Daily battle

For some reason, the past few days have been an extra challenge for me. The emotions seem to want to surface quickly and I just don’t didn’t feel like myself. I suspect that it is simply part of the battle that we believers are in. A couple of weeks ago Indeed focused on spiritual war for several days, reminding us that we are at war and need to be aware that our struggle is against the powers of this dark world. I appreciated the challenge to stand firm and to pray knowing that there is much more going on behind the scenes that we realize. During the same period I was listening to Erwin Lutzer talking about spiritual warfare. It seems that with all of that information I should not be vulnerable, but I suspect that is when Satan and his band strike hardest. It was good to have the extra background and I found James 4:7-10 to be helpful; “So humble yourselves before God. Resist the Devil, and he will flee from you. Draw close to God, and God will draw close to you…When you bow down before the Lord and admit your dependence on him, he will lift you up and give you honor.”

I enjoyed a weekend camping trip on the Blue Ridge Parkway with another couple from the office. The weather was perfect until Sunday when the rain started, but we were thankful to get the rain. With the rain came cooler temperatures so I suspect that it is time now to focus on the fall yard work. Hopefully Saturday I can make a bit of a dent in it before more travels come up.

I trust that the challenges that you faced this week brought you closer to the Lord also. I don’t know about you, but is sure is easy for me to cruise through the day when everything is going well without even thinking about how my actions will or will not glorify the Lord.

This was my early (4:30 AM) arrival at the office today, so I am feeling a little on the tired side. I suspect that I had better get things wrapped up now for an early bedtime.

Love to you all,

Chuck

Returned

I just remembered that I had failed to let you all know that I have safely returned to home base. Wonderful memories of the 2,500+ trip visiting kids and grand kids! It was a special delight to be able to travel the entire swing around Lake Michigan with daughter Sue. Plenty of time for chatting and absolutely perfect weather. By the way...you will be interested in learning that Justin and Laura plan to be new parents in early April. We are all excited with them! You will recall that it was their wedding that Carol was able to attend as her last road trip to Michigan.

I returned to a nice pile of items on my desk that needed attention and a Community Life Conference Tuesday evening and all day Wednesday at the office, but I am just about caught up now. I plan to be heading for the mountains tomorrow with another couple from the office for the weekend camping on The Blue Ridge Parkway, enjoying the out-of-doors.

During the first session of our conference, the speaker, Steve, asked the question; "Who are the guys that will carry your box?" (box=casket) It was a very thought provoking session about relationships with an emphasis on Philippians 2:19-30 as Paul is commending both Timothy and Epaphroditus. Steve focused on the importance of (1) a genuine interest in others, (2) a previous track record, (3) involvement in true servant hood, (4) transparency and vulnerability, and (5) having no hidden agenda. It was an excellent challenge for each of us and has come back to my mind numerous times since then.

Thanks to each of you that faithfully keep up with me day by day. I appreciate you and your prayers so very much!

Love to you all,

Chuck

Heading on

It was great to hear from so many of you with your comments about the pictures on the previous blog. While I am still able to connect with a fast server here at the Sault, I have inserted a small photo of the view from Sue's living room of a ship passing by on the way through the locks. It is exciting to see ships from around the world coming by. They access the Great Lakes through the St. Lawrence Seaway.

Shortly we will be on the road again heading back to the Indiana lake house for the weekend, wrapping up our circle-trip through four states taking us around Lake Michigan.

Thanks for joining us on this trip and for your prayers.

Love,

Chuck

All is well

,
Travel is going well. After six days and around 1,700 miles, I am sitting with Sue in her living room looking across White Fish Bay as ships pass by on their way through the Sault locks (Sault Ste Marie, Michigan). We have enjoyed wonderful visits with Jeremy & Julianna (Chicago) and James, Liz, Joshua and Lydia (Verona, WI). Hopefully the above photos will come through okay.

We enjoyed delightful times at both locations seeing many sights, enjoying specialty coffees together, hiking, touring James' fantastic office complex, apple picking, visiting the many animals at the zoo, and just wonderful conversation and catching up on each others lives. Phone calls and emails are great but they don't quite match face to face contact.

Tomorrow we head back to the lake house in Indiana where the Michigan and Indiana families will gather with us for the weekend. Monday I plan to make the roughly 12-hour drive back to Charlotte.

Thanks for your prayers and calls while on the road. You are a tremendous encouragement!

Love to all,

Chuck

Update

Just a quick update for all of you that continue to follow and pray for me. You are appreciated!

I plan to leave early tomorrow driving to our Indiana lake house where I will have some time with Karin, Keith, Gavin and Calli. Sue will be meeting me there and we will take a few days visiting much of the rest of the family in Michigan, Illinois and Wisconsin. We will return for a brief stop in Sault Ste. Marie and then head back to Indiana where Justin and Laura will meet us at the lake house. It will be a few miles of driving but great to connect with all of the immediate family members, with the exception of Lisa who I will catch up with on a trip later in the year.

I am not sure about internet connections at we travel, but will keep you updated as often as possible. Lots to accomplish both at the office and at home before tomorrow morning.

Love to you all,

Chuck

Fountains

Fifty one years ago tomorrow (9/5) I made one of the best commitments of my life as Carol and I began our life together. This morning I have been reflecting on so many events of that busy weekend. One that was both amusing and a teaching moment, was our decision to spend time each morning during our honeymoon reading a devotional given to us at our wedding…My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers. Over the years we would on occasion reread that devotional, in the revised edition. It never gets “old”. My first encounter with the book however was the original edition that titled that daily reading as Springs of Benignity. Not only did I have trouble pronouncing it, but what in the world was it? In later editions that title was changed to Fountains of Blessings…What an improvement! We laughed many times in later years about that experience and my effort to be the macho leader that morning.

This morning I took that book from the shelf and reread Chamber’s words again. He was writing about the words Jesus spoke to the woman at the well. (John 4:13-14):

Jesus replied, “People soon become thirsty again after drinking this water. But the water I give them takes away thirst altogether. It becomes a perpetual spring within them, giving them eternal life”.

Chambers goes on to make a vital point: “If you find that His life is not springing up as it should, you are to blame—something is obstructing the flow. Was Jesus saying to stay focused on the Source so that we may be blessed personally? No, you are to focus on the Source so that out of you ‘will flow rivers of living water’—irrepressible life.”

I find it so much easier to tell God what I want or think that I need and forget that this life is actually not about me but about Him. He will always use the situation for His glory if I will put my focus back on Him rather than making myself number one. There is no greater joy than to see Him working in and through lives!

I trust that we will each be fountains in which and through which God can flow during this holiday weekend, as we have a little extra time to spend with friends and family.

Love to you all,

Chuck