Flying Times...

I looked at the calendar last night and realized that almost 3 months have passed since I returned to the States. It is hard to believe that the time has gone by as fast as it has. Being as crazy busy as I have been has made it seem like no time at all.

I don't really like the fact that the days seem to go by so quick, but I do like that things are beginning to move into my favorite time of the year. I absolutely love when summer fades into the fall and on into the winter. We do not have much in the way of a seasonal change in Southern California (nothing like in Siegen, Germany) but what we do have I totally love.

~ God, You do all things well! ~

Preach the Word!

"Those words are not likely to thaw the hearers' hearts that freeze between the speaker's lips."

- Matthew Henry

Here I am a week later, still considering John the Baptist. He was but a mere voice, but one crying in the wilderness. John was earnest in his declaration, he cried with importunity. Paul told Timothy...

Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

-2 Timothy 4:2

It is a pretty serious call and commission. A call I believe that all believers have received.

In the news

Glance at the headlines of any news website right now and you will see very much the same thing... death, dispair, destruction. It is hard to find good news these days and not only as a result of the most recent natrual desaster in our nation's south. Whether it is Korea, China, the Philippines, Russia, Afganistan, Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, Sudan, Syria, Israel (the list could go on, just take a look at the world news on Google) bad news abounds.

I've been reading a lot about John the Baptist as I am continuing to prepare my John class at the Bible College; something interesting stood out to me today as I considered this awesome character. Through the years the titile "The Baptisit" has been almost a last name to this great man, but as I examined the book of John today I found that you never see him there called or refered to as "John the Baptist." The synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke) do refer to the son of Zacharias as "John the Baptist," yet the 4th gospel ascribes to John another name, or shall I say title. In the Gospel of John the "baptist" is known as "The Witness," for while baptisim was a function of his ministry it was not the foundaiton of his calling.

John the Witness proclaimed the Good News of the coming Prince, and in a world filled with bad news we must also be witnesses proclaiming the Good News of the returning King! Yes there will always be other functions in our lives, but let us never forget the foundation.

"Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel"

1 Corinthians 1:17a