Lessons in the Woodpile

As a child of nine my father had instructed me to move a huge pile of wood from the side yard to our cellar where it would be stored for the winter months. Because of the enormity of the task I felt he was asking the impossible and so had a difficult time getting started. Well not just difficult, I simply didn’t do it.

Time went on and my father mentioned it from time to time but because I sensed no real urgency, I assumed he realized that it was impossible also, so I simply ignored it hoping it would get done by itself. But the funny thing about such tasks, they don’t go away.

One Saturday morning I made plans with my friend Joanne Miller to do some fun thing but for some reason, father chose that moment to say “no” I could not go until the wood pile was safely stacked in the cellar.

I was angry. Why was I given this assignment? I had two sisters…what about THEM? But father stood firm and so with an attitude that could sink a ship I began to move the wood, one piece at a time.

But as I began the daunting task, Joanne showed up and seeing the size of the wood pile and the discouragement I felt chose to jump in and help. All morning long we went back and forth, back and forth hour after hour. But something unusual began to happen. The neatly stacked wood pile in the cellar began to grow and grow and grow and the pile in the side yard shrank in equal proportions. Four hours later, the job was done and with it came a great sense of satisfaction and pride.

It was a lesson I will never forget and it has stayed me well as I have grappled with jobs that seemed impossible.

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Thomas Carlyle, the great Scottish satirical writer, was once quoted as saying, “Every noble work is at first impossible”. But there is also a wonderful quote from the angel Gabriel as he stood before Mary in Luke1:37, “For with God nothing will be impossible”. It was another lesson we would learn on the road to producing The Amazing Collection: The Bible Book By Book.

Several brilliant businessmen who were our wise counselors had often told me that I needed a business plan for Big Dream Ministries. But as I thought about the difficulty of putting together a plan for a future I could only imagine, it seemed impossible, certainly beyond my knowledge and efforts. Eleanor and Linda also concluded that it was beyond our expertise. We also had the problem of trying to figure out just what God would do. We sensed we were on a road with Him but He knew the way and how we were going to get to the destination. Our job was to follow. Yet persisting voices kept pushing me to develop a plan. I was stymied and so I did the only thing I knew how to do. I did nothing.

On July 6, 2003 I received an email from the daughter of a dear friend. Amy Westbrook had just graduated from college and was waiting to begin a job. She said she had plenty of time and would love to help us out at the office. I can never refuse such an offer so a couple of hours later she was sitting with me talking about how her time might be best used.

What do you enjoy doing? I asked.

Well, I LOVE writing up business plans and if you need any help with that I could do that for you!

A week later, and many lengthy conversations, she presented me with the Big Dream Business Plan, beautifully developed, wonderfully packaged and perfectly executed. The impossible became reality because with God working through His people, all things are possible!

Luke 18:27

The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.

Feasting with the Lord

One of the thrills of being a grown-up is there are more opportunities for one to practice hospitality. During early marriage when we had so little extra money we would have folks over for hotdogs (before they were thought to be poison) and potato chips. As resources increased, the food improved. But one thing remained consistent; when folks are gathered around our table accompanied by some good food, I will often be moved to happy tears because it gives me a little picture of heaven.

When the children of Israel where spending a year at Mt. Sinai God commanded certain times of feasting and fasting ….times set apart for the people to have a break from the normal work routines of every day life and focus on God and one another. He knew we needed those breaks. In many ways when we do take time for such feasts, I think He joins us in spiritual ways that adds joy to the occasions. So on June 13, 2003, we had the first of several feasts so we could break from the work we were doing and focus on what God had done and simply enjoy the company of one another.

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We had worked for a year and a half and had accomplished much. We had added several fabulous volunteers to our team. We had seen God provide tens of thousands of dollars to fund “The Amazing Collection: The Bible Book By Book” project. We had filmed, duplicated, and made available twelve videos and two workbooks. It was time to pull apart and feast and fellowship and reflect on all God had done for us.

They began to arrive at our home around 6:00, thirty-two folks who had spent the last year and a half, working in various ways to help make our BIG DREAM become a reality. They came happy and they came hungry and the evening was not going to disappoint them.

Paul Ryzcek is a family friend and a phenomenal cook. He spends his days remodeling houses and installing freezer units for huge commercial companies. Yet even though his schedule keeps him running day after day he graciously volunteered to come and cook New Orleans shrimp for us. Two huge pots sat on the grill bubbling with hot melted butter, a hundred garlic cloves, Italian dressing and at least a can of pepper all ready to have the shrimp dropped into it and simmered to perfection.

But there were also platters of chicken, a watermelon scooped and filled with chucks of fruits and whole berries, creamy grits folded into gruyere and parmesan cheese, tomato mozzarella salad, marinated asparagus, and an assortment of hot rolls. After dinner root beer floats were served to all capping the feast perfectly.

Large round tables were set up to encourage good conversation but little encouragement was needed because these people shared so much in common, They all held to a firm belief in a Sovereign King who was working behind the scenes to make the impossible possible. There was more to talk about then there was time!

John Carozza is an awesome pianist and after dinner he sat at the piano and began to play. Soon every voice was joining in singing hymns and praise songs, all pointing to the One who had brought us all together.

At that moment I felt that Emmanuel, God With Us, really was! The whole room seemed filled with His glory! The voices were strong and clear and beautiful (thanks so much in part to Jen and John Carozza and Trace and Joel Balin!) but it was more than that. It sounded like the voices of angels and I thought at the time, they truly were singing along with us.

Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty….present at the feast, a feast that would never have taken place had He not shown Himself so strong and powerful on our behalf.

Psalm 13:6

I will sing to the Lord

For He has dealt bountifully with me.

The Extraordinary and the Ordinary

My uncle Dan was an extraordinary man. He was at the invasion at Normandy Beach in WWII and had built his life philosophy from that one catastrophic event. He decided that if he lived through that horrific battle he would never have a “bad day”. He had seen the worst and nothing else compared to it.
And so, day after day, he lived “good days”, and it served him well. Through hard work perseverance, a fabulous outlook and impeccable character he built a small empire. But as the empire grew, Uncle Dan saw himself as no more important or more valuable then the “least of these”. He made himself available to others and treated all with great respect. I loved that about him…as did thousands of others as reflected at his funeral. The huge church could not contain all of his “friends”.

It is a most wondrous thing when extraordinary people live humbly in the ordinary with their fellow man and are available and willing to help whenever they can.

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As Genie and Colin (our testimony coordinators) sought out people who would allow us to film their testimonies for The Amazing Collection DVD Bible Study, one name kept coming to mind. Kay Arthur has a remarkable story of redemption. Kay is an extraordinary woman in Christendom; in fact one could consider her a “star”, a celebrity, unreachable to the ordinary person. And so we did not pursue her knowing that we were perhaps too small to even be considered.

But after several months of excuses, Colin called Reach Out Ranch, home to Kay and some of her staff, that also houses facilities for conferences and classes. There was a short conversation with her secretary along with the explanation that we could not pay for this service, and then the secretary promised to call back soon with an answer. It gave us all a ray of hope. And so we waited.

But the wait was not long and the response was startling and wonderful. Kay would be happy for us to bring our crew up to film her and indeed no payment was necessary. It would be her privilege!! We were elated!

The day arrived and Kelle and Shane, (our production team) Genie, Colin and I all drove the hundred and twenty miles to Chattanooga, Tenn. With little difficulty we found the ranch and a staff member led us to a perfect room. It had great lighting and plenty of space for everyone.

Within minutes of set-up Kay arrived. OK I admit it. I was hugely intimidated by her…all that she had accomplished, all of the books she had written, all of the millions of men and women she had inspired, and her incredible dedication to God’s Word. In fact, I had elevated her to a place somewhere very near the heavenly Throne!

But the intimidation quickly melted away with a most unusual thing … a hug! Indeed Kay Arthur went around the room and didn’t shake hands, but she hugged each one of us as if we were family. And it was at that moment I realized that indeed we really WERE family!

What was even more remarkable was her desire to serve US. If we needed her to turn a certain way, it was done. She kept a close eye on the computer screen and helped us with lighting and placement as she was an expert in that area. And she gave her testimony over and over again until it was perfect. There was no hurry; she was simply ours for as long as we needed her. In the end we were able to film a fabulous testimony for the book of Isaiah.

In Scripture, James says that we are never to elevate or lower another human being. It sounds good but I seldom see it actually played out by those who reach a certain prominence. But I am grateful for the people God has put in my life who take God’s Word and clearly, humbly, unselfishly, and remarkably live it out! The extraordinary and the ordinary…. all for God, all one family, united in Christ Jesus.

James 2:1 & 9

My brethren do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism. But if you show partiality you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors