In conversation with my bride, I said it might be difficult to write this blog because I had not done much this week. She said, “It is not what you do that you should write but what you think!” While I have spent most of my time ‘babying’ my back and resting, I have had an inordinate amount of time to think.
I have been thinking about the shortness and fragility of life. I have a stark reminder of my body’s decline but each week I learn of yet another friend or relative who has passed away, some way too early! The time is short. The hour of Christ’s Return or my departure is closer than ever. This causes me to pray more fervently. It focusses me on the task of sharing the glorious Good News. It sharpens my desire to forgive. I sometimes have kidded that I suffer from ‘Irish Alzheimer’s’ I forget everything but grudges. The time is too short and too precious to hold on to unforgiveness.
All this has caused me to concentrate thought and prayer on succession. Currently I am unable to physically do what I would like. I am closing in quickly on 70 and I know that at some point I will have to step back from leadership of Threshold House. I have settled on the idea of a young person coming alongside me. While I could provide some mentorship that person could complete the Envoy training program developed by the Church Army in the United Kingdom and to be offered in Canada as method of forming Evangelists for 21st Century mission. This course is an online one with a practical local component. Threshold House would provide the context for this practical experience as well as the housing for a student. Upon successful completion of Envoy the newly minted Evangelist could work alongside me as a partner in ministry and eventually be prepared to assume leadership as I step back.
It would be wonderful if you would join me in prayer for this. I am open to the possibility that we may be able to provide this experience for more than one (younger than me) person. Here is the link to the UK Envoy program website https://www.envoy.website Again the plan is that this would be conducted here in Canada through Threshold Ministries and directed by one of our Evangelists Deb Moyo.
This week I was asked to do the teaching at the Wednesday Night Worship at our church. I really enjoyed it and was reminded what a charge I get out of teaching. Paul writes in Romans 12 that those with a gift for teaching “ought to teach”. As I was in prayer thanking God for this fun time I was reminded of this verse along with the admonition to seek more opportunities. I am in prayer about how I can best be an answer to my own prayer.
I have started a new series for our Monday – Wednesday Morning Bible Studies. We are looking at Galatians. The theme is the awesome simplicity of the Gospel. The Galatians found it so simple that it was hard for them to believe! Their efforts to complicate the Good News led them away from the truth that had been proclaimed and through which they had found hope and life. Their efforts led them into bondage of works of the flesh rather than the freedom and fruitfulness of grace filled lives. I think it will be fun journey. If you are a Face Book user you can follow along and even catch up on these studies. Each one is about 10 minutes long.
As I said earlier, I have been nursing my back. I took it out for a test run yesterday as I mowed my lawn. I have a self propelled mower with an electric starter so I was not abusing my back with those tasks. I seem to have come out of it okay! It was quite stiff and a bit sore this morning but the heat I am applying has eased that significantly. While I am not ready to run a marathon like our Director Jonathan Clarke I am a tad more optimistic about activities in the coming week. Please keep praying!
Hope & Reedemption 