Sunday, July 21, 2013
My wife called a couple of hours ago. She just boarded the plane in
Dar, coming home. I expect to pick her up tomorrow at noon. In the meantime,
I’ve got tons of work to do. (So, why am I writing this blog? Ans: Because you
are worth it and this is something I can do while I am burning the last three
sermons I preached at EVI unto cd’s.)
I’ve been working all week with our ASI Search Committee to find a
replacement for Ramon Chow, our ASI Secretary/Treasurer. With that, I need to
come up with a gift for him and his faithful secretary, Gail Bosarge. It is my
job to present them with a going away present at the main meeting of the
convention. Our first idea didn’t pan out. We thought to get them each an I-pad,
but David, my nephew, says Ramon already has an I-pad. Ok, back to the drawing
board.
I am solicitous for one of our present Lifestyle Guests. She’s had
all kinds of trouble in life, and now she has cancer. Yesterday, she found out
that her granddaughter contracted special viral meningitis. Apparently, 30
people have had this special form of meningitis and none of them survived. She
is quite distraught with grief. All we can do is pray. The child has less that
a 1% chance of survival. How do you comfort someone like that except to point
out that God can overrule. And so we are praying in those terms.
The raspberries are on. We had a great feed of cherries from
Wenatchee last week, as well. Alex Fowler came by with a truckload of the fruit.
Alex’s mom, Kate, works at EVI.
(What follows is
what I communicated to my wife in Africa since I last blogged.)
I haven't written in a couple of days. Life has been super hectic for
me. It seemed like I had tons of clerical work to do. I never thought I'd get
through it, but I did. Amazing. I've been praying more and asking the Lord's
help. I've edited all of the Faith Ventures this week--all but yours, of
course. I still hope to receive something from you today. Yesterday, I
wrote another article for ASI Welcome magazine for the Convention. I've also
had to respond to all the people in Germany, Singapore, and Nova Scotia who
wanted titles, themes, bio's, and description of seminars. I can hardly know
what I'm preaching for next Sabbath, much less know months ahead what I'll be
presenting, but they are forcing me.
I had a fourth of July supper with the Roeskes and the Smiths last
night. The food was great, but the sleep that followed was awful. (Blame it on
Big Franks inside of little Frank.)
Christina and a girl from Julie's church are now in Florida for
Youth For Jesus. They had a difficult time at two airports, but managed to get
there in the end.
Angie is determined not to do Foster Care anymore. Julie and Angie
are at the Light Bearer's Camp Meeting.
Today, I get a haircut and see a dentist at 3:30 PM to get my cap
put on, if the dentist doesn't charge more than I am willing to pay.
Yesterday, while I was having my devotion, the Lord impressed me
with a possible title for my ASI Keynote Address. (No sermon, just a title.)
When I got to the office, I had an e-mail from my Program Director saying they
urgently needed the title of my sermon and a description of it. How do you
describe something that doesn't exist? Well, the Lord gave me a title, so I
made up a description out of thin air. Now all I have to do is prepare a
sermon. Simple, n'est pas?
Actually, that is what I've had to do all week. People want titles,
themes and descriptions. I just gave them what came to mind. I don't have time
to do better.
On my way back from Denver I stopped to eat at Subway. I was alone.
As I was turning into Subway I saw a girl with a sign that read, Need Gas.
Seeing that I had $100 of offering money in my pocket, I went to investigate
her situation. She was going from Georgia to Washington State with a van and no
money. When she'd run out of gas, she'd pull out her sign and someone would
help her along. Her car was indeed empty. It cost me $65 to fill it. The girl
was about 20 to 25 years old. She drove an old beater of a van. I prayed with
her and off she went. Did I do the right thing? I have no clue. Did the Lord
organize this meeting? It's possible. Who knows? I hope she's ok.
I've been trying to pray for two hours per day, lately. As a result,
I got a lot of work done last week. I'm surprised. I leave the day after
tomorrow to speak at the 1888 Message Study Committee meetings. I need God's
Spirit. I only have a few more pressing issues to deal with, but I think I'll
manage.
On Jul 7, 2013, at 9:57 AM, Janet Fournier wrote:
Hi, sorry you are so busy--nothing like a ton of
pressure. My green house is up with the plastic over it, but I don’t have the
ends covered yet. Cleaned one container today, I hope to get them all organized
before I leave. Was texting Julie on Skype a few minutes ago back and fort.
That worked pretty well. I guess camp meeting is over and they are starting to
pack-up. Bill Ross from Kibidula was there. I checked to see if you had Skype
on, but you didn’t.
The girl with cancer on the face is in the
hospital. I went to see her yesterday. She has no one to provide food so I will
pay for her food to be delivered to her 3 times a day and I will pay the hosp.
bill. Her cancer has more than doubled in size. Her eye was closed before, but
now it is wide open with the inside pushing out and the lump on the side is
more than double. I will probable pick her up at the hospital and bring her to
her aunts tomorrow.
Back
to Me
I'm sitting in the Denver airport . . . again. This time it is
off to the 1888 Message Study Committee Conference in Washingtion DC. I'm
praying a lot for the meetings I am to have this week. Also, they have invited
me to sit on their board as an invitee. I have no intentions of becoming a
board member. Perhaps my connection with ASI is influencing these invitations.
I'll find out.
We rejected a request by Karen Lewis to take over her Denver
project. She has accepted a call to be a Bible Worker Trainer for the Minnesota
Conference. I feel bad, but we cannot stretch ourselves any thinner than we are
already.
We still don't have a guest speaker for our convention. We've been
trying, through Larry Romrell, to get Doug Batchelor.
Last week I rec’d a letter from the Rocky Mountain Conference asking
if I was interested in keeping my name on a list to be the pastor of the
Franktown Church. I’m flattered and
honored, but too busy with too many things to even think in those terms. I
pulled my name out of the running. Maybe in the future when I am ninety or
something.
This time I'm sitting in the Baltimore airport. I'm on my way home
from the 1888 Message Study Committee Conference. I had a great time, very
spiritual and inspiring. I'm determined to pursue a study of Righteousness by
Faith until I am perfect in Christ. Some of the people, who were in Maine, came
down to Takoma Park for these meetings. The Maine folks make everything more
spiritual.
I spent 4 hours yesterday with Jason and family. We went to the park
with David, Arwyn, and Ramon and wife. We had supper at Ramon's place. Ramon
took me back to the Washington Adventist University and David took Jason to
bed--jet-lagged. I gave Jason my credit card. When I get home, I'll contact the
bank to get Jason his own credit card. Everyone is looking good. Shiloh is
still the belle of the ball.
Julie's place. (The first two photos.)
My rose bush.
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