The Passion of Silva Followers

I attended the Daniel Silva book signing today at Murder By the Book bookstore in Houston.  It is usually SRO at one of these events, so today I arrived one hour before Mr. Silva would speak. The place was packed out one hour before the event time. I could not believe it.  

I bought a book and was given #77--meaning I was the 77th book they had sold and there would be 76 ahead of me for book signing. There was a maximum of three former books and as many of the current as you purchased.  Looked like it could be a long wait when we got to that point.

I found a fairly good place to stand, but it was still 50 minutes before the start time. While waiting, I found out that people started gathering three hours before the event.  The room could have been filled in the first hour with two more hours to go. That was amazing to me that people would gather for a seat three hours before Daniel Silva would arrive.

Who were those folks that got to the bookstore so early?  They were educated, fairly affluent, well-read (besides mystery novels) highly communicative, and very knowledgeable about the writing of Daniel Silva.  They were "disciples" of the author to the utmost degree.  I felt at home amidst these folks because we all had something in common.

I am not sure if I have ever witnessed Christ followers arriving for Bible study or worship three hours in advance. I know what you are thinking...in the church we always have adequate seating. No, it was more than that. They love Daniel Silva.  He's my favorite author, but he has not changed my life! I enjoy reading his novels, in fact I will take the new one with me on vacation, but it is a far cry from God's Word.

The Silva followers love to have their books signed by the author.  They thank him for a certain character in his books.  I don't think I've ever heard anyone pray, "Lord, thank you so much for giving us Peter. You will never know the impact he has had on my life."  They buy multiple books as gifts.  Many had three and four new books at about $29 per book.  I wonder how many people in my church bought a hardback study Bible this week for one of their family members or friends?

The folks that I've been talking about would make great believers.  We, the church, are missing out on that kind of passion.  How can we ignite those around us to have that kind of passion?  It would change our world.  

Family Makes the Difference in Life

What got me hooked on conspiracy mysteries?  I read part of Seven Days in May many, many years ago and then saw the movie.  I was immediately absorbed in political intrigue and any story that dealt with Washington, D.C.  Then, about 15 years ago I began to read novels and it was all a result of Seven Days in May.

If I started writing a non-fiction piece tonight, it would probably be titled Five Days in July, because I just had five wonderful days this week. 

On Tuesday I took my grandson, Reid, to the Houston Zoo.  We had a ball and Reid knew exactly what he wanted to see.  The weather was hot, with a slight breeze, but we started the day at 9:00 a.m.  We saw lazy lions, sleepy tigers, elephants getting a bath, monkeys eating breakfast, and so much more. We ended out day out at Chick-fil-A.

On Wednesday Miranda, Steve, Kason, and Kesleigh spent the night with me.  We had a great time.

On Thursday, the Corns, the Mathews, and I went to the Circus.  We took the kids for an up close and personal look at the animals before the circus performance.  Then we watched a great two-hour presentation by Ringling Bros./Barnum and Bailey.  We all felt that we really got our money's worth.  We went to a late lunch at Moonya's.

On Thursday night everybody was at my house for dinner.  I cooked steaks with a special Caribbean rub and Miranda fixed the rest of the dinner inside.  It was good, but the time together was even better.

On Friday Steve ran errands with me most of the afternoon.  Miranda  had a GNO so the guys had the children.  We ate leftover steaks and the trimmings, put the kids to bed and watched a movie.  Miranda and her Girls Night Out gals came home about 10:00.  We stayed up until  after 11:30 just talking.  It was all good!

Today we got up and Miranda supplied us with Shipley doughnuts.  Everybody left around noon and now it is sooooooo quiet!  It was five really great days though.  Now I am doing a little catch-up and it is all good too. 

Tomorrow my favorite author will be in town for a book signing.  Guess where I will be going?  To Murder By the Book, a bookstore in the Rice U. area.  My favorite author is Daniel Silva.  He always spends about an hour sharing info about his new book and following is the actual book signing.  It is strictly standing room only, so I am going early to get a seat. I always look forward to Silva's down to earth presentation about his preparation, research, characters, and other wonderful tidbits.

So much about me...how is your week progressing?  I hope it has been as good as mine!

What Keeps You Going?

I have been discipling folks since the late 1970's. My first recollection of ever using anything published by The Navigators was in the late 80's and it was called The 2:7 Series. At one time I had five groups going at the same time, all using different courses. My week was full, but it was amazingly fulfilling and over a few years I saw hundreds go through the course.

One of the basic tenants of the introductory course of The 2:7 Series was to incorporate The Wheel Illustration into one's life. The lordship of Christ, making Christ central in your life, is paramount to going further in your faith walk. If Christ was the center of your life, then there were four spokes that showed the evidence of your Christianity, each of which were vital to the Christian Life.

The four spokes were The Word, Prayer, Witnessing, and Fellowship. The Word and Prayer were depicted on a vertical plane, while Witnessing and Fellowship were shown on a horizontal plane. When all four were operational in one's life, it produces a balanced Christian life. The 2:7 Series would say that those around us see "The Obedient Christian in Action".

The Word is crucial in our daily lives and prayer becomes the overflow of spending time in the Word. Prayer produces power and the result is victorious Christian living. Fellowship is vital because we should always be learning from each other and encouraging those around us. If that element is missing, we become "loners". Witnessing is the natural by-product of a vibrant life in Christ that is attractive to others. You can see how the four fit together and how crippled we become if one is our of sync.

Anyone who has ever gone through, even the introductory course of The 2:7 Series, cannot forget the amazing Wheel Illustration. It is a checklist and evaluation of your Christian life. Now I learned that almost 30 years ago, hasn't the world changed tremendously in the last three decades?

The world has definitely changed in our lifetime, but the spiritual principals remain the same. If a person is not getting into the Word today, they are probably not praying and fellowship/witnessing takes a back seat whenever spiritual nutrition falls by the wayside. The result is a Christian who is out of balance and trying to live to the best of their natural ability.

I guess this post begs the question: "Have you ever made Jesus the Lord of your life?" That is the starting line for the Christian Marathon of Life. Isn't a marathon about 26 miles, 385 yards? It is a long way and so is the Christian life. Many runners "hit the wall" at about the 18 mile marker when every muscle in their body wants to quit. Sometimes that happens to us in life, when we don't think we can take one more step. The Wheel Illustration will keep us going when continuing looks impossible.

Friends Are Paramount to Life

Last week Patti and I visited some dear friends in Naples, Florida. We have known Rob and Charmaine for 15 years, but they moved away from this area almost six years ago.  We have not been able to visit them during this time, mostly because of my work schedule. We finally made it!

Naples must be one of the most beautiful cities in the United States. It lies on the west coast of southern Florida with fluffy white beaches and beautiful gulf waters. It is a real paradise. They say that there are more retired CEO's in Naples, per capita, than anywhere in the nation. I can see why they want to live there! 

ATTENTION: THIS IS NOT INTENDED TO BE A COMMERCIAL FOR THE NAPLES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE...but, if you saw it, you might think otherwise!

While we were in Naples, Patti woke up, on her birthday, with a migraine. That ruined the day for her, but she was up and moving by the evening. Talk about missing one's birthday...Patti did! She made up for it on the beach looking for seashells. Patti thought she had died and gone to "Seashell Heaven".

I am not a fisherman. I never grew up around the water, so the most fishing I ever did as a kid was at a pond.  I went deep-sea fishing once on the morning after our high school graduation. The last time I remember fishing was on a lake outside of Texarkana in 1982-1983. Well, Rob and Charmaine took Patti and I fishing off the coast of Naples.  We do quite well "bait fishing", but never got a strike when we went off a reef for the game fish.  It was mega fun.

I told you the story about our three days in Naples as a lead-in to the subject of Friends. No, not the TV sitcom, but the concept and importance of friendship.  We met Rob and Charmaine when we moved to Tomball. In fact, they took us out to lunch on our first Sunday.  Rob was an elected leader in the church and Charmaine was involved in everything.  They were both natural leaders and as far as I am concerned, being a natural leader is far more important than holding an elected position.

Rob and Charmaine were real people.  They lived in the real world, had real challenges, made real decisions, and were wonderful role models for a number of people.  As we go through the journey of life, if we are fortunate, we will develop friends along the way.  I respected both of these people for eight years, but they also became friends.  I cannot imagine what life would have been like without them.

The other day I went shopping for a novel.  I went into Half Priced Books and as I was browsing around, I saw one of those Mystery Murder Dinner games.  You invite eight guests for dinner and they portray the characters during the evening, including dressing up for the part.  As soon as I saw the game I thought of Rob and Charmaine.  They had one of those dinners and we were invited.  That they did something unique like that always stayed in my mind.  They are two people who just do things like that.

Don't take friendships for granted.  Friendships have to be fostered.  They will grow if you will give them a chance. Some of the friendships that we make in life can remain for a lifetime. They are a gift from God and I think Rob and Charmaine are one of those gifts---not just to us, but to everyone they touch.  Rob seems to be really laid back, but there is more there than meets the eye.  Charmaine seems to be "the life of the party" (the ultimate hostess, the fun person that we all want to be like), but if this is all you see, you will miss the serious-minded,, thought-provoking person who is deep in many different ways.  You can see how they fit together.

I know that Rob and Charmaine will remain our friends for the rest of this earthly experience. We all need relationships like these in our lives.  Take an inventory this week and see where you stand. If the evaluation disappoints you, do something about it. If the end result is satisfactory and you are being honest with yourself, just thank God.

The journey thru life is full of relationships. How full is your life?

Weekend Was Wonderful

It really was a great weekend. I played a round of golf on Friday with Jason, our Student Pastor. He played bogey golf. I, on the other hand, did not do so well, but I learned a lot about why I was doing so poorly. Now I can make some corrections. It was fun being with Jason and playing golf early in the morning.

On the 17th hole we found out that Julie, our worship assistant, was going into the hospital as soon as a room was ready. She finally got a room about 5:00 p.m. So she spent the day in pain waiting for a room. I saw her that evening, but now she is doing much better and hopes to come home tomorrow or the next day.

Saturday our whole family went over to our friend's home--The Krolczyk's. We have known Leroy and Sharon since the 70's when our children were quite young. Jared had not even been born yet. Their daughter and husband, plus four daughters, were home on furlough from Jordan, where they are missionaries. It was great visiting with them. They will be in Texas until September when they will return to the mission field.

On Sunday morning I preached at our church. Pastor Sonny was gone to Israel and three other pastors were on a mission trip to Denver to help plant a church. It was a good day, although attendance was way off. Preached about Abraham on Mt. Moriah with Isaac and used some visuals that worked out well.

Went to lunch at a new hamburger place, called something like Moonya's. Don't know if that spelling is correct or not. They have the best hamburgers. Jared brought the grandchildren over and we had a relaxing afternoon until I went to visit Julie in the hospital again. The rest of the night was good. The kids spent the night with us.

Got up shortly after 6:00 this morning, shaved, and took a shower. Found Kallie awake about 7:00, just laying on her back singing. I changed her, fed her breakfast, and just had her to myself until about 7:50 when I woke Patti up because I had to leave for work. Reid was still asleep when I left, but it was really a great time for Kallie and me.

I hope your day is as good as what I have described.

Journey Into the Unknown

I just saw on television that NASA is gearing up to send astronauts back to the moon sometime about ten years from now. After that it will be beyond the the moon. That part of exploration is the journey into the unknown. We have never been there before. What new challenges will NASA face in going beyond the known? I am sure that they have it all planned out, but it is still the unknown.

Yesterday Tiffany, our daughter-in-law, had her gall bladder removed. It was a simple procedure, but the doctor filled her in on everything he was going to do and all about the recovery period. She came through it with flying colors, just a little sore this morning, but it was still a journey into the unknown. It was he first gall bladder surgery!

I am sitting here in front of the computer at 8:40 a.m. and don't have a clue about what could happen today. Yesterday we had a rail tragedy in Washington D.C., more protesters were killed in Iran, and they tell us that the recession is deeper than expected and the stock market dips 200 points. It is all about a journey into the unknown.

Journeying into the unknown can be a little intimidating. Notice that i did not say fearful. God is not the author of fear. When a person gives their life to Christ and there is a change withn, an about face as it were, the unknown following that is another one of those journeys into the unknown. The new believer does not know what to expect. You can prepare them with insight, but they have never been there before. You can share with them what they need to do to begin the spiritual growth cycle, but it is pretty much greek to them. They need someone to walk with them. We call the process discipleship and we call the mentor the discipler. It is all new, but just remember the unknown factor the next time to come along side a new Christian.

June 21...A Special Day

Tomorrow is the longest day of the year. After Sunday, the days start getting gradually shorter for the next six months. I think there will be about 14 hours of daylight tomorrow. The sun has been rising earlier every morning and setting later each night. Therefore, the days have been getting longer.

But, the first day of summer is not why tomorrow is so important. Tomorrow is Father's Day. The Mathews clan will be meeting at our home for lunch, so it ought to be a great day. I love it when everybody is together. Now we have three dads--myself, Jared, and Steve. As little as three years ago it was just me. How quickly life changes. I am going to really enjoy being with everybody!

But, as good as Sunday will be, Father's Day is not why tomorrow is so important. Tomorrow is our 34th wedding anniversary.

It all officially started on June 21, 1975 the day Patti and I got married. I remember playing golf during the day, getting home mid-afternoon and taking a nap. I almost didn't wake up in time to get ready for the wedding, but I did arrive about the time Patti wanted me there. I remember a "ball and chain" being secured to my leg, so I had to duck walk to the car. I remember hiding out at a retired preacher's home, the drive to Pensacola, where we were surprised again, followed by the honeymoon to Disney World.

A lot has happened in the past 34 years. Would I do some things differently? You bet! Yet, I would do the primary things all over again. I must be one of the most fortunate men alive to have Patti by my side after 34 years. I've got two of the best kids anyone could ever hope for. Today we have a daughter-in-law and a son-in-law, who we deeply love, plus four grandchildren. They are all the most precious people in all the world.

If I had not met Patti in 1974 and married her in 1975, none of this would have happened. There would be no Jared and Miranda. There would be a Tiffany and a Steve, but we would not know them as family. There would not be four adorable children that are our grandchildren.

So, tomorrow when we acknowledge fatherhood in our worship service, when we share lunch with each other, and when it is 8:30 when it starts getting dark...as good as all that will be, I'll be thinking about June 21, 1975 and the effects of that day in 2009!

Cleaning...A Necessity

It is Spring Cleaning Day at our house just a few days before the first day of summer. Patti and I went for a walk after breakfast and then started moving furniture. Baseboards have been cleaned, carpet vacuumed, and upholstery cleaned.

I noticed a rubber band behind the couch, small patches of debris, misplaced miniature toys, and just your normal everyday dirt that you would expect to end up in a vacuum. We have probably not moved furniture like that in a while.

We all need a spiritual Spring Cleaning of sorts. I hope it comes more often than in the Spring though. I was cleaning off my work bench in the garage yesterday and the top back of it was full of cobwebs. Sometimes that happens in our daily lives. "Cobwebs" accumulate around our hearts from a lack of communication with the Father. We live in a fast-paced world and allow it to dictate what we do. As a result, our prayer life becomes stagnant and the "cobwebs" accumulate.

Sometimes we allow debris to accumulate as well. Maybe it is unconfessed sin. It is easy to see, but we ignore it as if it was not there. It breaks our relationship with the Lord and we wonder why we feel so empty. We wonder where the purposefulness went. We wonder why nothing seems to be going our way. Maybe we need a general cleaning and Spring time is never enough. It is a daily cleaning like taking a shower. You wouldn't think of skipping a day bathing our bodies, but we view spiritual cleaning as different.

Well, I've got to get back to helping Patti with this Spring Cleaning thing. I can help her do that, but the spiritual cleaning is a personal thing. I'm the only one that can do that. Think about it!

A Hot Day Can Teach Lessons

Sunday, after church, Jared and I hurried home to change clothes and eat a quick lunch before heading for the golf course. We had a 1:36 tee time and there were some dummies just like us out there.

The light breeze kept it relatively cool until about 4:00 and as one of our playing partners said, "If we didn't think it was hot before, it sure is now!" He was so right. I don't have a clue how hot it got, but it had to be around 97-98 degrees.

We only got to play 12 holes because I had to be back at the church for a program. But, I shot a 47 on the first nine holes. Earlier in the week I shot a 53-53, then a 51-50; and then on Sunday a 47. It is showing some improvement. I hope to shoot a 47-48 this week.

Yesterday's round reminded me a lot about life. We put on sun screen to protect us from the Sun's rays. You would be foolish not to use it. Likewise, it is stupid to try to live life without the armour of God to protect you. We would force fluids about every other hole to keep from getting dehydrated. It kind of reminded me of spending time with the Lord so we don't cave into the problems of the world. We wore golf gloves to keep the club from turning in our hands due to perspiration. It reminded me of listening to good Christian friends who can keep us from turning toward the world.

I hated to leave the course at the end of the 12th hole. It was like the round was not finished. Yet, duty called. There will always be this week. Maybe that is like being appreciative to the Lord for the day He just gave you. You need some sleep, but there is tomorrow...by the grace of God.

The Summer of 2009 Is Special

This has been a special week. Our entire family has been with us for at least part of this past Wednesday-today (Saturday). Yesterday I started off the day with a 6:20 tee time. I played with two other men, who are in the food service industry. They usually play early on Friday because around 11:00 their orders start coming in and it is controlled chaos the rest of the day. I had a good time with them.

One of my life buckets is to break 85 on the golf course. I've been playing since I was twelve, but have not been able to play regularly over the past few decades. I remember one time playing between 85-90, but I've not been back there yet. I'm planning to play with regularity over the next eight weeks and just see if I can do it.

Why do I like golf so much? I think because it is outdoors in a beautiful atmosphere, but most of all...it's just me and God. That's how I felt this week. I'll let you know if I real my goal by the end of the summer.

Yesterday I cooked dinner on the grill. It consisted of 2-3 different kind of steaks and pork chops. Patti did the rest of the meal inside and she did a marvelous job. Everybody liked the food and there is plenty left over for the weekend. No more cooking, I guess, over the weekend.

We ended the day by attending a Cancer fund-raiser at Tiffany's (daughter-in-law) high school. We left there around dusk to get the kids home and to bed. The grandchildren ran all over the football practice field. They had a ball!

My life-long dream has been to retire and play golf several times a week. About six years ago I would drive past Southwyck Golf Club and see the men playing and I think I knew that it was never going to happen for me. I was working at Best Buy at the time and retirement/golf seemed like it was in the next galaxy. I believe I gave up on that dream, which I very seldom ever do, but it is sort of happening this summer. I should get a taste of what it is like. Maybe that will be good enough for me.