Here We Go Again!

          It's that time once again - the beginning of fall.   As I've said many times before, this is my favorite time of the year.  I look forward to the cooler nights, the changing colors of the leaves and especially the football season.  High school football began last weekend, this weekend it is college football and soon the official NFL season will begin.

          Football has been a part of my fall experiences almost all of my life.  In elementary school I played little league football.  But I was never as good as my dad who played in college and my brother who starred at Warwick.

          In high school I was part of the band and we marched and played at all of Warwick's games for six years.  That was fun.  As a senior I also ran the concession stand at football games.  I made all the purchases and planned for the staffing, without any school advisors helping.  And we made out very well financially.  It was a great lesson and experience in leadership and business practices for me.  I also worked for the local newspaper and wrote two weekly columns, one of which was "Spotlight On Sports".

          In college I worked for Susquehanna's public relations department and did all the statistical collection and reporting to the NCAA for both the football and basketball teams.  Both teams did very well and this was a great experience for me as well as a way to reduce my college expenses.  During those years James Garrett was head football coach and Susquehanna had exceptional teams.  He was the father of the present head coach of the Dallas Cowboys. It was fun to travel with a winning team, especially when we flew to our games.

          After graduation I was given the opportunity to return to writing for newspapers.  The Lancaster Sunday News hired me to cover high school football games each Saturday.  I did that for over 25 years.  Again, it was fun and a good source of extra money when we were living on what was then a very small teaching salary.

         Traditionally I have had three favorite teams during each football season - the three P's - Penn Manor, Penn State and Philadelphia Eagles.  Unfortunately, seldom have all three teams won the same weekend.

          When I came to Penn Manor in 1963 they did not have football even though they were one of the largest schools in the area.  That was hard for me to work in a situation where football wasn't part of the program.  A fellow teacher who had played at Hempfield felt the same as I did.  We were both advisors to the Spirit Club and we decided to start a petition drive in the community and that is what actually eventually started football at Penn Manor.

          Over the decades since then, the high school football teams have had a rocky journey.  Only during three different periods have they had winning teams.  In fact, my brother who coached at Warwick, created a "crying towel" that the losing brother was to receive each year at Christmas.  It became a permanent possession of mine and eventually I just "retired" it.

          One of their most successful runs came just a few years ago when they finally began to make it to districts.  They had impressive teams during those years and were fun to watch once again.  Then their excellent coach resigned to work on his doctorate.  He continued teaching there but never returned to coaching there.  However, a few years later he was offered the head coaching job at a neighboring private school.  He took that job and has turned that team into a consistent winner.  Meanwhile, Penn Manor has had trouble winning games.  And from what I hear, that trend will continue this year.

         My favorite team is Penn State.  For many years we traveled to most home games - often securing our tickets on the road to Happy Valley.  We posted our need for tickets on our car window and usually somebody would stop us and sell us tickets at face value.

         But a few years ago they changed their handicapped parking area and with our growing physical problems it became more difficult for us to get to and from the stadium. So we have now chosen to stay at home and watch on television.  It's more comfortable that way, but we do miss being there. I don't know how they will do this year.  Once again, they are young, especially on offense, although they've had two excellent recruiting classes.  I would predict a 7-5 season but hope it might be better.

          Finally, I continue to follow the Eagles.  They've had a good run lately and could have another good season unless their quarterback gets hurt once again.  Then it could be a rough year.  Time will tell.  But they've been fun to watch.

          So here we are once again - the start of a new football season.  The good news is that all three of my teams start once again with a clean slate.  The bad news is that these next few months will pass too quickly.  Then comes the snow and ice.  Ugh!

Is Dad Smiling? (LB)

LOOKING BACK - A repeat of a blog that I first published on March 3 2010

          When we purchased the property for our new church it included an oval for riding horses and a large building that had once been a stable for horses which were raised and trained there. The oval was where our new building was built. The stables was dirty and in bad shape, except for the walls and foundation. It was suggested that someday this would be a good place for a youth center. 
          Many volunteers shared in gutting and cleaning up the inside. A new roof was put on to protect it. An architect was hired as was a former missionary construction worker. The big problem was how to finance this since over $500,000 would need to be raised. The congregation was encouraged to start building when a number of businesses and a foundation made large donations for the youth center. 
          Work was begun and a magnificent building emerged. The finished product contains a large meeting area with the very latest in sound and projection equipment, a kitchen and a large eating area which is even equipped with booths from a former local restaurant, a large classroom, a fully equipped game room, modern bathrooms, large storage areas for church and children's ministry supplies, and a huge garage for storing our vans and doing other maintenance work. Many churches would love to have such a building for their church , not just for a youth center. 
          Because of what it was originally, it has officially been named the Stables Youth Center. It is now used for all youth events as well as receptions, parties, meetings, and all sorts of gatherings. It is beautiful, modern, and very functional. But there was one major problem - finances. The campaign to raise money from businesses faltered and fell way short of its goal. As a result, the church had to take out a large note to pay for it and this placed a very heavy burden on the congregation with the already heavy mortgage for the new church. But my father had the vision and fully supported this project. His one desire was to see this note eliminated as quickly as possible so that the congregation could concentrate on reducing the mortgage. Over $4,000 was needed each offering just for the church mortgage. The Stables note was in addition to this. 
          Well, dad didn't live long enough to see his desire fulfilled – elimination of the note on the Stables. But when he died we tried to honor his desire by designating that all memorial gifts received would go to reducing the note on the Stables. There were numerous gifts received the first month after his death but several others continued to come in during the next year. This brought the total of memorial gifts in dad's memory to $20,270 and this reduced the note on the Stables to less than $2,000! PTL! And, with a few more memorial gifts later the note was finally be retired by the end of March. 
         This was so exciting. Dad would be thrilled. The Lord has been so good and we are so thrilled that, even in death, the Lord has used my dad's life to provide another landmark in the history of our church. His influence continues to impact the ministry at Faith Bible Fellowship Church, in Lancaster, that he helped found in 1950. 
         I wonder if dad knows about this new development and if he does, I am sure that he has a big smile on his face.

(1) To God be the glory, great things He has done;

So loved He the world that He gave us His Son,

Who yielded His life an atonement for sin,

And opened the life gate that all may go in.

Refrain

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,

Let the earth hear His voice!

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,

Let the people rejoice!

O come to the Father, through Jesus the Son,

And give Him the glory, great things He has done.

(2) O perfect redemption, the purchase of blood,

To every believer the promise of God;

The vilest offender who truly believes,

That moment from Jesus a pardon receives.

Refrain

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,

Let the earth hear His voice!

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,

Let the people rejoice!

O come to the Father, through Jesus the Son,

And give Him the glory, great things He has done.

(3) Great things He has taught us, great things He has done,

And great our rejoicing through Jesus the Son;

But purer, and higher, and greater will be

Our wonder, our transport, when Jesus we see.

Refrain

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,

Let the earth hear His voice!

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,

Let the people rejoice!

O come to the Father, through Jesus the Son,

And give Him the glory, great things He has done.

Time for School

“For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding” (Proverbs 2:6).

Heavenly Father,

Today, we pray for our grandchildren as they transition to a new school year. Let them be courteous, cooperative and respectful of their teachers and classmates as they take part in classroom activities and discussions. Let them approach their studies, especially difficult material, with determination; let their creative juices flow. Broaden their understanding of mathematics, languages, history, science and fine arts, and give them the ability to apply this understanding to everyday experiences. Let them be willing to ask for help when they need it.

Let them be lifelong learners, who have eyes to see, ears to hear, minds to understand and hearts to discern whatever is true, honorable, just pure, lovely, commendable, excellent and worthy of praise (Philippians 4:8).
In Jesus’ Name, we pray.
Amen.

*********************************
Abba Father,

We pray for the upcoming school year. Please give the administrators and teachers discerning hearts and minds as they prepare to open the doors on a new year. Let them be wise stewards of the resources at their disposal. Let them make prudent decisions about schedules, curriculum and room assignments. Let them create an environment that is safe, nurturing and conducive for learning.

We also pray for our grandchildren as they prepare to meet this year’s teachers, juggle busy schedules, tackle tougher subject matter, renew old friendships and make new ones. We pray they step into the new year, confident that You are with them—strengthening them, helping them and upholding them with your righteous right hand (Isaiah 41:10, paraphrased).

In Jesus’ Name, we pray.
Amen.
*****************************

Heavenly Father,

Our grandchildren’s parents are busily preparing for a new school year, purchasing clothes and last-minute school supplies, arranging carpool and planning lunches. Some breathe a sigh of relief, thankful that routine will soon return to their homes. Others wipe away tears, as their children, our grandchildren, take another step toward independence.

Today, we pray for these dedicated parents. Please ease their minds as they sort through the gamut of emotions they are experiencing. Let them know that they can cast their anxiety on you, because you care for them (I Peter 5:7).

Protect them from becoming enslaved to overly busy calendars and unrealistic expectations. Give them the ability to discern what is important and to cast off as rubbish the things that are not. Encourage them to embrace the adventures, challenges and opportunities, which await them. And help them encourage our grandchildren to do the same.

May they “forget what lies behind (the old school year) and strain forward to what lies ahead (the new school year), let them press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14).

In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.

****************************

Lord Jesus,

We find ourselves in a battle for ourselves, our children and our grandchildren. The battle isn’t “against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness” (Ephesians 6:12). Forgive us for the countless times we’ve attempted to handle this battle alone.

Cover us in the mantle of your love. Cloak us in your armor, securing it in place with the belt of your truth. Safeguard our hearts against the world’s depravity with the breastplate of your righteousness. Shod our feet to stand firmly for your gospel of peace. Protect our minds from Satan’s lies with the helmet of your salvation. 

In all circumstances, show us how to use your shield of faith to extinguish Satan’s fiery darts. Show us how to disarm all forces of evil with your sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God (Ephesians 6:11-17). 

Urge us to be persistent in prayer, “praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication” (Ephesians 6:18). 

And remind us, with every breath we take, that the victory has already been won. For you are the victory!

In your Name, we pray.

Amen.

***************************

Father God,

Today, we pray about our grandchildren’s walk with You. Please plant their feet firmly on the path of life. “Direct (their) footsteps according to Your word; let no sin rule over (them)” (Psalm 119:133). 

Let them walk with You as Noah did, blameless and with singleness of heart. Teach them your way, so they may walk in Your truth; unite their hearts to fear Your name. (Psalm 86:11, ESV, paraphrased).

And when they stumble, as we all do, please uphold them in the strength of Your saving grace.

We pray this in the name of Jesus, who, by the way of the cross, is the path.

Amen.

********************

LORD Jesus,

We pray our grandchildren will become confessing Christians. Let them “believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God” (John 11:27), who came into the world to save sinners. Let them, acknowledging that they “have gone astray and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:26). Let them repent of their sins and return to You. Please wash them in your blood, clothe them in your righteousness and anoint them with your Holy Spirit. 

“For to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21)

In Your Name, we pray.

Amen.

(Submitted by Sherry Schumann)

Life's Choices

          Recently I have been having trouble with my eyes and this has limited my daily Bible reading.  So I decided to invest in a large print edition - usually for old people like me - and I also chose to go with the New Living Translation which I find very readable.  This has been a great decision and I have enjoyed getting back to some reading once again.

          I decided to start reading from the Psalms and Genesis.   My readings took me to Abraham and his obedience to God.  I was reminded once again how Abraham obeyed God, leaving his home and journeying far away, not knowing where God would lead him.  What faith he exercised.

          And his obedience led to a life of amazing blessing.  But what would have happened if he had chosen to stay?  One thing is sure, he would have missed God's amazing blessing.

          This made me think about my life and my choices.  Throughout the years I have had to make many decisions.  What might have happened if I had made other choices?

          In high school I had to decide where to go to college.  I was looking for an engineering program which I realize now would have been a terrible choice for me.  Instead I chose Susquehanna University where my dad had gone and had taught.  It had the advantage of being a school with a good reputation, a small student body where I could get plenty of help, and a location near many of my relatives who lived jusr across the river in Sunbury.  It provided me with a good church where my grandfather was pastor.  It was the right choice and if I had not made that choice I would have missed out on one of the most important blessings of my life - meeting my wife.

          A few years later I had to find a place of employment. I was invited to interview for math positions at Hershey, Donegal, Elizabethtown and Penn Manor and I was offered a teaching job at all four.  Choosing was very hard because my wife and I had both had lived in Elizabethtown and we loved the town.  She had also lived in Mt. Joy where Donegal is located.  But for a variety of reasons we chose Penn Manor.  Again, right decision.  As it turned out I was there for 39 enjoyable years and had many special opportunities to minister there.  I often wonder what might have happened if I had made one of the other choices.

          During my second year of teaching I received a call and a job offer from a former professor/friend of mine who had left Susquehanna to go to Wagner College as head of public relations.  He needed an assistant to work on the sports publications and he wanted me.  That was very tempting because I  loved doing that and had many years of experience working with four different newspapers.  But it would have meant moving my family to Staten Island and after much prayer we felt that this was not the best thing for our family.  That was a tough but a good decision.  However, I often wonder where that choice might have eventually led us.

          After three years of teaching at Penn Manor I was promoted to Department Chairman and I enjoyed the additional administrative duties.  I had many contacts with area schools and over the years, two of them, Ephrata and Manheim Twp., interviewed me and offered me jobs in comparable positions in their districts.  I was flattered with their offers but came to realize that I was actually much better off where I was.  But I wonder what might have happened if I had made another choice.

          As I was nearing retirement I began to think about working as an administrator in a church.  But most churches wouldn't consider me because I did not have a Bible school education.  However one church did seem to want me.  Their pastor said he would like to have me on his staff.  The head of the selection committee asked me to propose a job description, which I did.  Then I was invited to a breakfast meeting with the elders where I thought I would be offered the job.  However, I was stunned when they told me that they didn't want me - no reason was given.  And they suggested that I consider creating a new position working independently with area churches and their children's ministries.  But they offered no help or finances and I knew from my experience that such a position was not needed since other ministries were already doing this.  And when the meeting was over nobody from that church ever followed up with me to see how I was doing with their suggestion.  They were done with me. Going with them would have been a very bad choice,

          It was the only time in my life that I was turned down for a job and I admit that I was stunned and very disappointed.  But the Lord was working.  What I didn't know was at the very same time the state legislature was working on a surprise major change to the retirement system.  As it turned out, teaching another year increased my retirement pension so much that I really did not need to take another job when I retired.  PTL!

          I guess another major decision came later when I had to decide to retire.  I hatred leaving a job which I loved, but I knew it was time to do so, and it was.

          I thank the Lord for His leading in so many important decisions during my life.  I might not have been as important as Abraham, but I know God was with me. Truly I can say, Jesus led me all the way.

(1)    He leadeth me, O blessed thought!

O words with heav'nly comfort fraught!

Whate'er I do, where'er I be

Still 'tis God's hand that leadeth me.

He leadeth me, He leadeth me,

By His own hand He leadeth me;

His faithful follower I would be,

For by His hand He leadeth me.

(2)    Sometimes mid scenes of deepest gloom,

Sometimes where Eden's bowers bloom,

By waters still, over troubled sea,

Still 'tis His hand that leadeth me.

He leadeth me, He leadeth me,

By His own hand He leadeth me;

His faithful follower I would be,

For by His hand He leadeth me.

(3)    Lord, I would place my hand in Thine,

Nor ever murmur nor repine;

Content, whatever lot I see,

Since 'tis my God that leadeth me.

He leadeth me, He leadeth me,

By His own hand He leadeth me;

His faithful follower I would be,

For by His hand He leadeth me.

(4)   And when my task on earth is done,

When by Thy grace the vict'ry's won,

E'en death's cold wave I will not flee,

Since God through Jordan leadeth me.

He leadeth me, He leadeth me,

By His own hand He leadeth me;

His faithful follower I would be,

For by His hand He leadeth me.

Up, Up And Away

          Over the years I've taken two years of Latin, two of French and two of German.  But, unfortunately, I no longer can speak or even read any of these languages, even though I did earn the credits which I needed for each of these.  I do admire people who are fluent in several languages.  Now the only language I am somewhat fluent in is English.  But I am told that it is one of the most difficult languages to learn.  And here is an example of one reason that is so.
          A two-letter word has a hundred completely different meanings. So what is this stuff about English being easy?
          There is a two-letter word that perhaps has more meaning than any other two-letter word, and that is "UP."
          It's easy to understand UP, meaning toward the sky or at the top of the list, but when we waken in the morning, why do we wake UP?
         At a meeting, why does a topic come UP? Why do we speak UP and why are the officers UP for election and why is it UP to the secretary to write UP a report?
         We call UP our friends. And we use it to brighten UP a room, polish UP the silver, we warm UP the leftovers and clean UP the kitchen. We lock UP the house and some guys fix UP the old car.
          At other times the little word has real special meaning. People stir UP trouble, line UP for tickets, work UP an appetite, and think UP excuses.
          To be dressed is one thing but to be dressed UP is special.
          And this UP is confusing: A drain must be opened UP because it is stopped UP.
          We open UP a store in the morning but we close it UP at night.
          We seem to be pretty mixed UP about UP!
          To be knowledgeable of the proper uses of UP, look UP the word in the dictionary. In a desk size dictionary, the word up, takes UP almost one-fourth the page and definitions add UP to about thirty.
          If you are UP to it, you might try building UP a list of the many ways UP is used. It will take UP a lot of your time, but if you don't give UP, you may wind UP with a hundred or more.
          When it threatens to rain, we say it is clouding UP. When the sun comes out we say it is clearing UP. When it rains, it wets UP the earth. When it doesn't rain for a while, things dry UP.
          Now many years ago when my grandfather was a pastor in Bethlehem, the morning after Halloween he discovered that his gate was missing from the back yard.  He searched all over the neighborhood but couldn't find it.  Then he saw a young boy and he offered him a reward if the boy could locate it.  the lad said, "Look up".  And he did.  And there hanging UP in the tree was his gate.  And as a result, one of my grandfather's favorite expressions was "Keep looking UP."    And his life modeled that of one who looked UP to the Lord rather than at the difficulties around him.  And that is a good lesson for us to learn.    
         So one could go on and on, but I'll wrap it UP, for now my time is UP, so I'll shut UP!  And, oh yes, "Keep looking UP"!

1.    Often I've watched the clouds up in the sky,
Always I've heard they were many miles high;
Then as they sailed out of sight far away,
I said, I'm going far higher someday,

Chorus
I'm going higher, yes higher someday,
I'm going higher to stay;
Over the clouds and beyond the blue sky,
Going where none ever sicken or die;
Loved ones to meet in the "Sweet by and by";
I'm going higher some day.


2.    Men sail the ocean, or soar through the air,
Scarce can the nat'ral eye see them up there;
Some seek for fame which so soon will decay;
I'm going higher, yes, higher someday.

Chorus


3.    Moses went up in a mountain and prayed,
Glory came down while alone there he stayed;
But he came back, he just went there to pray,
I'm going higher, yes, higher someday.

Chorus


4.     Often my soul has been lifted above,
Lost in the ocean of God's mighty love;
Though I am higher than once, still I say,
I'm going higher, yes, higher someday.

Chorus


5.    Soon will the Saviour appear, bless His name!
Someday this earth will be all wrapped in flame;
Then as I see the fire mounting on high,
I'm going higher, beyond the blue sky.

Chorus