I am looking at the Pacific Ocean as I write. The campus at Pepperdine University is stunningly beautiful!
This is my fourth trip to the Pepperdine Lectures. I love it! My class title this year - “Contrasting Healthy and Unhealthy Churches: Nursing Your Church back to Health.” Everyone is encouraging. I have to pinch myself every now and then to make sure I’m not dreaming.
I am staying in the Drescher Apartments with three other ministers that I admire and look up to. I’m rooming with Rick Atchley, Buddy Bell and Chris Seidman. Tuesday night Rick, Chris and I went to Mexican restaurant in Malibu and ate together. After dinner we went to an ice cream shop. It was great being with Rick and Chris. I download their sermons every week and listen. They are excellent ministers of the gospel. They are also very kind and gracious. It is a privilege to spend time with them. And Buddy Bell, well, he’s as humble and down to earth as can be. A true disciple of Jesus. Friendly, personable and very kind. I look up to and admire all of these men who are far ahead of me. They are solid as rocks and they live a life of integrity. They make me want to be a better man. It is a great privilege to be in the same apartment with them.
I got to talk to Harold Shank after his sermon Wednesday night. Harold’s sermon was amazing, as usual. His plea for the church to take care of widows and orphans was convicting. I hadn’t seen Harold in years. He said, “Jeff Garrett, yes, you are at Norway Ave in Huntington.” I said “How did you know?” I was very surprised that he already knew I was preaching at Norway Ave. But he had heard my story and said that he was thankful that God had saved me. About that time Lynn Anderson put his hand on my shoulder and said to Harold and me “You fellows almost hooked up at one time.” He was referring to a time, ten years ago, when Harold invited me to be his assistant preacher. (My heart pounds as I write this). Harold said, “Yes that’s right.” Then he pointed to the man sitting standing near him and explained that he was the one who took the job. A weird feeling came over me. I thought “perhaps I should have taken advantage of the opportunity to work with Harold.” It seemed surreal standing with Harold and looking at the minister that took the job he invited me to take. I was thinking that could be me. Maybe if I would have taken that position as Harold’s assistant preacher I wouldn’t have fallen. Maybe that was my way out. You see, it was before my fall. It just seemed so weird standing there – maybe that was my way out and I didn’t take it. Maybe I was disobedient to God by not taking it. Anyway, things worked out and I am still ministering through my own brokenness. It’s all good now. God worked it all out but It was just so surreal that I wanted to write about it so that I don’t forget it and so I can learn from it. And besides, after all I’ve done and all of been through, I was surprised he eve remembered my name. It was encouraging to me.
Wednesday night all the teachers went to Andrew Benton’s house, the president of Pepperdine. The view from the presidents house is unbelievable. The moon was full and shining on the ocean – it is amazing. President Bush has stead in that house. The house was full of people. I sat on the couch with Lynn Anderson. Lynn is great – he’s my coach, my mentor.
When I get to heaven I am going to ask God why he has been so good to me.
