SECOND QUARTER 2022 EDITION

 

In my 76^th year, I have entered a new phase of life.  As I have said previously, I never intend to retire but after forty-seven years of active ministry, I have decided to refocus my ministry efforts in keeping with my abilities and situations to fit the new realities of my life.

 

I still maintain an active ministry with men. However, with more and more financial supporters retiring and/or redirecting their giving, and the economy being in a tailspin, I am unable to sustain the cost of travel and business meals as in past years. I continue meeting with men on an individual basis for either breakfast or lunch as situations and needs arise. It is still very exciting to see whom God places in my path on a regular basis!

 

In the case of my activities with Young Life, I have found that my pastoral efforts on a region-wide basis have become redundant with the addition of associate regional directors who have the care and supervision of staff in their geographic locales. This is a wonderful and much needed development for the region. Because of this, I have decided to step back from my role as pastor to the staff of the Southeast Region of Young Life. I will focus my ministry to mentoring a few of the senior staff on a monthly basis.

 

 Peggy and I will continue to be available as Adult Guest Hosts for a week at Young Life Summer Camps, primarily at SharpTop Cove in Jasper, Georgia as we did a couple of weeks ago. We love seeing adults see first-hand the results of staff and volunteer leaders building relationships throughout the year with their high school friends. They bring them to a weekend or weeklong camp experience where they see the love of Christ fleshed out in an atmosphere of fun and excitement.

 

MINISTRY NEEDS:

 

Please don’t forget!

When you purchase something from Amazon, please go to:

www.smile.amazon.com/ch/58-2009795. Amazon contributes a portion of each sale to our ministry.

 

I am so very grateful for your love and support!

 

THIRD QUARTER 2022

 

 

The Marine Corps has a philosophy for recruits which goes something like this: “Tear them down to build them up.” What they are saying is in order to make a good Marine you must do away with preconceived notions and individualistic thinking in order to have recruits become ingrained with the fact that they are part of something bigger than themselves, namely, “The Corps”. 

In an agricultural sense, the Corps is pruning the unproductive parts of the recruit. This can be a very painful process to say the least! Recruits go through a program known as “The Crucible” which is a period time in which they have very little sleep, “intense supervision” with a drill instructor whose sole desire is to maximize stress, and extreme physical conditions which take them to the limits of their endurance. For those recruits who complete “The Crucible”, they are rewarded with the coveted “Eagle, Globe and Anchor” medal which announces the recruit is now a member of “The Corps.” 

John 15:1“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2: He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. How does this apply to you and me? 

I have been reading a daily devotional, “Streams in the Desert” by L.B. Cowman. It is a difficult read. The theme of this book seems to indicate that suffering can produce true growth if we will allow it to do so. The book is filled with illustrations from both characters in Scripture and everyday people who have experienced difficult situations and have endured them by faith in God’s ultimate plan for their lives.  

There are many instances in the Bible where those who suffered much but maintained their faith in God and were rewarded. Take, for instance, Abraham who endured the pain of God asking him to sacrifice his son, but he trusted Him anyway.  His faith was rewarded when his son was restored to him. Here was Joseph, who was abandoned by his brothers, sold into slavery, unjustly imprisoned because of false testimony of a treacherous woman, yet maintained his faith in God and became a ruler in Egypt who saved his family.  Moses endured forty years in the wilderness to become the one to lead his people out of bondage. The ultimate in the suffering of Jesus produced the world’s greatest blessing, our redemption. 

In my own life there were issues in my life that needed pruning. So, years ago, I had the experience of going through a three-week program of intensive counseling.  I experienced great emotional suffering in the process, but the result left me stronger and more productive. 

Here’s the bottom line. “You do not have to understand all God’s ways of dealing with you. He does not expect you to understand them. You do not expect your children to understand everything you do – you simply want them to trust you. And someday you too will see the glory of God in the things you do not understand.”  (Author unknown) 

Ministry:

- I continue to meet with men individually for breakfast or lunch meetings.

- I meet regularly with four men for counsel and encouragement.

- I also emcee a monthly meeting at a senior living facility in Duluth where we bring in a speaker. 

I am so very grateful for your encouragement, prayers and financial support.