We are a spoiled and pampered nation. We take for granted that there will be enough of whatever we need, there will always be easy access to materials, food, water, fuel and so many other things we assume will always be available before we run out of what we have. We have more than enough clothing for every weather condition and we can even choose the styles and colors we most desire. In every aspect of life we take it for granted that we will never do without.
The other night, we were watching our one television station, enjoying the warmth of a space heater in our motor home, and about to heat up some food in our microwave. Suddenly there was a "pop"; the tv went dark, the heater shut off and the microwave stopped microwaving. A breaker had been tripped and while we still had lights we were lacking three things we have always taken for granted. In a regular house, we can run virtually everything electrical at the same time without hearing that "pop". This time, the breaker wouldn't reset for quite a while, but it finally did and all was back to normal.
How many times do we hear that a computer is down, our records are not coming up at the utility company, or our bank account shows a zero balance? How often do we find the item we want at the store is on back order or the doctor can't see us for 2 months and we are sick now? When we think back 20 or 30 or 40 or 50 or.........(you get the point), we did without a lot of the things we now take for granted, and we managed to survive without it and now when we have to do without it, well, we are in a panic - what are we going to do?
Just for a moment, imagine some countries around the world, where they have no idea of what we are even talking about when we talk about computers, vehicular travel, electricity, clean water, adequate shelter, shoes, three meals a day, parents, school, hope.......(you get the point). Yes, we are a spoiled and pampered nation. Help us, Lord, to be more aware of the needs of others, the abundance we enjoy, and how You would have us do something to close the gap between them and us.
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Friday, January 30, 2015
Tuesday, January 27, 2015
January 27, 2015 Madison, GA. There is no Away, but.........
There was a time when a lot of people became concerned about what was happening to the stuff we thought of as garbage, junk, unusable items, the things we were told to just "throw away". When it became obvious that there really was no way to permanently dispose of things, just hide them or make some other unwanted item from them, we began to see that we were going to be stuck with a lot of obsolete things. Some people stored the stuff in warehouses, held on to certain things to try to sell them later as "one of kind", antiques or "collectables". Some people just became hoarders, polluting their neighborhood with piles of junk, or built cabinets, drawers or racks to keep their things in some kind of order.
Here at Source of Light, there are literally tons of things in a host of locations and it is amazing what has been saved and how often there is a present need and use for something which has been in the same place for years. If I started to list the "inventory" of this facility, the list would go on forever. There is a fine line between being a keeper of things and a good steward of the resources we have in our possession. What to keep, what to sell, what to donate or what to dispose of are everyday decisions we are all faced with.
Jesus had times in his earthly ministry when He tried to get "away" from the crowds, the constant demands on His time and healing gifts. But the crowds pursued Him, sought His presence and His attention. There was no "away" for Him either, and when He did go to the Cross in obedience to the will of His Father, He still was not able to stay away for long. He promised that He would never leave us or forsake us and He has been true to that promise and every other promise He made. Jesus is, and never has been away, but is in fact, The Way to God The Father.
For those who are Born Again, cleansed by the blood of Jesus , there is no present "away" either and for that I am grateful, but I am looking forward to that day when Jesus returns to take us all to be with Him forever in the place He has prepared for us. Away from the world, but present with The Lord. Come, Lord Jesus, Come. Take us away to be with You.
Sent from my iPad
Here at Source of Light, there are literally tons of things in a host of locations and it is amazing what has been saved and how often there is a present need and use for something which has been in the same place for years. If I started to list the "inventory" of this facility, the list would go on forever. There is a fine line between being a keeper of things and a good steward of the resources we have in our possession. What to keep, what to sell, what to donate or what to dispose of are everyday decisions we are all faced with.
Jesus had times in his earthly ministry when He tried to get "away" from the crowds, the constant demands on His time and healing gifts. But the crowds pursued Him, sought His presence and His attention. There was no "away" for Him either, and when He did go to the Cross in obedience to the will of His Father, He still was not able to stay away for long. He promised that He would never leave us or forsake us and He has been true to that promise and every other promise He made. Jesus is, and never has been away, but is in fact, The Way to God The Father.
For those who are Born Again, cleansed by the blood of Jesus , there is no present "away" either and for that I am grateful, but I am looking forward to that day when Jesus returns to take us all to be with Him forever in the place He has prepared for us. Away from the world, but present with The Lord. Come, Lord Jesus, Come. Take us away to be with You.
Sent from my iPad
Saturday, January 24, 2015
January 24, 2015. Madison, GA. Living with Purpose
"The Daily Bible Devotional" by F. LaGard Smith was very insightful this morning. It spoke to the mystery of why we were born when and where we were, why we had the parents we had and what we are supposed to do with the "life" we have been given. A brief quote from the devotional: "We do not live without purpose. Whatever our circumstances of birth, Scripture gives us abundant reason to believe that we too have been raised up so that God might show us his power, and through us, in some way unique to ourselves, to proclaim his name in all the earth."
I think of famous lines like, "I coulda been a contender", or "I yam what I yam and tha's all what I yam" or a high school friend whose mother dated Kirk Douglas, and remarked that she could have been his daughter if her mom had married the struggling actor instead of the lawyer/DA her mom eventually did marry. We don't have a lot of "say" in the details of our birth, but we do have a lot of control over what we do with the "hand we have been dealt". We can become victims or we can become over-comers by the choices we make along the way. When we come to faith in Jesus Christ and give Him our lives for His purpose and direction, we don't limit our choices, we actually expand them and can truly live with purpose and freedom. I see it more clearly every day as Karen and I pursue our Ministry of Miles, look back on the past thirteen months on the road, our time at The Great Passion Play and our stay here in Madison at Source of Light Ministries. We witness lives changed by this ministry and the lessons it distributes. We are moved by the "retired" missionaries who come here to keep serving The Lord when their physical abilities have waned, but they still have a purpose for getting up every day.
We live in a tough world, with major problems and some strange ideas of what is important and what we need to spend our time and money pursuing, but when we commit to working where God is at work, we can truly see what living with purpose is all about, and we can know "who we are and whose we are". Thank You, Lord for our identity in You.
Sent from my iPad
I think of famous lines like, "I coulda been a contender", or "I yam what I yam and tha's all what I yam" or a high school friend whose mother dated Kirk Douglas, and remarked that she could have been his daughter if her mom had married the struggling actor instead of the lawyer/DA her mom eventually did marry. We don't have a lot of "say" in the details of our birth, but we do have a lot of control over what we do with the "hand we have been dealt". We can become victims or we can become over-comers by the choices we make along the way. When we come to faith in Jesus Christ and give Him our lives for His purpose and direction, we don't limit our choices, we actually expand them and can truly live with purpose and freedom. I see it more clearly every day as Karen and I pursue our Ministry of Miles, look back on the past thirteen months on the road, our time at The Great Passion Play and our stay here in Madison at Source of Light Ministries. We witness lives changed by this ministry and the lessons it distributes. We are moved by the "retired" missionaries who come here to keep serving The Lord when their physical abilities have waned, but they still have a purpose for getting up every day.
We live in a tough world, with major problems and some strange ideas of what is important and what we need to spend our time and money pursuing, but when we commit to working where God is at work, we can truly see what living with purpose is all about, and we can know "who we are and whose we are". Thank You, Lord for our identity in You.
Sent from my iPad
Wednesday, January 21, 2015
January 21, 2015. Madison, GA. No topic
Usually I have an idea of what I want to write when blog-day comes around. But, today I went through the day concentrating on the tasks at hand and didn't let my mind wander to a blog topic. It was a beautiful day with temperatures in the 60's and a great day to be outside, even if our main task was physically demanding. We were taking down a fairly good sized tree to clear a path for a road to a future water well site. We met some challenges with a tangled and extensive root system where we need to dig a trench for a culvert and the chain saws were less than cooperative. The tree needed to be guided away from a telephone line and some of the cut pieces needed to be moved in the bucket of a Case tractor. We were also using a 1967 Chevy dump truck with no power steering. The job will continue tomorrow afternoon, after we work in the print shop in the morning.
In spite of the difficulties, Hugh and I left the shop tired but satisfied that we had made it safely through our work day. It's gratifying to know that this ministry is blessing so many people here and around the world. Our lessons are reaching thousands of people who are hearing the Good News of Jesus Christ for the first time and are eager to know more about Him and grow closer to Him in a personal and intimate relationship. To be part of that makes our work worthwhile. We can't all be missionaries, but we can be on a mission to do God's work where He calls us and in whatever role adds value to the lives we impact. What a blessing to not have a topic, and still praise God for allowing us to work in His harvest with others who love The Lord and wish to see His Kingdom come and His will be done. Worn out in the service of the Lord - it feels good.
Sent from my iPad
In spite of the difficulties, Hugh and I left the shop tired but satisfied that we had made it safely through our work day. It's gratifying to know that this ministry is blessing so many people here and around the world. Our lessons are reaching thousands of people who are hearing the Good News of Jesus Christ for the first time and are eager to know more about Him and grow closer to Him in a personal and intimate relationship. To be part of that makes our work worthwhile. We can't all be missionaries, but we can be on a mission to do God's work where He calls us and in whatever role adds value to the lives we impact. What a blessing to not have a topic, and still praise God for allowing us to work in His harvest with others who love The Lord and wish to see His Kingdom come and His will be done. Worn out in the service of the Lord - it feels good.
Sent from my iPad
Sunday, January 18, 2015
January 18, 2015. Madison, GA. Why so many churches?
Last night a group of us were invited to dinner and we met a couple who had just arrived here at Source of Light to volunteer for a month. Drew's sister, Roxie, had been here volunteering and left to visit her daughter in Hawaii. Karen had been working with Roxie, Drew and Evie the past week and it was fun to meet at dinner and exchange our "journey with Jesus" stories. When Drew and Roxie told us they had pastored in Dansville, New York for ten years it
was another of those "coincidences" since my parents and brother Phil had lived in Dansville in the '40's before I was born. We had traveled through Dansville in August, 2013 on our way from my 50th high school reunion to Niagara Falls, and saw where my family had spent a few years, and were even able to find the house they lived in there. This morning, we went to church with Drew and Evie at the church Roxie had been attending and had a very pleasant morning, a pizza lunch and watched as a new Elder was ordained in this three year old church plant.
Here at Source of Light, one of the visions for the ministry is planting churches in the countries where our missionaries distribute the lessons we develop and print here. Church planting in many foreign countries is essential to the Gospel being preached where it has never been preached before. But in the United States where there are more than 350,000 churches already, I have always wondered why we need more churches. Can't we all find a spot in an existing church? Are we creating division in Christianity with so many denominations, so many minor differences in theology and doctrine, overlapping of programs, outreaches and personal preferences in worship formats and a host of other issues? And then I realize, Karen and I are members of Shiloh Christian Church, a church plant in Colorado. We had a wonderful experience this morning and will probably attend Remembrance Community Church for our remaining stay in Madison. Why so many churches? I really don't have an answer, but pray that as we Christians face more opposition and criticism from a variety of directions: courts, government regulations, taxing authorities, other religious elements and special interest groups.......maybe more will somehow be better, God will use each church for a unique purpose, and we will find a way to "unite" in our Lord and Savior, the truth of The Gospel, the promises of a loving and faithful God and the hope of a brighter and better future.
Sent from my iPad
was another of those "coincidences" since my parents and brother Phil had lived in Dansville in the '40's before I was born. We had traveled through Dansville in August, 2013 on our way from my 50th high school reunion to Niagara Falls, and saw where my family had spent a few years, and were even able to find the house they lived in there. This morning, we went to church with Drew and Evie at the church Roxie had been attending and had a very pleasant morning, a pizza lunch and watched as a new Elder was ordained in this three year old church plant.
Here at Source of Light, one of the visions for the ministry is planting churches in the countries where our missionaries distribute the lessons we develop and print here. Church planting in many foreign countries is essential to the Gospel being preached where it has never been preached before. But in the United States where there are more than 350,000 churches already, I have always wondered why we need more churches. Can't we all find a spot in an existing church? Are we creating division in Christianity with so many denominations, so many minor differences in theology and doctrine, overlapping of programs, outreaches and personal preferences in worship formats and a host of other issues? And then I realize, Karen and I are members of Shiloh Christian Church, a church plant in Colorado. We had a wonderful experience this morning and will probably attend Remembrance Community Church for our remaining stay in Madison. Why so many churches? I really don't have an answer, but pray that as we Christians face more opposition and criticism from a variety of directions: courts, government regulations, taxing authorities, other religious elements and special interest groups.......maybe more will somehow be better, God will use each church for a unique purpose, and we will find a way to "unite" in our Lord and Savior, the truth of The Gospel, the promises of a loving and faithful God and the hope of a brighter and better future.
Sent from my iPad
Thursday, January 15, 2015
January 15, 2015. Madison, GA. The Ark
It's raining again. After the last period of heavy rain, then the sub freezing stretch for four nights, we are now back to rain. This trip has witnessed quite a bit of rain wherever we have been. The locals remark how wet it is has been here in Madison. In Arkansas, the locals told us it was an unusually wet summer and we have encountered rain (or some form of precipitation) virtually everywhere. Our motor home, does look kind of like an Ark and we have befriended a lot of animals, domestic and otherwise. A lot of people have told me I look very biblical with my longer hair and facial foliage, but I usually get called Moses rather than Noah. I do answer to both, however. Right now I feel like Noah.
Our work this week and last were mostly indoors because of the weather and the prospect for tomorrow is more of the same. We may see the sun over the weekend, but we'll probably stay close to The Ark in case the animals come a callin'. We are still enjoying the life on the road even though we haven't been on the road a whole lot the past 8 months. We will be staying here in Georgia until mid-February and then heading to Florida for about a month. Plans have a way of changing and we're just following the cloud. Thank You, Lord.
Sent from my iPad
Our work this week and last were mostly indoors because of the weather and the prospect for tomorrow is more of the same. We may see the sun over the weekend, but we'll probably stay close to The Ark in case the animals come a callin'. We are still enjoying the life on the road even though we haven't been on the road a whole lot the past 8 months. We will be staying here in Georgia until mid-February and then heading to Florida for about a month. Plans have a way of changing and we're just following the cloud. Thank You, Lord.
Sent from my iPad
Monday, January 12, 2015
January 12, 2015. Madison, GA. A new book
Don and Sonja gave me another book to read. They knew I had bicycled across the United States and thought I might be interested in "Hiking Through" by Paul Stutzman, a book about his hiking the 2000+ mile Appalachian Trail in 2008, after his wife had passed away from cancer. Again, they have given me a book which is touching me in a profound way. Yes, the physical details and demands of such an undertaking are intriguing, but the emotional and spiritual journey he took are what are speaking to me and the journey Karen and I are on.
Life throws us a lot of curves, and how we stand in there and wait for the pitch or bail out for fear of being hit speaks volumes about us and our approach to "playing the game". The key element in how we "do" life is our relationship with God and whether we do life with Him or do life on our own terms. When we raced across America in 1983, we didn't ask God to be on our crew. We found out later that He was on the crew without our knowledge. He was preparing us for a series of "journeys" He knew we needed to take. Paul in his AT journey asked God to come along and as he has progressed in miles, his realization is that God is THE major element in the things which he encountered. The Ministry of Miles journey was God's plan and Karen and I said yes to an unknown goal and a series of unknown means to reach that goal.
As I have often blogged, God is the architect of this journey and we are along for the ride however and wherever He directs us. For now, we press on, and right now it's back to chapter 19 of the new book.
Sent from my iPad
Life throws us a lot of curves, and how we stand in there and wait for the pitch or bail out for fear of being hit speaks volumes about us and our approach to "playing the game". The key element in how we "do" life is our relationship with God and whether we do life with Him or do life on our own terms. When we raced across America in 1983, we didn't ask God to be on our crew. We found out later that He was on the crew without our knowledge. He was preparing us for a series of "journeys" He knew we needed to take. Paul in his AT journey asked God to come along and as he has progressed in miles, his realization is that God is THE major element in the things which he encountered. The Ministry of Miles journey was God's plan and Karen and I said yes to an unknown goal and a series of unknown means to reach that goal.
As I have often blogged, God is the architect of this journey and we are along for the ride however and wherever He directs us. For now, we press on, and right now it's back to chapter 19 of the new book.
Sent from my iPad
Friday, January 9, 2015
January 9, 2015. Madison,GA. I don't think I'll see the movie
Someone has a unique experience and decides more people need to know what happened, so they write a book. Someone else comes along and decides that more people need to hear about the experience described in the book, so they make a movie about it. To make the movie more appealing, they change some of the details in the book, add characters who were not in the book or do something to alter the original experience. They may use the phrase, "based on a true story", or "nonfiction novel", or just go ahead and put their own slant on the events and come up with a theory of what they believe the facts to be and still describe it as the "real thing".
When the movie "Unbroken" came out, I thought it might be one I wanted to see. I don't see a lot of movies in the theater, mainly because they cost too much and the food is way too expensive. Hugh and LaVon went to see the movie and felt that I might not feel comfortable as a Vietnam Veteran with all the violence of the POW camps Louie endured, and then Sonja called to tell me she had the book if I wanted to read it. I thought it would be better to try the book since it wouldn't cost anything and the snacks were already bought. If I didn't like the book I could just stop reading, give it back to Sonja and still have the snacks on hand. But, once I started the book, I couldn't put it down (just like the book "Zvi" Sonja leant me to read)". The book, to say the least, is intense and in a few days I had finished it. A flood of emotions; a deep admiration for what our soldiers and POW's faced in WWII and other conflicts, and revulsion at what we as humans are capable of in the way of inflicting pain and degradation on others in so many ways. The book made me rethink some of my military experiences and how blessed I was to escape Vietnam with minimal "damage". I'm glad I read the book, but I agree with Hugh - I don't think I'll see the movie.
Life throws us a lot of "curves". Things happen which we can't explain or don't understand. But part of the journey is to use what has happened to us, to help others who are facing that same thing and don't know how to handle it. How we got through it may be how they can get through it too. 2 Corinthians 1:3-7 explains this far better than I can, and is the reason for our Ministry of Miles and the journey we find ourselves on. God's Book is the Real Thing; while there have been some good movies based on The Bible, I think I'll defer, and continue to use my morning quiet time with God and the Truth of His Word as the foundation of my walk through this life. Thank You, Lord.
Sent from my iPad
When the movie "Unbroken" came out, I thought it might be one I wanted to see. I don't see a lot of movies in the theater, mainly because they cost too much and the food is way too expensive. Hugh and LaVon went to see the movie and felt that I might not feel comfortable as a Vietnam Veteran with all the violence of the POW camps Louie endured, and then Sonja called to tell me she had the book if I wanted to read it. I thought it would be better to try the book since it wouldn't cost anything and the snacks were already bought. If I didn't like the book I could just stop reading, give it back to Sonja and still have the snacks on hand. But, once I started the book, I couldn't put it down (just like the book "Zvi" Sonja leant me to read)". The book, to say the least, is intense and in a few days I had finished it. A flood of emotions; a deep admiration for what our soldiers and POW's faced in WWII and other conflicts, and revulsion at what we as humans are capable of in the way of inflicting pain and degradation on others in so many ways. The book made me rethink some of my military experiences and how blessed I was to escape Vietnam with minimal "damage". I'm glad I read the book, but I agree with Hugh - I don't think I'll see the movie.
Life throws us a lot of "curves". Things happen which we can't explain or don't understand. But part of the journey is to use what has happened to us, to help others who are facing that same thing and don't know how to handle it. How we got through it may be how they can get through it too. 2 Corinthians 1:3-7 explains this far better than I can, and is the reason for our Ministry of Miles and the journey we find ourselves on. God's Book is the Real Thing; while there have been some good movies based on The Bible, I think I'll defer, and continue to use my morning quiet time with God and the Truth of His Word as the foundation of my walk through this life. Thank You, Lord.
Sent from my iPad
Tuesday, January 6, 2015
January 6, 2015. Madison, GA. Winter's a comin'
Weather is important to keep an eye on when you're on the road and hooked up to water, sewer, "shore power" and propane for heating and cooking. It's not as primitive as tent camping but it does require more attention to the forecast than living in a regular house. We just finished a few soggy days with unusually high rain totals and now are anticipating the temperature to plummet into the teens with wind chills more reminiscent of our Colorado winters. We will be heading to Jacksonville, Florida in 10 or 11 days, but for now we will be hunkering down for a few chilly days and nights.
Right now it's pleasant, sunny with mild temps and no wind, but the weather map shows purple coming and that means that we will be part of the cold weather which has plagued the Northern and Midwestern states over the past week. Back in Colorado it has been bitter cold for a few weeks and we are thankful to have been where we are and not there.
>> Yesterday we began the new "work year" with a day of prayer, a day to be thankful for the Source of Life Ministries' past 63 years and the opportunities which lie ahead for 2015. Today we got back to the routine and looked at the needs present and the resources available and people stepping forward to lend their talents to SLMI for 2015. New faces and old faithful ones stepping up to serve The Lord. God brings what is needed when it is needed. Tomorrow the Christmas trees will be packed away, decorations sorted and boxed for Christmas, 2015, and with all this, winter is coming again to remind us of the need to be vigilant, prepare to bundle up and endure what comes our way, do what needs to be done, and be grateful for the life we have been given. Thank You, Lord.
Sent from my iPad
Right now it's pleasant, sunny with mild temps and no wind, but the weather map shows purple coming and that means that we will be part of the cold weather which has plagued the Northern and Midwestern states over the past week. Back in Colorado it has been bitter cold for a few weeks and we are thankful to have been where we are and not there.
>> Yesterday we began the new "work year" with a day of prayer, a day to be thankful for the Source of Life Ministries' past 63 years and the opportunities which lie ahead for 2015. Today we got back to the routine and looked at the needs present and the resources available and people stepping forward to lend their talents to SLMI for 2015. New faces and old faithful ones stepping up to serve The Lord. God brings what is needed when it is needed. Tomorrow the Christmas trees will be packed away, decorations sorted and boxed for Christmas, 2015, and with all this, winter is coming again to remind us of the need to be vigilant, prepare to bundle up and endure what comes our way, do what needs to be done, and be grateful for the life we have been given. Thank You, Lord.
Sent from my iPad
Saturday, January 3, 2015
January 3, 2015. Madison, GA. 2015?
Happy New Year! My, how the years fly by. It's hard to believe that this year I will turn 70, God willing, and be eligible for the Senior discount at every Chinese restaurant. Yes, the years are flying by, but I want my first 2015 blog to be simple, straight-forward and non-technical.
As with every new year, and in reality, every new day, we face uncertainty. There is no way to predict what lies before us. The plans we make are always subject to change. While we do need to plan and set a course, there are no guarantees that any of them will come to fruition. God has a plan which takes into account His desire for us and for His creation and His Kingdom. When we align with Him, things move forward smoothly, but when we "buck the system" we may find the road a bit more challenging and bumpier.
Karen and I finished our reading through The Bible on December 31st and then went back to Genesis 1 and "In the beginning God........" on January 1. The certainty is that the words will be the same, God will speak to us through His Word and if we listen to it, hear what He intends for us to hear, and obey Him and His call, we will be blessed beyond anything we could plan or imagine. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are the keys to life abundant, May the new year, and each new day, be full of God's grace and peace for each one who trusts in Him and may more people come to know that grace and peace through our efforts. It seems like a simple, non-technical formula for 2015. Lord, help us all to rejoice in Your plan for us.
Sent from my iPad
As with every new year, and in reality, every new day, we face uncertainty. There is no way to predict what lies before us. The plans we make are always subject to change. While we do need to plan and set a course, there are no guarantees that any of them will come to fruition. God has a plan which takes into account His desire for us and for His creation and His Kingdom. When we align with Him, things move forward smoothly, but when we "buck the system" we may find the road a bit more challenging and bumpier.
Karen and I finished our reading through The Bible on December 31st and then went back to Genesis 1 and "In the beginning God........" on January 1. The certainty is that the words will be the same, God will speak to us through His Word and if we listen to it, hear what He intends for us to hear, and obey Him and His call, we will be blessed beyond anything we could plan or imagine. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are the keys to life abundant, May the new year, and each new day, be full of God's grace and peace for each one who trusts in Him and may more people come to know that grace and peace through our efforts. It seems like a simple, non-technical formula for 2015. Lord, help us all to rejoice in Your plan for us.
Sent from my iPad
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