Dam river or shoals are a pain in the

Dam river or shoals are a pain in the . . .

But, I get ahead of myself.

I went kayaking today. Landsford Canal to Hwy 9. There are two trips I wanted to take this year, this one and the much longer River Park to Landsford Canal.

This would not make my “Favorites” list. Good night!

I arrived at Landsford Canal and as I was unloading my gear I saw the Ranger and told him my plans. He told me that the first two miles was very rocky (shoals) and then “it will be like you are paddling on a lake.” He was right on both counts!

The Catawba River is controlled by the Lake Wylie Dam. During the week they keep the river very low and release water every Saturday at 10:30 am. Landsford Canal is 25 miles from the dam and he said it cold take 8 hours for the water to reach this part of the river. So I had very shallow water. Sometimes maybe 6 inches! I got stuck on rocks a lot!

You see the arrow? Yeah, well, I saw the red but couldn't see the arrow (covered by branches) until I was at this point. I am stuck on a rock as I take the photograph. Ironic, right?

Most folks think of rocks as inanimate objects. I’m not so sure about that. And actually, I’m beginning to think that river rocks are bad tempered ogres. I am persuaded they are angry because they are stuck in the water; under the water. These rocks grab you. They hide, then BAM! Grab your kayak. And hold on to it. And the river is in on it, too, because often the current casts you right into the grasp of a hiding rock and you are stuck.

I’ve had several run-ins with shoals. Always the same. I made it past this section. You see, the rocks are angry but not evil. They delight in harassing you but not harming you.

After my escape from the shoals the water was much nicer and deeper. And it was like paddling on a lake. You see, the Wateree Dam is not too far from this point and I was entering Lake Wateree. I had previously thought it began a few miles down river, but the current is noticeably slowed down here. It was beautiful but a lot of work paddling. This trip was a work out!

I will not do this trip again, unless I know the water is much higher, but I wanted to do it and now I have. Now to plan the River Park to Landsford Canal trip. Today’s trip was 5+ miles. River Park to Landsford is about 18 miles and said to be much nicer.

Did you enjoy it?

Last Sunday we went to Grace Church of the Nazarene to hear Helen Evans speak.

We’ve known Helen since she came to Charlotte to minister to the Montangards, more than 20 years ago. She is 91 years old, served in Viet Nam and Indonesia for 37 yrs and in Charlotte since 1986. She actually “retired” in 1989 but continued to minister and is still busier than your average pastor!

After the service Mary asked me, “Did you enjoy that?” Yes, I did!

First, I’ve never been to a Nazarene Church. That was an interesting experience in itself. I felt bad for the brethren there – they got no background information on Helen before she spoke. The bio above was printed in the bulletin, but they were not told that she had served with the Christian & Missionary Alliance or the history of the C&MA in Vietnam. The pastor did explain that he liked history and was fascinated with the history of the US involvement in Vietnam, but that really was not related to Helen.

Second, Helen is an inspiration herself. She chose celibacy in order to more effectively serve the Lord. But I would have you without carefulness . . . The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. And she did just this.

Third, her message. Helen explained that serving the Lord in Vietnam runs in the family – her uncle went to Dalat in the 1920s and ministered to the tribal people. All Helen did was tell the story of her uncle’s ministry and then her ministry, but in doing so she spoke of:  faith, obedience, sacrifice, prayer, persistence, power encounters, the power of the blood of Jesus, suffering for Jesus and enduring in the Faith. Yeah! This is the old-time Alliance message! This is old-time Gospel!

Fourth, the Vietnam conflict. I come from the generation, or that part of the generation, whose motto was “Hell no, we won’t go.” We only saw the bad of this conflict (see song below). But Helen said something that was very intriguing. After the US pulled out of Vietnam and the communists took over, life was very difficult for the tribal church. She said the US presence allowed them to reach the tribal people and establish a strong church, strong enough to endure the persecution that followed the communist take-over. Interesting.

So, yes, I thoroughly enjoyed Helen’s message as well as seeing her again. And following the service we joined them for lunch.

Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: 

for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood 

out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation

the Vietnam Song by Country Joe and the Fish, made famous at Woodstock

Well come on all of you big strong men, 

Uncle Sam needs your help again,

he got himself in a terrible jam, 

way down yonder in Vietnam,

put down your books and pick up a gun, 

we're gonna have a whole lotta fun.

and its 1,2,3 what are we fightin’ for?

don't ask me I don't give a dam, 

the next stop is Vietnam,

and its 5,6,7 open up the pearly gates. 

Well there ain’t no time to wonder why...

WHOOPEE we're all gonna die.

Have I ever really seen America?

I’ve traveled in and through several States, yet as I read the accounts of early explorers and travelers in America, I’ve come to this conclusion: I’ve never really seen America.

What???

You see, I have traveled by car. On paved roads. With heat and air. Hills and mountains have been blasted to make the way smooth and level. There are bridges over every waterway, no matter how small. The only wildlife I see: horses and cows. Behind a fence.

I’ve traveled over the land. Been close to it, but never really seen it.

Early travelers and explorers walked every where they went. Maybe they rode a horse. Or canoed the rivers. They came into intimate contact with every hill, mountain, river, stream, marsh, prairie, forest, desert. If it was hot, or cold, or rainy, or snowy, or windy, or stormy, they were in it. They were up close and personal with the wildlife: deer, buffalo, bears, mosquitoes, flies. They slept under the stars. They saw America. They experienced it.

Maybe that’s what I mean. I’ve seen America. From my car and house and hotel room. But never really experienced it.

I suppose that is what I like about these journals and accounts. These men experienced something amazing and wonderful that I have not.

My story

I was walking in the Light
I stumbled
I failed
I fell flat on my face
It was not a pretty sight

But He wanted me whole
He rescued me
Forgave my sin
Healed my heart
And is restoring my soul

“You’ve nothing to say
You failed, you fell”
This would be true
If my story was ‘me’
But my story is grace

He never gave up
He never let go
He wooed me
He won me
Amazing love!

Two great quotes on Watch

I was blessed to have the opportunity to preach the last two weeks. My second message was from Colossians 4:2 …and watch in the same with thanksgiving. There are two quotes that illustrate what I believe the apostle means by watch.

The dictionary definition of “watch” is “to stay awake” but the Bible uses it to encourage not simply wakefulness but alertness, vigilance. In his book, The Annals of Rome, Tacitus describes a legion of soldiers after a battle and a day of difficult and dangerous travel,

"the men lay scattered along the intrenchments or wandered from tent to tent, wakeful rather than watchful"

All of us can testify of being unable to sleep because of fears, worries, anxieties, or our minds racing with too many thoughts to allow sleep. We know what it is to be “wakeful rather than watchful.” We need to avoid this, being awake but not watching.


This longer quote captures what we want to cultivate. This is from Adam Clarke’s commentary on Colossians 4:2

Continue in prayer - This was the apostle's general advice to all; without this, neither wives, husbands, children, parents, servants, nor masters, could fulfill the duties which God, in their respective stations, required of them.

All might, power, and life come from God; his creatures are continually dependent upon him for all these: to earnest, persevering prayer, he has promised every supply; but he who prays not has no promise. How few wives feel it their duty to pray to God to give them grace to behave as wives! How few husbands pray for the grace suited to their situation, that they may be able to fulfill its duties! The like may be said of children, parents, servants, and masters. As every situation in life has its peculiar duties, trials, etc.; so to every situation there is peculiar grace appointed. No man can fulfill the duties of any station without the grace suited to that station. The grace suited to him, as a member of society in general, will not be sufficient for him as a husband, father, or master. Many proper marriages become unhappy in the end, because the parties have not earnestly besought God for the grace necessary for them as husbands and wives. This is the origin of family broils in general; and a proper attention to the apostle's advice would prevent them all.

Watch in the same - Be always on your guard; and when you have got the requisite grace by praying, take care of it, and bring it into its proper action by watchfulness; by which you will know when, and where, and how to apply it.

With thanksgiving - Being always grateful to God, who has called you into such a state of salvation, and affords you such abundant means and opportunities to glorify him.

I love how precise he is: You need specific grace from God? ask Him for it.

And the attitude of expectation: “and when you have got the requisite grace by praying” Amen! He fully expected and it was his experience, when you ask something of God, He will give it to you.

Amen!! Father, grant me grace to be better at watching in the same with thanksgiving.

The New Christian Faith

I have noticed a new version of the Christian faith growing in popularity these days. There are three main tenets to this new faith:

1 God loves you no matter what you are doing so whatever you are doing is OK because God loves you no matter what you are doing.

2 Whatever is hateful or offensive is to be rejected. So, away with words and concepts like Repent, Sin, Hell, Judgment – anything that hurts people’s feelings. Jesus loves you is our only message. Our authority is now the court of world opinion. Whatever they deem hateful or offensive is to be re-interpreted.

3 The only people who can be called wrong are those backward Christians who still read their Bible the old way. And, of course, the prophets, and apostles, and even Jesus when they speak in that unenlightened manner.


I’m not talking about old fashioned liberalism, they adopted this creed over a hundred years ago. I’m referring to a trend in evangelicalism. Self proclaimed Bible believing churches are changing the Gospel before our eyes.

An Entertaining Thursday Night

A few entertaining encounters from last night that were too many for fb posts. So I offer them here in chronological order.


A man came in and said, “You still here? You been here a long time.”
“Yeah, I’m the guy who won’t go away.”
He said, “You consistently need money like everyone else. Them bills just keep coming.”
Truth.


The first customer in line told me that he got laid off tonight. I asked him where he worked and he said, “NASA. I worked with Captain Kirk exploring the universe.”
I said, "I know that’s not right. Capt. Kirk had a ‘Federation Starship’ not a ‘NASA starship’."
He was caught, so he admitted that much! On his way out I said, “Kangaroocareers.com”!
“Thanks a lot”
“Yeah it kinda adds insult to injury, doesn’t it?”
The man behind him  was the manager of the next door Pizza Hut. I said, “You didn’t tell him how to get on at Pizza Hut.”
He replied, “He can go to ' [expletive]pizzahut.com. ' He can have my job.”
I laughed and asked, With all the money you’re making over there?”
He said, “You need to get you a different job. You a d____ good comedian. D___ good!”


A man and a woman came in and made their purchases separately. After she paid for her beer, he came up with his. In a reply to me he used an expletive and said, “I’m sorry.”
She said, You’ll have to forgive him, he grew up on the Rock Hill High side of town!”


Four young men came in and they all headed for the rest room. And they all went into the rest room! (It’s a one seater.) I kept watching them because I had never seen this before. Three were inside and one was holding the door open. He saw me watching this spectacle and explained, “We’ve been fishing and needed to wash out hands.”
[Oh…….]
One of the young men had on a shirt that said, ‘Athlete of the Week.’
I asked him about it and he explained that he went to Westminster-Catawba and had just been offered and accepted a scholarship to play basketball at Erskine. “I am the first one from my school to ever get a scholarship.”
He didn’t really seem very excited so I made the observation, “You don’t seem to excited.”
He said, “It’s OK. It’s still school.”
[Yeah, it is.]