This past week, Kinsey and Jordan invited Karlyn, Susan, and me to join their family for two days in Orlando. We spent one day at Animal Kingdom and one day a nice pool where we stayed.

It is interesting how so many books, movies, and places of entertainment echo themes and messages from the Bible. In the middle of Animal Kingdom is a giant tree that took 18 months to complete. It is 145 feet tall, has 8000 branches, 102,000 leaves, 300 carvings, and is called ‘The Tree of Life.’

The Author of Life placed two real trees in the Garden… one whose fruit was forbidden and one intended to bring blessing. When Adam and Eve sinned and were banished from the Garden, angels were put in place to guard a source of life. “The Lord God said, ‘… He must not be able to reach out his hand and take also of the tree of life and eat, and live forever.’” (Genesis 3:24)

During our afternoon at the pool, Susan pointed up to the clouds at the work of a small plane. Spelled out was the Source our Heavenly Father offers all who will look to Him for Life. He wants all men and women everywhere to believe and receive His most precious Gift. Jesus is all about Life.

‘I am the Bread of Life. Come to Me and receive true nourishment. My Body is real food and My Blood is real drink. I came to earth and died on the Cross in order for you to have eternal Life. I am the True Vine. Those who live in Me are My branches. Apart from Me you cannot truly live. I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father except through Me. I am the Resurrection and the Life. My words are Spirit and they are Life. Listen, obey, and abide in Me… and I will abide in you and you will experience abundant Life.’

“For God so loved the world that he gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” John 3:16-19

“Just as the living Father sent Me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on Me will live because of Me.” John 6:57

“As the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you: continue in My love. If you obey My commands, you will continue in My love, as I have obeyed My Father’s commands and continue in His love.” John 15:9-10

Our daughter Kinsey and her husband Jordan named their newest daughter Corrie Mae Stanley. Having both recently read ‘The Hiding Place’ and ‘Tramp For the Lord,’ the baby was named for Corrie ten Boom, a single, short-of-stature Dutch lady who God used to spread His Light.

Casper ten Boom was a man of God, a student of the Bible, and the town’s watchmaker. On April 19, 1892, as he and his wife Cornelia looked upon newborn Corrie, they could have never imagined the future.

• As World War II raged, the ten Booms became a part of the Dutch resistance and helped hide and rescue over 800 Jews from capture. They welcomed ‘God’s chosen people’ into their home with open arms despite the danger.
• On February 28, 1944, Casper, Corrie, and sister Betsie were betrayed, arrested, and sent to prison. Casper died ten days later; he was 84 years old.
• While in two different concentration camps, Betsie and Corrie shared the love and hope of Jesus with many prisoners. Betsie always reminded her younger sister that ‘there is no pit so deep that God is not deeper still.’
• Due to a clerical error, Corrie was released from Ravensbrook on December 28, 1944, twelve days after Betsie died of sickness in the horrible conditions of the camp. She made her way back to the Netherlands and served the mentally handicapped.
• On December 12, 1967, Corrie ten Boom was honored as one of the ‘Righteous Among the Nations’ by the Yad Vashem Remembrance Authority of Israel for saving Jews.
• Until her death at age 91 on her birthday in 1983, God allowed Corrie to share the Light of the world with people of all backgrounds in over 60 countries on 6 continents.
• Almost 130 years after Corrie’s birth in Haarlem, Netherlands, a couple in Marietta, Georgia named their baby girl after an imperfect, brave woman who listened to her Savior’s voice and shared His message.

Though miracles surrounded His conception and birth, as Mary and Joseph looked upon their newborn Child in a manger, they could not have totally imagined the future.

• The Child would grow up to be the greatest Teacher of all time.
• The carpenter’s Son would have a special place in His heart for children, for the broken, and for the poor.
• He would be criticized for eating in the homes of sinners, touching and healing the sick, and giving sight to the blind.
• The Rabbi from Nazareth would refer to Himself as the ‘Son of Man.’ He confronted hypocrisy and evil, and proved He had authority over Satan by casting out demons and setting captives free.
• Jesus would also call Himself the Good Shepherd who came to seek and save the lost.
• The Child born in Bethlehem would not only fulfill numerous prophecies from the Old Testament, He would fulfill the entire Law of God.
• The Blood of the Baby in the manger would one day pay for all the sins of mankind.
• After dying a cruel death on a Roman cross, Jesus would be buried in a borrowed tomb, then rise on the third day as the One who conquered death.
• After 40 days, Christ ascended into the clouds as His disciples watched. Now He sits next to His Father waiting for the Day He returns to take God’s children home.

Only our heavenly Father knows the future of every child. We are called to trust and obey as He fulfills His plans.

“And Mary said: ‘My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for He has been mindful of the humble state of His servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the mighty One has done great things for me — holy is His name. His mercy extends to those who fear Him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. He has helped His servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as He promised our ancestors.’” Luke 1:46=55

Jesus might answer: ‘You must accept My Father’s way; He does not think like man does. Faith is His requirement… and one cannot really trust God when he is full of self. To gain, one must give up. To be strong, one must become weak. To be victorious, one must surrender. Did I not follow My Father’s path? I am Lord, yet I came to earth as a child. I am King, yet I became a servant. I am omnipotent, yet I laid down My life for all mankind. Now My Father has given Me the Name above names and I am inviting you to follow Me.’

Even a person who seems to be last when chosen must be changed. The fishermen had no wealth or prominence when they were called, but their desire to be ‘the greatest’ was often evident. Though they saw the glory of the Lord, witnessed His miracles, and walked with the Master, competition often raised its ugly head. At His last Passover meal, Jesus revealed the deep meaning of the Bread and the Wine… “Then they began to argue among themselves about who would be the greatest among them.” (Luke 22:24)

Saul of Tarsus had a different background. He was a Pharisee of Pharisees… brilliant, zealous, and confident. But he had no hope without Jesus. The King revealed Himself, blinded his eyes, and filled a penitent man with the Holy Spirit. (see Acts 9) Then, as the ‘new creation,’ Paul began his decline into true greatness. “I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things…” (Philippians 3:8)

Who boasts like Paul today? Who cries: ‘Come! Follow Jesus and lose everything! Become of no reputation; be despised and rejected by others; be misunderstood; be the least…’? But Paul saw the Way: “I consider all these things garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ — the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.” (Philippians 3:9)

None of us have hope without Jesus. Peter, Andrew, James, John, and Paul trusted Him and came to understand God’s greatness. Our Lord and Savior is the Way!

“The greatest among you will be your servant. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” Matthew 23:11-12

“He called a little child and had him stand among them. And He said: ‘I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.’” Matthew 18:2-4

I won’t write next week as we celebrate a holiday… Happy Thanksgiving!

No matter how small the task, it seemed either Abraham or Mario would be the first to volunteer. They were always available. On Sunday, the last full day Karlyn and I were at camp, Abraham led worship and Mario assisted. I then realized how talented they were and began wondering what is more important: ‘talent’ or ‘surrender’?

Our world exalts talent; God exalts humility. (see James 4:10) God is the one who gives us our talents and He wants us to use them, but I think we have to determine to be humble. We’ll all be surprised in heaven as God honors His hidden saints who simply lived surrendered lives on earth with this understanding: “You have saved me, Lord, I am Yours. I am willing to go wherever You call me. Whatever you want me to do, however you want me to serve… I just want to honor You.”

In the Catalonia region of Spain, the people love our nation. American sports, American history, and American culture are very popular. A couple of weeks each summer, L’Arcada holds Native American Camp. The lodging facilities for all campers and counselors are huge teepees that hold ten beds. Each teepee is named for a different Native American tribe. During the week of camp, many things are taught about nature, our Creator, and care for our world. The campers love it.

A Native American believer from the United States always comes to help lead these sessions, but this summer pandemic difficulties complicated plans. Shortly after Karlyn and I returned home, it was no surprise to learn that Mario volunteered to be the chief for a week.

Perhaps, Jesus was the fastest kid in Nazareth. Some have proposed He was a gifted carpenter. Maybe He was a dynamic speaker… people sure listened to Him. But I would propose the Father was most proud of His Son for these two things: His meekness and His obedience. “I always do what pleases Him,” Jesus said. (John 8:29) What if we shifted our focus from ‘trying to be the best’ to ‘simply being available’?

Of course we should strive to be excellent in all we do, but what if I spend all my money developing my craft and have nothing left to help the person need? Or what if I am so busy becoming the very best in my field that I am never available to serve the least of Jesus’ brothers and sisters? What if I glorify God most when I simply present ‘myself’ to Him with no constraints?

Jesus wants us to adopt His own surrendered mindset: “Father, I am Yours. I am willing to do anything You tell Me; My life is not My own. I place Myself in Your perfect, wise, and loving hands.”

Therefore, when Christ came into the world, He said: “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You prepared for Me; with burnt offerings and sin offerings You were not pleased. Then I said, ‘Here I am – it is written about Me in the scroll — I have come to do Your will, O God.’” Hebrews 10:5-7

At the end of May I shared the report of cancer’s return. I was scheduled to start treatment the last week of July but COVID hit our family and everything changed. Being eight months pregnant, Kinsey had the toughest time with the virus, but we are all thankful to be feeling better. I’ll share details later, but it looks like I’ll start a new chemotherapy to fight multiple myeloma this week. We appreciate your prayers.

Susan and I celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary in Costa Rica and Karlyn joined us as ‘trip photographer.’ ‘Pura Vida!’ is the most common phrase used in this beautiful Central American country. Technically translated ‘pure life,’ the statement is rich with meaning.

The people we met in Costa Rica were kind, joyful, and welcoming. ‘Pura Vida’ served as ‘good morning’, ‘farewell,’ ‘have a nice day,’ and ‘enjoy the simple life.’ ‘Pura Vida’ is a great reminder to not take blessings for granted and to be thankful we are alive.

Jesus uses the term ‘abundant life’ as He invites us to come to Him to experience the Father’s best. ‘Don’t live the way the world lives… chasing endless goals that rob you of the joys of simple living. Don’t be anxious about the things the world worries about. Receive life from Me today and let tomorrow take care of itself. Come to Me and learn from Me… am I anxious or fretful? No, I am humble and gentle, knowing My Father is in control and is faithful to care for all His children. Put My words into practice, trusting Me completely, and you will find true peace, lasting joy, and pure life.’

People will tell you such a manner of living is totally unrealistic and impractical today, but we must not listen to societal wisdom. The wisest Man to ever live rejected the world’s philosophies and embraced the simple life of obedient reliance on His faithful Father… a life of love.

Challenging Christian leaders, Henri Nouwen once wrote this:

It is not a leadership of power and control, but a leadership of powerlessness and humility in which the suffering servant of God, Jesus Christ, is made manifest. I, obviously, am not speaking of a psychologically weak leadership in which Christian leaders are simply the passive victims of the manipulations of their milieu. No, I am speaking of a leadership in which power is constantly abandoned in favor of love. It is true spiritual leadership. Powerlessness and humility in the spiritual life do not refer to people who have no spine and who let everyone else make decisions for them. They refer to people who are so deeply in love with Jesus that they are ready to follow Him wherever He guides them, always trusting that, with Him, they will find life and find it abundantly.

Pura Vida!

Quote from Henri Nouwen, ‘In the Name of Jesus’, ©1989 Crossword Publishing, p. 82