Air Date - April 3, 2006

A few days ago I spoke with Willard Theissen about my up and coming interview on It’s A New Day. He and I only did one show on the subject of The Secret of Happiness. It’ll be aired on April 3, 2006.

Although I wrote this book on my vacation in Mexico, in about a week, it’s been the most popular book so far. I’m looking into republishing it in hard-cover as a gift book.

The concept, it is more blessed to give than to receive, is simple but it runs contrary to what we’ve been taught in life. We’ve learned that if we have $10 and give away $2, then we have $8. If we have one hundred and sixty-eight hours in the week and we spend one day helping someone in need, then we’ve lost eight of our precious hours.

I love what Thomas Stanley wrote in his book Millionaire Women Next Door. He says there are multiple benefits that donors receive from being generous. He concludes that "people who annually give away at least ten percent of their income to a noble cause are likely to:

1. gain more respect;


2. have more joy and happiness in their lives; and


3. encounter increases in their wealth and net worth."

Here’s what Stanley wrote in response to the question: Is contributing to charitable or noble causes a complement or a substitute in regard to the accumulation of wealth?

The answer seems logical enough. Consider these case examples: Tina Patron (TP) is a generous person, and she donates at least ten percent of her income each year. Olga Price (OP) donates far less, at most one percent. All else—income, age, and several other wealth correlates—being equal, Olga should have a higher level of net worth, so logic suggests that giving to noble causes is a substitute, not a complement, to accumulating wealth.

Well, so much for college-classroom and economic-textbook logic. All things are not equal in such situations. My data from two groups of high-income-producing women suggest that giving and wealth are indeed complements, not substitutes. All those surveyed had annual realized earned incomes of $100,000 or more, and all were owners and mangers of their own businesses. Each respondent was randomly selected from my national-survey database, and two groups, each containing survey data from one hundred women, provided the empirical base for this analysis. As detailed later, on the average both groups were similar in terms of age and income.

The first group of one hundred women was labeled “ten percenters” (TPs, Tina Patron types). They gave at least ten percent of their annual realized income to charitable and noble causes each year. The second group of one hundred women was labeled “one percenters” (OPs, or Olga Price types); they gave one percent or less. Thus, on average, TPs contributed $41, 543, while their counterpart OPs contributed just $2,355.

You may logically conclude the OPs would have considerably more wealth accumulated. They are not “burdened” with doling out $41,543 annually. Again, so much for logic. In spite of contributing ten percent or more of their annual realized income each year, the TPs have a higher level of net worth than do the OPs: $2.03 million versus $1.96 million.

Imagine that—God was right! I hope you'll watch my interview and let me know what you think.

Barry

The Lord is my Shepherd

It’s always directly in front of me. Every day as I sit at my desk to write or study, the ceramic ram, which I bought as a souvenir from the Cotswolds in England last September, reminds me that I too am a sheep.

It has been one of the most life-changing lessons I’ve ever learned. The Lord is my Shepherd. I could as easily say, the Lord is my Pastor. He nourishes, disciplines, loves and leads me. I can talk with others about my life and concerns and hear their counsel, but ultimately He is my Pastor.

Equally important to my understanding that God is my shepherd and that He truly will direct my paths, is the truth that God is everybody’s shepherd. He is really their Senior Pastor.

This princple is the theme of my book, Life Journey – that God has not only prepared a unique pathway for my life, but that He wants to lead me down that path throughout my life. I think of this concept every week — almost every time I sit down to counsel people.

Just a few days ago, I spent time with a young man whose parents are very concerned about his life choices. I told him and his parents both that God is this man’s pastor. He will discipline, correct, encourage and lead him. I don’t carry ultimate responsibility for his choices and neither do his parents. They did the best they could with what they knew. As all of us do, they as parents, made some unwise decisions as well as many right decisions. Now it’s between their grown son and his Shepherd.

When each of my grandchildren were little, I'd help them walk by holding them on top of my shoes — that’s how I visualize my role. I see myself not as pastor, but as the Pastor’s little helper. He’s the only one able to guide His sheep because only He has been down the road before us. As parents, pastors, employers, etc., we will only be successful leaders if we are walking on God’s shoes.

Here I am again, looking at my six inch fragile sheep. I see myself in his tiny black eyes—but I feel secure because my Shepherd loves me and will always watch out for what’s best for me! He'll do the same for you, too.

Barry

A funny from the web:

A Sunday School teacher decided to have her young class memorize one of the most quoted passages in the Bible: Psalm 23.

She gave the youngsters a month to learn the verse. Little James was excited about the task but he just couldn't remember the verses. After much practice, he could barely get past the first line.

On the day that the kids were scheduled to recite the Psalm in front of the congregation, James was so nervous. When it was his turn, he stepped up to the microphone and said proudly, "The Lord is my Shepherd, and that's all I need to know."

Annual Check-Up

A couple of weeks ago, I went to the doctor for a complete check-up. It was my birthday and as I near a new decade, I’ve got to keep on top of my health. The doctor checked me over and I seem to be okay. Nothing serious anyway.

A family weakness of asthma has chased me over the last ten years and because my mom died of lung cancer at a young age, I watch it pretty closely. I have a slight thyroid problem, which is balanced with medication, and rising cholesterol which will help motivate me to eat well (remember all those previous blogs about food?!) and exercise. Of course, I got the usual admonition to exercise more and make sure I get my sleep, but other than that I’m a specimen of health.

I like to keep tabs on our church and do routine review there as well. Currently, we are working through the Spiritual 12 Steps as a check-up on our souls. Since our souls live forever and our bodies only last less than a century, it figures that the spiritual check-up is the more vital.

Our Creator actually commands us to “examine our hearts” to see if there is any area that doesn’t line up with His right way of thinking. It’s kind of like putting a level on a house to see if it is sitting straight, or checking our blood to see if there are any uninvited invaders.

We’re now on the fourth step – doing a personal inventory of our souls, getting ready for step five of confession. I've posted the inventory questions (click here to obtain) we are using which will help you when listening to the audio from my web page. The inventory doesn't cover all of our potential dysfunctions, but there are enough to help us see our need for God’s help. In future audio programs, you will be able to listen to some thoughts from God’s Word on the value of self-examination.

Physically, I know I have some disciplined work to do, but even more concerning is the spiritual weaknesses that I’m seeing. We never seem to get to the place, in this life anyway, that we can say, “It’s finished. I’m now perfect.”

So off I go to do some physical as well as spiritual exercise.

Barry

Good News from Leyte

A few days ago, I received a text message from Pastors Val (and Sally) Chavez, President of the sixteen hundred Foursquare churches in the Philippines. When they wrote, they were just leaving from a trip to southern Leyte where the mudslide blanketed one entire village.

With the money we sent, their teams were able to work with YWAM teams to bring aide to four hundred and twenty-five families. They are also working at planting a new church near the disaster area. If you’d like to send money to help, you may do so via our church. Please mark your cheque “Leyte Fund”.

Thanks a million!

Barry

Animals in Heaven?

Last week in our Beta Class (which is an eleven week course that I’ve written to follow-up on Alpha graduates) we got talking about animals in heaven. Some were sure that their kitties or puppies would be there to greet them when they arrived.

I’m not sure—at least I wasn’t until one of our students sent me this picture of a Christian dog.

Barry

I'm Finally Edging . . .

. . . into the 21st century. Having failed (actually I quit) typing in grade 11, I’ve always been a little hesitant to use electronic equipment. I've avoided VCR’s, CD recording systems, computers and even telephones. Plus, I’ve always written everything out on paper using just a pen — every article, sermon, book, revision/edit and blog. To me a good pen works as an extension of my hand and my mind.

But I got myself a BlackBerry™ this week. I’d already moved into text messaging with my cell phone, so I was on the way. Now I can be connected to my calendar that my secretaries keep and have quicker access to the many e-mails that I receive.

Still, I’m not sure of the total positives that electronics have added to our day. When I think of Jesus pulling away with (or without) his disciples for a time out with God, he didn’t have a cell phone, watch, radio, lap top or fax machine. How did he survive? How’d he stay in touch? Maybe that was the idea—he didn’t want to.

In my early days of ministry we had one line on the telephone, regular mail and a Selectric typewriter. Now we’ve added a dozen lines of communication to our office, not to mention computers, scanners, and coloured photocopiers. But I wonder if we communicate better.

Oh well, I don’t have much time to think about those deep questions of life—I’ve got myself a BlackBerry™ to figure out. This well keep me occupied for at least a year. All tips and tricks are eagerly welcomed.

Barry

North Korea Allows Foursquare Prayer Teams

When I received this email yesterday, I immediately felt excited. After having been to China, recently, I can assure you this announcement is truly an "act of God" and I can hardly wait to see the great things He will do. I pray you will consider what part, if any, God will have you do in this amazing opportunity:

Foursquare News Service #240
March 15, 2006

The normally closed and restrictive North Korean government has agreed to allow up to 300 people at one time to enter the country and pray over their nation and in their cities.

Rev. Dayoung Kimn, a Korean/American Foursquare leader and Life Pacific College graduate, is organizing prayer teams, a large conference, an English camp for students and various sports outreaches.

Rev. Kimn has done a great deal of work in China and has been sending supply containers into North Korea for the past two years. His petitions to the government were granted the first week of March, allowing ministry teams to enter the county for the 10 weeks between August 10th and October 10th.

Rev. Kimn is appealing to local Foursquare churches and individuals to pray for these outreaches and consider joining him in going to North Korea during this historic opportunity to reach a nation that has traditionally been closed to the gospel.

If you would like more information about how you or your church can be involved in a World Impact Team to North Korea please call Foursquare Missions at (888) 635-4234 ext. 4320 or e-mail us.

* * * * * * *

If you are interested, please don't hesitate to contact Foursquare Missions. I'll be happy to answer any questions you may have about travelling, etc., as well. Be sure to visit my blog archieves for posts about my annual trip to the Philippines to see what a blessing you can be.

Barry

Meet Jessica

I know I've already talked about the audio program in a previous blog, but I just wanted to take this a step further and let you know what is happening.

Jessica Cornell, along with sound engineer, David Dombrowski, has been working alongside me to produce the Life Pathways Audio Program. Jess has been part of our church for several years and serves in a wide variety of ministries, from hairdresser and make-up artist for the actors in our dramas, to worship leader. She is now serving as the executive producer of Life Pathways Audio Programs.

I'm thrilled with how this new area of ministry is progressing. If you have not dropped by my web page to hear one of the messages, please do so. I'd like to suggest that you listen to these talk programs as if you were sitting with me in my office. I value your questions and feedback. The way that you are hearing what we are teaching and the personal responses you write in the space provided will be invaluable to us as we plan future topics of discussion. We’d be happy to answer specific and/or personal questions (anonymously, of course) on the audio program.

To tune in to Life Pathways audio, visit my web page at www.barrybuzza.com then click on the audio link on the left hand side of the page. You may need to use Real Player and not Windows media Play. Click here for a free download of Real Player. The company will try to sell the SuperPass Version but it is not needed to listen to our audio. Simply download the free version.

Thanks for listening.

Barry

Divorce

I received a call from a pastor friend from the other side of Canada regarding a couple who had previously divorced, now wanting to be married (not to each other, again). The issue was raising a bit of hot debate in his church, so he wanted an outside, unbiased opinion.

I’m not sure that any of us are unbiased but here are a couple of things I talked with him about.

• I, like God, hate divorce. It leaves a host of scars in its wake. Unlike some Hollywood stars who glibly describe their divorces as friendly and calm, divorce hurts us badly. God doesn’t hate divorce (Malachi 2:16) because He wants us to be miserable, He hates divorce because He loves us so much and doesn’t want us and our kids to go through the pain that it causes.


• Likewise, as Jesus said to the Pharisees (in Matthew 19:3-12) the question is not, “How can I get a divorce?” rather it is, “What is marriage?” the heart of marriage is a lifelong mutual vow of self-sacrificing love.


• But the reality is, divorce happens. Just as we don’t intend on having accidents on the highway, they happen—even to good drivers. Some are bruised, some are wounded or maimed, and some die in accidents. Same with divorce—even some who are innocent suffer from the reality of divorce.


• Matthew 19:9 says, “Whoever gets a divorce, except for immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.” It is a sticky issue. Of course it has to be understood in light of the rest of the Bible. Here are four considerations:

1. Those who’ve suffered divorce because of immorality are not bound by this statement. They are the exception.


2. The word “and” in Greek is kai. It can be interpreted accurately as “in order to.” The rendering would then be, “If you divorce your wife in order to marry another (read: younger, slimmer) woman, you are committing adultery.”


3. Keep in mind that God recognizes divorce as a nullification of the marriage contract. Read I Corinthians 7:27-28,“Are you released (divorced) from a wife? Don’t seek a wife, but if you marry,you have not sinned…”


4. Consider God’s divorce. Isaiah 50 tells us that God Himself divorced His wife Israel, because of her persistent idolatry. Later on, thank God, He married the Church (Revelation 19:7-9).

Of course, these are not to be taken as reasons for divorce or justifications for failure in marriage. But divorce does happen—Jesus summarized it by stating the one root cause: hardness of heart. After a divorce, I recommend a long period of personal healing and restoration for all who’ve been affected, before any thought is given to remarriage.

I hope my comments help my friend offer love and support to the couple in his church. If you have any comments or questions about divorce, feel free to send me an email.

Barry

Back to School

This week I had the privilege of sitting with an enthusiastic grade two class at Nestor Elementary School to discuss the secret to happiness.

One of the young ladies in our church, Ashley Fabbian, was reading my book along with her mom Irene, when she got the idea of presenting it to her teacher and class. Her teacher was most gracious and allowed Ashley to retell a story from the book.

Then Ashley confidently asked her teacher if her pastor and author of the book, The Secret to Happiness, could be a guest to their class. She said yes and so did I.

So there I sat, in a wooden rocking chair asking the bubbly class, “What is happiness?” They gave many answers.

“Getting candy.”

“Going to Disneyland.”

“Christmas morning.”

So I knew I had some work to do in getting them to understand that happiness flows from generosity. I used a little story (which I plan on publishing) about a cow who wanted to keep her milk for herself and a sheep who didn’t want to lose her precious wool. The kids grabbed hold of the idea!

They were wonderful. They talked about giving their too small clothes to others, sharing their toys and helping the poor children with special projects to raise money.

I think children are the most ready listeners—what a perfect time to teach Godly values (like generosity) and life principles. Thank God for the thousands of primary teachers who are helping us parents shape a generation of tomorrow’s leaders.

And thank you, Ahsley and Nestor Elementary School, for allowing me to visit and share the things I care most about.

Barry

Still Celebrating!

On February 28, 1969, my beautiful young bride and I stood on the platform of the Kingsway Foursquare Church and pledged our love and honor to each other. Our dear friend, Pastor John Watson officiated. Where has the time gone?

We’d planned to drive to California for our honeymoon, but they were experiencing very severe flooding that year. We went to Victoria for a couple of nights and then went to Oregon to stay with John and Bonnie Watson for the rest of the time.

Upon our return, we moved into our marital home which was a very old basement suite on Pender Street in Vancouver, under the home of our pastor’s Wes and Gladys Wray. I remodeled the suite and made some of the furniture. The rest we bought from the small estate of an old man who’d just died, paying just $50 for a whole bunch of stuff. Susan made the curtains; we set out our wedding presents and we were as happy as clams.

Susan was working at Safeway and I was still working as a truck driver at my dad’s lumber yard, while finishing my Bible College education. Life was good.

These last 37 years with Susan have been better than I could have imagined. I wouldn’t trade a minute of them for a million dollars. I think we worked out most of the kinks in the first couple of years so that the ones following have been a breeze. Even the financial, health, and career valleys we’ve gone through have turned out to be invaluable growing times. One of the many good things that comes from longevity is a healthy perspective. We’ve learned that springtime inevitable follows winter!

“Thank-you Lord for marriage and thank you especially for my darling Susan.”

A few days prior to our anniversary, my siblings and our spouses celebrated the 96th birthday of our dear Auntie Mae. We don’t get together for the birthdays of other Aunts and Uncles, but Auntie Mae has been like a second mom to us for most of our lives.

She was single for most of her life, (she’d had a few proposals of marriage, but had declined) so Auntie Mae was often asked to stay at our home and care for us 6 kids when mom and dad would take their much deserved “honeymoons in Hawaii.”

We have scores of happy memories with my dad’s older sister throughout our growing up years, but my favorite one comes from later in her life. Auntie Mae was married when she was 52 to Derek, a farmer, rancher, hunting guide from Little Fort, B.C. (1/2 hour north of Barrier).

When I was 16, she asked me to come up and live with them for the summer holidays. If I’d paint their old ranch house (it took four coats and forty gallons –if I remember), then she would pay me $100.00. That was a fortune to me and so I jumped at the opportunity. It was in those months, and the next year also that I learned to drive, castrate bulls, operate all kinds of farm equipment, and of course, paint. I’ll never forget the day I was up on a 24 foot ladder removing a wooden vent and a couple of shrieking bats fluttered out. I almost died that day.

Another time, Carlene (their adopted baby) had caught her head between the bars in her wooden crib. She was losing her battle to get breath and Auntie Mae was frantic. She’s thanked me over and over again for saving my baby cousin’s life. I love my Auntie, and I owe her a great debt for all that she has added to my life experiences.

At her party, my brother Dave asked her what her birthday wish was for her 97th year and with her usual wit, she answered “My wish is that I die before my next birthday.” I think she’s had enough. She’s loved her life on earth, but right now she’d rather be in heaven with her beloved husband, Derek, than here on earth.

We will miss her when God calls her home, but our wonderful memories will see us through our grief.

I must say, though, I am glad February is over. I may actually be tired of all the food I enjoyed at each celebratory event we attended.

Barry

P.S. Here is the write up of our special day, if you're interested:

Life Pathways Audio Program

I’m not exactly sure how I arrived here, but I believe that it’s the right place to be:

Last year I received a call from a man, in Winnipeg, who provides radio time across Canada. Somehow my name had been given to him, when he was on a trip to Los Angeles at a National Broadcaster’s Conference.

He asked me if I’d ever considered doing a Christian radio program. I said, “Me?” But in our subsequent chats, he peaked my interest. Those conversations and others from China, Philippines and across Canada have led me to this place today, where I and Jessica Cornell are ready to begin audio-streaming via the internet. Our first programs have been prepared from recent sermons on the 12 Steps program we use, called Higher Ground, and from conversations between us.

Our plan is to test the web for about a year before branching out into radio. Check out our first few programs by clicking on “Audio Programs” on my webpage. We’d love to get feedback either of comments or questions.

We’ll keep preparing programs as long as we see our listening audience expanding.

Thanks for being a part of this new challenge!

Barry

www.barrybuzza.com

Mudslide on the Island of Leyte

I was on the Island of Leyte at Ormoc several moths ago, speaking at a conference of about 140 Foursquare Pastors and leaders. I made many new friends there.

So when I heard about the mudslides that took more than 1,500 lives I was deeply concerned. Since then I’ve had other conversations with neighboring pastors both in our community, and in the Philippines about the pressing need to help the families of the victims. We wanted to assist them physically, as well as spiritually.

On Sunday, our church gave generously enabling us to send a cheque to the Foursquare Gospel Churches of Leyte to oversee the distribution of help. We have also been asked to be a clearing house for those in the greater Vancouver area who to give aid to the victims of the slide.

You can send cheques, marked LEYTE, to Northside Church at:

1477 Lougheed Highway
Port Coquitlam, British Columbia
V3B 7M6

Phone: 604-942-7711

You will be receipted for your gift and 100% of the money will go directly to those in need in Leyte.

Thank you for your love.

Barry

Blue Sky Day

Once every couple of months our executive staff have what we call a “Blue Sky Day” (this one actually happened on a day when there was blue sky!).

On these full days, we meet at Susan’s and my home to talk about church stuff – my favorite topic. We discuss our staff needs, our building expansions and plans, compare calendars, plan special days and generally have a good time together.

This time we got to talking about our plans to expand and remodel both of our campuses for a variety of reasons. We’re in a growth season and we must make room for our added family members. Churches, being dynamic rather than static, grow like gardens. There are budding seasons, blossom and fruitful seasons, pruning seasons and winter seasons. Each period of time is both necessary and right in the process of life. We must first be aware of what season we are in and secondly respond appropriately to the need of the moment.

Just like in our family dynamics there are many seasons. A single person moves away from home, gets married, have babies, babies grow into children and then teenagers, and ultimately they leave home and mom and dad have an empty nest. Then hopefully grandchildren come etc. Each season in our life demands an appropriate response. The key is listening to the Holy Spirit to know when, how, where and why we should do what we’re doing.

That’s why praying together is an important part of our Blue Sky Day agenda. After all the listening, talking, planning is done; we go and celebrate our future by having lunch together.

Can you imagine a better job?

Barry

Robin Hood in Church?

Well life at 59 is pretty good so far! I’ve only been at it for 2 days, but it feels much the same as 58! There are many advantages to getting older.

Because the kids have moved out and are happily married, Susan and I have more private time together. Even when we’re busy, the time that we spend at home together is much more personal.

Grandchildren, as Solomon wrote (he must have had a few hundred of them) are a blessing from the Lord. We can care for our 6 grandchildren, love them, play with them and send them home again. I remember a poem I heard years ago that I enjoyed (but Susan doesn’t agree with it).

“I’ve seen the lights of Paris
I’ve seen the lights of Rome
But the lights I like the best of all
Are the tail light of our children going home!”

There’s also (hopefully) an increase of wisdom, which flows from years of experiences. Mostly bad experiences- we learn more readily from failure than success.

And for me, it took about 50 years to really understand and move into my life purpose. I guess that understanding not only evolves, but our purpose changes from decade to decade. At my age now, it seems easier to focus on that purpose. I’m hoping that the next 15-20 years will be my most productive as I learn to discern kingdom priorities and set appropriate boundaries.

I received a few presents for my birthday, which I really appreciate. Pobably my favorite was Kelly’s letter to me on my blog. A couple of others I loved were a book from a dear friend called, “What I Learned from God While Gardening.” It’s so good I wish I’d written it myself!

Another couple whom I deeply value as friends had 10 fruit trees planted in Africa in my name. Wow! I was so touched by their thought-full gift. It was a great birthday! Thank you for your blog comments and well-wishes.

This week our church has been presenting the comedy drama, “The Somewhat True Tale of Robin Hood.” I am so very pleased with the gifting of our Director of Arts, Maureen Reid, and how she inspires dozens of actors and workers to fulfill her godly and passionate vision. The play has been the result of months of dedication and work of a whole troop of volunteers.

Merry Men (Opening Scene)

Robin and Marion Meet

Robin is Captured

I’ve been asked why our church would produce a secular, rather than a Christian drama, so this is a good place to articulate some philosophical values that we hold.

1. We serve a happy God, as Paul wrote to his son Timothy. God likes to have fun – we know that from the parties he expected his people to throw in celebration of the holy days. This play is a great place for people to come, be entertained and have some good clean fun.




2. God created the arts. I love how Maureen leads our church in the celebration of the gifts of art all around us. Whether it is in musical choirs, kids concerts, art shows (including sculpture, paintings, sketches and carvings), cooking and eating (my favorite), dance or drama; there are hundreds of gifts of art that God has given which need to be enjoyed. For us as leaders, success is helping as many people as possible use their gifts to point people to God.




3. One of the under-girding values of our church is small groups. We call any group of 4-10 people serving in the community a small group. It could be a baseball or soccer team, kid’s church class, leadership council, ushers group, sewing circle, Alpha table, Bible study group, sewing circle, or a drama troupe.




Our goal is to help people move from the outside circle to the inner three circles. Adherents are all those who attend Northside Church (regularly or irregularly) but who do not participate.

Prospective Believers is a group of people who do not yet attend any church and who are maybe not yet believers. My hope is that everyone who is part of our church family is praying for 4-5 friends or family members to be part of our church (or another church). That outer circle has about 8000 people in it!

The Robin Hood play is a great place to invite one of those 8000 people to see the church in action – maybe to help remove their preconceived ideas of a church being boring or irrelevant or uncaring.



4. We want everyone to know and experience the love of God. We believe God’s intention is that every person in our world would receive his love, acceptance and forgiveness, whether those in the outside circle read about what we are doing in the local paper, or come and see for themselves; whether they first are introduced to the church through Alpha, boxing club, hockey or a drama, that to me is exciting!




5. Thankfully our drama team has chosen to designate all the proceeds of this play to Missionary outreach (The Northside food bank). Thank God that every $12.00 we give to missions translates to one more soul finding Jesus as their Saviour.

So thank-you Maureen for leading us, those who constructed our sets and painted the scenery, who helped with lights and sound, who sewed the magnificent costumes, took pictures and video, served in the concession or welcomed guests, did secretarial work, decorated and picked up supplies! What a great success we see when scores of gifted people faithfully use their gifts, time, expertise, energy and love for God’s glory.

Bless you one and all – we love the play!

Barry

Puzzle

This puzzle was given to me by a CPC colleague. She tells me that it was written by a woman in California in response to a man in Philadelphia who offered a thousand dollars to anyone who could write a puzzle that he could not solve.

According to the story he was not able to solve it and he paid the money.

Can you solve it? The only clue is that the answer is one word and it appears just four times in the Bible (King James Version). If you figure it out, let me know.

Adam, God made out of dust, but thought it best to make me first,
So I was made before man to answer God’s most holy plan.
A living creature I became and Adam gave to me my name,
And from his presence I then withdrew, and more of Adam never knew;
And did my maker’s law obey, and never went from it astray,
Thousands of miles I go in fear but seldom on the earth appear.
For purpose wise, which God did see, He put a living soul in me.
A soul from me God did reclaim, and took from me the soul again.
So when from me the soul had fled I was the same as when first made,
I labour hard by day and night; to fallen men I give great light,
Thousands of people, young and old, will by my death great light behold.
No right, no wrong can I conceive; the scripture I cannot believe.
Although my name is therein found, they are to me an empty sound.
No fear of death doth trouble me, real happiness I never see.
To heaven I shall never go, or even to the hell below,
Now when these lines you slowly read, or search your Bible with all speed,
For that my name is written there, I do honestly to you declare!
WHO AM I?

And in case you are wondering, I am NOT giving away a thousand dollars if you can solve it!

Barry

Another Important Birthday - February 22, 1947

[Note: This blog was not hacked, although this post was not written by Dr. Buzza and he has no knowledge of it. This special post was written by his eldest daughter, Kelly.]


Dear Dad,

In honour of your birthday I wanted to thank you for the amazing imprint that you have left on my life so far, and for continuing to bless my life now.

Having a loving, caring and always present father has helped mould me into the person that I am. I cannot even think of a time in my life when you were unavailable to me. I still remember all the times when, in my shyness, I hid behind your legs in uncomfortable social situations.

I can recall many trips to Disneyland where you would carry Kristy or I up on your shoulders for hours at a time. I could never begin to count all the Saturdays you would enthusiastically play Monopoly for up to 8 hours! I really thought I was great at board games. I didn’t know that you often let me win just to build my confidence.

Dad, you were always physically present and just ’in’ all my great childhood memories. You were also the kind of Dad who was always there to answer confusing questions. We thought you knew everything because you continually took time to answer any question, we could ask, in a really impressive and confident way. Now I know that confidence doesn’t always mean factual, but it was nice to think I had the smartest dad around!!

Even as a teenager I knew I could go to you with any question or situation and you would give me loving, truthful, and helpful advice without judgment. If I ever called you, no matter where you were or what you were doing, I knew that I came first. I could drop in at work and all your attention turned to me. I could walk outside while you were busy mowing the lawn, and you would turn of the mower to talk.

Now that I am a mom, it is really amazing to look back and realize that it is very much all the tiny little things in a kid’s life that add up to create a confident, well adjusted person. I really could never even come close to measuring all the wonderful ways you, along with mom, helped guide my life. I just have to say thanks dad, for all the fun times, happy memories and great fatherly advice.

Thank you for being my Dad, a nurturing Papa to my children and a caring pastor. I love you and am so proud of all that you have become. You are a person of amazing integrity and you really are worthy of all the admiration that each of us have for you.

I consider you a wonderful gift from God.

Love Kelly

A Day at the Office

People wonder… “What does a pastor do all day?” I guess the assumption is that we only have to preach for 30-40 minutes a week, so life must be pretty rosy for us pastors.

The fact is, life is good, but I’ll let you follow in my footsteps for one day, so that you can get a glimpse of my work. Last Friday was pretty typical.

I’m up at about 6:00 a.m. to prepare for my Synoptic Gospels class at PLBC. After ablutions, I sit in my home office to read, study, pray and prepare a three hour lesson for my class of 32 students. The class was about the way that Jesus trained his 12 disciples, (with application to our own leadership development), and about how he led people into a relationship with the Father. It’s a very interesting subject about how Jesus actually got his followers to be “born again.” I think that the students were surprised that He never had an alter call and never led them in the “sinner’s prayer.”

In the car at 8:00 a.m., I usually stick on a tape with teaching on it -- I love listening to sermons, courses or whatever I can find, while I drive. On Friday my lesson was on the Jewish covenants. From 8:45 to 12:15 I lectured and talked with students about Jesus’ model of leadership and evangelism. I walked away with about three hours of paperwork to mark.

On the way back to the office, I stopped at the hospital to visit a woman from our church, who was in for a short stay. Usually I can make 3 or 4 phone calls in the car. Back at the office by 1:30, I talked with the secretaries about Sunday and other projects they were working on, made a couple of other phone calls and prepared for my first session.

A young couple, I’m getting to know and love, are planning to get married. As always, I’d assigned them homework and so we talked about their upcoming marriage for the hour we were together. The time went almost too fast. My secretary called and said my next appointment was here and waiting.

My 3:00 p.m. meeting was with a dear friend and pastor who’d been suffering from some personal failures and needed someone to talk with. We try to meet regularly and he makes himself accountable to me and others in his journey back to wholeness.

I had a problem by 4:00 p.m. session. Two appointments came at the same time. With 2 church offices and 3 secretaries, double ups sometimes happen. So I spoke with the one lady first. She had come to church with a friend and heard about the love of Father God and wanted to pursue a relationship with God. I loved listening to her. She knew she needed help, but how could she entrust her life to a God whom she didn’t know? Good question.

I talked with her, got to know her a bit, gave her some homework and made another appointment. I’m looking forward to our next dialogue. I love the miracle of a new birth – especially the spiritual, eternal kind.

The other visit was with two people (and a third who came for support) who were working through a prickly relationship issue. Our talk went much better than they’d hoped. Both of them went away pleased with what we’d talked about and some homework. I usually give work for people to do – it shows me how serious they are, and also helps the person(s) grow through their issues.

By 6:00 p.m. I was home with my beautiful wife and we were ready to spend the evening cooking and preparing for Susan’s mom’s 90th party on Saturday (see previous post about that celebration!).

So, that's an average day for me.

Barry

Happy 90th Birthday, Mom!

February is a busy month of celebrations for us -- of course, with the large family we have, every month is rather busy celebrating one thing or another. But of particular importance is the celebration of my wife's mother's 90th birthday. Both Susan and I wanted to express our love and appreciation for all she has done for us:

Dear Mom,

Thank you for being the perfect mother-in-law. I remember the first time we met at the impromptu 20th birthday party that Linda and Susan put on for me. I knew you were a winner that night when you went to bed and left this 20 year old stallion alone with your 15 year old daughter!

Among the many things about you that keep me in awe and admiration is your acute ability to rise above difficult circumstances and overcome them. If anyone has come from an adverse and difficult childhood—you have. Your mom was a challenge to say the least, you really had no father; your family was poor economically; you had no spiritual or social guidance and no encouragement—yet you did not only survive, you excelled.

Like good King Josiah, who followed in the blasphemous footsteps of an evil father and grandfather, and still managed to be one of Judah’s most successful kings, so you have trod through a similarly muddy past, and yet have become the very model of a successful mother and mother-in-law. As King Lemuel wrote about his mom:

“Strength and dignity are her clothing
And she smiles at the future
She opens her mouth in wisdom,
And the teaching of kindness is on her tongue
She looks well to the ways of her household,
And does not eat the bread of idleness
Her children rise up and bless her…
Many daughters have done nobly,
But you excel them all….
Let her works praise her in the gates.”

Mom, not only will the thousands of people whom you have blessed, greet you with honor and thanks in eternity for all of your kind and gracious works—but the greatest legacy you will leave in your long and protective shadow, will be your two beautiful daughters, your four strong and successful grandchildren and your ten promising great-grandchildren. For these gifts, who stand tall above your cheering fans, I am most grateful! I love you Mom.

Barry


To the Best Mom in the World,

I can’t believe you’re ninety years old. You’re the youngest, brightest ninety year old I’ve ever seen. I know it is because of your complete faith and trust in the Lord. You let Him worry about things instead of carrying those burdens yourself. It is no wonder that your whole family turns to you when we are in need. We all know that Mom/Gram will pray and get through!! I’m so thankful for all your prayers for your children while we were growing up. Thank you for praying for my future husband, you did well. Both of your daughters did well. It is hard to believe that you had only two daughters and now your family has turned into 4 children, 8 grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren. What a heritage you have.

Thank you for all the love you gave me. I’ll never forget the camping trip that you, Dad and I went on after dropping Nancy off at Bob’s parent’s home. What a hoot that was. Just you and I trying to put up that tent in the dark only to have it fall on top of us, and you and I collapse laughing while Dad fuming in the car. No wonder I’m a hotel person and not a camper to this day.

Thank you also for being the best grandma to our children. You are loved so much by them. Barry and I were threatened many times that they were leaving home and going to live with Gram. You truly are the perfect Gram to our children and now our grandchildren. Wow!

Mom, I want to tell you just how much I love you and appreciate everything you’ve sacrificed for me over the years. I know you worked to make sure Nan and I had “things” we otherwise wouldn’t have been able to afford, thank you for all the music lessons, taking us to Sunday School, cadets, VBS, youth, camps, etc. You not only took us, but taught to be with us. You’ve been such a perfect example of giving of yourself to your family, church and friends. Everywhere I go, people tell me how blessed I am to have you for my Mom. I know that and tell them I agree.

I’m finding “ninety” such an emotional time for me. I know life doesn’t go on forever, and I can’t imagine life without my Mom. I look forward to hearing your cheery voice on the other end of the phone, and love knowing you’ll understand me and have an encouraging word for me, and what would I have done without you throughout the Breast Cancer and Depression years. Your prayers got me through. When you told me I’d be all right, I knew in my heart if my Mom said I’d be all right, then I would be because my Mom hears from the Lord.

I thank you and love you from the bottom of my heart for being such a loving, giving and encouraging Mom throughout my whole life.

All my love,

Susan xoxoxox

My Valentine

I still remember as if it were yesterday…

My brother Dave and I were setting out by train across Canada to Montreal. From there we were to board the SS Corinthia II bound for Liverpool, England. Our plan was to motorcycle around Europe for the next three months. Dave and I were fully planning on being alone as we embarked on our trip, so we were delightfully surprised when a group of well wishers from our youth group showed up to say bon voyage. I can’t remember all who were there, because my attention was on a young blonde girl who was there with a mutual friend. Her name was Susan.

A few months after Dave and I returned from our European tour, I was sitting on the front pew of our church during a Sunday evening youth emphasis service. There she was again. This time Susan was singing in a trio with her sister Nancy and our same mutual friend, Linda.

I was star struck! Susan’s eyes sparkled when she sang and her whole body moved in synch with the song. Her voice was magnetic, and I couldn’t take my eyes off her for the several minutes that she was in front of me.

After the service, I, with great apprehension worked up the courage to ask her if I could take her home. She agreed to the ride, but the young man who’d brought her didn’t. Strike one.

It was a couple of months later that Linda, who was also a fellow student at Bible College (now called Pacific Life Bible College), asked me if I would come to the home where she was living for Chinese food. It was my twentieth birthday and so I agreed.

I could hardly contain my excitement when I arrived after class, at Linda’s homestay family’s house and there was Susan. It was her home where Linda was living! The three of us had a great time celebrating my birthday, and I even got a birthday kiss from the beautiful young blonde as I left.

Although I was twenty years old, I was still too shy to ask Susan out for a date, so I asked Linda if she would ask her for me. My hope was that she would go with me to a big youth event that next Saturday evening. Still not having even confirmed our date, I prepared to pick her up all Saturday afternoon.

First I washed my 1965 Malibu SS, and then I began getting ready. Dressed in a brown suit and tie, Vitalis in my hair, Hi Karate on my cheeks, I was ready to pick up my beautiful young date. I was so nervous for our first date (one of the first in my life) so I had written down several things to talk about on a piece of paper which I'd tucked safely in my pocket.

My date was everything I’d hoped. Wearing a camel coloured dress, hair well coiffed in a beehive, a gentle White Shoulders fragrance on her soft skin, Susan was radiant. I was surprised how easy she was to talk to and how fun our time was together. Susan made it so natural to share about myself and learn about her. She helped me press past my natural fears, and drew me into conversation with ease.

After that night, it was simple for me to call and chat with my new girlfriend on the phone. I couldn’t think of anything or anyone else for weeks after we began dating. I don’t think there was a day that we didn’t see each other -- right up to our wedding two years later.

Susan and I were engaged on February 14, 1968 and happily married on February 28, 1969. She has been the love of my life, my valentine, since that first time we shared Chinese dinner on February 21, 1967. I can’t imagine a more wonderful relationship than we’ve enjoyed over these past thirty-nine years.


Thank you Lord for my perfect wife!

Happy Valentine's Day, Susan. I love you.

Barry