A Josh Duncan original tie

The Sunday worship service was over and Josh greeted me, like he did most Sundays, at Church in the Acres.  There was the firm handshake a warm smile and then he added, “Pastor, we have a problem.”  I had learned that when someone said, “we have a problem” it usually meant that they were unhappy with me or disagreed with something I was doing.  So I replied with more than a little hesitation, “Oh, and what might that be?”  “Don’t worry, I will take care of it” was all Josh would say.

A few days later he and his wife Marian stopped by my office with a present.  Josh presented me a box and stepped back to watch me open it.  In the box was a new tie, one he had handmade especially for me.  Pastor, “last Sunday was Memorial Day weekend and you were wearing a plain, ordinary tie.  That just won’t do, so I made this one for you.”  This new tie proudly displayed the colors of the American flag and was something worth celebrating.

I pulled this special, handmade tie out of the closet this past Sunday.  As I put it on I could not help but think of Josh and the many other men and women like him who have served our country proudly and with distinction.  Josh lied about his age to get into WWII.  It was his duty to serve his country and something like “being too young” was not going to keep him from it.  He continued his service through multiple tours in Vietnam and other conflicts our country has found its way into.  He always served proudly and gave his country 100% of who he was.  As you listened to Marian talk about her husband’s service you could feel the pride just ooze out of her.  They were well into their middle 70’s by the time I had the pleasure of knowing them but when she talked about her Josh and his service it felt like you were listening to a young school girl talk about her first boyfriend…she was so proud of her man.

I don’t wear the tie too often.  It spends most of the year in my closet.  Yet when I pull it out and put it on I remember this man who loved God, loved his wife and family, and served his country whenever they called.  Thank you Josh, and the many others like him who have given of themselves so I may enjoy the freedoms I so often take for granted.

This morning I walked into my office a little later than I had planned.  I was already behind schedule.  My goal was to get in early and straighten things up and get things in order so I could function well for the rest of the week.  As I sat down to begin “pushing papers” and uncovering the top of my desk I accidently bumped my mouse and my computer screen came to life revealing my computer’s desktop.  I was struck by the way that my computer’s desktop, cluttered with a bunch of “temporary” and “important” files was beginning to look a lot like the desk I was sitting behind.  Click, click, click I began to remove some of the clutter on the screen and then pushed a few papers…back to the screen for a few minutes and so the morning went until I got that first phone call.

In the midst of my de-cluttering I was struck by how at times my life can begin to feel this way…there is so much going on.  I have filled my days with so many appointments that I simply move from one to the next…I begin to feel rushed, overwhelmed and then tired.  Where does this come from?  Why is there this sense that the busier I am the more that is getting done?  It was not the way of Jesus.  Time and time again, when there was much to do, when there were people to feed, heal, teach and simply be with Jesus snuck away for some time of quiet with Abba Father.  It was in those moments that God met him in special ways, helped him to see, understand and embrace the call upon his life and filled him with the strength to move into the special role God had invited him into.  If Jesus needed those times what makes me think that I will not?  What makes me think that I can live among the clutter of this fast paced, overly busy world and not need to stop and be still, inviting Abba Father to speak into my hurried, harried and overwhelmed life?

I stopped the mouse from clicking…put the papers down…sat in silence for just sixty seconds…inviting God to fill me with a Spirit of Grace, Peace, Strength and Joy.  A mini retreat in the midst of work day.

Abba Father, thank you for your promise to meet us in the midst of the clutter and chaos of life.  Amen

A young me on Roatan

Back when I was about 16 years old God spoke to me on the island of Roatan in a very clear way…called me and it totally changed the direction of my life.  Ever since that day I was clear that I was to be involved in some form of ministry.  Even during the six years in North Carolina when I was not pastoring a church I sought to be actively involved in ministry…to not be would be to somehow deny the person that God has created and called me to be.

Over the past five years I have had the opportunity to return to Roatan, to re-connect with the place, and the people who God has used to guide my life.  Over the past three years I have been blessed to be able to share the island and the communities there with Joseph and Rayann.  It has been fun to watch God work in their lives through some of the same experiences I had oh so many years ago.  In fact, when Rayann and I were talking about the transition to PA one of her big questions was, “does this mean we have to stop going to Roatan?”

Rayann and I  will be heading back to Roatan with Live Again Ministries this July 18 – 25.  We have raised  a lot of our support “on the down low” this year.  We have a couple very generous people who believe in us and the work of Live Again who help us each time we decide to travel to Roatan.  At this time we are about $800 short of our goal.  If you are interested in helping us in this mission effort please get in touch.  We are always excited to see how God works to provide everything we need for these trips.

We will be working with some of the clean water projects, will undoubtedly check in on the I Was I Am feeding project but our main focus this trip will be the elderly on the island.  So many times people travel to minister to the children and the young families and the elderly are a “forgotten” people group.  Our goal is to let them know they are remembered, cared for and to help local churches connect with some of the elderly who are in need of special care and attention.  It is a good lesson for all of us here at home to learn…but all the more important for a community where subsistence living is a way of life for so many.  Please pray for us as we go that God would open doors, help us to see and sense need and provide a layer of protection upon us.  We are excited to be be traveling with Live Again ministries once again, and we are even more excited to be taking two of Rayann’s friends from Kennett Square with us so we can introduce them to Roatan.

Please pray for us.  If you would like to support us financially please be in touch.  Thank you and God Bless.

Dan & Rayann

We finally found Natalie in the crowd of people

Rayann and I got up early last Friday morning and headed out to see one of our friends compete in the Special Olympics.  Natalie is a great friend to Rayann and is one of my “Pastor’s Partners.”  The Pastors partners help me after worship services to keep track of things and allow me to focus on having conversations with people rather than trying to keep track of notes, my Bible and such.  They are a great help and Natalie is very good at her job.

We got to the track just in time for the running of the torch and just in time for the sun to fully come out on a beautiful day.  It was not long before Rayann and I both realized that we were not prepared for the day…no sunscreen, no water bottles…we started to feel the burn after just a few minutes.  Thoughts of burning foreheads faded as we saw Natalie across the field.  She was full of energy, excited for the day and we were glad to be there to see her participate.

She did an awesome job and we are both glad to be able to call her friend.  Way to go Natalie!  Thank you for inviting us to join you.

A few weeks ago I downloaded some LOGO design software.  I could not get the software to load correctly.  The “support team” was anything but helpful and just kept spinning me around and around in circles.  Finally after four days of frustration I removed the software from my computer and requested my money back, making use of their 100% satisfaction guarantee policy.

I got an email response that said, “Our 100% guaranteed satisfaction policy has changed” and once again I began to be sent spinning in circles of emails and non-reply to my repeated contacts.

After a few weeks, and figuring I was wasting my time with them, I called the credit card company I used to purchase the program, asking if they could do anything.  Well, this morning I got a phone call from one of the “support people” at said software company.  “We are ready to issue you a refund, please contact your bank and settle the charge back as it effects the reputation of our business.”

What?  I almost fell off my chair.  No – it reflects the actual behavior and character of your business.  Where was this phone call when I wanted support?  I actually sent an email that included my cell phone number…begging someone to call me to help get the program installed so I could use it and complete my project!  You were happy to leave me hanging…but now that it effects your reputation there is a sense of urgency and you are compelled to act?

I do appreciate the global economy…the ability to get anything from anywhere at a moments notice via the web…but it is interactions like these that make me long for the mom and pop stores where everyone knows your name and people actually care about the reputation they are building with each transaction.

Not sure how this has happened….but I find myself in yet another one of those situations where you look at your life and ask, “How did I get here?”

A few days ago we found out Nancy Nicewonger​’s dad was going to have surgery so we purchased a plane ticket and got Nancy to North Carolina to be with her dad and family. This left Rayann and myself to care for Owen (Rayann’s Dog). Well, yesterday Rayann spent the day in school and then came home only to leave after a short while to go babysit until 8pm.  This meant that Owen and I had “quality, bonding time” from 7am until 8pm.  Now today, I just got a text from Rayann, asking if she can walk home from school and go to a friends house for the afternoon.  Which, in case you have not figured it out yet, means Owen and I will once again have a “fun filled day” of adventure.

So, here is my question, “How is it that I am left to watch this dog that makes it’s #1 goal in life to torment me?”

The larger question I am left pondering is, “What is going to happen with this dog when my daughter goes off to college in less than three years?”

Before you begin to think me a hater of dogs or something like that (which I am not) you have to understand the expectations with which Owen moves through the house.  Rayann dotes on “her Owen”.  Owen follows her everywhere…I mean everywhere, it is kind of amusing and cute when Rayann is around to be followed.  Owen sits on her lap while she works at her desk, again, kind of cute when he was a tiny dog or when Rayann is working at her desk.  Unfortunately Rayann has not been here for the past few days and guess who else works at a desk…guess who wants to sit on MY lap while I work at MY desk.

It is a good thing that one of them is extremely lovable. (not the one that barks)

Last Saturday First Baptist hosted our annual Easter Egg hunt.  It was a great time for children and their families to come and have fun learning about the gospel story, have lunch, do crafts and of course hunt for easter eggs.

The Christian Education Board did a great job putting the day together.  Here are some more pictures of the day.