For almost four days now the weather here in Clarksville has been gray, rainy, or snowy. But we we have a beautiful view from our apartment over what must have been farm land here in north central Tennessee many years ago.
Yesterday was our first "work" day where we are balancing business interests back in Greenville, remote payroll, correspondence, ministry initiatives here in Clarksville, China trip details, etc. It was no rest day. We even got 40 minutes of work-out done at the exercise room in the commons building here at our apartment complex. It goes without saying that I am sore today. In his book, The Missionary Call, by Dr. M. David Sills, the author finishes his section on the physical "Hindrances" to getting to the mission field with this simple word: "Always be ready for the Lord to call your name and send you into the world." We complicate things too often!
Tonight we hope to have one of the members from the church here in Clarksville over for dinner; hospitality is the most simple on-ramp of ministry we can practice. We certainly hope to have this type of contact with those in our apartment building. Cheryl observed that we have seen very few other residents here at the complex. If we have to knock on doors to make friends we will - and with joy!
Yesterday, I completed about 80% of a doctrinal questionnaire for the church in Beijing. I will continue to work on it today. What a privilege and reminder of the ongoing legacy of the apostle's ministry and teaching preserved in the Scriptures - to wrestle with questions concerning the Scriptures, creation, the nature of God, the nature of Christ, our salvation (i.e. does God's work of grace precede our faith?), the church, the offices in the church, the sobering reality of Hell, the Millennium, etc. The great news is that we have the Scriptures as a completely adequate guide to wrestle with any issue, every truth. Part of our adoption into His family means we are not left alone regarding ultimate truth: He has revealed Himself to us!
Prayer: "Lord, as I study your Word, let it study me. If there be any hurtful way in me, reveal it to me."
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