March 19


Work Things Out


God doesn’t want his children holding grudges … work things out, do your best ....

Philippians 4:1,3 (THE MESSAGE)


In the movie The Straight Story, two elderly brothers have not talked to one another in over ten years. They have been angry and upset and silent. Then one hears the other has had a stroke, and he knows he has to make up with his brother before it’s too late. There’s one major problem. He doesn’t have a car, or a driver’s license, or much money, and his ailing brother lives 260 miles away. So the eighty-year old man climbs on his small John Deere tractor and drives from his farm in Iowa to his brother’s little Wisconsin shack. He drives on the side of the road at five-miles-per-hour. The suspense-filled movie is actually a true story and we wonder: Will the man make it? Will he get there in time? Perhaps the most important point is that the man made the effort. As late as it was, he tried to make things right.

Have you ever felt it was too late to make amends? Perhaps it's something to reconsider. Sometimes God taps us on the shoulder and says, “It’s time. Make peace. Do your best. That’s all I’m asking.”

This is one of those times for me. I need to set things straight, to dump my silly pride and ask forgiveness. I need to trust the Lord to heal and restore, and in the process, bring His greater joy.


Lord, do just that. Please, give me the words, the heart to make things right. Bring Your healing to broken relationships. Give us Your peace and Your greater joy. Amen.

March 18


The T-shirt


I didn’t try to impress you with polished speeches and the latest philosophy. I deliberately kept it plain and simple….

I Corinthians 2:1-2 (THE MESSAGE)


In a message he gave at the Leadership Summit, Bill Hybels delivered a stirring speech on Vision. Vision is the leader’s calling from God—the one thing for which he or she feels great passion. It is the driving force and to be effective in impacting others, it must be clear and simple and easy to remember.

Hybels quotes Peter Drucker as saying your main thing needs to be like that. In fact, he says, you should be able to put that simple vision on the front of a T-shirt. Now that is short and sweet. I like that.

For the last couple of months our church staff has grappled with making our church simple and communicating clearly our combined purpose and process. I think we’ve struck gold: Eastmont Church is about helping people to know Christ, grow in Christ and go for Christ. I think that would fit on the front of a T-shirt just fine.

But what Peter Drucker and Bill Hybels say about a church, or any organization, is also true about you and me as ambassadors for Jesus Christ. Do we carry a message that is that obvious? And is it almost irresistible because of the truth behind it?

What’s on my T-shirt as I walk through life? What's on yours?

I’ve thought a bit on this and there are two things I would want on my shirt. One, “It’s not about me … it’s about Him!” I think that would actually go on the back. And number two, on the front, “Love God, love others.”

If I can live this way, if you can live this way, we will have succeeded. So, let’s run this race … and get the T-shirt!


Father, help me to love You with all my heart. Help me to serve with all my life. Amen.

March 17


The Proof


He loved them all the way to the end.

John 13:1c (NCV)


This is the teaching you have heard from the beginning. We must love each other.

I John 3:11 (NCV)


Dennis Rainey from Family Life Ministries has a saying that keeps coming back to me. It’s this simple three-word statement:

Love is action!

That’s it. Simple. Bottom line: if you love someone, you show it. I mean words are great, but we understand this just as James did, because love is a lot like faith, and love acts in faith. James tells us, “Abraham’s faith and the things he did worked together.” (James 2:22 NCV)

While James was concentrating on faith, Jesus focused on both faith and love. In fact, He was the supreme example of love. He loved by action: in love, He spoke profound truth; in love, He worked incredible miracles to the low and needy; and in love, He served. With His active love, He stripped Himself down, humbly kneeled and carefully washed the filth off His proud disciples’ feet (John 13). Love in action. And He did it the night before the cross. Later that night He begged God to watch over and protect His followers—these disciples … and us! Love in action.

On the cross and even before, He went through pain for me and for you, we’ll never know. Again, love in action.

He loved like no one else ever has. He showed love. He took action.

Love is action!

What better thing can you and I do than to follow His great example? The time to act is now. The time to love is ... right now!


Father, You know my slowness, my selfishness ... remind me of Jesus. Please. Help me to love like Jesus, my Lord. Amen.

Blog # 400!

March 16


An Adoption to Celebrate


… he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 1:5 (THE MESSAGE)


The thought of adoption stimulates me. It really does. People who know me well, know I’ve always wanted a daughter to go with my three boys. I have always longed for that sense of completion and the special joy of a daughter's love, but because adoption is a joint parental decision, I may want to start praying for a granddaughter! :-)

This passage sparks these old feelings again, but it also stirs me to know I have been adopted. I haven’t earned it or achieved it, but I’ve been accepted into God’s great family, and it’s all because of His wonderful love—in spite of knowing my every detail.

I don’t have that kind of knowledge, and my desire to adopt a little girl is actually kind of selfish because of the emotion behind it, but God’s love is not emotional, it’s spiritual, it’s deep. It’s for me and for you—His adopted kids.

Our adoption papers were put into play long, long ago. They have been signed and sealed. We are family, and this is joy worth celebrating!


Father God, thank You so much for choosing me! … and for giving me such a terrific family! All I can do is praise Your name. Praise the Lord!

March 15


A Higher View


He turns a wilderness into pools of water. And dry land into watersprings.

Psalm 107:35 (NKJV)


I read these verses and find myself nodding in agreement. It’s true. God has the ability to turn what looks like disaster, or hopelessness, or our personal depression into something so much better.

For me, so many good things emerged from my personal setbacks and difficult situations. So many improvements in me for having gone through the wilderness.

An early wasteland, my high school running career cut short, came to life years later when friends encouraged me to participate in road races. Soon I was enjoying the Big Sur River Run and the famous and colorful San Francisco Bay to Breakers ... along with more runs in Monterey and at Fort Ord as well as other experiences in Michigan and North Carolina. I was running again—and with friends!

There were other significant desert experiences like the girl I wanted to marry but didn’t. Let me tell you, Christmas of 1977 was a low point in my life! I returned from Florida to the West Texas desert and lived in an emotional pit for the next six months. Not fun … but in time, God brought Kris into my life. Wow! In hindsight, I realize she was worth waiting for. His water flowed into my tank and spilled over the sides.

It happened again when my second son was born with Apert Syndrome, I didn’t understand. Not until His word washed over me. In time, I experienced God holding my hand through a couple dozen of Ryan’s surgeries and twice as many serious hospitalizations. Amazing. We all came through okay.

Now I’m on the other side. God has been faithful, and here I am standing on the mountain, seeing where He has led. I have a strong family, newer and better friendships, and a greater faith in my faithful God.

He has showered me with love. My pool overflows. So … if you're wallowing in the wilderness, get out of that desert. And join me—the water’s great!


Father, You do supply all our need. Bless my friends, my family, my fellow servants with showers of love! Amen.

March 14


About Running


… and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us …

Hebrews 12:1c (NKJV)


As I recall, I’ve faced two problems in running. One was running the wrong way and the other was just as bad—giving up. This in spite of knowing I should keep running. I quit.

When I was in high school, I ran. In fact, I loved to run. It gave me a good feeling, and many people built up my ego by telling me I was fast. Then one day, my P.E. coach saw me on the track and asked me to come out for cross-country. So I did. My first day of practice, he had me run two miles (eight laps around the old 440-yard track) right there around the high school football field. So, while everyone else was playing flag football, I started running. I ran two really fast laps … and stopped. I was giving it all I had and I ran out of gas. Coach met me on the track and gave me a pep talk.

“No, no, Soderquist. You’ve got to pace yourself! Let’s try again, but throttle back and give me six more laps at a slower speed.”

With my coach’s help I was able to endure and improve. Soon, I was flying over the two-mile course, and I was advancing. I became the number-five man on the varsity team—in cross-country, the last scoring position for the team. I loved being a critical part of the team, and I enjoyed the feeling I was contributing. For the first time ever, I felt I was needed, but then something happened. I missed a race.

I came home from school just before the weekly event to get my green running shorts and the white muscle shirt with the school’s green logo. But when I got back to my little English Ford Anglia, it had a flat tire. I couldn’t fix it, but I should have hitched a ride from someone, called a taxi, or at least called the coach. I should have done something, anything. But no, shy introvert that I was, I did nothing. I felt terrible, and I knew I had let the team down. But what hit me the hardest came the next day.

As I left the old three-story, Spanish Colonial style school and passed the chain link fence near the field house, there was Coach. He stood there like a rock in a white polo, blue shirts and Adidas. He was twirling a whistle on a string around his index finger. His tongue was pushing against the side of his mouth, bulging his cheek.

“We missed you,” he said then turned his head. “I’m afraid I can’t letter you now.” … That was it. No questions. Nothing.

I was ashamed and I said nothing. I wasn’t mad. I was disappointed—in the coach, perhaps, but even more in myself, so I tried to do what I thought was the right thing. I wanted to keep running. I had let the team down and now everything had changed. I had become a second-class member of the team, a castoff.

So after a week, I stopped running. But … I wish I hadn’t.

At the end of the season the team took the stage, and in front of the entire student body received their varsity letters and certificates. I felt empty. There they were: my team—without me! I could have helped them. I could have shown better character. Instead, I had focused on me and my small feelings.

What a lesson. It’s one I won’t forget.

I’ll never let my team down again. Even when it gets tough. Even when my feelings are hurt. Even when my soul screams—enough! I want to show the character of Christ. I want to run. I want to finish well. I want to endure to the end. I mean really … is there anything else?


Lord, give us all the heart to endure! Amen.

March 13


Shayla


The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, … and provide for those who grieve … to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.

Isaiah 61:1-3 (NIV)


The other day my wife Kris and I were sitting in the living room talking. We sat in the cool morning air sipping our hot coffees and gazing at the bright day outside. Somehow we got on the subject of living our lives over again. What would we do? was the question. In answering the question, I did the risky thing.

I didn’t say something easy like, “I wouldn’t change a thing, Honey….” But because I know how painful life would be without Drew, and Ryan, and Alex, and Kris—a Nicolas Cage, Family Man kind of experience—I answered with great seriousness….

“I’d go to Africa.” I stared out the front windows toward the mountains. “I’d be right in the middle of the AIDS pandemic making a difference in as many lives as possible."

“Reaaaally?” Kris gave me a quizzical look.

“Yeah.” As painful as that experience would be, it was the truth.

But, I’m not in Africa. I didn’t go, but maybe there’s something I can do to help Africans. A few months ago, I preached a sermon and briefly touched on the subject. I shared how God had been moving in my heart and changing me. He was moving me from indifference and smug self-righteousness to compassion.

I shared a picture of Yeshi Wondmu—a skinny, little Ethiopian girl we’ve started to support. One of nine children, she lost her parents to AIDS and now her poor, aged, unemployed grandparents are doing what little they can for her.

I shared a few words from Yeshi’s first letter to us. Her words were so simple, so touching, so good to my soul. She said, “Thank you,” and “God bless you!” and “I love you.” She melted my heart, but she did more.

She helped inspire a young woman in our congregation. Shayla, a recent graduate of a Chicago Bible college, has set out on an 8-month adventure with Africa Inland Mission. Now, just about every day, Shayla ventures into the hot, dusty pit of Kibera and helps where she can. World renowned, Kibera is Africa’s largest slum—home to perhaps a million people living outside of Nairobi, Kenya.

Each day, Shayla and her partner share the love of Christ. It isn’t easy, but there seems to be a special joy in serving the Lord here. To learn more, visit Shayla’s blog at http://www.shaylatoafrica.blogspot.com/.

I hope and pray I can have an impact—a fraction of hers—a love that gives like Shayla’s … a love that gives and endures….


Father, bless Shayla and those like her who answer Your call, who sacrifice for the cause of Christ, who go and love where few would ever dare. Amen.

March 12


Pay Attention


Be sure you know how your sheep are doing, and pay attention to the condition of your cattle.

Proverbs 27:23 (NCV)


I sat with my son Drew at the dining room table. We were about to have a serious talk. He shifted in his seat.

“Look, Drew.” I leaned forward and handed him a computer printout. “Your bank says you have $2,640 in your account. Our agreement is that you put $4,000 toward college this year.”

Then I dropped the bomb, “You may not be going to George Fox this fall.” Drew’s eyes widened as he sat up in his chair.

“But I made more….”

“The bank says you spent over $1,500 on … flowers?”

“For Alisha, but….”

“Then there was gas and fast food and … gifts?

“Well, yeah … it was our 6-month anniversary.”

“Okay. Well, that’s all nice, but how are you going to pay for school?”

For the next two hours, Drew seemed extremely anxious as he went on a crusade to find $1,400! As it turned out, he had a large pay check to deposit, but the thing that made his day was when we walked into the Wells Fargo lobby and stepped up to the teller. With fingers crossed, he stepped across the short fibered, brown carpet, handed the young woman his outdated passbook ... and waited. Surprise! He had $800 in the account he had totally forgotten. Phew! At this point, Drew’s smile was the biggest of the summer.

Good or bad, my son is much like me. He has the gift of giving and would give everything to the one he loves (and almost did!), but there’s more. You see, we both need to be better stewards. The lesson I tried to teach Drew is a reminder to me as well.

Enjoy life! Love a lot, give a lot, but always pay attention!

Lord, I am convicted. You know my struggles with finances. Help me to be diligent and to pay attention. Amen.

March 11


Names


A good name is better than precious ointment.

Ecclesiastes 7:1 (NKJ)


These are the names of the mighty….

II Samuel 23:8 (NKJV)


Have you ever googled your name or a friend’s name on the internet? I did it last year to have a little fun at our annual family reunion. What a hoot! There were quite a few castaways, but consider these top-drawer, overachievers. Look at the accomplishments of my pseudo-relatives:

Who Are You?

Jeff Thompson (not my cousin Marcia’s husband) A famous Confederate General aka the Missouri Swamp Fox - a gambler and ladies man - later imprisoned at Fort Delaware

Sheldon Craig (not my uncle in Ramona, CA) An inside trader on Wall Street (and you wondered where he got all that moola!)

D Soderquist (not my son in Newberg, OR) Business Executive honored with the newly christened Soderquist Center for Leadership and Ethics at John Brown University

Bob Stanley (not my cousin in NH) Professional Baseball Player - played with the Boston Red Sox from 1977-1989

Tim Craig (not my cousin in Southern CA) Biology Prof at University of Minnesota specializing in insect behavior and plant - insect relationships

Larry Robidoux (not my brother-in-law in Eugene, OR) An officer of the Melrose Landing Homeowners Assoc - in Melrose, FL -championing fire safety and disaster response

June Soderquist (not my mother nor my niece from West Linn) A Brooklyn Camp Fire Girl selected to go to the prestigious Camp Akiwa this summer … enjoy camp … both of you!

Thelma Soderquist (my sister) Highly regarded hypnotherapist from Eugene, Oregon … true!

David R. Soderquist (not my son) Author of the highly acclaimed Psychology textbook, Sensory Processes, published in 2002

Rachel Pratt (not my aunt in Sturgeon Bay, WI) Australian Nurse wounded in WW I - awarded a distinguished military decoration for heroism

Kris Soderquist (not my wife) Hollywood Production Accountant: Credits - Kill Bill Vol. 1; The Scorpion King; Drive Me Crazy, et al

Jeff Craig (not my cousin in San Diego) Traditional Country Music artist who has just released a new CD: Baby

Marcia Thompson (not my cousin in Bloomington) Virginia lawyer at the Resolving Conflict Institute

Phil Soderquist (not my dad—though it sounds just like him!) A San Francisco Discount Real Estate Agent

Marty Bell (not my brother-in-law in West Linn … though he loves music) Award winning Broadway producer

Craig Soderquist (not me … darn it all!) Com21's new President and CEO needs running shoes to keep up with this fast growing cable company

Jennifer Craig (not cousin Jeff’s wife) Harpist for the Oregon Symphony

Alex Soderquist (not my son) Spokane Soccer Player with Shadow Sky

Richard A. Krueger (not my brother-in-law in St Louis) Professor at University of Minnesota with 12 years experience as a 4-H extension agent

Mae Soderquist (not my sister in West Linn) Author of the ever popular Understanding Sports Massage

Lora Stanley (not cousin Bob’s wife) Actress in the 1951 film American Nightmare

Joyce Craig (not my Uncle Sheldon’s wife) aka Batgirl; she dated Elvis Presley in 1962


Pretty impressive, eh? But you know what? I like my relatives as is. So, forget Batgirl and Understanding Sports Massage books and harps and Wall Street. Let me enjoy you guys and all our memories for just what you are … my family. A family with some mighty good names!


Lord, thank You for family. May You bless each one of these this day and every day to come. Amen.

March 10


Free Time


Because God has given me a special gift I have something to say to everyone….

Romans 12:3 (NCV)


… keep using the gift God gave you … let it grow as a small flame grows into a fire.

II Timothy 1:6 (NCV)


So here we are at the Men’s Roundup at Camp Tadmor. It’s a hot day, but still gorgeous and I find myself sitting in my car during our free time. Sitting in your car? Yeah … what’s with this?

A gentle breeze stirs and blows through the open doors and windows while rapid gunshots boom from the firing range uphill. I sit here while other guys golf, fish or play ball. Others sit by their tents and campers listening to the Oregon-Michigan football game. My son Ryan (A.K.A., Mr. Personality) introduces himself and makes friends with three young men ... then encourages his newfound teammates to enter the basketball tournament. So far, so good.

The guys are doing all kinds of things this afternoon, but no one is sitting in a car. So what am I doing with over three hours of free time? I’m writing. I’m sitting in the back seat of our white Toyota Sienna reading Scripture, gathering thoughts, and writing.

Hmm, you may think. Weird. Yeah. Maybe. But it’s my passion—one of the things I enjoy. I love to put pen to paper. It’s where my heart is and it gives me such joy to do this. We all have something we enjoy … don’t we? We all have gifts and talents, right?

God has put these gifts and abilities in me: compassion, giving, teaching and a desire to write. If I don’t share my gifts, if I don’t share the love God gives me and wants to move through me … I am nothing. And I feel it. I must do this.

So I sit in my minivan. I dream and I write. And the breeze comes again. Cool and refreshing—a gift from God….


Father, thank You for these gifts. Help me to use these gifts to share Your love. Amen.

March 09


Time Away


God looked at everything he had made, and it was very good.

Genesis 1:31 (NKJ)


Today, I need reviving. Since getting outdoors on a beautiful day is the quickest way I know to rejuvenation, I smile as we cruise down Highway 20, and I am excited by what I see. Gosh, this place is breathtaking!

I turn up the car stereo. Audio Adrenaline’s album, Lift, is blasting away … You … still amaze me … The words are simple, pure and most appropriate. Soon the wide-open spaces of Central Oregon with the majestic panorama of Cascade peaks gives way. We pass through the quaint, Old West town of Sisters, and now Douglas Firs and Ponderosa Pine squeeze the road into a winding ribbon. The trees seem to grow, pressing in, towering over us, turning the sky into a blue slit. Like sentinels they guide and guard our way. Down low, wildflowers form a finer glory, painting the sides of our asphalt intrusion with an abundant offering. Today, we can almost smell their fresh fragrance. But then the road starts to bend. It twists fully revealing a sheer rock wall jutting above the towering trees, then our tightly banded drive dips exposing mountain runoff turned river—the South Santiam River. Late summer streams swoosh past brightly pebbled sandbars. The river grows and bubbles and ripples. Sunbeams penetrate the canopy like laser beams ... and our world sparkles.

We make our way further down range and spy contrasting bluebirds hopping from moss-covered trees. Our forest is thick with green. Green that is greener than green. A thousand shades join in a perfect chorus of life and beauty and … rest.

We arrive at Camp Tadmor, and the smile … hasn’t left….


Father, thank You for time away … with nature!