Don't be Afraid or Discouraged

I am safely back home with the only casualty being an encounter with fire ants.  I decided to would check my oil before heading back and had parked with the front of my car over an area of landscape covered with pine straw.  Unbeknown to me, there was a nest of angry fire ants underneath.  Before I realized what was happening, I had hundreds of the little fellows on my feet, which only had sandals for protection.  Fortunately the car wash was close by, so Keith directed me there and he blasted water on my feet and legs to wash them off.  The cold water was momentarily soothing and fortunately Keith had some medication to apply that helped relieve the burning and itching.  I have a few dozen small red welts as a reminder of the incident, but no further reaction, for which I am most thankful.

While in Raleigh/Durham I was following the Ebola outbreak which has been a real challenge at the ELWA Hospital in Liberia.  The wife of one of our SIM missionaries and a doctor have symptoms of the deadly virus in spite of major precautions being taken while treating patients.  As of last report, the doctor is showing a slight improvement, Nancy is holding her own and one of the Liberian nurses is showing symptoms.  All are being carefully monitored and our SIM team from three continents is doing all they can to serve and provide support.

With our Charlotte leadership deeply involved in this challenge, I was asked to handle some of the routine things possible while being many miles from the office.  Thanks to the miracle of smartphones, I am able to take care of a few things to relieve a bit of pressure back at the office.

Pray with us for those showing symptoms and those ministering.  The SIM Rapid Response Team along with Samaritan’s Purse personnel are working around the clock ministering to needs and doing everything possible to prevent further spreading of the virus.  The ELWA Hospital was temporarily closed down for full decontamination of the facility.  Pray for the teams, personnel and Liberians working at ELWA.  Pray for protection, stamina, good health, strength and great wisdom.  Pray for all of West Africa where the Ebola situation is critical!

It is easy to become anxious or fearful as we assess all that is going on in the world today, but I am reminded:

“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.  Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you.  I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.”  (Isaiah 41:10)

Love to all,

Chuck

Exalting and Praising

Today as I was on the computer and not paying attention to the activity outside, I heard a knock on my door and when I looked up there were two sand cranes looking through the glass.  Apparently they felt ignored.  I thought that you would enjoy seeing the big guys.  They must be about three feet tall and most interesting to watch.

Today as I was reading the last Psalm that David wrote I couldn’t help but notice how he both began and ended the Psalm giving an indication of his feeling toward his Lord:  “I will exalt you my God and King and praise your name forever and ever…I will praise the Lord and may everyone on earth bless his holy name forever and ever.”  (Psalm 145:1& 21)  I was thinking how great it would be to begin and end each day in the same way as my daily focus, so that is my goal.

Tomorrow I will be leaving early for Raleigh/Durham to visit friend Keith.  He has been putting in many extra hours on the job and is ready for a few days break so he asked me if I would be available to come that way to share his few days of vacation.   I am finding a benefit of retirement is the extra freedom to take advantage of spur-of-the moment activities.  I am praying for safe travel with minimal delays and for a good time together catching up on our lives.

Love to you all,

Chuck

Safe Travels

I safely returned to Sebring on Thursday, with Stuart, Donna and Rachel arriving on Friday beginning our day together with lunch here.  It was a delight to have them here looking for a possible home, and a special thrill when they selected one which they will be occupying as soon as he gets medical approval from his Oncologist.  This will most likely be some months away but it is great to anticipate having Stuart and Donna joining us here in The Village!  The home has had numerous updates already so will only require window treatment, appliances and a few improvements to adapt it to their needs.  They left for Charlotte this afternoon, planning one overnight stop during their around 10 hour trip.  Please join me in praying for them.  Rachel has been experiencing some challenging health issues, and Stuart is quite weak from the heavy chemo treatments which will again be commenced shortly after his return home.  The trip will be a much more difficult one than for those of us in good health.

It was a special time for me to be with Keith and Karin, my college grandkids Gavin and Calli along with Justin, Laura, Ella and Sophia at the lake in Indiana.  We managed to pack a lot of talking and together time into a few days.  I plan to take another trip in the not too distant future to visit other family members and friends in Michigan, Illinois and Wisconsin.  As we get located further apart, it gets more difficult to get together with everyone at the same time.  I won’t mention that Chuck could be slowing down a bit too!

As I traveled back I heard Jack Graham make a statement that has continued to challenge my thoughts.  He said that our focus should be on God’s will, purpose and glory.  As I thought about that statement I could recall too many prayers and desires just to heal a sickness or get through a difficult time with my thoughts were far from God’s will, purpose or glory.  Was that situation actually his will, for his purpose to accomplish his glory?  Shouldn’t every moment of every day including every situation we find ourselves in, be usable by HIM?  Instead of complaining and trying to minimize those undesirable situations, I am now trying to focus on what can be accomplished for God through it and thank him for the “opportunity” to be used by him.

As Jesus faced much discomfort, pain and ridicule he said; “Now my soul is deeply troubled.  Should I pray, ‘Father save me from this hour’?  But this is the very reason I came!  Father bring glory to your name.”  What an example Jesus gave us!  I need to keep that at the forefront of my mind…Gods will, purpose and glory no matter what!

Love to you all,

Chuck

Six Years Ago

Six years ago we were at Carol’s bedside as her breathing became more labored and we were aware that she would soon pass through that curtain of death.  The memories continue to be fresh in our minds, especially at this time of year as we are aware of our own lives fleeting by to our final breath here on earth.  Remembering those days, daughter Lisa sent me the following email: 

“Six years ago we sat by mom's bed as thunder rolled outside and the elements seemed poised for an earth-shaking event.  Somebody wondered if it would be her Independence Day.  Today hurricane Arthur hovers over DC and I am reminded of how that day felt.  Having each of you present was a significant part of that experience for me and I know we're in this day together, again, even though we are miles apart.  I love you and am thinking of you.  My wish for this day is that we live into the freedom and joy that was mom's truest desire for each one of us.  I am so grateful to be in this together”.

I am enjoying the weekend at the lake in Indiana with Keith, Karin, Gavin & Calli.  Today the flotilla of decorated boats passed by the lake house and tonight we will watch the fireworks over the lake with Justin, Laura, Ella and Sophia arriving late.  It was a long drive for me but special to spend time with family members, catching up on their lives.  

I suspect that many of you will be spending time with family members also, and praying that you will enjoy safe travel and a blessed time together.

Love to all,

Chuck

Know God Intimately

Today as I was doing a bit of cleaning in the house, I heard the sound of a mower working in the yard and was reminded about what a blessing it is not to be responsible for all of the yard work.  While the lawn was being mowed, I heard the hum of a chainsaw and saw a couple of our yard men trimming two of my trees which were starting to brush the roof.  Shortly there was a pile of limbs that they scooped up with the tractor loader and moved them to the disposal pile.  In no time the yard work was all done and they went off to their next project.  WOW that would have taken me most of the morning! 

As I approach the sixth anniversary of Carol’s passing, I am reminded of some of our last conversations.  I suspect that final words can stick in our minds far more than many earlier conversations.  Thinking about that, I read King David’s final instructions or words to his son Solomon.  He challenged him; “Solomon my son, learn to know the God of your ancestors intimately…”  (1 Chronicles 28:9)  That was a concern for David that he wanted to pass on to Solomon, and I suspect that is something that we fail to accomplish if we don’t make it our focus.  It is easy to get all wrapped up knowing about God but fail to get to really know him intimately.  I am taking that as a challenge for my life too!

I plan to spend a few days with several of the family members later this week in Indiana, but with us being so spread out geographically, it will be impossible to get together with everyone at once this time.  I will be taking another trip later in the summer to connect with the rest of the family.  It is always a blessing for me to spend time with them.  Your prayers will be much appreciated as I travel those many miles.  There certainly are plenty of hazards and at the same time I am very much aware that I am getting older and a bit slower in my reactions.

Love to you all,

Chuck