Life Update . . .

Wow . . .quite a bit is going on with the DuSold family!  Here’s an overview to get you up to date and to fuel your prayer support for us.

PREVIOUS ITEMS

1. I did not get the chaplain position.  It was the first time experiencing employment rejection . . . I’m OK . . . all is well!
2. My part-time employment (www.fabrion.net) doing auto interior repairs is awesome!  I have a great employer and the work is a great fit for me.  I love the flexibility and easy going environment, working with my hands, and the challenge of restoring things!

NEW STUFF

1. The man I am working for owns the franchise rights for three counties and he has recently offered to set me up to launch out on my own and develop the business in York.  This generous offer includes providing the materials and tools . . . normally a $12,000.00 expense.  We would appreciate prayer for wisdom regarding this direction as well as prayer for God to provide a vehicle (mini van ideally) that will be used for the business.
2. We launch Anew Gathering (anewgathering.wordpress.com) this Saturday evening at 6:30pm and we have no idea what to expect for attendance.  Elaine and I are so looking forward to developing community with people and seeing where God takes us.  We would appreciate prayer leading up to Saturday night and even during our gathering if some of you feel lead to cover us in that way.

Thanks for all of the love and support you have shown us . . . we appreciate the great relationships God has enriched us with!

Life Update

Life Update

We wanted to bring a few recent updates to our praying friends and family.  Several things have transpired since Monday.

1. Teaching opportunities are not available for Elaine at this time due to certification issues.
2. On Tuesday I will be starting a part-time job in Lancaster doing repairs on automobile interiors.
3. I have an interview on Thursday for another part-time position as the chaplain of a home for adults with neuromuscular disabilities.
4. In September we will be launching a Saturday evening gathering for fellowship and Bible study.

Please pray that God will meet our financial needs and that we can find adequate affordable medical insurance.

Thank you for your ongoing prayer support . . . we truly appreciate it!

Has The Church Made Too Much Church Work?

In a recent conversation with a friend I found myself asking an odd question . . . What does it take to nurture the spiritual maturity of a Christ-follower? I am not so much asking about the subjects or methods as I am about the amount of resources. I began to think about this in the context of my growing sense that the church spends much of its resources on efforts geared toward spiritual growth often at the neglect of its witness for Christ and impact in the community.

This idea of misallocated resources made me think about the common gripe we hear in churchville . . . you know the one . . . “20% of the people do 80% of the work” (Does anyone know where we got this statistic . . . perhaps it’s just part of the evangelical tradition that has come to be accepted as fact . . . sort of like there being three wise men) . . . the “work” referring to the church programs that exist for the church people. I began to wonder . . . if there is any truth to this stat perhaps the problem is not the people but the fact that we have made too much work . . . maybe God doesn’t want us doing all of the infocused ministries we do and has tried to get our attention through the shortage of volunteers. Wondering further . . . what if the supposed uncommitted 80% were wired to respond to causes whose objectives were impossible to accomplish without the presence of God? What if there is a whole mass of Christ-followers who are more interested in outfocused initiatives and are just waiting to be challenged, equipped, and set loose into the community (local and global) with the love of Christ to serve, care, proclaim, and make a difference in the lives of lost people . . . those who haven’t come to the church building yet?

Praying for my Salvation

I started doing some prayer walking in York City . . . asking God to give me a passion for what He wants in a church. As I was driving back home and prayed for God to break me for the needs of others I was met with an admonition to pray a prayer of salvation. I was lead into a time of asking God to save me from myself and all that is in within me which operates against his character and purposes . . . the passions, preferences, and prejudices. I know this is not an emotionally driven one-and-done prayer and by God’s grace it will remain a frequent  cry to him and become part of a surrendered lifestyle.

Just Give Me the Pill

A few nights ago I had an interesting conversation with my son that was triggered by allergies.  Through it God allowed me to have an insight into our current situation.  Elaine had administered some allergy medicine over the last few evenings before bedtime.  We determined that the allergy medicine was not necessary on this particular night in light of cleared nasal passages.  Our decision did not go over all that well and we were informed that a pill was indeed necessary.  After several insistent pleas I introduced the idea of simply asking God for the perceived help that was needed to fall asleep.

At first I was disappointed in the, “that won’t work, just give me the pill” response to my suggestion but then God allowed me to see that what my son articulated was actually in my heart as well.  I realized that I have a lot of “pills” – things I turn to first in order to find relief, direction, comfort, hope, and worth.  I wondered how many times I turned to something other than God; I wondered how many times I have told my heavenly father, “just give me the pill”.

Jeremiah 33:3

“Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”

Preaching to Myself

I recently listened to a message I preached back in the winter entitled, “He is Able”.  In our current faith testing season I needed to be reminded of my own words, the ones I had so passionately communicated to others.  The message text is Hebrews 10:32-11:19.  It is a popular passage that deals with the past faith-acts of individuals who knew God.  The main idea of the message is that although Abraham did not know the DESTINATION (11:8), the TIMING (11:9-10), the MEANS (11:11012), or the PROCESS (11:17-19) in situations he faced God did and was consequently able to accomplish all that concerned Abraham.

I must confess that these things were so much easier to deliver then to receive . . . when I taught them I was speaking from a sure place during a time of certainty.  In the message I used a quote from Charles Spurgeon which has constantly challenged me in the last few weeks.  He said . . . .

“As for His failing you, never dream of it – hate the thought.  The God who has been sufficient until now, should be trusted to the end.”

You can listen to the complete message by clicking HERE.

“Arrested” in McDonalds

We were greatly encouraged by a story we heard while attending a service in NYC this morning. A man in the church talked about a ministry God was developing through him and a book he recently wrote. He honestly shared how he felt very incapable of writing the book although he sensed God was calling him to this task. After acknowledging his inadequacy and inviting the power of God to work through him, God provided some unusual sources of encouragement.
On one occasion he was in McDonalds trying to get the book started. He recalled that after sitting for some time there was still nothing on the page. He then noticed a NYC police officer had sat in the booth next to him and was shooting curious glances his way. After a few moments the officer made her way over to his booth and asked him what he was working on. When he hesitantly shard about the book the officer asked for his hands. He reluctantly placed his hands in the hands of the officer who then proceeded to unleash an incredible prayer of blessing over him. God used this officer to arrest his apprehensions and doubts!
God used this story to encourage Elaine and me as we heard how God called this man to a work and then graciously provided everything needed to accomplish his calling . . . including the initial encouragement to get things started!

Courageous Faith and Cowardly Fear

I have never been in this place before . . . I don’t like it.  The thought of no income or medical insurance in five weeks is staring me down; it feels intimidating.  Theologically, I know God’s character as revealed in the pages of Scripture.  Experientially, I know the goodness and faithfulness of the Lord.  Our past is filled with evidence of God’s grace which has provided far more abundantly beyond all that we asked or thought time and time again.

In spite of this knowledge It is still a struggle in the emotions as they vacillate between courageous faith and cowardly fear!  I have recently taken particular encouragement in the Psalms as I encountered the “journal entries” of others who have worked their way through the exhausting tension between facts and feelings.

I Feel Like a Dandelion

For those not up on their botanical facts, here’s a review of the eight basic stages in the life-cycle of a dandelion:

1. The seed begins to germinate and sprout
2. The seed sprouts roots, a stem, and leaves
3. A bud forms on the stem
4. The bud blooms into a cluster of small yellow flowers
5. After about a week the yellow flowers get ready to release their seeds
6. The flower becomes a puffy ball of seeds attached to white “helicopters”
7. When blown by the wind the “helicopter” takes flight carrying the seed
8. The seed lands in soil and the cycle begins again.

As I consider my current situation I can sort of relate.  Up to this point in my ministry journey I have been securely attached to the work of another man through my role as an assistant pastor.  While I have had the opportunity to lead various ministry areas I have always been one flower in the cluster.

I currently feel like we are entering into the “take flight” stage . . . the sovereign wind of God has dislodged us from our secure place and is carrying us along to be planted in fertile soil so that we may bear fruit for his glory.