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Those of you who have read my blogs before...either here on Bethany's website or Facebook posts...know that the tone of today's political discource is a source of heartache for me.  And, as we head towards November 2012, I sense my fear and tripidation rising.

Running Thoughts: Looking BackAs a runner, I know it is really hard to keep balance by looking back because you are either liable to trip or at least throw off your pace. But I decided today being the last day of the year was a good day to look backwards not run backwards which looks really dangerous. Looking back can be helpful though to know where you've been and what you've learned along the way. As I look back on the runs of 2011(and by the way, I finished my goal of 2011 miles in 2011...whoopee!), there are a couple that stand out as great runs. I qualify great runs when my soul,body, and mind are in tune and our of the run there is contemplation, joy, and refreshment. My best was a bluebird day in June running a lakeshore drive in Minnesota someplace. My lungs didn't quite know what to do with the pure air and my senses were working overtime taking in the smells and sounds and sights of a place alive  with the goodness of God. After a 10 miler, I reluctantly had to stop in order to keep an appointment but I've got that one framed in my mind in my room called 'remember'. Another great run was in a small town in southern Alberta where once again my soul resonated with the wildness of the land and the providing care of my Lord in my life as well as seeing His fingerprints on this community. Some of my runs had some interesting surprises for example coming out of a switchback on a mountain trail and coming face to face with a Bighorn Ram or running a dark trail before sunrise and hearing the howl as well as the scurry of the wolves along the trail as we tried to play tag. They don't play fairly. Or, there was the picture of a hawk making a dive and plucking off a little bird that was getting a drink along the riverbed but the wildest encounter was a morning in which a woman camping along the river pulled a knife on me. Thankfully, I could run faster than her tag!Through these runs, I've had privilege to chew on God's Word as well as rejoice in His goodness and lament the junk that I've seen and experienced. I've also chewed on the 100 books that I've read this year. I enjoy the hard work,creativity, and courage of these authors whose words often are the humus for my soul to breathe and grow. Here's my top ten for 2011 although some of them are re-reads but I'm still recommending them: Generous Justice, Keller; Bonhoeffer, Metaxas, Grace Notes, Yancey; Naked Spirituality,McClaren; Tatoos on the Heart, Boyle; What's So great About Christianity,D'Souza; Letters to a Young Calvinist, Smith; Hunger Games, Collins; Eat this Book, Peterson; Radical,Platt.Looking back helps me to evaluate my goal setting as well as looking ahead. So in 2012, I will try to run 2012 miles along with one marathon. I also look forward to 100 more books. These are measurable but there are certain immeasurable goals that are daily such as to bring glory to God through my life, to bring joy to my spouse and family, and to live a life worth living. I've got a ways to go...Come Lord Jesus!shalom,Pastor Henry

I can't get that headline out of my head. It was a bold headline in the Monday edition of the LA Times dealing with the tragedy in Seal Beach. The headline stated, "I don't know why God makes us suffer'. I hope that this quotation from Msgr. Michael Heher was taken out of context otherwise I would suggest that he go back to the truth of the Bible and begin in the beginning. God is good. He doesn't make suffering happen. Fallen human beings cause enormous amounts of suffering but then because of their own wimpiness, blame it on God. Why is it that we blame God for things that human beings are responsible? I certainly don't understand the mystery of the problem of evil but I do know that a loving God doesn't cause suffering. We may observe that God's will is permissive at times but to call God the author of evil is not the truth revealed in the Word or the Word made flesh, Jesus Christ.I would agree that suffering is real but it also points to God who too suffers when He sees evil personified in tragic ways of abusing His image in other people. Have you ever really read Scripture? Then, you will see a suffering God who loves so much that He is willing to suffer for all. Has anyone ever looked at the cross as an expression of God's suffering? Has anyone ever looked at another human being pressed down in suffering and note that God suffers as well because of His love. You cannot seperate suffering and love. If you truly love, you will suffer and maybe this is what this question is all about. Can God stop tragedies like this? Absolutely! But where do you want Him to start. We all deal with this default mode of depravity and the propensity towards evil. But because of His Love and His forgiveness, we are called to live differently. Suffering will be with us because we caused it. However, God doesn't give up but forgives and calls for His body to give out that gift in response to Christ's willingness to suffer all for us.It is sad to note that whenever something bad happens, people blame God even though they don't really believe in God. Yet when something is good, who thinks about God. We pat each other on the back and claim the credit for it . Please, somebody who has this evil thing all figured out explain to me the problem of good. Where did that come from?In service of a Good and Suffering God I extend to you the shalom that He has offered to me.Henry  

Running Thoughts, October 5,2011My heart is heavy this morning. Louise, my faithful dog companion of 17 years died last night. Even though she was a dog, a Bichon to be specific ,she taught me much about love and loyalty.We got her or rather she got us during a transitional time in our lives as we had moved from a place we called home to a place of strangers in Michigan. Yet, through her faithful love and hospitality, she was an inspiration to keep on. She greeted us with her smile when we came home and when we left patiently waited for our return . If we would be gone for an extended time, she declared a food fast and steadfastly guarded my briefcase till I returned.She was a lover of people. Small or large, stranger or friend, she greeted all with the greatest admiration. She loved to travel. Her nose would take her places where she shouldn't go and at one point she became lost and we had given up hope only to have her rescued and brought back home. She also spent many days on the road with her head out the window taking in new aromas. She also develped an affinity for fishing and served both as a net and a fish cleaner for me.One of her highlights was her daily walk. She had a consecutive streak of years too and some of the walks turned into 4 miles with her little legs trying to keep going. Even a week before her death, she begged me to take her to the park although by this time she could only walk a few steps and I would have to carry her the rest of the way. But she wanted to do it one more time. We miss her terribly. I know she was a dog but to us she was family who lived out the mantra 'the way you invest your love is the way you invest your life!' So long, Louise...you lived well and brought much joy to many lives especially ours.Shalom,Henry

When God was talking to Joshua just before Joshua led the Israelites into the Promised Land, God assured him of his presence and said: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified, do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)