Last Saturday we were in Wenham, Massachusetts (just north of Boston) for our daughter’s graduation from Gordon College. It was a glorious day—the weather was sunny and warm and the atmosphere was jubilant. The commencement address given to the class of 2012 was moving and memorable. That’s not always the case. Sometimes commencement speeches last longer than the attention span of the audience. Usually they are about dreams for the future, a mixture of hope and hype. This one was about cancer.

The speaker, Dr. Judson Carlberg, recently had retired from the presidency of Gordon College. Shortly into his retirement, he was shocked to learn he had three distinct kinds of cancer. The doctors at Mass General Hospital had never seen a case like his.

Dr. Carlberg’s address reflected on his journey through cancer. But the speech actually focused on following Jesus when life is uncertain. It was taken from Jesus’ call to Peter to “Follow me!” (John 21:19). Dr. Carlberg told the grads, “When you make a commitment to follow Jesus, He shows up in our daily experiences.” He said that when we follow Jesus He helps us to trust. “Trust,” he said, “is a gift from God when we least expect it.”

Carlberg told the story of how he woke up at 3:00 AM one morning, anxious thoughts chasing away sleep. Suddenly, the words from Psalm 63 flooded into his mind: “On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.” Reflecting on those promises, he drifted back to sleep. God had given him the gift of trust when he needed it most.

The Carlberg’s have a wonderful Thanksgiving tradition. They ask each guest to take three slips of paper and write down three things they are thankful for. During his cancer treatments, they weren’t able to have any guests. But Jud and his wife, Jan, still filled in their three slips of paper. On his last slip he wrote, “I am thankful for cancer. James 1:2-3.” As he put it, “Life is richer, trust is stronger and relationships are deeper.”

As I listened to Carlberg’s address (with tears in my eyes), I couldn’t help recall the commencement address Steve Jobs (of Apple Computer) gave to Stanford grads in 2006. He too had been recently diagnosed with cancer and had to look death in the eye. But, without any faith in Christ to stabilize or guide him, Jobs had a different admonition for the grads.

Jobs said, “…death is very likely the single best invention of life. It’s life’s change agent; it clears out the old to make way for the new….Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma, which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice, heart and intuition.”

Jobs’ challenge to students, in light of the certainty of death, was to follow their own hearts and intuition. Certainly, there is wisdom in pursuing a vision for life that allows you to fulfill your God-given talents and desires. But ultimately, following our own hearts can lead to a dead-end. As the Bible says, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death” (Proverbs 16:25).

Dr. Carlberg had a different closing challenge for the grads last Saturday. He invited them to join him on a journey. Not a journey through cancer, but a journey to “follow Jesus” no matter what. These are words of wisdom, not just for 2012 grads but for all of us.

On May 10th, we walked the beach of the Pacific Ocean. We wanted to see Semiahmoo, where Kathy would be celebrating her birthday with a host of friends, on May 19th. It’s a beautiful area, where the Pacific Ocean flows between the San Juan Islands. We had some fish and chips to celebrate…in advance.

One week later, we had fish and chips on the Atlantic Ocean. Our daughter graduated from university, also on May 19th. The rocky coast near Boston was beautiful, and we celebrated with our own family.

Life events take us from one shore to the other, don’t they? Sorrow and Joy are often mixed together (see Ajith Fernando’s book, The Call to Joy and Pain). While on the Pacific, the memories shared with Kathy were precious. While near the Atlantic, we overflowed with joy as we sang “Great is Thy Faithfulness” at the baccalaureate service. This graduation fulfills our longing that all of our children would be taught of the Lord. (Isaiah 54:13)

During our three days at home between the seas, we learned a dear gal, Sandra, was seriously injured in a motorcycle accident. Evening Edition celebrated the end of a ministry year with the inspirational story of a gal whose life was changed by Jesus, but whose country encouraged her to leave. At this same event, another gal sang, “His eye is on the Sparrow” acknowledging her grateful immigration to Canada after war in Africa.

Life takes us from “sea to sea.” Sometimes Joy. Sometimes Sorrow. Whenever we feel storm – tossed (or even jet-lagged), there’s an Anchor for our souls. It’s the only Hope that is steadfast, from Sea to shining Sea.

“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.
It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus,
who went before us, has entered on our behalf.”
Hebrews 6:19

Greetings from the West Coast. We’re here in Lynden, Washington. Rick arrived Wednesday to be with both of our families. I (Linda) will be in Lynden for Mother’s Day, and Rick will be in Beaverton, Oregon (a suburb of Portland) with his mom and dad.

Time with Linda’s sister, Kathy, has been precious. Yesterday over Subway sandwiches on her lunch hour, Kathy shared her heart in tender ways. Tears flowed when Kathy was asked about the calligraphy that is inscribed on her bedroom wall:

“For I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you, to give you a future and a hope….” (Jeremiah 29:11)

We don’t always understand. But we can trust. Last night, we joined in as family listened to the Gaither’s sing:

Tho’ shadows deepen, and my heart bleeds,
I will not question the way He leads;
This side of Heaven we know in part,
I will not question a broken heart.

Chorus:

We’ll talk it over in the bye and bye
We’ll talk it over, my Lord and I.
I’ll ask the reasons – He’ll tell me why,
When we talk it over in the bye and bye.

I’ll trust His leading, He’ll never fail,
Thro’ darkest tunnels or misty vales.
Obey his bidding and faithful be,
Tho’ only one step ahead I see.

Speak up for the people who have no voice,
for the rights of all the down and outers,
Speak out for justice!
Stand up for the poor and destitute.

Proverbs 31:9 (Message)

A few years ago, I was caught off guard by a video clip of women being pulled out from a hole in the ground. They had been “kept” there for the use of ungodly men. It was enough to break my heart – and I found myself weeping. Sometimes it’s time to speak up – no woman deserves to be treated in this way. This weekend at The MET, we’re hosting the Justice Summit. Through organizations like International Justice Mission (Jamie McIntosh) and MPs like Joy Smith; both of whom will speak this weekend, we can seek to bring justice for all.

A few days ago, I was caught off guard by a phone call from my sister, Kathy. She was cheery, and continued to speak of her own going to Glory with strength and courage. She said, “I can only choose my attitude.” When I later learned some of the details of her suffering, it was enough to break my heart – and again I found myself weeping.

This coming week, I sense the need to go West. In this situation, I sense a need to be silent: “Then they [Job’s friends], sat down on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights with no one speaking a word to him; for they saw his pain was very great.”  (Job 2:13)

My sister’s suffering is very great. Like Jesus, I can weep (John 11:35).
My other sisters in this world are suffering. May we know when it’s time to weep (Ecclesiastes 3).

And may we all know when to speak, and when to be silent.

We’re grateful for the many who pray for us and our extended family needs. It means more to us than we can fully express. This week we’ve had a bit of both sickness and health.

After a wonderful and full Sunday, I (Rick) came down with the flu on Monday. This is only the second time I’ve had a cold or flu over the past year. It’s now Wednesday, and I’m feeling my energy return.

Tuesday I got word from the doctor that my most recent PSA blood tests came back “undetectable.” That’s the result we were praying for. I’m not scheduled for the next round of blood tests until mid-August.

Linda also had an amazing conversation with her sister Kathy on Sunday afternoon. She’ll write about it in later post.

 

We’re being provided a number of opportunities to trust God, and to seek His face. We’ve faced uncertainty many times, and we’re facing it again.

Yesterday, Rick went to the Cancer Clinic for his blood test (every three months). We’re trusting the results we receive on May 1st will be good. A test result of “0” would be perfect.

On the West coast, Kathy gave an April baby shower for my niece, (see photo) and continues to live with uncertainty in her days ahead with cancer. We’ve been also unsure about when the best time is to go West; she’s still working everyday.

Rick had a wonderful recent phone call with his dad who asked about his ministry and our sons. At the same time, they living trusting the Lord to guide and direct the uncertain days ahead.

We keep going – trusting. We know we’re not the only ones – so we’ll stop to pray right now that you too will be strengthened to go on trusting in the midst of uncertainty.

A Bible study this week held the reminder to “relinquish control.” That’s all we really can do. Give it back to the One who holds everything sovereignly in His hand. And Trust.

All to Jesus, I Surrender
All to Him, I freely Give
I will ever love and trust Him
In His presence Daily Live.
I surrender All…

I’ve become a big fan of water. In fact, I’m having a clear, cold glass as I work on this post. It’s become my beverage of choice (especially with a wedge of lemon or lime added in).

Water has not always been a clear favourite for me. For much of my life, I was a Coke fan. I liked the sugary-sweet taste (9 tsp of refined sugar per can). I liked the carbonated fizz and caffeinated buzz. I liked the bright red and white logo. You know, have a Coke and a smile.

All that changed a year ago. When I was told I had cancer, I started paying much more attention to what I ate and drank. Coke didn’t exactly qualify as a nutritional beverage, so I began drinking more water. At first, I drank water because I had to; now because I want to.

I got thinking about water this morning as I read the opening words of Isaiah 55: “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters” (Isaiah 55:1). Jesus would later say something quite similar: “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him. By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive.” (John 7:37-39).

There’s nothing like water when it comes to quenching our thirsty bodies. There’s no one like Jesus when it comes to quenching our thirsty souls. Jesus satisfies in a way that the sugary substitutes of this world never can.

When Steve Jobs was trying to convince John Sculley to leave Pepsi and come work for Apple, he asked him, “Do you want to sell sugared water for the rest of your life? Or do you want to come with me and change the world?”

Jobs was right about Pepsi being sugared water. And in some ways Apple has changed the world of technology. But colas and computers can’t quench our deepest thirsts. Only Jesus can do that. He gives living water to all who bring their thirsty souls to Him.

So are you a bit parched today? Thirsty in a deep way? Then take Jesus up on His invitation. Come to Him in faith. Pour out your heart to him in prayer. Admit where you’ve tried to quench your spiritual thirst with the soda-fountain substitutes of position, possessions or pleasure. Tell Him you believe He alone can satisfy your soul. Ask Him to fill you with His Spirit until you overflow with streams of His living water.

The Word this morning was “go.” While praying, I sensed the need to “be still,” and for once, to just listen. The silence seemed to impress the word to “go.”

Go where? Go and do what?

“Go and make disciples”…that seemed like just the place to start. That’s the starting line given to those baffled disciples after the cross. Following the resurrection came the “go.”

Today the “go” is another trip downtown to teach ESL. In a recent class, I asked the class “What is Good Friday?” The students, from countries where we cannot “go,” all looked at me with blank stares. One asked, “What is the difference from Easter?” Since our sentences are limited to “What did you do on Tuesday?” – it’s hard to explain Good Friday.

As I go, I’m reminded of the following, sent to me by my friend, Helene:

The story is told of missionary in language school. The very first day of class the teacher entered the room and without saying a word, walked down every row of students. Finally, without a word, she walked out of the room, then came back and addressed the class.  “Did you notice anything special about me?” she asked. Nobody could think of anything in particular. One student finally raised her hand. “I noticed that you have on a very lovely perfume.” The class chuckled. But the teacher said, “That was exactly the point. Long before any of you will be able to speak the language well enough to share the gospel, you minister the sweet fragrance of Christ by the quality of your lives. It is your lifestyle that will minister Christ long before you are able to say one word about faith in Jesus.”

Whew. Yesterday after a line-up in Walmart, impatience wore through the perfume. It’s hard to remember we wear the fragrance everywhere we “go.”

So how about you? Where do you need to “go?” And as you go…remember the fragrance.

“But thanks be to God who always leads us in His triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.”
(2 Corinthians 2:15)

Twenty years ago this Good Friday (1992), we found ourselves in difficult times. Linda had been in the hospital with a significant pneumonia, our preschool children (2, 3, and 5), had also all been sick. We also faced challenges on every side.

Recently, we found this in our files, a newspaper clipping from that Good Friday, twenty years ago:

Click here to read the  story of Johnny Hart (comic strip artist).

Isaiah 53

Surely our griefs He bore and our sorrows He carried
Yet we ourselves esteemed him stricken
Smitten of God, and afflicted

But He was pierced through for our transgressions
He was crushed for our iniquities
The chastening for our well-being fell on Him

And By His scourging – we are healed.

It’s been a full week – and also very special.  We have asked God to “show us His glory” in the midst of hard times…and we are experiencing His goodness.

But, there’s nothing like the week to come.  Holy Week.  That’s the week where we pause to reflect on the suffering of Jesus as He walked toward the cross.  It’s the reminder of the power of the resurrection on Easter.   It’s hope in our hard times.

“Pause” is the key to this special week.  Pause to reflect.  Pause to give God permission to speak, to change, to renew us like Spring and do “a new thing.”

In order for each of us to participate, we’re providing a guide.  It walks you through the Holy Week with Jesus.  You can use it on your own or involve your family.   Whether you live nearby or far away, join us as we anticipate a very special week.

Click here to receive guide to Holy Week.