Jan and I enjoy spending time together, reflecting on life and ministry. In recent years we have been invited to return and preach in five congregations in which we ministered full-time. (We have worked full-time in only six churches, and one no longer exists because it merged with another church.) The opportunity to “go home” to teach and preach in these churches has been a special blessing. These congregations represent 27 years of full-time local ministry. (We also spent 12 years in Christian higher education.) We have reminisced and rejoiced as we shared time with brothers and sisters who are dear to us. We have been blessed by their continued generosity and interest in the ministry and mission God has now placed before us.
We have also reconnected with special friends from our past. We are continually amazed when we think of hundreds of friendships in Christ that do not end even though time and miles separate us. Heaven will indeed be a wonderful place of glory and grace!
It is easy for us to lose perspective. Sometimes, Jan and I look longingly at those who have lived in the same place for many years and have life-long friends with whom they regularly spend time. We try to imagine what it would be like to have such roots and stability, with friendships that have been continuously nurtured and enjoyed. We are tempted to jealousy, but we are brought back to reality when those very people remind us that we have friends around the world.
Friends around the world! Friends in Christ in most of the states of our nation; brothers and sisters in Christ among the nations of our world. We are bound together by love in Christ, hope for the future, and prayer for one another.
“Dear God, help me never forget that I am blessed to be a blessing. Thank you for the wonderful way you have blessed our lives with friends and spiritual family in Jesus.”