Well, we got back home last evening. Where do I pick up the story? Sunday, October 13 is probably a good place … because we have really been cruising since then.
That day started with 9:30 a.m. worship at Trinity. Then came family pictures taken conveniently between raindrops. After that we were home long enough to get all packed for ten days of cruising around Lake Michigan (not in the lake, but around it). That evening we spent at Houghton Lake.
Monday morning we drove to the Grand Traverse Resort for the All District Pastors Conference … great speakers, wonderful “gamietlikeit”, and new friendships made plus old ones renewed. When it wrapped up Wednesday morning we jumped in the van and cruised farther north … over the bridge all the way to Calumet to visit by cousin and his wife (They have lived there 50 years and this was our first visit). The next day we drove to St. Paul (Roseville, actually) Minnesota to visit two friends from Junior College days. After two days with them, we were cruising again Saturday afternoon with Kiel Wisconsin the target. Saturday evening through Monday morning were family-time visits in my brother’s new home. Monday night we took a welcomed break in Merrillville, IN before cruising the next afternoon to Valparaiso to visit our niece and her husband. Then, on our homeward trek yesterday we met an old friend for lunch in Fort Wayne, IN before cruising home. We hit some heavy traffic, but I was only about five minutes late for my 6:00 p.m. meeting at Bethlehem.
The meeting was the first step in developing a strategy for their future … and introduced them to three potential strategies – hospice, rebirth, or merger. After opening with prayer, we spoke a little about Paul’s first missionary journey, recalling how after he was stoned in Lystra (and presumed dead) he continued on (even returning to Lystra) “strengthening the souls of disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many7 tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.” (Acts 14.22) As we discussed the next steps in determining what Jesus has in mind for the congregation, we also recalled our Lord’s earthly ministry as described by Matthew: “Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.’” (Mathew 9.35-37)
It occurs to me that the more things change, the more they stay the same …. many people are still harassed and helpless … the harvest remains plentiful while the laborers are few … our Lord still has compassion for us all … and we continue to pray to the Lord of the harvest. We don’t know what he has in mind for Bethlehem. But I expect he will show us some amazing things in the next few months.
As I prepared for the meeting and prayed about it while cruising around Lake Michigan I was wearing a bracelet someone gave me a few months ago. The inscription on it reads, “you make a difference.” I now wear it as a reminder that, even though I am retired and old, I am still called to make a difference in people’s lives. And, my friends, so are you … just a little something for you to pray about while cruising around town.
