Author: Regan

Upson Downs 7-22-20

Upson Downs 7/22/20

Well, it’s been an exciting week! Of course, life in the Kingdom should always be exciting, challenging, daunting, and life-giving. This week has been especially so since both of our expectant mamas have been experiencing high blood pressure, with concerns for the babies’ and moms’ health the subject of many prayers.

Currently, Mary and Cassidie are in a bit of an uninvited contest over who will deliver first! We will keep you posted. During Covid times hospital protocol has drastically changed, so obviously the expectant dads will need extra prayers too. Looking back makes one realize the awesome privilege it is to be a coach, support, and partner with mothers and fathers in the labor and delivery process.

Everyone needs encouragement and appreciation, a cup of cold water in Jesus’ name.

We are continuing to seek new avenues to reach out to our neighbors, essential workers, and friends and relatives who are experiencing isolation, uncertainty, and suffering from lack of vital connections. We strive to “see” those around us, always reminding ourselves to “above all hold unfailing our love for one another.” Some small ways we are putting this into practice is providing drinks and snacks for hard-working delivery people and mail carriers. We’ve had several “thank yous” for such a minimal effort on our part. Everyone needs encouragement and appreciation, a cup of cold water in Jesus’ name.

Thanks for reading our updates, for your concern about our life, filled with ups and downs, but life abundant. Stay well, and keep us in your prayers.

Regan Read

Tags appreciation, babies, family, hospitality, welcome

Blog Our story Updates

Upson Downs 7-15-20

COSK web logo We had an eventful week with covid tests (negative,) 2 week quarantines, early labor (no baby yet,) virtual baby showers, and a couple folks back to work. (Whew!) We stay busy, even when “on break.” We often forget how blessed we are to have each other close by every day, maybe taking for granted too often that we are really not alone. All our needs are being met, and then some.

We are beginning our new kid-care schedule, anticipating two new imminent arrivals, working together to care for our kids. We know that our Celebration of the Children will look different this year, as does pretty much everything in the pandemic era. This will be Connor’s last CoC, and we are strategizing to make it special for him in particular.

Scott and Sally continue in Bible studies with Anne, while in our own studies we are examining Luke 16 and Matthew 25. Our teacher promises a reward if we capture the particular parallel he has in mind. We continue to consider what it means for us to have “buy in” or “skin in the game” with respect to the church. We believe it’s essential to be “all-in” for Christ and His body here on earth. But it’s a daily re-commitment to our promises, even when we don’t feel like it. We pray for resilience, steadfastness, and courage every day.

Our back yard is starting to look normal again, instead of some strange trench labyrinth. Lots of toil and sweat has gone into this project. Thanks to all the diggers, plumbers, trash collectors, dumpster runners, tilers, painters, and the rest. Take your ease…until the next project! We get by with a little (or a lot) of help from our friends, and most especially from our gracious Lord who is faithful, whose mercies are new every morning, and who provides us with marvelous comrades every day. Until the next time, stay well and encouraged in Christ. Keep us in your prayers.

Kind regards, Regan Read 7-15-2020

Jack sharing at an outdoor gathered worship

Newsletter Unity Updates

Upson Downs 7-4-2020

Dear friends, I just realized it’s been a while since I updated this post. I find myself often experiencing different aspects of grief that seem to drain motivation for certain endeavors. Nevertheless, I proclaim that God is good.

Since May 25th, my last submission, I observed what would have been my 47th wedding anniversary with brothers and sisters, recalling too many wonderful memories to count, sharing joy and sorrow with my church family. Later,we also celebrated Father’s Day, remembering our last Father’s Day in the hospital with Rich, enjoying (?) takeout pizza in less than perfect circumstances. This year, as we celebrated Rich in absentia, we received many words of love and care from far off places from those who had experienced Rich as a father and friend. And we honored the dads (and expectant dads) who take seriously the responsibility of being Godly fathers. We are graciously blessed.

The teachers here gratefully finished the weirdest school year in memory, adapting to remote teaching and missing daily face-to-face encounters with our students. Some of us adjusted considerably better than others (like me!) Although we don’t know what the future holds, we confidently affirm who holds our future. For that we should be abundantly thankful.

June has brought nationwide, even worldwide turmoil. Knowing that His Church must engage the world boldly and graciously, we have struggled with how best to respond. We know that God is a God of unity and reconciliation, always proclaiming that Jesus tore down the dividing walls; we must not rebuild them. This is a tough sea to navigate, knowing the way is strewn with many obstacles. At times those obstacles seem insurmountable, but we serve a mighty God.

We participated in one peaceful protest, a walk for peace, with New Mount Calvary MBC which took place in downtown Los Angeles, coordinated with the mayor and LAPD. Even then we were trying to balance the need for safety in the midst of Coronavirus, protecting our most vulnerable, yet also striving to be peacemakers in the Kingdom.

We also know that we are engaged daily in spiritual warfare. That may seem confusing to some reading this, but we believe that only with the weapons of the Spirit will the battle be won; we cannot rely on politics to save us.

We had a new experience attending New Mount Calvary’s first drive-in gathered worship. We were thankful that Jack was asked to speak words of peace at that occasion. It was a poignant reminder of our first attempts at reconciliation in 1992, and our gracious welcome from Pastor Lonnie Dawson. We thank God for the many ways we are able to continue our partnership to the present. That’s the Spirit!

May you all have a great long holiday weekend, praying for the God of peace to triumph in these days of challenge.

Best Regards,
Regan Read

Tags celebration, fathers, grief, memories, New Mount Calvary MBC, Rich Read, teaching

Updates

Upson Downs 5-25-2020

This is the week of joyful sadness as we remember Ravi Zacharias, gone from our world too soon. We are also reminded of Rich, born in 1946 (a very good year) and his dying at age 74, just like Ravi. I’m not trying to draw too many comparisons, or to overly stretch the similarities, but we who knew Rich also know him as a great man and a true apologist for the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Rich and Regan’s 47th anniversary is May 27th, and the Zacharias were married 48 years at the time of his death. If the two men haven’t met in heaven yet, I am confident they will some day, maybe gathering with some of their heroes: C.S.Lewis, G.K. Chesterton, Malcom Muggeridge, still learning from each other, sharpening their minds, and sharing a love of Jesus.

We are shifting our Bible study to an in-depth dive into Church leadership, looking forward to a SALT class in partnership with Hope International University, led by the team of Jack McCorkel and Gene Sonnenberg. How blessed we are!

Today we celebrate Memorial Day with an outdoor barbecue, remembering those who have served and sacrificed on our behalf. Grace and peace to all.

Tags anniversary, leadership, Ravi Zacharias, remembering, Rich Read

Updates

Upson Downs 5-15-2020

We celebrated Mother’s Day last Sunday. Some relaxed, and some worked (or had others work) but we all enjoyed ourselves. Our families know how to honor us well. Because of the Lord, our families extend far beyond blood relatives; in this time of sheltering, all moms were esteemed even if their immediate relatives were distant. This is as it should be in the Body of Christ.

God wants family for all. Speaking of that, last night,God’s extended family gathered outside, both in person and remotely, to honor a very special 70th birthday. It was a challenge to pull off a surprise for one who “knows all, sees all,” but we were fairly successful, enjoying a luau, hula dancing, precious memories, and “lovelies.”

Barb has been a friend to all, a gracious pastor, a mentor, a partner, a shoulder to cry on, and the touch of Jesus in all our lives. We could have spoken all night about how what Barb has meant to us, but we had bedtimes!

One missing from the gathering, but ever present among us, was Rich. God knew what He was doing (surprise!) when He put Rich and Barb together as pastors to lead Church of the Servant-King. Our small congregation is uniquely blessed by their partnership, and we will always be indebted for the ways they loved each other and us in Christ.

Tags updates

Updates

Upson Downs 5-9-2020

Life in the Body of Christ

Like everyone else, we are in the throes of corona-virus concerns. We are mostly off work, working from home, or transitioning to a different work schedule. We are trying to balance due-diligence and carefulness while also demonstrating calm and lack of fear.

The ever-unfolding events make it difficult to keep firm footing. Keeping up with the latest info can be a full time endeavor. We want to be good stewards of our time. For those off work we are trying to redeem the time. Long put-off errands are finally being tackled. Procrastination is a little harder to justify. All (some!) overdue reading is being undertaken, and part of the writing endeavors are starting to materialize.

So what else is going on besides covid-19? Our dear sister Cheryl has come down for some much needed R&R. Through the years she has been a faithful partner and support. In more recent times she has come to help take care of her brother Rich. Since we are virtually “confined to quarters,” she is stuck with us for an indefinite stretch.

While not undertaking an Extreme Home Makeover, we are embarking on various home improvement adventures: cleaning closets, attending to yard work, repairing various nonfunctional items, fixing roofs, cleaning carpets, planting gardens and so on. We have an abundance of unskilled but willing workers who will pitch in when needed, and we even have some skilled workers. We are trying to keep our more vulnerable members more sheltered: the pregnant ladies and those of a “certain age,” currently defined as over 65.

Our younger members have made many trips to the store, for us and also for our neighbors. We want to be available to our neighborhood to shed the love of Christ abroad. Our children are still being homeschooled which requires our attention. Meals are being fixed and shared on a daily basis.

So we are busy. But we still have moments to work together on puzzles, pray together, read by the crackling fire, talk, encourage one another, and share the abundant life together as we are in greater proximity on a daily basis than ever before.

We continue to pray for our nation and our world as we find ourselves in the midst of this crisis. We wish to be found faithful. Jesus makes the astounding statement in Matthew 16:18 that even the “gates of Hell shall not prevail” against His Church. May we demonstrate this truth today and all the days ahead.

Tags Covid-19, Matthew, prayer, projects

Gospel Teaching

Little children…

Please see our post “Bible Study Summaries” for information on the format of this post.

Matthew 18:1-14

Discussion 4/30/2020

I’ve not been like a child. Anything I’ve learned, I’ve become an “expert,” using anything I’ve learned to separate and not unite. I’ve been the opposite of humility, and called to repent.

I read the story of Moses & Jesus as a child. My mother asked me to choose between them as to who was the greatest and I chose Jesus. In my life I asked who is the greatest as they jockeyed for position.
Participant

I feel this story in Matthew 18 says, “Look, see this child, be like him: unimportant, etc. Jesus becomes impatient with the disiciples’ questions. How do you view yourself? How do you position yourself?”

“Jesus is teaching what followers should be like. See children in a new light. Be humble. Don’t miss the warning of a millstone being hung around your neck and be thrown into the sea.”

“What does it mean to become like a child?”
Participant question

Correction and direction.

“I resent people that correct me. Take correction and direction like a child. The disciples were all the time.”

On the word “child,” it was (in Greek) the most diminutive meaning little child or newborn. He could be referring to infant.”

“They, the disciples, will have a great responsibility caring for the little ones.”

“Be careful if you look down on “despise” others, how you treat your brothers and sisters.”

There is a warning to the Pharisees setting up others to fail.

Children image courtesy
https://images.app.goo.gl/BgFezvNhvD8Ur1Cc7 — Woe to those who are teachers…

Teaching

Now this section is from our teacher, Jose. His thoughts and impressions.

Referring to Romans 8:12-17: There is only one king by righteousness. Then come the sons. And they cry “Abba, Father,” in the spirit of sonship. We are all heirs of God, provided we suffer with him.

In this kingdom there are two tiers. There are kings and heirs. They are those who respond adequately to the call of Christ.

Trust is the essential quality.
Jose Mejia

The one “led astray” is the one the shepherd goes after.

Tags adoption, children, gospel, Matthew study, sonship, suffering, teaching, trust

Gospel Updates

Upson Downs 5-1-20

This week we are digging into Matthew 18 for Bible study. As the time nears for Jesus’ suffering and death, things intensify greatly. More seems to be directed specifically to His disciples- who will remain faithful until the end? The same question is always posed to us; picking up one’s cross and following Him are not occasional acts!

Jose teaching recently with social distancing and remote connection support

We have been glad for those who are joining us remotely for Bible studies while we continue to maintain careful procedures at home. Recently we were reminded that in this time of pandemic, we should not be practicing social distancing, rather, we should practice physical distancing and social solidarity. What an important distinction!

…we should practice physical distancing and social solidarity

We give thanks for a new, healthy baby in our midst, and for all our wonderful kids who seem to be faring quite well in this time of uncertainty. We hope we are modeling calm and courage in the midst of the storm, always remembering that Jesus is in the boat with us.

Tags Bible Study, Covid-19, Matthew study

Updates

Upson Downs 4-23

A current strategy is to offer books, puzzles, games, and other resources to our neighbors through our book cart. It’s a little like a neighborhood library, but we don’t expect returns (and we don’t charge overdue fines!) We have an abundance of good books that we would like to share, and we know they will be especially welcome in these strange times.

Please won’t you be my neighbor?
Mr. Fred Rogers

We try to be present to our neighbors as they access these resources, stop and look, or just say hello when passing by. This is an opportunity to reach out in a time of isolation and uncertainty. We want to offer not only tangible items like books, but more importantly, offer the love of Jesus to all, and to make ourselves known as a small body of Christian believers.

We invite anyone to stop by for welcome, some wonderful resources, conversation, and timeless truths.When asked a question about who is my neighbor, Jesus tells a familiar yet convicting story. Read about it in Luke 10. Then come by and we’ll talk about it. As Mister Rogers says, “Please won’t you be my neighbor?

Tags book-cart, Jesus, neighborhood, outreach, Samaritan

Updates

Upson Downs

Quiet streets in Gardena, April 2020

…we all strive to not merely exist, but to thrive and grow in these strangely unprecedented times
Regan

Last night we enjoyed wonderful, refreshing laughter as we gathered together outside for an evening of fun. But is was fun with a serious purpose: raising money for a ministry in Mexico providing food and educational supplies for a needy family. People were generous in donations, and generous in laughter for a memorable experience. We will do it again as one of our young men has committed himself to raising monthly support for another less fortunate boy.

We continue to wrestle with the question posed to Jesus so long ago: “Lord, what do I still lack?” as we study the gospel of Matthew for the straightforward truths laid out by Jesus. Last Thursday Jose finished his commentary on Matthew 16, reminding us of the things that make gates fall: reconciliation, forgiveness, discipline.

Against these weapons, Hades doesn’t stand a chance. He also referenced Acts 15:1-15 noting the mandate to reference and submit to godly leadership in the church, another essential element of life together. We were also edified by Drive through History, taking us virtually to the places where Jesus endured His trial and execution. May we never forget.

Finally, we all strive to not merely exist, but to thrive and grow in these strangely unprecedented times. God is still good. As Dennis Prager says, “Never take normal for granted again.” May it be so.

Regan Read
April 18, 2020

Tags comedy, discipline, forgiveness, Jesus, laughter, leadership, Matthew, missions, reconciliation, thrive