Just Between You, Me, & God 8/2/2012

Throughout different stages of our lives there are people that come along and influence us in what we think, how we act, and how we relate to others. I’ve had many in my life. There was a Sunday School teacher when I was in the first or second grade, Mrs. Nelson, who taught me that no matter how old you are you can relate to and have fun with children and age is not a barrier to learning. There was my Boy Scout leader, Mr. Charlie Johnson, who taught me that we are all good a different things and that when we work together we are stronger than when we stand alone. My first real job bosses were Jack and Peggy Waldie who taught me to take pride in my work no matter what I was doing, that others depended on me and what I did, and that hard work was not just what you did when others were watching. There were others including family members, peers, clergy, and different parents. Often we grow up and feel like we know it all, that we no longer need guidance or influence by others but that’s just not true. We are constantly influenced by others every day. Why do you drive the car you do or wear the clothes you do? Because an advertiser influenced you by the way they presented the product. In my adult years, which are now more than the years of my youth, there has been an individual that has been a beacon to me, drawing me in to my relationship with Christ through his relationship with Christ. David Bleakley, known to most as Daddy Dave, has been that influence in my life. His kind and gentle spirit has helped to sand down some of the sharp edges and burrs in my life. His desire to share Jesus with others through multiple ministries has helped to lead me into ministry. His faith and hope in the promises of Jesus Christ has given me peace and comfort at the loss of loved ones and during different trials in my life. His passion to help others and to share God’s love with them has encouraged me to serve the Lord by serving others. His love for family and the willingness to turn things over to God and His control has caused me to make amends and to rely on God’s will and plan and not my own desires. Daddy Dave’s life has not been perfect nor has it been without tragedy, hardship, and heartache, but it has not been his alone. He walks closely with his Lord, stays in His Word, and humbles himself to the authority of God in all situations. I hope that you have just such a mentor in your life that will lead you to the Lord through their thoughts, words, and deeds. Thank you Daddy Dave for loving Jesus and loving me, forever and ever. Pastor Dean 1 Corinthians 13:1-13.

Pastor Dean Hanssen is the Ministries & Outreach Pastor for LHF.

On the Trail: the Eagle Scout turns 100

5th grade had just started and I was in good spirits I got to Mr. Gattis's class for Science.  In the fall of that year, my mother helped start a Cub Scout den at my elementary school with the help of  areal-life Air  Force officer named Robert.  As the leaves began to turn there colors all around my hometown I was asked by Mr. Gattis: Did I want to be an Eagle Scout?  An Eagle Scout? What was that, a Scout that flew like eagles high overhead?  I decided that year to that one day I would be this Eagle Scout and it took me another eight years to reach this goal. 

Today is the 100th anniversary of the first Eagle Scout Award given in the USA to a young man by the name of Arthur Eldred.  2,151,024 Scouts (and counting) have followed in his footsteps since it was first awarded in 1912.  These young men have blossomed into the leaders of today and the future. These include Mike Rowe, star of "Dirty Jobs" on the Discovery Channel, Gerald Ford - U.S. President, and Steven Spielberg - movie director and producer, from Scottsdale, AZ, who made a movie of his troop while getting one of the first ever-awarded Photography Merit Badges.  See a more detailed list here.

I am thankful to the Lord for the chance at being a Scout and for all those who poured into my life that made this happen.  No Eagle flies solo; there are many others who provide the winds for this flight.

Congratulations to all Scouts--past, present, and future--who have reached the highest acheivement of Eagle, making them among the top 4% of Scouts everywhere. Please pray for these young men who are honing precious leadership skills (even if they don't actually attain Eagle), and for those who lead and guide them on their way.

And thank you, Mom, and Mr. Gattis, for putting me on a path that made me who I am today.

For more informatin about the Boy Scouts of America, click here.

Erin McGinnis is the Media Arts and Services Coordinator for LHF. He is married to a one-year Brownie (Girl Scouts), and together they have...a cheerleader.

Just Between You, Me, & God 5/21/2012

When I was a young man I loved Boy Scout camp. There were so many activities, swimming, archery, rifle range, fishing, hiking, and of course canoeing. There was always one kid in the canoe that loved to grab both sides and start to move back and forth, rocking the boat until it was near capsizing. I would have preferred a smooth ride across a mirror like lake, but that was not to be. Eventually even he got tired of the excitement and we would finish our journey with unsettled nerves and contempt for the one that caused us distress. It’s been a long time since I’ve been in a canoe but that guy must still be around because from time to time my boat still gets rocked. All I want is a smooth ride to the other side and a safe landing on the other shore but it seems like just as I get out in the middle a storm comes up and rocks my boat, often to the point of capsizing. What rocks your boat? Is it that unexpected bill, a confrontation you’ve tried to avoid at work or home, or an overloaded schedule? Rock, rock, back and forth. Perhaps it’s the job you’ve been looking for that just hasn’t surfaced yet, or the unexpected phone call about the death of a loved one, or maybe it’s the sinking feeling of dealing with an addiction that’s pouring water over the sides and swamping your life with fear and despair? Let’s go back 2000 years and add some high winds, lightning, and white capped waves. Climb on in the boat with some veteran oarsmen as they fight a sudden, furious storm. Rowing and bailing to no avail, their passenger, Jesus, is sound asleep in the front of the boat. I’ve been in the front of a boat going across heavy waves and it’s a jaw jarring event, but Jesus was tired, He was sleeping despite the apparent futility of the disciples to overcome the storm. Matt. 8:25-27, “The disciples went and woke him, saying “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and waves obey Him?” Did you see that, with a word, “it was completely calm.”? Do you have enough faith to trust Jesus to get you through your storms, is He even in the boat with you or did you leave Him on the shore? If the winds and the waves obey without question, shouldn’t we? Prov.3:5, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” Pastor Dean

Pastor Dean Hanssen is the Ministries & Outreach Pastor for LHF.