Sabbatical Adventures of Rob and Debie

2008-06-16T08:16:00.000-07:00

Homeward Bound

We can feel the pull of home getting stronger every day. The journey has been awesome, but the thought of being able to sleep in our own bed and only having to drive to church and back on $4.25 gas is sounding pretty nice.
In the past week we have really covered a lot of ground. Adam and Melissa Barrett, their son, daughter, and adorable baby girl, formerly part of the Olive Knolls family, now living in a beautiful home in North Carolina, send greetings to all.

Melissa and Kana took us to the Billy Graham Museum in Charlotte. We were both moved by his passion and dedication to family and the Word and sensed a personal reaffirmation to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ that has the power to change lives.

From there, we drove straight to Branson, Missouri, via Graceland in Memphis, where Shawna and Tim met us, and we all had a couple of days of just pure fun. The new musical, Noah, was overwhelming. We experienced the most extravagant set we’ve ever seen as we literally sat in the center of the ark with the animals surrounding us in 3 levels. We got to play golf…all four of us…. the miniature variety… in the rain. The rain must have thrown Rob’s game off a bit since Tim and Shawna beat both of us. That afternoon, the Titanic Museum, where we spent several hours, reminded us of the arrogance that cost 1523 people their lives.

After just starting to get a feel for streets of Branson, it was time to press on to Oklahoma City and Life Church. They are doing some amazing things, presenting the Word clearly and applicably through video venues. We felt totally blessed to be in church there.

Now we are just peddling as fast as we can to get home. Peddling seems to save on gas. We are looking forward to being back with you this Sunday. Please continue to pray that God will keep His hand on us. We pray for all of you every day.

Blessings,

Rob and Debie

2008-06-11T06:27:00.000-07:00

Historic

2008-06-09T18:14:00.000-07:00

After leaving New York, we slowed down the pace a little bit as we headed toward our nation’s capital. Our next destination was the home of the Declaration of Independence, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. To stand in the very hall where 56 men staked their lives on the idea of democracy with their signatures was humbling.

To see the Liberty Bell and so many other reminders of our nation’s beginning was a dream come true.

Next, we spent some time at Valley Forge and were reminded again of the incredible price that was paid by so many in the founding of this amazing place we call the United States of America. Valley Forge in the Spring of 2008 was very pleasant, but we could only imagine how desperate the conditions must have been in the Winter of 1775.

On arriving in our nation’s capital our first impression was of the quality of the travel in the city. The subways were the primary NYC transportation. Not really the place you wanted to be at night, but a local cultural experience, and we do mean experience, with nothing to compare it to until….the Metro in DC. At every stop there were actually people stationed there to guide you through the process of how to get a card and what to do with it. Underground stops were spacious and very open in comparison with the dank, hot clammy subway air of NYC. Reading the maps and finding destinations was quick and easy to learn, another sharp contrast. We applaud the DC area for its public transportation.

Wondering where we actually traveled too? Well… once in DC, it was on to the Mall, of course, taking in some of the Smithsonians we hadn’t seen before, also seeing the Washington, Lincoln, Jefferson, and World War II memorials. All were beautifully imposing, accomplishing exactly what they were created to do, drawing you to them by their powerfully unique designs, to remind you of the great things accomplished through the lives and the sacrifices of these amazing people. We also took in the Supreme Court and the Newsium which were all fascinating.

One of our favorite places was the Jefferson Library in the Library of Congress. It was awesome to realize that at one time he personally possessed the largest library in the nation. His vast thirst for knowledge included areas such as literature, the arts, architecture, philosophy, history, law, science, etc. However Rob and I found an area they neglected to mention---Theology. His gathering of commentaries, Latin dictionaries, Bibles, and theological studies available in his time was remarkable. Thomas Jefferson valued knowledge, including the knowledge of God and His Word which led to wisdom. Inspirational!

By now you’ve guessed that we survived the 4 tornadoes that hit the area. We never lost our electricity, though some residents around us were still waiting for theirs for over 24 hours after the storms. We watched the rain come down in torrents from inside Union Station one afternoon as the wrath of the storm beat against the windows. It was a great place to sit safely, have dessert and read a good book.

On Sunday we were in the Harrisonburg 1st Church of the Nazarene. Kerry and Kim Willis pastor there, and it was wonderful to be in worship with them and to hear the stories of how God is at work. They are doing some amazing things in their own unique way.

We continue to pray for all of you and miss you all very much. We are feeling the tug of Bakersfield increasing as we now start moving west this week starting our way back toward home.

The journey continues… blessings!!!

Rob and Debie

2008-06-02T19:05:00.000-07:00

The Big Apple

2008-06-02T08:41:00.000-07:00

Who can describe New York? So unlike Chicago, Seattle, Boston, any other town. It’s a myriad of vastly different ethnic and socio-economic communities all crammed into one small island and the surrounding areas. These past few days have been an absolute whirlwind. From the top of the Empire State Building to the bottom of the Holland Tunnel… it’s all amazing.

We stood in reverence overlooking the hole in the earth known as “Ground Zero”. There was a flood of emotions as we made our way onto an observation deck across the street from where the towers once stood. People only talked in hushed whispers even though there were no signs telling us to… it was like everyone sensed that this was a sacred place. It’s still hard to imagine what happened and how it has changed our world.

In the subway, on the way to the Dodgers vs. Mets game at Shea stadium, was about the first time in 4 ½ weeks that I (Debie) was glad I left my Dodgers sweatshirt at home. The only name I know is Joe Torre, because our Bellman said, “Be good to Joe. He’s a good guy.” Still can’t name one player, though.
I (Rob) have to admit that Debie was a better fan than I. I’ve always heard about the fans in New York and how rabid they are. Debie stood and cheered for the Dodgers’ home run. I figured they might be less likely to beat up a lady. Dodgers won that night, 9 to 5... it was great. The locals were true to form, they booed the Dodgers from the start, but when the Dodgers started to get the best of the Mets, they turned all their fury on their own team, reminding them what they expected of them. We were going to slip out at the end of the 8th inning to avoid the subway rush, but 2/3 of the Mets fans had the same idea, turning their backs on their team.

There were so many great things we saw… too many to describe here. Above all else, our memories of New York will forever center around going to The Brooklyn Tabernacle. We have had the privilege of going to many wonderful churches across the years, but this church and these people will always stand out in our minds. First there was staff meeting on Tuesday morning. About 60 people came in for the meeting and the joy and love that they felt for each other was so apparent. It was a great reminder of how the body of Christ is to come together. Then there was the Tuesday night prayer gathering where more than 3500 people came together to seek the heart of God. They started showing up at 5:00 for a 7:00 prayer meeting. At 6:00 the pastors came forward and lines began to form as people came to present their needs asking for specific pray in their lives. By 6:30 the house was packed and no one was running around to chat… they were there to meet the living God. No one waited to be told what to do. They knew and so did we. It was an anointed evening. Toward the end of the service Pastor Jim Cymbala called Debie and I to the front and asked the people to gather around us and pray for us and our church. All of you at Olive Knolls were prayed for that night by 3500 people as Jim laid his hands on us and asked God’s blessing on our ministry. Sunday was more of the same. Their services are at 9:00, Noon, and 3:30… two hour services. We went to the noon service. When we arrived at 11:00 there were already long lines outside the building waiting to get in. By noon every seat was packed plus 1000 in another auditorium video linked. Our hearts were full to overflowing. What a week!!!

Now on to Philly and D.C. and next Sunday in Harrisonburg Church of the Nazarene. God is good, all the time… and all the time, God is good.

Blessings,

Rob and Debie

Blessed in Boston

2008-05-29T06:46:00.000-07:00

Ever been to Boston? It was our first time. The Freedom Trail was filled with history and old world charm. Buildings and grave sites dated back to the early 1700’s. Paul Revere’s family home, the oldest standing home that exists in Boston, was built in the late 1600’s. We just don’t have that kind of history out West. We can’t find any buildings that old in all of California. It was something pretty special to be in those places where our nation got its start.

Then right in the middle of the 3 mile walk, after buying cannoli’s at the world famous, Mike’s Pastries (thanks for the tip, Glenn and Kayla) Rob looked up and noticed his college roommate and his wife, now living in Seattle. They were there on business, taking a little break. They gave us a greater tour of the city by foot and by boat and dinner at Legal’s on the wharf. Kelly and Elinor Cline send greetings to Olive Knolls.

The JFK Library was inspiring. It’s presence on the bay was spectacular. Having lived through some of that period of history, it brought back memories, yet barely touched on his assassination, leaning heavily on his family, campaign, and presidency.

Though we all know that he wasn’t a role model for fidelity and I never heard of him claiming to have a relationship with Christ, I (Debie) was impressed by his focus on equal freedom for everyone especially spotlighting the, then horrendous, treatment of those born with mental disabilities, helping bring about great change in the respect and care for all individuals. With his emphasis on treating all individuals as valuable, I wonder, if he was alive today if he would be pro-life?

Eastern Nazarene College, the smallest of our Nazarene colleges, was filled with East Coast charm with beautiful landscaping.

One evening we got to slip out to the movies. If you see the movie Prince Caspian, C.S. Lewis, author of the book of the same title, created the character, Aslan, the lion, as a symbol of Christ. In this movie, we see more of the “breath of God” or Spirit of God breathed into the lives of believers, and some examples of how lives can be empowered and changed through His Spirit. It was powerful and encouraging to us.

Yes, we had two wonderfully full days here in Boston and are excited about New York and Brooklyn Tabernacle.

Oh, and thank you for your comments. They give us a feeling of being in touch with you.

In His Service,

Rob and Debie

The Fruited Plain

2008-05-23T06:48:00.000-07:00

Our journey across the “Fruited Plain” continues to be totally amazing. The people we’ve met have been so encouraging and the places we’ve seen have made the images we always saw in books come to life. We’ve missed Bakersfield while enduring temperatures of 50 to 65 degrees. Everywhere we go we’re told, “It’s usually not this cold.” To which we think, “Thank you, Lord.” Let’s enjoy Winter and Spring as long as possible.
Michigan was green, gorgeous, and seeing friends and family was great!
We found our way to Canton Ohio and the Football Hall of Fame. Debie forced me to do it. Actually she enjoyed it… almost as much as I did. Getting to see all that football history up close was very cool. They had one section dedicated to veterans who also played football that was especially meaningful heading into the Memorial Day weekend. I (Rob) got my fix of San Diego Chargers history. It was a dream come true.
Today we toured the Hershey’s Chocolate World. We’ve never seen so many ways to decorate and eat sugar! Candy bars, cakes, licorice, candies, in every way shape and form, and on our way out, in the parking lot, an appropriate reminder of what happens when a child eats all they want. Poor girl. Her mom was making sure no one stepped in it. Yes, there was chocolate, stuffed animals, 3-D movies, and an amusement park, but what impressed me (Debie) the most was the fact that Mr. Hershey not only made a fortune making candy, he built a school for special needs students, and he made them the beneficiaries of his fortune when he passed away. Now that’s sweet!
Now we’re on the way to Boston. What a perfect weekend to be right at the heart of where our country began. You all are in our prayers every day.
Blessings,
Rob and Debie

2008-05-19T08:20:00.000-07:00

What a Week!!!

2008-05-19T07:55:00.000-07:00

After we left Kansas City we headed toward St Louis and on the way we had the opportunity to connect with some of Debie’s family. We hadn’t seen them in a little over 30 years and it was fun to just around a table getting caught up and sharing our stories. It was an awesome time.
Next we took in the St. Louis Arch. Now when you’re 20 miles away from this steel arch, and you can see it, you know it’s big… but when you’re standing under it, staring 600 feet up, it’s amazing, architecturally speaking, that something that sleek and smooth in texture and design, can be so enormous. You can see why it’s one of the 7 wonders of the modern world. Reading all the history and actually being there was very inspiring. It made me (Rob) want to build something.
How many of you have been to, or heard of, Valparaiso, Indiana? Us either. This small town about an hour outside of Chicago came alive with rich history when Tamara Tanner gave me (Debie) a walking tour. Gene and Tamra Tanner, our hosts for the week, pastor the Valparaiso Nazarene Church. They are doing some really innovative things in worship and are in the middle of building a new worship center. We were so encouraged by their ministry. We’ve picked up insights at every church so far.
While we were there we launched out and went to Amish country. It was quite amazing seeing horses pulling the plows through the fields and the little horse drawn buggies. We couldn’t help but think of the shooting at the Amish school a few months ago, and how redemptive they were in their response. We were reminded that all our advancements haven’t necessarily given us the most important things in life. We also enjoyed an Amish buggy ride tour.
We walked the campus of the University of Notre Dame. WOW! It’s pretty interesting to see what a few billion dollars can do for you. We saw “Touch Down Jesus”… I’m not sure that was what they intended, but that’s what football fans the world over call him. We peeked through the locked fences of the football stadium. We heard a few minutes of a graduation concert in the cathedral, and were so impressed with the beauty and grandeur of this enormous campus built a little over 150 years ago.
We spent a day in Chicago. We took the train into the city. We were glad we did it, and have sympathy for those who have to do it every day. The city was truly remarkable… the history, the architecture, the pizza. It was all fantastic.
Yesterday, we worshipped with the Tanners at Valparaiso in the morning and at Mars Hill where Rob Bell pastors in the evening. Both services were a blessing. In the morning they were casting vision for their new building and in the evening, experiencing a baptism, similar to ours in format.
Well, we’re off to enjoy Michigan. Have a great day, and thanks for looking in on us.
We miss you all.
Rob and Debie

Pentecost, Mother's Day and More

2008-05-12T08:33:00.000-07:00

The last few days have been a wonderful chance to slow down just a bit and hang out here in Kansas City with our kids. It has been awesome. Kristi flew in and joined us, and with Tim’s parents and sister, there were eight of us. It was a wonderfully full and fun house, especially at game time.

We have had some of the best bar-b-que in KC at “Oklahoma Joe’s”. It shares space with a gas station / mini-mart… but people stand in lines out the door most of the day, which walk them past the snack food racks and all the other stuff on sale. Every few minutes our kids greeted another seminary graduate and their families lining up to eat pulled pork or hot links and ribs. Mighty tasty!!!

The springtime in KC is pretty spectacular. We spent some time in Loose Park, not like our parks. We walked around the 100 plus acres of rolling hills lakes and gardens, Civil War reminders, playing some along the way, enjoying the gorgeous colors with everything blooming.

Our son-in-law Tim Gaines graduated from Nazarene Theological Seminary Suma Cum Laude, with a 4.0 GPA. He was given the honor of “Most Distinguished Preacher” and preached the morning message at Kansas City 1st Church of the Nazarene. His speaking skills surprised and captivated all age groups. We felt so blessed to be under his ministry on one of those rare days where the celebration of Pentecost and Mother’s Day fell on the same day.

(Debie) Both moms in the house felt honored and appreciated with a beautiful breakfast, love from our children, considering Tim’s speaking and commencement like thick chocolate frosting on our Mothers’ Day “cake”. Every moment spent with our children, hearing of their dreams, their views, their laughter, is a gift. Every day spent with loved ones, seeing the people they are becoming, as we are all “becoming” at every age, is something I pray never to take for granted.

I (Rob) have been reflecting on the amazing privilege of having God’s own Spirit dwell in our lives. That same spirit that stirred as life came out of the nothingness in the work of creation, that same spirit that empowered Elijah and all the prophets as the Israelites witnessed again and again the power of God… that same spirit, the Spirit of the Living God was unleashed at Pentecost not simply to dwell in the world but to live in my heart and life so that the power of God could be unleashed to transform and heal my brokenness, and to shape me in the likeness of Christ so that I could be restored to fully experience the blessings of a relationship with God, and to make God known to those around me. Wow!!!

We are on a rich journey and feel God’s presence and your prayers.

All our love,

Rob and Debie

Conquered the Flatlands

2008-05-10T13:38:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we made the drive from Denver to Kansas City. We were told that they were digging a tunnel all the way from Denver to KC and that they were going to call it the scenic route. 611 miles of flatland. Still… it was a wonderful time. Debie has become the queen of fixing gourmet PB&J sandwiches on the road. They are mighty tasty.

In Denver we stayed with another pastor and his wife, Stan and Janet Reeder. They pastor the Westminster Church of the Nazarene. They are doing some amazing things. They have just bought 80 acres and are planning on relocating. They were a wonderful encouragement to us.

For the next few days we will be here in KC with our kids, getting ready for Tim’s graduation from Nazarene Theological Seminary. We are so proud. We will post some pictures of the ceremony when that happens. We are also going to have some famous Kansas City Barbeque while we see the city and enjoy family.

May God’s grace and peace be with you!

2008-05-06T19:42:00.000-07:00

On the Road to Cheyenne

2008-05-06T08:25:00.000-07:00

This morning we woke up in Salt Lake City (Not looking for a new church here) and are on our way to Cheyenne Wyoming. We’ve driven through snow capped mountains and beautiful lush valleys. We have seen deer, which readily came up into Pastor Jerry and Grace’s back yard, a few antelope… but we haven’t seen them playing yet. You might have to think about that one. We got to see the spring salmon run with Rob’s brother, Jerry, his wife Cynthia, and their kids, Patricia and JJ, some Sturgeon that were about six feet long, and I am not giving you a fisherman’s tale. These things were huge. It is absolutely amazing to see the beauty and diversity of God’s creation.

We went to see the movie “Expelled”, which was very insightful. We enjoyed it and would recommend it to any of you interested in the debate between Intelligent Design, the belief that life originated from a higher power, and Evolution, used as Darwin and others to explain the origin of life. Not as boring as it sounds, many funny moments.

We have now visited three wonderful churches. They each are clearly focused on seeing lives transformed. They each come at it in their own unique way. We are learning a great deal and have received much encouragement from each place we have been.

We continue to read in 1 Samuel in our devotions. It’s no wonder they call it Amazing Grace. God sure put up with a lot in those days. Pretty sure he still does. We are reading and discussing two books together right now, alternating between them as we are out on the road. One is Kay Warren’s Dangerous Surrender, and the other is called Focus. Both have given us many useful insights.

We are keenly aware of how blessed we are to be a part of our Olive Knolls family and to be held up each day in your prayers. Please know that we are praying for you as we go along.

May God bless you in a special way this week,

Rob and Debie

Continuing on the Journey

2008-05-03T08:11:00.000-07:00

God you are letting us see new pieces of your heart revealed to us in the hearts and lives of your servants, these marvelous men and women who serve in pastoral leadership roles around the country. They are diverse and complex in their backgrounds and journey of finding and following you. Their stories are full of amazing grace. They are also, at the same time, amazingly uncomplicated and likeminded, all having been taken over by this simply mission to make a difference in their world. They see life through the lens of mission as they have sought to define it. They are learners. They are not afraid to try new things. They choose joy even when circumstances are difficult. God what a blessing to be in such incredible company. The day now awaits us... there is much more to see and learn.
Blessings,

2008-05-01T09:46:00.000-07:00

In the past couple of days we have experienced some incredible scenery, beautiful hills and mountains and lush forrests. It is all so amazingly green. We have also been reminded what it takes to sustain all that green... rain... rain... more rain and hail too. It was all very cool, but it sure reminded us that we are both sunshine people.

We have been reading in 1 Samuel and have been reminded of the importance of having Christ at the center of all we do in our homes. It brought back the images of our dedication service last week. May God bless our homes.

We had in the priviledge of staying with Dave and Lynnette Rodes. They pastor the Puyallup Nazarene Church. It quickly became clear that prayer is the foundation of all they are doing these days. We felt so honored that they opened their home, their lives and ministry to us. We were blessed through the time that we spent with them.

All is going well and God's presence is clearly felt.

Blessings for now!

1st Day Out

2008-04-28T20:27:00.000-07:00

Monday Morning

We actually got on the road this morning about 8:00 a.m. We have dreamed and planned for this time for months, but it has actually begun. We traveled 598 miles and are spending the night in Medford Oregon.

As I started the drive this morning Debie read aloud the book of Ruth for our devotions. We talked about how Ruth's heart had been captured by the vision of being a part of God's family as she faithfully cared for Naomi and gained the reputation of being a person of tremendous character. Wherever they were going, she was going... whatever they were doing, she was doing. She found a Kinsman Redeemer who gave her hope and a future. We were reminded that we have found the same thing in Jesus.

We saw some incredible scenery today including beautiful Mt. Shasta. We arrived safely and are looking forward to another great day tomorrow.

Blessings,

Welcome

2008-04-19T12:06:00.000-07:00

Welcome everyone, to the home of Pastor Rob and Debie's blog. This is a place were you can see exactly what these two are up to on their grand sabbatical. So enjoy the posts and we hope you visit often.