The Man In The Background

This picture was taken about 5 years ago when three men from Central Pennsylvania went to Peru on a mission trip.  The white haired man in the background is Herb Rice.  He is my pastor and for the past quarter of a century he has been in the background of our lives.  He has been my mentor, counseled us and performed our wedding ceremony, led my ordination board.  He has been an encourager and a challenger to me personally and in ministry.

Especially during the past 8 years, I have been in a role of pastoring pastors and church planters.  I have a degree in Religious Education and a Masters of Divinity with Biblical Languages.  But I have to confess that I have found myself many times, doing nothing more than translating Herbisms into Spanish.  Those things which have been entrusted to me, I have entrusted to others.  For example:

• I was pastoring a church while I was in college (the church will go without the name being mentioned for reasons you will see).  I thought sure that if Pastor Rice preached at the church, he could get through where I could not.  He preached and then spoke with members and then he and Barbara came over to our apartment.  "Chipper, those folks are a bunch of boneheads!  Get out that mess, son."
  
• On leadership:  "If you're going to take the rap, you might as well take the reins."
• "If you can't listen;  you can feel."  (in other words, God corrects those that He loves)
• So many times, I have sat with a pastor and family going through difficult situations and shared with them, the things that my pastor had shared with me.

Last night, Herb sat down in a chair at his cabin on Wopsy Mountain in Pennsylvania and when he stood he was in heaven.  

I loved Pastor Herb Rice.  For several years we both served in the Conemaugh Valley Baptist Association in Pennsylvania.  When pastors got together, they called me, "Frank" and called him, "Herb."  But between us, I was "Chip" and he was "Pastor."  

I loved to hear him preach, and though my style is very different, I learned to study and prepare from him.  I have had a very different ministry than Pastor Rice, but my understanding of ministry and ministerial ethics come from him.  If pastors and church planters in Peru and Ecuador think that they have learned from me, they have really learned from Herb Rice.  I am so thankful that I told him that.

I will close with my favorite Herbism of all.  His benediction.  That final send off; be it in person or on the phone.

"Giv'em ... Heaven!"

 

Happy Campers

The week of July 14th, we were on
Mount Lemmon near Tucson, Arizona. We were the missionaries in residence for the Gila River Baptist Association's Children and Youth Camps. Katie and Matt helped with Children's Camp. Matt was part of the worship team for Youth Camp.

Thanks to Tim Pruit, Associational Missionary, for the invitation. It was great to be able to spend the week encouraging kids in their walk with Christ.

National Give The Lamca Boys Some Money Day

Okay, this is getting kind of ridiculous even for me. God is giving us blessings and they are coming fast and furious.

I sent out an email at about 5 PM letting family know that Matt received a scholarship. It is called the President's Honor Scholarship at Glendale Community Colleges. It will provide Matt with full tuition for the next 2 years. What a blessing!

Then at 5:30 PM we got an email that Bryan was approved for a renewal of the Maroon and Gold Scholarship. This will provide him with full tuition at Arizona State for the coming year!

Both boys will also be working in the coming year at Federal Work Study jobs on their respective schools. How awesome to see God's provision at this time. Bryan's text message response sums it up: "Thank God."

Matthew Lamca: Academic Juggernaut

Okay, so I am not sure how to spell "juggernaut" but I know one when I see one. Last week, Matt took and passed his Arizona High School Graduation test. Today, he took the CLEP test for Pre Calculus. Can you hear the sound of that one being knocked out of the park? That's right, my non graduate from high school is enrolled in college and has his first 3 credits out of the way.

I just wish I could say he gets it from me.