"This old house . . . "

You may remember this old song, I think the best known rendition was by Rosemary Clooney--"This old house". It talks about how the house needs lots of repairs but nothing is being done cause they're getting "ready to meet the saints".

The same could be said of the human body--as we get older it begins to need a "little" repair here and there. In my wallet I have cards giving the details of my two stents and the lens in both eyes and those are only the most obvious signs--that kneww, the inability to read fine print, etc. all make me think more about that place where we won't have any of those.

Dana is recovering well from her hernia surgery, but it is going to be a slow process. In a year or so she will be fully recovered but in the meantime she feels very keenly the weakness of an aging body.

As Paul says in both of the Corinthian letters this body is decaying but for the Christian that is not the end of the story--we have a glorious body awaiting us, a body without the possibility of pain or death.

Tol

Putting a face on immigration

This is Dana with a sister from Dominica. She recently received her green card to live in the US permanently. People from many countries can wade through endless hassles, spend 1000's of dollars, and wait 5-10 years for the green card. She was one of the lucky ones--she had a close relative who applied for her so it only took a couple of years. Unfortunately, she and her husband thought the relative had applied for both of them, but it was only for her. When his card didn't come they waited a month or two before they were informed that he hadn't been applied for. She has since applied for him.

There is little work in Dominica so it really doesn't matter how hard you study (she is a teacher) or how hard you work you can't get ahead. If you're fortunate and everybody in the family works long hours 6 days a week you can make it. Dominica, like most of the islands of the Eastern Caribbean is okay though--most people have food to eat, a house to live in, clothes to put on, etc. In Mexico and Central America, not to mention Africa and Asia, many don't have a job (because there is no work) and wonder where their next meal will come from. Is is surprising they are willing to do whatever it takes to come to the States?

I do not condone breaking the law, any law, but I do understand why people do it. Usually it isn't that they can do "better" in the States, but rather that they can support their family.

When we talk about "illegal aliens" as a group it's easy to forget they are just people too. But when you get to know some of these people you understand why they do it--that doesn't justify it, but at least you understand why.

Tol

"Never give up"

The photo is of Dana and I and Sister Inez LeBlanc, of Vielle Case, Dominica. Although Sister Inez passed away last year her influence is still felt. This picture was taken in 2005 and Rusty Taylor, a young man who was in our preacher training program for that summer was with us. Sister Inez told him, "Never give up." She went on to say that most young people do give up, but that he should not. That conversation is something Rusty still remembers and talks about.

You never know what chance remark will have an impact on someone else for good. Several years ago I preached about raising children and said "some children require more raising than others" and one Mother reminds me of that frequently--she quit working to stay home and raise her kids. Sister Inez was giving good advice--advice that I know she had given to other young people, most of whom did not follow it. Isn't that what Paul told Timothy, be ready in season and out of season to preach the Word?

Tol

Dana's surgery

If all goes as planned Dana will be having hernia surgery tomorrow (Friday the 16th) morning. It is scheduled for 7:30 and I would ask for your prayers on her behalf.

The doctor wanted to do it as soon as possible so that if there were any complications we would have plenty of time to deal with them before our move to Puerto Rico in May.

The plans for our move continue to fall into place--the Lord continues to provide and thus confirm that this is what we need to do at this point in our lives. Now if we can sell our house we will be able to wrap this whole thing up and concentrate on the move.

Tol

One flake at a time

I could actually see the snow flakes this morning, not very many, but they were big enough to see. Since it was in the 50's most of the day yesterday the snow didn't stick to anything--it melted on contact. For snow to stick today (it's 22 degrees right now) there would have to be alot of it--probably a couple of inches would have to fall and melt in order to cool the ground enough for it to stick.

Have you every thought about those first millions of snowflakes that have to melt to prepare the way for the others to stick? It's not the wind, or even the temperature, but rather the effect of literally millions of snowflakes hitting the ground and melting, but as they melt each one cools the ground a tiny bit. With enough snowflakes hitting, the ground cools to the point that they stick. If snowflakes were people we could use the image of them giving their lives so that others might live.

A local church should operate in much the same way--each Christian has an impact on the people around him or her and the effect of those impacts eventually cause that person to want to know more about the Christ that motivates the Christian. Ideally, each person is impacted by more than one Christian and comes to realize that it's not just "Joe" or "Sue", but everybody that goes to this "church". Rather than cooling people the impact of Christians should warm them.

I baptized a man recently who has lived a rough life--drag racing, alcohol, etc. I know why he asked me to baptize him but his change was much more the effect of many Christians than of anything I had done. Certainly his wife, who is a Christian, had the greatest effect on him, but in explaining it he told me, "I enjoy going to church, listening to the teaching, and just being there." Everybody receives him well, including his in-laws, and it has had the intended effect on him. Those millions of little things--greetings, good sermons, just accepting him where he is, paved the way for him to make changes in his life. His parents are very strong members of a denomination and harp at him every chance they get, but that has had little effect, compared with the effect of the local church.

Most of us don't live in a small community where outsiders see that all the members of this church are good people, who have a good life and so the cumulative effect is blunted. But brethren, if we will live as we should--going the extra mile consistently, people around us will notice and at least some of them will want to know why. Your first actions may seem to have the same effect that the first snowflakes have--none at all, but if the heart is honest over time they will have an effect.

Tol

The death of Anna Nicole Smith

If you catch the news anywhere you've probably heard that Anna Nicole Smith died last week at the age of 39. My first thought was something along the line of: Well, she was under suspicion for her son's death and her life seemed to be unravelling, so it's probably just as well she died and doesn't have to deal with all that.

Later Dana and I were talking about it and she said her initial reaction was basically the same, then she began to think, No matter how horrible her life was, her death has cast her into a place far, far worse than anything this life could throw at her. I don't presume to "judge" Ms. Smith (or anyone else), for that is God's job, but everything I know about her leads me to the conclusion that she was not living for God and therefore she is now in torment. When you look at her death in that light it is truly tragic--she has no more time to repent and be saved.

All too often we look at people just like Anna Nicole--their life is such a mess death is a blessing, but such is not true. God is not willing that any should perish but that all should repent. He gives them time to repent, but finally death comes and they just ran out of time.

Brethren, do we comprehend that everyone who is not in Christ cannot afford to die--they will be lost eternally. Nor can we take their imminent death casually. We need to work all the harder to rescue those who are closest to death, while they still have time. Until we see people as they really are, lost and on the road to eternal torment, we will not feel the urgency of teaching others. Both Matthew and Mark record an occasion when Jesus saw the multitudes "as sheep without a shepherd" and was moved with compassion for them. I'm sure He would view most people today in the same light--lost, not having a clue where or how to go, following the devil blithely into the lake of fire and brimstone. Jesus' reaction was "he began to teach them many things". What is your reaction?


Tol

Church in the heart of the city

Caracas, Venezuela is a large metropolitan area of 6 million people.

There are now 3 churches in this city, one of which meets right downtown, only a few blocks from the presidential palace in a rented facility, down a long hall. Although they put a sign out when they are meeting, that is the only time it is advertised in this way, so it's not a place you are likely to "happen onto".

Caracas is no different than most big cities--most of the people in the area don't live there, the people aren't "neighborly", they're in a hurry, etc. In spite of that the men meet once or twice a month to pass out tracts, flyers about correspondence courses, etc. The preacher, Gerardo, does this by himself several days a week as well. From a beginning 4 years ago of 8 people they have grown to over 20 and continue to grow. A couple of months ago a man (Victor) visited with his two daughters. He had visited a number of churches and still hadn't found one that was following the Bible. After that initial service he agreed to study in his home and within 6 weeks was baptized. His wife was baptized in Jan. and they both continue to study. Little by little the Gospel is being spread.

Tol

Fruit in La Plaine

To the right is a photo of the church that meets in La Plaine, Dominica. All the white people are visitors, but you see Elkin, the preacher in the back corner. They meet in the Village Council building, as they have practically since they began. Attendance that Sunday was 21, which is typical.

In this group there are 3 Haitans who have been attending for over a year. Elkin and I studied with them twice last Feb.--I taught in English, then he would translate it to the broken French (Patois) and of course any questions were handled in reverse--he would translate it to English so I could answer it and then he would translate it back to Patois. One of these 3, Pierre, was baptized in Jan. I believe he may start a chain of baptisms, as over half of the 20 present each Sunday are not yet Christians.

Please pray for our new brother in Christ. Also pray that others will be motivated to follow his example.

Tol