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This I Know

 Good Morning, This morning in church we sang an old song.  In fact, without doing a lot of research, I’m going to say it’s VERY old…….. and every one of you could sing along. A vivid memory I have is seeing Daddy standing in the middle of the living room. At that point he was getting old and a little bit ‘off’ from time to time.  But he had always been rather quiet, and so when he spoke, people listened. Today was no exception. He got our attention, and with some pause he announced. “I’ve been thinking………. and I’ve decided that all I know about God is summed up in this one verse, “Jesus Loves Me This I Know’”.  And with that, just a little while later, he passed away peacefully, with that assurance on his lips and in his heart. Let me tell you another story related to that simple but powerful song.  Tony and I were short term missionaries in Zambia, as I mentioned last week.  Our ‘main’ job was to establish a student ministry there in our town of Luanshya....
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Table or Stable?

 Good Morning All, I promised you something less 'compelling' from the last couple of weeks, so here you are.  Maybe it will elicit a (holy, of course) smile. When we lived in Africa about a hundred years ago, we were in our 20’s, and so were classified by the Mission board as “youth workers”, sent off we went into the wild unknown. Being young ourselves, we had the energy to be full on with all the kids.   There was one particularly happy group we love to visit at the school where we were also teachers.  If you’ve ever been to Africa, you'll know these people can SING, most often without the benefit of instruments! We always looked forward to sitting in on many rehearsals for the “Mufilira Gentlemen’s Most Excellent Choir”.  Fancy names, but believe me, it fit these young men. They were excellent, no contest there. We used to giggle to ourselves over their minor mistakes in English, until we realized that they were speaking in their third or fourth languag...
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According to Plan

 Morning Folks,  Maybe it’s our encroaching age, but it seems that more and more of our friends are beginning to leave us, some with a chance to say goodbye and some not, all on their way to “graduation” and their heavenly reward.  This week was no exception.  A dear friend, one whose love and kindness got us through our “seminary/first pastorate/new baby” days passed on.  It hit me hard because we had no idea it was coming so soon, her being just a few years older than me. We sometimes fall victim to a common sense but theologically weak assumption that, based on all the good she did, she of all people should have enjoyed a ripe old age surrounded by friends and family.  But in the words of a Catholic nun friend of mine as we sat around language school in Tokyo so many years ago and I was verbally worrying about the earthquakes that seemed to be a weekly event.  She said rather angelically,  “Let us not forget we’re all in His hands”.  Oh ye...
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Eating Those Crumbs

 Good Morning All,  I promised you something less 'compelling' from the last couple of weeks, so here you are.  Maybe it will elicit a (holy, of course) smile.  When we lived in Africa about a hundred years ago, we were in our 20’s, and so were classified by the Mission board as “youth workers”, sent off we went into the wild unknown. Being young ourselves, we had the energy to be full on with all the kids.    There was one particularly happy group we love to visit at the school where we were also teachers.  If you’ve ever been to Africa, you'll know these people can SING, most often without the benefit of instruments!  We always looked forward to sitting in on many rehearsals for the “Mufilira Gentleman’s Most Excellent Choir”.  Fancy names, but believe me, it fit these young men. They were excellent, no contest there.  We used to giggle to ourselves over their minor mistakes in English, until we realized that they were speaking in...
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Rescued By His Love

 Good Morning Friends, Thank you all so much for your comments last week.  My sister even got the song I'd mentioned and enjoyed the memories.  She said our mother used to sing this song, but I didn't remember that. Anyway, on the theme of the hard times we all seem to be facing in America as well as the world, I'd like to add another comment this week.  Then I promise (I hope) I'll move on to happier thoughts. Let me take you back 10 or 15 years ago to a place in New Zealand.  I forgot where it was, but the evening was unforgettable.   Being typical tourists, we booked to attend a "Hangi", which is a traditional meal of the original people of New Zealand, the Maoris. It was a lovely evening of song and dance, tongue wagging and grimaces, all reminiscent of their ancient culture.  Then they served a feast that had been buried in a pit and cooked to perfection (the Hangi itself). As the evening was closing up, one of the Maori leaders got up and ta...
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What God Has promised

 Well, This has been a week.    We're fine ....... but the news from the States is certainly enough to upset anyone.  On the same day as the September 11th Twin Tower attack way back in 2001, a hero of the faith, Charlie Kirk was martyred.    I don't remember much about my mother's funeral because I was only 14.  I do know she suffered immensely for many years, a victim of cancer and the inept therapies of the 60's.  I'm pretty sure there were very few deep theological insights gained as I prayed and prayed for her recovery. Looking back, I think those prayers were most likely selfish, having to do with my own happiness. But I do remember the words to a song they played at her service.  I hadn't heard it before and probably almost never since that day.    Here are the lyrics.  Maybe some of you will remember the tune.                        ...
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Those "Bonus" Days

 I had an interesting experience this morning.  I won’t say I’m getting senile but……. So I usually lay awake for a while before I actually get up, just to give my ageing bones a chance to get used to the idea. This morning, I couldn’t see the clock but knew it was ‘about that time’ and found myself wondering why Tony was so out of it, still so happily sound asleep. I began to feel panicky.  “He’s preaching today, so he’s usually up and at em before the chickens next door start trash braggin about their accomplishments. What’s gotten into him?  In fact I need to get cracking too, there’s so much to do. It’s even Father’s Day today (Australia); we ladies usually spruce up the snacks a bit, the kids are coming over after church ….. for LUNCH!   “GET UP!” I yelled in my mind.  And then………. something twigged.  “Wait a minute! This is SATURDAY!”  There’s a great Children’s poet by the name of Shel Silverstein, and in his book, “Where the Sidewalk E...
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