Blogs

Speaking words of encouragement allows you to call out what you see in them. Many people have gifts and talents that they know nothing about. These hidden abilities need to be exposed.

God built gifts into the people around you that were designed to change the world. You have the unique opportunity to call out this amazing gifting. Like a baseball scout watching a high school game looking for future talent, you can see things in the people who are in your life that others cannot.

Sixteen years later, still running! After all these years, each day I get up, sit with My LORD, and then go for a run. It is closing on 6000 consecutive days running. I confess that the streak drives me more than I drive the streak. Why do it? Sixteen years ago I was involved in a transition moving from California to Michigan to pursue the honor of a degree. There are many times when I wonder about this pursuit as my soul has never fully healed.  But I try to continue in the ministry of being a wounded healer.Back to the streak! I had been running since college days and enjoyed 4 days a week out on the road. When we moved to California, it became a necessity as we had only one vehicle so I ran home from school-5 miles as the crow flies which led me through pomegranate and walnut groves. I gradually increased the miles to 1000 miles per year but realized that this was just a foothill. So I started marathoning eventually garnering a PR of 2:59 in Sacramento in 1991 which led to running Boston in 1992. But this again was just a foothill to the streak.We moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1994 and after an arduous trip, I was grumpy. On Tuesday, June 8, I recall my prayer- Lord, I don't like where I am. I know that you are the great I AM and i am not so here's the deal- you give me the strength to get me through this and I'll run every day till you stop me. Although the seminary experience was a desert, the running kept my sanity and revived my soul. The Michigan countryside was an oasis coming from Visalia's flatness. I could run trails for 50 miles and the start was at my back door. It was not hard to find 7 different 5 mile loops past a lake or stream or through a forest, or down quaint streets. The Fall was resplendent with its colors and smells. Even the winters were not so bad. Keep your head, hands, and feet warm and be careful on the ice and you're all set. Spring was more difficult because of its flirting nature which would disappoint. Yet it was during this season that the drive to run peaked as annually the Kent River Bank Run was held in May to kindle the spirits of those despairing of winter. I was able to run it 9 times with a PR of 1:45 over the 15.5 mile run. There were other enjoyable runs including a lung burner and calf screamer in Saugatuck over 9 miles and much of it on sand dunes but I even medaled a couple times. We eventually moved to Zeeland just 20 minutes away and I found a couple great runs. One run brought me through a nature reserve which gave me treats of seeing deer, fox, and plenty of birds. I enjoyed the Sabbath run which was around 4 lakes and included much wildlife. I also enjoyed a drive out to the dunes or to the Holland Beach and run the trail along the lake to Grand Haven. I had different names for the runs-The Lament Loop, The Anger Management Run, The Meditation Trail, The Wild Goose Chase, Creations Cruise, The screaming Six, The Rooster run which was a 15 miler through woods running trails.There were challenges like the weather or traveling. I can recall some 2:30 AM 'get er' done runs in order to catch a plane. Sickness brought its unique challenges as well as  some injuries. One January morning I slipped and tore my meniscus which led to a specialist who recommended surgery but I pleaded 'let me run it off'. While riding a motorcycle, I was run over and again the doctor advised me to rest but I pleaded,' running is the best therapy'. So after a 12 mile run, there was no pain. There were plenty of sprains, strains, dislocated toes, a tweaked back but it has not stopped the streak. Post marathon days are a joke as I stagger my 3 miles.Since moving west, the running is rather boring. However, I have been able to do a yearly Mammoth trip which has always been a running junkie's paradise. Other memorable runs occurred on beautiful trails in Vermont and Oregon, as well as running the trails of Southern Utah or the Colorado mountains.Thanks To Grace for giving me permission and washing the clothes. Thanks be to God for this daily adventure running with Him.Some streak trivia: 27 thousand miles, 24 pairs of shoes, 15 marathons (plus a dozen half-marathons). I'm getting tired!Running Thoughts,Pastor Henry

Last Saturday, 69 Bethany friends spent half of the day serving others. We painted a trailer for a friend whose trailer needed some sprucing up. We cleared a yard whose owner had been unable to work on it (almost 2 tons of green waste was hauled away!). We put up some drywall and did some painting at Kingdom Causes' new community center (helping get it ready for them to move in later this week). We did some roofing work at a home that is being rehabbed for a low income family. And we threw a block party that allowed a neighborhood to get to know each other.

Over the past couple of years, Bethany Church has done something called "Servant Saturday" about 3 times a year. We've done projects like park clean-ups, painting at a men's rehab center, work at Mexican orphanage, a garage sale where clothes sold for a quarter and TV cabinets went for 5 dollars, and a trailer park rehab. It's been a wonderful way to get out into the community and be the church in action.

Going through situations like my daughter’s leukemia causes you to think. You ask questions like “Why?” Sarah is 4 years old…why does she have to get this potentially fatal disease? As a father, I want to bargain with God to change the circumstances. It doesn’t cause me to doubt God or His goodness but, nonetheless, it does cause the question: “why?”