"I, I, I"

"Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun." (Ecclesiastes 2:11, NIV)

There are wild fires not too far from the Crow Reservation area where we plan to be--- "One day at a time."  As the, "God-Breathed," Word declares, "My times are in Your hands."

Ecclesiastes 2 is filled with, "I undertook.., I built.., I made.., I owned.., I amassed."  This is a life apart from Jesus Christ; it was our lives apart Jesus Christ; and, it's the life of anyone who is not moment by moment walking in Jesus Christ.  Instead of, "....when I surveyed all that my hands had done..," we should live, "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross."

Let me give you an abbreviated version of what the Kingdom of God/Heaven is like.  The, "I undertook," is replaced by, "Thy Kingdom Come.  Thy will be done...."  We can all look at plans, "I undertook," and see how many did not come to the fruition we desired.  If my, "I undertook," is Jesus Christ, then meaninglessness is replaced by, "joy unspeakable and full of glory."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I say again, "My times are in Your hands."  Amen.   

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Mission Update:  We plan to give some school supplies to a pastor on the Dakota Sioux Reservation around Rapid City, South Dakota.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

Sorry, Short Devotional People

"This is the fate of those who trust in themselves, and of their followers, who approve their sayings."  (Psalm 49:13, NIV)

I received news yesterday that the church which my Dad pastored from 1964 to 1975 has closed.  Several community leaders over the years referred to Kephart EUB/United Methodist as the epicenter of the early days of the Charismatic Renewal in Western PA.  My friend and brother Dick Simmons would introduce me to people in DC as a son of the "Father of the Charismatic Renewal in Pittsburgh."  Every time I appeared on a local Christian Television program years ago the President of the station would always referred to Dad as key to the "Renewal" in Pittsburgh.

The Great Evangelical Recession book just continues to be fulfilled.  Jesus will always have and build His Church; make no mistake about this.  The question remains, however, as to the existence of the Church in Western Europe and the United States of America.  Are we going to be as too many, "....of those who trust in themselves, and their followers, who approve their sayings"?  Or are we, as my Parents so lived, be as those whose utter dependency is in Jesus Christ? 

The American Church is in deep trouble.  What is our resolve and commitment today concerning our future?  Are we going to be passive, as so many evangelicals, "charismatics," etc., have been/are, or are we going to continue to, "press on...."?

Father, in Jesus' Name, Holy Spirit convict me of any, "....trust in themselves...."  Amen.

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Two weeks from today we head out for "Indian Country."

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2