A Summer Letter

"The summer's flow'r is to the summer sweet"
-Sonnet 94: line 9.

19 July 2020


Dear E & S:

Grace, mercy, and peace be to you.  Your recent comments on the decaying of moral in our government and society is shared.  If we were to remember the "days of old", let us not reminiscence the good o' days, but on God's love and care for His people (Psalm 143:5-6).  Most important, let us not confuse the general grace of God bestowed to all of mankind, where "He makes his sun rise on the evil and on the the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust" (Matthew 5:44).  What God creates, He sustains.  

Be assured God sees and knows the heart of man, “those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness” (Isaiah 5:20).  The time will come when He shall collect His people.  In the meantime, the chaff (unrepentant) grows along side the wheat (God's people), as the Lord teaches in Matthew 13:30. 

Taking after Lucifer, unredeemed souls in all walks of life are ever prideful and self-righteous.  As such, real or perceived obstacles and injustice are vented by symbolic gestures or actus reus. In these United States, history is episodically revised, altered. Landmarks and edifices of yore are destroyed. All hid behind the so-called "righteous indignation". Unlike the Revolutionary War or brutal conflicts among nations in archival palimpsest, nary life or limb is sacrificed from the epicurean comforts and security of conceited dissidents.  The disgruntled souls see the specks in the eye of others but not the log in their own eyes.  In the words of Lewis, “he had worked them with his brain but not with his blood.”

From time immemorial since the Fall, mankind has yet attested that war, pestilence, famine, girded in with climatic and geologic disasters, could be subjugated.  Rather, individuals and nations all went into a tail-spin when faced a major disaster.  More often than not, civil and economic foundations collapsed, lives loss, and hopes dashed.  Presently, it is the pandemic COVID-19 which concerns the nations.  This virus has become the “white whale” to the world’s Ahabs. It has to be subdued and conquered.  Otherwise, grandiose dreams such as colonizing the planet Mars are hampered.  Then when the "rude sea grew civil at song" once again, sand boxes are rebuilt beside newly emerged sand castles.  Still, the heraldry of self and nations is ever the same prideful strain, "I am the master of my fate.  I am the captain of my soul."  These words are the touchstone of civilizations; a succinct expression of pride.  Chided and forgotten was and is our Lord’s warning on the tower of Siloam disaster (Luke 13:4-5). 

The cussedness of man has its root of disobedience in the pride of our first parents, Adam and Eve.  The pathos of their sin and dire consequence of being cast out of Paradise is expressed thusly by Milton, 

“They hand in hand with wandring steps and slow,
Through Eden took thir solitarie way.”

Everything mankind does, it should be done for God’s eternal and undiminished glory (1 Cor. 10:31).  Created in His image, the Fall has resulted in mankind derogating from His glory.  After the Fall, first-born son Cain, eschewed God’s chastisement, killed his younger brother Abel.  Then Cain went east of Eden, away “from the presence of the Lord” (Genesis 4:16), built a city, and named it after his offspring.  A pride which akin to the later Nubuchadezzar.  The proud emperor exclaimed, “for the glory of my majesty” (Daniel 4:30).  As “all pride is willing pride”, sin germinated.  It has now innately entwined in mankind. 

When step onto the stage of life, individuals and nations are sailing on the zeitgeist of the time, their “glory is like a circle in the water, which never cease the to enlarge itself”.  Indeed, it is glorious and exhilarating to have the spirit of the age sits in the shoulder of one’s sail. Nevertheless, when man exits life’s stage, the circle in the water “disperse to nought”.  

But by His mercy, God redeemed us, His people.  In our final breath on earth, we need not utter a conceited cavalier despair such as, “time’s winged chariots hurrying near; and yonder all before us lie, desert of vast eternity”.  God drew us from the pit of destruction. God set our feet on solid rock.  God adopted us as sons and daughters.  God’s adoption “is surely the apex of grace and privilege.” 

Our testimony of God’s grace is not complete until we offer up our song of thanksgiving to Him in public and in worship. Psalm 40 apropos our view on the pandemic.  It is not what we can do in view of COVID-19,  but what we must do to worship God in difficult circumstances.  As the Psalmist David says, 

“I was glad when they said to me,
Let us go to the house of the Lord!”
Psalm 122:1 (ESV)
In sum, Psalm 40 underpins several points on worshiping God. The joy of corporate identity in public worship is not to be extinguished.  In church worship we are striding to appreciate its permanency (assailed but never prevailed), its diversity and unity (one Lord, one faith, one baptism), and its justice (wrongs are righted).  Finally, our prayers for and in the church ensures its accessibility so that God’s family may always journey to and gather together in the house of the Lord.  

Recently, as you might have learned from the news cast, the state of California further decreed that no singing with uncovered mouths is allowed inside the church.  So last Sunday, 19 July, we conducted our first worship service outdoors on church grounds.  Below is a picture taken at the 9 AM service that Sunday on the parking lot of the church.  We brought our chairs.  The pastor you can see in the photo; the organist and his portable keyboard are to his right. 

Finally, after this long and perhaps convoluted missive, I like to leave with you the second stanza of “Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken". Written in 1779 and set to the music of Haydn in 1797.

“See the streams of living waters,
Springing from eternal love,
Well supply thy sons and daughters
And all fear of want remove;
Who can faint while such a river ever flows
their thirst t’assuage?
Grace, which like the Lord, the giver,
never fails from age to age.”

Our Redeemer lives; and that “all [our] springs are in [Christ]” (cf. Psalm 87:7).

God's grace be with you. In my heart I forget you not.

As always,

L’

Church eGroup Synergy

With auto post and comment notification email configured this evening, the men's e-group moderator has all the tools he needs to get him from "here to there."

Later this week, I will set up the same auto notification process with the ladies' e-group leader.

The final practical exercise for the two leaders is learning about inter-blog connectivity.  The two leaders will collaborate on the designing of an e-group survey questionnaire using mostly free Google on-line services.

This joint project has five parts.  First, the two leaders will learn to share an on-line calender created specifically for the survey project.   Second, they are to learn to use chat for impromptu dialog or planned live-discussions to flesh out the goal of the 10-question survey.    Then they will collaborate to write one questionnaire on-line.   When the survey questionnaire is completed, each leader will create a separate but identically survey for the two e-groups by using a non-Google survey service.  Finally, each of the moderator will place the survey link on the respective blog for the members to complete.

The fruits of blogging and inter-group synergy will usher in new vistas for conducting the business of heaven on earth.  What's learned will be passed on and improved upon by the next class.

And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.
-- 2 Timothy 2:2 (NIV)

Ay, There 's The Rub

Both our church men and women eGroup-blogs are now on-line. It was a pleasure of my helping both eGroup moderators to set up the blogs. Smoky and Pat, our church moderators for the men's and woman's eGroups, respectively, are very proficient with computers and the internet scene. Whereas the former has a good grasp of the blogging mechanics and "places for widgets", the latter has gone beyond blog-keeping and chores. She has turned the site into a fellowhship home true to the sense of the word internet for the women who joined.

These first eGroup men pioneers, including the moderator, might not be into much nurturing and support topical discussions. We shall see. The women, on the other hand, are very comfortable with this medium for devotions and fellowship. In fact, they are already asking about the quickest way or ways to view comments and expedite responses and prayers.

To the women eGroup, the blog is the "happening." The men, on the other hand, are still milling about the water's edge. They wrote comments like, "is this place (the blog) where we give feedback instead by email?" Or, "I am lost (in the blog). Can someone find me?" That's the fellas for ya.

Men's Team Blog

Tonight I will be heading over to the men's eGroup moderator office to get him set up for team blogging. This exercise will be a two-evening affair.

We will go over the essentials to get him started the blog. I think my being the co-administrator would ease much of the learning curve on his part. On Wednesday evening, we will set up auto notification on all posts and comments to the membership and what not.

Blogger Pat

I spent two evenings this week with Elder Pat to set up her blog for the Womens' eGroup. She has blogging in her Levi genes (a pun on the clothing manufacturer and on the old and new testaments meaning of priesthood). With Pat's blog on-line, our church's first eGroup is launched.

As for the mens eGroup, well, let just say we are lurching along eating Pat's cyberdust. We have yet to start a team blog. *grin*

Everything is Ducky

It's a blustery and raining day. The outdoor temperature is hovering at 57°F/14°C. All things considered, the seasonal weather is better here in California than, say, at the Great Lakes or Calgary, Canada.

It took me practically two worship services this morning to track down all of the principal church staff. All of them, including their spouses, received Duck Bucks for dinner (certificates) at Mallard this Christmas.

First Chili Cook-Off at Church

As a conclusion of our 40 Days of Community milestone, we had our first fall chili cook-off. Seventeen small groups participated and as many varieties of chili styles.

I did my part rating the contestants with sticky-stars. Boy, was I stuffed.

Painting the Vine House Interior

Painting the Vine House Interior on 23 October, 2005

While another group from our church is putting together a new storage shed in the back yard today, our group contiuned with the the second phase of cleaning and painting tasks. We sanded and prepped the designated interior woodwork with primers. On the next weekend visit, the group will do the painting.

On The Wrong Side of the Track

There are at least two empirical observations concerning the growth pattern of a city where land is either available or annexation merited. The emerging affluent residential and commercial developments are likely to occur first in a northerly direction away from the old downtown and city seat. The presence of railroads or highway further demarcates the have and the have nots of the inhabitants. The concentration of wealth and amenities services are more abundant and accessible on the "right" side of the track and fartherest away from the city hall and inner city surroundings.

A double whammies beset and dissect the westside of our city. This section of town is separated by the north-south State Route 99 and the Southern Pacific Railroad. Here is where our version of the West Side Story unfolds daily. It is here on the "wrong" side of the track Medical Ambassadors is serving the poor, the sick, and the destitute with Jesus' eyes.

The Vine House is Medical Ambassadors' drop-in center. At this house, food and drink are provided along with Christian-based videos, a clothing exchange, and a warm place to rest. Our church small groups will be doing repair and remodeling for this center for the next 40 Days of Community and beyond.

Our group will start cleaning and repairing parts of the Vine House next Saturday afternoon, and on the two following Sundays after worship.

Running Together

This post was sent from the mobile iPAQ hx2755.

Today, 2 October, 2005, is world wide communion Sunday. It brought me joy in tbe spirit and warmth in the heart; I, our church, you, and your church, all partook in the Lord's Supper.

It is He who draws us to run the race together (cf Song 1:4). Wherever we are, may we keep our eyes on Him and run the race together as the messengers of grace. Pray that His Word wlll simply take off and race through your land and mine to a groundswell of response (cf 2 Thess. 3:1).

From this member of the body, God's peace be with you.

EXPIRED: Ralph Vaughan Williams: For All the Saints.

A Future and Hope

Indiviually and collectively, each of us and our church are mobilized to aid the victims of the Katrina aftermath. Through Medical Amassador, the Prebyterian Diaster Assistance, and Salvation Army, etc., we are helping financially and with human resources. At this moment, we have a team working to coordinate with the locals at New Orleans for victims who have lost everything and would consider relocating to our community.

The Winning Number

This past Sunday, Smokey gave out two prizes at a drawing as we wrapped up our summer adult ed session at the church. With the winning number "101", I won a sweet deal.

I received a certificate for See's chocolate candies. The prize entitled me at any See's confectionary, a selection of a pound's worth of chocolate morsels.

Since I do not have a sweet tooth, I transferred my entitlement to Mrs. Heacock first thing this morning at the office. She was all grins when I surprised her with the certificate. A chocolate fancier she is. She would benefit from the polyphenols in the cocoa. These naturally occurring antioxidants in cocoa should help maintain her cardiovascular health.

The Church Picnic

As of this writing at 2147 hours PDT, the outside temperture is 80°F/27°C. It is much cooler than this afternoon when we had our annual church picnic at Davis Park. The temperture then hovered near or above 98°F/36°C. This was a good old hot August summer picnic. Loved it.

I had an opportunity to rub elbows with two pastors. Retired Pastor "Smokey" sauntered over to say hello and remarked he was mystified as to why I wasn't getting his email. My not able to receive his email happened after two correspondence. It seemed his mailing program or whatever dropped me from the group mailing list. Then we talked about intellegent design, ecology, big band music, the Book of Job. Finally, toward the end of our short but constructive conversation, I shared with him my seeing about God's plan in motion from a docu-drama last night on the telly.

I spent an uncommon 4 hours watching the first showing of The Life of Young John Paul on the Hallmark Channel. Smokey would like to see it when it is shown again.

Then I went over to see pastoral-candiate Craig about his morning sermon on Hebrew 10:24-25, and his ordination exams two days ago. Once in awhile, I would throw a curve ball at Craig. This time I ribbed him about his 15-hour written exams.

I said, if I were on the exam panel, I would have him write about "kindess" and "love" relative to Hebrews, 1 John and so forth. We had a lively 15 minutes dialog on "The Good Samaritan", C.S. Lewis' "The Four Loves", Mother Teresa, and civic services.

The picnic last about three hours from 1200 hours to 1600 hours. Those attended learned more about other members of the body and strode closer to commUNITY.

This Sunday's Church Bulletin

I have been keeping copies my church bulletins and sermon notes for a number of years. Overtime, they've become another pile of stuff attractive only to dust and no one else. Not even to their owner collector. The advent of the PDA (personal digital assistance) provides me a timely, hi-tech way to record and manage the worship contents each sunday.

A lot can be discovered about the life of a church by the contents of its worship bulletin. With respect to my rambling discourse on Church Music and Worship, I thought to illustrate a day in the life our presbytarian church. Its membership is about 400. We have two morning services. What follows then, is an outline of today's worship service, 15 May, 2005. My annotations are highlighted in red.

______
Reaching out in Christ's Love...Building Up in Christ's Love...Sending Out in Christ's Love
______
*asterisk denotes a time for those wishing to stand (there are elderly and or handicapped members in the service who have difficulties rising and sitting)

The Preparation

Preparing Our Hearts for Worship

Prelude Rondo Campana
Choir: Echoes of Joy Handbell Chor
Arranger/Composer: Wilson

Giving God the Glory

Words of Welcome and Life of the Church

Call to Meditation
"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's Will is-His good, pleasing and perfect Will." -- Romans 12:2-3 (NIV, New International Version)

Call to Worship

Leader: Give thanks to the Lord, call on His Name; make known among the nations what He has done!

Ministers (the congregation): My soul rejoices in You and delights in Your salvation! I sing praise to You and tell of all Your wonderful acts! I give You glory and my heart rejoices in You!

Leader: Look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always. Remember the wonders He has done. His miracles, and the judgments He pronounced.

Ministers (the congregation): You are my God! I adore You and Your faithfulness to Your Covenant! You are upon my heart even as I am upon Yours! I give You glory and my heart rejoices in You!

*Hymn 551 O to be like Thee!
(cf: Galatians 4:19; Walking with God; Aspiration and Consecration)

*God's Children in Confession (unison)
Dear God, I acknowledge and confess before You my sinful nature. I have at times in ignorance cut myself off from You. I have alienated myself from You, the root of my being. My life has turned empty, inane, meaningless, and without purpose. Forgive me and renew my mind in Your Truth, that my life might demonstrate and reflect Your Love, Your Will and Your Grace. May others see in me that Jesus in the only way and only answer to our needs and only Lord of life. Make me into the person You want me to be. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

*Assurance of Pardon - Ephesians 1:7
"In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses."
(NIV)

*Gloria Patri (Hymn 813)
(Organ accompaniment; cf. Psalm 96:8; Ascribing to the Lord the glory due His name)

The Praise

Anthem The Holy Trinity
Choir: The Koinonia Choir
Arranger/Composer: Ellingboe
(Piano accompaniment)

Minute for Purpose Evangelism/Mission (Innder City Los Angeles)

Praise through Tithes and Offerings

Offertory (Organ accompaniment) Festival Capriccio
Arranger/Composer: Kinyon

*Doxology (Hymn 815)
(Organ accompaniment: cf. Ephesians 1:3)

*Hymn 554 Give Me Jesus
(Organ accompaniment: Aspiration and Consecration)

The Proclamation

God's Written Word Ephesians 4:17-32
God's Word Proclaimed (Senior Pastor)

Put off the Evil Side of the Force...Put On the New Side of the Force...
Our Senior Pastor often uses the current cultural or media event to illustrate one or more Biblical principles. Today's sermon's was on Ephesians 4:17-32. He used the latest Star War episode to illustrate this portion of Scripture. Today's message was there is only ONE reality in life. That reality is Jesus. In Him only is the new and true side of the "force."

The Prayer

*Hymn 588 All for Jesus
(cf. Roman 12:1; Walking with God, Assurance and Trust)

*Benediction
(Today's benediction is also our Senior Pastor's opening remarks before he delivers every sermon. It's is from Psalm 19:14)

"Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is veing renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator." (NIV)

*Postlude (Organ accompaniment) Symphony No. 1 Finale (Excerpts)
Composer/Arranger: Vierne
_______

The end of WORSHIP - the beginning of SERVICE

Which Church to Go

A collegiate age friend of my is in the process of moving from one state to another and he will be looking for a new church home. He has been told God has a special church for him, and by attending this or that church is wrong. I wrote the following letter to him on 1 February, 2005.

Dear Texas:

Any Christ centered church is okay to attend. Over the years I have lived in several cities: I have attended Baptist, Prebytarian, and Covenant chuches. Because they "felt" right and I had a part in these church.

But let me share with you this thought:

It is not so much what the church can do for you, but what you can do for God and His church.

The great ends of God's church (doesn't matter which denomination) are:

1. to proclaim the gospel for the salvation of mankind
2. to shelter, nurture, and spiritually fellowship with the childrens of God
3. to maintain divine worship
4. to preserve the truth
5. to promote social righteousness, and
6. to exhibit the Kingdom of Heaven to the world

Keep these guidelines in mind as you worship and participate in your church. God does not appoint or demand you and I to attend a "physical" church of this one or that one.

Churches should have small groups or fellowships for different ages. It's important for you to find a college-career fellowship in your church. University town churches have very exciting young adult groups for nurturing, fellowship, and worshiping together...