Sometimes I wonder if I am alone so unsure. This weekend, Feb 23-26, Janet and I went to Ontario, CA for ASI's Winter Board. There wasn't anything to worry about except that I am the President, I am the Board Chairman, I was called upon to preach the keynote message and to give a president's report to the board. (There must be something wrong with my head/heart.)
I've always felt that the sermons I preach at ASI should be spot-on applicable, but the best I could do this time was prepare a sermon for ASI during the very last week before going. For me that is risking too much. Amazingly, the sermon turned out to be one of God's gifts to me. It seems He took my poor effort and made it resonate within the hearts of those who heard. (Except for Rusty McKee who slept through it all. In Rusty's defense, he had gotten up at 3AM and run seventeen miles that day.) I can't but praise the Lord for His mercy endures forever.
The Missions Inc. board was grueling. This is the body that apportions the offering to chosen projects. You couldn't imagine how agonizing that process is. I would say that 90% of the project proposals are worthy of the full amount asked, but there isn't that much money. The total amount requested was over 12 million dollars. That, of course, is about double the usual amount wanted. One entity asked for 6 million. Harold called them and told them that wasn't going to happen. He tried to coach them to ask for considerably less, but they said that they had prayed and the Lord had led them to ask for 6 million. Amazing, the Lord led them to ask for 6 million and the Lord led us to say no to their request. Anything wrong with that picture?
This left 6 million to share with the 81 projects remaining. Bear in mind, we only expect to raise a little above 1 million dollars this year. This is where the agonizing begins. We went over the list of projects four times. Each time we either dropped a project altogether, or slashed the amount they asked for. In the end we funded 36 projects of 82 and almost everyone got much less they they deserved. It's hard. It's painful. It is also, providential. I was happy to be a participant. I saw the integrity, the honesty and the sincere desire to do more for more people.
One of the most poignant moments was when Harold, the Chairman, made a heartfelt appeal to the board that we not allow for any favoritism--not even the slightest appearance of it. Frankly, that isn't easy. Some people have invested huge amounts of money in ASI and in the mission projects. With their money they have invested their time, energy, and lives. How deserving they are of pulling stripes when needed. On the other hand, how necessary that we continually be reminded to play by the rules so that no embarrassment occur to ASI.
I am happy to say that I have perfect confidence in the Missions Inc. process and the integrity of the members that form its board.
The main ASI board happened on Sunday. I was board chairman and needed to give a president's report. All went well. I remained comfortable throughout the whole experience and we finished 50 minutes early.
We aimed to finish at 1PM. At noon we had only gone through 8 of our 14 items on the agenda. By 12:13 PM we were done. Everyone seemed pleased, but none more than I.
God uses fools to confound the wise. He uses the weak to befuddled the mighty. He delights in raising the poor from the dunghill and placing them among princes, and if it ever goes to their heads, He is well able to abase. It's a ride, but I wouldn't get off the roller coaster for anything in the world.
This week, I'm on my way to Texas for the ASI South West Chapter meetings. A whole new round of prayers must storm heaven from my side and yours.
So says the Preacher to his Tribe.
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