If my people...

Several of you have asked about seeing more pictures, so I will accommodate your request with one special one of daughter Sue and I at dinner in the main dining room on the ship. I cannot praise the wait staff enough for their excellent service and attention to their guests. They were always a jump ahead of our wishes, always displaying a cheerful voice and a smile. They were outstanding and their jobs not easy!

It made me wonder how often I am grumbling or complaining about something rather just taking it in stride with a cheerful word and a smile on my face. Let me say that I feel convicted! It seems that I have had an inordinate amount of frustration with equipment, databases and situations that are extremely complex. It was good for me to be able to get away for a bit and re-think my own attitude and responses.

In the midst of it all, I have been excited about the things I continue to hear that God is doing in lives around the world. As we face some difficult times in our own country, I continue to pray for God's will to be accomplished in this country, recognizing that the situation could become even more painful for each of us...Just look back at history! I am often reminded of 2 Chronicles 7:14 and feel that I need to look in a mirror to see if I am helping the situation or a part of the problem:

"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

Have a blessed week!

Chuck

Listening

Thursday was one of those days when I was exhausted upon returning home. My day started at 4:00 AM at the office to running to a warehouse to pick up donated bread for the mission. A major database refused to cooperate during the day and after getting that going, printing equipment didn’t want to work. An electrical storm with heavy rain hit about the time I was going to head home, so I was very late walking home and promptly headed for bed.

In our study on prayer the topic for the week was Listening to God. At 2:00 AM I awoke with a very uneasy feeling and could not get back to sleep. Rather that continuing to toss and turn, I decided to get up and read for a while. Going to the kitchen I noticed a night light in the guest bathroom was out and assumed the bulb just needed replacing. On my way back down the hall I had a strong urge to replace the bulb then rather than later. I found that the GFI circuit breaker was tripped which also controlled the freezer in the garage. I suspected that lightening had caused the problem and sure enough. My telephone was out. Several small electrical items were burned out and there was a nice black smudge on one of the outlets. Often I do not open the garage freezer for several days so things could have spoiled quite quickly in the hot temperature. I was so thankful for the uneasy feeling that prompted me to check things out along with being thankful that the house did not receive a direct hit. Last year one of our neighbors homes was hit and they had to spend many weeks in rented quarters while the damage was repaired. I believe it is quit possible that God was “speaking” that night.

In our study today, teacher Tom directed our thoughts to Psalm 16:7-8:

“I bless the Lord who gives me counsel;
in the night also my heart instructs me.
I set the Lord always before me.”

I thought the study directly fit what I experienced during the early hours Friday. Thank you Lord for your counsel and for your instruction even during the night as I awoke from a sound sleep. Might I always allow you to go before me, and might I have ears that hear, and might I be quick to respond!

Have a blessed week.

Love, Chuck

Outstanding trip!

Our cruise along the Inside Passage is complete and what memories we have! The beautiful snow-capped mountains, the glaciers and the eight delightful communities that we visited are wonderful memories that I know will be recalled over and over again. What a thrill it was to view eagles soaring overhead and a mother bear eyeing the bright red salmon heading up-stream while her three cubs played games in the tree above her. It was a real treat to travel all those miles without having to repack each day. Daughter Sue made this trip twice before so she was a fantastic resource in selecting how to spend our days on shore. It was great to be able to spend time with her on the ship as well as on land when she was not working.

At our stop in Sitka we visited a Russian Orthodox orphanage. As we toured the facility one plaque caught my eye as it described the founder. I am not sure that my quote is exactly right, but it went something like this: "His appearance alone commanded respect and his humility turned the respect to love." I thought a lot about that little quote during the balance of our trip and the importance of humility in my life. It is so easy to get all focused on my own desires and fail to display a humble spirit. I was especially aware of those desires joining lines around the ship. It sure is easy to want to push yourself to the front of the line at the expense of someone else.

With the most urgent matters that accumulated in my absence handled, I will be heading to bed early tonight. The four-hour time change messed up my sleeping last night so I need to do a bit of catch-up.

Thanks for your prayers and love!

Chuck

Leaving Kodiak

We left Kodiak about six hours ago and are now well out to sea enjoying the usual rock and roll activity of the ship. I attempted to download a photo but the system is too slow to accomplish that task this evening.

Our weather continues to be fantastic with many people in the ports of call mentioning how much rain has fallen. Every port has been dry for us so far!

The service on the Amsterdam is outstanding! I have not seen a single worker with a negative attitude but can't say that for all of the passengers. We are being served royally!

As I have been reading Indeed, the focus has been on 1 Corinthians 9 this week...serving. Paul talks about becoming all things to all people so that some might be saved. I certainly see the staff on board serving in that way to assure that we return for another trip with them in the future. I am reminded that if I was as diligent about my service to others, how much greater a response I could see. It is a challenge for me!

I have appreciated the several phone messages that I have received and a few brief chats with some of you. Thanks for keeping us in your prayers as we now head back down the coast for Seattle which is scheduled for Monday.

My love to you all,

Chuck