Clearing the Stuff by Greg Creek

I love stuff. With hobbies in music, electronics, and all-around tinkering, I have amassed a lot of stuff that is interesting, useful, neat-looking, or just cool for whatever reason.

I have recently determined that I hate moving, having lived in three houses in three months. As we went about packing up our house the first time, I started looking at everything with one question in mind: “Will I really miss that if I get rid of it?” I had grown quite weary of packing, and these feelings were only during the first move. Little did I know another move was on the horizon!

During the first move we got rid of lots of stuff--clothes, electronics, and randomness. During the second move we got rid of more clothes, more electronics and, even musical instruments (which was not an easy thing for me to do).

What I realized was how quickly stuff can just pile up. But not just any stuff – stuff that we never used, stuff that we didn’t need, stuff that just got in the way. After several moves I thought it strange how much stuff I was lugging around that I didn’t need. It took longer to move, cost more to move, and made it more tiring to move.

In the midst of the second move, I saw a friend whom I had not seen for some time. Using the word “friend” is probably a bit of stretch. I had some deep resentment toward this person though I was really the one at fault. For the last 12 months or so I had been impressed that there needed to be reconciliation, and in the midst of the second move, God worked out a meeting. After meeting and talking with this person, my mind still overrun with thoughts of the second move, I realized that I had been carrying the “stuff” from this relationship with me.

As much as I hate to admit it, getting ridding of the clothes, electronics, and yes, even the instruments, was somewhat of a relief and felt good to purge. However, that relief was nothing compared to the relief I felt with the reconciliation that I encountered with my friend.

I’d be willing to assume that we all have some extra stuff in our lives, whether it’s the physical stuff that fills our storage closets and garages, or whether it’s the stuff of emotional baggage, grudges, and the like. Start your spring-cleaning early this year, and purge all the stuff . . . it feels great.

Greg Creek

Some to Nineveh, Some to Fiji by Richard Hickam

I must admit, I was quite embarrassed to lead a youth group on a mission trip at the ripe age of 41 and have it be my first mission trip. I had been impressed over the last several years, after taking my performance groups to various educational (Washington, D.C.), exceptional (Carnegie Hall), and downright fun (Walt Disney World) venues, that there was something more that I should be doing. It’s not that any of the other stuff is bad…I believe in a well-balanced diet and lifestyle, but I did feel like something was missing in my Christian experience.

After arrangements were made and I discovered we would be heading to the South Pacific and the Fiji Islands, the excitement started to build. My mantra became “some are called to Nineveh, and some are called to Fiji!

The trip changed me in many ways; as a matter of fact, I don’t think I would have accepted a call into music ministry full time at the Florida Hospital Church if I hadn’t had this mission experience. The call from Andy McDonald came immediately after this trip, and I know I wouldn’t have taken it if I hadn’t seen God opening special doors once I decided to go “all the way” with Him.

Anyway, I love “Top 10” lists, so I made this “First Time” list of the things I did on this mission trip at the age of 41 to let people know , when you walk through a door that God has opened for you, your life of excitement is only beginning!

My List of Firsts on the Fiji Mission Trip 2011

First mission trip

First time taking a group out of the country (an adventure on many levels)

First time to the South Pacific

First time to be away from electronic devices and air conditioning for a substantial period of time

First time to understand for what a handkerchief is used

First time to be eaten alive by mosquitoes

First time snorkeling

First time parasailing

First time to lead a paint crew

First time driving on the wrong side of the road!!!

First time to see how badly people wanted to get to America

First time in a native village

First time to receive a Whale’s tooth!

First time to pull a tooth (three, thanks to Dr. Joe Milholm!)

First sermon preached

First sermon preached using an interpreter

First time to play a concert in a prison (outside, in the Fijian tropical sun)

First time to lead the Hallelujah Chorus with orchestra and chorus in a prison concert and understand what it really means to live the gospel as in Matthew 25:36

First time I have depended on God so much and seen Him in such a clear and vivid way!

As our church begins a new adventure partnering with Small Steps for Compassion (Tanzania, Africa), I would challenge you to join this mission project, and get ready for God to use you - wherever you are in your journey - in new and powerful ways!

Richard Hickam

Our ADHD World by Andy McDonald

When we stop changing, we are dead! Our bodies are constantly in a cycle of cell division and replacement. It’s interesting science: how rapidly each type of cell replenishes and the rare ones that don’t. Today we know the epidermis, or surface layer of the skin, is recycled every two weeks or so. The epithelial cells that line the surface of the gut are new every five days, while those in the main body of the gut appear to last 15.9 years prior to replacement. Our very bodies are constantly changing.

Today there is growing evidence that we are experiencing changes in the way our brains function. Research at such places as the Child Health Institute at the University of Washington in Seattle has demonstrated that our increased time in front of active screens (TV, video games, computer, blackberry, ipad, iphone, etc.) are changing the way our brains function. The age-old ability to pick up on nuance and simple human facial expressions seems to be decreasing, and our insatiable need to “get things done” drives us to attempt increased multi-tasking, which seems to be disabling us from a healthy ability to concentrate. In addition, the constant stimulation from these outside sources creates a sense of boredom when the stimulation stops.

There may have never been a more critical time in human history for us to hear and practice, “Be still and know that I AM God.”

I’m guilty. There is much more to accomplish for the optimum health of the branch of the Body of Christ called Hospital Church than I can get done! So I end up multi-tasking. I listen to a lecture while I check my emails or clean up my office. I never drive without using that time to make a call. Even in preparation for a sermon I find myself flitting between reading a book and searching the Internet for facts, figures, or illustrations.

To seek sanity, I have reverted to my “First Thirty” rule. Most days, before I engage in anything else, I make time to just be still. It isn’t easy. I want to make a list, plan my day, and jump to doing – and doing is important. But I’ve found that, without those “First Thirty” minutes, I tend to forget the truth that “It is not by my might or my power” - or by clever technology, or faster processing, or multi-tasking - that God’s work is accomplished in me and in His world. It is by His Spirit that His work is done. (Zechariah 4:6)

I guarantee that today things will change, and probably at a higher speed than yesterday. When we stop changing, we are dead. But in order to manage all that comes to us in our 21^st century world, maybe the wisest way to start our day is to be still and, in that stillness, come to know the God whose character is so perfect as to be changeless. I believe that in our connection to and in our knowing God ,we can better manage our ADHD world and embrace the inevitable change.

So take a mini-Sabbath every morning (or if you’re a night owl, every night), and turn off the TV, put the computer to sleep, silence your phone, lay your ipad face down and stop—be still, and let God remind you that only He is infinite, He is God, and it’s okay for us to be finite.

Here’s my First Thirty plan:

• Find a comfortable place to sit, and use the same place whenever possible.

• 5 minutes just being quiet before God - letting go of worry and concentrating on listening.

• 10 minutes of prayer, writing out your thoughts in prayer to God

• 10 minutes of reading a devotional work or the Bible. (The object isn’t to see how much you can get read but how much of what you read gets in you!)

• 5 minutes memorizing the Bible.

Or just being still and listen for all 30 minutes!

Make your own plan of how you will carve out some “Be Still” time.

Andy McDonald

How Will They Know? by Tami Cinquemani

“And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love. Yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our love.”

I remember singing this song when I first became a Christian back in the Eighties. John 13:35 states, “This is how everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." Is this true today?

My husband, Jeff, and I were driving to church a couple of weeks ago, and as we drove down the street of the church, we saw an elderly woman standing in the road waving her arms. We pulled up to her and asked what the problem was.

“I’m 93 years old, and I’ve locked myself out of my house,” was her response. We pulled into the driveway and, while Jeff worked on jimmying open a window, I chatted with the woman. In a matter of minutes, he had climbed into the house and opened the front door. The dear lady was delighted

“You’re Seventh-day Adventist, aren’t you?” she asked. “Do you know how I know that?”

I would have liked nothing better than to hear her say, “Because you’re so helpful,” or “Because you cared about me,” or something along those lines. What she actually said was, “Because you’re so dressed up on a Saturday morning.”

I’m afraid this may be one of the only reasons many Christians are distinguished as such – because of their attire as they head to weekend services. Unfortunately, that may be one of the more positive things associated with Christians lately. Personally, that frustrates me. However, it can be an understandable designation when our behavior is not always consistent with our message.

I just wonder if things would be different if Christians were completely filled to overflowing with the love of Jesus. If we started each morning, spent each day, and ended each evening with a conscious decision to allow Jesus to fill our hearts and minds, for what would we be known? If we treated each person we met as a fellow child of God – regardless of their status in this world, would people see a clearer resemblance to our Heavenly Father? If our first reaction was to love and serve rather than to judge and label, would the way we dress even be noticed?

And they’ll know we are Christians . . . by our love.

Tami Cinquemani