The photo is the sailing vessel piloted by our missionary to the Philippine islands, Bro. Glen Knight. The vessel is named Remote Island Ministries, Nativa or Rim Nativa. Here's his most recent posting: "
The
missionary sailing ship RIM Nativa has sailed now for 37 days beyond
her home port, covering 800 nautical miles thus far on our mission
survey. That is a distance of 1,280 statute miles or 1,482 kilometers.
She has done well. I am humbled and thankful."
Hello to all of you and especially to those who are struggling with this amazing heat. I have seen a number of photos on Facebook of people frying eggs out on their walk ways. I have also experienced a little bout of weeble wobble out in the heat doing a little physical exertion. (Notice the operative word: little.) Be careful. Be aware. And, be safe. The preceding was a public service announcement made on behalf of myself here on this anticipated 100 degree plus day, this
Tuesday, August 11, 2015. I suppose this would be kind of a dull world if we didn't have weather as a conversation piece. We have a wonderful missionary over in the Philippines who does his work for the Lord from a medium sized sailing vessel. His reports are filled up with weather related matters. The other day he painted such a vivid picture of the contrary winds and waves and I sent him a note saying it was almost like reading about the Apostle Paul's sailing adventure to Rome as recorded in the Book of Acts. He sent me back a note and said he had acquired tremendous respect for those sailing vessels back then. He has great navigational tools and electronic instruments today and he mentioned theirs was mostly experience and skill. As always, we recognize that we cannot control the weather but we can seek God regardless of what our weather is up to.
Amen.
I read some of the political polling and to be perfectly honest, I am appalled. I'm not talking about overall polling. I am specifically speaking to the polling done within the category of evangelical conservative believers. It just knocks me down when I read how this category is currently trending. You've got these Christian radio political pundits talking about this that and the other. They lean towards this individual. Nothing mentioned about his faith in God. Nothing mentioned about his stand for family values or his own example in this area. Nothing mentioned about his demonstrated morality or lack thereof in the conduct of his life. Nothing. He says a few things people like and bang zoom he's our guy. There are some other candidates that have a tremendous testimony reflecting their faith in God and how they see our need of Him in the life of our nation. Those candidates are not on the top of the list within the believing segment of the polling. Commentary alert: Maybe this polling result tells us more about our posture before the God we claim than anything else. That's my drive-by assessment. You are free to have your own. At least for now.
Okay. Please don't send me your thoughts on the validity of pragmatism over being principled. I already know about it. I hear it all the time. It's become almost the mantra of most people including people of faith. That's okay. In the past I've most likely succumbed to that myself. I'm also very much aware of the concept where you end up trying to choose the lesser of the evils given. I also know that we are to support government in the context as given to us in the Scriptures. That's one that we see folks miss entirely as they promote their conservative ideology. The Apostle Paul had pertinent inspired instructions to those believers meeting in Rome, Italy. What government was he talking about? The Roman government. "Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor." (Romans 13:1-7) That should be plenty for us to think about for one day. A hot one at that. Take care and may God bless is my prayer.
Amen. ....More later
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