We just returned from our trip to Lakewood. We left this morning early enough to catch our grandson Caedmon’s soccer game. He turned in a stellar performance of course, although his team ended up losing in the four on four battle of the five year olds. At that age the kids enjoy the game and running around, but look forward to the treats at the end of the game the most.

We then spent most of the day at Christian and Bridget’s home for the celebration of Eliana’s third birthday. These grandkids are growing up fast and we always enjoy seeing them. Some of Eli’s neighborhood friends and close friends of Christian and Bridget came by for the party and birthday cake. Bridget did a great job in creating a special homemade Barbie doll cake of Eliana.

I enjoyed this trip, and believe traveling is getting easier. We took my car and my regular wheelchair and walker.  This always makes the journey more enjoyable. I offered to drive, but Debbie thought she could handle it.  When we arrived at Christian’s home with his help I used the walker to get into the house from the back door and then used it to get around the house. I was feeling tired so the nap on their couch was nice!

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… God’s divine power has given us everything we need for life and for godliness… Through his glory and integrity he has given us his promises that are of the highest value. Through these promises you will share in the divine nature because you have escaped the corruption that sinful desires cause in the world.  2 Peter 1:3,4

Some weeks ago my grandson Carter (four years old) was saying his nighttime prayers with his mother when he surprised her by praying very sincerely, “Thank you God for keeping your promises.”

I am thankful that we serve a God who can be relied upon. What He says He will do, He will do.  What He promises to be, He will be. You can trust Him. The Lord is the eternally consistent one.

His Word is true and is as valid today, as it ever has been. What the Lord was to Abraham, Moses, Joshua, the prophets and the twelve disciples, He will be for you.

I like these verses from 2 Peter. Peter’s assertion is straight forward “God’s divine power has given us everything we need for life and for godliness.” Through Christ, the Lord promises to forgive our sins and bring us into relationship with Himself. The Lord promises to keep us, guard us and make us strong in our faith as we trust in Him. He promises to take us to a heavenly home when we die or when He comes for us.

I think that I have heard that there are over 600 promises in God’s Word. These cover a wide range of life’s issues and as Peter says, “are of the highest value.” The reason for this is not just in what the promises of God give us, but what they do in us. God’s promises empower us to share in His “divine nature”. I’m not sure what all that may involve but what Peter connects it with is the ability to live above the corruption of the world.

As God’s integrity has given us His promises, His power enables us to live lives of integrity as well. How we focus our lives is what God’s promises are all about. Remember we are talking about God’s promises, not our desires or wishes. The God who made us knows what we need to make it in this confusing and crazy world. And He promises us to be with us from start to finish, He will give us His presence and power, He will work in us and through us in ways we can’t imagine, He will turn our trials into triumph, all this and more. And He will keep His promises!

I arrived home safely from Grand Junction. Thanks again to Charlie Simineo for traveling with me to get me there and back and helping me over the past three days.  This morning before our return trip I helped host a Rocky Mountain Energy Forum webinar. The event went well and I appreciate all those who participated.

Before I left the final service of the District Council meeting last night, I got a picture with two of my friends from Greeley. Charles Hefton and Pastor Michael Popineau from Greeley First Assembly. I value the friendship of these two men and their help in getting me upright for the picture.

On the way home Charlie found and let me read through his wife’s memorial bulletin that contained some excerpts from her CaringBridge posts. It was a great summary of her journey with cancer that finally took her life on July 25, 2013. Charlie and Margie attended the University of Northern Colorado when Debbie and I were there. Margie was a devoted educator, wife and mother. When I think of these two, I’m not sure I have known a couple that possessed the success and influence in their careers as Charlie and Margie. They both excelled in their contributions in their chosen fields, Charlie in health care and Margie in education. Margie began as a classroom teacher and ended her career as a School Superintendent.

However, some of the greatest lessons she learned and taught were during the final 31 months of her life. I was challenged just in reading some of the highlights of what she shared. Margie has a CaringBridge site as well at                          www.caringbridge.org/visit/margiesimineo

I may share some of her insights in future blogs and would encourage you to check to check out her posts as well. Individuals like Margie who face with such courage and fortitude a terminal illness have important lessons for us all. I believe what she has written can be part of her lasting legacy as an educator and woman of great faith.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…  “…have you not read in the book of Moses, in the burning bush passage, how God spoke to him, saying, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living….”  Mark 12:26,27

When I read these verses a few weeks ago they struck me differently than I had ever read them before. For some reason the idea of seeing life from the perspective of eternity and not the orientation here on earth came across more pronounced. Perhaps that was because of my own experiences the past nine months.

Some Sadducees tried to trick Jesus by asking a question about a man who had six brothers. When one brother died she married the next, he died she married the next and on it went. (I would have been nervous to be have been brothers four through seven!) At any rate they asked Jesus in heaven, whose wife will she be, all seven had her as a wife.

Jesus basically let them know that they were imposing an earthly view of life onto heaven. He tried to get them to see a heavenly view of life on earth. In God’s eyes all those who have ever lived in Him are still alive. Whether Abraham, Isaac, Jacob or your loved one. I know that we understand that issue from the fact that our loved ones are “with the Lord.” Also, there is great pain and loss when they leave life on earth. There is pain in separation, there are questions, and there is loneliness. But I am thankful it is for a season, for a “night” and there is “joy that comes in the morning.”

Certainly grief should not be hastened. In my recovery they tell me that for every day in bed that I need to anticipate 4-5 days of recovery. That makes me wonder if there is a correlation between years together and the pain experienced when a spouse dies. So my prayer is that while our feet are firmly planted on earth, that we will have the perspective of heaven.  And as we ask the Lord to make that perspective our focus that lives one earth will be strengthened and faith will remain strong in Him who is the God of the living.

It has been good to be back with some of my minister friends after a long absence. I am not referring to my hospitalization as much as getting back in a routine of my Church’s calendar. During my six years in the legislature this spring event I have been attending for Assemblies of God churches always took place as the session was coming toward the end and the schedules were fairly intense. So last year was my first year to be around this annual event for most of the activities and this year will be my first time in seven years to attend one of the ordination services that concludes the conference.

Ministry, like politics, has similar challenges. I know that sounds strange to many but I would often be asked by people at the capitol and in the public how it was serving in  politics after being in the ministry. I would usually responded, “Pretty much the same.” I don’t mean the two are equal, but there are some interesting similarities and of course there are some stark contrasts.

For example, when I was first in the process of deciding to run for elective office, a veteran and well respected legislative leader asked me, “Ken do you have the ‘fire in your belly’?” Because if you don’t it won’t be worth it and you won’t find the work fulfilling. That sounded to me a lot like, “are you called to the ministry?” or as my in-laws advised me when I was preparing to go into ministry, “if you can do anything else but ministry, then do it!” Basically, while there are moments of satisfaction in ministry and in politics if you aren’t prepared for the struggles and demands that come with the challenges you won’t have the satisfaction.

Political leadership, like church leadership requires patience and the ability to bring people along to where they need to go. This is why business people who have greater control over people and outcomes would become more frustrated with the political process and the pace of legislation.  The adage when I was first at the capitol was, “it takes three years to get a good bill passed.”

When I was first in ministry I was visiting with an older minister about changes in the church. He said, “It sounds like you will need a few more funerals before that takes place.”

Falling in and out of favor with people seems consistent within the two arenas. When what you do pleases someone you can’t do wrong, when what you (often one time) displeases someone you can’t do right. Perhaps the 80% principle would be good for churches as well as politics. It says, “If you can agree with someone 80% of the time or on 80% of the issues or decisions you have a good representative (Pastor)”  In any leadership position is far easier to disappoint than to exceed expectations, so that is just part of the territory.

Facing criticism is another commonality between the two arenas. Church members will try to show some constraint; however, politics makes an art form out of taking words out context, impugning motives and character assassination. It is interesting that with the dawn of social media, people often lack the filters in their judgment of what is said and when to whom.

What I found of interest in comparing ministry and politics was that I was glad I didn’t have to stand for re-election every two years in ministry. However, in politics I only needed 51% of the vote to retain my job!

In ministry there is “joy in serving the Lord.” But that should not be unique to ministry. Now, I do believe vocational ministry is special and unique calling and is to be honored as such. However, every person can have sense and satisfaction of  “serving the Lord” in what they are doing.

I recall the elderly gentleman I met during one of my political campaigns. After visiting with him and sharing that I had been a pastor he made the comment, “I am sorry you are no longer serving the Lord.” I know what he meant, but I assured him I was still a Christian and a faithful follower of Christ.

It was a joy and inspiration to see those in our morning meeting that were recognized for 50 years of ordained ministry. These are faithful ministers who have been consistent in their labors and have made a difference in the lives of countless individuals here in the US and around the world. One of those is a hero of mine, Pastor Bobby Wilson of Pueblo, Colorado. Pastor Wilson served Praise Assembly for 44 years. It makes me feel old when I can say I have been familiar with his ministry for 40 years! (Picture above Pastor Bobby Wilson and District Superintendent  Don Steiger)

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…

“…whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”   1 Corinthians 10:31

Today was my most extensive outing during my recovery. Charlie Simineo picked me up early this morning and we made a trip to Grand Junction where I represented the Rocky Mountain Energy Forum. This is at the District Council for Assemblies of God churches in Colorado and Utah. It was great to see many friends who have been praying for me and were excited to see me.

Of course most asked me about Debbie, and were disappointed she wasn’t able to make it. I believe those who have followed my illness and recovery closely have identified with the dedication that Debbie has shown and the load she has carried. Now that she is working she is keeping busier than ever. So, I wasn’t surprised when they would greet me and say, “boy, it is really great to see you…. is Debbie here?!”

It was good to have several people express interest in the work of the energy forum and who signed up to received information on webinars that will take place in the future as we discuss the potential of Colorado energy and its importance to our economy and issues that Christians care about.

One of those issues is related to ministry to the poor and disaster relief for those impacted by natural disasters. Hal Donaldson from Convoy of Hope spoke in the evening service tonight and shared about the challenges he faced in seeing Convoy of Hope become a viable ministry to America’s inner cities, as well as responding to disasters around the world. After 20 years they have just marked serving 65 million individuals with food assistance and disaster relief. The impact of rising energy costs to organizations like this is considerable due to transportation costs and the cost of food.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.  James 2:16, 17

We do have a responsibility to reach out those in need and provide hope that their lives can be different. That applies to the homeless and helpless, those caught in the bondage of human trafficking and those in the bondage of drugs and alcohol.

I am thankful for the thousands of children, teens, and adults that are served by people of faith who put their faith in action in reaching to the “least of these.” When disaster strikes you will find people of faith in action. When there is a need you will find people of faith rising to the occasion to fill the need. The motivation is love for God and love people that God loves. That is the unique perspective that bring an impact to what they do and why they do it.

We have had a relaxing, unusual and enjoyable Easter Sunday. That is a string of adjectives that I have never put together for this day. With Debbie’s schedule lately we took a decidedly relaxing morning, ate coconut-pecan waffles for breakfast; we just needed the ocean and sand and we could have been in Cancun. I did watch a streamlined broadcast of the Easter Sunday service from Faith Bible Church in Arvada.  (We have missed our grandkids in Atlanta so here is an Easter picture of Mason, Carter and McKenzie)

I worked several hours at my computer in my office on some personal finances. I was trying to keep up with medical expenses this year and some other bookkeeping. It looks like in the first two months of 2014 we meet our out of pocket maximums for the year. Thanks to the generosity of many friends when my illness hit these expenses were covered by our medical relief fund. Thank you again, so much!!

The news of the day though, was that I used my walker to get from the family room to my office and used my regular desk chair. I even made it back from the office to the family room!

Debbie and I enjoyed an afternoon walk, I rode my racing wheelchair and she pushed and guided along the way to help me out. After that adventure we headed to the Marconi Grill for an early evening dinner. Thank you to our friends Jon and Marcia Hume for the gift card.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…When we were baptized, we died and were buried with Christ. We were baptized, so that we would live a new life, as Christ was raised to life by the glory of God the Father.   Romans 6:3 (CEV)

Newness of life is what the resurrection of Jesus is all about. On the third day He rose victorious over sin and dead. Because of His victory, we too can live a new life. A new life in this world and have the hope of eternity in heaven with Christ. As Paul writes to the Romans he explains that baptism is a symbol of death and resurrection. Just as Christ was raised from physical death by the glory of God the Father, we are raised from spiritual death by the sacrifice of Christ on the cross and His resurrection to the glory of God the Father.

Christ did not come to just give us a higher purpose. He did not come to give us a new philosophy. He did not come just to be an example for us to follow. He came to give us a new life! That is why Paul would write to the Corinthians and say, “if you are in Christ…the old has gone and new has come…” 2 Corinthians 5:17

As I think of this newness of life  on Easter 2014, I can’t help but relate it to my life and events of that past nine months. I feel like I have been given a new life in many ways. Obviously I am glad to be physically alive, enjoying my family and friends. But I am thankful the new and fresh perspective that I am learning about life,Christ and what He has for me in whatever years remain for me on this earth.

In bringing this new life Jesus turned conventional science upon its head in the miracles he performed. He baffled the scholars with the words He spoke. Consider the following and as you do, you find one who is worthy of our worship and who alone can make good on His offer of new life.

 WHO IS HE?

IN CHEMISTRY, HE TURNED WATER TO WINE.

IN PHYSICS, HE DISPROVED THE LAW OF GRAVITY

WHEN HE WALKED ON WATER AND THEN LATER,

ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN.

 IN ECONOMICS, HE DISPROVED THE LAW OF DIMINISHING

RETURN BY FEEDING 5000 MEN WITH 2 FISHES & 5 LOAVES OF BREAD.

IN MEDICINE, HE CURED THE SICK AND THE BLIND

WITHOUT ADMINISTERING A SINGLE DOSE OF DRUGS.

IN HISTORY, HE IS THE BEGINNING AND THE END.

IN GOVERNMENT, HE SAID THAT HE SHALL BE CALLED

WONDERFUL, COUNSELOR, PRINCE OF PEACE.

 IN MATTERS OF FAITH, HE SAID

NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER EXCEPT THROUGH HIM;

SO, WHO IS HE?

HE IS JESUS!