Year-End Report

HENDLEY FAMILY CHRISTMAS LETTER AND YEAR-END REPORT FOR 2008
Greetings Beloved:
Last year we began our letter with this line: “To our great astonishment we come to you again from the wonderful city of Palm Bay.” And that means we write this year with an even greater sense of astonishment. But it has been a good year, in some surprising and wonderful ways. We love each other and our Lord more than ever. It has been a time to learn how to trust the Lord for daily provisions and see Him answer our prayers through diverse means.
So many prayers have been lifted up on our behalf, and for that, we are very grateful. The year-end job-hunt news is that Dan is under serious consideration for the Sr. Pastor position at a lovely church in suburban Pittsburgh. We have visited there for one snowy weekend, and plan to go back for more mutual investigation during early January. This is the first significant opportunity since the Lord closed the door on the position in Winter Haven back in late summer.
In the meantime, Dan continues working as an official for high-school basketball games and as a caretaker for Matthew Bradstreet, a 14 year-old young man with autism. Financial provision for us has also come through Beth’s labors as a domestic assistant for a very special family. Karen Latta is a mother of five who has a rare degenerative brain disease that has diminished her capacities to care for herself and her family. Her husband, Glenn, is president of LiveTV, a devoted husband and father. God has given us the tremendous privilege of coming alongside this family to help provide for Karen and the children, so that for now, Beth’s role has evolved into more of a full-time one . As you pray for us, petition heaven also for this precious and hurting but hope-filled family.
Dan and Beth are grateful for continued health, for many friends near and far, for our church (First Baptist of Palm Bay), for the unity and well-being of our family and for the thrill that is still there for us when we ponder the wonder of Christmas and what the gospel means for time and forever.
Now for updates on the fearsome foursome of the Next Generation.

Andrew/Meredith – the happy Couple!! and soon to be the Graduates. Andrew and Meredith have already celebrated their first wedding anniversary and continue to live and study in Casselberry. Both will graduate from Reformed Seminary in May of 2009. Andrew is now interning (working with college students) at University Presbyterian in Orlando and both testify to the grace coming their way through their church and seminary families. Please pray for God’s direction for the Hendleys as they seek to discover what the Lord is preparing them to do and be for Him post-seminary.

Sarah Beth– the Running Nurse!! Sarah has recently made a move from pediatric oncology to labor and delivery so that she now works at Winnie Palmer Hospital in Orlando. She continues to participate in marathons, having run one in New York and training now to run two more soon in state. Sarah also is pushing herself mentally, pursuing a masters degree in nursing at UCF. In her “spare” time, Sarah (and we) had the privilege of marrying off her best friend, Kate Welch Churcher.

Hannah– the Missionary! Hannah left us in January to join Project Evangelism in Northern Ireland. She has had some great experiences testifying of the gospel to young people there. Now, she is planning her return home in January in time for yet another Gator national championship game. But, Hannah is hoping to go back to Ireland ASAP to work under a sister ministry in the same area. She is in a time of transition, and we are trusting the Lord to direct her steps for the coming year. If you have been a financial supporter, stand by for coming updates. Before coming home, Hannah gets to spend a special Christmas in Austria with Beth’s brother Chris and his family.

Sharon- the Patient! Sharon has been so good to wait on her parents to figure out where they are supposed to be. Meantime, she continues to work at Tropical Smoothie Café while helping out with Matt Bradstreet some too. This has been an amazing year of spiritual growth for Sharon as her devotion to Christ and delight in Him has increased dramatically. She continues as a member at Covenant where she works with children, serves in the cold-night shelter and ministers to the elderly.

We will celebrate this Christmas without Hannah, Andrew and Mer, possibly (again!) our last in Palm Bay. With all that changes, we appreciate ever more those things that do not change – most especially the mighty, saving love of Jesus, whose name remains ever sweet and whose faithfulness never ends. Thanks for your prayers on our behalf and your expressions of love to us.

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Greetings Beloved!

We write with the latest Hendley news.

Sharon continues to work at Tropical Smoothie Cafe and is doing well in her place of work and ministry, blessing her parents and many others as well.
Hannah is back with Project Evangelism and engaging in part time photography (for which she has been recently published) in Ireland after a much-anticipated visit with us in October.
Sarah Beth has moved to a new post as labor and delivery nurse at Winnie Palmer Hospital in Orlando, a place of God-led expansion in addition to/beyond pediatric oncology as she is also continuing in a masters program @UCF to become a pediatric nurse practitioner.
Andrew is in his final year at RTS Orlando while interning at University Presbyterian Church. He and wife Meredith both plan to graduate in May, so we have lots to look forward to in the lives of our precious children!

Beth is happily caring for a wonderful family. Her job started at 4 hours a week and is close now to 40 hours a week - driving, cleaning, cooking, shopping for this family. The mom has a degenerative brain disease that is affecting her ability to care for her growing family of 5 children and 1 very busy husband. Please pray for Glenn and Karen as they walk through this journey on which God has called them. May the Joy of the Lord be their strength.

Dan is doing some officiating again while looking for a position in a church. There is considerable interest coming from a strong church in Western Pennsylvania. They are sending out a team to meet with and hear Dan preach on Nov.23 at Northside (10:30am)

Would you please pray with us for the Lord's direction in this opportunity?

We all had a great experience at Covenant's Appreciation Celebration on Oct.19.

Thank you for your love, prayers and support. "The Lord has done Great Things for us and we are filled with Joy"

In His Joy,

Dan/Beth

When the going gets tough...the tough get going! (aka, I did it again!)

I am home from my trip to New York City and The Hamptons! We had a great time and packed alot into our five days away. Thursday night, I experienced my first broadway show at Mary Poppins. Friday morning, Carly and I went to the Live with Regis and Kelly show (our favorite part of the trip!) There we saw Nick Lachey, Victoria Beckham, and olympic gold medalist Usain Bolt. After our morning in the city, we managed to make it out of the city traffic and get to the Hamptons.

Saturday morning: Race Day!

7:45AM: A light drizzle begins to fall from the sky, but we're hopeful that it will stop momentarily

8:00AM: Race Start

8:00:30: Pouring rain, our socks and shoes are drenched (we keep telling ourselves this is better than running in florida heat, but we're not so sure running either 13.1 or 26.2 is possible in the sloshing shoes)

Mile 0-6: The rain comes and goes in intensity and then Carly and I have to part ways as the race courses separate between the half and full

Mile 6-8: I run behind a guy for two miles, at one point he turned around and yelled "Are you gonna make it??" At mile 8, I pass him and never see him again...until thirty minutes after I finished the race, that is.

Mile 8-18: This portion is a bit of a blur for me, but for the first time in a race I continually catch up to and pass people without seeing them pass me again a few seconds later

Mile 18: A really annoying pattern of rolling hills begins and I think whoever thought that placing these at mile 18 of a marathon is not a nice person. At some point up a hill I pass Larry, a man who has run over four hundred marathons and one in every state. Needless to say... you can tell.

Mile 19: I suddenly find myself running through the forest portion of the course, right at this moment another downpour occurs and I run for a mile in mud. At one point, I started to think I must have taken a wrong turn but eventually I see the 20 mile mark and I'm relieved.

Mile 20-26: The last six, I was tired but felt much better than my last marathon and know that I'm going to finish.

Mile 26.2: I come across the finish line...23 minutes faster than last year in San Diego...despite the rain, running over hills, through mud, and with blisters all over my feet.

Last year after the marathon, I could barely walk through the airport. This time, we walked all over New York City the following day! (However, we all groaned as we walked up and down stairs in the subway stations!)

Thanks for praying for me while I was away. I'm so grateful that God has given me the ability to run...no matter what the weather brings!

"The race is not always to the swift, but to those who keep on running." Nike

October 19th

The details are coming together for the weekend of the Hendley's goodbye service! If you would like an opportunity to gather with old friends and with the Hendley family; Kyle and Angie Walters have graciously opened their home for a time of food and fellowship...

Sunday, October 19th at 12pm (or whenever your morning church activities are over)
Please bring a food item to share (Main Dish, Side Dish, and/or Dessert)
Please bring lawnchairs, blankets, etc for extra seating
RSVP to Sarah if you plan on attending at RNgirl07@hotmail.com or 321-243-0446

We hope to see you there!!

Walters Residence
3906 Lakeside Ln.
Palm Bay, FL 32909

Take Babcock South to Valkaria Rd.
Turn Left (East) on Valkaria R.
Turn Left on Lakeside Ln. (Dead end dirt road, before I-95 overpass)
Last house on Left.

the Hamptons Marathon

After I ran the San Diego Rock n Roll Marathon last year, it wasn't long until I decided it was time to go for another...this time I chose one on the complete opposite side of the country. In less than two weeks, myself and three friends will be traveling to New York City!! And exactly two weeks from today 2 of us will be running the Hamptons marathon and 2 will be completing the half. We are making a mini vacation out of the event and will stay in the city and take in a broadway show and other NYC sites before traveling up to The Hamptons for our race.

I feel prepared after training all summer long in the heat and humidity. My knees, while aching after about 12 miles, are not suffering from the tendinitis that I had last year. My only concern is the race start time is 8AM, while my body has been used to a start time of 4:45AM for my long runs; it will be interesting to see how that affects me. My goal is to really enjoy this one though and my race plan is as follows: Run the first 20 easy, and then survive the last 6... : )

Pray for our safety while we travel, Pray for the weather on race day (September 27th!), and Pray that God would keep our bodies from injury and any illness before we go. I will update the blog when I get home with a report and pics of our trip!

love,

sarah beth

"We are different, in essence, from other men. If you want to win something, run 100 meters. If you want to experience something, run a marathon." Emil Zatopak

Football season

Well, my big sister has been bugging me to blog for a month now, but I didn't really have anything exciting to blog about (it's not like I live in Europe or anything...) until this weekend. Sarah provided me with one of the all time greatest topics to talk about: she got me a subscription to see ALL of the UF Gator football games online!!!! I have been looking forward to football season since....well, since the end of last season, basically. I've had a knot of excitement in my stomach for 2 weeks now. Saturdays are my day off and I had been planning to bus into Belfast for the day and walk around the city and go to the movies until I remembered that Florida was playing Hawaii at 5:30 (my time, anyways). I immediately scratched all my plans for the day. At 5:30 I sat down at my computer breathless making all sorts of excited squeals and ooohs of anticipation. I almost died of happiness at kick-off. I LOVE FOOTBALL. The first quarter was fairly disappointing with no score and lots of penalties, but I had faith in my Gators. Things started happening in the second quarter and the third and the fourth until we ended with a blowout of 52-10. I am so excited for this year. Not only do we have Heisman winner Tim Tebow at quarterback, but did you see Jeffrey Demps? My word! That boy can run! And he's not even supposed to be our best receiver. We still have the porcelain doll that is Percy Harvin waiting to heal up (AGAIN) before he goes out and does his crazy-speed thing on the field. Our young defense now has a year of experience and held up against a solid Hawaii throwing game. Oh, and Brandon James- who is MY size- will be out there to run every punt back for a touchdown. It was a little bittersweet doing the Gator chomp alone, but it will make it that much more thrilling for me to do it with 90,000 of my best friends when I visit Gainesville in October for our homecoming game against UK. Well, there's my first Hendley family blog =) Go Gators!!!----Booboo ;)

Somewhere Over The Rainbow...

This morning, during the last 2 miles of my 16 mile run, my mind started to wander towards the many rainbows that I've seen over the past few weeks. I began to think about running and what I cling to in order to get me through the rough miles and how the promises of God are what I hold onto during the difficult days when the exhaustion begins to kick in. This idea of rainbows and promises has kept coming back to me over and over this month. I went to a funeral last week for one of my little patients and as I walked in, the song "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" was playing in the background. Later that afternoon, another rainbow appeared in the sky reminding me about the God who placed it there...a faithful Father who keeps His promises to His children.

Over the past few months, through a great book called Shattered Dreams (Larry Crabb), God has taught me a few, unexpected, lessons about His promises.

At the end of 07 and beginning of 08, I spoke alot about the concept of rescue. I prayed for God to rescue me and people I loved from difficult circumstances. I discussed it with those around me and told them that this would be my theme for the year. Surely, after the past few years, a rescue must be coming. God, certainly, would be coming through for me at any moment-I just knew it.

I'm sure God just smiles when I tell Him how He's going to work in my life for the coming year.

I thought (of course!) relationships would be better, work problems would be settled, dad would find the perfect church, on and on I could go. However, here I sit on the second half of the year-circumstances largely unchanged. It seems, on the surface, that rescue did not come for me. And, looking at the surface, that would be true. God did not rescue me from painful things going on in my life. He did not give me the kind of rescue that would make life a batch of sunshine and roses...but, instead, He rescued me from myself and from my beliefs about what life should be. He gave me a far better gift than fixing all of my problems. In this book, Crabb writes "One way He works is to allow our lower dreams to shatter. He lets us hurt and doesn't make it better."

I tend to think of myself as a big dreamer. I will set my skies high and go after my goals. But I have often wondered, "Does God have even bigger dreams for me than I do for myself?" I believe that He does, but His dreams are not for my personal comfort, for wealth, or relationships-No, God's dreams are about crushing those lower dreams so that I can learn to desire and dream about experiencing God, truly knowing Him in an intimate way, and living a life that doesn't settle for middle class christianity. I want what Crabb describes in this way, "We begin to feel a desire to know Him that not only survives all our pain, but actually thrives in it until that desire becomes more intense than our desire for all the good things we want."

I don't always know what the "big picture" looks like. I don't always understand why God has ordained certain circumstances. But, by God's grace, at the end of the day I have been able to say that God is still God and that "My hope is built on nothing less, than Jesus blood and righteousness." And, now, I can gratefully see that the trials and the ability to sustain my faith by His grace have been life's greatest blessing. He has used the shattering of lesser dreams to draw me closer to Himself...that is the greatest rescue of all.

Our God's promises are true, whether we stand and sing at the highest mountain top of life or stand and cry waistdeep in the darkest valley, He is a God who is faithful to what He has promised us...

~"Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed for His compassions never fail." Lamentations 3:22

~"Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away." Isaiah 35:10

~"The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will NOT grow tired or weary and His understanding no one can fathom." Isaiah 40:28

~"No Eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for Him." Isaiah 64:4

~"The Lord is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made. The Lord upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down. You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing." Psalm 145:13

~"The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; He delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." Psalm 34:17

God didn't promise for life to be easy or pain free. He didn't guarantee a smooth sailing road right into heaven. But He did promise that "Surely, I am with you always, even to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:20)

...And then He gave us rainbows

DisappointmentHisappointment

Dear One:

I write to provide an update on our latest adventures.

1) In late June I accepted a call from the Cypress Ridge Presbyterian Church (PCA) of Winter Haven to become their pastor. CRPC is a member of the SW Florida presbytery which meant that I would have to be accepted by that presbytery to become the pastor of CRPC. All my life I have been in the Presbytery of Central Florida. Normally, a transfer of this nature is simple, quick and painless, but I expected it may be more difficult for me, and so it proved.

2) On July 19 I was presented before a special meeting of Southwest Florida Presbytery. I was examined for 1.5 hours and then debated for 1.5 hours before being told that my theology exam was not passed. The presbytery told me I was free to meet with their examining committee and try again that way.

3) On Wednesday, August 6, I met with the examining committee (6 men) of the Southwest Florida Presbytery. I had been warned ahead of time that the makeup of the committee would not be in my favor, but I felt I owed it to the church to try. After a 2.5 hour exam focusing on only three issues, my exam was again not approved.

4) On Thursday August 7, the elders of CRPC called to let me know that they saw this as the Lord’s leading and were going to release me to continue my search as they continue their own.

What prevented my approval by the SWF presbytery? This can be rather hard to understand. Presbyteries differ from one another in personality. Some are more doctrinally rigid/narrow, some more flexible/broad. The SWF group is in the former category and under the influence of a pastor/professor who is very committed to a cessationist view on spiritual gifts. This is the understanding that so-called “sign” gifts, by which they mean prophecy, tongues, healing, miracles etc. were only for the apostolic age. Since I do not find such a teaching in Scripture and will not assent to it without Biblical grounds, I am seen to be compromising the finality and sufficiency of Scripture and am thus a danger to the flock.

So, how are we doing? Beth is ok. I am bruised, battered, discouraged and heartily disappointed as I did find the body of believers in Winter Haven a delight, and the opportunity to get back in ministry thrilling. I now face the daunting task of starting over again in my search.

Once again, for those who have supported us in prayer, we bring news that is disappointing. Yet our God is a faith-building God and He obviously believes our patience can be stretched a little or maybe a lot further. If you would continue to persevere with us in prayer, we would be so appreciative of that. We want to understand what this latest providence means. Is the Lord possibly challenging us to some change in direction? This is all a part of the journey on which we find ourselves.

One of my favorite hymns says, “I am not skilled to understand what God has willed, what God has planned. I only know, at His right hand, stands One who is my Savior.” And that, ultimately, is enough to know.

Under the Mercy,
Dan (for Dan and Beth) (if you care to respond to dan personally, try dandhendley@hotmail.com

Our trips...

So Mer and I have taken two trips this summer, one to Virginia for Jonathan's wedding which also included stops in NC, Charleston, and Savannah, the other trip was back down to WPB/Ft. Lauderdale to hang with Mer's family over the July 4th weekend.

Our big trip around the Dixie was a welcome rest after the Spring semester and gave us an opportunity to get away from life in Orlando enjoy family, friends, and each other. I found the trip to be most helpful because it provided me an opportunity to stop doing all activities in Orlando and to gain some perspective on where God has us and what I need to do next to prepare us for our last year at seminary. Along with the much needed rest we also were happy to enjoy the festivities around Jonathan's wedding, and to enjoy two of the South's oldest and most prominent cities in Charleston and Savannah. Our time in both Charleston and Savannah was full of good places to eat, beautiful old downtowns, and even some interesting people (we even made friends with a couple who owned their own island in the Bahamas.)

Our smaller trip down to South Florida was a whole lot of fun as we got to hang out with Mer's cousin Alan and his wife Kami. We had a blast running around WPB and Ft. Lauderdale with the cousins while we also got an incredible fireworks show from Mrs. Sherlin's 16th floor condo on the beach.

Now we are back in Orlando getting ready for the up coming semester.

P.S. I have added a video from our craziness on 4th of July.

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Pops here... i got word today that my makeup interview exam with the examining committee of the SW FL presbytery will be August 6 at 1:00pm. That is good news in that i won't have to wait much longer. Bad news is that i am not likely to pass since the views i will be presenting and defending are considered unacceptable by the gatekeepers of the presbytery. so hey... i get to play Martin Luther who said, "to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. my mind is held captive by the word of God. unless i am convinced by either Scripture or right reason, I will not, I cannot recant. God help me I can do no other."

i am also reminded of the line... a lie is an abomination before God and a very present help in time of trouble... i will go with Luther.

On Tuesday I go to Ocala to visit my mother. Press on!

down with the blog

hey, i am totally cool with the new blog. i be waking up on tuesday praising the Lord.... fighting for JOY despite the new-old uncertainty of wondering where my home is and the old-old financial concerns that come from having no income. but hey! to me to live is Christ and that has not changed. today i get to spend time with my daughter (Sharon), blog for my friends/fam, read and study, worship God, look for a job, workout my old-tired carcass and enjoy another day with my wifey. What a happy man am I!

One of our recent get togethers : )

Welcome To Our Page

Welcome! I have created this blog as a means of allowing my parents and siblings to connect with those who have cared for our family and to keep those that love us updated on our lives! The past few years have been quite a challenge as God has led our family through quite a different road than we would have ever expected but He is faithful and His grace has sustained us through past, present, and will continue to carry us through the future. I hope you enjoy reading about what God is doing in and through each one of the Hendley family members!

" When the Lord brought back the captives to Zion, we were like men who dreamed. Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, 'The Lord has done great things for them.' The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. Restore our fortunes, O Lord, like streams in the Negev. Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him." Psalm 126

Love Always,

Sarah Beth