Still Have Your "First Love"?

My Dear Children,

It has been more than 54 years now since the Lord found this poor lost sinner on the troopship, General A.E. Anderson. In the flyleaf of my Bible I carry a picture of it as it sailed under the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. This week I was invited to an “Andy” reunion in San Antonio in September. I had located some of the crew through my VFW magazine. I was one of more than 4,000 Marines aboard returning to the U.S. in 1954. I got in touch with some of the crew but was never able to locate the Marine who led me to the Lord. His name was “Jerry” and he was from Minnesota, but that is all I know.

My “first love” (Rev. 2:4) took over and I told everyone I knew, or met, about the peace I felt in knowing my sins were forgiven. From Treasure Island where we landed, I told my fellow Marines on the train going east to Quantico, Virginia. I witnessed to my Mormon buddy until he got off in Salt Lake City. Then when I arrived home in Pennsylvania, I told my Dad, Mom, and family. I witnessed to my relatives, high school friends, and prior to leaving my church I made sure the preacher, deacons, relatives, and other members had heard my testimony. I wasn’t always wise in the way I did it, and I know some were offended. I said some things I regret to this day. I could not imagine anyone not wanting what I had found, and when things were said I didn’t like, I replied in kind. I’d like to go back and do some things differently. I hurt some whom I loved dearly. Today as I was reading Letters of John Newton I came across this word of comfort.

I believe the over doings of a young convert, proceeding from an honest simplicity of heart, and a desire of pleasing the Lord, are more acceptable in His sight than a certain coolness of conduct, which frequently takes place afterward, when we are apt to look back with pity upon our former weakness, and secretly to applaud ourselves for our present greater attainments in knowledge, though perhaps (alas, that it should ever be so!) we may have lost as much in warmth as we have gained in light.

In Revelation 2:2-4, we find the Lord knew of the labor, patience, and separated stand of the Church at Ephesus. How “for His name sake” they had labored, and not fainted (even to the point of exhaustion is the meaning), and yet we find they were in danger of being rejected because they had left their “first love.”

The Grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen

DAD

False Saviors

Dear Children,

Lately my thoughts have been drawn more and more toward the passage in Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 where we are told there is a season and a time for every purpose under heaven. I always smile when I think of Dr. Bob Jones Sr. telling us that the “time to refrain from embracing” in verse 5 was while we are on the BJU campus.

The time I’ve been thinking of is in verse 2. “There is a time to be born and a time to die.” At 75 I am living on borrowed time—I have already passed my “three score and ten” by more than 5 years. Then my thoughts go to my children and grandchildren who will face difficulties unprecedented in the history of our country. I feel a great responsibility not only to pray for you but to exhort you to continue in the faith, for you must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God (Acts 14:22). I am reading through a series of books by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones on the book of Acts. I want to quote from Victorious Christianity, Vol. 3, which was written at least 50 years ago.

Oh the ugliness and foulness that is in our perverted natures as the result of the fall. You can put in new houses, but they don’t change our natures, and we may turn our homes into pig sties. You can give us learning and knowledge, but that does not change the rot that is in the soul. You can give us wealth, but it does not make us new people….That is the story of the world’s vaunted civilization, its boasting, of its understanding and sophistication.

The world is always ready to believe in saviors; it is always ready to believe in emancipators and liberators and redeemers. Rome was ready to believe in the Caesars, France in Napoleon, Italy in Mussolini, Germany in Hitler, Russia in Stalin. And this is still as true today as it has ever been….Even in recent history, we have tended to turn men into gods. We have been ready to accept leaders at their own valuation….The world is eager to bow down before such men, and while it does, it rejects the One whom God has raised up to be the one and only Savior.

Look at those it is ready to worship, praise and follow. Listen to their arrogant boasting; look at the attitudes they strike as they address the populance. Our Lord put this perfectly: ‘I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye shall receive’ (John 5:43).

False saviors exalt themselves; they give themselves titles; they set themselves up on pedestals and build monuments and statues to themselves….They plaster cities and walls with their photographs….They have their “cheerleaders” to organize applause, to tell the people when to cheer and when to stop….Fancy fooling themselves to that extent! That is the mentality of the world.

This could have been written this week! I know this is long, but I implore you to read it carefully so you can understand better what you are facing.

Grace Be With All You Who Love Our Lord Jesus Christ in Sincerity,

Dad

"Redeeming the time." Ephesians 5:16

Dear Children,

Do you remember when I used to read poems and essays in our family devotions? I credit my BJU English and Speech teachers for creating a desire to read and memorize good literature. As one who minored in speech I had to memorize long portions of Tennyson’s “Enoch Arden” and a large portion of “The Yearling.” These stick out in my mind because of the lengthy portion memorized, but I was exposed to many other poets and their works both secular and sacred. Every father wants to see his sons imitate good things they have learned from their dads, but in my case I think somewhere that love for poetry has not been passed on to my sons or sons-in-law. I’m glad that at least one grandson has memorized some of the poems I used to read to you while sitting around the kitchen table. He will be reciting “A Fence at the Top of the Hill or an Ambulance at the Bottom?” next week in a public meeting. Remember that one? (A lesson is there that would be good to learn in Washington DC.)

You dads may be thinking that reading and memorizing Scripture is all that is needed. Certainly that is primary, but taking time to read biographies of godly men like Adoniram Judson, William Carey, Hudson Taylor, John Paton, and Robert McCheyne (these names should sound familiar) and instilling a love for good poetry and other classic writings would not hurt your children.

I’m in the midst of transcribing 50 years of my diaries onto my computer. This week I noted that on May 17, 1976, “I read the kids Ronald Reagan’s March 31st message to the nation. We discussed politics for a long time.” Only 33 years left to transcribe with this finger! (I can no longer type since I can’t open my left hand.) I know you don’t have time for all this. I can appreciate that, but I also know that as you grow older time goes by more rapidly, and what can be sadder than to look back over the years with regret! While commercial fishing as a deckhand about 20 years ago I heard a grizzled old sea captain say over the VHF radio to another captain, “My biggest regret in life is that I didn’t spend more time with my kids”. Video games and the TV are a poor substitute for hands-on time with your children.

I still have a love for reading and read a poem every day but now I have the added advantage of “googling” the author. Yesterday I googled “Hannah More” (1745-1833) since I am including her treatise on “Redeeming the Time" in this letter. After a tumultuous life which included several broken engagements, Miss More was converted at the age of 40. “Her religious conversion was not a sudden event that cannot be precisely dated, it nevertheless changed her life. Two of her new friends were John Newton (Amazing Grace) and Member of Parliament Wm. Wilberforce.…Her poem “Slavery” was instrumental in the fight against slavery.…She was one of the most successful writers and perhaps the most influential woman of her day.” Her essay listed below left me convicted as I do not manage time very well in my old age.

Love, DAD

"Redeeming the time" Ephesians 5:16 by Hannah More



Christians should especially be on their guard against a spirit of idleness, and a slovenly habitual wasting of time. We must guard against a habitual frivolousness at home; and an abundance of unprofitable small-talk, idle reading, inane drowsiness, and a quiet and dull frittering away of time.

We must seriously consider--what a large portion of life we have unwisely squandered; what days and nights we have wasted, if not sinfully--yet selfishly; if not loaded with evil--yet destitute of good. In the day of judgment, the thin disguise which our treacherous heart now casts over vanity and sloth, will then be torn off.

We are guilty of the strange inconsistency of being most wasteful of what we best love--and of throwing away what we most fear to lose--that TIME of which life is made up. It is not so much a lack of time--as a wasting of our time--which prevents life from answering all the ends for which God has given it to us.

Few things make us so useful of the world, as the prudent use of our precious time. We should not only be careful not to waste our own time--but that others do not rob us of it! The "stealing of our purse" is a serious wrong to us. But the "stealing of our time" should grieve us even more! Pilfering of another's time is a felony for which no restitution can be made--for time is not only invaluable, but irrecoverable!

Every particle of time is valuable. No day can be insignificant--when every day is to be accounted for. Each one possesses weight and importance. What a scene will open upon us, when, from our eternal state--we shall look back on the use we have made of time--when we shall take a clear retrospect of all we have done, and all we ought to have done!

"Almighty God, I adore Your infinite patience, which has not cut me off in the midst of my follies. Let me no longer abuse that precious treasure, time. Let me bid adieu to all those vain amusements, those trifling entertainments and sinful diversions--which have robbed me of many valuable hours. Let me no longer waste my time in ease and pleasure, in unprofitable studies and conversation; but grant, that by moderation and temperance in my enjoyments, I may be able to give a good account of it in the day of judgment, and be accepted in and through the merits of Jesus Christ, my only mediator and advocate. Amen."

Cares of This Life

My Dear Children,

This morning I was arrested in my Bible reading by Luke 21:34. I had written to you on that verse just before Christmas, but present-day circumstances lead me to write on this again. Luke 21 centers on the Lord's return, and there is much in this chapter that pertains to us today: "Take heed that you be not deceived: for many shall come in my name saying, 'I am Christ' (vs. 8); "wars and commotions" (9); "nation shall rise against nation"(10); "great earthquakes," "famines and pestilences," "fearful sights and great signs from heaven" (11); "persecutions, being brought before kings and rulers, for my names sake" (12); "betrayed by family, relatives and friends" (16); "distress of nations with perplexity; the sea and waves roaring" (25); "men's hearts failing for fear" (27). "When these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh."

All these things ought to be a wake-up call to us, but the verse I want to emphasize here is "take heed to yourselves, lest at anytime your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and CARES OF THIS LIFE, and so that day come upon you unawares" (34). I was struck with the fact that "cares of this life" are put on the same plane as drunkenness and surfeiting (a cousin to drunkenness). It reminded me of Ephesians 5:18, "Be not drunk with wine wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit." With our present day economy in shreds, and many of the moral principles we espouse being trampled on by the present administration, it is easy to relegate "the cares of this life" only to that. My concern is that you be not so taken up with personal cares "so that day come upon you unawares." I don't like to name possible "cares of this life" you may have, lest some of you limit yourselves to what I list. In general they are just the cares of everyday living. "Eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage" as in the days of Noah (Matthew 24:38). I know for a fact that some of you are extremely busy making a living; that some of you are in financial straits; that some of you are in stress over family relationships and problems, and you have difficulty seeing any way out. Cares that hold you in their grip may be your health or that of a loved one. For some of you, " the cares of this life" may include sin that holds you captive.

In closing this epistle, I would ask you to get alone with the Lord and let Him search your heart. Should you find that any "cares of this life" are dominating your time and concern, driving a wedge between you and your relationship with Him, ask Him to forgive you and deliver you from whatever the "cares of this life" may be.

"To God, only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen."

Dad

Even So Come Quickly

Dear Family,

I have been so overwhelmed by the events in our country the past couple of weeks I've found it difficult to condense any of it into a message to you. As you know, I believe it is important to observe what is being reported by the news media and then try to bring it into a Biblical context. This is not always easy because the media reports are no longer the relaying of events as they happen, but they are filtered through a mostly left wing opinion mill, and we receive a "condensed," left-leaning, anti-Biblical, twisted opinion. Remember, too, they are the ones who pick and choose what they want you to hear.

Back in the 70's and 80's I had a weekly radio broadcast out of a local station. I'd watch the ticker tape news briefs and wonder why they chose what they did to put on their news broadcast and why they rejected what I thought were good news items. Then I realized that it was because someone at the station deemed what was good for us to hear. And that was after it had been filtered down to them from the first responders from the large media outlets.

My daily Bible reading consists of a portion in the Old Testament, plus Psalms and Proverbs where I am currently engaged in writing my verse by verse thoughts. I read a chapter in the Gospels and the book of Acts and am reading through from Romans to Revelation. I tell you that because I just happened to be in the last part of Revelation and the first part of Genesis when the events of the past two weeks unfolded. I did something I have never done before. I opened my Bible and read as I watched the presidential inauguration and listened to the news.

I have never preached much on prophecy and the events leading up to the Lord's return. One reason is that I have had a hard time accepting a lot of the ideas and views that have been advanced by expositors with their charts, etc., over the years. I am not nearly as dogmatic in my views on eschatology as I used to be. I know the Lord is coming back, but when, where, and the time that takes place between events, etc., pose some difficulties for me. However, the events of the past weeks in Washington along with my reading of Revelation and Genesis have given me some "goosebumps" concerning the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ! I will not share how my reading produced "goosebumps" except to say that some of the bills our new president signed in his first two days in office and the approval of both political parties in trying to solve our financial mess have given me much to think about.

There may be very difficult days ahead for believers. We will need much grace to boldly take a stand for the Word of God. I exhort each of you to "examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?" II Cor. 13:5. Remember, "There is therefore no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit" Romans 8:1.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. Dad

III John 4 “Walking in Truth”

To my 5 sons and 4 daughters,

My greatest concern as I begin a new year is that the verse I sent you in my last devotional may not be a reality in each of your lives: “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth." My concern is not that you "made a decision for Christ,” or "accepted Christ as your Saviour,” or that you know the date when you did any of those things (none of those clichés are found in the Bible). Some of you can give a Biblical explanation of salvation better than I can, but if it does not include an ongoing walk, I find little assurance that you are "in Christ.”

There is no "great joy" in hearing anything that falls short of my children walking in truth. What you did in the past, good or bad, counts little if you are not walking in truth at present. Walking has to do with making progress. A justification without an accompanying sanctification will not stand well on judgment day. The Third Epistle of John has only 14 verses, and the word "truth" and "true" are used 7 times. Verse 11 says, "Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God." I have joy every time I see or hear of any of you walking in truth, but the "greater joy" can only come when I hear that all nine of you are walking in truth. Until then the joy is mingled with tears.

In Christ, Dad

"I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth." III Jn. 4

Dear Children,

My Amish and Mennonite forefathers, from five or more generations back, handed down to me a paper called "INSTRUCTIONS TO MY CHILDREN" translated from the German. The earliest date we have for it is 1808 but it is probably older. These instructions are replete with counseling on salvation and Godly living. It was passed on to me by Sem Johns whose great, great grandfather, Amishman Joseph Johns, was the founder of Johnstown.

Sem writes in this paper: “On the 20th of August, 1933, I was permitted to hold the first child of the 5th living generation, great great grand-child Ronald Earl Blough. He was not quite four weeks old...I am now past 83 years, and as Joshua said (Josh. 23:2), ‘waxed old and stricken in years’...I admonish you to believe the whole Bible as the inspired word of God. II Tim. 3:16, Rev. 22:18,19…”

There is a wealth of material and Godly instruction in this paper--it is yellowed with age and fragile, but we were able to have it copied. If you are interested in having a copy, let me know. Dad

"Parents must see to it that their children know the fear of the Lord, and they must beg the Lord Himself to teach them this truth. We have no hereditary right to the divine favor: the Lord keeps up his friendship to families from generation to generation, for He is loth to leave the descendants of His servants, and never does so except under grievous and long-continued provocation. As believers we are all in a measure under some such covenant as that of David: certain of us can look backward for four generations of saintly ancestors, and we are now glad to look forward and to see our children, and our children's children, walking in truth. Yet we know that grace does not run in the blood, and we are filled with holy fear lest in any of our seed there should be an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God." (C.H. Spurgeon commenting on Ps. 132:12)

Grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 3:18

Grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 3:18

Politicians running for office like to ask if you are better off materially than you were a year ago. I would like to ask each of you that same question with a one-word change. Are you better off spiritually than you were a year ago? Peter tells us to "beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." Of course there must be life before there can be growth. A few weeks ago I wrote you about desiring the milk of God's Word like newborn babes (I Peter 3:1-3). Look it up on my blog and read it again. Now I want you to examine yourselves as to your growth in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.

How can you know if you are growing in grace?

1. FALSE WAY--A. Compare yourself with people worse than yourself (II Cor. 10:12). Make your standard low enough and you can be satisfied. B. Base it on activity--a child is more active than an adult.

2. TRUE METHOD--Base it on the tests of growth found in the Word of God. I Corinthians 3:1 speaks of those who are still babes in Christ and have to be fed milk when they are unable to eat meat. Consider the following four comparisons of physical babies and spiritual babies.

1) Unstable-II Peter 3:16 "..they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures unto their own destruction.” I have seen this firsthand in some of you on the question of "Christian liberty,” using that to justify sinful behavior. Unstable--changeable, easily depressed, frightened, discouraged, panicky, questioning the love of God.

2) Understanding, knowledge, discernment--"tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine”(Ephesians 4:14). The first victim of the latest cult is always a babe. New teaching comes along and they are tossed like a cork on a wave.

3) Interest in self--a child likes to be the center of the circle and if not checked by parents, it will become more subtle as they get older. Talks of self, its activities, wonderful things they have experienced, what they have done, seen, etc.

4) Child loves the spectacular, exciting, Disneyland, circus, thrills, excitement, itching ears (II Tim. 4:3), video games, more interested in gifts (I Corinthians 12). Contrast the picture Paul gives us in I Corinthians 13. Measure your growth in the Lord here! Longsuffering, kind, doesn't envy, doesn't vaunt itself, is not puffed up, doesn't behave unseemly, seeks not her own, is not easily provoked, thinks no evil,.... bears, believes, hopes, endures all things.

How do you measure up? Has there been any growth in these areas since a year ago?

My love be with you all in Christ Jesus, Dad

"Joy and Peace in Believing"

Dear Family,

"Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.”--Filled "with all joy and peace in believing." What better hope could I have for each of you at this time of year?

About 25 years ago when my brother turned from the "faith which was once delivered unto the saints" (Jude 3), he gave me his copy of the Trinity Hymnal. I have used it in my devotions ever since. We also use it in our weekly meetings here in Hoonah. My hymn for today was Charlotte Homer's, "He Lifted Me.” It is taken from Psalm 40:1: "He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings." This has been one of my favorite hymns over the years as it describes my own experience well.

"In loving kindness Jesus came My soul in mercy to reclaim, and from the depths of sin and shame Thru grace He lifted me.

“He called me long before I heard, Before my sinful heart was stirred, But when I took Him at His word, Forgiv'n he lifted me.
.
“His brow was pierced with many a thorn, His hands by cruel nails were torn, When from my guilt and grief forlorn, In love He lifted me.

“Now on a higher plane I dwell, And with my soul I know 'tis well; Yet how or why, I cannot tell, He should have lifted me."

The Refrain: "From sinking sand He lifted me, With tender hand He lifted me, From shades of night to plains of light, O praise His Name He lifted me."

Dad

"Take heed to yourselves" Luke. 21:34

Dear Kids,
You may remember as you were growing up I always preached a message about this time of year with warnings about Christmas and New Year's. I will give you a few excerpts from some of those messages. You will probably relate to them better now since many of you have families of your own and the temptation to excess will be greater.

“Take heed to yourselves, lest at anytime your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and the cares of this life..." (Lk. 21:34) You don't need to let me know that Jesus is speaking here of His return and that I am taking this out of context. Even so, I want you to know there is never a time when it is safe or right to be spiritually careless. We must “take heed” to ourselves at all times, in all circumstances, and in all seasons lest at anytime our hearts be overcharged, i.e., weighed down, burdened, with the "cares of this life."

I don't think the Lord had in mind in this passage that we become ascetics. We must have legitimate contact with this world we live in. Feasting with food, drink, and the cares of this life are some of the wonderful things we see done in the midst of festivity in the Bible. The first miracle of Jesus was performed at a wedding. Matthew threw a real shindig (Lk. 5:29) and our Lord used it to make a wonderful statement (vv. 31, 32). Jesus ate and enjoyed feasting along with the publicans and sinners. Levi probably had caviar, shrimp, and lobster, and if he did, Jesus no doubt thoroughly enjoyed the feast. The devil didn't make our taste buds, the Lord did.

One time your mother and I were invited to a feast where there supposedly were 200 millionaires from New York City in attendance. We thoroughly enjoyed most of the expensive exquisite dishes that were offered, without a twinge of guilt on our conscience. Caviar was not to my liking, especially when I was dipping into it and the guy next too me said, "That's about the cost of a trip to Europe.” That night I enjoyed some delightful conversations with Deists and others as I witnessed of my faith in Christ.

No, Jesus is not teaching asceticism here; He is warning about excessiveness:

>eating too much until your mind becomes dull and your prayers lifeless, your feasting becoming gluttony, crippling your spiritual life;

>going into debt or spending more than you can afford on gifts
your heart becoming "overcharged" or “anxious” (same root word) about "many things" like Martha in Lk.10:38;

>wives and mothers losing out in the next 10 days by being weighed down with cooking, baking, and serving being careful that what is a legitimate concern does not become promoting your reputation as I remember it often was among my Pennsylvania Dutch mother and her relatives;

>husbands and dads making an innocent pastime into an occasion to sin by watching too much football which can make make eternity less real or desirable.

My prayer is that on January 2 we will all be able to say that this has been a wonderful holiday season and that we are closer to the Lord than when it began.

“Be careful lest at anytime your hearts be overcharged…with the cares of this life."

Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Dad

Appetite Spoilers

Dear Kids,

Your mother and I are safely back in Hoonah. Cheyne and family are busy building our "mansion on the hill.” Carey is doing the wiring, and today the in-floor propane heating system is being installed. Since the people in town can look up and see the lights at this dark time of the year, many drive up the mountain to "gawk." We hope to be in it by April. We have to be out of our rental by then.

While in Tucson I brought three messages from I Peter 2:1-3 on desiring the Word of God and appetite spoilers. I'm sure you will remember my concern about eating candy, etc., before mealtime and spoiling your appetite for the good meals your mother had prepared. I'm wondering how many of you do not "as newborn babes desire the sincere milk of the Word"--I mean a real desire to read your Bible because it is a living word and not just words lying dead on the page. Perhaps the problem is that you may not have "tasted that the Lord is gracious."

Just before I left for Parris Island in 1952, my great grandfather, Mennonite bishop James Saylor, came to see me and had me promise to read the Bible every day while I was serving in the Marine Corp. Then before I boarded the bus in Johnstown my mother handed me an armor-plated New Testament to wear over my heart to stop bullets in Korea. Then we were all issued New Testament Bibles by the U.S. government in boot camp. Plenty of encouragement to read wouldn't you think? I would pull out my New Testament, and since I didn't smoke (we were also issued cigarettes which I traded for candy), I read my New Testament when the "smoking lamp was lit." I had no desire or liking for it but read it to keep my promise.

On September 2, 1954, while returning home on the troopship General A. E. Anderson, I tasted that the Lord was gracious" (1 Peter 2: 3). I read the Bible all the next day--it had become a living book! I was "born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God which LIVETH and abideth for ever" I Peter 1:23. It has been my delight to read every day these 54 years since that day. If you know you "have tasted that the Lord is gracious" but don't have a desire to read your Bible, it may be you are having a problem with one or more of the appetite killers in verse 1. This has gotten long or I would expand on each of the five listed there. Any of those will spoil your appetite for the Word of God.

By His Grace, Dad

Prayer and Debt

Dear Family,

Your mother and I are about to get back in the air. We are scheduled to fly back to Hoonah on Thursday, Dec. 4. Adam is much better than he was when I arrived five weeks ago. He has gone from about 135 to 155 lb, There is no more sign of infection and the fever is gone. He still has to receive nutrition through an IV for 10 hours a day, but he is able to prepare messages and preach again. He will have to have tubing hooked up on the inside in the near future but that should be minor compared to what he has already gone through. Your mother has been taking a great deal of the family responsibility in helping Becky for over 4 months, counting the birth of Samuel in April, and she needs a rest. There are 7 children ranging from 7 months to 9 years. Both Adam and Becky will need your prayers as the healing continues.

Yesterday I preached here for the last time. I preached on a familiar theme to you. "Praying according to the prayers in the Bible". Laying out your arguments before the Lord. My text was Numbers 13 and 14 and how Moses interceded for Israel when the Lord said that He would "smite them with pestilence, and disinherit them" in 14:12. I also told how, back in 1960, your mother and I decided not to go in debt and only let the Lord know our needs. I gave 2 or 3 examples of the Lord's faithfulness over the last 50 years. I'm sure this was a new concept to many of them but it should not be to you. When you were still "in the nest" I read many of the Christian classics to you in our family devotions. The one that influenced us the most on the fore mentioned topic was by A.T. Pierson on the life of George Mueller. If you don't have it, buy it and read it again. Although much of our country seems to think the government (taxpayers) should bail them out when their debts exceed their ability to pay, that is not Christian. The Lord will not bless you if you take that route. If you can't pay for it you don't need it! "My God shall supply all of your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." Too often our wants have become our needs. If you have lost funds recently don't let that rob you of peace. “Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

With Prayer and Thanksgiving, Dad