Monday at Cannon Beach

A few random thoughts . . .

*If you go to Red Robin in Portland, you should order a hamburger, not clam chowder. So says Program Manager Janet Kerns who told me they have much better clam chowder in Cannon Beach. She’s right.

*Clay Crosse is awesome. Terrific guy, wonderful talent, great heart for God. He really brought it tonight when he sang “I Bowed My Knee and Cried Holy.”

*My friend Tim Klerekoper has been showing me all the whiz-bang things his iPad can do. Amazing stuff. Makes me think I need an iPad. 

*Tim’s wife Jan is our pianist and she has a gift for playing a postlude based on something I say at the end of my sermon. This morning I quoted the Shaker hymn that begins “’Tis a gift to be simple, ’Tis a gift to be free,” and so she played “Lord of the Dance.” Tonight after I gave a message on the gospel, she played “Wonderful Grace of Jesus.”

*Talked to Tim Wildmon who phoned to say that it was 93 degrees in Tupelo. I think we barely hit 70 in Cannon Beach. 

*Congrats to Bob and Jean Boerman who had their farewell party last night, wrapping up 22 years of ministry at Calvary Memorial Church in Oak Park, IL. Wish I could have been there to celebrate, glad they showed the video I made, which was in fact the first and only video I’ve ever made. 

*I’ve been preaching a series from Galatians this week called “Truth on Fire.” So far I’ve given five messages with six more to go. I start each message by reminding everyone that Galatians is all about getting the gospel right. Then I say, “When we are wrong about the gospel, two terrible things happen: 1. Sinners are not saved, and 2. God is not glorified.” Got that from my friend Buddy Gray.

*Last night I began my introduction with this sentence. “Let’s talk about circumcision.” Hard to beat that for an opening line.

*I also drew a circle in the air and said, “What’s this?” All my Word of Life BI students know the answer: “Asia Minor.” What else could it be?

*This week I’m reading Tullian Tchividjian’s excellent book on Jonah called Surprised by Grace in preparation for messages I plan to give next month at Pinebrook and Word of Life.

*Cannon Beach gathers all the platform personnel for a get-acquainted party after the Sunday night service. The beautiful spread included huge tortilla chips with black dots on them. Turns out they were made of flax seed. Very tasty–and healthy too.

*Check out this powerful video in which singer Andrea Bocelli tells a “little story” about abortion. 

*For the last month I’ve been going through Ephesians in my quiet time. I just read a little bit each day and think about it. Profoundly stretching to the soul to ponder Paul’s cosmic vision of the church in God’s plan.  

*Speaking of God’s plan, after preaching on “Four Cracked Pots” last week in Colorado Springs, it hit me with great force that God is more gracious than I am. He saves people I wouldn’t save if I were God. And he blesses people I wouldn’t bless. Which is why he’s God and I’m not, a fact I’m happy to affirm every day.  

*Have you ever given thanks for Elvina Hall? I did this evening. In 1865 she wrote the words to the wonderful gospel song Jesus Paid It All, which we sang to close the service tonight. This verse always touches my soul:

For nothing good have I
Whereby Thy grace to claim,
I’ll wash my garments white
In the blood of Calv’ry’s Lamb.

*We’ve had a wonderful spirit in all the services this week. Can’t wait to see what the Lord has in store for us tomorrow.