Faithful in the little things

Homeowners may laugh at me, but today is the first time I've used a lawnmower since my childhood, when I used a blade only (no engine) (prehistoric) type. This was finally superseded by a riding lawnmower when my parents purchased a house with a big lawn. By then my youngest brother was ready to take over. Today's model was fueled by gas but this did not prevent it conking out every two minutes when it filled with three week high grass. On the one hand it brings home to me the incessant labor attendant on home ownership. On the other, it reminds me of Luke 16:10a. "One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much..." (I'm adapting the thought out of its Biblical context, which involves integrity in handling money.) If we're faithful to mow the grass weekly, we don't end up with an arduous task. A reflective person can see the analogy to our spiritual lives.
Am enjoying the hospitality & fellowship of Rob & Shalom. Rob was the first mentee that the Lord gave me over a decade ago. I'm very thankful for the privilege. Last August he married a godly woman named Shalom, whom I now have the opportunity of getting to know. She is seven months along. I appreciate her ethnic cuisine, serene demeanor, and receptivity to Scripture.
Tomorrow I move on to upstate New York to visit my friends Hardy & Katrine. Unfortunately they live in an area with no cell phone reception. Then next Wednesday I should trek on to New England.

Miller

Visiting my friend Miller in western PA the last several days. He is one of the most encouraging people I know. Through e-mail his ministry extends worldwide. I've had the blessing if introducing about ten of my friends to him, and he has provided abundant encouragement to them. On Monday I drove from Dover, DE to the Pittsburgh area, experiencing a 90 min. traffic jam in which I traveled four miles, and the "privilege" of paying almost $10 in tolls for a 150 mile cruise on the Penn. Turnpike.
Tuesday Miller & I strolled around a local lake & a college track. Today we had lunch with a young pastor named Anthony, an engaging, enthusiastic brother. Miller's friend Mary came over this afternoon & they played a piano duet (Variations on a Theme by Haydn) by Brahms for me. She has encouraged me greatly in my fiction writing. Tomorrow I travel to Scranton to visit my friend Rob & his wife Shalom.
Last night & this morning we spoke to our friend Stephen from Miss. He sounded full of joy & we enjoyed our fellowship with him. He gave the following verse for us to ponder. "It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes." (Psalm 119:71 ESV)
We also watched a video about the young Chinese pianist Yundi Li. God has given him staggering talent; may he use it for His glory.
I've also begun reading "The Apostolic Bible," a interlinear featuring the Septuagint (Greek translation of the OT)& the NT in Greek. The English translation reflects the Greek word order. The title is based on the fact that the apostles quoted from it, rather than the Hebrew OT, in the NT writings. Thank you Kevin C for this gift.

Delaware

Last Thursday drove to Dover, DE, home of my friend George's friend Denny. Had not previously visited Delaware. Now the only states I have not ever traveled in are North Dakota, Louisiana, Alaska & Hawaii. Denny provided hospitality & fellowship for me, introducing me to a number of the saints. Kenny has a vision for multiplying cell churches. He asked whether house churches were multiplying. I regret that for the most part the answer to his question is no. On Sunday we attended both their larger gathering (all the cell groups), and in the evening one cell group. This one has a younger couple, who had lived together, came to Christ, and realized their need for marriage. The bride, who came from a hard background, testified that for the first time in her life she felt like she had a caring, genuine family. That represents the best testimony I've heard in my travels. Kenny has a heart for evangelism & a desire to minister itinerantly.
Denny also introduced me to a woman named Hana (approx. 75), a woman of prayer & faith. We got together with several others to pray Saturday morning. Although they feel isolated in Delaware, God is working in their midst. Also had fellowship with a couple named Jay & Ellen, and explained the house church approach to them.
Took a walk one evening & saw more rabbits than I've seen anywhere in my travels plus two dead black snakes by the side of the road, one squished by a car. Our Lord Jesus has crushed Satan under His heel & given us victory. "The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you." (Romans 16:20 ESV)

Maryland

Gradually making my way back to New England. Am currently enjoying the hospitality of Ray & Dorothy in Maryland. They took me to a Celebrate Recovery meeting at their church attended by about a hundred others. Evangelical churches are good at programs, structure, & order. May the Holy Spirit change people's hearts. Ray has also given me an overview of leather furniture repair, a close relation to the automotive upholstery repair I did for 27 years.
Further thoughts about the conference. It often felt like i was attending a rock concert, with extremely loud music and enthusiastic fans gyrating in front of the stage. Speakers tended to shout & yell incessantly. I wondered whether they thought God (or the audience) was deaf. A saying told to me, "What offends the mind, reveals the heart" implies that one must discard all prior experience, discernment & wisdom. Yet the emphasis on reveling in the presence of God, waiting upon Him, interceding for individuals, groups, nations, or the world are of immense importance.
Am thankful for the good reports that I am hearing from my sending home church in Massachusetts. God promises that we will reap what we sow, (Galatians 6:9) that we should not grow weary in well doing. After faithfully sowing for two plus years in the current manifestation, they see growing fruit. Thank you, Jesus. May your grace be with them. (Phil 4:23)

Conference

As I continue my peregrinations around the body of Christ, I find myself in ever more diverse places. One of my old G. O. friends invited me to an Awaken the Dawn Conference this past week. Joe & Patti, another couple from the old days, hosted me. In prior entries i've spoken of "cerebrals" & "expressives." Most of the people at this conference were on the latter end of that spectrum. The emphasis was on worship, prayer, and the prophetic. Speakers included Heidi Baker, Lou Engel Bob Jones, Allan Hood & the local talent. As I've mentioned in the past I attempt to glean from whoever I come into contact with, with the thought that anyone in whom the Holy Spirit dwells has something to offer. With that in mind, Heidi Baker exhibits the compassion of Christ, Lou Engel a prophetic fervor, Bob Jones peace & wisdom. Some healings were reported. The primary goal of what one might loosely call the "Prayer Movement" is the establishment of round the clock houses or places of prayer & worship throughout the world.
On the other hand, one wonders how much of this is highly charged emotional drama. Having experienced the "Toronto Blessing" for two years in a Vineyard church in the mid 90's, this type of experience is not foreign to me. At the end of the day I could not discern any lasting, tangible fruit to that season in my life or in that of those with whom I worshiped. I don't wish to put God in a box in my own mind; I do wish to know- Is this You, God?

Virginia

Hiked to Bradley Falls with two flower aficionados. Quite spectacular although we could not get close to the actual water. Next day I went off with Kevin and observed bumper paint repair, a trade closely related to my old one. Kevin & Suzette's property reminds me of "The Land" in Mendocino, where they and many other friends of mine lived at one time. Little cabins, gardens (both flower & vegetable) chickens, four dogs, a tiny brook running through by a huge willow tree & people flowing in & out added to the effect. Tuesday I had the fulfillment of encouraging Jesse & Shannon, a younger couple living on the place temporarily, and also a neighboring brother named David. Nothing is quite like doing what God gives you to do.
In the evening I enjoyed fellowship with Ed & Elenore, former missionaries to Guatemala, and parents of two of the saints in the S. F. house church. Spoke about my limited connection with Guatemala, the end times, the brethren in S. F. & other topics. I remain amazed at God's work in my life. I, the former introvert & loner relished fellowship with two people I'd never met before. Ed & I took a walk after dinner. As readers of this blog know, I like to walk; it's rare to find a fellow walker.
Wednesday I drove almost five hundred miles to a Virginia suburb of Washington D. C. & then to a conference with Joe & Patti, and Ray, friends from the old days in G. O. Met their son Justin & Ray's friend Merril. Got back to their house at 1 a.m., got up at 6:30, off to the second day of the conference & not back until midnight. I confess I'm not a young guy anymore. I'm worn out.

North Carolina

Departed Atlanta last Tuesday & drove to North Carolina. Came down with a cold. Received a zinc based cold remedy, which actually seems to have done what it claimed to do- shorten the duration & severity of the cold. Visited with Doug, an old friend from the tree planting days, (Old tree planters never die, they just grow rings.) and his wife Pat. Two of their children, aged 20 & 24, live with them. This represents the time frame in which I knew Doug. One day we lunched with Kevin, another brother I knew in the early 70's. After several pleasant days with Doug & Pat, I'm now visiting with Kevin and Suzette. We're planning to hike to some falls today.
As a senior in high school, I took a course in economics from a Mr. Herrick, one of the best teachers I ever had. My sense at the end of the year was that the world economic system was a house of cards, sustained by self-interest. Forty years later that analogy still seems true. Last Thursday's yo-yo stock market illustrates the point. I'm not a prophet but I have an increasing sense of acceleration with regard to the end times. I've not had any particular interest in Biblical eschatology in the past; I believe God wants me to delve into His Word on this subject now.
Looking forward to my return to the wealth of relationships God has given me in New England. Anticipating a late May or early June arrival. "The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart, and a good conscience, and a sincere faith." (1 Timothy 1:5 ESV)

God is good

Lunched today with several brothers who minister in restricted nations. Enjoyed good food, fellowship & encouragement from their testimonies of what God is doing in countries that most American Christians would think of as dangerous and closed to the gospel. These brothers' joy and peace exuded from their speech and faces. Again i'm struck by the receptivity of indigenous peoples who have not become jaded by the alleged pleasures of this world.
Last night several brothers and i received hospitality from Steve and Sandra. This gift involves not just a willingness to open your home but also your heart to people you may know slightly or not at all. We discussed questions relating to the gift of Bible teaching and its place in the ekklesia. Am thankful for these precious saints who labor so diligently in the kingdom.
Earlier on the Lord's Day I had the privilege of visiting another home gathering at Rusty & Julie's home. Participated in sweet worship & availed myself of the opportunity to share what God is doing with me via itinerant ministry using the example of Tychicus, the mailman. (He probably took the letters we know as Ephesians, Colossians & Philemon from Paul in prison in Rome to their recipients.) We had an opportunity to pray and counsel together after wards.
Prior to that had fellowship with the "morning group." Good participation with our brother Ed speaking about the gifts enumerated in Romans 12, myself on the theme of persecution, and a brother named Pete on the reality that persecution often arises from within the church, e.g. Acts 20:30.
Saturday afternoon went over to Steve & Tricia's house and prayed with Steve while Tricia was out getting groceries. It turned out that the entire "night group" was gathering that evening next door for fellowship and a barbeque. Enjoyed the rare treat of inter gender conversation with a small group for a time & later had the chance to speak to the whole group on the theme of persecution.