Pastor Jim the Younger

Convicted Toward Compassion

2011-12-11T17:58:00.000-08:00

This morning I had the privilege of preaching from Matthew 9:35-38; 14:13-14; Mark 6:30-34; and Matthew 20:29-34. The emphasis was on compassion (splagchnizomai). The flow was pretty basic/simple: Showing (true) compassion flows from having compassion which follows connecting (identifying) with the people when you love (agape) them made possible by dying to self. There were two things for which I was very grateful: 1. In the second service there was someone who could pronounce the Greek word for me; 2. In both services it was evident to me that God was touching minds, hearts, and spirits. Though being the one preaching, I was as much a recipient of the work of God as everyone else.

During this Christmas season, may God's children "carpe diem"—seize the day (opportunity)—while our neighbors, fellow workers, classmates, shoppers, etc. are more receptive to hearing about God's love. As we do, we will witness not the results of our own charismatic witness, but the results of God's continued work through broken vessels.

Moral Character

2011-10-20T16:09:00.000-07:00

It has become my pattern to go on an annual sermon planning retreat in November. Perhaps partly as a result of 32 years of leading the music ministry in four churches and wishing I knew well ahead of time what the sermons would be about. So, while it feels good to give the worship teams the tentative texts, working titles, themes, and thrusts for the coming year, an equally beneficial result is that I always know what I'll be preaching. The retreat is preceded and dominated with prayer as I seek direction from God.

Also, for the past four years, God has given a unifying theme for the year. The emphasis for 2012 is going to be the fourth part of our goal/direction as a church—"live like Jesus: love God, love others, make disciples" (fulfilling the great commandments and the great commission with Jesus as the paradigmatic self). I would love to have a catch phrase for making disciples but that hasn't come, yet. Two years ago, when loving God was the theme, we emphasized being connected to God by practicing spiritual disciplines and used being "hard-wired" to God as the mantra.

Before this year's retreat, in just a couple of weeks, I'm trying to read several books and become familiar with two or three small group studies on discipling. I would like to share an excerpt I just read in one of those books.

From John MacArthur in Twelve Ordinary Men (2002), p.46:

"A third element in the making of a leader—besides the right raw material and the right life experiences—is the right character. Character, of course, is absolutely critical in leadership. America's current moral decline is directly linked to the fact that we have elected, appointed, and hired too many leaders who have no character. In recent years, some have tried to argue that character doesn't really matter in leadership; what a man does in his private life supposedly should not be a factor in whether he is deemed fit for a public leadership role. That perspective is diametrically opposed to what the Bible teaches. Character does matter in leadership. It matters a lot.

"In fact, character is what makes leadership possible. People simply cannot respect or trust those who lack character. And if they do not respect a man, they will not follow him."

So, I'm looking for material on making and being disciples and I get a strong statement that is very relevant to politics as well as the leadership that is imperative in the discipling process. While others blindly say, as if a self-given entitlement, "God bless America!", I must plead, "God, convict America, bring us to our knees, and give us godly leaders with moral character."

Oh yes, one more thing as a side: Be sure to visit our new, though apparently temporary, web site.

Vanity of Vanities! (all for the love of an Apple)

2011-09-15T11:07:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure exactly when it happened but it most certainly has happened: I went from being part of a ridiculed minority, a nuisance, and someone without common sense to someone who is on the band wagon, aggravating, and arrogant…and I didn't change a single thing. I just keep using Apple computers.

Of course this is really small potatoes in the grand scheme of life but it is interesting (and mildly entertaining) to me to note how mac users are perceived differently than we were, say, thirty years ago. I had been using a mac for a few years but bought my first new laptop in 1981. It was a gray-scale Powerbook, 80Mb hard drive, 40Mb RAM, built-in floppy drive, and it still works today (except for the floppy drive). Then, we were off base and very odd. Now, we're trendy and even uppity.

If all I did was word processing, I'd still be using my original laptop. But graphics require memory and lots of it so I'm on my third laptop and second iMac. I upgrade them but eventually they max out and, even though they all still work, I have to get the latest and greatest. You understand…I have an image to maintain. You can use Skype, I'll use it when I have to (when chatting with PC users), but I prefer the superior quality and flow of iChat. It goes with being uppity and arrogant.

So thanks for my status change. No doubt the pendulum will swing back again...some day. But I won't care. I'm a mac user and I got used to being mocked thirty years ago.

P.S. I just read a microsoft ad: "PC's are customizable for work and play. Get the facts." It's true. They really are. But my mac came loaded for both.

(It just occurred to me…I could have done this on my iPod Touch.)

What if?

2011-04-08T12:03:00.000-07:00

Saint Francis of Assisi said, "Preach the gospel at all times. If necessary, use words." The reasoning is simple: Actions speak louder than words.

Accomplishing two things at once is said to be "killing two birds with one stone."

I just read something that does both. Kevin Ezell is president of the North American Mission Board and posted this on April 7, 2011: http://www.namb.net/nambblog1.aspx?id=8589998605&blogid=8589939695

Making budget cuts is hard enough but neither could not have been easy downsizing the staff that serves the country's largest evangelical denomination in the area of evangelism and missions for Canada and the United States. Undoubtedly, he has and will continue to receive criticism for such a move. I think the bottom line of "allowing us to put $9 million extra on the field for church planting this year" with the hope "it will be $15 million" next year shows where the priorities are and may his kind increase!

Speaking of "may his kind increase" and considering our nation's current economic disaster, I am convinced that a secondary effect, even if unintentional, is the example it sets for those entrusted with power to lead our country. What if they, too, drastically cut the administrative costs in order to put money out their where it is most needed? If they did, we surely would not be in the mess we are in.

I am in danger of beginning a rant that would surely sound political so I will stop here.

The New Normal

2011-03-30T15:19:00.000-07:00

Do you remember watching 9-11 unfold? I remember saying, when the second jet hit the second tower, "This is not an accident. We are under attack!" And then I remember thinking, "Nothing will ever be the same," meaning the way we go about our daily lives as been permanently changed.

The loss of life was and still is tragic. The victims are still dead. The families still mourn their loss. The way we go about our lives has changed. Suspicion and distrust remain. Inconveniences abound (think airports). Nevertheless, we go to work, school, shopping, vacations, church, etc., indicating that we have successfully adjusted to the "new normal" that followed 9-11.

And why wouldn't we?! After all, life has always been about adjusting to new normals. From the time we're born to the time we die, we are adjusting. We are born, we start eating solid food, we are potty-trained, we start school, we stop having recess, we graduate, we get a job, we change jobs, we move, we get married, we have kids, someone burglarizes our house, we buy a new car, we need surgery, we have to pay for our kids to go to college, the economy takes a nose dive, our kids get married, our siblings die, our parents die, we take a cruise, we have to learn new technology… Get the picture? We are in a constant state of adjusting.

So 9-11 brought in a new normal. There have been many others since then (What's your house worth compared to 5 or 10 years ago?). There will be more. We can handle it. After all, we were made in His image!

Sometimes Separation of Church and State Is Impossible

2011-03-24T10:31:00.000-07:00

The following is a copy of a recent exchange of communication between our congressman and myself. What I wrote was not perfect or even eloquent but I want people to see where Congressman Dicks stands since so many people overlook his ungodliness because he is able to throw a lot of money into our local economy.

Dear Congressman Dicks,

Thank you for your reply. I especially appreciate the clarity of your own position. It can be seen that you approach the issue from the standpoint of your personal interpretation of the law. I realize many carry such a viewpoint but, as a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ, I must give precedence to the supreme authority of what God says in the Bible regarding marriage. Every biblical reference to God's plan for marriage reveals it is between a man and a woman. We are in serious error when we reverse the proper course of interpreting man's law in light of God's word and counter it by interpreting God's word according to man's law. I believe our nation's founding fathers understood this and I pray our current leaders will return to it.

In Him,

Jim Gantenbein

On Mar 24, 2011, at 07:34 AM, Congressman Norm Dicks wrote:

Norm's Website - Constituent Services - Legislation - How Norm Voted - Email Norm

Dear Mr. Gantenbein:

Thank you for contacting me to comment on the Obama Administration's conclusion that the law prohibiting federal recognition of same-sex marriages is unconstitutional and its decision to direct Justice Department lawyers to cease defending the law in the courts. I appreciate your interest in this issue.

The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) was passed by Congress in 1996. It prohibits federal recognition of same-sex marriages and it allows individual states to refuse to recognize such marriages that have been performed in other states. Section 3 of DOMA requires that marriage, for purposes of federal benefit programs, is defined as the union of one man and one woman.

Since its passage there have been several challenges to the constitutionality of this law, based on two major legal arguments concerning the 10th and 14th Amendments. The 10th Amendment declares that "Full Faith and Credit shall be given in each State to the public Acts, Records, and judicial Proceedings of every other State," and opponents have contended that Congress has no constitutional power to pass a law permitting states to deny full faith and credit to another state's legal determination of a marriage. A second argument, based on the 14th Amendment, contends that the law denies "equal protection under the law" to all Americans.

On July 8, 2010, a U.S. District Court in Massachusetts found Section 3 of DOMA unconstitutional in two cases brought by same-sex couples married in Massachusetts. In one case, the court found that DOMA exceeded Congress's power under the Spending Clause and thus violated the 10th Amendment. In the other case, the court held that Congress's goal of preserving the status quo did not bear a rational relationship to DOMA and thus, violated the 14th Amendment's Equal Protection Clause. These decisions are similar to other rulings rendered in cases involving state-passed laws restricting same-sex marriage in Colorado, California and other states.

In February, the President and Attorney General Eric Holder issued a determination that the Justice Department would no longer defend the constitutionality of Section 3 of DOMA. At this time it is unclear whether the Department will continue to defend DOMA's constitutionality against other challenges. Based on the case law that is accruing and on my own views, I support the President's decision, and agree with the District Court's opinion that Section 3 is unconstitutional.

The House of Representatives may consider legislation this year that would assert the standing of the House to use taxpayer resources to respond to legal challenges to the Defense of Marriage Act, and I expect to oppose such a bill if it is considered on the House floor.

Thank you again for sharing your views on this timely and important matter.

Sincerely,

NORM DICKS

Visit Norm's website: http://www.house.gov/dicks/
Subscribe to Norm's Newsletter to receive periodic email updates from Congressman Norm Dicks.

The Mouse Has a New Horn

2011-03-09T13:45:00.000-08:00

http://www.viddler.com/simple_on_site/dbf32668

Could be fun!

Intolerance vs Tolerance

2011-02-18T15:02:00.000-08:00

in·tol·er·ance [in-tol-er-uhns] –noun
1. lack of toleration; unwillingness or refusal to tolerate or respect contrary opinions or beliefs, persons of different races or backgrounds, etc.
2. incapacity or indisposition to bear or endure: intolerance to heat.
3. abnormal sensitivity or allergy to a food, drug, etc.
4. an intolerant act.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.

What is so bad about intolerance and what is so great about tolerating everything? Besides, is there anyone in their right mind who would claim that anyone has ever existed who was intolerant about everything or who tolerated everything? To assert such a thing could only be done with eyes, mind, and memory permanently closed or totally missing.

By the way, the same dictionary used above gives the following definition for "tolerance":
tol·er·ance [tol-er-uhns] –noun
1. a fair, objective, and permissive attitude toward those whose opinions, practices, race, religion, nationality, etc., differ from one's own; freedom from bigotry.
2. a fair, objective, and permissive attitude toward opinions and practices that differ from one's own.
3. interest in and concern for ideas, opinions, practices, etc., foreign to one's own; a liberal, undogmatic viewpoint.
4. the act or capacity of enduring; endurance: My tolerance of noise is limited.

It seems, however, that the current use in our society could be simply defined as follows.

Tolerance: Allowing as valid and acceptable for everyone.
Intolerance: Not allowing as valid and acceptable for everyone.

Question: Does the person who extols tolerance extend that philosophy to the philosophy of the person who does not?
See? There can not be absolute tolerance without also embracing intolerance which, in turns, invalidates tolerance.

Bottom Line: Society and its individual members use terms like "tolerance" and "intolerance" to promote their own agenda and stifle the agenda of those who disagree.

That is pure intolerance!

But I can tolerate it.

A Few Sources for Family Advent Devotionals

2010-11-22T12:42:00.000-08:00

If you are looking for sources to help you observe advent with your family, here is a small variety of ideas that you can look into (Just copy and paste):
http://itsoktobeweird.blogspot.com/2007/12/fun-advent-family-devotions.html
http://www.cfumcga.com/advent.html
http://www.crosspoint.tv/nashville/happenings/nashville/2009/11-30/advent-devotional-pdf
http://www.supakoo.com/rick/AdventReadings.pdf

Scrooge McDuck's Sister

2010-10-26T14:35:00.000-07:00

Most folks know who Scrooge McDuck is. He is Donald Duck's rich and sometimes miserly uncle. His creator, Carl Barks, died in 2000 at the age of 99 and many people eulogized him, recalling what a wonderful man and artist he was. His wife of forty years preceded him in death by about seven years. Most of the eulogies do not mention that Carl Barks had been married twice before and that his only surviving child, who happened to be born during his first marriage, is Dorothy Gibson. Barks was called the father of Scrooge McDuck so I guess Dorothy is Scrooge's sister.

Dorothy Gibson is about 86 years old, lives in a modest house in Bremerton, Washington, is an active member of Kitsap Lake Baptist Church, and I am very proud to be her pastor. The pride I have in that fact is not because I am friends with the daughter of the man who changed the image of Donald Duck and created numerous Disney characters. It is because I have the privilege of pastoring a very godly woman who, except when very ill, continues to help clean the church building, particularly the ladies bathroom. She does it because it needs to be done and she can do it.

All that may be changing, however. Recently, Dorothy contracted pneumonia and has not fully recovered. She has even stopped eating, in part because, "nothing appeals to me." Her health is otherwise very good and her mind is as sharp as ever (though she thinks she is becoming a bit forgetful). Her daughter and son-in-law do all they can to help her and encourage her to eat. We hope and pray that Dorothy will soon regain her appetite and energy. Earlier this year, my beloved Aunt Betty went to be with the Lord. The cause of her death was listed as "Failure to thrive." That means her health was good and all her organs were working, but she simply stopped prospering physically and passed away. I hope that is not what is taking place with Dorothy.

Eulogies are traditionally given after a person dies. The word comes from two Greek words that, when put together translated as "good words." It just seems a bit crazy that we wait until after a person has died before we speak a eulogy regarding them. I wanted you to know that whatever Carl Barks was, his daughter, Dorothy Gibson, was much more because she is, as King David was, a person after God's own heart.

Jim

I Feel Your Pain

2010-07-31T13:23:00.000-07:00

Finally following the advice of friends who are also in the ministry, conference leaders, authors, and assorted others, I have begun to do something as part of my desire to improve my preaching. And to those of you who grimace, yawn, shake your head, have your eyes glaze over, or fall asleep I want you to know: "I feel your pain."

Yes, I have begun listening to recordings of my sermons. But take heart because your suffering may lead to better preaching and relief for future congregants.

Oh yes, one more thing: Thank you for your patience!

Marley's Ghost

2010-07-01T08:58:00.000-07:00

In Dicken's classic, A Christmas Carol, Jacob Marley returns as a ghost to warn Ebenezer Scrooge to change his ways or he will end up in the same predicament as Marley. After a very revealing night, Scrooge does turn his life around and as the saying goes: "All's well that ends well."

The United States of America has a similar opportunity to learn from another country's, even a continent's, past before it is too late. I would encourage anyone and everyone to view the following video blog (Keep in mind that Pat Condell is a British comedian who spends much of his time bashing religions, including Christianity.): http://www.jihadwatch.org/2010/06/pat-condell-on-ground-zero-mosque-is-it-possible-to-be-astonished-but-not-surprised.html

In the movie version of the television classic, The Little Rascals (a.k.a. Spanky and Our Gang), Alfalfa says, "I'm usually a lover, not a fighter, but in your case, I'm willing to make an exception!" I identify with him. I stay out of political debates and agonize over confrontation. But in this case, I'm willing to make an exception! This is not even political. This is spiritual. Islam, like all false religions, is founded by Satan and has the destruction of God's kingdom as its end.

Says Who?!

2010-06-08T10:07:00.000-07:00

It was my privilege to be a member of the Bison Glee Club at Oklahoma Baptist University. One of my "brothers" posted an interesting link which discussed recent anti-Jewish/Israeli comments and sentiments recently and not-so-recently expressed in and around Washington D.C.

A couple of quick responses to the post fell into the category of what I have labeled, "Victory By Proclamation." That is, the responder essentially declared that the post was invalid because they said so. I almost posted a comment on their responses, pointing this out. Then it occurred to me: There is a stage in life, while growing up, when "Because I said so!" seems a perfectly valid, even ultimate argument. Why would the age matter. If the person is stuck in that puerile (Isn't that a great word? I love the thesaurus!) stage, he is stuck with all of its baggage, as well, and just as disdainful to expostulation.

The worst part was when I had to acknowledge such vacuous assertions exist in the spiritual realm only with deadly consequences. Think about it: How many of the following questions have been answered with what can be reduced down to "Because I said so."

Why do you say there is no God?
Why don't you want to receive God's forgiveness right now?
How could something have come from nothing without a Supernatural Power?
Why would you choose to reject heaven and risk eternity in hell?
Why do you think coming to church is enough and surrendering complete authority to God is not necessary?
Why do you call Him Lord but not obey Him?

In truth, the converse of any one of those questions is too often answered in the same way, i.e. Why do you say there is a God? Answer: Because I said so. In truth, we have precious little, if anything, to do with what is truth. Perhaps we need to pray for people we love, "Lord, may they acknowledge Your Truth… because You said so."

There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death. –Proverbs 14:12; 16:25 (ESV)
Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the heart. –Proverbs 21:2 (ESV)

Who Is the Exception?

2010-04-05T15:15:00.000-07:00

What has been is what will be,

and what has been done is what will be done,

and there is nothing new under the sun.

Is there a thing of which it is said,

"See, this is new"?

It has been already

in the ages before us.

There is no remembrance of former things,

nor will there be any remembrance

of later things yet to be

among those who come after.

Ecclesiastes 1:9-11 (ESV)

The "Preacher" said it and it has endured for centuries, even millennia. Along with Job, Psalms, Proverbs, and the Song of Songs (Solomon), Ecclesiastes has been identified as "Wisdom Literature."

It gives rise to a question: Why would a person think he or she is the exception? Since there is "nothing new under the sun," why would someone expect you or I to believe that his situation is unique in time?

An answer may include the disturbing possibility that he has been deceiving himself until he now believes it. And why would anyone ever nurture the desire to deceive himself? Could it be because he has an even greater desire to please himself? If the truth stands in the way of your desires, simply invent your own truth that fits those desires. Sadly, a person who builds a straw house finds that it has blown away long before the mortgage is paid.

C. S. Lewis said, "If you look for truth, you may find comfort in the end; if you look for comfort you will not get either comfort or truth only soft soap and wishful thinking to begin, and in the end, despair."

Final question: What can you do to make a person turn away from the folly of insisting he or she is the exception?

Answer: Nothing. But you can and should pray that the person will be unable to resist the unconquerable truth of God.

These thoughts began near the beginning of Ecclesiastes so they will end with its conclusion:

The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 (ESV)

Do I Think Too Much?

2010-04-01T14:39:00.000-07:00

My brother-in-law, also a Pastor, recently posted with a question on facebook: "A man I just 'buried' was baptized 75 years ago but never attended church since. Is he in heaven today? What do you say? What does Scripture say?'"

Some of the replies were quotes from scripture but too many others were just personal opinions whether referencing scripture or not. Do you know what I mean? It was like saying a perfunctory prayer preceding the meal so we can go ahead and eat. As a prayer may be nothing more than changed words, using a verse in this way is sort of like, "Here's a verse from the Bible. Now let me tell you what I really think." As a matter of fact, I seem to recall a good number of "I think…" statements in those replies.

This is something I need to be more sensitive in my own life. I remember Billy Graham saying, "The Bible says…". I really liked that. It seems what I hear nowadays is more pontification than proclamation. I need to spend more time looking in the mirror for beams.

I was reading from Leviticus...

2010-01-21T13:30:00.001-08:00

Do we interpret the New Testament by the Old Testament or is it the other way around? You can hear adamant answers for each view but most people would probably give an honest, "I do not know."

Do we have to know? Are we supposed to know? Is it one or the other? Are the OT and the NT really separate or is there a back and forth flow of understanding and insight?

I used to dread reading from Leviticus, not because of its theme of and call for holiness but because I thought it was boring and irrelevant since so much of it pertained to sacrifices which we do not do anymore. But God began to speak to me through this book a number of years ago and now I treasure it. Part of my reading this morning was from Leviticus 21 and, while reading, my head began to fill with other passages and connections that I knew were being put together in my spirit by God. It was not just making sense – it was causing me to worship.

Consider the following and how they are connected: The regulations, etc. of the priests from whom the High Priest was chosen who would go into the Holy of Holies each year and stand before God on behalf of the people; the application of blood from the sacrificed animal onto the altar and the persons seeking forgiveness; God's declaration that "the life is in the blood"; God's command for us to be holy because He is holy; the blood that was applied during the original passover; the danger of the High Priest being unholy or disobeying God while in the Holy of Holies; Jesus' revelation to His disciples during the first Lord's Supper of "this is my body, which is given for you" and "this cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood"; John the Baptist's declaration of, "Look! It's the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world!"; the veil that separated mankind from God in the Sanctuary and Holy of Holies that only the High Priest could go through; the tearing of the veil, from top to bottom, when Jesus died on the cross for our sins, thereby removing the barrier between God and man; that the word "for" in "this cup that is poured out for you" is the word "huper" and it means "over" which itself can have a double meaning ("onto" and "in behalf of"; and Hebrews 4:14-5:10.

I am sure there was even more but it was/is evident to me that God does not set up one testament over the other as if He has two sets of scripture and one is subordinate to the other. We do not have to understand it. It is okay. As my friend and fellow pastor, Brian Kimball, said, "In those days [Bible times] it was perfectly acceptable to say, 'It is a mystery.' Why can't we say that today?"

This I know: What I could grasp caused me to be in awe and to worship God. What was beyond my grasp did the same.

Great Trip!

2010-01-04T13:31:00.000-08:00

The 35th Anniversary Celebration Trip finally arrived and it was great! Although it was arranged to mostly duplicate the 30th Anniversary trip, it felt like a completely different experience – not better or worse, but different. Besides that fact that we all live in different houses, go to different churches than we did in 2004, and all of us changed jobs, job titles, or employment status, there were many differences on the trip itself.
Some notable and maybe not-so-notable differences:

We went straight to Orlando instead of to the Herrons for Thanksgiving before traveling together to Orlando.
No blisters on my feet!
We travelled on Sunday to go to church with Osa Marie Wittenmyer and Terry.
Danny and I did get our haircut at the Harmony Barbershop on Main Street U.S.A. in the Magic Kingdom this time.
I did not gain 20 pounds. In fact, I did not gain any weight!
The parks were more crowded this time.
We went on Expedition Everest (and I almost lost my cookies).
We went to Blizzard Beach and came away bruised (and I went on Summit Plummet twice).
Cathy and I spent a night at the All Star Movies "Resort" (as in, we needed a place to stay for our first night and, being tight-wads, that was our final resort).
We coughed up the bucks and went to "Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party."
We went on Toy Story Mania and LOVED IT!
We used Disney's Photo Pass (the verdict is still out on this).
We went on the new Finding Nemo ride which was much better than "Finding Nemo" on the submarines at Disneyland in California.
We toured the campsites at the Fort Wilderness Campground and checked out some great Christmas displays.
We saw the Stunt Car show at Hollywood Studios.
We wore "Anniversary" buttons and got treated with extra perks and greetings.
We went to the Hoop Dee Do Musical Review and Dinner Show. It was great except for the ending.
We went to the Candlelight Processional when Steven Curtis Chapman was the narrator.
We experienced Cirque du Soleil - La Nouba and it was great!
We went to the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral and saw a real astronaut.
We started the cruise wearing shirts made specially for the occasion.
We received perks on the boat for being Castaway Club members (repeat cruisers).
We saw a beautiful rainbow at sea.
We sailed in the Atlantic Ocean instead of just the Caribbean.
We toured Tortola, BVI and spent 2 1/2 glorious hours at a private beach.
We went to St. Thomas, USVI and rode the sky tram up to Paradise Point.
Some people did not get back to the boat on time and were left on St. Thomas.
We saw the Flying Dutchman, some stingrays, and an eel at Castaway Cay.
It rained on us at Castaway Cay and we went back to the boat early to watch "A Christmas Carol" in 3D.
We had a couples massage on the boat.
Cathy "beeped" at all the airport security checks because of her new knees.
I was able to post pictures and a total of nearly 3 hours of videos of the trip at: http://gallery.me.com/gantenbein

Now, the trip I had anticipated and planned for five years is over. It is not something I look forward to anymore. It is a memory. Well, it is a lot of memories. But it is more than that because it also helped me to rest and get refreshed. So it still has value. And that is enough to begin planning the 40th Anniversary Celebration Trip in 2014. This time our kids are invited so I hope they started saving up!

But you know what was the most special thing about the trip? It was the reason for the trip in the first place: Being with Cathy.

Time Is Relative (but it doesn't leave you any inheritance)

2009-10-21T15:35:00.000-07:00

We had all the time in the world—five years—and no cause for concern. It was December 11, 2004, when we gathered up our luggage and headed for the airport after the most relaxing week of our lives aboard the Disney Magic. About half way through the voyage, the Herrons and Gantenbeins had determined that this "once-in-a-lifetime" trip needed to be repeated every fifth year. We even decided that we would invite all our kids and their families (Dutch treat, of course) to come along on the third trip in 2014 when we celebrated our 40th anniversaries.

When the first email went out, it announced: "257 weeks left." It seemed ridiculous to start warning ourselves to get ready when it had been less than a week since we returned home from the first trip. The other email, sent at the same time and to our kids as well, said "517 weeks left." That's nearly ten years and it was rather silly at the time.

Now my little Mickey Mouse countdown says "34 days, 8 hours, 18 minutes, 30 seconds" instead of the 1,799 days that were contained in those 257 weeks. The time may not have flown by but it is definitely gone and there are less than five weeks whether or not we are ready. (But we ARE ready!) So it will be with a new sense of urgency that I send an email out on December 16, 2009, that says: "257 weeks. Get ready!" Anyone who is not ready the day before Thanksgiving in 2014 will miss out. That would be a shame and we will miss them but they will have been warned. And we will still go to Orlando and on the cruise without them.

Jesus said, "I am coming soon" (Revelation 3:11; 22:7, 12, & 20) and "My reward is with me. and I will give to everyone according to what he has done." (22:12 NIV) Those who are prepared with Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior will be rewarded with eternity in heaven. Those who are not prepared will be rewarded with eternity in hell. That would be a shame and we will miss them but they have been warned. And we will still go to heaven without them.

Of course, since the Disney Wonder's permanent home port will be Los Angeles by that time, maybe we will go to Disneyland and take the Wonder on a 7-night cruise to Mexico. But I do not think our kids will let us do that on their first trip with us so maybe we will save that for our 45th or 50th anniversary.

Potpourri

2009-08-25T09:09:00.000-07:00

This may read as if I have ADD, and maybe I do, but that is not the cause for the disconnected topics. I just have a little bit to say about several things.

The increased frequency with which I am seeing doctors and other medical personnel bugs me. The reason was confirmed by a lower back specialist/surgeon last week. He was about half way through his review of the MRI when I stated, "So, what you are telling me is that I am getting older." His succinct and honest reply lacked any possibility for misinterpretation: "Yes". So, I shall try to maintain an attitude of grace and venerable dignity at the four different medical appointments I have this week.

"We are weak, but He is strong." So goes the line from Jesus Loves Me. "We" includes me and I need to remember that I am weak, too. Incidences are increasing in which people need help, especially financial/material help. A common refrain is, "I know God is going to provide." However, the expressed trust in God to provide is not matched by lifestyles devoted to actively pursuing His likeness in them. In other words, the reality appears to be more along the lines of "I do not need to do anything because I expect God to do everything for me." I never hear, "I have made a mess out of my life. I don't even know how to get out of this predicament. Can you help me get started?" Pastors really do experience a lot of people like this and it can easily lead to cynicism. That's when I need to be reminded that I am part of the "we" in "we are weak."

We established a garden last year, bringing in ten cubic yards of garden soil from the landscape supply business. Even with Miracle Grow it only produced a mediocre harvest of undersized vegetables. Even as we worked the garden, we began composting all of our organic material from the kitchen. This past Spring we distributed the compost over the ten raised beds. The difference that decayed waste has made is nothing short of amazing. For the first time ever, we successfully grew artichokes. [http://gallery.me.com/gantenbein#100045&bgcolor=black&view=grid] So many of the vegetables are huge! Needless to say, we will be dumping more waste on next year's garden. Maybe that is why God allows so much "waste" to be dumped on our lives: It provides a great opportunity for us to grow and produce great spiritual fruit.

What makes baseball managers wait so long? The pitcher as gone six or seven good innings and has a two or three run lead. Then the lead off batter hits a home run, he walks the next two batters and it is obvious that he is really struggling. But the manager does nothing. It's as if he's thinking, "I can't take him out until it's too late to salvage the game." Sure enough, the pitcher hits a batter and gives up a grand slam to the next. Now, the team is down by the same number of runs that it had previously been ahead. In comes the reliever who shuts down the opposition for the final innings of the game and you can't help thinking, "If the manager had put him in after the first or second walk, we would have won!" I can understand the manager wanting to give the guy a chance to work himself out of the jamb but aren't these professionals who are supposed to know when I guy has lost his edge? How do the other players really feel (not in front of the cameras and mics) about standing by helplessly as the manager allows one player to throw away what the whole team has worked so hard to gain?

Why does clear ocean water, such as in the Caribbean, cause such a longing to be in/on/by it? What makes it seem so peaceful? How fast can the next thirteen weeks go by?

Friends Don't Hurt Friends…Usually

2009-08-22T19:33:00.000-07:00

I might have hurt a dear friend today. I did not mean to and I may not have. But the very possibility makes me sick to my stomach.

No Signal Available

2009-08-20T11:04:00.000-07:00

When I first turn on our television and cable box, a message is displayed on the TV screen: "No Signal Available". It stays on the screen for several seconds until the cable box does its thing and we can start viewing the shows. And that is the way it works: No signal, no picture; Valid signal, clear picture.

The same principle applies to many other things, including those shows on The History Channel, Discovery, National Geographic Channel, etc. with titles like "Banned from the Bible", "The Real Jesus", and the like. The are usually full of interviews from high brows and others who have very important titles and positions but clearly no personal relationship with the God about whom they speak so authoritatively.

Why is any follower of Christ able to understand and accept the things of God so easily when these "learned" people have no clue? The answer is in the very book they intentionally or unintentionally denigrate with their "knowledge".

The secret counsel of the Lord

is for those who fear him,

and He makes known to them his covenant.

Psalm 25:14 (ESV)

Regarding Worship Music

2009-08-14T23:33:00.000-07:00

A very dear friend whom I highly esteem asked me to write an article on worship music following another article on his blog site by Chuck Colson who sited Donald Williams, Director of the School of Arts and Sciences at Toccoa Falls College in Georgia. ( http://samshaw.wordpress.com/ ) It was a good article but something about it bugged me: It sounded like rules with an angle. Consider the following I have lifted from the article:

Williams writes, we must know “those marks of excellence that made the best of the past stand out and survive so long.”

These marks of excellence “are not arbitrary.” They “are derived from biblical teaching about the nature of worship.”

In all honesty, not only does that not bother me, I agree with it. But one of the marks of excellence—"musical beauty"—became very subjective, showing Williams' own proclivity nourished by a classical music training. Again, I do not object to that but it is, none the less, subjective and not necessarily "derived from biblical teaching about the nature of worship." Although I may also agree with Williams' statement that "more recent praise choruses seem to ignore all the rules of good composition," I must also note that this is subjective. After all, as much as I love classical music and adhere to the aforementioned rules of good composition, I have never seen any evidence that those rules, and no others, came from scripture and that anything else can not be truly worshipful.

I can not say I disagree with Williams' tastes, put I do not think that having 75% of an assertion be inspired by scriptural principles justifies tucking in an additional 25% made up of personal conviction and placing it under the same label. Most teachers would give 75% a "C" or "D" and that's not exactly what we should be aiming for.

I do like Colson's conclusion:

Surely all sides of the music wars can agree that we want to praise God by singing hymns and spiritual songs that are biblically true, theologically profound, poetically rich, and, yes, musically beautiful.

When Men Create God In Their Image

2009-08-12T21:37:00.000-07:00

"So God created man in His own image; He created him in the image of God; He created them male and female." —Genesis 1:27 (HCSB)

Wouldn't the world be a better place if man had left it that way instead of reversing it? But ever since "God created man in His own image," man has been returning the favor. First, man decides what he wants. Then, man makes a mold for a god that will fit what he wants. After that, man puts bits and pieces of the Bible into the mold and fills it in with his own opinions and desires. Voila! A "god" who justifies man's every action. And anyone who disagrees is simply dismissed as one who is out of fellowship with God. He seeks the endorsement of the church and when that endorsement fails to materialize or is withdrawn, the church is at fault. No matter what, it is never man's fault.

Too bad man can never see that his god is a destroyer of lives and relationships. And after it all falls apart, man blames the church and those closest to him.

It's Judges 21:25 all over again...and again...and again:

"In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did whatever he wanted."

Exposure

2009-07-27T21:35:00.000-07:00

It has been a real joy to connect and reconnect on facebook with many friends from days gone by. Checking the profiles and comments of friends—going back to elementary school, junior high school, high school, and college—reveal a wide diversity of current beliefs and convictions.

Some past friends have continued on steadily with some ups and downs. Some have walked away and stayed away from the faith that was a part of their lives when younger. Some walked away but came back later when their way of doing things produced bad results. Some found a faith they never knew before and are thriving in it today.

One very common element in almost every (perhaps every) situation: The responsible adults in the lives of these friends when they were younger. Some adults lived consistent lives of faith, some never pretended to have any faith in God, and some had a major breakdown in the way they lived that left a significant impression on the child or youth.

Those who looked to adults as their paradigms risked major disappointment. Those who looked to God have sometimes had difficult lives but were never disappointed by their role model.

Moral?: People mess up. God does not. Keep your focus on God.

Pray FOR President Obama

2009-06-25T13:31:00.000-07:00

Hiram was not an Israelite. He was from Tyre in the territory given to the tribe of Asher but probably never conquered by Israel. Anyway, he was the Sidonian king when Solomon became the king of Israel after David. Hiram had been on friendly terms with David but the rulers of countries seem to get a bit nervous when a neighboring country gets a new leader. So Hiram sent an envoy to check things out and talk to Solomon who sent a message back to Hiram that was very pleasing and kept the peace between the two nations. 1 Kings 5:7 (HCSB) says, "When Hiram heard Solomon's words, he greatly rejoiced and said, 'May the Lord be praised today! He has given David a wise son to be over this great people!'"

As I was reading the passage, it was at that point that God clearly impressed upon me the imperative to pray for our president – not against him, not about him, but for him. It is important for our political peace that the leaders of other countries with which he has interaction be favorably impressed with him. It is important that, like Solomon, he has great wisdom to "discern between good and evil" (1 Kg 3:9) as he makes decisions that affect us and our relationship with other nations. It is important that the citizens of the United States of America have confidence in him. But we must pray for our president because it is most important that we bring God back into the equation. 2 Chronicles 7:14-15 indicates that this is what God wants.

10 People A Pastor Should Fear

2009-06-01T12:09:00.001-07:00

Ever read where someone has written, "I normally don't like to copy/forward someone else's stuff, but..."? Perhaps it is because I need to humble myself by acknowledging that others write more important/helpful things that I point you to the following, especially if you are a pastor or if you love your pastor:

The Gospel-Driven Church: 10 People A Pastor Should Fear

Shared via AddThis

Three Years Is a Long Time

2009-05-06T14:02:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday our pianist had to stay home. Her son was sick and her husband is a chaplain onboard the John C. Stennis aircraft carrier so, as the only parent at home right now, she took care of her baby and rightly so.

Things like that happen. We call them "circumstances". As I have often told the folks who make up Kitsap Lake Baptist Church, every circumstance is an opportunity to show God how much you love Him. Indeed, our response to each circumstances reveals to the world what we truly believe about God. There are times when I think life would be easier if I would keep such deeply spiritual and insightful observations to myself. Last Sunday morning was one of those times.

After a tiring Friday and Saturday at the NWBC Student Conference, I showed God how much I loved Him but it is unlikely that the world was convinced it was love instead of torture. I "played" my guitar for the 11:00 service. Perhaps it should be mentioned that the guitar had seldom been played in the past 3+ years. There were frequent times when the voices of the worship team and congregation dramatically sang without accompaniment - a stunning affect used to make sure God can hear us over the instruments (and to allow my poor, cramping left hand to recover long enough to finger the final chord). There were even more times when this "traditional" style service ventured into a much more contemporary realm as the music was sung in one key and accompanied in another key, somewhat alien sounding, and often resembling the harmonic sound made by one of those springy door stoppers when a preschooler playfully "twangs" it.

I have never known the people to seem so eager for the sermon to begin.

Me, too.

Death: It Is NOT a Blessing!

2009-04-22T13:22:00.000-07:00

These are thoughts I have had today. When you read them, you are, more or less, reading my mind. But I might change my mind, or at least adjust it, tomorrow.

Having experienced the death of my sister in March and several other deaths in or related to our church family, the subject of death is on my mind more often than in the past. Two of the recent deaths, my sister and our church pianist, have been described as "blessings" since Cheryl suffered from ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) and Donna was eaten up by pancreatic cancer. I am sure I have thought the same thing myself.

But to say that death, any death, is a blessing is wrong… every time.

His death was necessary but… If death was the blessing, then why the resurrection?

Cheryl's life was a blessing. Her death was a curse. The same is true for Donna and every child of God.

Death is a result of sin (Romans 6:23). It is a part of the curse of sin. Would you ever say that death is a blessing for a person who does not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ? Of course not! Then death itself can not be a blessing.

The blessing for Cheryl, Donna, and every other believer is that they did/do not truly die. Jesus said so in John 3:16 & 5:24! When God says "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints" (Psalm 115:16), the word "yaqar" means: Valuable, brightness, clear, costly, excellent, fat, honorable women, precious, and reputation. The context of the verse, i.e. the 116th Psalm is about life and living for the Lord. It speaks more of deliverance from death (vv.3, 4, 6, & 8). In its context verse 16 reads more about God's esteem for His children than about the event of death.

For my sister and other believers afflicted by cruel diseases, the end of suffering was/is a blessing because they most certainly remain alive but are free from their tortured bodies. So, we can say that the death of the physical body is a blessing for the follower of Christ because the believer continues to live in the presence of Jesus Himself. Now, that is a blessing!

Does God's Will Change?

2009-04-09T13:49:00.000-07:00

We often think of everything associated with God as having the exact same characteristics as God. For instance, God does not change, therefore His will does not change. Hold on to that thought...

When Cathy and I first started looking at the possibility of having a house built, we were among the first to register, indicating an interest in a new development. It turned out that the first group of people to register qualified for a $10,000 discount on their new house if they went ahead with the build once contacted by the developer. We had made the decision to wait until our previous house sold before committing to a new house. Once contacted, we shared that information which was fine with them. After our house sold, we contacted them and told them we were ready to move forward with the new construction. They were happy to have us as customers. Soon we learned that we would not get the $10,000 discount because we had not moved forward when first contacted, opting to wait for the previous house to sell. But we still thank God for our new home.

Okay, the developer changed the offer but surely God does not change His will. Or does He?

Numbers 13 records the account of the twelve spies who scouted Canaan and reported back to Moses and all the Israelites. Numbers 14 records the account of the people balking at taking possession of the land, preparing to select a new leader (even though they were not the ones who selected Moses in the first place), and going back to Egypt because they were not about to go into Canaan where the giants lived. God was angry, killing the ten spies who gave a bad report and incited the Israelites against Moses.

The last part of chapter 14 tells how the people were then ready to march into Canaan. Moses tried to stop them saying, "The Lord won't be with you, since you have turned from following Him." (v.43 HCSB) They went anyway, even though the ark of the covenant and Moses did not go with them.

They were routed.

At first they were supposed to go in and then they were slaughtered when they finally did it. It appeared God's will had changed. Or did it?

Yes and no. They were no longer to march right in and take possession of the land but God's eternal will had not changed. God's will was for the people to follow Him, not take off without Him. It's still that way. There are things God wants for us and we may cancel the opportunity when we disobey/reject/delay/etc. For instance, God may want parents to lead their children to become followers of Christ, but if the parents are not following Christ, God will give that privilege to someone else. But God's will remains that we follow and obey Him.

God Is Not In a Box

2009-04-07T11:57:00.000-07:00

When I was in seminary taking the course, "Theology of American Cults," I heard the leader of the indoctrination class for the Church of Jesus Christ, Later Day Saints, Ward 1, in Fort Worth say, "We have God in a box." He stated that everything that could be known about God has been revealed to the church's prophets/leaders and now they had the complete picture.

What a very small god they have.

The one true living God is beyond our understanding (Job 36:26; 37:5; Psalm 139:6; 147:5; Ephesians 3:20). Not only can we not understand everything about Him, we can not even know everything about him. In fact, because of our sin, we do not even have the capacity to think that high. My God will not fit in a box. I will never be able to present Him to anyone. It is Jesus—God the Son—who is able to present us before the Father.

So, does my life prove I believe God is unlimited? Does He ever use me to accomplish the impossible? Is His church living without limits or have we living in a box that can not possibly contain Him?

Recession Proof

2009-03-20T13:34:00.001-07:00

Much has been and will continue to be written regarding the recession, including Christians and the recession. Far be it from me to go against the crowd. So sit down and plug in your iPod because you will probably want the distraction while reading this. But you need a reason to continue so let me tell you that I think Christians can be (even "should be") recession proof.

You are not going to read some nonsense about Christians who have real faith in God will be healthy, wealthy, and wise. I have sinusitis, the equity in our new house dropped by $50,000 in its first year, and I do not have any idea how to change it. But I still have real faith in God…and a solution to how believers can be recession proof.

Here it is: Die. It seems that memorial services are currently my lot in life and I have noticed that every single person who dies is unaffected by the recession. As a matter of fact, those closest to the deceased remain less concerned with the recession while in mourning than they do when not in mourning. But I am not advocating suicide. I just completed "Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training" and I am personally opposed to taking your own life. But there is another way to "die".

"I have been crucified with Christ. It is no long I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2:20 ESV)

To shorten this whole thing way down…

Only allow eternal things - things of the Kingdom of God - to govern your life. The recession, along with most of the other things we worry about, is earthly and temporary. If you live for Jesus, with His mind in you, then the recession is something for which you will refuse to change the direction, focus, and purpose of your life.

If you don't die with Him, you can't live for Him.

Before the Sun Sets

2009-03-06T08:15:00.000-08:00

This is from another site where I was also posting a blog. I just thought I ought to bring it all together in one spot.

_______

I enjoy gardening and building simple things for the house and garage. The time for such things is while it is still light out. Once the sun begins its daily plunge to and below the horizon, I am forced to prioritize the remaining work and fit it into the remaining daylight

My life is like that. The sunset is becoming easier to picture than the sunrise is to remember. I have an increasing desire to know what is most important and get it done while there is time. There are consequences to such thinking. Priorities come with a price.

For all of my life, family has been a priority. When I was young, it was my parents and siblings, then my aunts, uncles, and cousins. Since 1971 it has been Cathy with Aaron, Alison, and David becoming permanently engraved as each entered our lives. Someday, I believe… I hope… I think I want… we will also gratefully and joyfully embrace our new son and daughters when our children get married. And then, joy of joys, GRANDKIDS! But that is yet to be and this is now.

Above my family I have desired, at least in word and intent, to lace my relationship with God. Yet, words and intent are vaporous if not indurated by consistent and sincere lifestyle. It is at this point that the willingness to pay the price for such a priority becomes evident to all. Talk is cheap but the cost of living… Suffice it to say that the desire to please people has too often been a barrier to pleasing God. Jacob Marely had his heavy chain, comprised of countless links. I have mine, too, with many of those links being forged from truths twisted or softened in order to make them more agreeable to others. There is no way of knowing how many people were pushed away from the cross because of my weakness. I have been in disparate need of the wisdom and insight of Jim Elliot who wrote, "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose."

So, now that I am closer to the grave than the cradle, I may begin to appear a bit more rigid and inflexible, particularly with regards to God's eternal truths. May the appearance reflect the reality, but may those characteristics be refined and presented in companionship with an increasing love for God and others. May I be willing to forfeit their friendship for the cause of their salvation.

Always In Him,

Jim

I wish she could hit me again.

2009-03-04T00:16:00.000-08:00

The picture is our daughter, Alison, and my oldest sister, Cheryl Hamilton, when the Hamiltons arrived at our house last April.

When I was growing up, Cheryl, used to enforce her will by pounding me on top of the head. The jolt sent electric shocks right down to my heels. Then, I finally reached puberty and became strong enough to impress both of my sisters that their days of physical domination had ended. Yes, growing up third in a family of five kids was special.

Last April, Cheryl and Steve came to visit us on the day we had an "Open House" so everyone could see our new home. Cheryl's ALS was steadily robbing her of more and more physical abilities, including speech. But brothers never let sisters off the hook, so, when they pulled up in their van, I went out to greet them and asked, "How are you doing?" Cheryl smiled and nodded, indicating that she was doing well. I said, "What?" She repeated her nod, smiling more broadly. I said, "What? I can't hear you!"

That was the last time she ever hit me. On Tuesday night, March 3, at around 11:20, I was awakened by my cell phone ringing. It was Nancy, my other sister. The ALS had finally won.

Cheryl is with Jesus...completely.

For Cheryl, it is a time of joy and celebration.

Yet, even though I know her smile and beautiful voice are filling heaven at this very moment...

I wish she were here to hit me again. And I wish I could take away the emptiness that her husband and daughters are experiencing and the hurt that my parents and siblings are feeling.

Dang.

2009-02-24T12:29:00.000-08:00

I was viewing some pictures and videos of Kiera at The Large Connection and marveled at how convenient digital technology is. Then a thought hit me: This technology can be used to affect the way the children being born today and in the future view their world — Everything is pixilated. In digital visual media, if you zoom in enough, there are just solid color pixels. Applying that to our lives as children of God is easy. Don't get fooled by what appears to be unclear boundaries and undefinable blending. Zoom in. Get to the core. The world may be confusing but God is not confused. When we abide in Him and His word, we see clearly. The lines, boundaries, and true source of things are evident. Our lives can be based on truth, not on the ambiguities and blurriness of the world.

So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed Him, "If you continue in My word, you really are My disciples. You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.…Therefore, if the Son sets you free, you really will be free."

John 8:31-32, 36 (HCSB)

Focusing on the Right Target

2009-02-23T11:32:00.000-08:00

Shooting guns is something I have enjoyed in the past and something I would like to enjoy again. While not the best shot in the world, I have been a very good shot with rifle or pistol. Hitting a target has always been something I could do as long as I focused on it. There have been times when I used a scope and that made focusing even easier. Of course, there were times when the view through a scope made finding the target a challenge since the scope of view is very limited through a scope. The solution is to eyeball the target first, align the gun in the general direction of the target, focus on the specific target through the scope, and then squeeze of the desired rounds.

There seems to be a lot of things happening and soon to happen that are requiring or will require a great deal of my attention. It is not relief that is needed at this point but, rather, focus. My focus needs to be on the emotional, physical, intellectual, and spiritual needs of others. I need a good "eyeball" view of what is happening, line up my resources, focus in on the needs, and then start squeezing off as many rounds as it takes to get the job done.

Excuse me while I start aiming.