Leaving the PCUSA

This weekend I am making one of the biggest changes in my life as I will be transferring my membership from the Presbyterian Church (USA) to the Evangelical Presbyterian Church.  The Presbytery of Mid-America is meeting in Kirkwood, MO.  They start this afternoon and continue through Saturday morning.  I will be examined and, if all is found in order, will be accepted as an associate member of the Presbytery at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday.
The decision by the PCUSA to renounce the teachings of scripture and our confessions to change the definition of marriage from a man and woman to two persons was the final straw for me.  Over the past forty five years I have worked, debated, struggled with the many issues that have come from out of our General Assembly from approval of abortion, the acceptance of the homosexual lifestyle, to ordination of gays and lesbians to the offices of the church, and finally redefining the biblical teaching of marriage as man and woman.
It feels good to be joining a Christian body that holds very high the position of the scriptures as the inspired, infallible, inerrant Word of God and to make the Westminster documents the standards by which we are to understand the Bible and to guide our lives.  I have attended one meeting of the presbytery and was impressed with the quality of the many young men who are serving as pastors in the state of Missouri.  They are planting churches in many different locations around St. Louis and Kansas City.  And they have several men who are preparing for ministry.  Two will be examined and approved at this meeting on Friday evening.  What a difference in the vibrancy of the two denominations!  One is alive and growing; the other is diminishing.
In Monett both Presbyterian Churches are in the process of discerning whether they will leave the PCUSA and it looks like both will be taking that step in the near future.  I am sorry for Pastor Bill and Pastor Vicki because it means that they will be stepping down as leaders in these churches. My prayers will be with them as they seek God's leading for their lives.  But I am excited about the future for both of these congregations as they will be able to focus on the gospel and not all the social and political agendas of the PCUSA.
I hope to have more to say about this major change in my life in the days ahead.  Thanks for hearing my concern and I hope you will keep me in your prayers.

Time Flies

I cannot believe that I have not posted anything on this for nearly two years.  I have completed my year as District Governor on June 30, 2013.  My new position in Lions is District Cabinet Secretary for Lions District 26-M6.  I am also working on a regular basis as the Regular Preaching Supply for the First Presbyterian Church of Aurora, MO.  The community is about 13 miles east of Monett.  The church is a wonderful congregation of good people.  But the church is struggling.  I don't know if a part time preacher can do much good to get them on their feet.  Thank God it is not up to me.  God alone will bring about the victory and the renewal of this church.  So I will pray and preach the word and leave it in God's hands.
The big thing now for me is that I am going to Israel in July with my youngest daughter Linda and a group from her church, Cherry Creek Presbyterian Church in Denver.  Karen is not going with me.  I hope to post the trip and pictures on this blog spot so that folks can keep up.  I guess that is all for right now.

The Next Phase of My Life

Today the Missouri State Multiple District of Internationa Lions Clubs adjourned its 90th Convention, which was held in Jefferson City, MO. It was a great week-end gathering with my ever-expanding family of Lions. There were excellent training seminars held both before and during the convention. The business sessions were made up of year end reports from the multiple district committees and from many quality social agencies that work with the area Lions. On Saturday night we had the banquet and Karen joined me in formal wear as we were treated like royalty and made a grand entrance as we entered the convention hall. This marked the end of my year of service to Lions as the First Vice District Governor and the preparation for my taking on the duties of the District Governor of district 26M6 in southwest Missouri. I will still be doing club visitations and attending the district cabinet meeting in May. Then in June Karen and I will be flying to Busan, South Korea, for the Lions Clubs International Convention. There I will complete my training to become District Governor and will be officially installed. We are so excited about this opportunity.
God has really been good to us in this first year of retirement and I am looking forward to the wonderful plans that he has for our marriage, our service to the church, and our work together with the Lions Clubs in District 26M6. Maybe I won't take so long to post items on this blog spot.

When Does Retirement Start?

When I was planning on retiring, I told Karen that I would spend the first week sleeping and eating, taking lots of naps and going to bed at a decent hour. It hasn't happened! Things are busy, which experienced retirees warned me would happen. But I must say that I am loving it. I am still preaching most Sundays and looking forward to even more opportunities in the future. I love expounding the Word of God and sharing the greatness of our Creator, our Redeemer and our Sustainer. I have been at Southminster Presbyterian Church in Springfield, MO. A lovely and loving Christian community of people. They have now called a pastor and I will soon be out of the pulpit for a while.
One of the things I like about retirement is not having to show up at the office each day and putting in my hours. I do not miss church administration. And I am enjoying being free to take any day and go off to where I want (within the will of God). This last weekend we went to Mermet Springs in southern Illinois for a SCUBA dive. It is an 18 acre spring fed lake, quite cold at depth (45F). They have a 737 fuslage from the movie U. S. Marshalls to explore, along with an ambulance, firetruck, school bus, and a Cessna. The lake is populated with pan fish and even Spoonbills. We made just one dive, but it was worth the effort. I wish I had taken my camera on that first dive (saved it for the second, which I did not take), as there were some neat shots, including me sitting on a motorcycle underwater and a Blue Gill staring into Karen's face mask.
We stayed the night before at Karen's brother, John, with his four wonderful dogs. We had good food, conversation, and fun petting the more affectionate canines. It would have been nice to stay longer or return, but I had to get back to be at Southminster on Sunday when they held a congregational meeting to call their new pastor.

The Last Sunday

June 26, 2011, marks my last Sunday as the pastor of First Presbyterian Church. I am planning on leaving by the same door I came in and talk about the mission of the church. As I have been preaching through Matthew for several years, I have rushed over the last chapters to get to Matthew 28, where we will focus on Jesus' last words recorded in Matthew: The Great Commission. As I write this I feel a sense of depression because I am leaving the very familar life of being a pastor with its set routines and the weekly movement upward toward the sermon on Sunday morning with Monday being the day of quiet rest and beginning again. Though we will remain in the area I am also depressed with the reality that my ministry with the people in whom I have wrapped my life, sharing their joys, standing with them in difficult times, and even the sorrowful joy of sending them off to glory will be coming to an end. I will still be their friend, but it will be a less consistent contact and a different relationship. I am going to really hate it when I have to pronounce the Aaronic benediction upon the congregation and have final greetings at the door.

My only comfort (other than the one at the beginning of the Heidleberg Confession) is that there will be many other opportunities to continue the Lord's ministry. As I move through the positions to become District Governor in the Lions Club International, I will visit over sixty clubs and meet a lot of generous, giving, hardworking people in southwest Missouri. As the Lord provides I will also be filling in pulpits for pastors on vacation or due to illness, etc. I look forward to continuing the preaching of God's sweet gospel to his people. And there will be the opportunity to vacation, do things we have dreamed of doing, seeing the children and grand children more often, and of course, scuba diving in places on our "bucket list." Hopefully I will make the shift in life with ease and find retirement to be a great blessing from the Lord.

The Light at the End of the Tunnel

After over forty years of ministry I have decided to retire from the position of installed pastor at First Presbyterian Church of Monett on June 30, 2011. I have been here for thirteen and a half years of wonderful ministry with the finest of Christian folks. It has been a good end to this part of my call to serve the Lord Jesus Christ. This does not mean that I am discontinuing ministry for I hope to keep on preaching as a substitute for pastors going on vacation and study leave or for emergency situations. I will remain active in John Calvin Presbytery, being a conservative voice for the denomination I joined and loved when I was only sixteen. I will continue to be a member of the Monett Ministerial Association and serving as their treasurer until they vote me out. I also will be on the board of Monett/Purdy MO Habitat for Humanity and serve also as treasurer for them for the next couple of years. The big news is that I will become very active in the Lions Clubs International. I have been serving 26M6 district as the Second Vice District Governor and was elected on March 12 to become their First Vice District Governor starting in July 2011.
I am looking forward to retirement so that I can see my grandchildren more often and that Karen and I can get in more time for SCUBA diving and seeing wonderful parts of our country both above and below the water line. We have plans to visit Seattle in July and Alaska in September. Karen will be seeing the grandchildren at the end of June. So the light is at the end of the tunnel (only hope it is not the train).

One Month and Still Loosing

I am sorry that I did not post last week. It was a good weigh in with over five pounds lost. Twice we have had to exercise for 75 minutes continuous. I wish I could say it was getting easier but I struggle, especially with balance and coordination type exercises. I really am a big lummox. But not as big as I used to be. Four weeks and I am 25 pounds lighter. My stomach is flatter. My love handles are smaller. I am wearing a shirt that is loose around the collar that in February I had to wear a button extender. I am another notch small on the belt. And I am not tired of the program yet. I really appreciate all your prayers that help to sustain me through these exercises and meal choices. Though I really cannot complain about eating. I get plenty. I just still crave foods, like cheese, chocolate, and ice cream. No wonder I was obese when I was eating all that stuff. Well, the program is working. I have lost about 39% of the total amount that I need to lose. I was reading the Mayo Clinic book on healthy lifestyle and I think I will need to lose more than Nancy has suggested because at the goal I have been set I would still be in the overweight catagory on the Mayo Clinic chart. (Sigh). Again thanks for the prayers, the encouraging words and the comments about my improve appearance. Just wish this program grew hair where it would do some good.