For this, my 60th IR column, I’ll begin with a quote from my second.
“Hebrews 12:2 ‘Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame.’ Joy!”
“Friend, what was that joy? — rescuing sinners like us and bringing us home to God. Since ‘Isaac,’ ‘Laughter,’ named the fundamental improbability of Abraham, a 100-year old father, and Sara, a 90-year old mother, having a child, how much more joy is there in the astonishing impossibility of a holy God finding a way to bring sinners like us home? What can we say? Grace happens — and when it does, there is laughter. ‘It is the heart that is not yet sure of its God that is afraid to laugh in his presence’ (George MacDonald).”
Now, for some of the rest of the story. A friend asked me to give you more stories from our family and from pastoring. Here are some from the archives. Enjoy.
First Days of School
A devoted mother dropped off her youngest at kindergarten. Later in the week, her heart-pang softened when he invited her to lunch. At lunch, her son, the epitome of courtesy, helped her with her tray. That night, as they finished their bedtime story, he said, “Mom, I don’t think you should come to lunch anymore.” With a renewed pang, Mom tentatively asked, “Why, son?” “Because when you left, it was hard for me not to cry.”
Field Trip
In 1989, not long after moving to Raleigh, NC, I studied the map of the vicinity looking for sites to take the kids. A place called Biblical Gardens intrigued me. Knowing the wide range of horticulture in Raleigh, I called asking when we could visit. I learned they conducted appointment only tours. Continuing, I asked what plants they had from Palestine. The deafening silence was finally broken with: “Sir, Biblical Gardens is a cemetery!”
Language Acquisition
Growing up as a pastor’s son has certain distinctions. When one son turned two, his limited vocabulary allowed him to articulate a few words. One morning, at the breakfast table, pointing to a cereal box, he said, “Surral.” His Mom asked: “What’s the magic word?” Without blinking an eye, he immediately and unequivocally said: “God!”
Christmas Figurines
Going through nativity figurines with his four-year-old daughter, our Associate Pastor asked: “Who is this?” “Joseph.” “And, this?” “Mary.” “And this?” “Baby Jesus.” Turning to the boy holding a lamb, he asked, “Who is this?” Without hesitation, she speculated: “You don’t hear much about him. He’s Joseph and Mary’s older son!”
Christmas Phone Manners
Christmas Eve, a grandfather and his three-year old grandson spoke by phone. The grandson excitedly told grandfather he had gotten him a book. The child’s parents overheard him and attempted to keep him from spoiling the surprise. Holding the phone aside, the child, with his grandfather distinctly hearing every word, retorted with words he’d heard before: “I’ve told you before and I don’t want to tell you again — don’t interrupt me when I’m on the phone!”
Kill Devil Hills
In 2000, my parents, Colorado residents for decades, came to visit our family in NC. One evening, Dad asked if we could go to Kitty Hawk. Since boyhood, he had been fascinated with the birthplace of the Wright brothers’ flight. Dad sprang for the motel bill, and I told the five younger boys we’d be going to Kill Devil Hills.
The next morning, our four-year old approached my Mom declaring, “We are going on a trip!” She asked, “Where?” He replied, “Nana, we are taking a trip to hell!”
Whether he heard Kill Devil Hell or just thought that devils could be killed in hell, he knew that hell was our destination!
Joy Despite Trial
A friend asked about a fellow minister who had aged rapidly. “How old is he — not in actual years — but in ministry years?”
White Man Jumping
In 2005, we took our three youngest sons to a buffalo jump. Standing on the precipice, our guide, Mary Gopher, gave us the story of the place. Afterwards, Noah, Jesse and Isaac asked if they could run on the trail back to the visitors’ center. Since we had seen a rattler in the parking lot, I told them they could — if they watched out for rattlers. Promising they would, they took off.
Meanwhile, I struck up a conversation with an airman from Hawaii — now stationed in Great Falls. Suddenly, he cried, “There’s a rattler behind you.”
At that exact second, my cell phone, on vibrate, “rang.” If you’ve ever wondered how high a 54-year old white man can jump — well, I jumped that high – thinking, “How could that rattler have gotten in my pocket?”
We had a good laugh — especially when I discovered that our oldest son, Jared, was calling from Atlanta! What incredible timing. And the snake? — he and God must have had a good laugh too! And, friend, maybe you!
Church Planting
Odd as it is, I drank my first beer when I was 55. Some church planting pastors encouraged me to develop friendships at pubs. One night, a new friend and I went for supper. When the waitress asked me what I’d like to drink, I told her I was new in town. Asking her recommendation, I ordered a popular local draft she suggested.
My new friend ordered a Pepsi.
I asked him: “Aren’t you going to have a beer?” He replied: “No, I’m an alcoholic.” What a laugh we and God had!
Dying in Montana
2006 note from Joe Morstein: “My Mom, Dorothy, 89-years young, went to be with Jesus yesterday. What a great journey for her. As the fella from the mortuary was taking her body from her room, his cell phone rang the tune of, “When the Saints Go Marching In.” How appropriate is that, eh? My sisters (note: including former Governor, Judy Martz) really enjoyed that sign from the Master of Comfort.”
God, Storyteller, Humorist, thank you!
