The Power of Three Minutes

Beth Gross wrote the following after attending the Quest Conference in April and it is worth the sharing. Read on:

The Power of Three Minutes

By Beth Gross

I was floored by the deep issues that surfaced in three minutes . . .

During the third week of April, Jonathan Edwards led a group of Questers in pursuit of better listening skills. He taught the principles of listening skills, demonstrated with a brave volunteer and then set us loose in groups of three to practice them. In every group, each Quester had 3 (or 4) minutes to share while another Quester practiced the listening skills and a third evaluated. I was floored by the deep issues that surfaced in three minutes.

It made me wonder why we don't see more of that kind of sharing in our casual conversations. Maybe some of it can be attributed to the urgency of the time limit or the preparation of the participants.
But, I think some things we learned about active listening are transferable to everyday interactions.

1. Freedom to choose. Our group found if we left the field wide open, others were more likely to share below the surface. Instead of greeting someone with "How's the wife and kids?" we could say "What's on your mind?"

2. Be quiet. Too often in conversations, someone's sharing triggers the memory of an experience or story. When it's our turn to speak, we jump in with our two cents, the conversation takes a turn and the opportunity to hear someone's heart is missed. Instead, we could recap what they have said, ask for more information or ask about the emotions involved.

3. Avoid advice and solutions. Sometimes a person's greatest need is just to be heard. Resisting the urge to "be a fixer" allows another the chance to continue telling his story. Affirming the difficulty of a struggle and the emotions involved can in itself bring healing. At that point, the story-teller might be ready to look for solutions.

A lot can happen in three minutes. Let's listen for it.

Honduras Bridge

Look and listen to men who recently went on a missions trip to Honduras to help construct a bridge with CAM missionary Mark Fittz. See how such trips can change lives, not only those who receive the aid but also those who go. CAM offers all kids of mission trips from the the short exposure to a longer internship. Our fields are white and we are praying for laborers such as these men who will join with us.

Barksdale Air Show and God

Capitan Keegan Williamson, USAF ATC Instructor Pilot

Keegan, Bethany and I stepped off the bus onto the hot tarmac at Barksdale AFB in Louisiana this past weekend. Our senses were assaulted first and we all commented on the smell of JP4 (jet fuel) that washed over us as we left the cool air-conditioned bus. The high pitched whine of jet engines winding up to speed was the first sound we heard, and then we saw all the people and planes in front of us. There were many young men and women walking through crowd, guarding aircraft, helping with crowd control, answering a thousand questions, and enjoying the show with their families just we were doing. We were at the annual Barksdale Air Show with the star attraction Blue Angels to perform. Keegan and I drove from Mesquite and met Bethany who was in Bossier City visiting with her in-laws and were so excited to be at the base after years of being unable to attend an air show. We stayed for the day and enjoyed all the incredible flying feats and were awed by the technology that military might requires today. Flags flew everywhere and the young men and women in uniform reminded us of a war ongoing now in Iraq and of other wars fought in previous times. We were humbled as the missing man formation flew by and reminded us of those who gave their lives for our freedom.

It was a grand day…. but it held something else for Keegan and me. The planes, especially the T-37 (commonly know as the tweet) and all the men in flight suits took us back to a time in the late 70’s when Keegan was a gifted pilot and instructor pilot headed for a great career in the Air Force. We both wondered what our lives would be like now if he had continued in that career path. God could have used him in the service just like He does so many others, but that was not what He asked of Keegan. Driving home alone after the show we both reminisced about those years and how good they were, but neither of us expressed any regrets about the calling God gave us to change directions and leave the Air Force. The 30 plus years since have been wonderful and full of God’s grace and mercy, and God has shown us that He could give us security, provision, travel, excitement, and a communal family that was and is every bit as good or better than the Air Force could have provided. Now in the years ahead we are going to trust Him for the retirement benefits as well J It WAS a grand day and as much as we enjoyed the air show, we returned home thankful that it is God who is our commander-in-chief.

Keegan and the Tweet

Quest 2008

What is Quest? Keegan and I write about it, prepare for it, pray for it, ask others to pray for it, and we regularly attend it. I would guess many of you just know it’s some kind of conference associated with our ministry but not much else. Even though I have heard much about Quest, I have to confess that I didn’t fully grasp what it involved until I attended one. I knew it was a leadership formation conference for CAM leaders but not much more than that. In light of my own experience I encouraged Keegan to continue communicating what Quest is. Leadership formation has been a passion of Keegan since he began ministry in the local church. Quest is an out growth of that passion, years of working with leaders, CAM’s needs and the primary focus of his doctorate.

In June of last year attendees were asked to help pick a name and theme that would reflect their vision and values for leader formation. Thus, the name and mantra were created: Quest…Becoming a Christ-like Community of Lifelong Learners. The word “quest” implies the act of seeking or pursuing something. A quest can also be an adventure. Often, it describes a chivalrous enterprise in a medieval romance, usually involving an adventurous journey. God certainly intends for all of us to experience an adventurous and exciting Christian walk. Quest is designed for people who want to make a difference in their ministry setting, and the purpose is to help participants become lifelong learners with the goal to understand and then seek to align their actions and attitudes with biblical principles and practices. Over 100 CAM missionaries have participated at some level in leader formation and felt it to be enriching, stimulating and highly valuable. Under its current design Quest conferences are offered twice a year during the months of April and October. Attendees include both men and women who are invited by their respective organizational leaders to participate. When possible and desirable, couples are encouraged to participate together.

The April Quest themes were focus on: 1) Living and Serving Together as Multiple Generations; 2) Essential Counseling Skills; 3) 4) What Kind of Legacy Are You Leaving?; 5) Learning as a Way of Being. Keegan will be facilitated three of these sessions Jon Edwards, CAM's member care coordinator, facilitated one session. Please continue to pray for the moving of God’s Spirit through this ministry and for changed lives and a changed mission. Join us in praying God will continue to provide the funding to continue Quest and grow it for His glory and honor(funding is by donations to CAM).

My prayer from the QUEST conference

I want to stay right where I am-in God’s presence in nature. Here I can smell, hear and feel what has been destroyed by the urbanization of where I live. I am alone now all but God, His word and some of his smaller creations. I am still and I am quiet. If I can keep my mind and heart focused only on Him, I will be fed and nurtured and perhaps able to digest one tiny morsel which will sustain me in the days ahead. Lord, can I stay here? Here it’s just you and me. Thank you Lord for your creation and for allowing me to be in it this time and this place. Refresh my soul. Have your winds blow away my masks and smoke screens until there is no pretense. Warm my blood so that it rushes through my body carrying the physical impurities to the organs that will clean these impurities from me. Clear my senses from sin that prevents them from being sharp and effective. Wash my spiritual lungs of the darkness that I might breathe deeply and fully of your purity and righteousness. Surround me so I have no escape but to dwell here with you for this brief time. Touch me so that when I return to daily living I am changed.

As always God answered my prayer. I am changed. More will follow on Quest in another blog.

CAM Center and Me

Today is Friday and I have completed my first official week at CAM center. I worked Monday at the medical office, and began Tuesday at CAM center. They have given me an office near Keegan and the mobilization department. Right now it's pretty bare with a desk and a computer, but it is efficient. This week was CAM's week to have a concerted time of prayer each morning for all of the missionaries and ministries of CAM. Every morning began with an hour long session of prayer in small groups covering each specific missionary and ministry. Wow, it's been a long time since I have been able to participate in such a prayer time. I also learned so much about the needs and praises of each of CAM's missionaries. I am humbled by what God is doing through the people serving with CAM who are all so passionate and willing to serve God in each of their fields of ministry.
After the prayer time each morning, it was time to get busy. Quest is only two weeks away and there is much to do for the final preparation. Right now my main tasks are helping Keegan get the notebooks ready for the 46 people attending Quest and helping with communication. Let's just say, I didn't lack for anything to do and the days flew by. I loved having lunch with Keegan everyday in my office. Everyone in the office was wonderfully warm and friendly, and there was none of the usual drama and anger I experience at the medical office. It was so refreshing! Next week will be much the same with a little bit more pressure as it will be the last week to finish preparing for Quest. Already I have been asked to help with another project that involves a town meeting for our US missionaries in June. I will begin on that when we return from Quest.
I am so happy God is giving me this opportunity to return to ministry again. Please join me in praying He will provide for us as our budget has taken a huge cut without my nursing salary. Thank you. I close sharing this:

Life is a daring adventure or nothing at all.
-- Helen Keller

Leaves, leaving, and lives

I am spending my first week of being jobless to spend it with Holly, Greg and the grandchildren. Being with the next two generations gives me pause to think of my life and what I will one day be leaving behind. This fall we took a trip to Ruidoso, New Mexico and spent many hours hiking in the mountains there. One day we hiked along a beautiful wooded trail and I decided to stop and just experience my surroundings. I sat beneath a towering oak tree that was in the process of loosing it's leaves (not something I get to experience much in Dallas). As I sat there in the pile of decaying leaves, a slight breeze passed overhead and I was showered with withered and dry oak leaves, twigs, and even acorns. Every creature that crawled or hopped or scurried through the leaves made so much noise in the dry leaves that I knew I was not alone. I reached over and picked up a handful of dead leaves and twigs and watched how easily they crumbled in my hand. Moving the leaves aside I looked at the ground underneath and I saw such rich humus soil formed by the decay and I wished I could take back a large load to mix into the hard clay packed soil of my yard in Dallas. I was reminded of the elementary school science lesson I learned about how the decay will return to soil and will nourish the tree so that in the spring and succeeding years the tree will have the nourishment it needs to keep growing. I like how Solomon summed it up in Ecclesiastes 3:15 "Whatever is has already been, and what will be has been before." Not to sound negative or morbid, I am decaying as I grow older, but it's not the ground I am thinking of nourishing. I am thinking of what will be my legacy to these children and those who are yet to be born. If anything, I want them to see that their mother and grandmother knew Jesus and heard His voice and followed Him. Let me be light to lead them to Him.
Speaking of children, we are very proud of all of our children, but this week we celebrate Bryce's new promotion at Time Warner. He's young to be in management, but he has worked hard and proven himself and his employers have recognized his gifts. Phillip has also continued to excel in his school work at Southwestern, but he has to keep his nose to the grindstone getting all the work done. Greg loves his new job and is slowly forming his team around him and making the job description come to life. The girls are all doing well. I have to admit after spending these few days with Holly, I honestly don't know how she does it--only by the grace of God.
Keegan is busy working on his presentations for Quest which will begin in two weeks. It's always a lot of work to get it ready and this time the group is even larger. There wil be many returning to continue learning and their enthusiasm about the conference has encouraged others to to want to be a part. Keegan has had to put his doctoral paper on hold until after Quest, but he intends to focus on it once again in May.
Since I am returning to full time ministry Keegan and I will be experiencing God's grace in new ways. Our prayer these days is based on Isaiah 30:21, "Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, 'This is the way; walk in it.'". Please pray with us that we hear His voice in this new endeavor.

"The problem with life is it's so daily."

Connor age 4.

The "Twinks" after lunch.

Isn’t the title of this blog the simplest statement and yet so profound? Those of us who enjoy good health, warmth, plenty of food, and are loved by someone may agree with the statement. But how about those who are fighting to live each day? It certainly changes the meaning of the statement.

We are doing well as a family and know that many prayers are given on our behalf and answered by our God. We recognize His blessings everyday in the big and the small dailies of daily living. In a little over a week I will move from my paying job as a nurse to a full time volunteer at CAM center and working with Keegan. The plan is that my time at CAM will be split, 50% working with Keegan on Quest and other projects, and 50% working in another department of CAM (yet to be determined). Initially I will still work 2-3 Mondays a month at First Family to help Leslie the LVN in the transition to my job. I am excited about this move and I really have total peace from the Lord about this change in my life. God has always provided for us when He asked us to give anything up, and there’s no reason to think He won’t do so again. Keegan is excited that I can join him in ministry and in his travels. All the details aren’t worked out yet, but it’s coming together bit by bit. Please continue praying for us in this new endeavor.

Our family is well. Please check our prayer requests for updates on those things we for which we have requested prayer. Above are two new pictures to show some of the blessings in our family.

Come to the edge...

"Come to the edge, he said. They said:
We are afraid. Come to the edge, he said.
They came. He pushed them,
And they flew..."
- Guillaume Apollinaire

Well yesterday I came to the edge and God pushed me. I’m not sure if I flew, but I know I left the security of the nest. You are probably wondering what in the world am I talking about. Yesterday I gave notice at work of my intent to leave at the end of the month. I had been praying about it since October, but yesterday I was “pushed” by God and I knew it was time. Many of you might be thinking, “What’s so hard or so big about resigning?” First I resigned a nice paying job for no job. Keegan and I have always taught our children you don’t leave one job until you have another, but that’s just what I did. Second I gave my career of nursing to the Lord and said it’s yours. I have clung to it as a stronghold forever, but I am going to let God become my stronghold of security. I would say that was two pretty big steps for me to take in one day. My boss is not a believer in Jesus Christ, and he certainly didn’t understand the what or the why of my leaving and was deeply disappointed that I would abandon him. I don’t know if I would have done it if God had not divinely orchestrated it for me and given me the resolve to say the words “I’m leaving.”

Now you are probably thinking, “OK, why are you leaving?” For the last year or so Keegan and I have been talking about and dreaming about my returning to full time ministry to work along side him and to also work at CAM center as a full time volunteer. My wonderful husband sees gifts in me I’m not sure are there and feels like I have something to offer there at CAM and being with him in his travels and his work. I too have felt that God wants more of me than I have been willing to give since we returned from Mexico 7 years ago. My journal reminds me of all I have said to the Lord, and now He is asking me to trust Him. He’s never failed me and I should have no doubts, but I must confess I do have fears and doubts. Pray for me as I come to mind. I want to fly…..

I love this thought of Beth Moore: “The wonders God wants to do in all our tomorrows are prepared for in our todays.”

Summoned to Lead

The following is a quote from Summoned to Lead by Leonard Sweet.

A historian's job is to tell the truth about the past. A consultant's job is to tell the truth about the present. A psychiatrist's job is to help you tell the truth about who you are. A theologian's job is to tell the truth about God. A leader's job is to rise to the occasion, to imagine the best possible future and to tell the truth about how to get there. A leader's voice rings the bell of the future.

If you are not familiar with this book (which is a favorite of mine) it is the retelling of the story of Ernest Shackleton who commanded in 1914 the doomed British Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition. Shackleton lead a group of explorers who were to cross Antarctica sea to sea for the British, but he never made it. When his ship was within one hundred miles of the continent he and his crew became stranded in the most hostile place to mankind place on earth. Obviously this failure is not what made Shackleton one of the world's greatest leaders. No, it was the act of bringing home safe every one of his crew and how he accomplished such a seemingly impossible task. There are other books written about this expedition and even a movie made. The story is worth reading anytime, but this particular book focuses on the summons to lead, not the call. Although I am not gifted in leadership I was captured by the concept of leadership presented in this book and by the need for such leadership in our country today. Elections are nearing and we are choosing leaders for our nation. We have a responsibility to vote, but our choices are limited. It would be wonderful to have one or more of the many candidates rise to moral courage and ring the bell of truth. Please pray as never before in the months left to us for those candidates who will be elected to office. Not only is voting a right, a duty and a privilege, but so is prayer for each of us Christians.