Traipsing Hither and Yon

A month ago, Janet and I entered upon a three point mission. We started in Nova Scotia for one week, then moved to the ASI Convention in Florida for boards and convention for another week. Directly from there we flew to Germany for seven days of camp meeting. It is an exhausting itinerary considering not only the travel, jet lag, and work, but more so for the stress of being in the spot light much of the time.

In Nova Scotia, I preached nine times and Janet shared the power point presentation of her Tanzanian project. What a tremendous blessing the whole thing was, not my preaching specifically, but all the preaching and the opportunity to visit with John and Janice. The weather was great, the beach was inviting, the people were wonderfully hospitable and easy to be entreated. I preached my signature series, the Prodigal Son. To the usual sermons, I worked to emphasize righteousness by faith and the matchless charms of the God we serve. You may listen to the series online at . Click on Evening Meetings.

While in Nova Scotia, I was quite stressed over my ASI duties, which were coming up too quickly. I thought I wasn't prepared. Actually, I wasn't prepared. By God's grace I met every appointment by the skin of my teeth and with the "wisdom that my varied necessities" demanded. The Lord was very gracious to me. I did a devotional for the ASI board that continues to resonate with me since then and I was tasked with doing the Keynote Address on Wednesday evening. At a quarter to twelve Wednesday morning I still had nothing prepared and I only had two and one quarter hours to produce a sermon. To this day I am amazed. The Lord continues to work miracles on my behalf. Many expressed that this year's convention was one of the best. (Not my fault, I promise.)

By another set of gracious miracles, Jason and his whole family found enough money to come to America. The youngest, Shiloh, needed surgery on her hands so they came early one month. The surgery went well, the little girl is healing nicely, and they got to visit with Jason's cousin in DC. The Lord gave us all a presidential suite out of which to enjoy the ASI Convention and to find a modicum of rest. (Well some people got some rest.)

The blessings didn't stop with the end of the ASI Convention. They continued and proliferated in Germany. What a beautiful country. And the houses in the country-side are so well kept with flowers and lawn and gardens. Everyone should be so particular and energetic. Like in Nova Scotia, I preached once per day and twice on Friday. Again, Janet presented her Tanzanian work. You know, it took some persuading to get my wife to come with me. She doesn't like to have to sit around listening to me all the time. But, without my asking, I sense that she thoroughly enjoyed Germany and its people. The highlight of the whole experience for my wife was the food. So simple and healthy. Their breads and pates (Paw-tays) were out of this world--lots of fruit and fresh greens. What they did on Sabbath I've never seen done elsewhere. For lunch, soup, period. I suppose it was because the cooks were hired and they wanted to minimize their effort on Sabbath. Whatever the reason, I loved it. The whole camp meeting was a delight. I met the GC man who is responsible for the Jewish work. He lives in Paris, France, and we mostly spoke in French. Interestingly, I was not intimidated by his French and so, I was able, better than I thought, to communicate freely with him. His sermons really resonated with me. I learned much from him.

We came home to jet-lag, as usual, but not so bad that I couldn't keep on working. My lover leaves for Africa on Sunday, and I leave for Malaysia and Singapore on Tuesday. At EVI we've started to pray as a group. This morning, there was 15 of us, and I know of two more who were up the mountain praying. We are asking for the spirit of supplication, and for the Holy Spirit and for a revival among us. Besides that, we don't intend to let go of God until we have what we are looking for.

For my personal devotions I am praying thru' the nine volumes of the testimonies to the churches. So far, I am able to read and pray thru' 100 pages per week. (I'm on volume two.) You might not think that these writings are as spiritual as that found in the more devotional books like DA, and SC, but I am finding that they are better at unearthing my sins. Nearly every testimony to bro A, B, C, D-Z, is applicable to my case. My hope is that the influence of the perfect standard will leave me more like Jesus. Without Him, what can I do. I am so burdened with so many things in ASI, OCI, EVI and friends and family, that without God I am incapable of succeeding at anything. Neither are you, by the way . . .

So says the Preacher to his Tribe.