Family Ties?

James lives on the family farm. He grew up there, as did his father and grandfather. James and Ellen’s house is a modest two story within “rock chunking” distance from his grandfather’s house that James’ brother Alex lives in with his wife and 3 kids. From their houses you can see their father’s house on the hill. The valley is planted partly with a crop of corn, and what is not planted serves as grazing for the livestock. A large garden offers vegetables that can be canned and stored, and eaten fresh. Alex and his father till the land and run the farm, while James works at the local sawmill. There is no need for a babysitter as any of the children is welcome at any house, any time.

Brad lives on 4^th Street in town, and operates the local pharmacy that his father founded years ago. Brad and Gloria live with their 4 children and Gloria’s father. After her mother passed, her sister just continued to live in their parents’ home next door. She and her 3 children had lived there for the past 4 years since their father had not come back from Germany in WWII. She works the cash register at the pharmacy for Brad.

What is wrong with this picture of two families from early post-WWII? Nothing, if you lived then. It is life as normal. In some communities in this nation even now, similar scenarios are being played out. In most 3^rd world countries this is the accepted “norm”. Families still live, grow, and survive with each other. Families depend on each other.

Our culture in America drives us to succeed. But what we often call success is at the expense of everything that we should be holding dear. We sacrifice family for success. We think that taking time away to earn more money can be justified by the things we buy with that money that make life for or family “better”. In the drive to do that we move away because of a better offer somewhere else, effectively breaking apart our families. Parents are placed in nursing homes because we don’t have time to take care of them any longer. We have to work harder and longer to pay for the things that we cherish, when we should be cherishing the family that God gave us to begin with.

Oh, I understand full well that not all families are the most pleasant environment. Abuse, neglect, alcoholism and many other sins tear families apart. But tearing a family apart because of the drive to possess more and better tangible items is the saddest of all. Family ties have fallen by the wayside in America, and in nations that mimic us. In Japan until a few years ago, there was no such thing as a nursing home. Bu the desire to amass wealth and possessions has driven that nation into a similar situation as we experience. Now, the elderly in Japan are quietly shuttled into facilities so that the populace can go about their western lifestyles uninterrupted.

Soon, I fear as the economy does not rebound and more and more people lose jobs and cannot find work in their field any longer, there will be no place to go but to the charity of family. The government will only offer so much. Perhaps an unemployment check. Perhaps some run down housing project to live in.

No, the only true refuge in the coming times will be in Christ, and in family and the Church – the true Body of Christ. And sadly to say, most families now days have been split, moved and deserted. Family no longer means what it meant a half century ago. Our families are scattered to the winds of time. Sure, there remain a few pockets of resistance. Certain religious groups, certain ethnic groups and certain fellowships exist still that adhere to “sound doctrine”. But as a whole, America is on dangerous ground as these end times play out.

Thoughts

God doesn’t give you the people you want, He gives you the people you NEED – To help you, to hurt you, to leave you, to love you and to make you into the person you were meant to be.

The Other Side Of The Door

As I was standing in my garage with one of my closest brothers in the Lord this past Saturday, a newness of revelation knowledge flooded over me. I truly do not think I will ever be the same again. Marc had come up to just be a brother for the day. I was cleaning out the garage, a much needed and too long put off chore, and Marc was doing what he had been asking of me for a long time, detailing my motorcycle. I had denied him what he had considered something that he had wanted to do out of love, and finally I gave in and let him assume the role of servant in that arena.

A break in the action was taking place and as we stood leaning on the garbage can, we were talking about relationships. At the moment we were discussing the relationship that Vicki and I share. Vicki and I can ride for miles on a road trip and never have to say anything. Just being there with each other on the journey is sufficient. Just being with her at home is one of the greatest treasures of my life, and for her the feeling is mutual.

At work, I will email her several times a day. Sometimes I will have a legitimate question or request, or I will be answering a question but always the email ends with an “I love you”. Not because I need to tell her that, but more along the lines that it is a privilege that also garners great rewards. Sometimes I simply email her to tell her one thing, that I miss her. For I truly do miss her when I am away from her. Three o’clock means one thing to me: I get to go home and be with her.

Vicki and I pledged in front of God and witnesses that we would do many things and one of those was that in essence we would be each other’s best friend. It is a relationship that goes deep into your innermost being. My life is hers and hers is mine. We can just be together in close proximity and be happy. Part of that is knowing that when I need something she will drop what she is doing and help me with it. Of course the opposite is true too as I will drop what I am doing in an instant for her.

Marc and I were in the garage. Vicki was in the house. I told Marc that our relationship with Christ is similar. Vicki was just on the other side of the door to the garage. A walk over to the door, and open the door and I could call her name and within a short period of time whatever I was having trouble with would be no longer, for she would be there to help. And the reason that the help would be quickly there is simple. Our relationship is in order.

It was that instant that Marc and I were enlightened with a new saying. Our help is just on the other side of the door. If our relationship with Christ is in order then it is a simple matter of walking to the door and calling His name. It is a simple matter that what we cannot do on our own can be done if we call our Master to help us.

Like my relationship with Vicki does not depend on constant verbal communication, neither does our relationship with Christ. To be with Him is the important part. Not what you say to Him, but simply this: Are you there with Him? Is He right on the other side of the door? Are you there where you are supposed to be? I used to listen to preachers who inferred that you must be talking with Christ non stop or your relationship was not correct. I suggest that being with Him means more to Him than how much you talk to Him. Words can be meaningless, but being there speaks stronger than any words.

Be there with Him. Stay there with Him. If something drags you away from Him, punch the clock and hurry home. Be with him. He is right on the other side of the door.

If you can’t say amen, say ouch.

This is of particular interest to me. It is a take on our present spiritual condition in America.

”But we would do well to think of ourselves in the same way we used to think about the lost people of the mission field. We have become the new heathen. We Americans are the ones now in thrall to primitive superstitions, such as believing in the power of positive thinking and having faith in ourselves. We are the ones held back by a materialistic worldview that has little conception of the supernatural. We are the ones with brutal customs, such as aborting our infants, neglecting our children, and abandoning and sometimes euthanizing our elders. We have simple, pounding music, and we are uneducated about the realities outside of our tribe. With our limited mind-set, we have trouble grasping the truths of scripture.”

From an article titled, The Old Mission Field by Dr. Gene Edward Veith, in the November 2008 issue of Tabletalk magazine.

Lakewood

Tomorrow Vicki and I will be at Lakewood Christian Centre, which has been our home church for quite some time. Tomorrow will be a homecoming service and several speakers will be present. Tom Benz of Bridges Of Faith will be presenting about Bridgestone and then I will be giving a presentation about LTCM.

If you are going to be in the area, stop by. Service begins at 10:30 AM. Dinner will be served afterwards.  Our agenda is not set in stone for next Sunday, but I’m sure that we will be visiting somewhere, telling the people about LTCM and Bethany.

Please keep Vicki and I in your prayers as we endeavor to visit every congregation that will open their doors to us.

Blessings!!!!

Chickens

A part of the ministry of Bethany will be Chickens (along with other livestock). Chickens will serve multiple purposes. at present we have 3 Barred Rock hens, 1 Barred Rock rooster, 2 Rhode Island Red hens, 1 Rhode Island Red rooster and 2 Buff Orpington hens. We get eggs everyday from the ones that are old enough to lay.

Deacon

Above is a picture of Deacon, our Red Rooster. We raised him from 8 days old. As soon as I go out the back door, he comes running looking for a treat. He is one of the friendliest roosters I have ever known. I can spend hours in the yard with our chickens, and it truly is good therapy.

The service that chickens will serve at Bethany are:

• Therapeutic. In many ways, from simply watching the antics of these beautiful creatures as they scratch and browse through the woods of Bethany, to helping in the care of them. Locking them up at night. Filling the waterers. Gathering the eggs. Sometimes these simple things can take your mind off of any worries that you might have.

• Food source. Eggs from free-ranging chickens are a wonderful and healthy food staple. If you have never eaten an egg from a chicken that has been eating bugs and worms, you are truly missing out on a taste treat.

• A source of income. Egg sales, chick sales.

• A source of fertilizer. All natural and organic, chicken droppings are a gardeners friend. No chemicals on the raised beds of the gardens of Bethany. Our friends the chickens will take care of that for us.

Holding baby chicks is a great source of learning, amusement and is a lesson in caring for God’s creation. Chickens will play a vital role at Bethany. In a way, they will be egg-zactly what the doctor ordered.  Chickens – ya gotta love em!

Blessings!!!

Morning Prayer

Grant unto me, O Lord, that with peace of mind I may face all that this new day is to bring.

Grant unto me to dedicate myself completely to Thy Holy Will.

For every hour of this day, instruct and support me in all things.

Whatsoever tidings I may receive during the day, do Thou teach me to accept tranquilly, in the firm conviction that all eventualities fulfill Thy Holy Will.

Govern Thou my thoughts and feelings in all I do and say.

When things unforeseen occur , let me not forget that all cometh down from Thee.

Teach me to behave sincerely and rationally toward every member of my family, that I may bring confusion and sorrow to none.

Bestow upon me, my Lord, strength to endure the fatigue of the day, and to bear my part in all its passing events.

Guide my will and teach me to pray, to believe, to hope, to suffer, to forgive, and to love.

Amen

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New Look

Change is good. Change is not always wanted, and is quite often rejected, but change is still good.  Email me and let us know what you think about the new look on the blog.

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Blessings!

Mike-n-Vicki