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My dad’s conversion to Christianity
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My dad celebrated his 90th birthday in January of this year. This picture is from that celebration – my dad, my son, John, grandson, Levi, and me. For 37 years, I have prayed for my dad’s spirituality. Over the years, we have talked at length about the gospel, but during a weekend in March things were very different… CONTINUE READING |
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My sister, Penny Bosman, died on March 31.
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 Penny, my older sister of 3 years, fought breast cancer for seven years. She never complained, enduring 3 different regiments of chemotherapy, radiation, and several surgery during that time. I admired her for such courage. I admired her husband, Fred (pictured here with Penny at my dad’s 90th celebration) for the care and support he gave her amidst all these challenges. Here are the comments I offered at her funeral… CONTINUE READING |
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Tim Briggs left CSO in May after six years.
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 Tim came to work for CSO in early 2007. Since then, he became a valued and close friend and co-laborer. His interest in video production and technology enabled CSO to produce in-house a plethora of resources for local church sports leaders and develop an in-house website. His passion for the gospel and discipleship took our gospel-centeredness and internship ministry to a new level. We miss him but are very excited for this next move in his journey of following Christ as Media Pastor for Church of Charlotte, the church we both attend. (Check out Tim in his “pastor digs” with our friend Paul Wylie.) |
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CSO experienced unprecedented growth.
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 In 2013, our CSO Network churches increased 130% from 36 in 2012 to 87 in 2013. We launched our new website in March, made our first products for sale in the website STORE, and produced significant new resources for local churches. Interest in our website grew 20% from 50,000 to 60,000 hits in 2013. During the transition, God provided Scott Tyson, Jeff Fox (pictured here), and Maia Siber for our staff, all who joined part-time with Jeff planning to go full-time January 1, 2014. CONTINUE READING |
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I had a motorcycle wreck in June.
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I was riding with two of my friends, when we rounded an unfamiliar curve, which I didn’t make, ending up on the shoulder. I thought I would ride along on the shoulder and then ease back on the road, when something caught the front wheel (I am not sure what but have some ideas.) which flipped the bike and threw me about 30 feet.
I broke my left foot, my right thumb and had 11 stitches on my left elbow. Every medical person I saw about these injuries was amazed that was all that happened. When I visited the crash site two weeks later, I cried. I landed, after flipping in the air, in between a metal fence (five feet to my right) and the road (five feet to my left). If I hit either I am much worse off. God was so gracious to protect me in this accident.
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Our son, Scott, was married a week later.
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 As I lay in the hospital on Saturday of the previous week, I wondered with Beth if I would be able to make it to the wedding. Sunday, things looked worse as the pain increased. By Wednesday, God had given me significant relief and we headed to Asheville on Thursday for what we both called “one of the best weddings we had ever attended.” |
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My dad’s death on September 17
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My dad had hip replacement surgery in August of 2012. He never fully recovered from the surgery, spending the next year in
the Skilled Nursing Unit at the progressive care community they moved to in April of 2011. He suffered from congestive heart failure and fibrosis of the lungs, making pneumonia one of his ongoing struggles. After his third bout in March over five months, the family agreed to put him under hospice care. For the next eight months, he rallied and then declined, taking a significant turn for the worse in early September. I actually got to see him on Saturday September 14th and then he died the following Tuesday.
Click here to read a blog I wrote on the experience a week after the funeral. |
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The work of God in and through all this
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After hearing about some of these events, one of my out-of-town friends asked, “What do you think God is doing in all this?” That’s a great question and one I had pondered before they asked me. This person knew I believed in a sovereign God who claims to be “in all, over all, and through all.” Hence the question. While I don’t claim to understand it all yet, I think I do have some insight… CLICK HERE |
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Paul said to his close friends, the Corinthians, “We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, of the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia….But this happened that we …” (2Corinthians 1:12) My purpose in writing is similar to Paul’s. I want to let you know not just of these hardships but also of the work of God in them.
Paul went on to say a few sentences later, “On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers.”
This is where you come in. In the face of our need, will you pray for us? I am tired, worn out from riding the highs and lows of this year. But I am not alone, Beth has ridden these with me. We need rest. Our souls need restoring. We sense the need for his grace more than maybe ever before.
Thanks – for listening, for caring, for your friendship and support. We wouldn’t be here without it.
In Christ,
Bob
PS – While we have set our hope on him to deliver us, we are also hoping in him to make significant expansions in the ministry of CSO this year – in the light of the increasing demand and opportunity. If you would like to know more about those plans and the role you might play, click here.
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