Tim Harlow

Special Spirit at Parkview

Bob Russell had such nice things to say about preaching here.  He said, “There is a special spirit at Parkview – it’s not found in most places…” and he’s right. 

At the Father’s Day car show we had one of the wives of a car owner come in to use the bathroom and she went back out and told her husband,  “You need to come in here, I felt something when I walked in.” That’s the Holy Spirit folks! Jesus promised that when he left it would be good for us, because we would get the Spirit. We are so fortunate to be a part of this. 

Here is a link to a blog I did yesterday for Catalyst.  It’s an organization and a great conference that is helping to shape the next generation of leadership for “the church.” 

I thought it was worth passing on to you guys. You can see my heart and the things we are working on in the future.  There is a lot of great stuff on this blog and it’s a great organization to follow if you are interested in the future of the church.  

Tim

Legacy

We celebrated my parent's 50th Wedding Anniversary this weekend over in Ft. Wayne with a reception at their church on Sunday afternoon.  We’re not from there, but they’ve lived there the past 19 years, and it was great to see the room full of their friends who love them and my aunts and uncles who I don’t get to see often (married 67 and 58 years also).

It’s an incredible legacy that has been passed down to my family and me.  We put on a little program for them and had a great celebration. 

I am so fortunate to have the heritage that I have been blessed with. 

I read this scripture at the service.  I think it says it all…

Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom. One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts. They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty, and I will meditate on your wonderful works. They will tell of the power of your awesome works, and I will proclaim your great deeds. They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness.  Psalm145:3-7  

What if you didn’t have this legacy? START ONE. It has to start somewhere. Has God been good to you?  Are his works awesome? Is he great and worthy of praise? Then tell your kids about it.Share with them. Your family’s spiritual development is NOT our responsibility; it’s yours. It’s never too late.

Here are the lyrics to a song Rachel wrote for the occasion.  

Legacy

“He is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands…”  (Deut 7:9)

One word, you spoke it
And built your life upon it
Did you know, as you said it
How many would see that you meant it
It echoes into the generations to come
 
One word, you sang it
Against all the odds, you became it
And when life was unexpected
In the Father’s arms it was protected
It echoes into the generations to come
 
And you’ll never know
How your legacy grows
How the love that you chose to show each day
Reflected the Father’s face
 
One home built on Jesus
Showing all of the world that He frees us
Letting harsh words and mistakes
Be forgiven and covered in grace
Washing over a thousand generations
 
And the moments, all collected
Speak of one life with Him resurrected
And you proved him every day
As you served and you gave it away
God blessing a thousand generations
through you
 
And you’ll never know
How your legacy grows
How the love that you chose to show each day
Reflected the Father’s face
 
Time that you gave to show love in His name
Board games and Belle dresses stitched up by hand
Every song that we sang, every cobbler you made
Hearing those stories again
How faithful our Father has been

And I learned to love my neighbor
And I learned to pray
And that is the legacy time cannot erase
So thank you
I sure do love you, too

Tim  

P.S. I heard Casey did a great job this weekend.  We have an amazing team here.  Don’t miss Bob Russell this weekend, he’s the best there is.

Be Still and Know That I Am God

 Here is my entrance for next Father’s Day. 

 

It was one of the entries for our Car Show.  It’s the world’s fastest snowmobile. It’s done over 200 mph on ice.  So we’ll ice down one of the aisles and…  

Thanks to Mark, Chuck, Debbie, Karyn, Denise, Jenny, and everyone who went the extra mile to make the goofiness happen on Father’s Day. (Oh yeah, and thanks Clark).  If you haven’t seen it yet it’s online at Parkview Media Center.  

I’m writing this from seclusion today.  Jesus set an example by often withdrawing from the crowds.  I’ve been doing that for the past three days. Fasting and solitude are two really good spiritual disciplines that I would recommend for any of you. It’s not about ministry; it’s about the soul.  It’s not easy, no discipline is, but it is so beneficial to your soul.  

As we finish up another ministry year and get ready to head into another one, I’m looking for answers from God.  I need affirmation; I need to be with my Father and know he is God.  

It’s a weird place for me.  I Timothy 4:12 has always been a theme verse for me.  

Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.  13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. 14 Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you. 15 Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress.  16 Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.

What’s really bothering me is the realization that I ain’t “youth” anymore.  As a matter of fact, I’m probably older than Paul was when he wrote this to his young protégé!  But that doesn’t take away from the calling.  I have to watch my life and doctrine closely, because a lot of people depend on it.  My friend, Gene Appel talked about the nuances of being a large church pastor. He said when the church was small it was like he was driving a stock car in a race.  But when the church became large, so did the ramifications of the race.  Now it was a multi-million dollar racecar he was driving around the track.  If I crash, it’s a much more expensive issue – in many ways.  We just studied this passage in James where he said, “Not many should be teachers, because you will be judged more strictly.” (James 3:1)  

So I take seriously this calling to be the Pastor at PCC. I want you to know that. I’m doing everything I can to watch my life and doctrine closely.  The bigger this thing gets, the more I need to rely on God, because it’s way out of my ability.  

Henry Nouwen says, “A Christian leader is a man of hope whose strength in the final analysis is based neither on self-confidence derived from his personality nor on specific expectations for the future, but on a promise given to him… This hope prevents us from clinging to what we have and frees us to move away from the safe place and enter unknown and fearful territory.” (Wounded Healer).  

And that is where I shall always be.  Fearful, unknowing, and dependent.  

Tim

Happy Dad’s Day

Is that a great look or what?   I was always dramatic, I guess.  Happy Father’s Day to you all!

I have always had big shoes to fill.  

I have an awesome dad. He is my hero in every way. Everything I am is due to his ability to follow this one scripture.

The Message – Ephesians 6:4 - Fathers, don’t exasperate your children by coming down hard on them. Take them by the hand and lead them in the way of the Master.

He led me by example and I followed him all the way from back-stretching into ministry. And with God’s help I will follow his example of 50 years of marriage.

 

Now that my kids are leaving the nest, I think I’m able to appreciate to a full degree all the sacrifices he made and all the love he gave.  I’m thankful and lucky to have been given the gift from God of a great man for a father.  And thankful that he’s still around so I can say, “I love you dad, thanks for everything.  Happy Father’s Day.” 

  

Your Partner,

Tim  

P.S. - Now you see why I was able to ride so well last Father’s Day.  I wonder what I’ll do this year??  

History of Parkview State Finalist Project

Andy Muchitch just graduated 8th grade from Elwood School.  He decided to enter a History Fair (something like a Science Fair) and he chose as his project “The History of Parkview Christian Church.” He took it all the way to State Finals.

It is so very well done!  I wanted to share it with you.  You probably don’t know most of this information.  I didn’t remember some of it (okay, I blocked some of it out).

This is a picture of Andy, me, and his project display. 

 

We will have it at Guest Info for the next couple of weeks if you’d like to see it.

Here is his excellent report.  

Way to go Andy!

Tim

Of Wedding's and Hole's in One (not mine)

 It is my belief that we really don’t relish the good times enough.  I think we can safely say that we all have enough bad times in our lives.  This world can be a cruel place and we live in a temporary body that starts to wear out from the moment we are born.  And for all of us right now there is a sense of an economic cloud that hangs over everything.  Most of us knew someone who “lived through the depression,” and that phrase brings with it an expectation that everyone who lived through that era was changed by it.  Don’t get me wrong; I don’t think we are experiencing anything like that, but there is a cloud.  I don’t talk with very many people without “the economy” coming up in a conversation.  And all of us have things that aren’t going right in our lives, and we tend to dwell on those things instead of the good stuff.  Why do we do that?

Jesus said, ‘So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’  ³² For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.  ³³ But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  ³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (matt 6:31)

I was privileged to be a part of two monumental events yesterday.  For one, I was able to witness the wedding of Laura Beil and Mike Lorenz.  If you see the picture from my mid week blog, I can imagine that Laura Beil is probably sitting right across from three year old Rachel in that picture from 1990.  She would have been four.  That’s how long I’ve known her and her family (Rich is one of our Pastoral Care pastor’s now).  I watched her grow up, she played at my house, and we’ve done almost every Easter dinner together (as well as many other life sharing events) for the past 19 years.  It was a fun wedding and party. (I was not excited about my 19 year old daughter catching the bouquet, let me specify that i like OTHER PEOPLE'S weddings.  But it was deflected to her by Sierra Purvis, so I think it was really meant for her)

Anyway, I want to relish it.  Yes, there are problems in the world, but Laura Beil got married!  To a great guy, no less!  It seems like people of old knew how to celebrate stuff better than we do.  A wedding was the biggest thing in the world.  The parties went on for days.  Jesus first miracle was at one.  It’s just so special.  It’s a life moment that should be more than just another night at a banquet hall.  Congrats Mike and Laura!

The other moment yesterday was for my friend Sean Clarey, who was golfing in the group behind me, got a hole in one!  If you aren’t a golfer, you don’t get this, but I’ve never had one, and most players go their whole lives without it happening.  It’s a big deal.  Golf is this frustrating game that's goal is something that most people never achieve.  Think about it.  Par is not the goal, it’s the average.  “IN” is the goal.  Way to go Sean.  Maybe someday…

I don’t really know what I’m saying except that we need to enjoy the life we’ve been given.

Sometimes you just need to go back and read Ecclesiastes…

 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.  ¹² I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live.  ¹³ That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil—this is the gift of God.  ¹⁴ I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere him. (Ecc 3)

Enjoy your day – rain or not.

That’s an order.

 

Tim

Raising PKs

Sharon Adkins pulled this picture out of some pile somewhere and gave it to me this weekend.

  

Well, my wife hasn’t changed, but the rest of us sure have. This was a picture from 1990 it looks to me. It would have been somewhere in that first year, because Rachel is maybe 3 years old. This past weekend that little three year old who is now 22 was treated like royalty as she brought in five of her friends to lead worship for us. Mosaic Link

I just want to say that it’s been an amazing experience raising my kids in this church. Remember I was a Pastor’s Kid, and so was Denise. We know how it can go. We know about expectations and fishbowls. Thankfully, Parkview is the only church they’ve ever known. They have always been accepted for who they are.  Rarely have they felt expectations thrust upon them, because they were “Harlows.” To the contrary, they have been cared for in very special ways. Both by the church taking care of their parents very well and by the care and treatment they’ve received personally.  Our children’s and youth programs have been stellar for them. I’m so excited for Lauren and Becca to go to CIY again this year. Becca is going on a trip to the Czech Republic this summer with the youth group – which was a pivotal time in Lauren’s life. 

Rachel said several times this past weekend how much she loves coming here and bringing friends here. You are the most loving congregation we could have asked for.  I just want to say thanks.  I hope that when you see one of “our” kids doing something well, you will take a little pride yourself for the way they have been allowed to grow into their own faith, because you let them and you helped them.  And when they screw up, remember it’s all your fault too.:)

Honestly, the only problem is that they were raised in the best church in the world, and it’s difficult for them to go out and find a new church when they go to college, because they are church-spoiled. 

I just wanted to say thanks.  Thanks for being great their entire lifetime.  It’s crazy for me to look at this picture that’s almost 20 years old and think about all the memories in between.  Now that little girl is on her own.  Good grief. 

Thanks.  That’s all I can say. 

The Harlows love you all. 

Tim 

P.S.  Show Me – we really want you to demonstrate your faith, like we talked about this weekend.  Faith without works is dead.  Mostly, I want to make sure you are living out your faith.  Hopefully you are already involved in a project or ministry.  But if you need an idea – we still have plenty of slots open on our  Show Me website.  Take one of these projects on and let’s show the south suburbs we mean what we preach!