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Morning Devotional...




In the memories that come with a parent's passing, I've been reminded of what my dad taught those of us who lived and worked with him.

In many ways, Dad didn't have an easy life. Long before his problems with a detached retina, heart surgery, and Parkinson's disease, he lived in the shadow of his own father's colorful and commanding personality. While most people knew Dad as a strong-voiced, caring, and faithful teacher of the Bible, those of us who were close to him know that along the way Dad also wrestled with serious and deep questions about his own abilities and self-worth.

Looking back, I'm beginning to realize how much he taught us not only by his strengths but also by the way he responded to his weaknesses. I know my three brothers would agree that Dad showed us how to:

• 1. Admit when we are wrong. We all remember Dad's willingness to admit his faults. I'm not sure why that seems important enough to mention first. It could be that I've heard my wife Di talk about how that quality impressed her. When visiting in our home before we were married, she saw Dad come to the dinner table and, before sitting down, apologize to the family for his irritability toward Mom. Or, maybe I just can't think of anything that continues to be more necessary for me than to admit my own wrongs.

• 2. Don't try to be someone else. Dad knew what it was like to be compared to his gifted and much-loved father. Some told him he didn't have what it would take to lead the ministry his father founded. The comparisons were hard on him. But over time he used the experience to show us how to be the person God made us to be. And as a result of what he found in the trenches of his own battle for self-respect, he gave the rest of us the freedom we needed to be ourselves as well.

• 3. Think small while dreaming big. Dad showed us the importance of being honest in little things. He'd go back to a restaurant to return change if he found he'd been given too much at the cash register. What others called "white lies" were big issues to him. He didn't even like to exaggerate to make a point. For him, issues of urgency or cost were no excuse to forget the principle that "he who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much" (Luke 16:10). Attention to detail, however, didn't keep him from dreaming. His vision for outreach through television and multiple teachers resulted in years of growth of RBC Ministries.

• 4. Be careful what we say about others. Dad wasn't part of "the grapevine" that circulates news of other people's failures. I don't remember hearing him talk about other leaders' mistakes. Maybe it was because he himself had felt the sting of unkind rumors and remarks. He simply took to heart the Scriptures that call us to love one another. The 13th chapter of 1 Corinthians was one of Dad's favorite Scripture passages, and he read it often to his staff.

• 5. Read biographies with a grain of salt. Dad's reluctance to be unnecessarily critical of others came with an interesting footnote. He didn't put a lot of stock in biographies. Although he saw the value of "stories of great people," he took them with a grain of salt. He knew that the real story of a person's life is seldom published.

• 6. Relax with those who are important to you. Dad worked hard. While taking his leadership responsibilities seriously, he wrote, edited, and rewrote his messages and devotionals until they had the simplicity and clarity he was looking for. But he also knew how to put his work aside and relax. He loved walks on the beach or going for a drive in the country with Mom. He looked forward to spending time on the golf course with friends. I remember how much he enjoyed showing my brothers and me how to use a fly rod to work an orange spider into the lily pads of a quiet lake as we hunted for bluegill or largemouth bass. We also have plenty of memories of him at home with a bowl of popcorn and a board game like Monopoly or Scrabble.

• 7. Cultivate balance. Dad learned by experience to listen to both sides of an argument. In his later years he told us how, as a young manager, he'd listen to one side of an employee conflict and think he understood the problem. Then he'd talk to the other side and hear a completely different perspective. The balance and fairness he cultivated in employee relationships showed up in other ways too. In so many ways he taught us to avoid one-sided extremes in thinking or behavior.

• 8. Avoid irreverent jokes. Over the years we saw in Dad a healthy fear of the Lord. Jokes about the Scripture were out of bounds as far as he was concerned. It wasn't that he didn't have a sense of humor. He loved a good laugh. But he drew the line when it came to talking lightly about God or the Bible.

• 9. Question our own use of Scripture. Because of Dad's reverence for the Word of God, he also taught us to second guess the way we quote the Bible. When critiquing manuscripts written by his staff, he would repeatedly write in the margin, "Does the Bible really say that? Really?" He showed us that if we really want to trust or teach what God has said, we need to be willing to doubt our own interpretations and motives.

• 10. Trust in God and do the right. Since Dad's passing, many of his friends, co-workers, and family members have agreed on one central focus that seems to best represent his life. Much of the legacy he left us can be summed up in the words, "Trust in God and do the right." We remember those words as they are repeated in a poem written by Norman Macleod that Dad often read to his staff.

As I mentioned in the last locking post of last night's New Every Morning, I must attend two funerals tomorrow.  I posted the Newspaper Obituary for our Pastor's wife in the Prayer area.


The other funeral I must attend is of one wonderful woman Judy and I called "Auntie" Grace.  She and Uncle Howard were almost as much real aunt and uncle to our brother Murray and Judy and I as our real aunts and uncles were.  They were childhood friends of our parents.

As I read the obituary for "Auntie" Grace in the newspaper, I thought how wonderful she was and how very much she was loved by everyone who came across her path but much more special was her love for her dear Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.

I thought I'd share the obituary for her that was in the newspaper.  Oh to have one like this!  Such a testimony!

CHIPCHASE, Elizabeth Grace (nee Serrick) -

Was born October 5, 1911 and went to be with her Saviour, our Lord Jesus Christ, June 12, 2005, at Newman Grove, Nebraska. Beloved wife of the late Dr. Howard H. Chipchase (April 8, 1990).

Grace is survived by daughters, Miriam Marsceau of Newman Grove, Nebraska, Ruth Bennett of Sanford, Florida, Grace Marilyn Fenton of Lancaster, Pennsylvania and Bethel Anne Steel of Hot Springs, South Dakota and a son, Elwood Chipchase, of Belton, Missouri.

She is also survived by 14 grandchildren, 47 great-grandchildren, 2 great-great-grandchildren and her sister, Beryl. She is predeceased by her parents, Ralph and Emma Serrick (formerly of Willowdale); sister, Dorothy; brother, Frank; another sister in infancy; and a great-granddaughter, in infancy.

In her youth Grace placed her faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and lived to anticipate the day of her glorious entrance into heaven. Her life was a demonstration of what Proverbs 31 says of the godly wife and mother. She gave herself for others and lived an entire life of credibility to the message of salvation and the Christian faith.

She made a practice of reading the Word of God each day. Her favorite Bible verse was Isaiah 26:3, "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee because he trusteth in Thee."

Grace and Howard were married August 17, 1929 and served together in the gospel ministry for over 60 years. She was called by many the ideal Pastor's wife.

They began their formal ministry in 1931 by establishing York Road Baptist Church (now Crestwicke Baptist Church) in Guelph and all five of their children have served in pastoral ministries. Her son and one son-in-law are Bible College presidents. One grandson is a pastor and three grandsons are missionaries, serving as pastors in Brazil and New Zealand.

To know Grace Chipchase was to love her and appreciate her many gracious qualities. As a wife and mother she excelled. She was known as a cook who could prepare meals that were "fit for a king!" Her family appreciated the warmth of her home and the thoroughness of her hospitality.

Many leading men and women in Christian ministry, music, education and business were guests in her home. They were welcomed with Christian love and dignity.

The Chipchase family will receive friends at the Wall-Custance Funeral Home & Chapel, 206 Norfolk St., Guelph, Friday, June 17, 2005 (12-2 p.m.). The funeral service will follow in the funeral home chapel, at 2 p.m. Interment Woodlawn Memorial Park, Guelph. (A reception will be held in the Wall-Custance Family Reception Centre).  A tree will be planted in memory of Grace Chipchase in the Wall-Custance Memorial Forest, University of Guelph, Arboretum. Dedication service Sunday, September 25, 2005, at 2:30 p.m.  (www.wallcustance.com) [/list]

Well hello again !! This note from me has 2 be short because my daughter is due home tonight & I want to get some GOODIES BAKED FOR HER & also get a few more things done in her room before tonight so I just wanted to say that I am still ALIVE & WELL keeping myself busy with things at the OLD HOUSE & so maybe with some PRAYERS we can get it up FOR SALE really soon !!

So ... all of you have a wonderful weekend & ETTA I LOVE THE NEW PICTURE U SENT & so I still want one for my wallet not for the mice !! So friends I bid you GOOD BYE until maybe MONDAY sometime take care & REJOICE IN THE LORD come Sunday ... see you all soon !!

Good Morning, I did not sleep well last night and was up about 3 am. to do sme more math re; the letter I got yesterday about my MediCal stuff. I see they made a huge mistake in the amount of my earnings, but not enough to change much of anything. I am calling them this morning and I may just quit working and go on disability.

Good morning. What inspirational posts, Pat! Oh, to live such a life as Aunt Gracie.

Marilyn, I certainly hope you can get relief! How devastated you must feel right now.

I believe yesterday was my worst day after the dental surgery. I seem to feel much better today.

Y'all have a good day with our Lord.

Ruth Ann

morning just stopping by on my way to work gotta go ttyl
sarah

Good to see ya, Sarah, though ya look kinda like a penguin.  May our God bless your day today.
That was a great devotional, Pat.  Oh to be real like Grace - and really related in practical ways to Christ!

Another 6.6 earthquake last night, I didn't feel a thing. Pouring rain here today.

Pat great devotional this morning sorry I didn't say something earlier. Certainly words to live by. sorry to hear such sad news about Monika.

My pastors wife, Michele, has another chemo treatment the 23rd the surgery on July 15th then two more chemo treatments, after that radiation.

TTYL

Marilyn ~ I do pray that you get your medical stuff worked out for the best for you.  It can be a pain sometimes.  Black and white doesn't work for everyone. 

Pat ~ What a personal obituary for Auntie Grace.  Our obituaries are so stoic.  Nothing personal at all.  Just the statistics. 

I was planning on getting online and off as quick as possible today.  Why doesn't that ever happen?  I have been online over 2 hours now.  Gotta get busy and do some house cleaning but I am getting mighty hungry right now.

Hi everyone.  This has been a busy day as after coffee at the senior center this morning we went about an hour away to see the cardilogist.  We were to be there by 10 am for my 10:15 appointment.  I got to see the doctor at 11:20.  We were due back at the other Senior Center for our PC User's Group meeting at 1 pm.  We stopped for a quick bite of lunch and when we got in the car it wouldn't start.  We had to wait the 10 minutes for the computer to reset and then got it started.  We were just a few minutes late to the meeting.  I was suppose to have met someone at noon and would have been on time if my appointment had taken place closer to the scheduled time.

My cardiologist has referred me to another doctor specializing in IVD (Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator) for evaluation to see if it would be of benefit to me.  It would be implanted just under the skin like a pacemaker and provide low energy electrical pulses on each side of the heart.  He said they have been experiencing good results.  So the parade goes on of doctor visits. 

We had a very nice PC User group meeting with my friend demonstrating 5 different free utilities for the computer and then answering questions.  When I got home I rested for awhile.

Marilyn, I can imagine how shocked you must have been when you got the news regarding your medicines.  Hope that can be resolved to your satisfaction.

Pat, I can't image having to attend two funerals in one day.  I am sure you are probably emotionally drained by this time.

Ruth Ann, glad to see you are feeling better.

Tbear, good to see you posting as well of everyone else who has posted. 

Pat, thanks for the devotional.  That was quite a tribute to the man's father.

Hello Everyone...

I'm home.  I left the house this morning at 9:30 am and just got in the door now.  The first funeral was certainly a testimony of the Lord's work in the life of Monika.  I have no idea how many there were there, but literally hundreds.  I left just as the last hymn was going to be sung (Victory in Jesus) and hurried across town to Auntie Grace's funeral.  There weren't as many there but when you think that they left Guelph 59 years ago, it was amazing that there were any there at all who remembered this wonderful couple.

It was so good to renew old friendships and we took lots of photos, etc.

Now, yes, Larry, I'm emotionally drained.

I'm going to have a rest.

Hi everyone:
T-bear - good hearing from you.  I've missed your posts lately.

Marilyn:  Perhaps it would "pay you" to just quit work and go on disability.  Unfortunately for me, thats what I did in 1982 (I had no choice)., as I had R.A., and just COULDN'T work.  Disability , along with my government pensions are very much appreciated, thats for sure.

Larry: Just want you to know that I continue to pray for you.

I intend on "hitting the sack" early tonight.  I attended the funeral for Monika, then tomorrow, we have a 50th wedding anniversary to attend.

Sunday if the first service in our new church.  I am on the "welcoming committee"., I am looking forward to that.

I have serioulsy thought of just quitting  and going on disability, but I could never make it on the the amount I would get  at the rent I am paying now. I promised Fay a long time ago that I would stay with her until she goes home to be with the Lord. It is so hard to find reliable, trustworthy caregivers for a blind person. I Love her like my own family. I just could not hurt her that way. I think I would be better off to get the private insurance. I

If the union contract goes through I will not onely have a raise in pay but the insurance to and the price of $1.00 per month. I may have to drop one client, But that would knock $500. a month from my pay. I am trying to get these credit cards paid off and my  computer. I make the last payment on my car this month.

It hass been suggested to me to write my congressman and the senator for this area, but first  have to have all my figures together and correct.

Does anyone have any suggestions of a good  Senior insurance plan?

Marilyn, if you're talking about Medicate Supplement, Blue Cross is it.  I've very carefully checked all the others, and it's slightly better.  The one to get, no matter who you get it from, is plan F.

It's time to lock the door of today's New Every Morning...

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