Modern day pirates are taking ships and lives off the coast of Africa. Warfare rages around the globe (over 30 current conflicts according to globalsecurity.org). Recent natural disasters (earthquakes, hurricanes, tsunamis) have taken thousands upon thousands of lives. World economies are crumbling. It is clear that our world is being shaken to its very core.
Recently in my reading I ran across a quote that really (I mean REALLY!) got me thinking! These words were written by Elizabeth Elliot. Her husband was one of the five missionaries killed by the Auca Indians in 1956. Elizabeth writes,
From my recent wedding experiences in marrying off our daughters (not to mention my son's wedding in July of 2006), I learned a number of things about tuxes. First, they are expensive to rent (even with the discount I received as “father of the bride!”). In addition, they are quite warm. No matter the season (in my case it was summer and early fall) – tuxes have a way of maintaining body heat. Also I learned that they have a way of making a person look rather sharp (at least that’s what a lot of people told me – so either they were just trying to be nice, or they felt sorry for me – knowing I probably spent a lot on its rental – or they were being honest. I’ll opt for the latter!). All in all I’d have to say that my experiences with tuxedos (the first in some 28 years) – were far better than I had expected.Did you catch what was said about what we will be wearing to this tremendous celebration? We will be wearing fine linen – and this fine linen stands for our “righteous acts!” So I rented the tux I wore for my son’s wedding, but for THE SON’S wedding, I will be wearing attire that I make by myself for myself. And I am making it right NOW – in this life. Gulp! And this is true for every follower of Christ. So the question for me – and for YOU is this: How will we be dressed at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb? Rags? Scruffy tee shirt and ratty jeans? Or will we be in attire more fitting for a wedding celebration? It’s all up to YOU (and me!). Living for Jesus will weave for us attire appropriate for that occasion. So by God’s grace – let’s go live for HIM and get ready for the wedding to come!
Thanks for stopping by . . .
pj
A number of years ago, Charles Hummel wrote a little book titled, The Tyranny of the Urgent. In this short but powerful booklet, he reminds us of just how easily we can get distracted from what is truly the important things of life. How so? Hummel points out that all of us every day face what he calls life's urgent demands (things like paying the household bills, raking the leaves, running the kids to soccer practice, buying the groceries or doing the laundry). These things have to be done ... and most of them have to be done RIGHT NOW! But the more important priorities in life (such as time spent with God in prayer and the Word, calling to talk with a distant friend, playing in the back yard with your kids, or talking about your dreams with your spouse) - these things can be left undone. And as the urgent demands continue to scream at us - we can tend to lose sight of the truly important.
Weekends are a great time to enjoy some "down time" as most people take a break from their work-week routine (although, my weekends tend to be the busiest time of my week!). Be sure this weekend to give some quality time to your family and other close relationships ... and also to God! Take a moment and think about the following quote:
In recent years, "The Church" has taken a bad rap. Books such as Quitting Church: Why the Faithful are Fleeing and What to Do about It and So You Don't Want to Go to Church Anymore? remind us that many people don't think too highly of "The Church."
Ram Bahadur Bamjan sits quietly in the jungles of southern Nepal. But he doesn't sit alone. In spite of being only 18 years old, Bamjan has attracted thousands of followers. And just what is it about this teen with the flowing locks and white robe that has garnered the adoration of so many? The crowds come because they believe him to be the reincarnation of Buddha. But for many - he's even more! Here is what a few of his followers have said about Bamjan:
Years ago an incident occurred on the Metro in Washington, DC in which a crowded subway train stalled on the tracks. Before stalling, the riders were dozing, reading or just "zoning out." But once the train stalled (and stayed stalled) - the harried commuters, all anxious to get to their homes, exploded. They noisily vented their anger and frustration. They blamed the driver, the Metro authorities, the federal government and anyone else that came to mind for this irritating disruption of their day. Somewhere in the midst of this growing bedlam, a woman holding a number of bulky bags from her day of shopping, dropped one of them containing a bottle of perfume she had purchased. The bottle shattered, releasing into the air the perfume's pure, luxurious fragrance. As this sweet smell made its way through the crowded car, the people sniffed, smiled and then relaxed. They began to laugh about their situation. What was once seen as horrible was now "no big deal!"
I am glad to be back in Lancaster! My time in Indiana was VERY productive. Grace College/Seminary are alive and well ... but are facing some challenges given the current recession in which we find ourselves. But with great leadership at the helm and God on His throne - I am optimistic concerning the future of Grace Schools.
Today I catch a mid-morning flight to Indianapolis. I am heading out to Indiana to attend the Board of Trustees meetings of Grace College and Grace Theological Seminary. The two schools are located in north-central Indiana, in the small resort town of Winona Lake. The Board is made up of about two dozen men and women from across the United States (and one member lives in Germany). We meet twice a year (March and November). Now I take this responsibility very seriously. The Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches (of which our church is a member) has entrusted the direction and well-being of these two schools to our Board. That is why we are called a Board of Trustees. We have been put in trust for these two schools. I also serve on the Board of Trustees of Hebrew Christian Fellowship. HCF is a board which focuses on reaching Jewish people for Christ. Again, our Board has been entrusted with the oversight of this mission.
Today millions of Americans will go to their local polling place to cast their vote (I just got back from voting). That means that more than likely by the time we all wake up tomorrow, we will know who will occupy the oval office for the next four years (We will also be able to say "good-bye - and good riddance! - to all the annoying campaign commercials that have flooded our television screens for the past year plus!). So today is Decision Day!
It might be hard to believe but I just confirmed it by looking a the date on my wrist watch - today is the third of November! And as I look out the window of my home office, I can see a carpet of golden leaves on my back lawn that says, "Ditto - it's November!" Personally, I think November is a great month - for many reasons. The football season is in high gear (football is my favorite sport) and the autumn colors are often spectacular. But the biggest reason that I like November is that it contains one of my favorite holidays - Thanksgiving Day.Recently, my wife and I took a few days off and headed to Ocean City, Maryland. On the way home, we stopped at Rehoboth Beach. There we enc...
