holt's hands.  They love each other.

We played some vids upon returning home and some Lego game that he had invented.  He is quite the architect/engineer.

Carolina decided to go to Chick-Fil-A to eat a biscuit and play on the playground.  She looked so pretty and I could tell she felt like a princess.  She asked me last week when we could spend some time together again, just the two of us.  We sat down outside with our biscuits and a few bird flew up.  We tossed them parts of our biscuits, watching them fight and chase each other.  As one flew off, Carolina said "If I were a bird, I would be afraid of heights."  I responded by saying, "No you wouldn't, you could fly and would never fall."  She said, "What if a hunter shot my wing when I was high in the air?"  How else could I respond besides, "OK,  maybe you're right."

She played on the playground for awhile, jumping off things and trying to gain my approval (of course, she did) and then we left.  She made me promise not to forget to tell mama that we fed the birds. 
Then we went to Target to look at toys for her birthday and Christmas.  She loved just being able to stroll through the aisles pushing buttons and listening to the toys talk/ make noise/ dance/cry etc.  About the third aisle that we went down she looked up at me holding onto my hand and said shyly, "I wish I could live here."  I remembered my childhood and understood exactly where she was coming from.
 
On our way home she said, "I didn't pick out any Princess and the Frog stuff to put on my list.  I like the princess.  She's pretty, but she comes with the frog and...you know...he's a boy."  I now have this in print to remind her later on.

As we were pulling into the driveway, she was remembering a stuffed puppy from Target that she really liked and said, "It would've been fun to have had Walter (our Border Collie rescue) when he was a puppy.  He and me are the only ones in the family who are 4 years-old.  When I was a baby I wasn't a puppy."  And then she laughed.  She is funny.

Juliana opted to take me to 4-Way restaurant which is a landmark in downtown Cartersville from way back.  She had eaten there with her mama, but this was my first trip.  Juliana and I always cherish our dates. When my chili cheesburger was placed in front of me, J and I looked at each other with the look of "what is that?"  It was a plate of chili with a chili burger plopped right down in the middle of it.  Best chili cheesburger I've ever had.  Yumsters!  We left there and spent the last of our time at the river, remembering old times (like geese chasing mama and her in Conyers, finding her pet turtle, Slowpoke, falling and getting her first skinned knee and ruining her tights and not knowing which one she was more upset about).  We laughed like we always do and also took some pictures of the geese and each other.  I realized that, unlike the other two, we were not only making new memories...we were reminiscing about old memories.  She is grown up.  That is OK. She makes a good grown-up.

God, thank you for my three kids, grant me more if you wish, but never let me take the ones I have for granted.  I love them.