200,000 page views

Overnight life time recorded page views exceeded 200,000. Just under a year ago the 100,000 mark was reached. As I have mentioned several times the vast majority come from international readers in countries where I have never been and don't know anyone. As I am not famous and don't advertise, the only explanation is God leads people to the blog. Certainly Tychicus, who is mentioned 5 times in the New Testament, is not a well known figure. So today and every day I thank God that He uses my humble entries for His glory. Yesterday I took my first day off this year except for a week in late April to travel to Texas. In recent days I thank God for the opportunity to pray for the birth of a friend's son and for a very ill daughter of another friend. I also thank Him for my friend Gary who suggested I write this blog back in 2009.

KK

Today I had lunch with a young man whom I am getting to know whose initials are KK. Sometime ago we shared our personal testimonies with one another. He came from a difficult childhood but God had mercy upon him and saved him in his early teen years. He participated in youth camps where I live and work. More recently he has become a counselor for younger boys. This year he had the privilege of doing daily Bible teaching for high schoolers. KK has given back by helping the camp with plumbing related issues. He has several years of experience in that trade. During this year's camp I learned he is taking online courses from a seminary in upstate New York. This is the normal American church path for fervent young men who want to become pastors. We have spoken about memorizing Bible verses and,a little about discipleship. He is being discipled by a local pastor. He has a quirky sense of humor introducing me today to our waitress as his grandfather. I don't have that privilege. I made an appeal to him to remember our eternal brotherhood with Christ.

Summer Camp

In my advancing age God has given me what I refer to as a retirement job, a part time role at a Christian conference and retreat center primarily as a janitor. Normally our active season goes from mid May to mid November. Our slow season goes through the winter and early spring from mid November to mid May. Our very busiest time is five or six weeks of summer camp for kids where the campus is essentially invaded and overwhelmed by one hundred and fifty to two hundred children and counselors. The anarchy is everywhere and continual. I am thankful if they don't burn the place down. This summer we experienced an additional challenge with the appearance of a new town fire marshal who decided that numerous changes were required. We are coming to the end of the first 3 weeks of kids camp. By the grace of God we have a week off to put things in order before the next 3 weeks begin. May God help our aging, underpaid and under staffed work force.

Fire Watch etc.

The camp where I live and work is experiencing a brutal heat wave with high humidity which makes it difficult to do anything other than sweat. Yet as a conference and retreat center this is the busiest time of the year. We are in our 2nd week of kids camp which overwhelms our under staffed and aged facility. Thankfully our director thrives in crisis. At the same time as all this is going on we have a new fire marshal in town so we have been working to rectify the many issues that were unaddressed for many years. As a result our best dorm, with 58 beds, requires a fire watch during the night because its fire alarm system is defunct. Someone has to be awake all night, make the rounds every half hour and make appropriate notations in a log to insure that if there was a fire that everyone would leave safely. Several of our senior residents, all military veterans, volunteered to help. Unfortunately they have serious health issues so I filled in the gaps. Finally we were so sleep deprived that the camp hired a young man who volunteers with a local fire department to do the fire watches. At some point our electrical contractor will install a new system.

Mr. M

God has blessed me with a disciple, friend and brother in the Lord whom I will refer to as M. I met him about 5 years ago in a small country church. He is a salt of the earth man who drives a fuel truck for a living. In theory I am discipling him. In reality he is discipling me. A number of months ago he began intensive study on the nine fruit of the Spirit focusing a week on each one. Then he went to the six pieces of the armor of God taking additional weeks as needed. Last night he said he was led to begin study on the power of the cross. M is an incredibly encouraging brother, a modern day Barnabas. His testimonies about the presence of God in his life are both inspiring and convicting. It is a major blessing of God in my life to have time with him most Saturday nights.

Ephesians 4:11-16

Last night we entered into the controversy surrounding this passage. Verses 7 and 8 refer to gifts given by Christ in contrast to the other spiritual gifts given by the Holy Spirit. cf. 1 Corinthians 12 two places and Romans 12. After a segue in verses 9 and 10 Paul lists these gifts in verse 11. The first question is whether these are five or only four distinct gifts. Wayne Grudem maintains that pastors and teachers reflect one gift. The larger question is whether all of these gifts still function post New Testament. Those who deny present day apostles and prophets point to verses like Ephesians 2:20 saying that God used the OT prophets to give us the OT scripture and the apostles or very close associates like Mark or Luke for the NT. Thus because the Canon of Scripture is complete (note Revelation 22:18-19 in this regard) there cannot be any more apostles or prophets. While agreeing whole heartedly that the Scripture is complete the other side can point to the key, future tense word "until" starting verse 13. There follows four separate things which have not been fulfilled. This says that verse 11 can't be cut in half. In the end this is not a salvation issue. We also spoke of the need for a healthy balance between truth and love in verse 15, not veering too far in either direction. Finally in verse 16 the idea that the body builds itself up in love. Whether or not we have one of the Ephesian 4:11 gifts we all have a part to play.

Ephesians 4:1-10

Last night after reviewing Ephesians 3:14-21, we ventured into chapter 4. Paul begins by explaining the qualities like humility and patience that are indicative of God's calling us before launching into the oneness that brings forth unity in verse 3. In all he mentions seven different "ones." Then he explains that grace is given to every believer according to Christ's gift. v 7 The next 3 verses are a product of Paul's logic although the exact interpretation is not completely clear. I inferred that the host of captives Christ took when He ascended were OT saints. Verse 8 is a reference from Psalm 68:18 where it says that God receives gifts from men in contrast to Ephesians 4:8 which says Christ gives gifts to men.