Post for March 3, 2014

Arrived back in Dillon yesterday from our trip to Virginia ( Va gin ya). Grace and I spent seven days in Williamsburg at the Powhatan Plantation Resort. Paul Johnston our friend from Cary, N.C. joined us for two and half of those days. Debbie was supposed to come but was suffering with a sinus infection. Grace had a cold when we came. She recovered and I carried on the tradition. Now I’m home recovering. We had a great time in Williamsburg. There is much for me to learn about our nations history. Some great folks tried to teach me when I was younger. Just didn’t pay much attention. The battles for this country and its freedoms were won by people who sacrificed much. It was their time and our future. And, I see it as God’s continuing redemptive work. We must not disappoint them or God. After Williamsburg we drove back to Reagan’s Washington National Airport checked in our rental car and met up with the MCYM folks at Marriott’s Residence Hotel in Pentagon City. Thursday night was our Fund Raising Banquet held at the Fort Meyer Officers’ Club in Arlington, VA. That’s the site of Arlington National Cemetery. Its a grand old building with lots of history. Some of our directors have served in the military at this post. Then on Friday and Saturday we held the Board meetings for MCYM at the hotel. One afternoon we toured the Pentagon. Dave Etling, Regional Development guy for YL in that Region, joined us as a guest. It was great to get caught up with him. We tried to get Eric Eklund there but he was not able to join us. It was a great evening of entertainment and information. The speakers enlightened and encouraged us to embrace the ministry to military teens and families around the world. The need is great! These courageous men and women are continuing the work of those pioneers I had learned more about in Williamsburg. People stayed and talked for over two hours after the Banquet wrapped up. The need is great! We met our goal but, it is a drop in the bucket. We could make this ministry three times bigger, God willing. I have been reading in Mark and I want to take you to Mark 8 today. In these passages Mark tells how Jesus encouraged the disciples to feed the 4,000 or so people who were following them and listening to Jesus’ teachings. This is the second time an event like this has been reported. There could have been others. Jesus asked the disciples how much food they had for the people. Each time there was little by comparison to the need. And, just like we do, they complained about there being no possible way to make this happen. In this case, Jesus reminded them of the earlier time when Jesus had taken the meager supply of bread and fish and broke them praising and thanking God. He proceeded to have them feed the crowd from the plenty provided and there was much left over. There was more than enough. And yet the second time this happened the disciples again failed to get it. Go for it and God will provide. Why do we have so little faith and trust? I will be talking about this much in coming days and weeks. There are many examples of our lack of trust. Not completely trusting the sovereign ruler and creator of the Universe is a serious problem in the world today. And, almost all of us are guilty. Maybe all! Not one is truly righteous. God is busy redeeming the world and we are not listening and helping. Now I think I know why God had me study to be a Chemical Engineer. It was to be part of the preparation for my vocation as well as for my main occupation. I encourage you to think about all the things you have done in the this way. Praise God for these gifts of experience. What was God teaching the disciples with the feeding stories? Figure that out and you will begin to learn more about the purpose of life, of your life. Once again, answer these four questions for yourself based on the experience you have had so far in life. 1. Where did you come from? 2. Who are you? 3. Why are you here? 4. Where are you going? This is all about vocation. Vocation we never ever retire from. Vocation makes life. Jesus said... “I did not come to minister to those who think they are righteous, I came to heal and give ’life' to the ones who know they are sick.”.That could be me. I think it is pretty important to stay close to the one who can do that.