friends

Maybe – Just Maybe!

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Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark. But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. Acts 15:37-38 ESV

Sometimes I wonder, how after going on such an incredible missionary journey together, that Barnabas and Paul, could have such a falling out over Mark going home to Jerusalem. Of course, we will not know for sure until we meet in glory, but maybe – just maybe, the reason is just a few pages back, where we find the gospel of Mark. You see, tradition tells us that Mark wrote HIs account from what he had learned from the Apostle Peter. Any idea where Peter was living? Yup, you guessed it: Jerusalem! Secondly, who was one of those who got to spend plenty of time with Paul in Mark’s absence? Oh yes: That would be Luke, the author of the book of Acts from which we are reading, along with the gospel that bears his name. I am pretty sure Paul didn’t think Mark’s departure was God’s plan…but it was! And maybe – just maybe – in that same way, God has a plan that we don’t approve of for the people around us. But I love that this story didn’t end there. Instead, just a few years later, Paul begins writing his final letter, and guess who is He is asking for? Yes, believe it or not, He wants to see Mark!

Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry. 
2 Timothy 4:11 ESV

Sush a story of restoration and grace, maybe – just maybe, will encourage you today about severed friendships, broken relationships, and trusts betrayed. Because God sees to the end of our stories, and He chooses for each of us, the chapters we must write!

Photo by Suzy Hazelwood on Pexels.com

Learning to Be a Friend

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A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. Proverbs 17:17 NKJV

Most of you who follow this blog, know that I have been involved with nursing home ministry for many years. But I will bet that almost no one realizes that it all began with a visit to my friend Darryl, over thirty years ago. Now, I wasn’t really a very good friend for a long time. In fact, if it were not for the persistent and loving prodding of Darryl’s wife, I am not sure I would have finally come. You see, Darryl had suffered a stroke and went to live in a nursing home, that I passed every day on the way to work. My excuses were, I was tired, I was dirty and I didn’t know what they expected me to do. Yup, those are pretty lame excuses and neither God, nor Beverly was taking “No!” for an answer! If God is calling you to do anything, you better believe he is a lot more persistent than you are. As in the old Cosby rendition of Noah and the ark, God sometimes comes to us with the question, “How long can you tread water?” When I finally gave in and surrendered to what God had in mind, I made the amazing discovery, that it is a lot easier (And sometimes even fun!) to do what God asks, than making excuses. No disrespect to Sinatra, but I learned by doing things my way for too long, that God’s way, was way better! I hope you will enjoy my little story and that it will encourage you, to trust Jesus to teach you how to serve by becoming a true friend. After all, Jesus really is the friend who loves at all times!

Walking With Lambs is Finished!

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I am deliriously happy to announce that our book project for the nursing home ministry is finally finished! After six months of writing and almost another six of editing and rewriting, the eBook edition is now live on Amazon! I am so excited. The book of Proverbs tells us that:

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire comes, it is a tree of life. Proverbs 13:12 NKJV

Hope deferred has been exactly my experience, since I began this project last summer. I was hoping to have the book done by Christmas. But that hope was deferred time and time again, but I am humbly grateful that here in August we are finally done! Yay!! One thing I have learned is that this project has been a team effort – and working as a team, needed far more time and patience than I had originally scheduled. My wife did some of the first edits, followed by my good friend Rob Keller who also designed the cover. After I trudged through their corrections, it was nearly Thanksgiving, and I handed the manuscript over to Sue Hyson for a more detailed edit. The final edit and formatting of the manuscript was done by our daughter-in-law’s brother, Winston Crutchfield who not only edited but also fixed my formatting mistakes and improved the older photos as much as possible. These people have selflessly given of their time for one reason – and that is to tell you the story of our many friends in long-term care. Though it is my hope that “Walking With Lambs” will prompt more people to take action in practical ways, I believe you can also just enjoy getting to know some of the wonderful stories of friends whom I have made over thirty-five years in nursing home ministry. Their stories have taught me more about life than everything I learned in college and Bible school combined! If you would like to check out the eBook version, the link is here

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B9K2BHKD

The print edition should be out next week for those of you like me, who like to hold their books in their hands.