Some may remember playing the childhood game of “Stop and Go.” In the game, the leader gives an instruction to either stop or go while looking away from the players. Players try to disobey the stop instruction and move forward while the leader is not looking. Some players try to move rapidly, others inch forward almost unnoticeably. The leader tries to “catch” the players by giving an instruction and immediately turning around toward the players to identify those who are not following the instructions.
In Acts 16, Luke records a time when God said “go”. Being forbidden to go north or south, having just come from the east and not wanting to turn back, the text says the group concluded that God wanted them to go west. The Macedonian call provided them further instructions and Paul’s second missionary journey continued on.
When God says stop, or when God says go, we do not have the option of trying to outfox God. We are called to be obedient followers of God’s instructions.
Our lives have been blessed this month because God has not only said “go” but he has provided the opportunities and the resources. As always, our desire is to follow his guidance unhesitatingly. A month especially full of activity and opportunities to serve and share is a partial explanation as to why I have written more.
- What a blessing it has been to teach a Wednesday night Bible class at Park Plaza. The fellowship shared and comments and encouragement received from this class have enriched my life.
- To begin to integrate into and understand more of the mission program at Park Plaza has also been encouraging. The opportunity to meet with the Central American mission committee was special because our hearts are focused on the needs as the gospel echoes forth.
- Spending individual time with various brothers and sisters to think about what God is doing in our world and how we fit in has also been a blessing.
- We answered God’s “go” as we spent two weeks in Peru, encouraging and strengthening churches in Lima and Cusco. This time included youth activities, a family retreat, various home group studies, and many meetings with church leaders.
- We spent a Sunday afternoon and evening with the elders of the Bella Vista (AR) church, enjoying also the opportunity to visit with Brother Bob Miranda and to think about the Latin American leadership training that is being done through the Education of Vocational Workers (EVO). I am always pumped up when I have the opportunity to share the word in preaching, and the time at Bella Vista was no different, made even sweeter by the gracious response of the members of that church.
- A missions emphasis weekend and opportunity to report on the work we are doing takes us to Mena (AR) the last weekend of the month. This good church is developing a history of effective international mission endeavors and we are honored that they participate with us in answering God’s “go” and entering God’s open doors.
- The month will conclude (and November begin) with an intense week in the Iglesia de Cristo–Park Plaza, preparing for the leadership seminar November 1-4. Brother Francisco Davila and I have been working on various details, and I will collaborate in the presentations of the seminar with Brother Pedro Sanchez, elder at Nogales in Santiago de Chile.
God is good to me! Across 45 years of ministry, I have seldom had more opportunities to share the word of God, encourage and edify brothers and sisters in Christ, strengthen lives and families through Christian counseling, and reach out with the good news of Jesus. Please join me in prayer that I might have the strength and stamina to continue to answer God’s “go.”