Rite of Passage: Village people
One of the things I have missed most about being retired, and now with COVID-19 limiting travel, is engaging with unreached people groups. Even though I am no longer the head of a mission organization, I can still do mission work. Some of my best times on the mission fields have taken place while living in remote villages. I became a student of their ways and learned what happens when all of modern society is stripped away. On my...
Rite of passage: Happiness is overrated
After being a grandparent for six years, I am losing my touch when it comes to keeping my grandsons happy. It was easy when I only had one; it was challenging with two; and it is impossible with three. I don’t even want to think about it with a half-dozen. Of course, I’m talking about keeping my grandsons happy when they’re all together. I am more successful when only one grandson visits. I know that child’s interests, his likes and...
Rite of passage: Times have changed
After taking thousands of students to the mission field, I noticed a pattern. In days gone by, most of the students could count change in their head. With the inventions of computers and cash registers, the average cashier lets the machine do the work. Growing up in the ’50s and ’60s, learning how to make change was an essential part of life’s training. I really didn’t have to think about it. If I sold an item for $3.12 and the buyer...
Rite of passage: Preparing a place
Three years ago, my wife and I bought a swing set. It was a small, inexpensive one. We realized we needed something for our grandsons to play on when they came to visit. Up to this point, we only had small, inside toys, but Titus the Honorable was 3 and wanted to go outside to play. I purchased one of those swing sets that comes in a box with a gazillion bolts and instructions drawn by a first grader. After eight hours of...
Rite of passage: New ways to serve
Since I started preaching and teaching 47 years ago, I have never lacked for a place to use my spiritual gifts. Only in the latter half of my life has God allowed me to add teaching through the written word. But I have always preferred the speaking ministry over writing. I have told you many times that I am not a writer. If you want to read some good writing, you should read Matthew, Mark, Luke or John. Now, those guys could write. My...
Rite of passage: Squirrel problems
The epicenter for the COVID-19 virus in the United States is New York City. The epicenter for squirrels in the United States is my backyard. We have lived in our current home for 17 years. When my wife and I bought the house, it had four huge trees in the backyard: one oak, two maples and one pecan. A few years ago, an ice storm destroyed our two maple trees, leaving the oak and pecan tree. These two trees are an all-you-can-eat...
