Coming to the Still Waters

     Another great Sunday with a great start to the book of 2 Peter.  We learned that these are probably Peter's last words to the worldwide church at the time.  We learned that Peter is determined to use his last breathe to remind the Christians of some very important things.  We learned that the big issue that will be handled in this book is false prophets and teachers and teachings.  And we also learned that Peter wants us to know God more as the main defense against those false teachings.      This Memorial Day will mark for me the start of 14 days of chemo pills.  I haven't taken this chemo all on its own so I will see how it effects me.  I am thankful that some of the painful parts of the radiation treatment have started to subside.  Yesterday I felt like I had more energy than I have had in a few weeks.       I want to end with a preview of the clip we showed in church yesterday to honor th...

     Holiday weekends are sometimes bittersweet for me.  I am thankful that family have extended time to be together but it usually means a smaller crowd on Sunday.  Those coming in to visit always seem to be less than those going.  It is the challenge to push away the number figure and keep the meeting with God as a body, no matter how large or small, in the forefront.  Another factor for me to remember is that our congregation are sure faithful attenders throughout the year.  I know that the time spent away with family is very beneficial to each family to practice the "one anothers" with each other.  So "little" churches will be happening all over the state of Michigan this Sunday, in this I will be thankful.  For us in Michigan, it looks to be a hit and miss weekend with the sun so I will pray for some favorable weather for all those outside activities.      This holiday is to remember those who have served our count...

     Well, Gerry was right.  This week after radiation is very challenging, especially the mornings.  I am wondering if I will every heal.  I have been thankful for added sleep that I had been going without.  Chemo starts again on Monday for 2 weeks straight, every day.  3000 mg in pill form along with anti-nausea medicine so my appetite will probably wean again.  I am seriously thinking about going back to a more liquid/soft diet for awhile.      Sermon-wise, I am thankful to have the energy to apply myself each day to thought and prayer and study of the book of 2 Peter.  This will be an introductory sermon on the book with purpose and key verses to cover.  My main illustration will be instruction manuals and why we do and do not read them.  Have you noticed that things now have a quick start guide because the manufacturers know that we don't read them?  Maybe many of us Christians are looking for a quic...

     What a big day it was.  The open house for Jason (our last) graduation was the bringing together of people from 4 of the churches we have pastored.  Jason did such a good job at making the rounds and greeting everyone that came.  Some family and friends came early for the morning worship service and that was special too.  I get the question a lot about continuing to preach and it is easier to do with the overall worship experience of the morning.  Personally I feel like I am not doing so great in the preaching area right now.  I do pray with the time not spent traveling I will be able to devote more time to preparing my message.  Everyone tells me I'm doing great but my head wants me to do more.  We go into the book of 2 Peter this Sunday.      "Going" is still quite a chore and I will be so thankful when the burning starts to heal.  It makes you not want to eat and sometimes I go all day just for the rel...

     To all those dial ups out there, just a note to say radiation is done and I get a break from the chemo for one more week.  Then I am back on the pills for 2 straight weeks every day and then off until surgery on July 18th.  So no more 90 mile round trips to Petoskey but God used the time just the same.      It is a beautiful day in northern Michigan.  I am there are more to come.  Stephanie and I hope to celebrate our 26th wedding anniversary on June 1st on a boat at the Alcona County Park fishing the backwaters of the AuSable.  It will be a bonus to bring back some fish from the place we took our honeymoon.      God bless your day and weekend. Adam

  Men's Golf Signs Talent Mon, May 16, 2011 at 8:25 PM - [Men's Golf] GAYLORD, MI - Jason Wolfgang has signed a letter of intent to play golf for Spring Arbor University starting this fall. As a home-school graduate, the Gaylord, MI native has taken the road less traveled on his way to collegiate athletics. "It's not very often that someone can come out of nowhere and compete at this level, but Jason does a lot of things right with his golf swing and I think he has a lot of up-side to his game," said Head Men's Golf Coach,  Dave Mayotte . Wolfgang is not only talented on the links, but he is an excellent student and an accomplished musician as well. A drummer in his band, Jason also plays a major role in his youth group in his father's church. "I am very excited for Jason as he begins his college experience," continued Mayotte. "It says a lot about his work ethic and passion for golf to be able to come this far without having played team go...

     What a day!  Feeling totally wiped out but a visit to the oncologist showed that my numbers were actually up!!!  But even in the face of this, the decision was made for me to take a week break from the chemo pills and just do the radiation.  The doctors will get their heads together to tell me what to do after this Friday.  It is amazing how slow and tired it can make you and then you get a burst and I rototillered both gardens, mowed the lawn, paid the bills, and went through 1 Peter 5 in study.  I have learned to make the most of those moments.        Yesterday their was a great sense of God's Spirit in the service, especially centered around the prayer time.  It was one of those times when I debated if I go forward with the service or just to linger there a little longer.  It is the question if this is just an uncomfortable pause or a time to just rest in the comfort of God's hand?  I am so thankful to...

     Just home from a great weekend with the guys of the church and one of my sons, Benny.  These opportunities are so great and I was so thankful to be able to go and participate in all the activities.  Many of the guys asked how I was feeling or indicated that I looked tired so it must be wearing on me.  The weekend was a success in many ways.  One was the interaction between the generations of men in the church.  Another was the times of focus to integrate what we were doing with the Scripture.  I am so thankful that we are intentional in making a men's retreat to include times that we talk about the Lord.  A personal success for me was to stay plugged in this year.  Last year was a whole different scenario for me.  We all have a lot of things on our plate at times, but I let mine get so full that when I was at the retreat, I wasn't really there.  I was thinking of what I needed to do next.  A good Christian brothe...

     How modern we have become.  Traveling to pick up a car so here I go on the bus again but able to do some work while someone else drives.  I have been thinking of this week's sermon and I am impressed to point out Peter's instruction to us as Christians and the issue of suffering.  I often wonder what the prosperity gospel ministers do with these verses.  Everything is honky-dory and you get every green light and never have an illness.  Matthew 5:11, 12 tell us that we will have others revile and persecute and utter all kinds of evil against us.  Matthew 10:14, 17 says that some Christians will be delivered over to the courts and flogged and dragged before governors for Christ's sake.  John 15:18 says that the world will hate us.  Acts 7:58 says the first martyr Stephen was cast out and stoned.  Acts 5:41 says that some with suffer dishonor.  2 Corinthians 11:24-27 lays out Paul's persecutions for the sake of Christ, l...

     So suffering is a part of the Christian life as said in 1 Peter 4:12-19.  Peter says to expect it, rejoice in it, evaluate it, and entrust yourself to the Creator while going through it.  The suffering that Peter is talking about here is like the culture phrase, "when you take a bullet for Christ."  The kind of suffering is directly related to our relationship with the Savior and we are not to hang our head but know that this is something to test us, or prove us.  Peter sounds a lot like James here.  I think there is also a lesson for the church here as how we treat our fellow brothers and sisters when they are going through a trial.  Many times we kick them or ridicule them or say things about them (meddlers, as Peter calls us) before we ever stretch out a hand to them.  We need to remember that they are our brothers and sisters.  I can be so quick to judgment and so slow to compassion or understanding or just getting close en...

     I am sitting in the Flint Bishop International Airport waiting as Stephanie boards a plane to Texas to be a rider with Benny for his summer trip home.  This is usually what I do.  I would have taken the bus down there but because of treatments I am stuck close to home.  Stephanie will fly from Flint to Chicago, Chicago to Dallas, and then Dallas to Tyler and be picked up by our daughter just 30 minutes away.  I miss her already and Stephanie is doing another thing that for me because of this thing called cancer.  I have 2 more weeks of radiation and then I continue on for another month on the chemo pills before getting a month off of everything to prepare for surgery.  Now my calendar has me strung out to Christmas on the optimistic side, the New Year more likely.  The cancer of 2011 might be 2012 too.  And all of this is if my body can take the full ride of chemo.  So far it has and I am trying to do my part to aid my bod...

     Here is the latest.  After a long day on the road from one end of the state to the other, we know that the surgery will be July 18th. Thanks again for all the prayers and support.  My 2011 will be full of this thing called "cancer" but it will not define my year.  I will let the Lord do that. Adam

     A good friend of mine thought of me when she saw this song in a hymnal at church last Sunday.  Here are the lyrics.  Thanks Brenda.  It is titled, "Jesus Cares."     He cares when you're troubled and the whole world seems wrong,      He cares when the trials try to silence your song;     He cares when you're lonely, though you laugh with the throng - Jesus cares.     Yes, Jesus cares, He cares when your heart aches;     Take Him your many burdens; Jesus cares.      He cares when you stumble in the heat of the day,     He cares when you're burdened and too weary to pray;    He cares when you fail Him, when your feet go astray - Jesus cares.     He cares when you're stricken and your strength starts to wane,     He cares when you tremble with fever and pain;     He cares when you've struggle...

     So I didn't have enough time this week or didn't make enough time to feel confident going into Sunday morning.  I definitely needed to slow down this week and get some more time with God.  I get frustrated with not being able to think straight and losing people's names who I have known for a long time when they are standing right in front of me.  I know their name, I just can't get it out fast enough.  If I could do this day over, I would because I know that with God more at the helm I could have done a lot better for Him.  There were some highlights though.  I was thankful to bring in 2 new members into the church.  I was also thankful for the time spent with a couple families in the church that are sending their children to the same school our youngest will be going to in the fall.  Even though I had a physically rough day on Saturday, it was great to get Jason more settled in his plans.      We will be look...