Holy Encounters of the Best Kind

Holy Encounters of the Best Kind:  Sacred Moments for 2011
 I thought I would take this pre-2011 moment of opportunity to share something that God has challenged me with the last while.
Duane Elmer, in his excellent book, Cross-cultural Servanthood, makes a very profound statement. It kind of goes like this:  Every time we encounter someone, anywhere, we have a choice whether to make that moment a Sacred one or a profane one. Recognizing that every person on this earth was made in the Image of God, how I respond to or treat each person I meet will make a Sacred moment (I accept and value them as my equal, as God’s creation, as someone special in God’s eyes) or a profane moment (I view that person with suspicion or think of them as unworthy of my time, money or energy…and thus accuse God of making a mistake.)
Think of this, Sacred or Profane, the next time you run into a foreigner, the next time you get irritated with your co-worker, the next time you see someone who is different from you.  You and I have a choice: to value people who are different from us, and thus reflect God’s glory (Sacred moment) or to de-value them and thus, (in a blunt way of putting it) curse God (profane moment).

I confess, sometimes I find this very difficult; some people can be very difficult to love, and I tend to be impatient and proud. I know I will fail many times, but I believe God is at work in me, wanting me to make each moment a sacred one.
Will you join me in seeking to make each encounter this next year a sacred moment ?
Together we can make this world a bit better place… more reflective of His glory,  more full of His grace, as we accept and value those around us.
Have a very Sacred 2011!
In His Strong Arms,

Better late than never?

Ok, so it's been over half a year since I put something down on this blog. That either means I am very undisiplined, or there were better things to do, or I have different priorities than some other people, or I am still kind of "old school"...(or I have a different blog elsewhere - though that one also is lacking in "posts" . no matter. What is really important is that all this time I have been in His Strong Arms. Yep, we all kind of think that what happens in our life is very important... but at the end of the day, what really matters is our relationship to the Creator. I don't consider myself of that much importance that I need to prove myself. I am satisfied that I have a Creator/Saviour God who bestows His Grace on me each day. And my goal is to be a channel of that grace to those around me. If you are one of the very few people who happen upon this blog, take a moment to reflect on Who God is, how awesome He is, and how amazing His Grace is to you. In the long run, we are all In His Strong Arms.

Step Aside For Encouragement

In about a week we will host our 3rd Step Aside For Encouragement (S.A.F.E.) program here at ACTI. Designed to uplift cross-cultural workers who are feeling weary from all the stress of living and ministering in a culture other than their own, this 2 week retreat has been instrumental in revitalizing some of God's servants last year. We hope to do the same this time around. Discouraged by the small number of people attending? Well, we could be if we didn't know that we are, no matter what happens or where, in His Strong Arms. There are no surprises to God. Our role is to be faithful to Him in this ministry. Pray for us. Thanks!

Back in the Saddle?

I am back to my blog. (those that even care enough to look for it or read it might say, "yes, saddle-ly enough, he's back to his blog...") Can it really be that I have been away from this thing for over a year?

A lot has happened, though nothing that spectacular.....

Over the last year or so, I have experienced the grace of God in so many ways. Strength to keep going when things looked rough, love for the people He has placed in my life, food on the table, money enough to live, good times of fellowship with family and friends in Asia and in North America... I am blessed.