Charlotte?

This morning I meet with the chairman of the Mission to North America Committee of Central Carolina Presbytery to discuss the possibility of planting a church in or around Charlotte. That sounds impressive, and I guess it is but he is a good friend and I was a long time chairman of this same committee. I do have high expectations in that I am asking the Lord to let me know what I will do when I grow up, sooner rather than later. Our decision to go overseas is time sensitive to get "into the pipeline" with evaluations, assessments, and other hoops that you must jump through to be a missionary.

The 4 major opportunities at this point are the Philippines,  two opportunities in Orlando and Charlotte. Longshots are planting a church with another denomination on the NC coast and an established large church in Mississippi. An affirming thing is that I have not put my name into these situations except the Philippines, and even then the team leader from Manila has been talking to me about this for well over a year. And some of the other missionaries have more than hinted at such a thing for longer than that. 

So today with much prayer, I travel to Monroe for a 10 AM meeting.

Sandwiched between the meeting will be a great fellowship time at b'fast with one of my best friends. Then on to dinner in 7 Lakes with long time friends that have really stuck by me like real friends do!

My Story in His Story

I read this today from a blog and God used in my my soul.

Read: http://firstimportance.org/

Moving On with the help of Prayer

Our goal is to have the Southern Pines house ready for showing by Monday if the painters are finished - 4 days of cleaning, getting kid stuff - stuffed into the home in Stanly County. Did you notice the use of house and home - home in my  mind is where you live - a house = even this house that  we brought Rebekah back to after she was born. The house all of our children will always remember as an anchor in the universe from which you can drift. 

Hopefully, we will sell it soon and free resources for other things. So the future, is coming soon. We do not know what it will look like but I am more and more ready to see it come! Which is a good thing since I cannot stop it!

Yesterday someone sent Lynn and I a very encouraging e-mail. It cheered my soul as I read it late, late last night as I was filling out a very long application form for missionary service. Here is a short piece of it:

 "I am a single mom .... Ken, you were an absolute blessing to me is so many ways I can't express with proper gratitude. I had searched and searched for a church to call home; I couldn't wait to go to church every Sunday after that. Pastor Ken, you were like a rainbow, a bright sunrise, the happiest, smiling face .......... You are missed very much. I can only imagine what you and your family have been through. I have cried many times for you and your family. ... Pastor Ken, a big hug to you from us. We miss you and love you and will pray you thru this season of your life."

That is encouraging and since she is one of the few that I have sent this blog address to - Thank you again!

More to pray about!

Getting ready to go home with much to pray about = Philippines, India, moving quickly or more slowly. Dr. Paul Taylor spent most of the day with us, hearing our past story and challenging us about the future. I first met Paul 20 years ago as he lead an assessment center for church planters. He spent 15 years in the Philippines and presently is our MTW leader over Asia. Dr. Paul Kooistra also spent some time with us and prayed for us. His major advice was to pray, pray, pray; individually, as a couple and as a family. Much time was spent talking about our children and what was best for them.

I read Dr. Paul Kooistra's booklet last night, "Following God, His Will for Your life."  He quotes Oswald Chambers at one point: 

"Are you going to be a good seed or an empty shell? It will depend on whether or not you are actually living in the light of what you have seen. Let God fling you out, and do not go until He does. If you select your own spot, you will prove an empty shell. If God sows you, you will bring forth fruit."

That is a great quote, so pray with us that God will pick the spot and in the meantime that we will not be closing doors that He is going through.

Almost to ATLANTA

We are about to leave the Hampton in Anderson, SC to meet with Paul Taylor. I just read an e-mail about some friends in Guinea, Africa who took French to be able to communicate - the people where they are do not speak French. The Dad is a native Spanish & Portugese speaker - don't speak that either. No electricity, didn't take enough food. Their baby got Malaria in the first nights introduction to new mosquitos. -- Philippines is not that kind of transition.

Is it weird to write a blog about such things.

As Lynn I were talking last night before she when to sleep in the car - Jane, Lynn's Mom had this response when she was told about us considering the Philippines, "To stay there? to live there all the time ---  "silent pause" ---Why, I would never be a missionary!"

Lord, help us to discern your Spirit and desire for the rest of our lives - help us not to say never when it comes to what you desire for us! We have said it in the past - forgive us! (I remember saying I wasn't going to leave Southern Pines for a long time too.)

Yesterdays sermon at New Hope PCA

Go to 

http://sermon.net/sermons-New_Hope_of_Clemmons_NC-11416.html

Search in Earnest

Tonight Lynn and I, having had a great day with most of the family at REVILO, are waiting for Margaret to arrive so we travel closer to Atlanta to meet with someone that can help us determine God's calling on our life. This is one of many people we will be talking with to find out what I will do when I grow up. Interpreted means, where and what will I do next in following God.

This trip is to discuss the possibility of becoming a missionary to the Philippines. I never thought I was gifted enough to be a missionary. I am terrible with languages, and have not traveled much. But after a number of trips to Manila with mission teams and with my family, the missionaries there are in favor of us coming. Lynn loves the people and sees that I can be used there. We have a lot of fears; 2 kids in college, a sophomore in high school, a 7th grader, support raising ...   But, if God is calling us I want to be a sheep that listens to the Great Shepherd of the Sheep! I have come to the conclusion over the years you cannot determine God's call until you see, pray and touch the opportunity.

So this season of our life we are trying to be good listeners, as well as sell a house and wait on God to reveal His will!

Margaret is still not here. I will try to do more of this blogging later!