A Father's Advice

Like a sour sponge

Don't you hate it when you pick up a sponge to wipe down the counter, or do some other cleaning and after you're done you realize your hands smell sour? There's hardly any way to get all of that smell off your hands! It's especially bad when you don't notice the smell until you pick up something to eat and as you bring it to your mouth -- well you get the picture...

Today at staff meeting at Coast we were reading and discussing Philippians 2. We talked a little bit about Paul's description of being "poured out as a drink offering".

It was then I remembered the first sermon I ever preached, back in high school, lo these many years ago (almost 30!). In that message, I used the illustration of the sour sponge. Goes something like this:

We are like a sponge. If we choose to simply sit and soak in all that God pours into us, we will eventually become like said sponge -- dank, smelly and basically unusable.

However, should we choose to pour ourselves out "as a drink offering", benefiting those around us with what God has been pouring into us, we will remain pliable, fresh and continually usable.

So now I have to ask myself, "What have I done today in the way of pouring out to the benefit of those in my little world?"

Mail from Ireland

Very odd to get snail mail from Ireland, especially something in a window envelope with our name and address printed as if by a computer. I had no idea what it could be.

So I opened it.

Duh. It's a bank statement. I mean who doesn't get bank statements from overseas on a regular basis?

No, here's the deal. During our latest trip to Ireland, after jumping through many proverbial hoops to prove that we weren't money launderers, we opened an account in Dublin. It will make it much easier to deal with our expenses while we're there, should we happen to be there anytime before we actually move. Plus, when we do move, that will be one less thing we'll have to deal with while getting settled.

It was really remarkable experience getting this account opened. Last April we stopped by AIB (Allied Irish Bank) to see about opening an account. We were helped by a young man by the name of Stewart. He was very friendly and helpful, giving us a list of the documentation we needed to get from our bank in Florida, as well as proof of our US residency.

When we returned in September, 5 months later, he remembered us and our situation right away and spent the next few weeks helping us work through the red tape. He then contacted us after we were back in the US to let us know that our account had, in fact, been approves and opened.

I have no idea why we haven't received any statements before now, but I guess that's not important. I mean there isn't any money in the account right now anyway...

Since we're kind of stuck here for now (until we get more funds raised), it does our hearts good to receive little serendipitous reminders of Ireland like this.

Molly's recital

Molly and another student are doing a joint recital this coming Tuesday. Now, you need to understand -- this isn't a requirement. They just wanted to do it.

If you want to come, send me a message with your email address and I'll give you the particulars.

Here's a sample of Molly playing, along with her friend and harpist, Stephanie:

Back home

Okay, so I didn't let you know that we were going out of town.

Sorry.

Can we still be friends?

Just got back this evening from Birminghamhttp://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif, AL where we attended "All Access 2008", a conference by (Association of Related Churches).

We were there with 6 others from Coast. Coast is a member of ARC, a remarkable group of churches from all across the US from numerous denominations as well as independent non-denoms who are dedicated to church planting.

We were very encouraged and challenged personally, gathered a lot of inspiration for the future of Coast, and gained new motivation for our work in Ireland.

I'm really tired right now, and I think I'm fighting off a cold, so I'll say more about all this later.

Nighty night.