Birth Announcement

We were delivered on August 24th, 12:35pm, two newlings bleating hallelujah as we slid through the birth canal from California to the rest of our lives. We were between Las Vegas and the Virgin River crossing into Arizona when the phone call came. The hospital looked like a title company; the obstetrician, an escrow officer. The news was that escrow had closed; it was delivered, complete, fini, done.

It had been a long pregnancy of 17 months and four days. We were overdue. But 2112 Pioneer Avenue is now someone else’s responsibility and we are free folks to pursue a new life. The pregnancy had been long one and coincided with my memorization of Romans 7:15-8:31 (Message version), part of which says, “All around us we observe a pregnant creation. The difficult times of pain throughout the world are simply birth pangs. And it’s not only around us; it’s within us. The Spirit of God is arousing us within. We too are feeling the birth pangs. These sterile and barren bodies of ours are yearning for complete deliverance. But that’s why waiting doesn’t diminish us any more than waiting diminishes a pregnant mother. We are enlarged in the waiting. We, of course, don’t see what’s enlarging us, but the longer we wait, the larger we become. And the moment we grow tired in the waiting the Spirit comes alongside to help us along….”

We have been delivered from our house and our practice, our children and our friends--our past enlisted in preparing us for the future. We grieve the loss of the familiar friendships, the tried, tested turf of “home.” The relationships that have mattered will continue on with us, just configured differently--more seasoned, mature, and able to adapt with the times.

This new life is as yet undefined. We can be sure that it is “not a timid, grave-tending life. It’s adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike, ‘what’s next, Papa?’ I find that I breathe my way one Spirit breath at a time into the future: “when God lives and breathes in you (and he does as surely as he did in Jesus), you are delivered…” The labor that went into the delivery was painfully instructive, shaping our character in ways we had not imagined. But we are grateful now to be set free after 25 years and a few months in that particular address with that particular mission. Now both mission and geography change. God bless you for reading; and us in the living it out with a heart of love for the Father who gave us birth.

de-clutching

August 14th 2010


Love this thought from George McDonald in his book, Diary of an Old Soul: “In holy things may be unholy greed. Thou giv'st a glimpse of many a lovely thing, Not to be stored for use in any mind, But only for the present spiritual need. The holiest bread, if hoarded, soon will breed The mammon-moth, the having-pride, I find. 'Tis momently thy heart gives out heart-quickening.”

I want be free of this clutching, looking over my shoulder, saving up against a rainy day, rearing up on hind legs to keep treasure from the gnawing wolves. Let me gladly give my house, stuff, car, clothes if I get You in the bargain. “Leave all to follow me,” You said. Give me guts and gumption enough to do that.

Letting God hold us in mid-air

Hi Folks,

After more than 25 years in our delightful home-sanctuary, we are moving on… Following in the steps of our Old Testament mentors, Abraham and Sarah, we’re packing up, moving on – even though we do not yet know where we are going! God said “pack up” – we are. God said “start walking” – we are. They asked “where are we going?” God said “I’ll tell you … later.” Eventually, we trust we will be on foreign soil… teaching, counseling, responding in tangible ways to the needs that God lays in our path which does include being partners with Interserve missions www.interserveusa.org



What this looks like is: While we expected closing of escrow to be finished, it remains delayed. Both buyer and seller are motivated to make this deal happen ~ pray with us this will come together “In His Time.” The buyer is having glitches with a trust account for the older children he adopted when his sister and brother-in-law died, both to cancer. Our movers packed all our belongings on August 5th. On this particular Saturday, August 7th, we are sitting in patio chairs, borrowed from our backyard, in an absolutely empty house save our frig, which will walk out the door next week to a Jewish buyer family from Craig’s list. With the close of escrow, Lord willing we’ll head eastbound in the Roadtrek camper van we’ve had since July 1993. Bound for Zion & Bryce Canyon National Parks [favorites of ours since Bethyl’s Dad, Eddie, died in 1991]. Our sized-down belongings will be delivered to their new home: an insulated, finished barn on the property of our dear friends, Keith and Marian Hoezee in Hudsonville, Michigan. They are supporting our missionary work by storing our earthly stuff. We are blessed “sojourners!”



On Saturday, July 17th the 3rd anniversary of Jonathan Edward’s home-going (Bethyl’s disabled brother), we shared a delightful meal of food, sharing, and anointing prayer with about 40 dear friends who represent marked altars in our life experiences during our 28+ years of marriage. Our former Pastor Graydon & his wife, Judy, (previously pastoring in Alaska) joined to place His blessing upon us. “thanks to God… for times… now but a memory…”

We’re intending to honor “a call to rest,” a Sabbatical that we have preached but not practiced much until recent times. It’s now time to obey. Lord willing this will be in the north of England as God opens the way… perhaps in September. We’re praying that we listen well to The Voice of the Lord – as we go… as we rest… and that sometime during this period, God will heighten our hearing to the place He is preparing for us. We won’t be surprised if it’s India – but … He may well surprise us… as He’s been known to do. We do know this: “they who dwell in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed in the shelter of the Almighty [whose power no foe can withstand!” Amplified. Psalm 91:1].

For now, you can reach us on our cell phones: Vance @ 714 350 8100. Bethyl @ 714 615 0379. OR with our current e-mail: vshepperson@sbcglobal.net or BethylJoy@sbcglobal.net . However, our e-mail addresses also are already updated to vanceshepperson@gmail.com and bethyljoy@gmail.com which is what we will have after disconnecting our present phones. Feel free to follow us on our blog: http://thesheppersons.blogspot.com Our forwarding address is: 950 28th Avenue. Hudsonville, MI 49426-9630

We hope to use e-mail and our blog to connect with you – we also would appreciate your input to us – up-to-date email addresses, current events in your life, and prayer needs. We hope you will want to partner with us with prayers and perhaps financially if you’re so led. We will use our own savings for living expenses and are just looking for financial support with  health care and mission related expenses (missionary counseling, de-briefing, training, consulting, and teaching). We were saddened this morning to hear of the missionaries in Afghanistan being killed; two were partners with Interserve So, “If you think of us, don’t just think, go to God immediately with your thoughts and He will create just the response to us that your thought was intended for.” We will do this for you as well.

Shalom!

Vance and Bethyl Joy

Getting De-Stuffed

July 18, 2010


The process of downsizing, two shrinks shrinking, is sensationally bittersweet. I sense with my eyes, ears, nose, tongue, skin both the bitter and sweet of letting go. Our house, packed to the gills for 25 years, now echoes when you drop a pin. It’s getting that empty. The moving van shows up on the 28th to take our remnant of stuff to a dear friend’s barn in the Midwest for storage. We leave at close of escrow on the 30th.

I love seeing stuff walk out the door. Mostly. My massage chair hurt to see go. But overall, there’s a visceral lightness of being that goes with being de-stuffed. The smell of obedience rises like jasmine on the breeze of a crisp new morning. “This resurrection life we have received from God is not a timid grave tending life. It’s adventurously expectant as we greet God with a child-like, “what’s next, Papa?” (Rom 8:13, Message)

We had a prayer meeting of about 40 folks here yesterday. It was good to be prayed over, supported by long time friends who know us and like us anyway. As we quest into our unknown future it’s best not to go alone. The Africans have a saying, “if you wish to go quickly, go alone; if you wish to go far, go together.” We need you to go with us as we travel. When God brings a wisp of a memory of us to your awareness, take that as a mandate to zip off a bullet prayer for the Father to assist us in that very moment wherever we are and whatever we are doing. We would be most grateful. Stay tuned to the Spirit. He’ll remind you of Jesus, always, and us from time to time.

Remember?

July 4th 2010


           Alice, my mother-in-law, in the living years, used to say, “If I could remember your name I’d ask you where I put my keys.” She had a healthy respect for her memory lapses--particularly as she reached her mid-eighties and then got her vertical promotion at age 87. My memory is more and more resembles Vance’s Milk of Amnesia, For Times When He Can’t Remember Poop”.

But I am not alone. I think you might be a companion de voyage. You and everyone else, including God’s very own people:

“We're certainly warned about forgetfulness in Scripture, both in word and by example. In the Old Testament, the pattern is so predictable, we come to expect it. God delivers his people from the cruel whips of Egypt by a stunning display of his power and his care-the plagues, the Passover, the Red Sea. The Israelites celebrate with singing and dancing. Three days later, they are complaining about the water supply. God provides sweet water from the bitter desert springs of Marah. They complain about the food. God drops breakfast out of the sky, every morning. Then it's the water again. God provides it from a rock. Enemies attack; God delivers. On and on it goes, for forty years. As they stand on the brink of the Promised Land, God issues a final warning:



Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. (Deut. 4:9,emphasis added)



They do, of course, let it slip from their hearts. All of it. This becomes the pattern for the entire history of Israel. God shows up; he does amazing things; the people rejoice. Then they forget and go whoring after other gods. They fall under calamity and cry out for deliverance. God shows up; he does amazing things; the people rejoice-you get the picture. Things aren't changed much in the New Testament, but the contrast is greater, and the stakes are even higher. God shows up in person, and before he leaves, he gives us the sacraments along with this plea: Do this to remember me. They don't- remember him, that is. Do we really think we are any different?”

(John Eldridge, Desire , 2000)

So I’ve resolved to do what this 59 year old swiss cheese mind can do to staunch the flow of memories on their outbound express train. I’ve taken up scripture memory as a discipline. I hope God will honor His Word as I house more of it in my noggin. Thus far Deuteronomy 8, Isaiah 58, and now Romans 7:15-8, all from the Message, are making little creases in my brain, causing tiny synapses to fire familiarly. Getting embodied in my actions more and more. Thank God for His Spirit enabling and impelling.

On a different sort of note, our house is in escrow—after 15 months on the market! We have a hope that it will close later this month, perhaps within 3 weeks, and we will be on our way toward the east coast, then to the UK for a time of sabbatical, and then to wherever He leads us overseas as missionaries under www.interserveusa.org. We are thankful. Pray with us that this escrow will in fact close and we can be about our Father’s business in more needy places of our planet. Thank you, Lord, and thank you, my reader.

Hot Box Trio

        The other day I was in one of my favorite places, the sauna. Sweating peacefully. Had my ears on, listening to my favs shuffling around in the ipod. Minding my own business. One portly young lady, with a wrestling sweat shirt on, fiddled with her phone, a couple of middle aged black men all buffed out hee-hawing about this n that. Typical sweat scene.

After one of the black guyes left, I heard the other asking Ms Portly what she was doing:

“trying to dial up my music, but something’s broken.”

“oh, you like music?”

“yep, I sang the national anthem the other week at a football stadium.”

“really? Let’s hear it.”

“ahhh, no…., I just sing in front of crowds, not real people.”

Meanwhile I’m evesdropping.  Look at the lady wrestler.  I turn off my ears. Pull that plug.

Chime in, “if he and I start, would you join us?”

He nods up and down, “yup, we dad types can sing too.”

I start, “ohhh, say, can you see……” he joins me. Ms Wrestler’s eyes are getting bigger, like, “they are doing this for real….” She joins, softly, wavering a little with doubtful vibrato. He and I pick up the volume. She gains strength. We start to harmonize, different parts.

When the bombs were bursting in air we were really all belting it out. Laughing like hyenas at the end. Congratulating each other, “we were great!” yep, says me,

“Let’s take our act on the road. We be The Hot Box Trio.”

  Solo wrestlers need encouraging jump starts, even when they don't know when or how to ask.

Good Clean Fun Celebrating My Birthday!

          Happy 59th birthday celebration to me as I begin my 60th lap around our sun! I enjoyed spending my life wholly and holy, one breath at a time. Early walking and talking with the Lord, oatmeal at Coco’s, working out at 24 Hr Fitness, and the rest of the daylight hours at Club Mud with my bride—including an hour Swedish massage. Now we’re off to Thai Basil for dinner. I do believe this is as good as it gets. Thank you, Lord, for your unremitting blessing, bounty, beauty.


           The day in the mud was bodacious, muscle-melting, mudilicious, and just plain, clean fun—minus the clean. It was a fresh reminder in an earthy way that we hold this Treasure in earthen vessels that the power of the glory might be of Him and not us. While at the hot springs I started to read thru Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings Trilogy once again; it’s always a good read with new gleanings each time thru.

One more entry from a couple of days ago in my journal:  

                          Last night and tonight we camp in Doheny State Beach here in Dana Point, CA. no hook-ups to electric, water, or sewer; just sun, sea, surf.
                         Campsite #7 is just steps from the beach. Listened to the silence of the ocean punctuated by the hard slap of a big curl collapsing on pounded sand thru the night. A peaceful time with my bride and myself, surrounded by the goodness of the Lord God himself and a beautiful campfire last night that spilled out just enough heat and light to warm our bones and light our book.


                      Earlier we walked through the various campsites, enjoying the watch of people living out their lives. Wee children furiously driving their tricycles; grown-ups Scrabbling into the squint of the sun’s glare; the smell of roasting meat on open campfires. Old and young bustling, reading, cooking, eating, laughing, building their castles in the sand. Reminds me of George Washington Carver’s statement: “how far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant of the weak and strong; because someday in life you will have been all of these.”