We Were Singing in the Rain
Today was a pretty good day. That about sums it up. But then, that wouldn't be very me to settle for a summary when hundreds or thousands of words are just waiting to be written.
My good ole friend Marcus and I arranged to go on a bike ride today around 11:00. I picked him up at his place, and we parked at the entrance to the Fanno Creek Trail on Denny Road. The basic plan was to see how far we wanted to ride, find a place to eat lunch nearby, and go back from whence we came. "All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return." (Ecclesiastes 3:20 NIV) - okay, so not quite that far back... just back to Denny Road.
Marcus and I ended up making it to Pacific Highway and ate at Ole Ole, one of my favorite haunts. "Babylon will be a heap of ruins, a haunt of jackals, an object of horror and scorn, a place where no one lives." (Jeremiah 51:37 NIV). Okay, so there were no jackals (or ghosts) in sight, and we certainly didn't ride all the way to Babylon, but the word haunt reminded me of that sort of verse (there's actually a bunch of them!), and I couldn't resist. Those wacky jackals!
| Bike Stats: 08-24-08 | |
|---|---|
| Distance | 8.70 miles |
| Ride Time | 48 minutes, 19 seconds |
| Average Speed | 10.7 miles per hour |
| Maximum Speed | 17.9 miles per hour |
After taking Marcus home I drove out to Cathedral Park in North Portland. Ethnos had arranged to "take over" the park for the afternoon and evening. I didn't want to miss it for anything! I long for each moment I spend with the Body, especially now that my need for community and spiritual sustenance is so evident. These are a good and Godly people, and I know God has blessed me to be counted a part of this awesome community. I am the least of them and unworthy of their kindness, but God is kinder still. As I walked under the towering St. Johns Bridge and heard the praise resounding over the grassy hill, I prayed thanks to God again with great emotion today, realizing how privileged I am to be where I am. God is good. The cup He has handed me is running over. Yes, my soul is thirsty, but I sense what I have been given is more than enough to quench... and I want to share some of the excess.
My arrival at Cathedral Park was somewhat comical in my own estimation. Not knowing exactly where the majority of the group was congregating, I parked and walked toward the river, seeing a small group of people there. It ended up that the small group was filming a movie and had nothing to do with Ethnos. However, I encountered Mark and Paul nearby. What was funny to me is that there was Paul with his canoe. That's not so funny, but rather cool. Funny was that I immediately accepted an invitation to join him rowing and stepped into the boat pretty much immediately after approaching the river. I had my backpack, camera and 7-11 Double Gulp. I didn't even go back to the car to reassess my supply situation. I simply stepped in the boat, and off we went!
Paul's a nice guy who I've been connecting a bit with. He was thoughtful in bringing his canoe along, and I was thankful to be invited to join him. In spite of having no clue what I was doing it was a blast. I've only rowed a boat a handful of times, and I don't have a feel for it - or the muscles. Paul compensated for my lack of experience by keeping the craft pointing in the right direction while contributing to our overall forward thrust. Good times.
After the row, I made my way up to the amphitheater where all the sound was coming from. Our leaders arranged with the park to have full access to the stage, along with the power boxes. The musically inclined crew brought along the full range of sound equipment and instruments. There was an "open mike" throughout the afternoon for various musicians to contribute, and the sound carried throughout the park.
Athletic activity abounded, and there were hot dogs roasted and other vittles to munch on (though I kept myself clean of the extra calories). In fact, I probably came away with a net caloric loss, as I was physically active almost every second I was there. The moment I walked up I played with some of the kids, running around a bit. Then Anthony and I juggled my soccer ball to my heart's content - though contentment in that area is nearly impossible, especially when I find that rare someone who also likes to juggle.
Paul took over the mike when it came time to start the service around 5:00. He blasted out some awesome tunes as we sang along in worship. It was a great occasion. We were without a screen for words, though fortunately I knew all the songs save one. After the music Dave delivered a passionate message that outlined the basic history of the world and the Gospel message of Jesus Christ :).
Several observers and bystanders came and left throughout the course of the afternoon. One lady in particular took a very active role in the service. She talked to Dave and asked if she could share something that had been going on in her life. Her honesty and boldness had an impact on me and reminded me of my own recent experience involving God exposing me to His marvelous light. She was a believer who had taken some wrong turns and was dealing with darkness and evil of the most potent form, even manifesting itself in tangible spirit world crossovers of an evil variety. Somehow God had reached through all that and had spoken to her (not a difficult feat for Him whose dominion and power has no boundary or limit - and He is good). She realized what she had exposed herself to and grabbed hold of God's hand of deliverance. She claimed victory in the spiritual battle she was facing and is making bold steps toward holiness in spite of oppression and opposition. Later, after her testimony, a bunch of us laid hands on her and prayed, thanking God for His deliverance and requested continued protection from evil. She talked with the elders and made some friendly connections with others. What a blessing to behold such a "chance" encounter in the park! God is at work, and surely His hand was upon us all.
"I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness." (Isaiah 42:6-7 NIV)
He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous." (Matthew 5:45 NIV) So it rained almost the entire time we were at Cathedral Park. While such conditions had potential at spoiling things, for once I really enjoyed the rain. I was half drenched with sweat from running around, and the other half with the rain. I got dirty, had fun, and it was all worth it! We were singing in the rain!
Oh, and I dare not forget the baptisms! Two young ones were baptized by their respective fathers in the - I'm assuming - quite frosty waters of the Columbia River. It was a grand and glorious occasion!
"This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!" (Psalm 118:24 NIV)