A Resolute Purpose

Last night I wrote a blog. It took about an hour. When my wife needed to go to work at the Rehabilitation Center she said, "If you were not working on your computer I would take it with me." That, I think, was a hint. So I said to myself, "It is time to be self-sacrificing and let her have the computer." I hit the button that says "save now" and promptly lost all I had written. This morning, I found my piece but do you think I could get it back where it belongs. Forget it. I tried everything. The blog wouldn't end up where anyone but I could read it. I decided to rewrite the obnoxious thing.

Saturday Night

It's been a pleasant Sabbath day. Our church was three quarters full. I don't know why so many came, but I like it. We have a new family on campus, Michael and Karla Garcia, who happen to be the most outgoing, sanguine, invite-everybody-to-our-house type of people. I am pretty sure they have something to do with why the church is increasing as it is. Perhaps it isn't that they are contacting so many people, but that God sees that people who come will be well rec'd. You tell me.

My Lover showed a Powerpoint Presentation of her work in Africa at church. Before doing that I gave a ten-minute sermonette. (More on that later.) I felt empowered by the Holy Spirit. She did a great job, as well.

After lunch, Janet and I took the Lifestyle guests to the Rocky Mountain National Park. We saw elk and stunning scenery. Everyone was happy with the outing. We have fourteen guests remaining. We had sixteen, but two, C.A. Murray and his wife Irma, were here for two weeks before the others. They've now gone home. Ten of the sixteen are 3ABN staff, a delightful bunch. More gratifying to me is the fact that they speak highly of the devotional hour that I spend with them daily. They are encouraging me to come to 3ABN to speak live for the world audience. God knows I'm willing. Am I good enough, or is God willing? These are better questions.

There is a Spanish couple here who translated my wife's 3ABN interview into Spanish for the Latino audience. That tells me that 3ABN thought her interview excellent.

My last week of work was same old, same old. I always have plenty of work to do. Besides, people seem to have realized that if they want something done they need only ask a busy person--me. The real problem is, I am a people pleaser and will say yes if I possibly can do it. Never mind that. Janet and I have been working on a ceiling in a building where the water pipes in the attic broke. That kind of work I like. It is wonderful to look back to see something that I accomplished. I my kind of clerical duties, looking back to see what was accomplished is like looking to see how much water you drained out of the ocean with your teaspoon. 

Like you, I struggle with some things. I told my Board that I would try not to travel so much this year. Accordingly, I cancelled trips, as you know, to four or five countries. I thought I'd have a peaceful time at home for a year, but then, last week I agreed to go to Senegal with Steven Grabiner. One of my board members is all upset about it. On top of that, I agreed to go to South Korea in April to help OCI out. Yesterday, Jere Franklin asked me if I would speak at a camp meeting in France. He also is asked to speak there. Part of the issue is that he has never travelled abroad alone and would feel more secure if I went with him. Besides, I speak French better than he does. I agreed to pray about it. I have another board member telling me that I should travel. That that is who I am and that is what I do best. He says he'll back me up on this one. I have to decide what God's will is in this matter. Is He allowing more calls to come to me for the purpose of testing me to see if I will keep my word? Or, is it to tell me He wants me on the road more?

I hate to upset anyone over this matter. Sometimes, I am tempted to think that I should resign from EVI so that I can be free-er to be an itinerant preacher. If you have an wisdom for me, I'll be glad to give ear.

SPIRITUAL THOUGHT

I'm  under conviction. I convinced that leadership is measured by accomplishment and leadership is not the measure of a man with  a great vision. He may have worthy goals and plans accompanied by big talk, but that isn't leadership.  President Eisenhower once said that, "It is not what you do, but what you get done that counts." Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. might have had a dream, a great dream, but had he done nothing but dream, he would have accomplished little for the civil rights movement. 

God is not fooled by fast talking, self-promoting fly-by-nighters. He determines  to test their product. God does not say "My reward is with me, to give every man according as his profession or high claims may be." Rev. 22:12. He says, According as his work shall be-- the finished product. 

 "In the judgement the sentence pronounced is according to what has been done or to what has been left undone." 3SM 381:3.

For the purpose of accomplishing God's will  God gives us talents. (See the parable of the talents in Matthew 25.) Interestingly, the parable of the talents is followed by the parable of the sheep and goats. In the former, God gives us talents to be invested. In the latter, He tells us where He would have us invest those talents. "For I was hungry, and you gave me food: I was thirsty, and you gave my to drink: I was a stranger, and you took me in: naked and you clothed me: I was sick and you visited me: in prison: and you came to me... Inasmuch as you  have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto me." Matt. 25: 31-41 (See also Isaiah 58: 6-10, it is even more powerful. )

There are a great many things we could invest our talents in that will not bring heavenly returns. So the question is: What are you invested in? What are you doing for your brother in need? Or, are you working only to sustain yourself? 

EGW says, "We accomplish little because we attempt little." MH 498:3. And why do we attempt so little? Because, according to 3SM 150:2 we "Expect little, and as a result we receive little, we are satisfied with very small successes." We expect little because we compare ourselves with the needs around us, and we feel dwarfed, incapable, paralyzed. We should be comparing God to the task at hand. He dwarfs all things. With God, all things are possible. If we put our faith in Him, we would attempt far more. Matthew 17:20 says, "Nothing shall be impossible unto you." 

Here now is a most inspiring quote to me: "A resolute purpose is SURE to accomplish the desired end." What does SURE mean? Ans. -- Can't fail. Can I encourage you this morning. The world is full of people suffering for a lack of spiritual security, love, friendship, belonging etc. If God points out something you can do, then should you not develop a "resolute purpose?" You may be baffled, excuse me, you will be baffled, thwarted and opposed, but you cannot fail if you will not accept failure. 4T 358:1.