Thank you. I received some good advice and counsel from some of you, but most of all I received your love. You reached out to me and responded to my need. Are you uncomfortable that I am struggling? Do you come to this place for advice and encouragement and find someone like you who needs it? Good. That is the way it should be.
Pardon me while I pass on what has been passed to me. This one, from Arthur, is worthy of wall space: “Real courage and growth comes with each tiny step you take into your discomfort zone.” Thank you Arthur. I am thinking of the children of Israel who didn’t see the Jordan River open until the priests with the ark first stepped into the water.
And June put things in perspective with: “Cherish the time you all have together down here in our ‘non-permanent home.’”
And thanks to Eddie just in with this: “You can therefore be confident in every circumstance of life, however baffling, that it has been permitted in your own best interest by the wisest and most loving of fathers who knows our ‘load-limit’”
But Darin surprised me the most with this little homily on home. The surprise is the story that went before it that made this kind of positive reflection seem incongruous, but that’s the way it is sometimes with faith.
Home is the safest place in town when everything falls apart. Home is where the most tears are shed. Home is where most prayers are prayed. Home is where most Bibles are read. Home is where the best meals are served. Home is where the softest pillows are found. Home is where laughter relieves the most stress. Home is where mom and dad / husband and wife do their best work.
Home is where the peace of God works best. Home is where the still small voice of God is heard the loudest. Home is where the best plans are made.
I want to go to my Heavenly home when my time comes. But until then, I will live in exile as head of this household. As planned. Because it is in this home, in this town, where Jesus does most of His best work on my heart.
So Darin, does that mean if you or I avoid this tension, the work never gets done? I bet it does.
John Fischer The Catch 
I didn’t send this yesterday. But it is worth sending this old song by Pat Terry:
Home Where I Belong – by Pat Terry
They say that heaven’s pretty
And living here is too
But if they said that I would have to choose between the two
I’d go home, going home, where I belong
And sometimes when I’m dreaming
It comes as no surprise
That if you look and see the homesick feeling in my eyes
I’m going home, going home, where I belong
While I’m here I’ll serve him gladly
And sing him all my songs
I’m here, but not for long
And when I’m feeling lonely
And when I’m feeling blue
It’s such a joy to know that
I am only passing through
I’m headed home, going home, where I belong
And one day I’ll be sleeping,
When death knocks on my door
And I’ll awake and find that I’m not homesick anymore
I’ll be home, going home, where I belong
thx 4 sharing these Pastor John, i found much encourgement (sp) in them too!
For Mother’s Day, the sign at the Baptist church up the road read, “Home is wherever Mom is.” Since MY mom has already reached her forever home, this is doubly true for me. Reading the sign each time I pass by produces a strange combination of emotions – a sad sort of elation at the thought that I’ll be Home one day, but have to travel the rest of my journey here without her. I think no matter how old we get and no matter how long our moms have been gone, we never outgrow our desire to be near them. So to all of you who are blessed enough to have your mom still here – cherish every moment, even the bad ones. Like my friend said, “you only get issued one set of parents, so love the ones you have.”
John I hope your “Route 66” birthday tomorrow is a great one. Maybe you and Chandler can hop on it for a short stretch to celebrate. Geez. Today you don’t look a day under 66.
Dear John and Marti,
As I read and encouraged by your daily (five days a week) thoughts, I am reminded about the struggles each of us have. What I remember about the old prayer and praise services on Wednesday night was a time where people could share their struggles with other people in the church knowing that it was being said. I missed those times, but I realize that too often since I was a child those same prayer and praise services created the struggles into gossips around town instead of trusting God in prayer. Oh Lord, give us the grace to be more open as AA meetings are. I also want to share with you the message on transformation and healing that Mrs. Norma Runion, wife of Reverend David Runion-Senior Pastor, gave on the morning of Mother’s Day. She spoke of being abused for a decade as a child and how God healed her to be an instrument of His. She is a graduate of a seminary, but six months after graduating God had other plans to marry David Runion. This message will be given at the Mission Valley Church of the Nazarene on Sunday, 26 May 2013 at 6:00 pm worship (called mission at 6). The address is:
4750 Mission Gorge Pl
San Diego
(619) 287-3211
Shalom and CHESSED