Second Chance

Five couples from Eden Valley are spending a weekend in Silverthorne, Colorado-the Roeskes, the Hueys, the Katsmas, the Bates and the Fourniers. We just decided to get away. The house we are living in is a palace, actually, it is more like a wildlife museum--amazing--their are stuffed animals everywhere and the furniture is unique to Colorado. The folks who live here, Randy and Sandy Bright use the place to teach people about nature and animal biology.

We are not doing too much. We went to church at the Copper Mountain Chapel yesterday. That was good. After lunch, we rode a ski-lift up to the top of the mountain. After Sabbath, we played games and just sat around. This morning we cleaned up and watched one of those Christian movies called The Note. Made me cry for one and one half hours. I hate tear jerkers, don't you? I think my wife is watching it all over again--a gluten for punishment, or is that glutton? In any case, if you need to clean your eyes watch The Note.

The movie might have been called Second Chance. It struck me.

(You know, artists are generally know to be melancholy. Strong emotional feelings drive strong responses. A writer definitely writes better when his mood is either very high, or more likely very low.)

I'm not saying that I am an artist. As a matter of fact, I think I am anything but melancholic. But like I said, the movie struck me. It was about a note that washes up on shore written by a passenger on an ill fated jetliner. The note is to "T". A lady who writes a column for a magazine finds the note and tries to find "T". It appears that everyone who sees the note is inspired to a second chance.

A few years ago (as I've said before) I was sunk. It just came clear to me. God gave me a second chance. He should have cast me aside. It is only of grace that He keeps bestowing honors upon me. Go figure.

So says the Preacher to his Tribe.

The Bright Side

German countryside.

Meetings in Germany

Local town in Germany

Tree outside my room in fall colors already. Cold and rainy.

ASI inauguration. On the left outgoing pres. on the right incoming .

I've finally found a moment so that I can write this blog. Sorry guys for making you wait so long. The last two weeks have been a whirlwind of activity.

My son came to Eden Valley while I was still at the Oak Haven Convention. When I came home we had a great week together. Mostly we ate tomato sandwiches as much as we could. EVI tomatoes are the best. My Lover came home a week later sicker than I've ever seen her. We drove to Sacramento and the ASI meetings like that, but there she crashed. Finally, I have to get a prescription from doctor Emerson for anti-biotics, which did the trick. Praise the Lord.

In Sacramento, I met with two brothers, my three children, nine of my twelve grand children, and one niece with her family. I didn't have all the time I wanted to visit with everyone, but the little time I had was ultra special.

As you all know I was given the opportunity to preach at ASI three times on R by F in relation to the Three Angel's Messages. You cannot know how many misgivings I had going into those meetings. It seems I am never satisfied that I have the right material. But what I had was what God gave me. So, I went forward with the little I had. After every meeting I felt that God's Spirit was there to promote Himself. I'm so thankful. The last time I was asked to preach at ASI (that was in Dallas, TX) I literally gave up on the sermon I had prepared and preached more or less from the hip that Friday evening. I haven't been happy about it since. For that reason I was worried about my next performance. What can I say, sometimes the Lord humbles, sometimes we are better prepared for a blessing. Can you see how God prepared me three or four years ago to bless me this time? I can see it.

The Lord delights in confounding the wise at the hand of fools. He loves to humble the mighty using the weak. He grants the base things of this world power over the sophisticated. So He did at ASI. Of all the people He might have honored to be president of ASI, He chose me. Do you know who He chose. Two and three years ago, my usefulness had run its course. I was, in my own eyes, the biggest failure I'd ever met. It pretty well seemed like I had failed on every front. Going to Africa to help my wife was seen as the most merciful thing to do to others and myself. I could finish my course quietly and out of sight. Today, I am being blessed with a great honor as if I was somebody. At ASI I was caught completely by surprise. My heart by turn shrank and rose. Shrank into depths of despair then rose to heights of, should I say it . . . better leave it unsaid. I thank God for expressing confidence in me, but you all better pray for me. Except by a sustained miracle I am sure to fail.

The day after ASI I was suppose to chair a board meeting for OCI. I couldn't. I had to leave for Germany that morning. In Germany, I preached the same messages plus two and gave my testimony to some of the most humble and genuinely Christian people I've ever met. Tho' the weather was cold and rainy, the experience was great.

Unfortunately, I came home to our little David. He died three days later. I prayed a lot for him, but the Lord indicated that it is better this way. I accept that. The family understandably wrestles more with that concept. David is safe. I've never been more sure of anyone's salvation. He was baptized a few weeks ago and told me he didn't think to win this battle, but that it was worth it for his family's sake. Like Christ, he was willing to die to see others gain eternal life. He as a great witness, and only 17 years old.

A few weeks ago I was overjoyed to be able to announce to my wife that her container was gone. Yesterday, we found out that I made a mistake on the paperwork and I am causing her no amount of grief. That is bad and I feel terrible for the mistake I made, but there is bright spot in and through it all. If someone had made a mistake that was to cause me that much grief, I would be tempted to put them through a knot hole backwards. Tho' sincerely troubled, my dear wife has shown no temper or one sign of remonstrance toward me. It's a huge witness to me of God's grace in a person's life.

So life goes on. We'll fight and win tho' we lose a few battles. God be praised.