Pastor David Maier - Forward in Hope

2010 Maier Family Christmas Letter

December, 2010

Dear Family and Friends,     

Merry Christmas!

As we marvel at the great gift of God in our Savior Jesus Christ, we want you to know that you are in our thoughts and prayers.  We thank our gracious God for the gift of YOU, the gift of each opportunity to share or be with you (or at least exchange Christmas greetings each year!), and we wish you God’s most awesome and excellent blessings this Christmas season and throughout the New Year.

This past year held lots of changes for our family, not the least of which was our move from Lansing, which had been our home for 20 years, to the Ann Arbor area in southeastern Michigan. (Please note the new address!)  Dave is now 15 minutes from the District Office – and he does not miss the 2 ½ hour commute at all!  Spring was busy with Joel’s graduation, helping move Leah, Joel, and James from apartments/dorm rooms to new apartments/back home, attending call services at the seminaries in St. Louis and Ft. Wayne, and looking for a house.

The Boys Are At Camp Mak-A-Dream - July 1-8 ... Pray for Them

Joel and James have been working hard during their Big Sky Adventure summer. (It's amazing to hear about all the work they have generated - cutting trees [yes, with a chain saw], clearing land, brush piling, burning, making trails, helping cater at the Lodge in the valley [where they recently served Glenn Close].)

They have also taken a few hours and days off to have some fun. Take a look ...

Dreams Come True - The Boys Head to Big Sky Country

In 1985, in what first seemed to defy reason and logic to our parents, Pat and I along with friends Tom and Jeri Arenz (met these wonderful people and friends for life on vicarage in San Francisco), were able to purchase 15+ acres in the Swan Valley in Montana. With frontage on the Swan River and views to the east of the Swan Range and to the west of the Mission Range and situated between two wilderness areas it is truly "God's country." I am fond of saying, "When you pray there, it is a local call."

We started camping there in our "L & L Bean 4 man pup-tent," but quickly outgrew that with 2 dogs, 2 children, and Pat and myself sharing the tent (in no particular order of importance). We since have camped in a cabin tent borrowed from the Youth Group (Arlington Heights, IL), a borrowed pop-up tent camper (that seemed like the Ritz Carlton compared to the pup-tent), our own pop-up tent camper purchased from the sale of two sets of black lab puppies, and finally a hard sided camp trailer.  With electricity, a well, and an outhouse with the best view in North America, it has become a place our family cherishes, especially when the Arenz's are there and other family members visit.

Six Month Check Up in Ann Arbor … GREAT – All Clear!

Last Thursday was my six month CT Scan at the U of M Hospital, a routine meant to keep an eye on the lymphoma that caused emergency surgery while on vacation in July of 2002.  That appointment is regularly followed by another appointment for blood and other tests at which time they give you all the results.  That was today.

Simple Pleasures

It's Friday evening.  Pat came home from school and I BBQ'd some chicken (Maier chicken) on the grill.  The weather outside was/is beautiful.  The cloak of Michigan's winter had been hung in the closet, and the appropriate lite wraps have been selected.

Joel is home from Concordia University, Ann Arbor, for his 21st birthday.  The boys and I earlier today had an incredible joy -- spring golfing for the first time -- although "incredible" does not describe how we played.  "First time" does ... (Check out Twitter and PMs Tweets to the side of this blog.  There's even a picture of one of the holes ...)

Immediately after supper three of us and Izzy (our dog) took a walk into the quaint village of Dimondale. We have a select route, although this time it did not include walking over the bridge over the Grand River ... and therefore no icecream at the Creamery.  That simple pleasure will have to wait ...

The sky was just getting dark, the bats were flying, but the temperature ... oh, the temperature ... just perfect for walking in only a long sleeve shirt.

Simple pleasures are the best ... 

Let us give thanks for them.

Christmas Traditions … Rocky Balboa?

Over the Christmas break I sure that our family will carry on a tradition that’s existed since our youngest was able to sit still … either in Pat’s arms or between favorite siblings, with popcorn or a sweet treat of some kind … and go to a movie.  The movies we have seen have usually been Christmas related … The Santa Clause, The Family Man, Jack Frost, Polar Express, etc.  (During Christmas breaks … I’ve also had the honor of going out over the years with my older children to a movie of their choice (Vertical Limit; a James Bond flick, etc.) … sometimes even being invited to join a group of their friends in doing so.) 

I’m not quite sure what movies I will see this Christmas break … but one that has caught my interest is Rocky Balboa.  Of course I’ve seen a number of the previous

Rockies

, and enjoyed some of them, especially the first and third in the series (I think there have been five).  But this one, some 30 years after the first movie, what can if offer?  What appeals to me this time?

I think that it is far more than that an older guy can get in shape (although that is encouraging to me, and hopefully inspiring as well, having received my AARP card about 2 months ago).  Although I don’t know the full storyline … the four words that are used to advertise the movie appeal to my inner spirit: 

Courage      Integrity      Faith      Victory

Some of the quotes from interviews with Sylvester Stallone regarding the movie intrigue me even more, and seem to indicate that a change has occurred in his life and he is a Christ follower.  Could that be?  Could Sylvester Stallone be a Christian?  Listen to some of his and “Rockie’s” quotes …

·      It ain’t about how hard you hit.  It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.

·        “No matter what, you can overcome your past," he said. "With help, if you look to God, you can overcome your past and be reborn."

·        “There’s a point where the body stops and inner strength begins.  It really begins from the soul – from God.” 

·        "The more I go to church," he said, "and the more I turn myself over to the process of believing in Jesus and listening to His Word and having Him guide my hand, I feel as though the pressure is off me now."

And making the analogy between physical and spiritual fitness ...

·        "You need to have the expertise and the guidance of someone else. You cannot train yourself," he said. "I feel the same way about Christianity and about what the church is: The church is the gym of the soul."

The “gym of the soul”.  Church viewed as “the gym of the soul.”  I like that … and that is probably something I will comment on later.

Until I’m done with my Christmas / New Year’s season sermons, I won’t be able to see the movie.  But I am looking forward to it … and hope I will not be disappointed.

Tell me what you think if you see it … or give any other recommendations for our tradition.

My Life Changed By This Experience

This past Wednesday evening at our “Still Waters Praise and Prayer” gathering I was led to talk about Matthew 9:35-38.  The preceding days had been one of the most emotional periods of my life.  Someone who in a few short days at the end of October had become a dear friend, died, and most assuredly went home to be with the Lord. It was in the end of October that she and her husband had generously befriended my son Joel -- who was still receiving chemo treatments following a brain tumor surgery in September, 2004 -- with a special trophy deer hunt at their high-fence hunting ranch in mid-Michigan.

The day before New Years Eve, she received the disconcerting diagnosis of having a rare and very aggressive form of cancer.  She would, as it turned out, only live 8 more days.  I had been contacted and invited by the family to serve as the clergyman at the forth coming funeral service.  No one expected it come as soon as it did. 

My son Joel and I had the privilege of traveling up to their home and being with the family on New Years Day.  I also had the great blessing of baptizing this dear woman the following Tuesday.

Here is what still amazes me.  If it were not for their generosity, and the working of some family and friends, I would never have had the opportunity of  knowing this couple, much less have the privilege of sharing Christ, baptizing a friend, and quite frankly, be changed for life myself.

More to come in subsequent posts …

Thankfulness ... For Oh So Much

Not long ago Pastor Olsen in a Sunday sermon used the following illustration:  While Corrie ten Boom was living in a German concentration camp, her entire body became infested with lice, making a bad situation worse.  She was complaining about it one day, and her sister reminded her of the Bible verse that says, "In everything give thanks," and she challenged Corrie to give thanks for the lice.  Corrie's response was, "How can I give thanks to God for lice?"  But she made a choice to offer thanks for the lice anyway.  Later, she found out that the lice had actually protected her from the assaults of the German soldiers.

It may take a while to learn but under the watchful eye of an all loving God even the most difficult of circumstances can be used by God to bring blessing.  All things in life can work together for good ... under God's grace and blessing.  (Rom. 28)  In fact, the Apostle Paul writes and encourages us all to be more aggressive in our joy and thanksgiving and praise and prayers to God in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18:  ¹⁶Be joyful always; ¹⁷pray continually; ¹⁸give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 

At times it was difficult to be thankful for the lymphoma that has been in my body, or especially for the brain tumor and cancer that was in Joel's body.  But I have come to learn and appreciate how God needed to get my attention to change some things in my life, and although I would not wish lymphoma or cancer on anybody else, it has certainly been a blessing in my life in numerous way.  I thank God for the good He has worked.

The same can be said with reference to Joel.  While hunting with him I asked him if he say any benefits in his ordeal with his former brain tumor and subsequent treatment of radiation and chemo (hopefully, prayerfully his last treatment will be December, 2005) and his response was, "Yes."  He related how he saw that his life could have gone some directions that would not have been pleasing to God, how God spared him through this ordeal, how he views and values life differently now, how he wants to help his friends see what's really important, how he loves the Lord, what amazing people he's met through the process ... doctors and other patients and other families that have been affected by the disease ... and how in general he has been blessed by God.  That is a faith answer and I pray that his faith continues to grow and his hunger for the Word continues.

Then, I have opportunity to see my wife, how strong and humble and courageous and committed she is to the Lord, and I am awed.  Leah and James and Hannah -- all with their own unique struggles, victories and subsequent growth in life and in the Lord ... and again i am Thankful for how the Lord can work good and blessing even out of diffuculty and consequence.

I am thankful for the miraculous healing of my father, and for the example of how my mother stood/prayed by him continually.  My father's continua witness to the goodnes and grace of God during these past months was exemplary to the hospital staff, the doctors, all that know and visited him, and expecially to myself and my family.  God is amazing.

Yes, there will be much to be thankful for this coming Thanksgiving ... but there obviously is each and every hour of each and every day.  How thankful I am, and ask God to make me continually, for His Son Jesus, my Savior, for His Word, and for how He keeps all ... ALL ... of His promises.  Food, fun , football games ... will all be great.  But knowing Jesus and seeing how He can work, and the hope He gives, and the love He has and floods us with ... for these let us give thanks always.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Oh Yeah ... I've Got Other Children

In the past I’ve had opportunity to write about my son Joel who in September, ’04, had a brain tumor removed at the U of M Hospital … and subsequently went through months of radiation and will be continuing chemo treatments through December of this year.  Thanks, by the way, for all your prayers.  Relatively speaking … he’s doing very well … caught up on all his homework for his Junior year of high school … and will be taking his ACT test Saturday, June 11.  What an incredible year for him …  Please continue to keep him in your prayers.

I’ve also written about my daughter Leah, my oldest (20 years old) seeking your prayers for her especially as she spent the 2^nd semester of her Sophomore year at Calvin College in a study program in Spain.  She came back safe and sound … and a lot poorer … on May 20.  It was great to see her … and even more outstanding having her home for the summer.  All too soon she will be headed to Grand Rapids for her Junior year, living off campus with 4 other girls in a house.  Again I thank you for your prayers for Leah … and look forward to your continued prayers before the Lord in her behalf.  Thank you again!

But as I attempt blogging on a regular basis again (… please pray about that for me also.  I truly believe that blogging is a great way for me to communicate to the congregation that God is allowing me to shepherd.  I know that blogging allows me to share my prayer requests as well as share with the members of OSL and a wider audience … what I’m thinking, reading, … what I’m geeked about or what is challenging me.  It’s just that I’ve been busy enough with ministry and emergencies that a regular time to blog has either not been guarded … or it has just been preempted by necessary other tasks in ministry and family …) I would love to tell you a little about my other children and have you pray for them as well.

Leah's Spring Break Trip...and Prayers

Leah left on her Spring break with about 5 other girls last Saturday, I believe.  They are traveling by train ... and first went to Barcelona.  There they saw some other friends from Calvin ... whose families treated all the girls to some wonderful meals ... Then  they traveled on to Geneva and Luzern ... with a stopover in Interlochen, Switzerland tomorrow ... sleeping on the train or in Youth Hostels along the way.

The saddest thing for her on the trip so far was the total, yes total lack of recognition -- much less celebration -- of Easter any where in the countries that she's traveling though.  It really bothered her ... and caused her to miss home and OSL all the more.  We briefly talked on Easter and it was GREAT!

Thursday, March 31, and Friday she and the girls will be in Rome, then on to Florence on Saturday and then back to Barcelona, Valencia, and Denia by Sunday.

Thank you so much for your prayers for her.  We all in the Maier family miss her greatly and look forward to May 20 when she will be returning to the USA.  But please continue to pray for her safety, her witness (she has explained some interesting opportunities she's had), and her continued growth in the faith.  She is so thankful for you all and for your many prayers as well.

Joel - YaHOOO ... He's Doing Well

Thanks for all your prayers while Joel was down in Ann Arbor for his check up and chemo treatments.  He had originally planned on staying at the Hospital only on Tuesday night, but with the new type of chemo they are giving him they actually kept him for two nights ... and of course Pat stayed with him. (We sleep on chairs that extend into beds in Joel's room.)  The one time I talked with Joel when he was getting his first chemo drip ... he said he felt pretty nauseated and tired.

But what an awesome blessing to talk with him on the trip home yesterday - to hear his good spirit and know that he wasn't sick ... and then to see him ... NOT "out of it", not getting sick, not barely able to communicate, but smiling, rejoicing really ... that this new chemo and/or the way they are administering it was allowing to feel as good as he was.  HOW DIFFERENT from last time ...

I guess they determined that the vincristine chemo is the one that did the damage on his nerves and muscles.  So that was not in the "cocktail" this time and might never be again.  They're trying to use some chemo drugs like cysplatin (sp.?).  OK, that's the medical explanation ...  But we know that God has been working with the medical personnel and with Joel's temple, his body, so that this chemo regimen for the next 10 months might actually be more tolerable.  WE THANK GOD and we thank you for your prayers. 

Please pray now that the new chemos "nail" the cancer ... and that his blood counts stay high.  The concern with the new chemo drugs is that blood counts can get pretty low ... and then Joel can be quite susceptible to other infections and diseases.  So there is still much to pray about ... but ALWAYS MORE to be thankful for!

Thanks!!  My heart is glad.