THOUGHT FOR TODAY: Closely related to the fear living is the fear of change. In his classic book, Escape From Freedom, Eric Fromm says we often tend to continue doing things that are familiar even when they might be dull and uninteresting, and even unpleasant, because without them we feel threatened. This is something Christians need to beware of too.
Yesterday we went to our own church, Beacon Hill Baptist. After service there was a luncheon and it was great visiting with church family. Today being Memorial Day, Jenny and Marco were here for a cookout along with Jeff and Mike. Marisa called from Salt Lake City, and Amy is now back in Los Angeles. Everyone accounted for. Later on this week Michael will be going to Honduras to attend Anthony Gillen's wedding. While some of the old youth group is there, Mark and Joy Hoff have planned an event for them. I am still planning to return on the seventh and will be there for about 10 days; then Cheryl and I will both return to Honduras on July 7.
THOUGHT FOR TODAY: Closely related to the fear living is the fear of change. In his classic book, Escape From Freedom, Eric Fromm says we often tend to continue doing things that are familiar even when they might be dull and uninteresting, and even unpleasant, because without them we feel threatened. This is something Christians need to beware of too. Charles and Betty Hembree invited us for dinner tonight along with two other coupes. It was refreshing to share once again how God led us onto the mission field nearly 12 years ago….Tomorrow is the 30th—payday. With God’s faithfulness and the generosity of others we have enough for salaries, and for Nicolas to buy cement and a load of gravel to start the factory floor…. Mark Bullard is coming down real soon to work on the pick-up and the A/C in the van.
THOUGHT FOR TODAY: It’s not hard to understand the fear of dying; but the fear of living? That’s really not as rare as it might seem. For example, I have known people, perhaps you have too, who chose to spend the best years of their lives in a job they didn’t like. One of those people was very dear to me. He was gifted and could have experienced the joy of doing what he was designed to do, but chose instead to stay where he was. The motive was fear. Yesterday afternoon I met with Tyler to cover some accounting matters. We hadn't gotten together for quite some time and it was good to be able to have a chat. Last night we met with the medical team that will be coming with Dr. and Betty Jo Green the middle of July. As it stands now, there will be 17 on the team, including four physicians. We are pleased that Dr. Tom Pickard will be making the trip again this time. Reggie and Penny Buehrer and their daughter and son-in-law from Ohio will also be coming at the same time. Ever since arriving back in the States I have had a cough, sore throat, congestion, and a runny nose. When Mike came in from Kentucky he had the same symptoms. Couple of nights ago Amy called me from New York and her friend Reese has the same thing. Amy went to three drugstores looking for something to relieve symptoms, and they said so many people have this they are sold out. Tonight, Nicholas called and said they are all having the same thing there in Honduras. What's this world coming to?
THOUGHT FOR TODAY: Why would it be difficult for any Believer to pray, "Lord, I give up all my own plans… my own desires and hopes and accept your will for my life. Use me as you will; send me where you will; work out your whole will in my life at any cost, now and forever." I think such reluctance is out of fear. In his book The Incredible Christian, A.W. Tozer alludes to it as the fear of life. Sunday we went to First Methodist. After church there was a luncheon for everyone interested in missions and we got a chance to bring folks up to date on everything that’s happening in the village. Several members of the March team were there and shared as well…. I haven’t heard yet how things went at the mission center church this week…. Yesterday I received a rough draft of floor plans for the factory from Jim Redyke. They will be very helpful in other discussions we will have this week… Nicolas sent George’s estimate to resurface the floor. The amount is reasonable so he will start right away…. Rough weather in OK tonight; we spent part of the evening in the hallway.
THOUGHT FOR TODAY: I was reading a book by Dr. Paul Y. Cho where he reminds us, "God has no favorite children. What brought power to the lives of men like Luther, Wesley, Finney and Moody can also bring you power.” The Sunday school teacher at First Methodist on Sunday reminded us the key to being used of God is to be willing; willing to be used … “at any cost, now and forever.” I have just a little more than two weeks before I return to Honduras; we are booked pretty solid but enjoying it. This afternoon will be meeting with friends from Beacon Hill Baptist Church for a birthday party. Got an e-mail from Nicolas -- most of the sewing students have returned, but they still say they cannot afford to pay tuition in the future. Enselma, Beto's daughter, had a surgical procedure but it was not successful. We have meetings next week to discuss details of the manufacturing project.
THOUGHT FOR TODAY: A Sunday school teacher asked her children as they were on the way to church service, "And why is it necessary to be quiet in church?" "Because people are sleeping”... A three-year-old child was overheard praying, "Our father, who does art in heaven, Harold is his name. Amen." We got to Tulsa about 6 pm, dropped the boys off at the house, and went to the Carpenters (FUMC) Sunday school class evening meeting. They are real prayer warriors and we like to keep them up to date. On 5/13 I wrote that we needed $2200 for payroll on the 15th and that we had $2185; lacked $15. When we got out of the mountains of Kentucky where we could receive an Internet connection there was an e-mail from Bridge the Gap International saying "a deposit of $15.12 was made to Gathering Hearts today.”…. We are most grateful to Jim Redyke and Gene Moffitt for their recent visit to the mission center. In addition to identifying and meeting a need at the manufacturing facility, they showed that you don't need a week of free time to come and visit us; they had less than 24 hours. (I almost said that Jim "exploded” the myth).
THOUGHT FOR TODAY: To the extent we make verbal commitments to the Lord (e.g. “I give up all my plans… and accept Your will for my life… forever”) without a commitment from the heart we begin to immunize ourselves against the true Gospel. Aldus Huxley once wrote, “The third petition of the Lord’s Prayer is repeated daily by millions who have not the slightest intention of anyone’s will being done but their own.” I think he might have gone on to say, “And they don’t feel a thing.” That sounds like immunization. We’re just outside Saint Louis tonight; should get to Tulsa early afternoon tomorrow. We had a great time at Lynelle’s birthday party yesterday; saw several missionary friends. Nicolas called this am; I still couldn’t let him cash the payroll check. An hour or so later Donna wrote that she had received a check to deposit this pm, so I gave him the go ahead. I got a call from Jim Redyke yesterday calling from Houston. He said they had a productive 24 hours at the Mission Center. Next week we will meet to begin talking about production design and work flow for the manufacturing plant.
THOUGHT FOR TODAY: There are many lessons to be learned from David and Goliath. One of them was declared by David even before the event occurred, “…that the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel.” What are others seeing in my life; in yours that force them to conclude there really is a God in heaven? We’re still in KY; will arrive back in Tulsa Tuesday. Payday is Sunday. We need $2200 this time; as of today we have $2185. Nicolas called this am for details about the arrival of Jim Redyke and Gene Moffitt tomorrow. I called Jim and they are ready to go. They will be at the Mission Center just 24 hours to assess electrical power needs for the manufacturing plant. Nick also said several sewing students dropped out when we started charging $10 per month. We will have to reevaluate. As I explained to them, we aren’t trying to earn money. We have learned from experience that students are much more serious about attendance and their training when they contribute something.
THOUGHT FOR TODAY: Here are excerpts from the document the African pastor gave me: “Lord, I give up all my own plans…. I give myself, my life, utterly to you. Use me as you will. Work out your whole will in my life at any cost, now and forever.” Then there is a place to sign and date it. I hope every Believer would some day come to a place of being able to sign this pledge. However, to surrender all your plans now and forever, at any cost, is a gravely serious thing. If you haven’t agonized over such surrender, you probably haven’t done it yet. We’re in Kentucky. We saw Mike yesterday; he gets out of school on Thursday. Denny Boersema called from Michigan this morning and we had a good talk; got caught up on the new church, and other projects in process. I got an e-mail from Melissa Paz today telling about the church service on Sunday. Pablo had another commitment at his church so Melissa's husband Carson gave the message. Melissa led the singing and Alba the prayers. Afterward there was cake, drinks, and a gift for mothers in the congregation.
THOUGHT FOR TODAY: Reading in The One Year Bible, the Old Testament selection for May 7 covers 1Samuel 2: 5-8 which includes these phrases: "…those who stumbled are now strong. Those who were well fed are now starving, and those who were starving are now full…. The Lord makes some poor and others rich; he brings some down and lifts others up. He lifts the poor from the dust and the needy from the garbage dump. He sets them among princes, placing them in seats of honor." This answers a lot of questions for me. For example, why do I live in relative abundance and ease while Nelson Giovanni, the beggar at the traffic light who can hardly walk or speak must depend upon me and others for an offering. These and similar verses imply that some day he'll be up ahead and I'll be asking him for help. That makes sense. We’re traveling again now heading for KY. We’ll be at Georgetown tomorrow to see Michael; then visit Cheryl’s mother, sister Mary Ellen and her husband Jack. On Saturday, Savannah Fields graduates from Georgetown and Sunday, Lynelle’s birthday at Cleft Rock…. When we arrived in Honduras in 1999 we began working in a village being built for refugees after Hurricane Mitch. Though we had no previous experience we roughed out a plan we thought would help the people recover. A couple of days ago I ran across that plan and it is very similar to what we’re now doing in Seis de Mayo, nearly 12 years after we began…. Jim Redyke and Eugene Moffitt will be coming next Saturday for just one day to assess the electricity need for the factory.
THOUGHT FOR TODAY: It seems to me there is a significant difference between praying and prayer. A minister from Africa handed me this: “Lord, I give up all my own plans and purposes, all my own desires and hopes and accept Your will for my life. I give myself, my life, and all, utterly to You to be Yours forever. Go on and on filling me with your Holy Spirit. Use me as You will; send me where You will; work out Your whole will in my life at any cost, now and forever.” That’s a powerful….prayer. |