It is estimated that 50 to 80% of those with Parkinson’s will develop Parkinson’s Dementia, and that it will begin about 10 years after the beginning of Parkinson’s. That gives me 4 or 5 more years possibly of clear thinking. That would certainly have an impact on the quality of my preaching to the point that I would have to give that up. I am motivated by a good fight so I am going to fight real hard to win this battle. My strategy is to memorize the Bible for at least 30 minutes every day, and I am going to jump it up to 45 minutes and then to an hour each day by the end of 2015. The mental discipline and exercise of memorizing will keep my brain sharp and healthy and the power of God’s Word will not only heal my mind but develop my character and heart to be like God’s. I am using an app for my IPhone and IPad called Scripture Typer that has been very effective and motivational. Another thing about it that I like is that of the 70,000 or so people who use this app that the top 2500 are ranked in order as they earn points for verses memorized and for the number of times that the verses are reviewed correctly. I am currently in 450th place and working hard to get in first place though the person who is in first place has over 9,000 verses memorized to my 365 verses. I totally trust the Lord with my life, but that doesn’t mean I will sit around and do nothing.

I drove to Portland today for a lunch meeting to talk about a prayer event next year in Portland for world missions. Yesterday, knowing that I was going to have two hours by myself as I drove to Portland to think and reflect I came up with a couple of questions to ask myself to facilitate self examination and honest inspection of my character and motives. There were two recent events where I shared some information about myself that made me look good. The question that I asked myself was why did I do that? I was thinking at the time that I was attempting to be a model and encouragement to those I was sharing with. 1 Peter 5 says, “proving to be examples to the flock”. I really take that role of Pastoring seriously, but could it be that my pride snuck in there and I was being motivated by my desire to be admired and well thought of, being a people pleaser to receive praise from men. I memorized and meditated on Matthew 6:1, “beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them, otherwise you have no reward from your Father who is in heaven”. My conclusion after thinking about it was that the more spontaneous my “boasting” was the less apt the motive was pure, and information that I shared having thought about it and having crafted the wording prayerfully in my mind and on paper so as to be a good example of right living to others was usually from a pure heart and therefore would be blessed and used by God. As I reflected I was again impressed with how thin a line there is between right and good motives and those driven by pride and desire to recieve glory from men. Doing all the right things for all the wrong reasons is so easy. Another verse that I memorized and pray daily is Psalms 26:2, “Examine me, O Lord, and try me; Test my mind and my heart,” and also Psalms 139:23-24, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there be some hurtful or wrong way in me”. I believe God will answer that prayer.

I have a gopher making a mess in my front yard. I wonder, are golfers part of “The Curse” brought on by Adam and Eve eating the forbidden fruit? When Jesus sets up His kingdom on the planet earth will there still be gophers? Golphers are my enemies and I take on the role of “The Sniper” in my war against them. I gas them with sulphur, trap them with the special, never fail “gophernator” trap, I wait patiently for a small movement before I blow them away with my 12 gauge shotgun. I will win! I will conquor! No stupid little rodent is going to get the best of me!! I think golphers are the physical manifestation of demons! I am going to send them all to the “Lake of Fire” reserved for the devil and his demons!

Monday’s are typically the day I take off from Pastor stuff and stay home and do things around here. I finished the upstairs bedroom that is going to be Courage’s room. Sherri and Patty did all the painting and I put the flooring down and did all the trim and finish work. Turned out pretty good. Shot my bow some with my son Sam who also helped on the finish work in the bedroom project. I need to do a bunch of shooting with my bow before hunting season this Fall. Worked some on my aquaponic project as well. That is always fun. I took a break about every 30 minutes and sat in my chair and read, drank coffee, and took several short naps. On days like today I work hard at reflecting and thinking about my life and thanking God repeatedly for all His blessings to me and I also confess any sin or mess up that I can remember, and I also think about areas in my character that need work. A very relaxing, refreshing, fill up my gas tank kind of day. I am ready for a good day tomorrow bearing fruit and making a difference in people’s lives.

We had a Bunko party tonight at JBC, and we had about 50 show up with lots of snacks. Bunko is a great game if you just want to fellowship and have a good time getting to know people, and did I mention lots of snacks? Fellowship is a great word and a very central word to the church being what it is supposed to be in God’s eyes. To fellowship basically means to experience great joy from others because of the quality of the relationship. The Bible has a collection of “one anothering” commands that make the quality of any relationship very high. “Be kind to one another”, “be tender hearted toward one another”, “forgive one another”, “love one another”, “accept one another”, “serve one another”, “meet one another’s needs”, “don’t judge one another”, “comfort one another”, “encourage one another”, and “pray for one another”. Wow, that would be a great relationship and would bring super joy to all involved in a fellowship like that. That is the goal of JBC.

Every year for 37 years I have taught a “Men’s Leadership Class”. It starts in September and ends towards the end of May. We meet every Saturday night for one hour from 5:30 to about 6:30 pm. I teach principles on how the men in the class can be leaders in their families, at work, and in our church. I have a lecture each week, the men read 50 pages in assigned books, they listen to sermons on their smart phones, they write personal goals, and do other assignments. The goal that I have for the men each year is that they would lead their families well as the spiritual leader, that they would take over leadership of ministries in the church that already exist or that they would start, and that they would be a bright light of influence in their neighborhoods and at their work places and attract people to faith in Christ. At the end of the 9 month class each man preaches a 10 to 15 minute sermon at one of our services. Tonight 4 of this years class preached and tomorrow the rest of the guys will preach. The guys tonight did incredibly well. It is so encouraging to see and hear men who are sold out for Jesus and willing to pay a price to serve him. I am looking forward to tomorrow with great anticipation. As a pastor my greatest sense of accomplishment comes from teaching this class each year.

Got to talking with my son Seth and son in law Thomas tonight as we watched the Warriors beat the Grizzlies in NBA Playoff basketball about “End Times”. I said I believed that Christians would be raptured by Jesus and taken to heaven before the Tribulation started which will last for 7 years and than Jesus will come back and us with Him and set up His Kingdom on the earth. Jesus will be King of the whole world and we will rule with Him. What started the discussion was talk about present conditions in the world which seem to be getting worse by the day. I said that it is going to continue to get worse and worse until Jesus is King and that the Tribulation described in the book of Revelation is literal and makes today look super good by comparison. I said I don’t know when but at the present rate of decline it can’t be to far away. My guess is that the rapture will happen on my 80th birthday. 😄I will plan on it and that means 13 more years to work for Jesus. It is going to be so cool to hear the Trumpet of the Lord and then His voice saying loudly to me, “Come up here”!

Many times in life you will see people in need and are drawn to help them. Sometimes it is pretty simple and the help needed is small, and other times there is a significant sacrifice needed on your part if you get involved to help. My brothers and I spent Monday building a deck for my Mom, and though we took the time to help her it really turned out to be a fun time that wasn’t really any sacrifice to speak of. Then there are those situations that you wish you could do something but there really isn’t anything you can do. Those are the times that I help by devoting time to praying that God will bless and work and make His presence felt powerfully. My associate pastor Mike Dedera’s Dad is not doing well and is probably close to death. I remember when my Dad was there. I wish it were possible to drain off some of the pain and carry it for Mike and the family but there is not. I sincerely believe in God and that He answers prayer that is prayed in His will. God will always give peace and strength and joy when we ask for it, and most definitely God loves it when we carry someone else’s burden in prayer, and He will give peace and strength and joy to those I pray for. I believe that with all my heart.

Went to a Urologist at OHSU today. They ran a bunch of tests on my bladder. He had mentioned earlier a number of different surgeries that were possibilities so that my bladder would function correctly again. The tests were for the purpose of giving information so we could decide which of the surgeries were the best for my situation. After the tests we had our little conference and bottom line was there nothing that would fix my bladder. It was dead and there was no hope of resurrection! I was going to have to continue to catherderize myself three times a day until Jesus came back. I was depressed most of the car ride back home as Patty drove. By the time we got back I was good again. It was a major bother but there are so many people in way worse situations than I am. My own son-in-law who is stuck in a wheelchair. So I decided to rejoice and be happy and set my mind on heaven even more then I have been doing. The upside is that I can go pee when I want to, you all have to go when the urge hits you.

I periodically get really tired and have thoughts that it sure would be nice to retire and take it easy. As soon as those thoughts pop into my head, I pray, “Lord, would You give us 2020 people coming each weekend by the end of the year 2020. Lord, Your desire is that none perish so please use me and our church to reach lost people and to make disciples. O Lord, please give me increase and bless the work of my hands. By focusing on the need and the vision expressed in a clear goal I get motivated and passionate about working and doing whatever it will take to accomplish the goal. I pray, “Lord, I can’t do this in my own strength, would You fill me with Your Spirit, please and give me the strength to do all I need to do to be a growing church. Give the wisdom to know what to do and say in every situation You Sovereignly put me in.