In October, Peggy and I will attend her 50th high school reunion. We attended mine last May. Reunions are interesting times. I know that when I went to my tenth reunion, many of the guys were comparing to see who was the most successful thus far. There was a lot of bravado and subtle boasting of their accomplishments. After that experience, I skipped my twentieth and thirtieth reunions. I did attend my fortieth celebration because it occurred over two nights. For the first night, one of our classmates invited us to his home. It was a very informal and relaxed time, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I skipped the next night because of location, a downtown Atlanta exclusive private club and it was going to be very expensive. I actually enjoyed attending Peggy's reunions much more. One of the classmates usually invited us into their home. I knew many of Peggy's classmates so I was comfortable socializing with them. My fiftieth was an absolute delight. By now, none of us had anything to prove so there was no comparing. Much of the conversation centered on our grandchildren and how good it was just to be able to be together again.
I attend another very special reunion. This one happens every year! It occurs each year beginning twenty-five years ago. There are twelve of us.Three of our group live out of state. One is located in New York State, one in Indiana, and one in Ohio. We try to meet in mid-March each year. Ten of us have had some affiliation with Young Life; the two others are family members who have become an integral part of the group. Typically, we meet for four days. These days, filled with much laughter, a few tears and great food, much fun, are mostly a time of sharing the events of our lives over the past year. We pray over each person after he finishes his sharing time. During the year, if someone has a need or is hurting, we are committed to being there for that person, either physically or by phone and certainly by prayer. It is a privilege to have been a part of this special group of brothers in Christ.
All these reunions are great but I look forward to the greatest reunion of all when I reunite with family and friends who have gone on before me to be with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I think there will be some wonderful surprises there. I know that in a few of the reunions I have attended, I have encountered some that I have not seen in many years. They are very much surprised to hear that the guy they knew in earlier years has been in the ministry for almost forty years! Buck Reese, a minister, amazing! (I will not elaborate on the reason for their surprise!) In addition, I look forward to spending eternity with each of you that have followed Christ in your lives.
Net Work News
and Needs
"I thank my God in all of my remembrances of you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; all of you share in God's grace with me. God can testify how I thank Him for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. This is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ--to the glory and praise of God."
The preceding is my
personal adaptation of Phillipians 1:1-6. It expresses my desire to communicate
to each one of you my feelings about you. In September of this year, we will celebrate
the founding of Net Work Ministries twenty-two years ago. Many of you have been
with us since its inception. Actually, some of you have partnered with me since
1976 when I entered the ministry with Young Life. What a wonderful and exciting
journey it has been and I know the best is yet to come!
I remain,
Gratefully Yours,
Together, In Christ's Love and Service
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