Over the weekend, a group of about 20 from Cornerstone Bible Church in Nescopeck, PA arrived. They will be here for a week to volunteer at the Mission. Their hometown is a rural community of about 1,500 on the Susquehanna River, southwest of Wilkes-Barre and Scranton in east-central Pennsylvania. I've met a few of them, but haven't heard much about their town, other than it's cold in the winter. They have jumped right in and are working on a number of construction, demolition, painting and clean-up projects we had started, but left for them to complete.
I wasn't any help to them, as I awoke to a familiar pain and spent all morning and part of the afternoon working to get a kidney stone through my system. I'll spare you the details, but like most little things that aren't immediately visible (like no-see-ums, salmonella, metal splinters or the dreaded chigger), the stone feels more like Stone Mountain than a grain of sand. In any event, the pain is gone, I've been set free and I do thank God for seeing me through the experience. And the work I would have been doing, has been done by enthusiastic, younger, stronger people. Tomorrow, I'll be back in the battle, thankful that much was accomplished today and we all had a beautiful weather day to do what each of us needed to do.
I've always marveled at the way God brings the people needed, the message needed and the conditions needed to accomplish what He has ordained to be done. We, as believers, are in reality a single body, regardless of our different denominations, styles of worship or the various ways we "do church". If we just step back, look at the Scriptures (regardless of the translation) as the inerrant, inspired Truth, we can find in its entirety, Old and New Testament, the way to navigate this life and be ready for the eternal life to come. Working together, many parts, one objective, One God in three Persons, reinforcing and encouraging each other, we can have joy, peace and the other fruit of the Spirit even in the throes of a kidney stone or any other trial. In all this, Thank You, Lord. Help us all to see the Light, and be the Light.
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Monday, March 7, 2016
Friday, March 4, 2016
March 4, 2016. Madison, GA. Ladybug Update
The battle continues. We seem to be gaining the upper hand, but there are still some hard core resistance fighters unwilling to just fly away and abandon the fight. The weather has been in our favor, with only a few days in the high 60's or low 70's the past few weeks. We also have tried to keep the inside temperature cooler by opening the windows sooner in the day and not letting the sun warm up the coach to where the little buggers will stay outside and not take up residence inside out of the cold.
I don't think we've seen the last of them though. They seem to feel at home with us, and may hang on for the next month sensing that we will soon be heading back to their native Arkansas environs. They have adapted to being Dawgs, but at heart they are really Hawgs and want to get back to their kinfolk. After all, a ladybawg is still a ladybawg even if they are really Asian Beetles.
The word is out that our next critter, the red fire ant, is starting to stir. Some of our young MK's (Missionary Kids) have spotted them in their game-playing on the lawns, and the ant powder has been brought out, and ready for use when needed. These guys can be ferocious and they come in huge numbers. No chigger sightings yet, but that, too, is just a matter of time and warmer weather. The warm weather will be welcome when it finally comes, but there are definite inconveniences to be taken into consideration and contested. We are vastly outnumbered, but there is a lot of history we can draw on to boost our morale and encourage us in the fight......David versus Goliath, and then his Mighty Men, Gideon and his army of 300, Elijah against the Prophets of Baal.........to name but a few. We, too, shall prevail.
Sent from my iPad
I don't think we've seen the last of them though. They seem to feel at home with us, and may hang on for the next month sensing that we will soon be heading back to their native Arkansas environs. They have adapted to being Dawgs, but at heart they are really Hawgs and want to get back to their kinfolk. After all, a ladybawg is still a ladybawg even if they are really Asian Beetles.
The word is out that our next critter, the red fire ant, is starting to stir. Some of our young MK's (Missionary Kids) have spotted them in their game-playing on the lawns, and the ant powder has been brought out, and ready for use when needed. These guys can be ferocious and they come in huge numbers. No chigger sightings yet, but that, too, is just a matter of time and warmer weather. The warm weather will be welcome when it finally comes, but there are definite inconveniences to be taken into consideration and contested. We are vastly outnumbered, but there is a lot of history we can draw on to boost our morale and encourage us in the fight......David versus Goliath, and then his Mighty Men, Gideon and his army of 300, Elijah against the Prophets of Baal.........to name but a few. We, too, shall prevail.
Sent from my iPad
Tuesday, March 1, 2016
March 1, 2016. Madison, GA. Disciple/Discipline
The hills of Arkansas are calling; the call is to be one of Jesus' Disciples in The Great Passion Play and the call to discipline myself to the physical demands of that role. The "training" began a few days ago, starting with setting my alarm 30 minutes earlier in the morning, getting my journaling, scripture and devotional reading completed and hitting the road for my wog (walk/jog) before attending prayer at 8:00am. It's been in the 40's for my first three training sessions, so the shock has not been too bad. From past experience, once you set your mind to the routine, it becomes routine and that's where the discipline kicks in. You just do it.
No place on the grounds of TGPP is flat, so even the normal daily activities require walking the hills, but the play takes place on a large and "elevation challenged" set, and some of the roles demand physical strength, so it is important to anticipate and get in decent shape. Again, from past experience in the play, as an athlete (or wannabe athlete) most of my life, and a newly appointed septuagenarian, it's important to do the nitty gritty down and dirty grunt work needed. Some people may not feel the need to do as I do, but to me that's what being disciplined and being a disciple is all about. Do it well and do it right. Jesus trained the first Disciples and even though it took them a while to get the hang of it, the result was that it encouraged a lot of people, and many of us, to follow their example and follow the example of Jesus.
How much more enjoyable the race is, and will be, if we train for it and keep training even when we think we're in top shape. We never know when God will call us to climb taller hills than those in Arkansas or run a longer "race" than the one we just completed. And my being a disciple is not just for the hour and forty-five minutes of the Play, but for every minute of my life as a Christian. I'd much rather have the discipline to stay the course than face the discipline of God when I haven't done all I was called to do or didn't do it to the best of my ability in every "role" I play. Thank You, Lord, for calling us as You have and allowing us to serve as we do. What a blessing and joy it is.
Sent from my iPad
No place on the grounds of TGPP is flat, so even the normal daily activities require walking the hills, but the play takes place on a large and "elevation challenged" set, and some of the roles demand physical strength, so it is important to anticipate and get in decent shape. Again, from past experience in the play, as an athlete (or wannabe athlete) most of my life, and a newly appointed septuagenarian, it's important to do the nitty gritty down and dirty grunt work needed. Some people may not feel the need to do as I do, but to me that's what being disciplined and being a disciple is all about. Do it well and do it right. Jesus trained the first Disciples and even though it took them a while to get the hang of it, the result was that it encouraged a lot of people, and many of us, to follow their example and follow the example of Jesus.
How much more enjoyable the race is, and will be, if we train for it and keep training even when we think we're in top shape. We never know when God will call us to climb taller hills than those in Arkansas or run a longer "race" than the one we just completed. And my being a disciple is not just for the hour and forty-five minutes of the Play, but for every minute of my life as a Christian. I'd much rather have the discipline to stay the course than face the discipline of God when I haven't done all I was called to do or didn't do it to the best of my ability in every "role" I play. Thank You, Lord, for calling us as You have and allowing us to serve as we do. What a blessing and joy it is.
Sent from my iPad
Saturday, February 27, 2016
February 27, 2016. Madison, GA. Lukewarm
Jesus chastised the Church in Laodicea for being lukewarm. How many of us Christians today are lukewarm and being deprived of the full range of blessings He offers to those who are faithful? Read today's "My Utmost for His Highest" devotional, and decide for yourself:
"Impoverished Ministry of Jesus. 'From whence then hast thou that living water?(John 4:11)'
"The well is deep--and a great deal deeper than the Samaritan woman knew! Think of the depths of human nature, of human life, think of the depths of the "wells" in you. Have you been impoverishing the ministry of Jesus so that He cannot do anything? Suppose there is a well of fathomless trouble inside your heart, and Jesus comes and says---"Let not your heart be troubled", and you shrug your shoulders and say, "But, Lord, the well is deep; You cannot draw up quietness and comfort out of it." No, He will bring them down from above. Jesus does not bring anything up from the wells of human nature. We limit the Holy One by remembering what we have allowed Him to do do for us in the past, and by saying "Of course I cannot expect God to do this thing." The thing that taxes almightiness is the very thing which we as disciples of Jesus ought to believe He will do. We impoverish His ministry the moment we forget He is Almighty. We will come to Jesus as Comforter or as Sympathizer, but we will not come to Him as Almighty.
"The reason some of us are such poor specimens of Christianity is because we have no Almighty Christ. We have Christian attributes and experiences, but there is no abandonment to Jesus Christ. When we get into difficult circumstances, we impoverish His ministry by saying---"Of course He cannot do anything," and we struggle down to the deeps and try to get the water for ourselves. Beware of the satisfaction of sinking back and saying---"It can't be done"; you know it can be done if you look to Jesus. The well of your incompleteness is deep, but make the effort and look away to Him."
This devotional struck a chord with me, and I hope it does so for you, too. Each and every one of us needs to believe in the Almighty, Unlimited power of Jesus to right every wrong, heal every hurt, save every soul. He does the impossible and does it consistently. All we need to do is pray it, expect it and receive it. Come on everyone, read Revelation 3:14-22.........and turn on the hot water.
Sent from my iPad
"Impoverished Ministry of Jesus. 'From whence then hast thou that living water?(John 4:11)'
"The well is deep--and a great deal deeper than the Samaritan woman knew! Think of the depths of human nature, of human life, think of the depths of the "wells" in you. Have you been impoverishing the ministry of Jesus so that He cannot do anything? Suppose there is a well of fathomless trouble inside your heart, and Jesus comes and says---"Let not your heart be troubled", and you shrug your shoulders and say, "But, Lord, the well is deep; You cannot draw up quietness and comfort out of it." No, He will bring them down from above. Jesus does not bring anything up from the wells of human nature. We limit the Holy One by remembering what we have allowed Him to do do for us in the past, and by saying "Of course I cannot expect God to do this thing." The thing that taxes almightiness is the very thing which we as disciples of Jesus ought to believe He will do. We impoverish His ministry the moment we forget He is Almighty. We will come to Jesus as Comforter or as Sympathizer, but we will not come to Him as Almighty.
"The reason some of us are such poor specimens of Christianity is because we have no Almighty Christ. We have Christian attributes and experiences, but there is no abandonment to Jesus Christ. When we get into difficult circumstances, we impoverish His ministry by saying---"Of course He cannot do anything," and we struggle down to the deeps and try to get the water for ourselves. Beware of the satisfaction of sinking back and saying---"It can't be done"; you know it can be done if you look to Jesus. The well of your incompleteness is deep, but make the effort and look away to Him."
This devotional struck a chord with me, and I hope it does so for you, too. Each and every one of us needs to believe in the Almighty, Unlimited power of Jesus to right every wrong, heal every hurt, save every soul. He does the impossible and does it consistently. All we need to do is pray it, expect it and receive it. Come on everyone, read Revelation 3:14-22.........and turn on the hot water.
Sent from my iPad
Wednesday, February 24, 2016
February 24, 2016. Madison, GA. Old Dog.......New Tricks
Our "new" cell phones, which we have had for only 4 months and 2 days, are already "old. The S7 has replaced the S6 and we have to wait another 20 months before we can "upgrade" and by then it will probably be an S8 or S9 which will be the "in" model. Needless to say, we can barely use the old new phone, so it doesn't matter how many iterations will ensue, we will stay with our 6's and let the world pass us by.
It won't be the first time we have been technologically overstepped and it will be far from the last, you can rest assured. The world of technical stuff moves at a rapid pace, and from my years in the computer chip manufacturing business, it was clear that we were making chips for products which were already out of date. In 1998 we were making chips for the first cell phone cameras, and they were already dinosaurs before they reached the sales floor.
There is so much change afoot in the world we live in, and it is refreshing to be here at Source of Light with many "dinosaurs" of the missionary field who are learning new communication techniques, performing duties they have never done before, using the unchanged Word of God to reach a host of people around the world who are hungry for Jesus and the hope He offers for an eternal destiny in Heaven, away from the world we humans have done so much to destroy and contaminate.
Karen and I have learned a lot of new skills over the past two plus years on the road while serving here in Madison and in Arkansas at TGPP. It has given our "getting-older" bones a new outlook on what we are capable of doing. Our co-workers have become teachers, mentors and examples of what we can look forward to in our 80's or 90's or for however long God calls us to serve Him and preach the Good News by what we say and what we do. Quite a journey, and quite a way to honor and glorify out Lord and Savior.
Sent from my IPad.
It won't be the first time we have been technologically overstepped and it will be far from the last, you can rest assured. The world of technical stuff moves at a rapid pace, and from my years in the computer chip manufacturing business, it was clear that we were making chips for products which were already out of date. In 1998 we were making chips for the first cell phone cameras, and they were already dinosaurs before they reached the sales floor.
There is so much change afoot in the world we live in, and it is refreshing to be here at Source of Light with many "dinosaurs" of the missionary field who are learning new communication techniques, performing duties they have never done before, using the unchanged Word of God to reach a host of people around the world who are hungry for Jesus and the hope He offers for an eternal destiny in Heaven, away from the world we humans have done so much to destroy and contaminate.
Karen and I have learned a lot of new skills over the past two plus years on the road while serving here in Madison and in Arkansas at TGPP. It has given our "getting-older" bones a new outlook on what we are capable of doing. Our co-workers have become teachers, mentors and examples of what we can look forward to in our 80's or 90's or for however long God calls us to serve Him and preach the Good News by what we say and what we do. Quite a journey, and quite a way to honor and glorify out Lord and Savior.
Sent from my IPad.
Sunday, February 21, 2016
Postscript to 2/21/16 Blog
Not only are the counties we drove in today named after influential military men, the first names of these men reveal a lot about what influenced their parents. Daniel Morgan, John Newton, Israel Putnam, Nathanael Greene, (all Biblical names) and William Jasper (a name which derives from the German, meaning "resolute protector"). And who says there isn't a Judeo-Christian foundation for our country?
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February 21, 2016. Madison, GA. A Sunday Ride in the County
After church today Karen and I decided to explore some areas outside Madison we had not seen before. For us, new roads and new places are "being on vacation", so off we went making a big loop from Rutledge, to Newborn, Shady Dale, Eatonton, Lake Oconee and back to Madison. In all we drove about 80 miles, did ride on familiar roads for the last half of the loop, ate in a restaurant we had only heard about, and drove in 5 counties (Morgan, Newton, Jasper, Putnam, Greene). Interesting that all five counties were named for Revolutionary War soldiers, three generals and two sergeants.
As we have travelled through Georgia, we have been struck by the large number of counties in the state (159), second largest number of counties of any state in the country. Only Texas has more counties (254), and Texas has more than four times the land area of Georgia.
I guess it means a lot more Georgia county officials, county court houses and of course more county road workers. I must admit, the roads today seemed in pretty good shape, so keep leaning on your shovels, guys.
In any event, our ride in the counties and the countryside was pretty enjoyable. Good to see the old farm buildings, rural areas, small towns, and animals grazing in the fields. Also good to see our country's soldiers honored with their names on so many of our cities and counties. Not sure who Shady Dale was named for, but Karen and I have at least one idea........but that's another story..........
Sent from my iPad
As we have travelled through Georgia, we have been struck by the large number of counties in the state (159), second largest number of counties of any state in the country. Only Texas has more counties (254), and Texas has more than four times the land area of Georgia.
I guess it means a lot more Georgia county officials, county court houses and of course more county road workers. I must admit, the roads today seemed in pretty good shape, so keep leaning on your shovels, guys.
In any event, our ride in the counties and the countryside was pretty enjoyable. Good to see the old farm buildings, rural areas, small towns, and animals grazing in the fields. Also good to see our country's soldiers honored with their names on so many of our cities and counties. Not sure who Shady Dale was named for, but Karen and I have at least one idea........but that's another story..........
Sent from my iPad
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