Arrival in Heaven

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Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.                   1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 ESV

Rejoicing, praying, and giving thanks put the circumstances of our lives, both good and bad into God’s hands and help us see them through His eyes. Last night our beloved daughter-in-law Melinda slipped from this world into the presence of Jesus. And while we are overwhelmed with grief and shock, these words are promises to which we cling. Melinda has finished her race. Her battle with cancer is finished. And while that pernicious disease claimed her physical life, it could not touch her soul. That remained fully and exclusively in the hands of Jesus with whom she now lives. Nancy and I didn’t know how to process the news that came in three words. “She is gone.” Yet as sadness rolls over my heart I sense the message echo back from Heaven, ” She has arrived!”

One Mission Many Nations

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We have known Pastors Joliam and Claudia for almost twenty-five years, served on staff under their ministry and traveled overseas twice with them. Today, I am so excited to be able to recommend to you their first book, explaining their forty-one years of mission’s experience. It all began in 1985 with God’s call and a single verse:

Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness. 2 Corinthians 9:10 NKJV

Often God calls people to leave home and spend most of their lives on the mission field, but others, God sends to come alongside them for encouragement, training and providing resources. Many times, over the years, we have said, “We’ll be praying for you!” as Pastor Joliam left on another missionary trip, but the extent of those travels still left me dumbfounded when I read “One Mission. Many Nations.” If you have a heart for missions, or are planning on any type of overseas ministry, this new book should be required reading. Here Pastor Joliam shares not only his passion for missions, but also hundreds of practical insights for outreach work in twenty-three countries on four different continents. Having traveled with him to both India and Nepal, I can tell you that the highlights shared in these pages are only the tip of the iceberg, of the lives touched and places visited on the field. I love how Pastor Joliam reminds us that to be faithful to God’s call usually means that few will applaud us or even see what we do in the Lord’s service.

“God sees the seeds planted when no camera is present, and no one outside the community knows the name of the person who is planting them.” Dr. Joliam Sampaio

So, if you are feeling God’s call to missions or simply would like to know more about what effective missions looks like in the twenty-first century, it would well be worth the investment of your time to read through the pages of One Mission. Many Nations,” You can find the book on Amazon in both English, as well as Spanish, and Portuguese in both softcover as well as a Kindle edition.

My Long-Lost Wallet!

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Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. 2 Corinthians 13:10 ESV

It was a Christmas Eve snowstorm, and after eight long hours shoveling off my customers’ sidewalks, I came home, took a hot shower, changed into warm clothes, and lay down for a nap on the sofa. After a little snooze, I awoke remembering that I needed to pick up more sidewalk melt for the following day, but realized to my dismay, that my wallet was missing. I searched the truck, my coat pockets (three times) and even returned to the job site, shoveling through the snow on both sides of the sidewalks in my frenzied attempts. I wasn’t concerned about the seven dollars in my billfold, but replacing my driver’s license, social security card and charge cards was a problem. But after a year passed, I eventually forgot all about that wallet.

The following Christmas, our son, his wife, and our grandchildren came to visit. We had a great time reminiscing over dinner and then after pie and coffee, we moved into the living room to exchange gifts. As always, it was heartwarming seeing the kiddos tearing off the wrapping paper and one by one, brandishing their treasures aloft. After everyone was done, and I headed towards the kitchen to see if there was any pie left, my son called out:

“Hey Dad. There is one more gift here for you.”

“Really?” I asked. “I thought I pulled everything out this morning.” A bit puzzled, I sat down in my recliner while they put a small box on my lap. I noticed everyone smiling strangely and watching me with eager anticipation, but I just shrugged it off and unwrapped the gift paper. After popping open the box, I found that whatever was inside was wrapped in tons of tissue paper. Finally, after pulling off the last layer, I was astonished to see that what fell into my hands was my long-lost wallet! “What!” I shouted as peals of laughter filled the room. “Where in the world did you find it?”

“We found it under the couch cushions this morning.” Our son answered with a huge grin. “Merry Christmas Dad!”

Sometimes we lose things far more valuable than an old wallet. But the apostle Paul, urges us to focus, not on our past losses and failures, but on present restoration. Often that means discovering that we need others to help us find what we have lost and then seeing that they rejoice with us as we unwrap the long-lost treasures of God’s restoring love!

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Bridge Over Troubled Water

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And I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Rise, and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all that is appointed for you to do.’ Acts 22:10 ESV

One of my favorite songs from the 1960’s is the Simon and Garfunkel tune, “Like a Bridge Over Troubled Water.” It reminds me of an incident in 1983 when a section of the highway bridge over the Mianus River in Connecticut collapsed at midnight. The first car coming upon the scene was able to stop in time and the driver jumped out and frantically tried to wave down the other vehicles. Tragically in the dark and confusion of the moment, four vehicles ignored his warnings and tumbled off into the river.

In life, there are times when, like Paul, we are sure that we are going the right way, but instead we are way off track. The good news is that God sets up a roadblock, because He has something better in mind. So, instead of becoming angry, consider that what you are facing just might be God’s warning that there is danger up ahead. In that moment, remember, that God cannot show us the right road as long as we keep driving in the wrong direction. But when, like Paul, we cry out in astonishment, “What shall I do, Lord?” God is delighted to show us what He has in mind and through the cross of Jesus Christ He becomes our “Bridge Over Troubled Water”!