Between camping outings

Bev and I returned this evening from 4 days/nights of camping and Sabbath resting at Camp Swatara. The weather was beautiful (minus the thunderstorms and multiple inches of rain that occurred on Saturday afternoon, evening, and night). We read, walked, did some bicycling, and basically just enjoyed one another's company as my Sabbath rest is quickly coming to an end. The picture is our camper set up on what is now another favorite site, #16.

Tomorrow and Tuesday while Bev is working I'm riding my HD to Franklinvillle, NJ to spend a little time with my sister, Lori, and her partner, Steph.

On Thursday I'll be accompanying Mark Easteadt for his licensing interview with the District Ministry Commission. Later in the day on Thursday Bev and I will both be heading back up to Camp Swatara for the church camping weekend and the opportunity to start to reconnect with the congregation in this context. Bev and I will traveling home and to Harrisburg on Saturday morning for the Celebration of Life service for Doris Frysinger who lost her 2 year battle with cancer on July 4. Doris was a fellow ANE District Office employee with Bev before her retirement. I'll also be leaving Camp Swatara again on Sunday morning to return to preach at Florin COB and reconnect with the congregation in that context in worship at 10:45 a.m. After worship back to camp for lunch and the remainder of the afternoon before we pack up and head back to Mount Joy.

My Sabbath rest has been an opportunity for God to "get back into me." I confess that before I left on Sabbath rest I was drained and going through the motions without a lot of spiritual passion. That passion has been revived and God has been and continues to show me through the work of the Holy Spirit how God still has much to show me about my life being lived for him. I'm eager to share more about all that with you in worship at Florin on Sunday, July 26, 10:45 a.m.

You can take this as a warning or a promise but be alerted to the fact "that I'm not the same Eric I was on April 16!" Thanks be to God! See you real soon!

Sabbath Rest is winding down

The Town and Country Resort and Convention Center in San Diego was a wonderful place to experience Annual Conference. With housing, restaurants, and meeting space all on their grounds as well as a nearby mall and other eating establishments all in walking distance it was a nice package.

The first picture is of the conference banner with the logo: "The Old Has Gone; The New Has Come: All This is From God." That theme served us well in worship, business, and other AC activities.

The second picture is of the new moderator, Shawn Flory Replogle and moderator-elect, Robert Alley being consecrated at the final business session on Tuesday, July 1. Our AC moderator for 2009, Dave Shumate was an excellent moderator who practiced discernment with Southern wit and humor. He was ably assisted by AC Secretary, Fred Swartz who always does a remarkable job of keeping the delegates informed and on task. I'll be sharing bits and pieces of AC in worship beginning on Sunday, July 26 and for several weeks following in worship to help the congregation understand the AC deliberations and actions of 2009.

San Diego was simply wonderful! Weather was perfect and we were able to see some very interesting sights two of which are pictured: Old Town and a walking trip across the US/Mexico border into Tijuana. We also spent time at Seaside Village, Cabrillo State Memorial, Coronado Island, a drive north up Hwy 101, the scenic oceanside highway, the San Diego Zoo, during our ten days in the area.

AC is in Pittsburgh, PA in 2010 and will be the first for new AC Manager, Chris Douglas who replaces Lerry Fogle who retired after serving ten years in this position.

The remainder of my Sabbath Rest time is being spent between home and Camp Swatara where Bev and plan to get away for a few days. I'm feeling refreshed and renewed and looking forward to getting back with my sisters and brothers at Florin on July 16. We will also be participating in the church camping weekend at Camp Swatara, July 17-19, but I'll be returning to Florin on Sunday, July 19 to preach in worship at 10:45 a.m.

San Diego

My apologies for not posting any blogs from San Diego until today. I've had limited internet access ever since we arrived; and I'm living on "borrowed" internet time currently!

Annual Conference was good and I encourage the reader to go to www.brethren.org and link to Annual Conference for a full update.

San Diego is beautiful and we've been able to see some of the area prior to AC and now following. Our plans for today are to visit the San Diego Zoo and tomorrow to catch a trolley ride to the US/Mexican border and walk across for a short visit. Yes, we brought along our passports!

Sabbath Rest time is quickly getting by and there are only several days left. I'll be back in the pulpit at Florin COB for one service on 7/19/09 due to the church camping weekend. I understand that Sunday, 7/26/09 is also one service and I'm being invited by Leadership Team to share in that service about my Sabbath Rest. This I intend to do with lots of pictures and stories.

Go west young man!

Ok, how about "go west middle-age couple?" Bev and I are doing last minute packing and preparing to leave tomorrow, 6/24/09 for San Diego and the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference which begins on 6/26/09. We'll also have a few days after conference in the San Diego area as part of my continued Sabbath Rest. We'll be returning to PA on 7/4/09. Then I have about 12 days of Sabbath Rest left to experience.

Be in prayer for Annual Conference officers, Mission and Ministry Board, Board Staff, Program and Arrangements Committee, Standing Committee Delegates and AC congregational delegates (which includes Bev and me). There are some possible controversial business items coming before the delegates; therefore pray for a spirit of calm, peace, and unity in the gathered assembly.

The picture? We're at the Dead Sea and have coated ourselves with the mud which is supposedly really good for your skin. When you see us again maybe we'll actually look younger? :)

Heading for PA!

It's 9:15 p.m. on Saturday, July 20 and some packing of the car is complete and remainder will occur in the morning before I begin my journey back to Mount Joy, PA after 3 wonderful and Spirit-filled weeks in North Carolina! If all goes as planned tomorrow I should be home around 6:00 p.m. Then two days to get organized for our trip to San Diego for continued Sabbath Rest time and serving the Florin congregation as delegates to Annual Conference.

Last night and again today, Carol Yeazell (interpretation) and I led the "Empowering Couples"workshop for 11 married couples of His Way COB. It was an anointed movement of God's Spirit as many of the participants admitted never having had any type of marital teaching or support before. God has used this time to put into the hands of these couples some ideas, suggestions, and principles that they can use together to strengthen their couple/family relationship. Praise be to God for this opportunity and for what God has done and will yet do with these who seek his face!

Yesterday for lunch I had some of the best tamales I've ever eaten along with some rice that was absolutely delicious. I even was blessed to bring 8 tamales home with me to share with Bev upon my return. The one picture is of Doris and her daughters and a close friend who provided the lunch.

My Sabbath Rest time is progressing quickly and I continue to thank God for the experiences that I've been blessed with. My prayers remain with the Florin COB in our time apart that God will bless you as well as you seek to follow the Light! Shalom.

The blessings continue!

I continue to be on the receiving end of numerous blessings as my Sabbath Rest time with His Way COB continues to draw to a close.

Yesterday (Tuesday) I was the guest in the home of Limone, Lourdes, and Pablo. They are a gentle and quiet couple who shared a very large meal with me and other guests from the congregation. Pablo is six and a real delight! I was blessed with the laughter of my Latino friends as we were treated by Pablo to a couple DVD's of a Costa Rican Christian ventriloquist named "Coco and His Gang."

Today, Pastor's Raul and Lidia were invited back to the home of the Cordero's for lunch so that I might meet Martin Cordero, husband and father who works second shift and was unable to be at the dinner in their home last week. Laura Cordero made some of the best beef taco's I believe I have ever eaten. They have three beautiful children: Melissa, David, and Kevin. David took me on a tour around the family property to show me all the improvements his father has made.

Tonight, I attended my last of the Wednesday evening prayer/praise/study sessions at the church and was treated to some interpretation by Martha during the study time. Martha has a desire to become more skilled in her English to help with interpretation more in the congregation. She did very good at helping me to understand what was being taught/shared. Again I was reminded of how selfless these sisters and brothers are when it comes to worship and being committed to their Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ.

I am going to miss these sisters and brothers in Christ when Sunday arrives and it is time for me to return to PA!

Final days in North Carolina

With the passing of this last weekend I'm now down to my final few days of sharing with the sisters and brothers in Christ at His Way COB. Yesterday was my second and final opportunity to preach and I shared from Philippians 2:1-11 and some other selected passages on "Humility Incarnate." It was affirmed to me afterwards that this was a word from God for the congregation at this time. I also intend to share this sermon with the Florin COB upon my return from Sabbath Rest.

This evening I was treated to a nice and simple dinner in another members home, Lily, prepared for the other guests and my self a dish called "papousa" from El Salvador. Very tasty and filling! We were not able to stay too long as Lily was on her way to a computer class that she is taking. She is a Spirit-filled sister in Christ!

Tomorrow will involve some more reading time and continued preparation for the married couples workshop being offered this Friday and Saturday at the church. I believe there are 20 or so couples who have signed up and so it will be a good size group to work with.

For your added reflection I'd like to share a couple of quotes from the book, Dissident Discipleship:

"Because my life is in God's hands, I will never take my enemy's life into my hands." - John Howard Yoder.

"Preach the gospel at all times; if necessary use words." - St. Francis of Assisi

"If disciples don't love one another, according do Jesus. No one has much reason to believe their message. I suspect this is a fail-safe mechanism Jesus built into the gospel: the only messengers who should be trusted are those who exemplify the message." - Brian McLaren

Salaam and Shalom!