Mission Trip to America?

Creola's house was falling apart. The West Virginia mountainside was literally sliding into it. And her sewer line wasn't working. She needed help and graciously received it when Toledo First missionaries to America, Keith and Charlene Barr, intervened through the SWAP organization [which stands for Sharing With Appalachian People] that they are partnering with in the coal mining area of McDowell County.
Today, a strong retaining wall is holding the mountain back. A new bathroom and bedroom has been added. And thanks to Toledo First members Dave Case and Shawn Flack, who along with five others spent last week in West Virginia, Creola has sewer again. Though there is no Adventist church nearby, Creaola has started attending another one for the first time in years. Click here to see Shawn's pics on Facebook or scroll below to see a few more of my faves.

The SWAP House is a former coal baron's house from 1911. Keith and Charlene live here and host groups as large as 49 in this house that serve the Appalachian community year round. The concrete veranda and walls needed reinforcement as did the footer supporting the garage. Mindy kept us happily fed and Gail and Barb thoroughly spring cleaned this entire ginormous house on the inside while Larry fixed the fencing for the goats and prepared the veranda for more concrete. During some down time, the mayor of historic Bramwell—once home to 19 millionaire coal barons and their families—gave us a personal walking tour of the town and beautiful homes. Where I finally found a bumper sticker to add to the roof rack. I wanted one that said "West Virginia Mountain Momma" based on the line from the John Denver song Country Roads, but alas, had to settle for a simple WVA. Who wants to go next spring?

Grace to Give and Receive?

Markella's husband Jimmy Joe [behind her in pic below] was the Fire Chief of Kimball and Director of McDowell County 911 in 2001 and 2002 when flash floods raced down the West Virginia mountains being stripped of their trees and coal. But not even he could stop the currents pushing his fire truck down the "street" preventing him from rescuing his family. But after watching nearly all the other brick buildings around her fall down from a second story apartment above the store, her family and friends took weeks off work to help her remove the three and a half feet of mud in her basement after the water receded. Today, her Greek restaurant, Ya Sou [which means in Greek, "To good health!"], still serves grape leaves and baklava and other delicacies and dishes even Roy has grown to love.

Roy is the African American semi-retarded adult foster child I met during our Mission Trip to America last week who does the dishes in Markella's Kimball, West Virginia restaurant. His foster parents died recently and though he can take care of himself, like all of us, he still needs a mom. So months after he started helping around the store, he asked Markella if he could call her mom and she said yes. Everybody who comes to Ya Sou knows Markella and her husband and her kids. But now everyone also knows Roy. This self proclaimed "red neck brother" is one of the friendliest and kindest people you'll ever meet. Click here to listen to one of his fave bluegrass bands performing live in Markella's deli.

The rich young ruler in Mark 10 didn't grasp what Markella and Roy did. But even though he didn't, Mark 10:18 says, "Jesus looked at him and loved him." I wish the Bible added "like crazy" but we still get the point. It takes grace to give and receive.

Mothers Day Movies?

From the Bible, we know that mother's often sacrifice for their children. When Mary the Mother of Jesus said “yes” to the angel Gabriel, she showed both an acknowledgment of God’s love and a willingness to sacrifice herself to bear that love through her son, Jesus. And Jesus, though preoccupied with breathing through the excruciating pain of being crucified, made sure his mother would be well cared for after his death in John 19:26-27. All of which reminds us whether you're a mother or especially her baby, that you are loved like crazy! A couple of current films dramatically portray these themes of sacrificial love. Click the triangular play buttons below to watch the previews and see what I mean.

Think Big Tonight?

Dr. Ben Carson is the director of Pediatric Neurosurgery at the Johns Hopkins Childrens Center as well as professor of neurosurgery, oncology, plastic surgery and pediatrics. He’s known as lead surgeon on several high-profile separations of conjoined twins, as well as for his work with craniofacial reconstructive surgery.

Dr. Carson has also authored three books entitled Gifted Hands, Think Big, and The Big Picture. Cuba Gooding Jr. recently portrayed Dr. Carson's life story in the TNT drama Gifted Hands [click triangular play button below for a preview]. Carson is a member of the Spencerville Adventist Church in suburban Maryland but will be speaking tonight in Toledo at Savage Arena @ 7:30pm as part of the University of Toledo's 100 year anniversary. Join us!!!

Dady Dartur Day?

So I staggered into my home office one morning recently. And on top of my computer keyboard, I found this note from my 8 year old daughter Lydia. And beneath the keyboard scrawled into April 13's box in my datebook were these words: "Dady dartur day."

You see, I had promised to eat lunch at school with her on the 13th of each month - the day of her birthday in February. And though sadly, this was the first time I actually remembered to do it, apparently she still loves me. And says she still will years from now. I promise not to miss next month Lydia. Thank you for loving me like crazy!!!

Homer In The Holy Land?

Many of you know Jackie and I were in the Holy Land in January. In this recent episode [season 21 episode 16] of The Simpsons, Homer visits too. Primarily so his Christian neighbor Ned Flanders can save him reminding us that all of us are SO loved by God!!! If you have 22 minutes, a wacky sense of satire, and aren't easily offended, I think you'll enjoy "The Greatest Story Ever Doh!" I did. Especially the tour guide!!!

Can We Recapture the Wonder of the Cross?

Off With A Bang?

The first few months of 2010 have started off with a bang. In January, as part of my sabbatical, we spent a week in Israel. Here we're on the Sea of Galilee approaching Tiberias where the resurrected Jesus appeared to the disciples a third time [see John 21:1-14]. In February, we stocked our food pantry during the Souper Bowl of Caring and raised a few thousand dollars for Murwira Orphanage in Zimbabwe during our Valentines for Africa banquet. We also gave Lydia the choice of having a ginormous 8th birthday party with all her friends from school or a small family only birthday at an indoor water park. Jackie and I were SO pleased that she still wants to spend birthdays with us!!! Also in February, we hosted a Community Ash Wednesday service with three other churches that attracted so many guests we had to put out more chairs in the multi-purpose room and the toboggan run at Pokagon State Park [Indiana] was a 35mph blast! One weekend in March we hosted Alden Thompson who talked about his book Who's Afraid of the OT God? and during another we took the kids to family wedding in Florida [cousins galore!] but managed to sneak in one day @ Disney's Animal Kingdom. My sister Maegan even came with us! Easter falls in the beginning of April this year and ten different congregations in Toledo will be joining ours during a special 2pm Community Good Friday Worship Service sure to prepare our hearts for the scheduled baptisms and miracle of Easter. Also coming in April is the TJA Music Fest in Columbus followed by our Mission Trip to West Virginia!!! Who else loves a little John Denver?!! Take me home / country roads / to the place I belong...BTW, I think there's a few more spots if you want to go on the mission trip to West Virginia APR 25 - MAY 1st [costs $325] and re-build houses. If you want to go, let me know ASAP!!!

Less Than Half At Easter?

While most Americans describe Easter as a religious holiday, less than half of U.S. adults [42%] surveyed link it specifically to the resurrection of Jesus, a Barna Group study shows. At 73 percent, baby boomers (ages 45 to 63) were the most likely to describe Easter as a religious holiday, compared to two-thirds of those ages 26 to 44 and Americans 64 and older. The youngest group of adults (ages 18 to 25) were least likely, at 58 percent, to use that kind of description.

"The Easter holiday in particular still has a distinctly religious connection for people but...the specifics of it are really fading in a lot of people's minds," said David Kinnaman, president of the Barna Group, which is based in Ventura, Calif.

Maybe if we as parents and grandparents spend some time this weekend reading and discussing Luke 24:1-12 this Easter, we can reverse these numbers!!! [click pic of Jackie and me in Israel at Jerusalem's Garden Tomb for more Barna info]

Dude Perfect?

Dude Perfect is a group of college guys that follow Jesus. And they also happen to be YouTube sensations because of their crazy basketball shots. And yes, all their shots are real. Their philosophy has always been: Just because it's hard, doesn't mean it's impossible. Does that remind anyone else of Philippians 4:13? "I can do everything through him who gives me strength." Click the pic for more info on how Dude Perfect is using their basketball skills to provide clean drinking water for kids or the triangular play button below to see some of their shots!!!

Are You Uncommon?

Tony Dungy is. And the retired Super Bowl winning coach and now best-selling author was in Toledo this week talking to high school students [and others in the bleachers like me] about what it means to live a life of significance in a culture that is offering few positive role models. Uncommon is an easy read that reveals lessons on achieving significance that the coach has learned from his remarkable parents, his athletic and coaching career, his mentors, and his journey with God. My fave part of his presentation was the Q&A where he described how he has been mentoring Michael Vick and how he decided long ago to unashamedly live his faith even on the sidelines, and how no amount of money could coax him back into football doing what he used to instead of dong what he's doing now: talking to everyone and anyone about living the uncommon life of faith in an often faithless world.

While Joe Gibbs is still my fave coach of all time, Tony is a close second. I recommend this book as a graduation gift for boys and girls this year!!! Maybe you could write on the inside: "Dear BLANK, be uncommon!!!"

Borrowed Lyrics?

Discuss Ragamuffin?

Many believe God's grace in theory. But somehow we cannot apply it in our daily lives. Yet God gives [and continues to give us] His grace, willingly, because He loves us like crazy!!!

Join us on Wednesday nights in Toledo First or follow along as we discuss one of my fave books of all time—The Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning [click pics for more info]. Everyone at Toledo First willing to read this book can have one for free while supplies last. Additional copies will also be available free to the first five people who post a comment below and request a copy. [You may privately email me your snail mail address: mike4tune@gmail.com] Good luck!!!

BTW, a few years ago, I got to hear Brennan live in Cleveland [see pic below]. Brennan's now-classic meditation on grace and what it takes to access it—simple honesty—has changed thousands of lives [in addition to my own]. Let it change yours as well!

Who's Afraid of the Old Testament God?

On March 5-6, Professor of Biblical Studies and author Dr. Alden Thompson will be presenting for the community a lecture series entitled "Who's Afraid of the Old Testament God?" based on his book by the same title [click pic to purchase].

With sensitivity and clarity, Thompson will help us grapple with the violence of the Old Testament and even the devastation of catastrophic suffering today such as the fallout from the recent earthquake in Haiti.

The lecture series is free, but collections for Haiti will be collected at each session. Thank you for saving these dates and planning to invite your friends and family!!! What breaks the heart of God—even the God of the Old Testament—should still break ours. Join us!!! Bring a friend!!!

Could a Church Secretary Start an Orphanage?

Paula Leen did. In 2002, she took her life savings and donations from two friends and started the Murwira Orphanage on 20 acres of drought-scorched hills and scrub brush in the east African country of Zimbabwe. And THIS SATURDAY NIGHT, February 13 @ 6pm, her nephew Carl Wilkens will be telling us all about it during our Valentines for Africa benefit banquet. Cost is $15/person and reservations are required. You do not have to be a member of Toledo First to participate. Please call 419.882.6200 or email: dee@toledofirstadventist.org to reserve your seat now!!! Click here for a map and directions.

We're trying to send her $5k. If you cannot attend the banquet, but want to help her feed 2k orphans/day, make your checks payable to: Toledo First Church and your tax deductible gifts will be added to the monies we raise Saturday night. Small things done with great love still change the world!

Click pic to learn more about Murwira Orphanage
Click here to read an interview with Paula by Pastor Rachel
Click here to read the Toledo Blade "Valentines for Africa" blurb

Valentines for Africa?

In 1994, nearly 1 million people in Rwanda were slaughtered in 100 days. Carl Wilkens, at the time serving in his position as director of the Adventist Development and Relief Agency [ADRA] in Rwanda, was the only American who chose to remain in Rwanda after the genocide began. His choice to stay and try to help resulted in preventing the massacre of hundreds of children. Please make your plans now to join us THIS SATURDAY February 13 @ 11am in Toledo First Church [click here for a map and directions] to hear Carl share the courage and resilience of the people he witnessed facing unimaginable choices. You do not have to be a member of Toledo First to participate.

Click the pic to learn more about Carl or the triangular play button below to watch a preview vid.

Is the Holy Land Still Holy?

If by holy you mean sinless, then no. The people there harbor the same prejudice we have here. But if by holy you mean special, then absolutely!!! Click the pic to see my 30 fave shots on Facebook or click here to watch the video presentation Jackie and I made in church last week. It got good reviews!!!

Will You Help Haiti?

"Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed," says the LORD, who has compassion on you. Isaiah 54:10, NIV

Put simply, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) improves the lives of people around the world. Click the pic to securely donate any amount you can or call (800) 424-ADRA. All donations designated for "Haiti Emergency Response" will go 100% to that purpose. Your contributions to ADRA International, a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code, are deductible for computing income and estate taxes.

Photo courtesy: AP / The Canadian Press, Montreal La Presse, Ivanoh Demers

If the Wind and the Water Obey, Shouldn't I?

Today [January 21 if you're reading this post the day MailChimp emailed you the link] I may have already ridden a boat on the Sea of Galilee [since Israel is 7 hours ahead of Ohio] and continued on to the Mount of Beatitudes where Jesus spoke the Sermon on the Mount. We will also be spending time in Capernaum [Jesus' home base throughout much of his ministry], Cana [where Jesus did his first miracle], and Nazareth [where he was raised]. If you're in Toledo on January 30th, I'll be telling you all about it and showing you pics too!!!

BTW, Wikipedia says [click pic for more info] the Sea of Galilee is actually the largest freshwater lake in Israel. It is approximately 33 miles in circumference, 13 miles long, and 8 miles wide. The lake has a maximum depth of approximately 141 feet. Luke 8 says one day Jesus fell asleep on the boat he was riding across this lake and that a storm arose. So the disciples [tough fishermen remember like the guys on the Deadliest Catch] woke Jesus up [because storms don't scare God] and said, "Master! We're going to drown!" So Jesus rebuked the wind and raging waters and all was calm.

Unless I'm REALLY jet-lagged, I'm fairly certain I won't be falling asleep on any boat. But I will be thinking of this story. And remembering that if the winds and the water obey Jesus, maybe I should too.

Reading and Relaxing?

During the month of January, I've been doing lots of reading and relaxing. Here's some books [click any pic or title for more info] I've read [or re-read]. ● The Cost of Discipleship starts and ends with a bang. "Cheap grace," Bonhoeffer begins, "is the grace we bestow on ourselves...grace without discipleship...Costly grace is the gospel which must be sought again and again, the girl which must be asked for, the door at which a man must know...It is costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life."
● Don't let your New Testament get in the way of your Old Testament. Don't be scared to read this book or the Old Testament the same way ever again [and hear its author live in Toledo on March 5-6]. ● Because my church already has a contemporary worship service, is trying to balance traditional and modern tastes, and is seeking relevant worship for a secularized society, I wanted to read this book by Greg Scheer.

Here's some others still captivating my attention: Proverbs [you know, the book in the Bible?!!], The Collected Works of John of the Cross, The Lost World of Genesis One, and The Art of Pastoring: Ministry Without All the Answers. Still in my stack: The Dance of Change, Surprised by Hope, Mistakes Were Made (But Not By Me) and Waking the Dead. As for relaxing, I've enjoyed spending more time with Jackie and my pastor mentors instead of preparing my weekly 10 page paper [i.e. sermon—who is glad I don't share everything I find?!!], and sipping my healthy smoothies every day. I can also now putt better in Wii Golf than real golf and I thoroughly enjoyed Avatar in 3D even though the Vatican did not [click pic to see why]. I hope you can make time to read and relax too!!!

Your Fave WTG?

1 Thessalonians 5:11 [NIV] says, "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing." In the new year, I resolve to use more of these specific, immediate, and sincere phrases [taken from a pamphlet called "97 Words of Encouragement for Children" in the Children's Medical Center in Akron, Ohio]. Which is your fave phrase for encouragement?

1. You're on the right now!
2. You're doing a good job!
3. You did a lot of work today!
4. Now you've figured it out.
5. That's RIGHT!
6. Now you have the hang of it!
7. That's the way!
8. You're really going to town!
9. You're doing fine.
10. Now you have it!
11. Nice going.
12. That's coming along nicely.
13. That's great.
14. You did it that time!
15. GREAT!
16. FANTASTIC!
17. TERRIFIC!
18. TREMENDOUS!
19. You outdid yourself today!
20. How did you do that?
21. That's better.
22. EXCELLENT!
23. That's a good [boy or girl].
24. Good job [name].
25. That's the best you've ever done!
26. Good going!
27. Keep it up!
28. That's really nice.
29. WOW!
30. Keep up the good work.
31. Much better!
32. Good for you!
33. That's very much better!
34. Good thinking.
35. Exactly right!
36. SUPER
37. Nice going!
38. You make it look easy.
39. I've never seen anyone do it better.
40. You're doing much better today.
41. Way to go! [Though I prefer WTG!!!]
42. Not bad.
43. Superb!
44. You're getting better every day.
45. WONDERFUL!
46. I knew you could do it!
47. Keep working on it, you're getting better.
48. You're doing beautifully.
49. You're really working hard today.
50. That's the way to do it!
51. Keep on trying!
52. You're the best!
53. Nothing can stop you now!
54. You've got it made.
55. You're very good at that.
56. You certainly did well today.
57. I'm very proud of you.
58. You're learning fast.
59. You've just about got it.
60. That's good.
61. I'm happy to see you working like that.
62. I'm proud of the way you worked today.
63. That's the right way to do it.
64. You're really learning a lot.
65. That's better than ever.
66. That's quite an improvement.
67. That kind of work makes me very happy.
68. MARVELOUS!
69. Now you've figured it out.
70. PERFECT!
71. That's not half bad!
72. FINE!
73. You've got your brain in gear today.
74. THAT'S IT!
75. You figured it out fast.
76. You remembered!
77. You're really improving.
78. I think you've got it now.
79. Well, look at you go!
80. You've got that down pat!
81. Good work!
82. Outstanding.
83. I like that.
84. Couldn't have done it better myself.
85. Now, that's what I call a fine job.
86. You did that very well.
87. Congratulations!
88. That was first class work.
89. Right on!
90. SENSATIONAL!
91. That's the best ever.
92. Good remembering!
93. You haven't missed a thing!
94. It's a pleasure to teach you when you work like that.
95. You really make my job fun.
96. You got BLANK right.
97. You've just about mastered that!

Grateful New Year?

Dear Friends, as Jackie and I pause to reflect on this past year, we are filled with gratitude for each of you. Not just at New Years, but throughout this past year that began with the Souper Bowl of Caring that stocked the church food pantry, followed by our annual global outreach banquet entitled Valentines for India where we raised nearly $4k for a vocational trade center in India. Thanks to your generosity, sons of sex workers there will be learning a different trade other than pimping or dealing drugs!

Around Easter we celebrated with six more individuals who were baptized and committed their lives to following Jesus. Our evangelistic non-profit organization, Haven of Hope, performed two bedroom make overs and was the recipient of grants through our partnership with Toledo Area Ministries for two more. The spa day for the women at the Aurora House that Women’s Ministries provided was again very well received.

Our own children grew in grace too through the combined ministries of Kid Connect, Teen Girls Retreat, Adventurers, Pathfinders, Sabbath School, and Connections. Watching them play in the park on hot summer Sabbath afternoons and dancing in the puddles at the Kidz Crazy Car Show this year brought smiles to numerous faces including all 15 trophy winners.

Summer fasting from sweets and media brought us closer to the heart of Jesus. And led us to into a full scale church retreat that nearly a hundred experienced—many for the first time at a retreat of any kind. And because the Holy Spirit has blessed our ordinary outreach opportunities from ten years of Ringfest to the first few months of Soup for You on Wednesday nights, we know God will continue to bless in the new year. I can hardly wait to see what new adventures, surprises and miracles God provides in 2010!!!

Where Is Pastor Mike?

The Ohio Conference encourages their pastors to take a four to six week study break every four years to rest or participate in an enrichment activity to ensure that they don’t burn out. Pastor Mike last took a break in 2005 (before he came to Toledo), so during the month of January, he will be on sabbatical. Though Pastor Mike and Jackie will be joining 35 other Ohio pastors [including Pastor Rachel!] during the Pastors Familiarization Tour of Israel January 19-26, most of the time he will be in Toledo, enjoying the peace and quiet, reading the stack of books he hasn’t read yet but wants to, while taking care of the kids.

Please feel free to speak to him like normal about anything not related to church, school, or daycare! We want him back January 30th re-energized and encouraged—not drained because we didn’t let him rest. Should you need pastoral care, please contact Pastor Rachel, Pastor Allan, Pastor Dave, or Dee at the church office. They will be leading us in worship and covering all pastoral needs in the meantime. Thank you!!!

Stocking Stuffer?