"An Unexpected Opportunity"

 

“An Unexpected Opportunity”

 

This past December Karen and I went on a Caribbean cruise which stopped in five countries, four of which we’d not previously visited. The highlight was going through the first lock of the Panama Canal, something I’d wanted to do for many years. It’s an engineering marvel and was an interesting contrast to historical sites and the natural beauty of God’s creation which we also experienced. The downside was having to lose the extra pounds which accompanied us when we disembarked.

Our time at sea included Christmas Day in Costa Rica. Early on our journey we “just happened” to tune in to the ship’s TV network where we heard the Cruise Director, Jody, announce that a non-denominational Christmas Morning Service was scheduled and she asked if anyone on board would like to assist. Before we left home we’d prayed that God would use us in some way (our small group joined us in this prayer) and we took this as an answer to that request. We planned the gathering with Jody and in the process decided to add a service the evening before. God provided this unexpected opportunity to share the message of Jesus’ birth with our fellow travelers. We’ll likely never know the results in people’s lives but that’s in His very capable hands.

Think for a moment of a time in your life when you experienced a “coincidence” which was God’s leading to walk through an open door. (As a personal example, about 20 years ago I got a notice of a conference led by Pastor Jim Cymbala of the Brooklyn Tabernacle which I’d never heard from before and haven’t since which enabled me to connect with my aunt and cousins, some of whom I’d never met.) Paul wrote that “…a great door for effective work has opened to me….” (1 Corinthians 16:9) and he was always “…ready to preach the gospel….” (Romans 1:15, NKJV) wherever he was. We never know when opportunity might knock on the door of our lives—will we answer and act when it comes?

 

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan

 

(For other takes on this theme check out “We Never Know” and “Ministry of the Moment”.)

 

"Strange Names"

 

“Strange Names”

 

In 1948 Alex and Joan Whitney Kramer wrote these words which have been sung by many artists:

 “Faraway places with strange soundin’ names, Faraway over the sea….”

I’ve discovered many cities and towns whose names look like an eyechart in my ophthalmologist’s office—Aberdyfi, Wales (Population 1200); Uusikaupunki, Finland (15,000); and Bydgoszcz, Poland (345,000) to name a few. These make me glad I live in Lakeland, FL!

As we’ve traveled and checked routes in the trusty Rand McNally Road Atlas we’ve seen a lot of strangely named towns. Here are a few with the stories or legends of how they were acquired:

*Muleshoe, TX (Population 5200) is named after Muleshoe Ranch established in 1877 after the owner, Henry Black, found a mule’s shoe on his property.

*Between, GA (400) is equidistant from Atlanta and Athens as well as Monroe and Loganville.

*Ninety Six, SC (2000) came from the mileage to the nearest Cherokee settlement.

*Halfmoon, NY (25,000) was Henry Hudson’s ship in which he sailed up the Hudson River in 1609.

*Frostproof, FL (3000) was coined as a marketing ploy to attract northerners and citrus farmers (a killer frost occurred within a couple of years but the name stuck).

*Medicine Hat, Alberta (60,000) is a translation of a Blackfoot term referring to the headdress of the tribal medicine man.

Another interesting tidbit: East Aurora, NY is 100 miles west of Aurora, NY. Go figure!

In the early church a strange sounding name appeared: Christian. Followers of Christ and His teachings were first viewed as a sect of Judaism (Acts 28:22) and were opposed and persecuted by those who embraced the “true” Jewish faith. About ten years after Jesus completed His earthly ministry a church made up largely of Gentiles was established in Antioch of Syria where, under the teaching of Barnabas and Saul of Tarsus (aka The Apostle Paul), “The disciples were first called Christians….” (Acts 11:26), probably in derision. But as His people imitated their Master it became a term of respect by the mid-‘60’s of the first century (1 Peter 4:16).

Christian is no longer a strange-sounding name in our society but those who so identify themselves have a standard to live up to in order to make God look good (“This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”—John 15:8). How am I doing in uplifting my Savior’s name?

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan

"Strength in Weakness"

 

“Strength in Weakness”

 

When Karen and I visited Sequoia National Park and viewed the magnificent redwoods in 1997 we learned that they thrive through adversity (see the early posting “Adversity Needed” in the “Reading the Redwoods” series). While few if any of us look forward to struggles or discipline in our lives we need both to be strengthened in our faith. In Hebrews 12:11 we read, “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” My own life experiences have shown me many lessons I’ve been taught in the “School of Hard Knocks” that I’d never have learned otherwise. The anonymous writer of Psalm 119 put it this way: “Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word…It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees.” (Verses 67, 71, emphasis added). And let’s not forget Paul’s words: “…We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him….” (Romans 8:28, emphasis added).

Speaking (or in this case writing) of Paul, he certainly knew what suffering for his faith was all about. It likely left him with the unknown condition he referred to as “…a thorn in my flesh….” from which he asked deliverance three times (2 Corinthians 12:7-8). His prayer was answered but not with healing—rather with Jesus’ assurance that “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9, emphasis added). Paul gladly accepted His will and expressed his confidence that “…when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:10). And that same grace and strength is available to us when times are rough.

We’re living in difficult times as Jesus (“In this world you will have trouble.”—John 16:33) and Paul (“…Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted….”—2 Timothy 3:12) foretold. But God has promised “…grace to help us in our time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16). Around 1787 Robert Keen expressed this truth in the great hymn “How Firm a Foundation”:

   “When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,

   My grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply.”

I conclude with another line from Keen’s pen: “What more can He say than to you He hath said….?” Amen!

 

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan

"Spiritual Relatives"

 

“Spiritual Relatives”

 

Family traits are passed from generation to generation. This includes physical appearance, body structure, mental acuity and aptitude in various areas. Unfortunately genetics sometimes produces susceptibility to medical conditions which can alter quality and length of life. Why such things occur continues to be the subject of scientific and social research but we may never fully know the answers to this myriad of questions.

Many characteristics can be transmitted to our children, grandchildren and later descendants. We are the products of this process as well. We usually think of this in physical and intellectual terms but what about our spiritual influence? David wrote, “One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts.” (Psalm 145:4). And Paul cited the godly heritage of Timothy through his mother and grandmother (2 Timothy 1:5; 3:14-15). The same is true for each of us—I’d love to be able to trace my spiritual ancestry back to Jesus—and we have the responsibility to pass the torch on (“Future generations will also serve him. Our children will hear about the wonders of the Lord.”—Psalm 22:30, NLT). If we fail to do this the godly faith traditions of a family or church can die out. As Dr. Henriette Mears observed years ago, “Every church is one generation from extinction.”

As parts of human families we have parents, grandparents, grandchildren, aunts, uncles, cousins—the list goes on (I think we’d be amazed at the number of shirttail relatives we have). And while God only has children –those who receive His Son Jesus Christ as Savior by personal invitation (“…To all {i.e. each one} who receive {Christ}…he gave the right to become children of God….”—John 1:12)—we have a large extended family in the body of Christ. In my case, I was led to accept Christ at the age of six by my Sunday School teacher but in the 70+ years since then I’ve been loved, taught, mentored and corrected by family members, pastors, teachers, authors, friends and (when absolutely necessary) my first wife. And I have a commission to continue in this manner as did Timothy. In the words of his spiritual mentor Paul, “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable (people) who will also be qualified to teach others.” (2 Timothy 2:2).

How’s my spiritual family progressing? What am I contributing to it?

 

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan