RE: Everywhere
From: Ruth-Ellen & Jon Pirini [mailto:roofellin@yahoo.com]
Sent: Monday, 22 January 2007 12:46 AM
To: 'Jono Miller'; Jmpthechimp; 'Dave Miller'; 'Jude Miller'; Tim; lookup@paradise.net.nz; George; 'franki'; Extended Millers Blog
Subject: Everywhere
Hey there family….
We were challenged today at church with the word ‘everywhere’ and how many times especially in the book of Acts we are told to preach the gospel to everyone, everywhere. We are really enjoying going along to our church & feel encouraged & inspired each week.
We were also challenged this week to effective rather than busy & messy rather than comfortable! (I will write more about this on my blog site)
I have included an article which was read out during the service which I thought was rather pertinent & which you might enjoy!
Leader's Insight: My Little Shark Hunter
Always brave, my son tackles a new dangerous mission. At times, I wish I felt better about it.
by Phil Callaway, guest columnist
Ever since he was knee high to a Doberman, the boy was fearless. Take him to the ocean and he'd jump in looking for sharks. Take him to the mountains and he'd see how high he could climb. One day when he was five, I watched in horror as he jumped off a roof—a garbage bag duct-taped to his back. We couldn't be more opposite, my son and I. The higher he climbs, the more he believes God is with him. Not me. I believe God put us on dry land and says, "Lo, I am with you always."
In his first year of college, he called one night to ask me for money. "I'm sorry," I said. "You have reached this number in error. Please hang up and call your Uncle Dan."
"I scaled a 300-foot cliff today," he said, undaunted. "You'd have loved it."
Right. His father who contracts vertigo standing on a skateboard.
For years I've wondered what God would make of our son. Would he call him to be a crash-test dummy? A professional bungee jumper? Or would he fulfill every North American parent's dream by settling down in a huge house with a nice wife and provide us some grandchildren to spoil?
The unexpected answer arrived by e-mail one day:
Dear Dad and Mom,
I just want you to know that I met a couple nice girls and we're planning on being married. In
If you haven't fainted yet, here's the truth. It may be more shocking. In the country of
Dad, you told me once that Jesus came to comfort us, not to make us comfortable. I guess I've been comforted enough; it's time to offer some to others.
Your son, Steve
"Where do you think we went wrong?" I asked his mother. "Couldn't he just have a beach ministry in
"It's what we've prayed for all these years," she said with a grin, "that he would live life on purpose."
And so one month ago, we hugged our firstborn son goodbye as he embarked on a grand adventure half a world away. It's funny the questions people ask when they hear he's in
I sat with a missionary the other day who is pouring her life out in
A few nights before he left I asked Steve what he'd miss most about home. "The dog," he said, smiling. Then why is it that I found him studying family photos and lounging on the sofa watching an old Disney movie with his brother and sister? Was he killing time? Or saying goodbye to the remnants of childhood?
I've shed a few tears, for sure. But mostly I've been giving thanks. For a son who's a much improved version of his father. For e-mail and cheap overseas phone rates. And I'm thankful there are no sharks in
Phil Callaway is the best-selling author of a dozen books. Visit him at HYPERLINK "http://www.laughagain.org" www.laughagain.org .
PS I have also mostly completed out new blog site…the link is below…might interest u!
Love
Rufus
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