Sunday, March 7, 2010

Tiring Schedule

After participating in Weston's funeral in Minnesota last Thursday, I flew to Chattanooga where I met my wife and we attended the OCI Retreat/Board Meeting weekend. I preached to the OCI board members and the Wildwood people on Friday night. The topic was Job and the Time of Trouble. It was well rec'd. On Sabbath, I preached in the New England church. This is Pastor Boykin's church. We had a great time there as well.

On Sunday, OCI had an all-day board. As pleasant an affair as can be expected. There are no grand decisions to report, or strange surprises. The members of this board get along very well. After the OCI board, I sat on the H.E.R. board for an hour. This is Chuck Cleveland's project. All is well there also.

We've been home for a week now. Janet is working hard trying to get ready to leave for Africa Saturday, after Sabbath. The airlines have cut the number of luggage from two each to one. This is not good. It is forcing us to pay extra because we must necessarily bring more rather than less of the stuff we have.

Tomorrow, Monday, I leave for a board meeting at DayStar on Tuesday. This is an emergency board, which might, if we don't come up with a solution, close the school down for one year. I come home Tuesday night and fly to Mexico on Wednesday. We are trying to organize three one-day-churches and seven evangelistic campaigns for the ASI Mid-America Chapter in the fall. I'll be home Friday to fly Saturday night to Africa. It's great to be busy, but . . . "me not", as my granddaughter would say.

My wife will remain in Africa until August and I will return April 8, 2010. I am taking an extra week to be with Jason and family. I guess you'd better not expect any blogs until April, unless I find a good place to do it in Africa.

Oh, by the way, Sidney Sweet recommended I read The Shack. It is a christian fiction. Actually, it is pretty well an allegory. I had heard of its great success before, but I didn't want to read it because it is a fiction. However, when someone I respect urges it on me, I pretty well expect it to hold a blessing. I should finish the book tonight. It is hard to put down. It is a book for someone who is solidly grounded in truth. The reason I say that is that it has a few mistakes in it. If you take the author's intent, however, there is a great blessing in it. The author is trying to reveal God's character and His great love. For instance, you and I know there is no life after death until the resurrection of the just and of the wicked. So, seeing the author writes as if there is such a thing, then I simply ignore the mistake and look for that which he is trying to teach. The story is gripping and heartwarming at the same time.

God be with you all, The Preacher.