Car-Jacked at Camp

"And My God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19)

He just doesn't always tell you how He is going to do it.


For example, this past week, my wife, Jackie and I were at Pineywoods Camp in Woodlake, TX for a week of Power Plus Youth Camp. I was serving as a shepherd (Bible teacher) for 12th graders and Jackie was serving as camp nurse. In our nine years at Power Plus Camp, we have developed a great relationship with the camp manager, Eric Small and his staff, as well as with the leader of Power Plus Ministries, Steve Boyd.

I had replaced a rear tire a year ago, and I had just replaced my front tires on my Mustang about two months ago. I thought my right rear tire was OK but last week realized that it, too, was in desperate need of replacement. Unfortunately, we didn't have the expendable monies to buy a new tire. We were going to drive Jackie's car instead of mine to camp, but our daughter needed to borrow one of our cars. So I decided we could make the trip in my Mustang, so that our daughter could have Jackie's car.

I had preached at a church on the Sunday before leaving for camp, and was to receive an honorarium from them. I planned to use it to replace the tire before we left for camp on Monday morning, but they were going to mail me the check. So, we packed the car and headed to Pineywoods on a wing and a prayer. I just knew I would be changing a tire sometime on this trip. Yet, we arrived at camp, safe and sound. We parked the car along in front of the medical station for the week. We didn't tell anyone about the tire situation, so what happened next came as a real surprise.

On Thursday morning as I was returning to our rooom from the morning worship, I saw my Mustang on jacks. Someone had taken the rear right tire. I couldn't believe it. It couldn't have been thieves, because they took worse tire of the lot. I had an idea who the "tire angels" were that jacked with my car, but it was a shock to see my car on jacks.

A couple hours later, Jackie caught on camera, the "tire angels" as they returned to the scene of the crime. It was Eric Small, the camp manager, and members of his staff, Steve, Will, Banjo and Joe who replaced the tire on my car. When I confronted them, they simply said, "It was just our way of letting you know we love you and we wanted to do something for you and Jackie to bless you." They would not let me pay them back, it was their gift to me and Jackie.

What a blessing that was to Jackie and me. It reminded us afresh and anew that God will go to extremes to show you and me that He will take care of you if we would just trust Him.

Thanks again, Eric, Will, Steve, Banjo and Joe for "Living to Serve and Serving to Live."

Lessons Learned from T-Ball

Imagine this poignant moment in sports. The baseball team dressed in their brand new uniforms are seated in the dugout, just before their first game. All eyes are on me, the coach. I'm reminding them of the importance of being focused on the doing the things we have practiced. When a hand goes up and one of the players asks, "Coach Ellis, when do we get refreshments?"

That's one of the joys of coaching a T-Ball team. T-Ball is an introductory level of baseball for five and six year old children. It' all about instruction and having fun. Teaching the kids the basics of baseball is the goal, but I've learned a few things, myself, being the coach of the "Gladewater A's." Things that are important in life and our faith.

1. Focus on the Basics...We don't talk baseball strategy or philosophy in T-Ball, we deal with the basics of baseball: throwing, catching, hitting and running. Five and six year olds can't turn double plays or hit to the opposite field. They have to learn "how to do" the basics before they can attempt advanced baseball stuff. For example, you must keep your eyes open, if you hope to catch the ball. Simple, but important. The same is true in your Christian life. You can't develop in our faith, if we don't read our Bible, attend worship, pray, serve others or share our faith. Those are basics that provide the foundation of our faith throughout our lives.

2. Don't Assume Others Understand what you are Talking About... In our first practice, I was letting the kids hit off the "Tee," and run the bases. Some of my players didn't know where to go when I told them, "Run to First Base." Even basic baseball terminology like "dugout," "shortstop", and "right field,is like a foreign language to them. As coaches, we have to be patient, specific and often show them what we want them to do. The same is true when we share Christ with others. Words like "saved," "Christian," and "redeemed" are familiar words to mature Christians, but for many who have no church background, they are roadblocks to understanding the gospel. So we must learn to be patient, communicate on their level and be more demonstrative in our witness for Christ. With T-Ballers, its "Show and Tell," you show them how and then explain it. Isn't that what sharing Christ with others is all about?

3. Live in the Moment... Five and six year olds don't have very long attention spans. They live in the moment. They don't think about championships at the end of the season. They think about sno-cones at the end of the game. They are not worried about being down by 7 runs, they just want to know when they bat next. Sometimes, your left fielder is watching an airplane fly overhead, as the ball rolls by his feet. Sometimes they forget to run, because they are waving at Mom and Dad. It isn't a priority to one of them that he is on third base and about to score a run, when he has to go to the bathroom, right NOW. T-Ballers live in the moment. In life, sometimes we forget to live in the moment. We so often get so caught up in "winning the game" that loose sight of just enjoying the experience. Even, as Christians we become so preoccupied with pursuing even our spiritual goals, that we miss enjoying what God is doing around us and in the lives of others.

My team of five and six year olds are learning a little about baseball, but their "old coach" is learning a few things from them. The next time, my center fielder is picking flowers off the clover in the outfield instead of chasing after the ball, I'll try not to get frustrated. Because he is picking those flowers to give to his mom. And when you think about it, which is REALLY more important?

Our "Children in the Faith"

During the Christmas holidays, I discovered "Facebook." I know some of you are thinking "Where have you been?" Unfortunately, I have been slow to embrace the internet world of the computer generation. "Facebook" has been a blessing on several levels. It's allowed me to re-connect with friends from high school and college days. I've caught up with former staff members and their families. But the greatest joy of my newest discovery is the opportunity to reconnect with some of my "children in the faith."

The apostle Paul referred to Timothy as his son in the faith. (1 Timothy 1:2) Though he was not a biological child of his, Paul was like a father to Timothy, as he served as his mentor in the faith.

In my 30 years of pastoral ministry and the 10 years of youth ministry prior to that I have been privileged to lead many to faith in Christ and have been privileged to help them grow in their relationship with God. They have been my "children in the faith."Over the years, as they have moved on to other places or when God moved me to another assignment, we would become disconnected. I would often wonder where some of my "children in the faith" were and how they were doing. You can't imagine the joy when I got the email saying "Alison and John _______ have requested to be your friend on "Facebook." It had be almost 15 years since we have seen or heard from them.

Alison and John were a young newly married couple from the Northeast. John was in the Air Force and was stationed at Barksdale Air Force Base in Bossier City, LA where I pastored. I had the privilege to be their pastor during their short stay in Bossier City. They were such a blessing to me and my wife, they weren't much older than our children, so we saw them as our kids. We spent some wonderful times together. I baptized them and watched them grow. Then they were gone. The Air Force gave John another assignment and we lost touch. Until Facebook...."Yes, it's really me!" was Alison entry on the email. She found us...and we have found her and John. They are happily married, with 3 children of their own. Alison is a professional photographer and John has a great job as well. They live in New Hampshire. But more importantly, they are still faithful followers of Christ continuing what began many years ago. God is now using them to touch lives where they live and work. Nothing brings greater joy to my heart.

As I am in the autumn of my life and ministry, it is great to see that God occasionally allows us to see the fruit of our labors. Alison and John are "my children in the faith," and they are continuing to pass the faith in Christ along to their children and to others that I will never meet. It is just a reminder that my job is to faithfully serve the Lord, and leave the results up to Him. But it sure is neat to see the faces of your "kids" on your "Facebook," and know that God is still at work.

For the Sake of Your Family

As a husband and father, I realize that I have been entrusted with a great responsibility for providing for and protecting my family. Most men carry that same burden. We work hard at our occupation to provide shelter, food, and medical coverage for our families. We sacrifice to ensure that our children get the best opportunities for their education. We strive to ensure their safety by living in safe neighborhoods, purchasing safer vehicles and security systems for our homes. But to what extremes are we willing to go to save our families.

If the house on fire, most men would try to get their wives and children to safety. If an intruder was to threaten their family, most men would risk their lives to protect them. To what extreme would you go as a man to save your family?

The Bible tells us of a man named Noah. You remember him the guy with the Ark. There is more to this man than the guy who built a big boat to save a bunch of animals. Noah went to great extremes to save his family. In Hebrews 11:6, Noah life's is summarized this way...

"By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family."

The times in which Noah lived were so evil that God regretted ever making mankind to begin with. They had consistently turned their thoughts toward evil and their wickedness was so perverse and evil that God decided to destroy all living things and start over. That is where we are introduced to Noah in Genesis chapter 6.

Noah was a man of Peerless Character.
Genesis 6:8-9 tells us that Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord because he was the only man who was righteous, blameless among the people of his time and he walked with God. Noah countered the culture of his day. He was not a chameleon who conforms to the environment around him. He was unique. He was God's man among a godless generation. His relationship with God set him apart from all others. He was that kind of man before there ever was an ark. Because Noah was that kind of man, it saved his family.

Noah was a man who Precisely Obeyed God.
God told Noah that He was going to destroy the earth with a flood. He assigned Noah the task of building the ark. The place of refuge for Noah, his family and the animals necessary to be the "new beginning for the earth." God gave specific instructions to Noah. He provided details about the ark's dimensions and instructions for gathering the animals. The Bible tells us that Noah did everything just as God commanded him. (Genesis 6:22) That was no small task considering that ark wouldn't fit on a football field and stood as tall as a 5 story building. Remember there were no power tools, cranes or Home Depots during those days to assist him. But Noah did it all just like God told him to because it would save his family.

Noah also, was a man who Persevered by Faith
It took 100 years for Noah to build the ark. He experienced ridicule and insults. The task was daunting and laborious. Once the ark was completed and the animals gathered, the Lord instructed Noah and his family to enter the ark. God sealed the door shut and it started to rain. The rain came and floods came up. As evil mankind called out for rescue, there were none who survived except those in the ark; Noah, his family and the animals. They were on that ark for a year until the waters receded. When they finally exited the ark, they praised God for saving them. The journey of faith was difficult and scary, but by faith, Noah persevered. He persevered because he walked with God, each step of the way.

Noah was able to save his family because he was walked with God. His walk with God gave him the confidence to trust God's word even when it appeared ridiculous. As a result of being obedient to God's word, he built the ark and his family was saved. Noah is the example for all husbands and fathers who want to save their families in today's world.