A Little Tuesday Poetry

Christ is the pledge that I shall one day see;
That one day, still with him, I shall awake,
And know my God, at one with him and free.
O lordly essence, come to life in me;
The will-throb let me feel that doth me make;
Now have I many a mighty hope in thee,
Then shall I rest although the universe should quake.

- George MacDonald "Diary of an Old Soul" May 10

If I were in New Orleans

If I were there in the middle of that mess I would have a couple requests of the media.

"Put down the camera and the microphone and hand me a glass of water. While your at it, take the camera equipment out of that helocopter for a sec and give me a lift to somewhere that doesn't stink like dead people."

"No? Oh well, sorry for bothering you. I guess you can go back to blaming it all on the President."

Top Five List on Steroids

Ok, so me and several of my closest friends have been playing the “top five list” game for a couple of years now. It started out as a way to discuss music. Then it became a way to argue about music. It spread out to many other categories. The longer we did it, the more specialized or obscure the topics became (example: top five bands you would want to play at the memorial concert in honor of your death, or top five eighties movies that played on your Cold War fears [by the way, I hate to do a parenthetical reference inside of a parenthetical reference, but anyone who doesn’t pick Red Dawn as number one in that last category either wasn’t alive during the eighties or was snorting cocaine the entire decade]). Back in the Live Journal days the top five list spread to the blogsphere. Now that Toney Stowers has started posting them to his site I can foresee the top five list spreading even further. I think is should be a show on VH1. Oh, wait a minute, it used to be a show on VH1. I guess it got cancelled because Nick Taylor, Cory Jackson, RobWill, Toney Stowers and I were never invited to appear on the show.

Tonight I feel the need to elevate the top five list to a entirely new therapeutic level. Doing the lists always make me feel a little better, but never quite so much as this one. It is time for me use this honored institution as a vehicle to vent some frustrations.

So without further unnecessary explanation – The Top Five Things that are currently Getting on My Nerves.

#5 Hurricane Coverage – specifically these guys that go out and get right in the middle of the wind and rain so you can see just how bad a hurricane really is. I’m sure the first person who did this won some kind of journalistic award. Now they just come across as morons. Am I the only person that secretly hopes one of these guys gets hit in the head with a street sign? There are people who have no choice whether or not to ride out the storm, occasionally with tragic consequences. We don’t need these guys going out there pretending to be heroic.

#4 Overzealous Sport Fans – I have to careful here, because everyone knows I’m a huge Florida Gator fan. The difference between me and those of whom I speak is simply, I will occasionally acknowledge that are teams that are better than the Gators. I will admit that they occasionally deserve to lose a game or two. I know a guy who believes the Tennessee Volunteers have never lost a game that they didn’t deserve to win. After losing three games last year he was trying to figure out a scenario in which the Vols could still get a piece of the National Championship. I know another guy, who at the slightest mention that a team might have been better than the Steelers, writes a dissertation on why that can’t be true (see “comments” on the last post). As it turns out he’s probably correct, but geez. If he had worked that hard on anything in college he would now be a Nuclear Physicist. And don’t even get me started on fantasy teams. Sports are meant to be fun. If you’ve ever been kicked out of a little league game for yelling at your kid’s coach you might be a little too serious.

#3 Territorial Drivers – The other day I was trying to change lanes on Rt. 60 and three cars sped up so as to NOT let me over. One of them was a member of my church (I don’t know if it is worse if they did or didn’t recognize me). Huntington has more churches than any place I have ever lived. I guess that whole WWJD thing doesn’t apply when you’re behind the wheel.

#2 So called Religious Leaders that call for the assignation of heads of state. Have you heard about this? Every time I see ‘ole Pat on television I want to take out an advertisement with his picture on it saying on behalf of all Christendom, “THIS MAN DOES’T REPRESENT US, he has lost it. Please don’t judge the local church in your neighborhood by what this lunatic says.” Then the next day he said he didn’t mean what it was clear that he had said. I’m not a pacifist. As a matter of fact the modern peace movement in this country drives me almost as batty. I know that war is occasionally necessary but advocating assignation seems to go against one of the Ten Commandments, mainly, Do Not Murder.

And the #1 thing that is currently getting on my nerves – Cats.

It's Almost Football Season

Master in the Mountains

(I asked Cory Jackson, one of our graduates, to write about Master in the Mountains - an "end of summer" hiking trip we take every year to honor our graduates. Here are his thoughts)

I stood, rather infirmly, teetering between life and death on a rock that has most likely watched more than one person plunge to their death and hadn’t seemed to take a particular interest or liking to me. I cautiously leaned out over the valley separating Charlie’s Bunion (our particular death wish) and the next potential Fear Factor stunt. I stared at the ground and the distance between us and realized why “The Wizzled One” needed a new transmission and perhaps a tire rotation.

However, I knew that I wouldn’t rather be anywhere else, especially back on the old reliable, sweltering bus with Joe Crash recounting his exploits in his appealing, singsong voice. I’ll even go so far as to say, I’d have picked that particular foot abnormality over Galaga or Mrs. Pac-man back at the cabin. There’s something about being surrounded by God’s creation that is very conducive to the thought process.

First, I thought about Luke because hearing him announce his bunion was probably the funniest series of events this side of the Mason Dixon Line. Then I wondered why I like to pepper my writing with Civil War era references. I thought about how much I bawled when I had to do Luke’s put-ups and then, remembered that I was to be put through that same ceremony in a few hours.

Even when I opened my eyes to observe the amazing worship experience going on around me that night in the cabin, I couldn’t see Cousin John for all the raised hands and sobs could be heard in the pauses between songs. Praise echoed off the walls loud and sincere, as close to the supreme and absolute surrender God deserves, as I have ever been involved in. There is no doubt the Holy Spirit was among us.

There was an energy left in the room as our worship time ended and put-ups were about to begin. Put-ups were a mix of remembering laughs we’d had together, life-impacting moments and wishes for the future. I could tell you exactly what everyone said about each other, I could tell you how many people cried, how much I didn’t want it to end, but it was truly something you had to be there for.

The next morning we packed up and loaded onto the bus like any other trip, but we knew it wasn’t just another return trip home. This was the last one, in a lot of ways, for a lot of people and one that all of us will remember.

CoJack

Tri-State Bible Camp - Teen Week

There are several things different about the way we do camp. We stay up a little too late, we sleep in a little too long, we play a little too hard, and we are a little louder than we are supposed to be. We concentrate on kids not rules, relationships not schedules. There have been some criticisms over the years, but those of us who have been in it for the long haul have seen God do some amazing, AMAZING things.

I’ve said that with the sixteen baptisms we had last year that it was as close to Pentecost as I have ever been. Well, if that true then this year is as close to heaven as I’ve ever been. On Wednesday night at the (flashlight) campfire I sat and watched 100 campers and adults worship as I have never seen. I saw young and old lift their hearts before God not caring who was around them or what anyone else thought. I listened to several kids and adults tell the story of God working in their lives. It was a great night to be at camp.

There are other thoughts I’ve had since camp that are worth sharing.
- I don’t know how I would get through the week without Toney, Paul, and Jake.
- I thought Craig did a wonderful job of leading our hearts to God all week.
- No one broke up with Cory, which made camp a lot better.
- Caitlin is an artist; she made a couple of the lessons come alive.
- I think Russ may have had to buy a new air mattress,
- Rob Durst took our camp to a whole new technological level.
- Ross got a homecoming date.
- Steve Fox didn’t almost die, that’s a plus.
- Sergeant Travis and Private RonJon made me laugh all week.
- I love my Aunt Layna, and so does everyone else.
- We have an incredible camp staff.
- No doubt about it. God lives at camp.

Truth is, I love camp. It makes me happy just being there. It makes me happy that my wife and my child love it as much as I do. No matter what my job is, if I can still walk, you will be able to find me at a camp somewhere during the summer.

Finally, a vacation

After an amazing summer, in which we have traveled thousands of miles with teenagers, it is now time for a much needed vacation with just my family. When I return next week I will post about camp (which was amazing) and Master in the Mountains
(whic was also, er, amazing). Until then...

Mission Team 2005

Mission Trips in General

(for a month since the trip I have been trying to put on paper my feelings about our mission trips over the past few years. So here goes...)

I wish that I could easily sum up my experience on mission trips the past few years. It would be a ridiculous task to try to explain all of the little ways that I have been touched, and it would be almost impossible to relate to you the warmth I hold for the Native American and Mexican people. However, for a little while I am going to try to explain from within my heart how a few weeks each summer can come to mean so much.

Partly, I think it’s because each destination provides real opportunities to work for the Lord’s renown.

Even though God has brought them together in my heart, the work with the Native American children at AICM, and the Medical Missions in Mexico are compelling for completely different reasons. In Mexico there is a physical poverty that exceeds anything I have experienced before. But the people are not altogether unhappy. There is a warmth and a continent that I have rarely experienced in the US. When I see the gratitude and the smiles shown to us by the Mexican people I am compelled to do anything I can to help them.

The Apache and Navajo children we work with at the American Indian Christian Mission are much more economically fit. Our government, in its inexplicable policy toward Native Americans, has at least held up the standard of living to minimal levels. But there is an emotional bankruptcy that is even more disturbing than what we see in Mexico. It is seen in the alcoholism rates that in some areas rise to 60%. It is seen in the teen suicide rate that is more than five times the national average. When I hear the stories of abuse, and when I when I catch a glimpse of a child with the haunted gaze of hopelessness, I am compelled to shine any light I have into their lives.

The people we have come in contact with over the past few years also provide a significant reason these trips get inside of me.

People like Wade and Dara who gave up lucrative careers to teach Native American kids, and who have let God lead them more than any couple I know. People like Antonio who suffers from a hip defect that caused him to pull himself around on his hands until he was 13 years old. Now, after several procedures in the states, he is a powerful influence for God in Guaymas, Mexico. People like Gene who is a big gruff guy, but when he honks the horn in the big blue bus you can see the size of his heart as the Apache kids come running. People like Nathan, a young missionary we met in Mexico this summer, whose strength and maturity reach far beyond his age. People like Carlos who was homeless and an alcoholic until God changed his life. Now he is a light to the community and a hard worker for God in the church at Guaymas. And there are so many more I could mention. These people are putting it on the line for God every day. They have come to mean so much to our group, so much to me. I am inspired by their courage and their dedication to God, and I hope to be more like them when I grow up.

While on these trips there is a feeling, a sense of urgency that comes over the participants that is difficult to describe. It’s like nothing else matters. You feel as if there is nothing more important going on in the world that what is happening that particular day in that particular place. Few people make any attempt to keep up with news, stock quotes, or sports – it’s just not as important. Would that all of God’s people feel that kind of urgency, that kind of clarity of purpose. Would that we all could experience more often what it is like to totally live in the moment. It is emancipating.

Of this there is no doubt. God works in these trips. He always has. And we have seen amazing signs of his presence.

He has given us a light show at the top of a mountain. He has put together a mission trip in less that twenty-four hours in the most stressful of situations. He has held his hand over his buildings, as there was fire all around. He has built an organization in two countries out of a chance meeting between his people from Huntington and Memphis. He has displayed his glory to us in fireworks and in a sunset over the Grand Canyon.

Truth is, I love these trips. God has filled my life with far more than I have ever given. I can’t wait until next summer.

This Week's Top Five List

Top Five Bands or Artists that I secretly enjoy but am afraid to admit:

5. Dashboard Confessional
4. Journey
3. Kelly Clarkson
2. Iron Maiden
1. Prince

HMCA in morning light

I'm Still Alive

Yea, yea. I haven't posted in a while.

The reason is simple. Mission Trip for ten days, a week and a half for camp preperations, two weeks at camp and Friday we leave for Master in the Mountains. I'm not complaining. It has been one of the coolest months of my life. But, it has been chaos.

I will post about the mission trip, and about camp when I have more time. Also, I took a really cool picture yesterday that I'll try to get up.

For now let me say that God is good. Mission Trips and Bible Camps are where he lives. And I am doing great.

ttfn - george

Blogger Voice Mail (AHHH MEXICO)

Hello, you reached George's weblog. He is currently in Mexico and cannot be reached. Please leave a message and he will return in ten days.

If you need immediate assistance, you can reach him at:

Mexico Mission 2005

At this site you will be informed of the current progress of the mission in Guaymas.

Again, thank you for logging on. Hope to hear from you again soon.

The following are blogs that really crack me up. The first two are friends, the other one is a guy I met through the blogsphere. Happy reading.

Rob Williamson

Matt Elliott

Gustavo Keener

Site 40 

Rockin' the FOUR-ZERO

This week I had the privilege of being a site-leader at the Mid-Ohio Valley Workcamp. There were over 540 workers that painted forty-one houses.

My group was crew 40.

(Quick note: If you don't want to know my personal feelings about each of my group members, and I can't imagine why you wouldn't, skip to the last paragraph. There is a point to all of this)

The crew consisted of the following workers:

George from West Virginia – The fearful rule-breaking leader. I’ve never painted anything that didn’t eventually have to be repainted. Not really site-leader material.

Debbie from New Jersey – Debbie may have had a hang-up (or ten). Very driven, very hard working, very maternal, and had a difficult time expressing her opinion er, maybe not so much. She was also an experienced painter.

Beef from Florida – I’m not sure what Beef’s real name is. I do know that he’s a Gator fan, so we had at least that in common. He is a fixer, which came in handy, because we had a lot that needed fixing on the house.

Kailey from Florida – The brains behind Beef. She didn’t have a lot to say, but when she talked, it was important.

Emma Jo from Ohio – I love that kid. She’s like having a mom on the trip, and she is as ADD as, well… me.

Mary from New Jersey – Mary was a hoot. Especially when she tried to run and jump with her leg in a cast. She was a great worker and never complained about her leg. I got some guys in the youth group that qualify as plan E, F, and G.

Dee from Connecticut – One of the “Roof Girls.” Dee is the coolest mix between Nicaraguan and Italian that I’ve ever met. Her heart for God blew me away. Remember, I get to preach the wedding.

Sam from Tennessee by way of Texas – Sammy has quite the fro. And he kept us laughing the entire week. What is it about people from Texas thinking God made Texas first?

Mallorie from Florida – The quiet leader. She worked the entire week. She did everything she was asked to do, and her sweet spirit kept us going.

Brandon from Connecticut – Brandon was an amazing worker. I gave him all of the difficult jobs on the site, and he did them without complaint. He also gave me a run for my money in sports trivia. He was definitely the point guard of our team.

Hope from Tennessee – The other “Roof Girl.” Hope was a lot of fun to work with. She climbed on the roof and painted no matter how hot it was. She was always there with a comment or a story to make the work go faster.

Dwayne from New Jersey – Also one of the coolest fros I’ve ever seen. Dwayne didn’t do anything fast. Didn’t move fast, didn’t paint fast and didn’t talk fast. But, he cracked me up every day. He never complained about anything. He’s one of those guys who is just cool, without really trying.

Cole from Next Door – Cole was a nine year old who lived next door and came over for one of devos. The next day he painted with us and had a blast. He followed Beef around so much we started calling him Little Beef.

Then there was Kacy and Alli from good ole West Virginia – I mention these two together because it’s difficult to separate them in my mind. I would say they drove me crazy, but it wouldn’t be entirely true. They are my girls and I’m going to slowly kill any guy that tries to date them. For now I’m okay because they are both too scared to talk to guys.

Here’s the thing. By the end of the four days together we were saying things to each other typically reserved for the closest of friends. It’s not surprising; Christ was all about eating with his disciples and meeting the needs of others with his disciples. If Site 40 can get that close after four days, imagine what a church could be if all of its members would pick up a hammer, and together go to work.

Return of the Top Five List

All of my friends (just three) have been playing Top Five List for a couple of years now. The basic premise is to come up with a topic ranging from the mundane to the outrageous. Come up with your own personal top five list in that category. Then, make fun of everyone else's list. Feel free to chime in with you personal list. CoJack and Nick are going to help with the first one.

Top Five Songs of the Year

5. Humble - Matt McDizzle
4. Days of Elijah - Rob Wizzle
3. Amaze Me - Brian Patterson
2. Country Feelin' - Jeff Garrett
1. Jesus Loves Me (Just kidding, its a good one though)

Seneca Rocks on Memorial Day 

Christ's Prayer for Unity, and the Power of Four-Squares

A few weekends ago several families went to Seneca Rocks for the Memorial Day weekend. It didn’t take long for several of the kids to mark out a four-square court. Soon some of the greatest four-square games in history were taking place on that court. It was amazing.

Apparently four-square rules have changed since my grade school days. There were all kinds of rules I had never heard of. Also, because there are so many rules, the person who made it to the fourth square got to name his rules. For example, Riley’s rules were buzzstops but no kills. Taylor’s rules (my favorite by the way) were kills but no setups and no buzzstops. Everyone had a different set of rules; it was a little confusing, but great fun.

Soon campers from other sites were taking part in the four-square excellence. It was becoming quite the sporting event. Steve from Morgantown came over to play. He was there with a group of rock climbers that come to the Seneca Rocks every Memorial Day. Steve’s four-square rules drove us crazy (and were too complicated to explain in this space). Every time he got in square four I thought about quitting the game. We were nice to him, at first, but soon we were giving him the business like we would if we had known him for years. We were brutal.

By Sunday Steve had become a four-square evangelist. He recruited John and Mike from his group to come over and play. As the conversations took place during the game we learned they were all members of a Seventh Day Adventist church in Morgantown. At one point Mike brought over a guitar and was playing worship songs. John, Rob and I invited them to come over for our worship time, and we invited Mike to lead our worship. It was great. We knew a lot of the same songs. They taught us a song or two, and we taught them one as well. We had communion together. Rob led the devotional thought. It was a nice time.

I guess we could have spent those days explaining our theological differences. They would have been wrong about some things, we would have been wrong about some others. But we worship the same God and the same risen savior. I’m not sure, but I hope that what Christ was praying for in the garden. I don’t think unity necessarily means conformity. Unity is a joint Church of Christ, Seventh Day Adventist worship, maybe the first one ever.

Wednesday Night Quote of the Week Strikes Back

"Has anyone heard from Nick?"