The Oxford Dictionary defines a game-changer as 'a person, an idea or an
event that completely changes the way a situation develops.' The Macmillan
Dictionary defines game-changing as 'completely changing the way some-
thing is done, thought about, or made.' For four days in May I participated
in an event that completely changed the way I viewed my time here in the
USA before returning to Scotland. The event was game-changing in the way
I live through this time of 'exile'; it is a game-changer in terms of how I live
through the remaining months (or perhaps even weeks) that I am back here
in my hometown. This event is pivotal as I pass through this period of my
life.
Twenty-two women and men gathered together May 9-12 for the 23rd An-
nual Kelso-Longview Leadership Prayer Summit at the Cannon Beach Con-
ference Center on the Oregon coast. Every year since 1988, Christian leaders
from the greater Kelso-Longview (Washington state) area have been spend-
ing time together worshipping God, building relationships among themselves,
seeking unity in service to Christ and his kingdom, and reaching out in love to
the lost and needy.
The schedule was flexible so that people could participate as they saw fit.
People enjoyed times of rest, reading for pleasure, and walking along the
beach. The facilities were outstanding, the meals were nutritious and deli-
cious, and the scenery was spectacular. Only the weather could have been
better. The first and last days were so-so, the second day was beautiful, and
the third was literally a washout.
A few of the persons in attendance were at the first Prayer Summit in 1988.
I was told that the first years of the Summit were characterized by conflict
and disunity among those first participants. But in recent years there has
been a growing sense of unity and cooperation. Although this year's Sum-
mit was smaller than usual, there was a greater sense of fellowship and un-
ity that had not been experienced before. We concluded the three nights we
were there with the Lord's Supper. These times of communion were, for
many of us, the highpoint of each day.
The Prayer Summit was a time of refreshment for me. I had felt like I had
been through the wringer the past two months. Plus I felt battered during
the past five years that I had lived in Scotland. The Summit was the right
event at the right place at just the right time for me to chill for a few days.
I spent many hours in conversation with other people. It seemed that I
and the person I was talking with were always the last persons to be
leaving the dining room after our meals. I treasure those long and deep
chats that I had with some amazing people who have been serving the
Lord in the Kelso-Longview area for many years.
But what I cherish most is that dear brothers and sisters allowed me to
share from my heart about the ministry the Lord has called me to in St.
Fergus, Scotland. They heard me, spoke into my life, prayed for me,
and supported me in my desire to return to Scotland as soon as the Lord
opens the door. Just before communion at our last evening session togeth-
er, they gathered around two of us, laid hands on us, and prayed over us.
Dave, who has been a Nazarene pastor in the area for thirteen years, is
taking a new charge up in Seattle. As for me, they prayed for my quick
return to Scotland as soon as possible. Some of them joked that they like
having me around, but they want me out of here and back in St. Fergus.
I can't say that I would argue with them.
The Prayer Summit was a game-changer for me. I truly sensed there
that the Lord has called me to Scotland, specifically to St. Fergus. My
companions at the Summit recognized that calling and affirmed it in me.
I will return to Scotland with their full blessing upon me. Most of all, I
made connections with people who have experience and skills in areas
that I believe I will need when I am back in St. Fergus. I will talk to
Larry about how the Lord worked mightily among the churches in the
Kelso-Longview area the past thirty years. I will ask Mark about how
sustained area-wide prayer has been the foundation of what God has
been doing in the area in the last five years. I want to glean from Terri
and Jim about Deep Healing ministry and from Russ about ministry to
people in jail.
I sense that the time I have here is a time for me to be prepared for min-
istry back in Scotland, and so I am taking quite seriously how I use my
time and energy. The Prayer Summit was game-changing because I be-
gan to see my stay here from a whole different perspective, one that is
oriented to serving Christ and his kingdom in Scotland. As always, I
covet your prayers on my behalf.
Blessings to you and yours,
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Friday, June 03, 2011
Memorial Day 2011
For the last four months I have been here in the Longview/Kelso area, I have
been struggling to be disciplined with my time. I have a long list of things to be
done, but I don't seem to be able to manage the use of my time very well. I have
found that a Sabbath rest every seven days injects a sense of God's perspective
into my life. Last Monday, Memorial Day, I took a second Sabbath in order to re-
ceive a double portion of God's perspective. In my early teens I developed a ritu-
al every Memorial Day of reading in the local newspaper a long list of the names
of men and women from the area who died in four major US wars in the 20th
century. Last Monday, Memorial Day 2011, I did what I had not done since I
was a teen: I slowly read through the long list of area war dead published in the
The Daily News. I did not know where it would take me, I just knew that I had
to do it.
I did as I used to do long ago: I began with the list of 43 men killed in Vietnam,
almost all of whom died in the second half of the 1960s, but a few in the early
1970s. When they died, most of them were kids just a few years older than me.
Besides those killed by hostile fire, there were a few killed by friendly fire. There
were two who are still MIA (missing in action). During my high school years, I
followed the war closely. Some of the names of the places where they fell were
still familiar to me: Pleiku, Kontum, Tay Ninh, Bien Hoa, Quang Tri. I remem-
ber reading about the young men when their death notices were published in The
Daily News. I did as I did way back then, I read their names and remembered
them.
I used to go from the Vietnam War to the Second World War, and so I did that
last Monday. The list of war dead from the area is staggering, so much so that I
still feel overwhelmed by the losses. There were submariners, pilots, foot soldiers,
sailors, mapmakers, airmen, bombardiers, POWs, nurses, and more. They died all
over the world: Belgium, France, Italy, Holland, Germany, Britain, North Africa,
India, Burma, the Aleutian Islands, islands and coral atolls in the Pacific, Correg-
idor, Tarawa, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, Luzon, Normandy, and in the air over France
and Germany. Nine local men were lost in the attack on Pearl Harbor, four from
the USS Oklahoma and three from the USS Arizona. At least four area men who
were POWs were killed when US war planes sank the Japanese ships on which
they were being transported to Japan and a few were killed when their ships
were attacked by kamikaze planes. Others were on submarines lost at sea or on
planes that never returned from their missions. One was killed in an auto accident
and several in training accidents. One soldier died of food poisoning and another
from a heart attack. The Army, Navy, and Army Air Corps have long lists of
local personnel who lost their lives in World War II.
I also read the names of those lost in the Korean War and the First World War.
The list for the Korean War is the shortest of the four US wars and there was
no town of Longview until five years after the end of the First World War. Still,
the list for the latter conflict is a long list. I feel it is important to recognize each
name and to remember them. But a lot has changed since I read those lists over
40 years ago. My father passed away June 30, 1979, and my mother on Septem-
ber 30, 2001. So this Memorial Day I went out to the cemetery where they are at
rest and I remembered them and honored them. Near them are the graves of my
Uncle Ole and Aunt Mave, and I remembered and honored them as well. I get
emotional when I am so close to them in terms of space, but so far apart from
them in time and physical relationship. Then I started thinking about my other
uncles, aunts, cousins, and a long list of friends I have known throughout my life,
all of whom are no longer alive. I remember them all.
Blessings to you and yours,
been struggling to be disciplined with my time. I have a long list of things to be
done, but I don't seem to be able to manage the use of my time very well. I have
found that a Sabbath rest every seven days injects a sense of God's perspective
into my life. Last Monday, Memorial Day, I took a second Sabbath in order to re-
ceive a double portion of God's perspective. In my early teens I developed a ritu-
al every Memorial Day of reading in the local newspaper a long list of the names
of men and women from the area who died in four major US wars in the 20th
century. Last Monday, Memorial Day 2011, I did what I had not done since I
was a teen: I slowly read through the long list of area war dead published in the
The Daily News. I did not know where it would take me, I just knew that I had
to do it.
I did as I used to do long ago: I began with the list of 43 men killed in Vietnam,
almost all of whom died in the second half of the 1960s, but a few in the early
1970s. When they died, most of them were kids just a few years older than me.
Besides those killed by hostile fire, there were a few killed by friendly fire. There
were two who are still MIA (missing in action). During my high school years, I
followed the war closely. Some of the names of the places where they fell were
still familiar to me: Pleiku, Kontum, Tay Ninh, Bien Hoa, Quang Tri. I remem-
ber reading about the young men when their death notices were published in The
Daily News. I did as I did way back then, I read their names and remembered
them.
I used to go from the Vietnam War to the Second World War, and so I did that
last Monday. The list of war dead from the area is staggering, so much so that I
still feel overwhelmed by the losses. There were submariners, pilots, foot soldiers,
sailors, mapmakers, airmen, bombardiers, POWs, nurses, and more. They died all
over the world: Belgium, France, Italy, Holland, Germany, Britain, North Africa,
India, Burma, the Aleutian Islands, islands and coral atolls in the Pacific, Correg-
idor, Tarawa, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, Luzon, Normandy, and in the air over France
and Germany. Nine local men were lost in the attack on Pearl Harbor, four from
the USS Oklahoma and three from the USS Arizona. At least four area men who
were POWs were killed when US war planes sank the Japanese ships on which
they were being transported to Japan and a few were killed when their ships
were attacked by kamikaze planes. Others were on submarines lost at sea or on
planes that never returned from their missions. One was killed in an auto accident
and several in training accidents. One soldier died of food poisoning and another
from a heart attack. The Army, Navy, and Army Air Corps have long lists of
local personnel who lost their lives in World War II.
I also read the names of those lost in the Korean War and the First World War.
The list for the Korean War is the shortest of the four US wars and there was
no town of Longview until five years after the end of the First World War. Still,
the list for the latter conflict is a long list. I feel it is important to recognize each
name and to remember them. But a lot has changed since I read those lists over
40 years ago. My father passed away June 30, 1979, and my mother on Septem-
ber 30, 2001. So this Memorial Day I went out to the cemetery where they are at
rest and I remembered them and honored them. Near them are the graves of my
Uncle Ole and Aunt Mave, and I remembered and honored them as well. I get
emotional when I am so close to them in terms of space, but so far apart from
them in time and physical relationship. Then I started thinking about my other
uncles, aunts, cousins, and a long list of friends I have known throughout my life,
all of whom are no longer alive. I remember them all.
Blessings to you and yours,
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