Life Here and There

I love old Looney Toons cartoons. Kids these days don’t know what they are missing. My favorite moments were when Wyle E. Coyote would have a big flat rock ready to tip off the cliff when Road Runner tripped the trap. Inevitably, the rock would not tip, Wyle E. would go down to check, and Road Runner would step out on the rock, tipping it on over on the poor Coyote, who was really the victim in every episode, you know!

Sometimes life is like that boulder. It’s at the tipping point and taking on one more thing will throw us off balance and wreck everything. We think the problem is that “one more thing,” but that’s a fallacy. The problem is that we’re at the tipping point already. If one more thing pushes us over the edge, we were really too close to the edge.

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Isn’t summer supposed to be our vacation from the busyness of life? This summer, for the Cox family, is flying right by in a whirlwind of activity. We’ve traveled to see family in three different states (Missouri and Georgia for Angie, Kentucky for me). We’re getting ready to spend a week at church camp. And then, it will be time for Angie to return to work, for me to get busy with a new church year, and for Ella to begin Kindergarten.

In the midst of being busy in these bigger ways, I’ve also found ministry to families and needs to be rather pressing lately. My phones are ringing off the hook and I’ve done more “people work” in the last few weeks than ever before. I have mixed feelings about this. On the one hand, I’m very thankful to be needed, to be used in God’s hands, and to watch God at work in people’s lives. On the other hand, I hate what Satan is doing to the people around me that I love so dearly. It has certainly caused me to have an appreciative perspective on my own life. God has been so gracious and merciful to me, especially when I’ve least deserved it!

I will also say that the pressing nature of many of the issues I deal with drive me to my knees. I feel the continual need to remain constant in prayer so that my own spirit is not dragged down by the multitude of problems in the world. Depravity, and its results, can be draining on our frail emotions and if we aren’t careful, we’ll be tempted to despair. But then there is that verse in Romans 8:37, “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” More than conquerors, winners, valiant victors in the war called life. And why? Because Jesus died and rose again!

I love VBS week! I love to watch kids having fun. I love to see the people of God in action, doing their thing to accomplish ministry to families. More than anything, I love seeing little ones embrace the story of Jesus as their own. It’s awesome! This year’s VBS has been a blessing to my heart for quite a few reasons.

One is that we’ve started out with about twenty more kids involved than last year. Two is our Associate Pastor, Cory McCaig has done an absolutely awesome job of leading it and teaching the kids. Three, our Associate Pastor has led, not me! Angie and I, for a decade, have always spent our wedding anniversaries at Vacation Bible School, but this year, we get to run away for a night and celebrate our tenth (more on this in the next post).

I’ll have to report later on the results, but through two nights, I’m fired up about attending Avalanche Ranch!

Yesterday was a very special day at Bethel. Though we had a lot of folks out on vacation for the holiday weekend, we who remained celebrated God’s greatness in raising up heroes throughout the centuries. From Hebrews 11, we recounted the lives and deaths of some of God’s greatest servants. Many in the chapter remain unnamed, but their works and martyrdom are mentioned. My favorite line in the passage says, “Of whom the world was not worthy!” Those words reflect my feelings about every man and woman who has served in the face of such great risk in every war America has ever fought.

A couple of weeks ago, I was getting my haircut down at the Corner Barber shop. In came a man who must have been in his late 70’s. He sat down and I noticed his cap. He was a World War II veteran and the cap named his fleet from the South Pacific and told the number of survivors from his unit. I sat there, imagining what this man must have seen in his time in combat. What we see dramatized on the big screen and embellished for effect, this man had witnessed with his very eyes. His mind had recorded thoughts I could never imagine. Yet here I was, serving as Pastor of a church where I have the privilege every week of carrying a Bible to the pulpit and freely preaching the gospel without fear of arrest or penalty – because of men like this.

When I rose to leave, I paid for my haircut, and his too. He chuckled and commented about how that wasn’t necessary, so I said, “Well I saw your cap and wanted you to know that I appreciate what you went through for me.” His face changed, he shook my hand firmly, and his emotions suddenly impacted me deeply. I still don’t know the man and may never see him again, but his life has influenced mine. I feel that same sense of gratitude toward every soldier that has ever fought.

Today, on Memorial Day 2007, we’re making barbeque, playing some games, and enjoying the company of friends. But we also ought to pause to thank God for those whom He has raised up to stand for our freedom and our faith. Let this be a memorial day, not only to those who have died in battle, but to those who have died as martyrs for the Christian faith, and to all those who have been living sacrifices for His dear cause!

Today begins a very hectic season in our lives – well, hectic if traveling is hectic. We’ll be leaving the middle of this afternoon for the great metropolis and returning tomorrow evening. Week after next, it’s on to St. Louis for a three-day jaunt where I get to see the Cardinals play at the new Busch Stadium! The following week is Vacation Bible School, interrupted by a one-night stay in Tulsa for our Tenth Anniversary (which you’ll hear more about later). The following week, I take Angie to St. Louis and I return to Northwest Arkansas the next day while she goes with her family to Griffin, Georgia for several days. Then, a week later, I meet her in Kentucky for a week to visit with my family. All of this in June… and I’m not even missing a Sunday service!

It’s really a good thing I love traveling. I especially love Branson. Why, you might ask? Well, it’s not the country music, the craft festivals, or all the super-expensive shows. It’s certainly not the outlet malls either. It’s really the fried green Tomatoes served up hot at MacFarlan’s and the cheap breakfast buffet at Starvin’ Marvin’s! You should have known it would all surround fried foods! I also love the drive through the Ozarks, a movie at the Imax Theater, and especially being with my wife and daughter! They make these moments wonderfully special.

See you in Branson! I’ll save you a fried green tomato… maybe.

The blog has been put on hold for a couple of weeks now, primarily because of all that my wife and I have been experiencing in our personal lives. Here’s a recounting of it…

On Monday evening, October 30, Angie left her ladies’ Connection Cafe meeting feeling well, but by the time we drove from the church to our house (just a couple of minutes) she was in terrible pain. We decided to go to the emergency room. Our beloved friends, Cory and Lachelle McCaig, came to sit from about 10:00 pm until 4:30 Tuesday morning while Angie was subjected to numerous tests, which found essentially nothing wrong.

On Tuesday morning, October 31, we went for a follow-up visit at her physician’s office and he became concerned about some possible internal bleeding. He decided to admit her to St. Mary’s hospital where he would perform a laproscopic procedure simply to explore any potential problems. He, like the emergency room physician, sought to rule out the possibility of an ectopic pregnancy. One he began the procedure, he discovered the worst scenario, an ectopic (tubal) pregnancy, which can be deadly.

The short, one-hour procedure turned into a two and one half hour operation with a large incision. I was so moved as I waited in the surgery waiting room as about two dozen members of our church surrounded me, waiting to hear that Angie had come through the surgery okay. We were delighted to hear that she would be just fine. The physician explained that she had sustained heavy internal bleeding and that her risk of possible death had been higher than he had anticipated.

Angie’s Dad brought her Mom down from St. Louis to help take care of her for a few days but her stay was interrupted by yet another family emergency. On Thursday, Angie’s grandmother suffered a heart attack and was in intensive care in Washington, Missouri. The family had hoped that she was improving, but in the middle of Thursday night, a call came alerting us that she had taken a turn for the worse. Angie’s Mom borrowed my car and drove through the night to be at her mother’s side. Ella Briggs (our daughter’s namesake) went home to heaven on Friday, November 3.

Later that afternoon, Angie and I loaded up our van and began the trip to St. Clair to attend the funeral, but wisdom along with some forceful but loving input from our family, prompted us to turn back and stay at home. Angie was recovering a little each day, but it may be a total of six weeks recovery time before she is completely healthy again. We’ve taken a much needed one night sabbatical to a nearby vacation spot and have attempted to settle back into a routine, with Angie returning to work on this past Monday, November 13.

The Sunday before all of this began, my text included Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them that are the called according to His purpose.” That Monday night, Angie testified at Connection Cafe that she had (at least we thought at the time) a miscarriage, but that God was faithfully teaching us to trust Him. It isn’t merely a cliche that “everything happens for a reason.” When you’re a believer, nothing is left to chance anymore. You realize that God has a sovereign plan that allows His children to endure some very difficult crises in life in order that we might enjoy “the fellowship of (Christ’s) sufferings.”

Since we learn how to be disciples through the tough stuff, what have I learned from all of this?

First, I’ve learned the importance of God’s timing. Had Angie not been persisent with her physician in his office, he would have sent her home where she may have bled to death. We’ve heard numerous testimonies from others who experienced the same trauma and were in grave danger. God rescued Angie just in time. On a similar note, I’ve learned the mysterious nature of God’s timing. Why would Angie’s grandmother pass away just after Angie’s surgery when her mother would have to make a midnight dash for Missouri and when Angie could not attend the funeral? All I can conlcude us that God is ultimately wise.

Second, I’ve learned the value of a loving church family, a fellowship of believers. I was surrounded in a waiting room by numerous friends and members of our spiritual family. Once home, people provided meals as well as company with their visits. We’ve experienced an outpouring of love and compassion for which we will be forever grateful. I’ve often heard others say, “I don’t see how people make it through things without a church family.” That statement was exemplified in our tragedy.

Third, I’ve learned what a beautiful and courageous woman I married! I sat in the surgery waiting room virtually helpless. I could do nothing to ensure her safety except to pray. I could do nothing to help her recover except play nurse and fetch water. Yet I watched as Angie handled the situation like a champ. Note that champions have weak moments, moments of curiosity about the activity of God and moments of emotional break-down. Tears rarely come from cowards. I’ve learned a new respect for her. While it was our baby that died so prematurely in a pregancy complication, it was her body that experienced such drastic trauma. I wish I could be half as strong as her!

More than anything, we’ve learned “in all things (to) give thanks unto God, for this is the will of God for (us) in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18) At our former church, we used to have a responsive chant: “God is good… all the time… and all the time… God is good.” God really is good. We don’t always get what we expect or want, but God never ceases to be holy or loving. God has been glorified in our lives in so many ways in the last few weeks, all we can do is humbly give Him praise, cry our tears, and go on in faith that God will always be good!

Have you ever experienced sweet exhaustion? Less than an hour ago we capped off our final night of Vacation Bible School by singing some lively songs which included jumping, clapping, and shouting (in church nonetheless!), dining on tacos and nachos, and sliming the Pastor and Worship Leader. Tonight was merely the finale of a week of getting to know our backward friends, Pete and Repeat, learning spanish with an odd assortment of costumed characters, and learning that Jesus is our Friend, our Life, our Leader, and our Savior.

Vacation Bible School is by far the most exhausting week of the church year, but also the most exhilirating! One young man trusted Jesus as his Savior and several others were asking about what it means to be saved. Relationships were built, seeds were planted, and God was glorified!

If you’ve never been involved in children’s ministry before, you’re missing out! You might not be a teacher, but what if you could be a greeter, a helper, or a prayer warrior? Nobody on earth is as precious to Jesus as children. I would urge you to find room in your life and in your schedule for a little sweet exhaustion. The sooner, the better!

“And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal:… The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.”—Rev. 4:6, 10-11

I was alone on the shore of Eastern Lake, praising God in my own quiet and personal way. A fish jumped about ten yards from me as the sun peaked from behind the trees. The ripples of the water began their glistening as the soft breeze nudged them to shore. What an amazing place, what a wonderful scene.

Just imagine our amazement someday when we stand before God’s throne with billions of angels, all of our biblical heroes, and all of our loved ones in the Lord as we sing together this mighty chorus… “Thou art worthy.” The scenery there will be an emerald halo around the throne, amazingly beautiful creatures, and a sea as clear as crystal.

One of my “issues” with the ocean is that I can’t really see what I’m stepping on. Even Eastern Lake was browned by heavy algae. But there in heaven, there are no contaminates whatsoever. The sea will be crystal, as clear as our souls which have been cleansed in the blood of the Lamb. Oh, to capture that kind of praise and adoration for God here below… let’s make that our goal today.

“And unto Adam [God] said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hasteaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is theground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Thorns andthistles shall it bring forth to thee;.” -Genesis 3:17-18a

Seagrove Beach, where our family recently vacationed, is an ideal place for those needing to getaway. There are no fast food or motel chains allowed. All of the housing and eateries arelocally owned. When our toddler, Ella, saw the beautiful white sand dunes for the first time,she shouted, “Look guys, snow!” In this pristine place, there were still some problems worthnoting.

The sun could burn you within an hour to ruin your vacation if you weren’t careful. The water inthe Gulf is quite polluted and contains all kinds of creatures from sharks to jellyfish, whichcan also ruin a trip to paradise. The sand seems to follow you wherever you go. We inadvertentlybrought some back home with us in our luggage. The problem with paradise is that paradise hasits problems.

Because of sin, you won’t find a perfect place on earth – not in Florida, Hawaii, or theCaribbean. The curse of sin has corrupted all of nature, and it has corrupted our nature aswell. Thank God Jesus came to give us a new birth and a new nature, as well as the promise ofparadise restored. all for those who trust Him as Savior and claim Him as Lord.

“And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away.” -Acts 27:20

If you’re not familiar with the story of Paul’s shipwreck in Acts 27, I’d recommend reading it before proceeding. It’s the fascinating account of a ship tossed in a terrible storm for fourteen consecutive days. Those must have been terrible days. Luke even says that the men on Paul’s ship did not eat during those two weeks and they were exhausting themselves trying to save the ship and all on board.

God’s mighty hand of providence is woven throughout this story. The ship comes to a crash landing on the island of Malta. No one dies. In fact, an angel had already proclaimed to Paul that no one would die because God had a greater purpose – to show them not only His fierce power in the storm, but His great mercy in sparing their lives.

Last year, Florida endured the worst hurricane season in the state’s recorded history. Five separate storms wracked the little peninsula. Each one was an awesome demonstration of God’sgreat power and His fierce judgment. In a moment He could blow us all away with His breath or beat us with His waves. But those storms are also a testament to the greatness of His mercy to every life spared. When storms come, learn the fierceness of His power and remember the greatness of His mercy!

photo credit: El Garza