Bill Betts; At Peace with God

It’s been 10 days since my father, Bill Betts passed away.  He went to be with our savior and God on the night of January 19th, 2012.

My father loved Jesus, and by God’s grace, he was saved by faith.  His sins were forgiven –paid for by Christ’s blood, and so his soul entered God’s glorious presence covered by the righteousness of Christ. 

I am grateful that I got to be with him as he died, and I am very thankful that he was able to go so peacefully.

The night before he died, I had been reading the Bible to him.  We were reading thru a yearly Bible plan, and we were off schedule according to the date.  But, by God’s providence, we were right where we needed to be. 

Jesus’ words in John 14 bring truth and comfort.

¹ “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. ² In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. ³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

My mom and I were at home along with my sister Rachel and her fiancé Bryn.  My dad had been bedridden for months, and we were in the process of changing his diaper and linens when his breathing slowed, his eyes closed and he began to fade out.  My mother was holding his head in her arms and with our hearts racing and tears in our eyes, we held him and told him we loved him and prayed to Jesus; thanking him for his grace and mercy and reminding our dad of God’s great love for him.

In the moment, there was a certain tranquility, and yet it was possibly the most intense thing that I’ve ever gone thru in my life.   And although we’d lived in expectation of that moment for months now, I’m not sure you can ever be truly prepared.  The passing of an eternal soul from one place to the next is simply intense.  

As his life slipped away, we called my brother and other sister Leslie and they came over right away.   My Grandma and aunts and uncles and cousins arrived quickly along with Stephanie and our kids and we all grieved, cried and prayed together. 

We take great comfort knowing that my dad was ready to go.  The cruelness of Lou Gehrig’s disease had prepared him mentally (and certainly physically) to go, but he was also ready spiritually. 

Romans 5:1,2

¹ Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, ² through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.

My dad was a wonderful dad and a kind, loving man who touched many peoples lives.   He will be missed by me and those who loved him for the rest of our lives here on earth for sure.  But there is hope and joy even despite our grieving because of Christ.   Our hope is sure, not because my dad was was a pretty great guy, but because our God is a really great God. 

Because of what Jesus did on the cross, we can confidently assert that our dad is in a better place and his suffering is over. 

Mom and Dad Celebrate

      Despite the negative circumstances, I must say that it is totally awesome to be home for the Holidays.  We haven't been able to come home for Christmas in years, so spending this time with our parents, siblings and extended family is really great!

On the 22nd of December my parents celebrated 38 years of marriage!  Certainly, they are gaining deep insight into their covenant vows to stick beside each other "in sickness and in health" this year, and we had a wonderful time celebrating all that God has done in and thru them.

My dad had a good day!  He spent the day pretty content; sleeping a good amount, but also awake and alert at different times.  We all got to take pictures together and he was engaged with us, doing his best to pose with us and look at the camera!  That was a gift from him to my mom and the rest of us!

We got out their original wedding photo and hung it up on the wall behind my dad's bed.  

Going out to dinner was out of the question, but our sister-in-law Wendy prepared a delicious dinner and we all gathered together like we do almost every night now to eat and hang out.  All the kids and grandkids were there along with my grandma and one of my aunts.  

We are so thankful for my dad. 

This is me with my sister Leslie, Rachel, my mom and my brother David

Here's my dad with all 7 of his grandkids

My brother David, my Dad and Me

What does Salt do?

Tonight, my mom and I were taking care of my dad, and we were brushing his teeth and gums with a saline solution.  (He can no longer eat food because of his advanced sickness and thus he requires special mouth care.)   He is currently fighting a gum infection.

This set me again to reflecting on Jesus' words in Matthew chapter 5 where he calls his followers "the salt of the earth."   It's a powerful and profound word choice because salt does many things.

Tonight we were using salt to help fight infection.  My dad's gums are deteriorating from lack of use and an inability to adequately take care of his mouth.   Harmful bacteria have invaded and he is now suffering from a painfully irritating condition.  Since it's onset a few days ago, he's been constantly grinding his teeth.  (He can't talk, so I'm assuming this means that it hurts.)  And today, tragically, one of his teeth popped out!   The doctor has prescribed an antibiotic, but along with it we are using a most primitive antiseptic -salt.  Salt will help to bring healing and health to my father's mouth.  That's what salt does, and that's what Jesus followers are meant to do.

Christians are to help bring healing and health to a world infected with sin, full of suffering and tormented by pain.  

Related to this, salt is also a powerful preservative.  I learned this most impressively when we lived in Spain.  We've all heard that our forefathers used salt to keep their food fresh before modern refrigeration came along, but most of us don't do that any more.  In Spain however, one of the most popular foods is salt cured ham or Jamon Serrano.

To make this ham you take a whole pig leg and bury it in sea salt for over a week and then hang it up to dry for a few months.  Without the salt bath the meat would rot within days or even hours if it was hot outside!  A leg of ham left to itself will become a rotting, stinking, disgusting maggot infested chunk of biomass fit only for the trash.  But with salt, it's a whole different story.  Carnage gets redeemed.  The salt preserves the ham and enables it to be edible -not to mention delicious for months!

Commenting on Jesus' words here, Dietrich Bonhoeffer says:
But now Jesus calls them the salt of the earth -salt, the most indispensable necessity of life.  The disciples, that is to say, are the highest good, the supreme value which the earth possesses, for without them it cannot live.  They are the salt that sustains the earth... (The Cost of Discipleship chapter 7)


Salt brings life, salt fights death.  The preservation of the world and it's inhabitants continues as long as there is salt!   Without Christ's followers (the body of Christ!)  sharing God's love, serving, helping and blessing, the world would only be rotten sin filled carnage.  Redemption comes thru the salt, the disciples of Jesus.

And obviously, as I've already mentioned, salt makes things taste good.  Not much Jamon Serrano in the States, but we sure know about bacon!  One of the best foods ever; it's full of salt!   And bacon makes everything taste better.  (First century Jews unfortunately never got to experience this blessed gift...I love the New Covenant!)  Salt eradicates blandness, makes food enjoyable and completely improves it!  Christians are likewise supposed to make the world better by bringing the goodness and joy of Christ to life.  

Christians help to make people's lives taste better!

Jesus certainly had these things in mind when he called us the salt of earth over 2000 years ago.  I have one more thought that Jesus' desert dwelling 1st century followers could not have imagined, but is still (I think) quite applicable.

Each year the state of New York (not to mention private businesses and even home-owners) spends millions of dollars a year on salt for the purpose of road de-icing.  Without the dedicated and efficient salting of our roads life as we know it in the Northeast would be stopped by the harshness of winter.  Without salt we wouldn't be able to see the roads much less drive on them!  Our health would suffer, our economy would suffer, our fellowship would suffer!  But we travel clean beautiful roads all winter long.   Road Salt makes "the way" accessible.  Likewise, as salt  Christians proclaim Christ and enable the world to see, travel, understand -and "know" THE WAY. (John 14:6)

In short, God created salt to heal, preserve, improve, and make life accessible to the world.

Here's our friend Adam Hilker plowing snow in Ithaca. 

Clip of the week; Can you lose your salvation?

Mark Driscoll does a great job explaining the way God keeps us saved!

Jesus said it in John 6:37-40

³⁷All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. ³⁸ For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. ³⁹ And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. ⁴⁰ For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”

Captain America Turns 4

We've fallen behind on our posts again, and it's actually been weeks since Titus turned 4.   It seems like yesterday we were at the birthing center in El Paso, awaiting the arrival of our little Texan.   My (Stephanie)  parents brought Jack, then 3, and Joe (only 1), to come and meet their little brother.   They were already in bed and I remember them arriving in their jammies giving kisses to little Titus in his red knit hat!  We have loved these four years with Titus and all the laughter he has brought to our family.  He is a good helper to big brother Jack, a crime-fighting side-kick to Joe, and a “gentle” wresting playmate for Ruby (not usually at her initiative).  He is our miniature man.  He doesn’t eat much at all, so we joke that we are keeping him small for bull-riding.  Titus loves to draw, cuddle, eat chocolate, laugh and get tickled! 

After our trip from NY, we made it to Santa Fe in time to celebrate his big day with both sets of grandparents (which in itself is a rare and special treat).  We had a ‘Captain America’ theme and it was a heroic adventure!

Titus got a sweet Captain America helmet.

His meemaw (J.W.'s mom) had arranged for the kids to get a tour of a local fire station.  She got to know the guys over there a few weeks before when they came over to help my dad and take him to the hospital.   While we were there the firemen got a call and had to drive the engines out with sirens blaring and lights flashing.   Cake, presents, family, and fire trucks, what more could a boy want?

Why we join Community Groups

 In order to truly be growing in our relationship with God, experiencing Gospel-centered fellowship and participating in the Christ-exalting mission of the Church (Matt 28:18-20; John 20:21; Acts 1:8) we must be a part of a small group.

We’ve been back in town just over three weeks now and so this past Wednesday we attended our first community group with Blaze Christian Fellowship.  We would have attended sooner, but the week before was Stephanie’s birthday and I decided to take her out to dinner.    It’s important to get plugged into the local church right away, and I fundamentally believe being part of a community group is the best and most effective way to do that.   Since being back in town we have consistently attended the worship services as well as a large outreach/service event.  When we were around this summer, we went to the annual church picnic.   Those are all very important venues for connection, but I am convinced that in order to truly be growing in our relationship with God, experiencing Gospel-centered fellowship and participating in the Christ-exalting mission of the Church (Matt 28:18-20; John 20:21; Acts 1:8) we must be a part of a small group.   In our CRU ministry at Cornell, we uphold Community Groups as our primary vehicle for both discipleship and evangelism. 

We picked a great week to start because it was Frito-Pie week!  Once a month the group eats together and has a more informal hang out time.   We all gathered in one of the members homes and I chowed three full bowls of fantastic red chile and beans while talking and getting to know other people.  Our kids were with us, and they too got to eat and make new friends.   It was fun and familial and everybody seemed really cool  -as people usually do when you first meet them;)  After eating we simply chilled and eventually someone started up a game of Mad Gab.  I don’t like games really, and I would have preferred to remain on the couch talking about trucks and chainsaws with some of the other guys, but playing together is a great way to get to know others and have a shared experience, so I jumped in with both feet.   Sadly my team got destroyed! 

A more typical meeting will include time studying the Bible, sharing about life and praying together.  Joining this new small group I have some specific hopes, desires and things I want to see.   

First of all, we are joining a small group for our spiritual health.  A Small group is a place where we are reminded of the good news and enabled to live in light of it.  

Our God is a glorious and amazing God.  He loves us and he has created us to live life intimately connected to him.  He is the source of life and joy and satisfaction.   He also created us to live in fellowship with all the other people he loves.  The Christian life is meant to be lived in community, like a family, with God as our father. 

We are created in God’s image and that is why we are such relational beings.   Our Trinitarian God himself dwells in community; God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit exist within a loving fellowship and he made us to do the same.   God is a loving community and he created us to live life in loving community and he has declared plainly that it is not good for man to live alone.   Sin decimated our relationship with God and completely jacks up our relationships with others, but Jesus’ death on the cross conquers sin, and thru him and with him we can experience the joy-filled fellowship with God and others that we were made for.   In a small group, we get together with others to live rightly remember the truth and worship our amazing God. 

In a small group you get to sit with people who know you and who know you who can help you apply the gospel to your life.  It’s easy to show up to a worship service, sing some songs and hear some good teaching, but we need more than that.   I heard one teacher explain that we can experience conviction at a church service, but it’s in a small group that we experience repentance and thus real transformation.  I think we can receive exhortation during corporate worship, but in order to really live Christ-like we need the encouragement that comes in the small group setting.  

A small group is a place where we can be around older wiser Christians who can help us follow Jesus and experience his power in our lives.   

We really want to be a part of a group with some older married couples.  I asked to be in this one because I know one of the couples and I think we could really benefit from some time with them.  Not only are we currently walking thru difficult times, but Stephanie and I are in sort of a difficult and complex stage of life!  We need role-models and people around us who can support us and coach us and help us.  Words like discipleship, accountability, challenge and discipline all come to mind, but it all boils down to truth and grace.  We need people around us pointing us to God’s words of life and we need kind, loving, help –even when we don’t deserve it.

A small group is a place where we can participate in mission.   

Jesus has called and commissioned and empowered us as his followers to spread his name and advance his kingdom all over the earth.  A month ago we were living in New York, and today we are in New Mexico and in both places we are called to witness for Christ.  While here in Santa Fe we are praying that God would use us to advance the Gospel and I have specific friends and relatives who I am praying for intentionally.  But again, as the Christian life was not meant to be lived alone, the Christian mission was not meant to be done alone.   Jesus himself, as God did ministry in community with the Father and the Holy Spirit as well as his group of disciples.  Whenever he sent his guys out, he sent them in pairs or small groups.   In order to spread the good news and see people come to salvation we need the power of the Holy Spirit and the support of the body of Christ.  I want to be a part of a small group where we are praying together for people to see God’s glory.    I want to be a part of a small group where we can invite friends and relatives to experience gospel fellowship and see God’s grace in action.   I want to be a part of a small group where I can bring people to encounter Jesus. 

I’m joining this small group because it’s a connected to a church that I really love and believe in.  (It’s important for there to be some structure and helpful to maintain order to have the group leaders connected to and accountable to the elders and church leadership etc.)   Though I have not lived in Santa Fe for many years now, I have known the pastoral staff here for a while and have been attracted to the vision and potential of Blaze Christian Fellowship since the beginning.  The vision of Blaze is To spark a passion for God through His Gospel in the hearts of people so that they inturn ignite the world around them for Jesus Christ -but I before I read that on the website, I saw it being modeled in the life of the pastors and members.  My heart beats for that, and I want to join with others to se that happen!   I want to see thousands and thousands of people in Santa Fe, NM come to know God.  And the way to effectively be a part of all that is to be in a small group. 

The group I went to the other night was a little bit too big I think.  There were probably enough people in that group to form two healthy community groups.  But to be honest, I would rather have a group that’s kind of big than a group that’s too small because we have a big mission!  And since our God is big and our mission field is big, I like having a team that’s big. 

A current ‘buzzword’ is Missional Community.   A missional community is just a group of people who love Jesus, who worship Jesus, who trust in Jesus who are following Jesus together,  on mission –making disciples of all nations.   Fundamentally, I believe a small group should be more than a bible study, more than a small group of people who like each other, more than a weekly accountability time, more than a class.   I think this group will be a missional community and that’s why we joined.   

Fall Retreat 2011

This year’s fall retreat was amazing! 

Immediately following the Upstate Fall Getaway, we entered into some transition, and the past few weeks have been a true adventure.  But, even though it has been a month since the getaway happened, I thought it was certainly worth writing about it. 

The October weather was rainy and cold but it did not dampen the spiritual atmosphere at Long Point Retreat Center.  Almost 250 students gathered from all over NY including 76 from Cornell.  Each year the retreat has grown and our movement has continued to bring more and more students for which we praise God!  The fall retreat is an epic end mark to the first phase of our ministry year.   We spent time hanging out, praising God, listening to fantastic preaching and fellowshipping around some grade-A camp cuisine.  (Seriously, the food was good!  And the volunteers who provided it truly came thru to bless us with plenty of nourishment!)

Our Speaker was pastor Drew Hyun.  Drew attended Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary and he currently resides in New York City.  He was definitely one of the most energetic speakers we’ve ever had and he brought powerful and meaningful messages from God’s word.  I was looking forward to Drew coming because he gave a talk a few years ago that has really impacted me personally.  I call the main points of Drew’s talk the Gospel Realities and I have them written inside the front cover of my Bible.  They serve to help me meditate on the ways Christ’s work on the cross influence my daily life.   Here they are below.

Because of Christ or In light of the Gospel, or In Christ

I AM

·      Fully Loved

·      Fully Accepted

I HAVE

·      Nothing to Prove

·      Nothing to Lose

·      Nothing to Hide

AND

·      I am Free to make Mistakes

I’ve also written Nothing to Fear, because “do not fear” or “do not be afraid” is the most common exhortation in the Bible.  When Drew presents, he ties that concept in with “nothing to lose”.

            One of Drew’s strengths is his ability to help people process their life, their fears and their idols in light of the gospel.  He helps people to understand the awesome love of God and to recognize the danger and hopelessness of putting your faith in anything but Christ.  

Some of our students eating in the dining hall

The fall retreat really serves to bond our students together and equip them to walk with Christ together on Campus.  We are so grateful for all that God did that weekend!  

This picture cracks me up.  We set up a "study hall" at the retreat and our Cornell Students pack it out!