Monday, August 1, 2016


My 60 Year Inventory

Well, today I am sixty years young and I wanted to review my life and see what God has done over these many years.  Reflections help remind us not only of our missteps but also our triumphs. So, here goes!

Today, I have more hair than when I was born. The Bible says God knows the number of hairs on my head and I realize since my 30's God knew subtraction since my head looks like the bottom of a new born baby.

As a child my friends consisted of kids in my neighborhood: Donnie Dixon, Holly Whitmore, Vicki Trumble, Theresa McGovern, and a few more.  Then school started and friendships increased.  Those friends have moved on or moved away yet I have a Friend who is closer than a brother.  I met Jesus in the back of a Chinese restaurant in Norfolk, Virginia when I was twenty-six and he is still with me thirty-four years later.

Though I was not able to start college till I was twenty-seven, God led me in ways I never expected.
Since my first job was washing dishes I found myself drawn to the hospitality industry and it was here I got my Bachelors degree. Waking up a year after graduation, I sensed "I need to be doing something for God".  I went back to graduate school to work in Christian camps or retreats but a friend shared God had a call on my life.  For three years He did not relent and I surrendered into pastoral ministry and had the pleasure of serving God's people for twenty-six years.

Once a loner, I now have an extended family of brothers and sisters in Chris.  Two of those are Vicki, my wife of seventeen years and our daughter, Stefani. God did not stop there and gave me a mother-in-law and sister-in law to care for since Vicki's dad had passed away.  Caring for them fulfills a promise I made to care for my own mom but was unable by the time she had passed away.  With both of my parents gone I have a woman in my house who spoils  Stefani and made sure Stefani never had a babysitter.  She has infused Stefani with her life and love and Stefani is richer because of it.

I have had my heart broken and I have done the same to others. To those, I am grievously sorrowful. I, like David of the Bible have those sins before my eyes.  While I cannot forget them I know he has forgiven them.  The angst we feel because of what we have done gives us cause to stop and think before we go down that same road.  

This inventory does not mean the end of my life but a poignant reminder He will still be with me the rest of my life and beyond.  Vicki and I have a new ministry and future plans to travel.  No matter what, God will be with us.  Happy Birthday to me.

Wednesday, July 20, 2016

The ironclad rule: "Things don't always go smoothly"


As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!” He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the stormsubsided, and all was calm. “Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.” Luke 8:23-25

Things amazingly never go as we plan. We hope, plan, strategize, and organize but, no matter, things always go a different way.  Why should we think any differently than these intrepid and adventurous disciples who had grasped onto Jesus' sleeves looking for a better life.  If you forgot, they argued among themselves about status and position as Jesus came into the city of Jerusalem for the last time. 

Many times we see these difficulties as God's condemnation about the plans we have made instead of looking at the picture as he sees it. The back of a very expensive Persian rug looks very different than the front.  Often times we are looking at the back of the rug instead of seeing these events as God does--opportunities for growth.  Scripture tells us man does purpose in his heart but it is God who directs the travel.  

Thirty-six years ago this month I left Virginia Beach to go to Rhode Island at nationally recognized hotel and culinary college.  My plan was to eventually earn the certification as a Certified Hotel Executive and travel the world managing hotels and resorts.  Little did I know within seven years I would be entering seminary and leaving my plans behind.  The journey has not been smooth but a series of ups and downs, and twists and turns.  

Eventually, the disciples found their true place and would lead the real Jesus explosion throughout the known world.  Likewise, I have found myself looking back these years and know I am where God wants me.  

If you like these North Pole Musings and would like to help us raise funds for toys to children in hospitals, please follow this link to donate.

Monday, June 27, 2016

ClausBlog: Finding the Pearl in a Sandstorm

ClausBlog: Finding the Pearl in a Sandstorm: Out of tragedy Comes Triumph Several years ago a young woman suffered a major life setback which required months and months of recover...

Finding the Pearl in a Sandstorm

Out of tragedy Comes Triumph


Several years ago a young woman suffered a major life setback which required months and months of recovery and now a lifetime of chronic issues.  The first thought would be 'Why God?' but this was not the case.  In the midst of this trauma came friends and loved ones who spoke into the lives of both the woman and her family.  Meals appeared and cards from children ended up taped to the wall of her hospital room.  Her daughter was cared for by friends while the husband sat beside his wife for fifty days in the hospital. Three more visits to hospitals in the next nine months became the routine for this couple. 

Now, seven years later the tragedy which almost took her life has ended up with both a new zest for life and a ministry.  In a matter of a couple of weeks, the couple's four years of planning and strategizing will come to fruition in Santa Calls For You.  This business/ministry brings together the skills and gifts of both husband and wife and allows us the opportunity of returning into hospitals to show the same kind of love and compassion which had been shown years ago.  

The care of children in hospitals creates issues not associated with adults.  Children who are nervous may need sedation which creates a different set of problems.  From an article entitled, Calming kids' hospital anxieties, by Dr. James Callahan, he suggests a series of strategies to help children.  Santa Calls For You hopes to play a part in this by ministering to children "one smile at a time,"  

Years ago I read a Christian author whose name escapes me today who suggested that to truly heal from the tragedies of life is to find the pearl in the midst of the sandstorm. We have found that by looking at the needs of others, ours seem to pale in consideration.  We no longer are in a hospital facing an unknown future but a child is and with a visit by Santa and Mrs. Claus delivering a toy and love, we hope to show Christ's love in our ministry.

Please share in the joy and the hopes we have for this venture and know we appreciate your support and prayers.  

Saturday, April 23, 2016

Moving Ain't So Bad



As I sit around my present home in preparation for moving, I find things which had come up missing in the past being packed away for transit.  The question is: did I really need it?

Many things in our lives come and go just as the days of the calendar and what seemed important to possess years ago became dust collectors of that era. Some of us were persuaded by the commercial on television to purchase an exercise machine which would have returned a youthful physique and stamina.  I dreamt of going from a twelve-pack abs to hopefully a six-pack but sadly the machine became a place for my clothes. One day I decided to unload it to someone who may have had the same hopes for his body as I had for mine.

Moving can also be a good thing.  God moves his children spiritually as well.  When the nation of Israel had gotten accustomed to being in one place, God told them they had been at this mountain to long. ( Deuteronmy  1:6) He wanted them to move and take the land in which He promised for their inheritance.  I guess the nation had just gotten a little bit comfortable.

Likewise, as Christians we get comfortable in our walk with the Lord and choose to sit down and refuse to move.  Sadly, God has an inheritance for us if we just get going!  This means we leave behind the things which had surrounded our lives to move to the place God has for us.  Thing like faithlessness, bitterness, envy, lying, and all the other junk are left behind so we can imitate His Son, Jesus.

In moving we might need a road map to get to the place we are going; God says he knows the plans he has for us.  Years ago there was a bumper sticker which said, "God is my co-pilot" but if we really want to go where He has for us we need to get out of our seats and let him drive.