porchpondering.com

Road Trip Reading

We're going to be away for the weekend at the Johnson Family Reunion. The reunion takes place every five years and this will be the first "California Edition" of this event. We missed the last one so it's time we checked in. I was clicking around Amazon.com in search of some summer reading when I came upon this "out of print" work by Don Miller. Sounds good to me. If anyone has a copy on their shelf, I'd love to borrow it for a few hundred miles.

Sorry for the sporadic postings in recent weeks. It's hard to sit in front of the computer screen when it's so beautiful outside.

Why Worship

We're hosting a gathering in our home tonight to talk about worship. We need to do all we can at Village Presbyterian Church to make our Sunday morning service meaningful and vibrant. I'm looking forward to getting some good input tonight.

The Opening Bell

I don't pay much attention to the New York Stock Exchange but yesterday morning our beloved treasurer, Mr. Greg Lubushkin, stood on the platform at the opening bell. He's in the picture, second from the right. Is that cool or what?

Praying with Open Hands, pt. 2

Here's the rest of the story from Acts 10:

19 While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Look, three men are searching for you. 20 Now get up, go down, and go with them without hesitation; for I have sent them." 21 So Peter went down to the men and said, "I am the one you are looking for; what is the reason for your coming?" 22 They answered, "Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man, who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and to hear what you have to say." 23 So Peter invited them in and gave them lodging.

The next day he got up and went with them, and some of the believers from Joppa accompanied him. 24 The following day they came to Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 On Peter's arrival Cornelius met him, and falling at his feet, worshiped him. 26 But Peter made him get up, saying, "Stand up; I am only a mortal." 27 And as he talked with him, he went in and found that many had assembled; 28 and he said to them, "You yourselves know that it is unlawful for a Jew to associate with or to visit a Gentile; but God has shown me that I should not call anyone profane or unclean. 29 So when I was sent for, I came without objection. Now may I ask why you sent for me?" 30 Cornelius replied, "Four days ago at this very hour, at three o'clock, I was praying in my house when suddenly a man in dazzling clothes stood before me. 31 He said, "Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God. 32 Send therefore to Joppa and ask for Simon, who is called Peter; he is staying in the home of Simon, a tanner, by the sea.' 33 Therefore I sent for you immediately, and you have been kind enough to come. So now all of us are here in the presence of God to listen to all that the Lord has commanded you to say."

34 Then Peter began to speak to them: "I truly understand that God shows no partiality, 35 but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. 36 You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all. 37 That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. 39 We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; 40 but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, 41 not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. 43 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."

44 While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard the word. 45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles, 46 for they heard them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter said, 47 "Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?" 48 So he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they invited him to stay for several days.

Prayers for Dad [updated]

Please keep my Dad in your prayers today because he's having surgery this morning. He's had many complications with his eyes. His vision is completely tweaked in one eye and today they hope to clear the cloudy vision in his good eye. It's a big risk but he wants to see clearly. Thanks for your prayers. My Dad's name is also Steve. I'll let you know how things turn out.

UPDATE: I receive a call from my sister a few minutes ago and she said everything went well. The doctor removed a mass in his eye that had been pushing on the retina. Now that it's gone my dad's sight should improve in the coming months. That's great news! Thanks for your prayers.

Praying with Open Hands

This Sunday we will be continuing the series on prayer with a message titled, "Praying with Open Hands." The reading is from Acts 10 where Cornelius and Peter are both described as men of prayer. It's a bit longer reading and so I thought I'd post it here over two days. Here it is:

1 In Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of the Italian Cohort, as it was called. 2 He was a devout man who feared God with all his household; he gave alms generously to the people and prayed constantly to God. 3 One afternoon at about three o'clock he had a vision in which he clearly saw an angel of God coming in and saying to him, "Cornelius." 4 He stared at him in terror and said, "What is it, Lord?" He answered, "Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God. 5 Now send men to Joppa for a certain Simon who is called Peter; 6 he is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the seaside." 7 When the angel who spoke to him had left, he called two of his slaves and a devout soldier from the ranks of those who served him, 8 and after telling them everything, he sent them to Joppa.

9 About noon the next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. 10 He became hungry and wanted something to eat; and while it was being prepared, he fell into a trance. 11 He saw the heaven opened and something like a large sheet coming down, being lowered to the ground by its four corners. 12 In it were all kinds of four-footed creatures and reptiles and birds of the air. 13 Then he heard a voice saying, "Get up, Peter; kill and eat." 14 But Peter said, "By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is profane or unclean." 15 The voice said to him again, a second time, "What God has made clean, you must not call profane." 16 This happened three times, and the thing was suddenly taken up to heaven. 17 Now while Peter was greatly puzzled about what to make of the vision that he had seen, suddenly the men sent by Cornelius appeared. They were asking for Simon's house and were standing by the gate. 18 They called out to ask whether Simon, who was called Peter, was staying there.

The Summer Groove

The boys are hanging out at surf camp this week and I'm trying to adjust to a difference schedule around the house. Yesterday, I also found myself trying to come down from the high of a great weekend. On Friday we celebrated the end of the school year for the boys. Saturday was jam-packed, including an evening wedding. I love doing weddings and this one was "way cool." The ceremony took place in an idyllic setting of the Arroyo Trabuco Golf Course. The chef in charge of the dinner also happens to belong to Village and so the evening was a team effort. Blessings to Jon and Alison as they begin the next chapter in their life together. Sunday was "Father's Day" and I drank it in from start to finish. My kids gave me a backpack chair. I had a good time on Sunday morning at Village and I'm glad for the start of a new series. This morning I swam again and I'm finally getting back to where I was before Joy's trip. It was a beautiful morning with clear skies and cool water.

Well, that's the quick update of my attempt to find the summer groove. The only thing missing so far is a frisbee. That will be coming soon, fer sure!

T-Shirts

Yesterday we passed out the summer t-shirts for Village Presbyterian Church. If you haven't received yours yet, let me know and we'll get 'em to you. This morning in worship Chris Koch sang a Derek Webb song that asks the question of what we should be known for. Since it was titled "T-Shirts," it was perfect for the debut of our summer special...but, as I said this morning, the song asks some hard questions about what we should be known for. Sometimes we have a hard time communicating with the ones God is wanting to reach. We often send mixed messages. Here are the lyrics for the song, in case you missed it this morning. It's from the album "I See Things Upside Down," which is also on the list of music on the left sidebar.

Even so, we should wear our VPC t-shirts and be ready to tell our story whenever someone asks.

T-Shirts (What We Should Be Known For) by Derek Webb

they'll know us by the t-shirts that we wear
they'll know us by the way we point and stare
at anyone whose sin looks worse than ours
who cannot hide the scars of this curse that we all bare

they’ll know us by our picket lines and signs
they’ll know us by the pride we hide behind
like anyone on earth is living right
and isn’t that why Jesus died
not to make us think we’re right

chorus
when love, love, love
is what we should be known for
love, love, love
it’s the how and it’s the why
we live and breathe and we die

they’ll know us by reasons we divide
and how we can’t seem to unify
because we’ve gotta sing songs a certain style
or we’ll walk right down that aisle
and just leave ‘em all behind

they’ll know us by the billboards that we make
just turning God’s words to cheap clichés
says “what part of murder don’t you understand?”
but we hate our fellow man
and point a finger at his grave

chorus

they'll know us by the t-shirts that we wear
they'll know us by the way we point and stare
telling ‘em their sins are worse than ours
thinking we can hide our scars
beneath these t-shirts that we wear

© 2004 Derek Webb Music (admin by Music Services, ASCAP)

Thanks also to Rick Brotherton for the shirt design and to RC Sportswear for the production.

It's Not MTV

This is a cool video. I've read two biographies of Billy Graham (A Prophet with Honor by William Martin and Graham's autobiography, Just as I Am) and my faith was uplifted on both occasions. This video is a fitting tribute to a faithful man. Thanks to Mike Todd for the link...and here's another link that will make you think.

Bottom Up Reading

This is a strange title for a post but let me explain. Since most blogs add the newest entry to the top of the list, whenever you want to read a series of posts, you have to read from the bottom up. I want to encourage you to do some bottom up reading over the next few days. I also want to ask you to set an evening aside on your calendar: Sunday, July 17th. That's when Joy and I will be hosting a gathering for all who are interested in learning more about what Village Presbyterian Church can do in Africa. We will hear about a cooperative project in Malawi that includes several large Presbyterian Churches who are working together with World Vision. San Clemente Pres just happens to be one of those churches. If you're interested, let me recommend you take the time to read through Tod's observations and insights following his recent trip (you can get to the main page by clicking here and don't forget to read from the bottom up).