Complimentary Story
“Then all the churches will know that I am the One who examines minds and hearts, and I will give to each of you according to your works...” Revelation 2:22-23 (HCSB).I caught something at the Wisconsin Christian News Ministry Expo and Conference, March 13 and 14. It’s terminal.
I knew before leaving my home in Montana that traveling would be risky at this time with all the warnings about the “Coronavirus” encompassing the globe and exposing myself to folks on airplanes and in public places. But I thought I’d risk it because at least the airports and hotels would have some toilet paper and food along the way, with all of our primal stocks running low.
So, off I flew…should’ve know better! Exposing myself to Bible teaching and sitting with other brave-spirited believers, side by side at tables and chairs, eating, talking, hugging, and breathing the same air — along with all the other kinds of fellowship that goes on at these conferences, that could’ve easily been avoided by postponing the event to another — “safer” — time and place, when folks would be a little more “plastic” instead of being so real, exposed and vulnerable with each other.
Absolutely made me sick! All the courageous love that was being virally spread and passed around at this conference when all of us had been warned by so many local, state and federal government officials and agencies…we should have known better. I knew I’d catch something — because on Sunday morning, March 15, boarding a plane to Salt lake City, then hopping on another one that afternoon to Southern California, I felt myself coming down with something...and that something was this… “For God has not given us a spirit of cowardice, but of power and love and sound judgement.” 2 Timothy 1:7 (NASB). Yep, I CAUGHT A COURAGEOUS SPIRIT — of power, love and sound judgement. “Life is short, shorter for some than others,” as Larry McMurtry said. So why should any of us live in any kind of fear or anxiety, worrying our days away regarding our emanate demise…when we are to walk courageously in our faith all the days of our lives, and the knowledge that only God knows the number and the outcome of our days…especially when the exercise of “sound judgement” for a believer, is found in the hope of our salvation and the promise of God that a better world lies far beyond this life of sorrow, sickness and death.
You and I both know this is true, so why live in fear — of anything or anyone. This life is terminal. The next is eternal. So no matter where you stand or what you think in any regard to my thoughts or comments in this article, I’ll leave you with this:
When I arrived at the home and ranch for a respite with my precious friends here in Santa Ynez, California, I was reminded of something Rudyard Kipling had said, “If you can, keep your wits about you (sound judgement) while all others are losing theirs, and blaming you, the world will be yours and everything in it, what’s more, you’ll be a man, my son.”
Jesus said, “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 (NIV).
So, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16 (KJV).
Keep your wits about you — “and I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you for Christ’s sake.” Philemon 1:6 (NASB).
Forsake not the fellowship…
Parson Layton Howerton,
The Rem-Fire Project
“Reigniting the Remnant”
TheTin Cup.org
