Suffering: The positive side . . .

Philippians 3: 10-11 . . .

 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

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Dear Friends, financial and prayer partners!

Most Christians I know, particularly Pentecostal Christians feel very comfortable with Paul’s assertion that he wants to know Christ and the power of His resurrection; yet, the average Christians balks at wanting to participate in Christ’s sufferings. Suffering for the sake of Christ is not what they signed up for; and so it is easy for most to just slide past that bit about suffering and sacrifice and move on to the next power surge. The next revival. The next miracle. The next celebration. Where ever the power is, you can look for them there. That’s for sure.

Perhaps one of these days I will muster up enough courage to write a book on suffering. Now, there is where the real power is—that is, in suffering.

I say this primarily for one good reason, and that is that I have yet to meet a saint that hasn’t suffered. Think about it. Have you?

Oh, don’t get me wrong, you don’t have to go looking for a chance to suffer, sooner or later suffering will find you. It will come. Perhaps with a painful divorce, or the sudden unexpected death of a child or a spouse. It will come. Now, the question is—not just for you, but for me and everyone else as well—what will our reaction be? The Bible makes it crystal clear that Jesus did not lose his life. Jesus willingly laid down his life; and I would suggest that this is a lesson for us. That is, to embrace suffering.

Jesus says in John 10:17ff:

“For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again.”

In other words, His suffering was not without purpose. So, for that reason alone He suffered. There was no other way around it. Suffering was a must for Him. He embraced it.

Now, on a different plane and on a different level, we, too, often times must go through tough times which we can either accept and turn into an advantage for the good, or in the worst case scenarios for the bad.

Think about it this way, is it not true that we are part of His mystical body? If that be the case, then we, too, can use our suffering for the good of the body.

Please understand, however, that I am not advocating suffering for suffering’s sake. There is no value in that. What I am saying, however, is that when we suffer it need not be for nothing. Once again, we must take Romans 8:28-29 to heart to make our hardships work for us. For—

We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.  For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. (Rom. 8:28-29 NIV)

So, the next time suffering comes your way, embrace it as an opportunity for God to conform you into the image of His dear Son, who in His deepest hour of suffering set the example for us. Paul reminds us that —

If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together (1 Corinthians 12:26 ESV).

Now, if that is the case—and I believe it is—what better way may we comfort those that suffer than by sharing the consolation of our suffering with them.

How so, you say? May I suggest that you start with love—the example of His love, so that when you suffer loss you use that as a teachable moment to comfort others in their loss.

Let’s just consider the First Ronald McDonald House, as an example—

It all began in Philadelphia in 1974 when 3-year-old Kim Hill, the daughter of Philadelphia Eagles football player Fred Hill and his wife, Fran, was being treated for leukemia at St. Christopher's Hospital For Children.

During Kim's three years of treatment, the Hills often camped out on hospital chairs and benches and ate makeshift meals out of vending machines, while they watched other parents doing the same thing. They learned that many of the families traveled great distances to bring their children to the medical facility but couldn't afford hotel rooms.

The Hills knew that there had to be a solution. Fred rallied the support of his Eagles teammates to raise funds. Through Jim Murray, the Eagles' general manager, the team offered its support to Dr. Audrey Evans, head of the pediatric oncology unit at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Dr. Evans dreamed of a comfortable temporary residence for families of children being treated at her hospital.

Murray enlisted Don Tuckerman from the local McDonald's advertising agency, who with the support of McDonald's Regional Manager Ed Rensi, launched the St. Patrick's Day Green Milkshake (now known as the Shamrock Shake) promotion. Funds raised went toward purchasing an old house located near the hospital.

And thus, the first Ronald McDonald House came to be in Philadelphia in 1974 - a "home away from home" for families of ill children. By 1979, 10 more Houses opened. By 1984, local communities founded 60 more Houses (including our House in Albany); then 53 more opened by 1989. Today, more than 250 Ronald McDonald House programs in 26 countries support families around the world - providing comfort to more than 10 million families since 1974.

What a legacy! And, just to think, it was birthed in sorrow.

The journey is ours, together let's make the best of it!

JimR_/

Why I don't believe in New Year's Resolutions . . .

"One Man's Opinion"
A weekly Christian commentary by Jim Roane

Happy New Year! 2015 is just over the horizon, and with it will come all the joys, toils, and challenges that each new year brings. Some will cringe at the though and cling to the sorrows of yesteryear, while others will embrace each new challenge with confidence and hope for a better tomorrow.

This is just human nature, isn't it?

Fortunately, however, the choice is ours, not in particular to what we face, but how we deal with the challenges. For some of us, this will mean issues of health. Cancer is lurking behind every hospital visit, it seems, these days. If not that, then there is always the chance of something else. For me, the challenge was cancer, now it's to get an upper hand on diabetes. For some it will be the annoying phone calls from debt collectors that threaten to string you up to the nearest yardarm. Well, believe it or not, I too have faced bankruptcy, too; but I refuse to cave in and am better off today than ever before.

So, what's the message?

Well, for me it is pure and simple. Trust! Yes, trust. Trust that if God has seen me through yesterday, He will also see me through all of my todays and tomorrows as well. And, He has. That, however, should not come as a surprise.

Why, you say?

For one good reason, I say. It is because He has promised never to leave us or forsake us. And, that includes walking through the Valley of the Shadow of Death . . . and it can't get much worst than that.

So, the choice is ours. We can either wallow around in self pity and pessimism, or choose a far better path, that being, of course, a cheerful optimism that God will keep His word.

In line with this, it may surprise some of you that I do not believe in New Year's Resolutions. Nope. They're a waste of time. If you can not make a new resolution each day to make tomorrow count just a little more for the good, then waiting for New Year to roll around will only end up frustrating you. Bad habits are hard to break, and just working on them once a year is no cure.

So, what's my advice for the New Year?

Oh, that is pretty simple. Resolve each day to do the best you can, and tomorrow will take care of itself. So, here's yours for a better tommorrow!

The journey is ours, let's make the best of it!

JimR_/

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How is grace working for you?

Dear Friends, prayer and financial partners,

Consider this, the Apostle says of himself,

"I have obtained mercy to be faithful" (1 Cor. 7:25, cf. 1 Tim. 1:13).

Notice, he did not say,

"Because I was faithful, I obtained mercy;" but, "I obtained mercy to be faithful."

There's a world of difference here—the difference between works and grace. This is why Paul so aptly spoke when he said—

"I have obtained mercy to be faithful"

I fear that often we Christians feel—or, perhaps, I should say, we act as if we feel that God's grace is really not enough to get us to Heaven. This, no doubt, is because we confuse works with the work of grace. Now, please understand, grace produces works—as in 'does good works.’

However, it can never be said that works ever produces grace. Otherwise, we get our cart of good works pushing grace along. Whereas, in God economy, grace pulls our cart full of good works along—not the other way around.

Complicated? No, not really. Think of works and grace as a kind of spiritual pyramid. Grace is the foundation and works is the superstructure. 

Thus, we must ask ourselves what foundation we are building on? Paul said,

“By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder (1 Corinthians 3:10)”

Again notice, Paul did not say,

“I laid a foundation as a wise builder”

and left it at that. No, he said,

“By the grace God has given me, I laid the foundation as a wise builder.”

Grace in this, as in all such cases precedes works! Nothing you do that is worthwhile in the Kingdom of God is of your own initiative; nor does works stand alone, grace always precedes works. But let us not forget that you never find grace standing alone, either.

Now, let’s get practical. Have you ever spent an inordinate amount of time trying to convince yourself and perhaps others—including God, that really deep down inside you are a good person by all the good things you have done? If so, I am sorry to inform you that good works initiated by a desire to prove yourself worthy is useless, because, as far as your salvation is concerned it is as Paul said, just a lot of (pardon the crude French) crap (Philippians 3:7-9).

Look it up! Those are Paul’s words, not mine.

Now, may I ask you—“How is grace working for you?”

Do you find living like Christ a task? Is it tedious? Perhaps, even boring? Could it be that you are struggling on your own to do the right things. Things like paying a tithe. Giving to missions. Thinking positive. Staying focused on Christ. Whatever! Then may I suggest that you step back, take a deep spiritual breath and breathe in some of God’s grace. It works every time. And, thank God it does.

Still confused. Here try these verses—

Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. (2 Corinthians 12:9(NLT)

I can do all this through him who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:13)

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them--yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. (1 Corinthians 15:10 NIV)

Through it all, just remember, we are not on this journey alone. He walks beside us.

Jim_/

Faith Without Works is Dead . . . Useless

Sola fide—that is, by faith alone, when left to stand alone is an invitation to heresy. Nowhere in Scripture are we told that we are saved by faith only. No, not one place. We are, however, told that we are not saved by faith alone, for you see, the Scripture says in plain English that “faith by itself isn't enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless. (James 2:17).”

Yes, it is true that we are justified before God by faith alone, but faith does not stand alone. Saving faith is also an obedient  commitment—a recognition of the Lordship of Christ. We mustn’t “just listen to God’s word. We must do what it says. Otherwise, we are only fooling yourselves (James 1:22).” “For merely listening to the law doesn't make us right with God. It is obeying the law that makes us right in his sight (Romans 2:13).”

Consider this, the Apostle says of himself, "I have obtained mercy to be faithful" (1 Cor. 7:25, cf. 1 Tim. 1:13). He did not say, "Because I was faithful, I obtained mercy;" but, "I obtained mercy to be faithful."
In other words, faith always produces works! Good works. Not to save us, but as proof of our salvation. I am afraid that many of us have been sucked into the lie that we can just live like the devil and make it to Heaven. This “cheap grace” as Bonhoeffer called it is not what Christ had in mind when he said,

“[But] like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, "YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY." If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth (1 Peter 1:15-17 NIV))”

As you know, I love to write. Perhaps, my next book should be “Whatever Happened to Holiness?” But then to do so, I must define holiness.

In a nutshell, holiness is simply living your life as Christ would live it.

As a matter of fact, that is precisely what Paul had in mind when he said,

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me (Galatians 2:20).”

Now, may I ask you, would Christ frolic in the foolishness that some Christians do?  I think not, for as Paul says we must—

Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them. (Ephesians 5:1-7 NIV)

But, please understand me carefully. These verses are not a list of don’ts but one simple do. That is, we must walk in the way of love . . . just like Christ!

So, the works that accompany a sanctifying faith is always positive—not a list of don’ts.
Of course, there is much more that I could say, but by now I am sure you get the picture, if you haven’t already.

With that said, please keep in mind that we are not in this journey alone. He walks beside us each step of the way.

JimR_/

 

Charlatans in glory-land . . .

Called To Be Faithful Not Famous

If history—particularly Church history, has taught us anything it is that Kingdom success is measured in the terms of faithfulness. One with personal charisma may burst on the scene with the brilliance of lightning across the midnight sky, but in reality in the long run may be just another flash in the pan. Better to be a flickering candle, I say, that burns through the night than the shock and awe of a lightening flash.

Assertive, self-willed impostors through the sheer strength of their charismatic personality can develop a pack of gullible dupes that sprint along the sidelines desperately grasping at each nugget of the most trivial Christianized foolishness imaginable—that’s for sure. All Mr. or Ms. Charisma need do is flash a smile and regurgitate any old worn out cliché and the charm offensive is on. It works, too.

I say, it works, but then it all depends on what we mean by works. If we are talking about fame or fortune, it really does work. These fools’ barns are stocked to the roof with symbols of success—Rolls Royces, Bentleys, suits from Lloyds of London, Rolex watches, private Learjets, you name it, they’ve got it, and all in the name of Jesus, too. Nor, dare we ask ‘Where is that spirit of Jesus, riding on a donkey, and without even a roof to cover his head at night?’—unless, of course, someone was kind enough to provide one. No, we mustn’t question ‘God’s anointed’ and do these false prophets any harm.

I suppose the attitude is that if we just ignore them they will go away. Well, to do that in my opinion is just like trying to ignore bedbugs in hopes that they will not come out during the night and bite the fire out of you. I refer to them as bedbugs because that is about the size they really are, and in reality they will suck the blood out of you. Other than that the analogy falls apart—but it gets the point across, none-the-less.

Harsh word? Well, if the truth is harsh, then these are harsh words. 

‘Well,’ I’ve heard the argument, ‘these men and women may indulge themselves, but really that’s just a sign of human frailty, otherwise, they are soundly Evangelical.”

Really? If you mean by Evangelicals that they mouth the five solas—sola fidei, gratia and so-forth, then may I present another suitable candidate for the Evangelical ministry—that being, of course, the African grey parrot. I have been told that their capacity to articulate the most complex of sentences is utterly amazing. However, I am also told that they can be mean little rascals, and are as devious as they come. Furthermore, they also have an astounding capacity to attract a following. Yes, they do if Facebook is any indication. Take for instance Einstein the Talking Texan Parrot has over 7,259 likes on Facebook, and this is in spite of the fact that poor old Einstein the Talking Texan Parrot is as dead as a doornail. Yes, old Einstein had such charm that even posthumously he has been able to garner up an enviable following. Topping old Einstein is another fellow by the name of Talking Pierre the Parrot a fictional character with 737,777 likes. 
Oh, well, enough of this foolishness. And, I might add, enough also of the charming charlatans masquerading under the guise of Evangelicalism, mystifying their star struck following.

Saying that, however, is not saying enough, though. There must be something to fill the void; after all, most of these poor victims are sincerely searching for God. The tragedy is, however, that they have been given a mixed bag of worldly goodies attractively sacked in bag with a hole in the bottom. Patching up the holes is not the answer either. We must repackage the whole message.

Sola fidei when left to stand alone is heresy. Nowhere in Scripture are we told that we are saved by faith only. No, not one place. We are, however, told that we are not saved by faith alone, for you see, the Scripture says in plain English that “faith by itself isn't enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless. (James 2:17).” 

So, we mustn’t “just listen to God’s word. We must do what it says. Otherwise, we are only fooling yourselves (James 1:22).” “For merely listening to the law doesn’t make us right with God. It is obeying the law that makes us right in his sight (Romans 2:13).”

Now, if this is too hard for the average Evangelical Christian to grasp, it is understandable since we have been fed the lie for so long. Now, before you throw up your hands and hit that unsubscribe link, consider this.

I am not saying that you can save yourself. You can’t. Only Jesus can and has done that; however, the only proof you have that that has taken place in not in that warm fuzzy feeling you may have about your salvation experience. Feeling are fine, and necessary. But feeling alone will not cut the mustard where your ultimate salvation is concerned—for that you need proof, not for salvation but as a tangible sign that you are indeed saved. In essence—to cut to the chase, to claim the benefits of salvation there must be some evidence. Faith has substance. What is that substance? Faith has evidence. Where is that evidence? James tells us—if you are will to hear it—is works! Good works.

A long time ago, we used to call that holiness, and we knew that without holiness none of us would see God. Hum. That’s Scripture too, isn’t it? Well, just in case, some of us have forgotten Hebrews 12:14 says precisely this. Look it up, it’s there.

Feed your soul with all of the trash on television, or to get all tied up in fraternizing with an ungodly bunch at work or elsewhere may provide a carnal diversion but it will hardly lead you any closer to God. As a matter of fact, according to the Bible it will do just the opposite. Here’s what Scripture says,

“Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever (1 John 2: 15-17).”

Now, it’s for sure that we have outgrown the sterile Pentecostal demeanor of yesteryear, but let us not throw the baby out with the proverbial bathwater.  Nor do I advocate that we cultivate the attitude of the old Quaker who, in a moment of deep reflection, said to his wife, “Me thinks the whole world is crazy except me and thee; and sometimes I wonder about thee."

Better to err on the side of caution, however, I fell, than to discard all outward signs of holiness, or to neglect to nurture the fruit of the Spirit within us.

With that said, please keep in mind that we are not in this journey alone. He walks beside us each step of the way.


JimR_/ 

Faith by any other is still faith . . . or is it?

How do we reconcile sola fidei—by faith alone, with James 2: 4, which reads:

You see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.”?

Well, in a word, you don’t. It is just as simple as that!

One is Scripture, which we know is God’s word; whereas the other is the word of man—primarily a catch phrase developed during the Protestant Reformation, a kind of shibboleth used to check and see if  all we Protestants were on the same page.

However, in counter distinction to that, I will be so bold as to say that pure faith does not stand  alone; and as a matter of fact faith as a simple thought process cannot save a fly from being zapped! So, let us now backup and take a closer look at the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27).

Now it is true that “the just shall live by faith (Hebrews 10:38); that we cannot deny. However, that is just the point! Sola fidei denies the very definition of what faith is. Faith is not just wishful thinking. Faith is not just a mental assent to the facts of theology, or one’s sectarian agenda, religious or otherwise.

Faith has substance that is sufficient enough to standup in court as evidence. “Now, faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1)

Faith may include “assurance,” it may include “confidence” or “being sure of something”; but none of these alone is really faith. Faith is a substance; something you can see, feel, sense, and touch—it is real. There’s evidence in faith. It does not stand alone as some kind of mental exercise.

Now, I know that some will get all bent out of shape when they read what I have just said, but hang in here, there’s more to come.

For faith to have any meaning at all, two things are necessary—they are, someone to exercise that faith, and the substance of that faith to be evident. The devils believed and trembled, the Scripture says; however, they were faithless—in other words, their behavior belied them.

So, do we admit that one’s behavior is the evidence of one’s faith? Faith, as I have said, does not stand alone. Works follows as proof of that substance. It’s kind of like love and marriage, you can’t have one without the other. Well, not really, because I know many married folks that aren’t really all that much in love. But, that’s just the point. The only proof that you have that they are a happily married couple is that they show it. The word “love” is just a lot of hot air, otherwise.

The same with faith. The word faith can be, and often is just a lot of hot air. Real faith has legs. You can see it in action. Yes, you can see, feel, sense and touch it—it’s real.

Faith can never stand alone, no not ever, and since God in His wisdom knew that, He sent His Son, in the flesh so that He could be seen, felt, sensed, and touched! Yes, He is the substance, and evidence all wrapped up in one.

What a marvelous gift faith is!

I am sure you have heard the old saying that “the proof of the pudding is in the eating thereof.” Well, so is faith. So, along with the psalmist, may I invite all those that will to come—

“Taste and see that the LORD is good; and blessed are those who takes refuge in him (Psalm 34:8)”?

Just remember, we are not on this journey alone. He walks beside us.


Blessings,

Jim/

A psalm that is more than just another song . . .

The psalmist begins where all of us should begin and close each day—that is, meditating on the Word of God. This is a foundational principle for sound spirituality.  It is not, however, a task that should stand over us like a heavy taskmaster.  Absolutely not! We, like the psalmist should delight in His Law—His word to us, which He intends as with Jeremiah: 

 

‘He has plans for us, plans to prosper us and not to harm us, and plans to give us a hope and a future.’ (Jeremiah 29:11)

 

These principles become very clear as we walk through this first psalm, which says: 

 

1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

 

2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 

 

3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. 

 

4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. 

 

5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. 

 

6 For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish. (King James Version (KJV) by Public Domain) 

 

Right away we are made aware of the fact that it really does matter what kind of company we keep, and whose advice we take. You run with a pack of thieves, or fraternize with a bunch of boozers, eventually you will become one yourself. This goes for the company you keep on television, too. Watch enough filth, and you will become dirty, too. It is just as simple as that. 

 

My wife and I are no prudes, but we learned a long time ago to pick and choose our company. That doesn’t mean that we avoid ‘sinners’ as it were—we’re all sinners we know that; but we don’t revel with the rowdies. Don’t expect me to laugh at a nasty joke. I won’t, so I wouldn’t encourage anyone to tell me one, or for a filthy mouth comedian to keep me from turning the knob on the television when he comes on. 

 

Have I done or said things that I am ashamed of now? Certainly, but that doesn’t mean that I haven’t learned my lesson. And, what is that lesson? It is simply this: If I want to be blessed by God, then I must avoid these things. For I know that in the long run the ungodly will perish (v.6); and that I have a prosperous future ahead of me (v. 3.). 

 

In a word, I want to be a winner, and I can’t if I am not obedient to His Word. 

 

I remain yours for the journey,

Jim_/

50 million Frenchmen can't be wrong ... or can they?

Personally, I find it entertainingly interesting that every Tom, Dick and Harry, along with all the Janes and Susie Quies get to vote on matters of faith and practice. The idea being, of course, that somehow a consensus brings about truth. In that regards, I am reminded of the old song “Fifty Million Frenchmen Can't Be Wrong” popularized by Sophie Tucker. Of course, we all know that is not true. Yes, it is possible that not only can the French be wrong, but so can we Americans as a whole.

What I have in mind is some of the more recent decision made by our Supreme Court on issues such as gay marriage and abortion. Now, this is not to say that the Court did not make the correct legal decision, but legality, whether by a Constitution or Federal or State law, does not necessarily mean that the decision or law is morally right.

So, it is easy to see that a country can be dead-right and yet dead-wrong at the same time. Law, as such, you see, is amoral. It has no morals. Law is either arbitrary or egalitarian by nature—sometimes a combination of both. Hitler had law on his side, as well as the vote of the people. Hitler, including the majority of Germans at that time were, however, dead wrong.

This, of course, presents an ever occurring dilemma for us as Christians who wish to remain loyal citizens.

In other words, just how pushy should we get? That decision, I must leave with you; however, whatever, we, too, must make sure that our zeal for Divine justice does not make us a victim of our own code of justice. Along with Paul we must ask ourselves,

“Shall we do evil that good may result?” (Romans 3:8)

Of course, the answer is absolutely ‘No!’ We must continue paying out taxes to a corrupt and in many ways an unjust government, and unfortunately watch them squander our money on useless and often time inhumane projects. Render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s is a principle, not a choice, however. Furthermore, two wrongs, as is often said, do not make one right.

Thank God, however, we do have a voice. Although I must admit that I find that some of my most vociferous friends are the least likely to vote. ‘Why bother?’ seems to be their motto. Now, I must admit, I have a hard time listening to folks like that. Those that are not willing to put their money where their mouth is or their vote where their mouth is really don’t deserve the courtesy of taking them serious.

2016 is going to be a watershed year. But, if recent history has taught us anything, it will be the voice of the minority that is heard rather than that of the so-called moral majority. Come what may, however, we must not weary in well doing, for in due season we shall reap if we faint not. (Galatians 6:9) That’s God’s promise, not just one that I came up with; and it is a principle that we must live by.

That goes for all of us. Often it is so easy to just sit back (as we grow older) and say, “I’ve done my part. It’s now time for a new generation to take over.” That, however, is a false security. We can never depend on the next generation to straighten out what our generation has made crooked. That’s our primary responsibility.

Prepare the next generation? Sure. But, as long as we live, it is our responsibility to not just do what is morally right, but to make the crooked path straight for the next generation; or at the very least, show them how.

This is precisely why I take on new responsibilities almost daily. Only yesterday, I accepted a new invitation to help train a new generation of pastors in the Caribbean, which in addition to my commitments to Southern Asia and elsewhere is always a leap of faith.

Why do I say this? Well, for one thing, I am not getting any younger, and furthermore it is next to impossible to even consider financially living on Social Security and what little we have tucked away for taxes and maintaining a home to live in. This never hit me any heavier that this morning when the alarm went off and up jumped my wife to put on her scrubs and race over to one of the local schools to substitute as a nurse for the day. This, I must hasten to added, so that you won’t see me as some kind of old ogre, is her way of saying, “I’m with you in this crusade. Together we’ll fight the battle. We will do our best to get the message out and, yes, train that new generation to take up the banner after us.”

This brings me to my final point—that is, if you are still reading this—we need your help. Financially, right now, our account desperately needs at least $2,500 dollars to meet our current obligations. Now, I know that is sometimes easier to pray than to give, so I ask that each of us soberly ask ourselves if we are just coping-out when we choose to sympathize rather than empathize by making a financial commitment.

(Now, believe me, I don’t feel bad about putting it this way, because we’re talking about a God given responsibility here, not just that of a fellow who doesn't know when to stop.)

In any and every event, however, we are not on this journey alone; and as always, I, too, am most appreciative of all that you do, including your prayers, as well.

I remain yours for the journey,

Jim_/