While Toni is Away

Toni went to a quilting retreat at Maranatha this weekend. I was left to my lonesome and thought I could handle it until I missed an elder meeting by one hour. I woke my usual time and got up and started doing some things and totally spaced the meeting. Only when I got a text message did I realize I was in for a humilty lesson! My daughter's response was, “Aren’t you glad you have grace filled elders!” This afternoon I went with my son and his three sons to watch Wyoming lose to Bowling Green.

Car Fun

On the way back from Fort Collins, after visiting a friend from CBC who had surgery today, we found out what it feels like to be driving the interstate with only three tires and three wheels attached to the car! There was a shimmy, I thought a weigh had come off and the right front tire was out of balance, and then next thing we know we see a black object roll past us … a few sparks, a little braking and little steering and we are waiting for a tow truck.

"Cow Town"

This morning I was walking to a meeting and met this curious cow. I was reminded that Cheyenne was once what they called a "cow town" and still is in some ways, and that is one of the reasons Toni and I like it so much here in Wyoming!
This is directly across from Cheyenne Berean Church.

Another Year for Toni

Toni is another year older today! Here she is at 18 months...several years ago. Being discreet I will not inform on her age. But her birth did coincide with the premier of the TV program “The Guiding Light;” gas was 20 cents a gallon; the matchbox car was introduced; and in science, “The Big Bang Theory” of the creation of the universe was first advocated.

On a personal note, many times I have been deeply thankful to the Lord for His care this past year! A year of great grace and abundant mercy! God knew the path; He hedged in the path and He protected His children along the path! Thanks for each of you and for your prayers this past year.

God Knows the Way!

I am looking forward to being home on Friday. During the trip I have been listening to poems by Amy Carmichael (1867-1951) who served in India for fifty-five years. (Toni got them for our sabbatical.)

"Thou dost Know the Way" is one of the poems that has caught my spiritual imagination: "My Father, to my heart I take, Thy simple word of truth today; I shall not lose me in the break, for Thou dost know the way... Around me various voices call, but thou wilt never let me stray; for Thou, my Father, knowest all the windings of the way." The poem concludes … "I am contented not to know, since Thou dost know the way."

Her poem "By Thy Cross and Passion" goes to the heart of ministy. "O God of burning altar fire, O God of love´s consuming flame, make pure the flame of our desire, to win the lost, to seek Thy name... Now by Thy cross and passion, Lord, Grant us this plea, this sovereign plea, save us from choosing peace for sword, and give us souls to give to Thee!"

Reminder

Nearly 80% of India lives on less than $2 a day and half of those live on $1 or less a day. The number of children below the poverty line in India is nearly the total population of the United States. Some tribals in Jharkland live on about .25 a day. (This was a picture taken from a auto rickshaw of a gal crossing multilanes of traffic)

Good Meetings in India

We have spent the morning talking about the transition from ICCC to India Berean leadership. Also discussed was the best organizational structure to facilitate unimpeded growth and the difficulties of being a rural church planting movement. We will continue after lunch and then leave for the hotel and airport. We say goodbye to some good friends and partners. (A side note for those that have been to the Bangalore Campus, they have a new addition…the volleyball court now has a large canopy over it.