The Journey

As his life and ministry drew to conclusion Paul was determined (like Jesus before him) to go to Jerusalem—even though doing so meant danger and possible death.

Every now and then I meet someone who is intent on going where they feel they must, despite the risks involved. A doctor who goes to the Sudan regularly to perform surgery. A young woman who takes meals to shut-ins in a dangerous part of town. A chaplain who goes week by week into a high-security prison where no one feels safe. A pastor who walks into an angry crowd to listen and to speak. A young bartender from NC State goes to Dufar and risks his life to dig wells for those who have no clean water. First responders head into the teeth of a Hurricane in order to be there with the need is most intense.

They go, despite warnings, despite danger. They go not just because they want to, but because somehow they must. God is in their journey. 

Sometimes we imagine that God’s chief duty and central concern is our comfort and safety. We think that what God cares most about is our happiness and health. Maybe that is true, but then again, maybe not. Maybe what God cares most about isn’t our comfort and safety but about the height and the depth, the range and the reach of our lives.

It occurs to me that the heavenly host (we hear about in creation) may well have counseled God “don’t go there.” “Don’t go to the earth; or if you do go, don’t — for sure — go as one of them, vulnerable to suffering, exposed to evil.” But that is what God did in Jesus. He went there, he came here. And because he did, we can — you can — too.

You can go where it’s hard to go, even where there is some danger. Go and God shall be with you.

Eternal God, you call us to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with courage, not knowing where we go but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (A prayer of Martin Luther.)

//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=smartin1947-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=154726988X&asins=154726988X&linkId=31756ff94830f7cb8024eb2846555a41&show_border=false&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff

Filed under: Faith | Leave a comment »

When I was in Cone hospital, after having a heart attack, I was introduced to a very special nurse, J. P. Hines. J.P. is an old retired Navy corpsman who is working now in the 2900 (CCU step-down) section of the hospital. During my stay there we became good friends. I guess it was because we were both Navy (the Marines are part of the Navy even though we don’t like to admit it), and perhaps because we were both a little crazy and loved to laugh.

J.P. would always brighten my day and make me feel better. Even after by-pass surgery he was again my nurse for a couple of days. One day my heart started racing to about 320 beats per minute. He came running in the room and administered drugs to get my heart closer to rhythm… back to 160 anyway. That day our friendship was even more strengthened… because he helped me in a time of need.

A couple of years later J.P. had heart failure while on duty. As a matter of fact, he fell right beside the crash cart. His fellow nurses saved his life. Now he and I both have heart problems. We see each other almost regularly at Dr. Gamble’s office. I guess they want to get the problem patients over with on the same day.

I wanted to introduce you to J.P. because he is a friend of mine. Every time I am at Cone hospital (on first shift) I always stop in to see him, and to hear and tell the latest jokes. I am always a little disappointed when he is not on duty. I’m always excited to see him.

I hope you have a cherished friend who blesses your day with his/her presence and uplifts your spirit. Why not give them a call right now and tell him/her how much they mean to you.

Dear God, thank you for special friends who brighten up our days… for they always remind us that love comes from you. Amen.

Grace and Peace
Steve

Daily Devotions with Pastor Steve

//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=smartin1947-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=154726988X&asins=154726988X&linkId=24e3121bc8fc0651b9dd8730fe547efc&show_border=false&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff

Filed under: Faith | Leave a comment »

I remember spending several hours in the surgical waiting room at Baptist hospital with the family of Mel Schroyer. Mel was having surgery for the removal of cancer in his larynx… Which means they are removing his larynx. Imagine going into surgery knowing that when you wake up life will be completely different… You will have to learn to talk with the aid of this little box. Add to this the thought that you hope that is the only place the cancer is still located. He has been through two cancer surgeries and two series of radiation therapy. Several hospital stays in ICU.

That afternoon, as he is prepared for surgery, the doctor says to him “There is a chance this surgery may cause you to have a heart attack. We will do everything we can to prevent this but there is the chance.” We had already prayed together but I couldn’t help but wonder how this made Mel feel. I have cancer. I will lose my voice in this surgery. And now the surgery may cause me to have a heart attack. WOW! Bring it on, Doc… see how much more I can take!

I sat and looked at the faces of so many people waiting to hear from the doctors. I wondered, as I scanned their faces, what were they thinking? I know they were joking, telling stories, reading and doing everything they could to distract themselves from thinking about what was going on in the operating room. Most were getting good news while others received news that was not as good. Some were with their ministers, pastors, priests. Others were alone. But I wanted all of them to know that they were not alone… God was there with them all walking with them through their own lonely journey.

I remember coming home after by-pass surgery and being afraid to fall asleep. I was afraid that I would not wake up. I had a difficult time until I finally realized that whether I wake up or not I am in the hands of Jesus. It is the same way in that operating room… and that waiting room. We are in His care no matter what happens.

Dear God, thank you for leading these doctors, nurses and medical staff to bring ill persons to a place where healing can take place. Thank you, especially, for your presence that surrounds us in every place. Amen.

Grace and Peace
Steve

Daily Devotions With Pastor Steve

Filed under: Faith | Leave a comment »

Well, Phil and Emily didn’t make it to the place they were heading at the intended time. There were a few snags along the way. On Thursday night they had to get everything cranked up, tied down, cranked in, and stowed away. Part of that everything was going to get the trailer (Closet – Storage Shed) they pull behind them. Finally, they had it all done, but the old tic-toc on the wall had its big hand on twelve and its little hand on nine. It was nine pm – late – tired – but they headed out anyway. 

That was when act two appeared. Act two in this story included them heading up the highway (back road is what they call it) going over this triple high bridge, with Phil driving the RV, pulling the shed and Emily following close behind in the SUV. All of a sudden, she sees sparks flying out from under the trailer. She said “I thought it was on fire.” They pulled over on this triple-high bridge, as close to the concrete as they could. Soon, a highway patrolman stopped to help keep them save from everyone wanting to pile on. They called a wrecker who then towed the trailer to a Publix parking lot… somewhere north – arriving around three in the morning. The welder arrived around nine the next morning and had them on the road and $600.00 lighter by 11:30am.

It is now Friday morning and they are back out on the highway. Only this time it is bumper to bumper traffic traveling at a break-neck speed of five miles per hour. Five hours got them eighty miles up the road. There are wrecks, cars out of gas, flat tires… a general mess out there.

They are now at Perry – the place they wanted to get to on Thursday evening. Seeing that the storm will be following them in their northwest movement, they decide to head northeast for Fort Bragg. At least at Fort Bragg they will be with their grandson – the Army Captain Chaplain – and his family.

Tonight they are at a truck stop in Melon, Georgia (on I-75). Both are exhausted, craving a night’s restful sleep. No air. No hook-ups. Just the windows raised, a good breeze, and two tired souls.

They wanted me to send their appreciation for all your prayers… they need all they can get. Emily said “We are not sure what we will find when we return to McDill. We will get hit from both sides, since our family camp is out in the bay… water just about all around. Oh, well,” She added, “We need a new place to worship anyway.”

Tomorrow morning they will drive on to Fort Bragg and stay there for a week.

Thanks for your prayers for them and all the people affected by this devastating storm.

Grace and Peace
Steve

//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=smartin1947-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=154726988X&asins=154726988X&linkId=38d4b76bff3add322c8a7a45a5853c58&show_border=false&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff

Filed under: Faith | Leave a comment »

OMG! It’s a hundred years old today. That’s right – it’s exactly a century since Admiral of the Fleet Sir John Arbuthnot Fisher – Lord Fisher, First Baron Fisher of Kilverstone – coined the acronym we all know and love. He came up with OMG (“Oh! My God!”) in a letter of 9 September 1917 […]

via OMG, it’s the centenary of OMG! — Matthew Wright

Filed under: Faith | Leave a comment »

When we were serving the Triplett church in Mooresville there was a dear old man there named George Washington. George was 100% Cherokee Indian. He had taught brick laying at Nebraska University for many years. They loved him so much in the church he and Lucille attended out there that they put a sign on his pew in the balcony which read: “George Washington Slept Here.” After retiring, George and Lucille moved back home.

He, at one time, was on the Tribal Council at Cherokee and still his family has a home there. George was a very hard-working man. At 85 years of age he could still work circles around the rest of us younger guys. He couldn’t figure out why people were so lazy.

George was also a good church member… one who was there at every function. While we were there George got sick and started passing out in church. One Easter Sunday morning George passed out while the choir was singing “God So Loved The World.” I can’t tell you the impact that had on our congregation. As George fell over in the pew… we all were being reminded that God loves us so much that he even gave his Son in our behalf.

It wasn’t long after that George died. We had Chief Thomas and many people from Cherokee come and participate in the memorial service. George was a fine man, but I will never forget the sermon that he and God preached on that Easter Sunday.

Dear God, when we faint and fall over… when life is too much to handle…when all our coping skills aren’t enough… would you sing sweetly to us and remind us of how very much you love us each and every day.  Amen.

Grace and Peace
Steve

Daily Devotions with Pastor Steve

New Book Released Can Be Ordered Here

Filed under: Faith | Leave a comment »

My brother, Phil, and his wife, Emily live in Tampa, Florida. Well, they live there six months of the year. He is retired military, Marine Corps and Army National Guard. My brother has always loved vehicles, diving, the military, and the ministry. So, allow me to amend my statement to include that he is also a retired United Methodist pastor.

To further enhance the story, they live in a traveling parsonage, barracks and home known as an RV (Recreational Vehicle). It takes them all over the place in the six months they are not encamped at McDill Air Force Base in Tampa. While in Tampa, Phil is the lead retired Chaplain at the Family Camp and Emily plays the organ/piano/keyboard.

During the other six months of the year they travel around to visit all the family and see sites around the US. It is not uncommon for them to make the track from Tampa to Fort Bragg, to Greensboro, Madison and Mayodan, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and just about anywhere they desire.

Right now they are fleeing Tampa with Irma on their heels. They left Thursday night heading for Perry, Florida and then on to Camp Benning in Columbus, Ga… really the Alabama side. So, he is heading up the highway driving this 70′ long barracks, with Emily in the car behind. One problem is that my brother is a diabetic who could pass out with a spike or drop in his sugar. Equipped with cell phones on the ready, they are hopefully moving toward a safe place, away from a wild, windy and wet place. Keep them in your prayers.

Our next door neighbor’s daughter and her husband live in Melbourne, Florida… close to the beach. They also have a business close by. They intend to ride out the storm in an elevated addition they built on to their home. I suspect they are putting on their game face for family, but I bet, deep down inside, they are a tad bit nervous – scared – petrified. Please pray for them, as well.

As you pray, I know you will include all the people of Florida, Texas… everyone in the wake and path of the storm. All of them need our prayers.

Back in the fall of 1965 our Marine Battalion was involved in what was known as the Caribbean Cruise. Don’t get excited… a cruise in the Marine Corps means the Navy is going to put us on ships, get us sea-sick and we are going to make landings on beaches, climb mountains with full gear in the 120 degree heat, and generally run around in the jungle acting like a bunch of teenagers – which we were. Some of our ports of call were the ABC islands; Aruba, Curaçao, and Bonaire… all belonging to the Netherlands. They were absolutely beautiful islands. We are finding out that some of the islands in this part of the Caribbean were hit hard by Irma a couple of days ago. Barbuda announced that it received 95% destruction to this low-elevation, flat island. I can’t even begin to imagine 95% of an island destroyed.

Finally, allow me to shout out a word of praise for a young man name Justin… a member of a church I served a few years ago. He is in college in South Florida. When the President of the University announced that all students must evacuate and take all possessions with them, my young friend is bringing eight friends with him back to the safety of his family in North Carolina. Didn’t have to do that, but that is the man he has become; an Eagle Scout, a college student, a friend, a Christian. That is second mile living. Thank you Justin for being you even in the path of a storm… and for the example of your faith you are daily living out.

Our prayers are with all of you. May God grant you safety in the midst of your storm, patience, gratitude and strength in the wake of whatever takes place.

Grace and Peace
Steve

//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=smartin1947-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=154726988X&asins=154726988X&linkId=41ba3073ed5e501d54c53c20430bc824&show_border=false&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff

Filed under: Faith | Leave a comment »

Another Vietnam story: It was Easter Sunday 1968. I was a Marine machine gun team leader in Viet Nam. Our idea of celebrating Easter was to retake hill 881 for the fourth time. I remember it was a cold, wet morning as we moved into place at the bottom of the hill. As we traversed up the side of the hill mortar fire was directed toward us. I was about fifteenth in the column. The mortars hit about fifty feet in front of our point man. The next one hit our point man. The next one hit about seven men back in the column. The fourth one would have been in my lap. It didn’t come. Why? I have no idea. There were bullets whizzing through the grass next to our heads as we hugged the ground.

That afternoon, after the battle was over, we were all counting the cost. All around us were the dead NVA soldiers uncovered and disrespected. Back down the hill, in a neat row, respectfully covered were our men who had been killed.

I remember praying: “God, I have seen enough, I am ready to go home.” What an uneducated and presumptuous prayer. However, the next week I was wounded and airlifted to Japan. After a month in the 106 General Army Hospital and two months on Okinawa, I was sent back to the states. I later learned that many in my platoon were killed in a battle at “Happy Valley.” Why was I spared? I am sure those other guys were praying just like me. Some who died were within days of going home. It bothered me for years. I tried to put it out of my mind. It kept coming back. Even at Hinshaw Memorial UMC, in Greensboro back in the 90’s, there was a lady, Ruby Wall, who lost her son in that war. I could never be around her without having feelings of guilt. I came home but her son did not.

I wish I could tell you that the clouds opened up and God gave me the answer. Even to this day I still do not know why I was spared. However, in my prayer and devotional life, in seeing people live lives of faith and courage, I have come to know that there are some things I will never know…. Some things will remain a mystery. I have concluded that since I have been given this second, even a third life to use it the way God would have me use it – to give myself to God daily, that through me God may uplift the lives of those who need the touch of our heavenly Father. In the movie “Saving Private Ryan” Captain Miller was fatally wounded. Most of Miller’s men had also been killed. As Reiben sought aid for his dying captain, Miller’s last words to Ryan were, “James, earn this. Earn it.” I know I cannot earn God’s love, mercy and grace, but I can live in that grace in a grateful manner… realizing that I am still here and because I am, I should live in a more intentional and grace-filled way.

Dear God, help me to know that I will not know all the mysteries of faith. There will always be questions. Rather, help me to not let those questions keep me from being your disciple today and sharing your love and grace with those I meet. Help me to live by faith. Amen

Daily Devotions with Pastor Steve

//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=smartin1947-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B075CCZDZ8&asins=B075CCZDZ8&linkId=e3c9be4e950b6f536c377f0b4c11ee1a&show_border=false&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff

Filed under: Faith | Leave a comment »

I can’t let this devotional time go by without taking a moment to introduce you to a very important man in my life. It is not my father, even though my father has made a big impact on me. It is not my uncle Charles or Raymond, who both are very fine men. It is my uncle Herman Sechrist who stepped through heaven’s gate back in January of 2001.

Herman was the one person in our extended family who was given the honor of leading the rest of the family in prayer each Sunday at the dinner table. You see, he was the eldest male in the family and that was their role. Each Sunday, as the family gathered at my grandparent’s home for Sunday dinner, he would pray; “Make us true and thankful for these and all other blessings. In Christ sake. Amen.” I will never forget that prayer because I have used it as my own for over fifty years. It is a special prayer to me not only for what it says in such simple words…”make us true and thankful”…but it is special because the man who prayed it… sought to live it out in everything he did. My family is a very spiritual family. But Uncle Herman was a saint… who led the rest of our family in matters of the Spirit. Along with my father and mother, my aunts and uncles… who were and are great people of faith, Herman stands tall as a great Christian who had a profoundly deep spiritual influence on us all.

We should be thankful for those near us who have cared enough to live before us lives that were examples of Christian Saints.

Dear God, we thank you for giving us people, like my Uncle Herman, who not only prayed to you but devoted their life to you and sought to fulfill their prayers in their daily living… for as they were doing that, whether they realized it or not, they were having a great influence on little ears and little eyes that would last a lifetime. Amen.

Grace and Peace
Steve

Daily Devotions with Pastor Steve

My New Book Now Available By Clicking This Link

Filed under: Faith | Leave a comment »

It was the last of January 1996. I was in Cone hospital because my heart was out of rhythm. The plan was to put me on a medication that would take a few days to get my heart back in rhythm. If that did not work then they would do a cardio-version (put you to sleep and shock your heart back into rhythm.)

It was Thursday night, Dr. Gamble was there, and the medication had not yet done the job. That meant that Friday morning he would do this procedure. I must admit I wasn’t all that excited about this. It seemed just a bit SCARY. I expressed to Dr. Gamble my anxiety about having this done. He assured me that it was going to be ok.

The next morning this team of very professional people came into the room and started doing their particular parts of this procedure… rolling in that big red crash cart.. hooking me up to the machine… putting those pads on my chest and back. Dr. Gamble, knowing my anxiety, walked over to the edge of the bed and held my hand as they started to put me to sleep. Him taking my hand gave me a sense of peace I cannot begin to describe.

Isn’t that the way God is? When we are facing something that brings great anxiety or fear, He simply reaches down and holds our hand, and by doing so, says “I am here with you… everything will be alright.” And, you know, it will!!!

Dr. Gamble, my dear friend is now in a facility suffering from Alzheimer’s. I plan to see him soon. However, I am told he will not know me. I want to go and at the same time I don’t want to go. I guess I am afraid of how he will be. Would you pray for me to see him and hold his hand… like he held mine all those years ago?

Dear God there are many things that scare us in this world… many things of which we are afraid. Hold our hand as we walk through the valleys before us and have us to know that, in your love and care, everything is going to be all right. Amen.

Daily Devotions with Pastor Steve

My New Book Can Be Ordered Right Here

Filed under: Faith | Leave a comment »