Category: family

I feel a bit strange thinking, “Wow, I’ll bet that’s how God feels”, but perhaps God occasionally likes us to get a glimpse of what He feels. Parents admit they couldn’t really understand a certain type of love until children came along. Such love has been pounding in our hearts as we’ve waited for Taylor to come home from Cambodia. For Susan to get up at 4:50 before any alarm sounds on a Saturday morning and be dressed and out the door in just a few minutes means something special is taking place. As we stood in that familiar spot in the Atlanta airport waiting for Taylor to appear, I couldn’t help but think of our Heavenly Father.

On more than one occasion, He praised Jesus so that others could hear. Once, the clouds opened and the Holy Spirit descended like a dove. Jesus had just been baptized and God knew an intense battle was about to begin. The Spirit led the Son into the wilderness where the devil sought to ruin Him. How often did Jesus remember the voice of the Father in that lonely place? As the enemy attacked, Jesus simply quoted His Father’s written word and Satan was defeated. We know God’s Word is true: “Resist the devil and he will flee.” Another time God spoke to those who wanted to honor others along with Jesus. Regarding Peter’s suggestion to build three shelters, Luke tells us: “He did not know what he was saying.” On such an occasion, God spoke out: “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to Him.”

As we saw Taylor’s head, Susan headed straight toward him and hugged him like only a mother can. We were so happy and thankful and proud. Now I know there is a huge difference between Taylor and Jesus, but this emotion I felt made me wonder what God felt when Jesus finished His mission. If God ever cried tears of joy you know He cried then. “He did it! My Son finished and now He’s coming home! How I love my Son!”

“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son.” And God so loved His Son that He trusted Him to complete the incredible task of saving us. The Son did not let the Father down. What Susan and I felt at Taylor’s homecoming was just a taste of what the Father felt when Jesus came home. Now God says, “This One that pleases me so and did everything I asked is your Way home. Come to Him everyone! He is your salvation… and He will be your joy. Jesus is my beloved Son… listen to Him!”

“In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.” Hebrews 1:1-3

Taylor called Saturday from Cambodia. This is the first time we have talked to him since he reached Asia. While his voice sounded strong to me, he has been sick quite a bit of the time. So what do you say to a child on the opposite end of the earth when things are rough? We can pray, but there doesn’t seem much else to do.

I did e-mail Taylor some things we all need to remember about our Good Shepherd. “The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.” If, indeed, I am just a sheep trying to follow His voice, then I can be confident of a couple of things. First, He goes ahead of us. Jesus faces the danger before we do. Whether it is a rocky road, a wild animal, or a fierce storm, the Shepherd meets the difficulty before the sheep does. We can persevere because He perseveres. We walk in hope, because He is our hope. Isn’t this true?

We can also have great confidence in His wisdom and the choices He makes for our lives. The Good Shepherd will not take the sheep down a path they cannot travel. So if we find ourselves on a difficult road, God knows we can make it. “If were too hard, He would not take me this way.” As a lowly sheep, that’s what I believe. Oh to trust the Shepherd!

Of course, I can’t tell my son anything I’m not willing to embrace myself. Many of you know we’ve gotten some great news regarding my health. Just a trace of the cancer is found in my blood now, which means I’ve not had chemo since before Christmas. While this protein count is basically immeasurable, it seems wise to harvest stem cells in case a future transplant is needed. From beginning to end, this will be a three to four week process that is not too unpleasant. As a dumb sheep, I often reason with the Good Shepherd that the ‘path of the stem cell transplant’ is far too dangerous a journey… but we’ll trust He knows best 🙂 I hope to go through this next step soon and then forget about disease for a while. Please accept our thanks for your prayers. Somehow the Good Shepherd lets our prayers be a part of His mysterious ways, and we are so grateful for the many people who remember us. May we all rejoice that “we are His people, the sheep of His pasture.”

“When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice… I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep… I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me – just as the Father knows me and I know the Father – and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd… My sheep listen to my voice; I know them and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” John 10:1-30

We had a great trip to see Taylor. We thank God and so many friends for making such a visit possible. We owe special thanks to Anna, our dear friend from Brazil, who let us live with her while we were on the big island.

I felt blessed to have a few days to encourage my son before he left for a foreign land. Almost every morning we ate breakfast by the ocean and I shared what seems most important… our love for him and God’s love for us. One of the greatest weaknesses in my life has been my competitiveness. Perhaps there’s a part of competition that’s not so bad, but I know certain aspects just don’t line up with Jesus. His only battles were with the devil. Jesus seemed to never compete with man. I don’t think he needed to; all His needs were met by His Father. If you don’t really care what man thinks, there is not much of a reason to strive to be number one. The disciples were more like us… always trying to be the greatest. Jesus constantly taught them that in His Kingdom such strivings did more harm than good.

I know I’ve passed some of these harmful pursuits to my children and I wanted to tell Taylor that God works from a totally different viewpoint. “He loves us and this love is not dependant on our accomplishments. If we know this and let Him be the source of our satisfaction, we’ll be happy. He will work through our lives even when we don’t know it. We just need to live trusting Him.”

Though I know these things are true, my actions have not always modeled such contentment. I called my parents on Christmas Eve and my dad jokingly shared that he expected our family’s annual game of charades to be the most peaceful ever because his two most competitive sons were on the opposite ends of the earth… one in Hawaii and one in Zambia. These aren’t the footsteps I want my children to follow! “Just remember, son, our ways are not God’s ways.” It was at this moment that Taylor told me a story.

“I think you’re right, Dad. Just last week our teacher told us a true story. There was a large church on the mainland that sent a missionary to an island that had never heard of Jesus. Well, this young man was not very good at learning the language. Each year he would report that he was doing his best, but he was having a hard time communicating. The home church was patient at first, but after several years the pressure for results started to build. ‘Where are your converts? Why don’t you have a church in place? What are you doing there?’ Finally, after ten years, the church concluded their mission had failed. They withdrew support and the missionary came home, quite ashamed he had done no good. It was over a year later that the church decided to try again. They sent another young man to the same island hoping this time there would be some fruit. The new missionary proved to be gifted at learning the language of the island. After one year he felt fluent enough to try to preach. On a designated Sunday, the entire village gathered to hear the missionary speak. He stood and spoke almost a full hour, explaining the Good News of Jesus and His sacrifice for us. At the end of his sermon, the young man said, ‘If anyone would like to give your life to this One who gave His life for us, would you please stand?’ To his amazement, every person present, including the chief, stood up. The missionary knew they had misunderstood, so he asked everyone to sit back down and he went through his message again. Everyone listened intently and when he concluded, the invitation was repeated, ‘If you would like to give your life to this One who gave His life for you, please stand.’ Once again, everyone stood. This time the missionary was frustrated. He knew they could not have understood because such a response after just one sermon was unheard of. When he motioned for everyone to sit down again, the chief remained standing. ‘Sir, do you think everyone understands what I have been saying?’ The chief replied, ‘Yes, we understand. You see, the person you described who gave His life for us… someone just like Him lived in our village for ten years. Because of him, we believe what you say is true.’”

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener… Remain in me and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing… As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends…” John 15:1-17

We all know Jesus had a special place in his heart for fishermen as he walked the shores of Galilee and called a few to leave their nets to follow him. Fishermen don’t mind getting up early in the morning or working late into the night if there are fish to be caught. Fishermen deal with the hazards of weather and the heartbreak of loss. They know they must persevere to be successful, and they know there is always something to learn.

Taylor and I spent the weekend with some professional fishermen in Tyler, Texas. As hurricane Rita roared up the Louisiana – Texas line, forty five teenage boys listened to the masters teach some of the things they have learned about fishing, life, and the true Master. These guys even got to go out on the water with three different pros to witness firsthand how they located fish and caught them. As Taylor absorbed every moment, he realized how much he doesn’t know.

Tomorrow Taylor leaves for discipleship training in Hawaii to be followed by an outreach to Asia. During the five months he will be gone, it won’t surprise me if Taylor finds places to fish in other parts of the world, but he’ll also meet some different fishermen in Youth With A Mission. These men and women have heard the call Jesus gave Peter, Andrew, James, and John and are going into all world to serve mankind and share about the Savior that came from Heaven to rescue us from sin. They don’t mind getting up early in the morning and working late into the night if there are souls to be saved. I met a few of these missionaries in Jerusalem who had experienced the types of hazards that stretch our faith. Two ladies experienced the loss of friends as five fellow Christian workers were killed for following Jesus. But for some reason these disciples know they must persevere. They also know they must listen carefully to the Master for there is always something to learn.

Susan and I love our son and we are sure going to miss him. I’m going to miss fishing with him and hearing the funny stories he has to tell. (One day he needs to write a book entitled “Glory and Gloom on the Water” 🙂 ) But just as several Christian men told him this past weekend, Jesus is calling us to a purpose far beyond ourselves. He’s put something in each of us that will bless His Kingdom as we follow the greatest Fisherman that has ever lived. Sometimes His ways might sound strange to us, but if we remember He created all things and knows all things, we will know He can be trusted. So, Taylor, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”

“When he finished speaking, he said to Simon, ‘Put out into deep water, and let down your nets for a catch.’ Simon answered, ‘Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.’ When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, ‘Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!’ For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, ‘Don’t be afraid; from now own you will catch men.’ So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.” Luke 5:4-11

At the dinner table, thirty summers ago, my dad, the principal of a Christian school in Chattanooga, told an interesting story. He was walking near the football field and noticed a pretty dark-skinned girl with long brown hair riding a horse named Chief. Each summer, Jim Fuller, my basketball coach, directed a day camp where many of us worked. We were told we had the greatest job in the world because any time we had a break we could play ball. (In addition to this tremendous benefit, we were paid the generous wage of one dollar a day.) I was not working this particular week, but I knew the horses well. All ten of the camp horses were ornery, but Chief was dangerous. He was a fast quarter horse with a mind of his own. Suddenly, Daddy shared, the horse took off across the field and the teenage girl hung on for her life. As Chief reached uneven ground, not far from where my dad stood, the horse stumbled. The rider fell out of the saddle, but a foot hung in the stirrup as Chief kept running. My dad rushed to help the damsel in distress who fortunately was not injured too badly.

At the age of fifteen I fell in love with the lovely horseback rider and the man who rescued her became Susan’s father-in-law. We laugh each summer as we still find ourselves working at camp. (We both have agreed not to have horseback riding as one of our activities.) So in this first writing of a new school year, on August 4, I would like to wish my beautiful Susan ‘Happy Birthday’ and tell her that I love my sweetheart more now than ever.

Lover: “How beautiful you are, my darling! Oh how beautiful! Your eyes are doves.” Beloved: “How handsome you are, my lover! Oh how charming! And our bed is verdant.” Song of Songs 1:15-16

I’m on my way to find what ‘verdant’ means…