PRAYER FOR MY WIFE

                                         Prayed in the context of serving many children, youth, single mothers

                                                                  in Belize and still relevant in retirement.

Father in Heaven, I thank you for the one you have given to me, with whom I shall spend my life, until death do us part. You were wise beyond my comprehension when you paired her with me, for from our fellowship in life have flowed an endless array of blessings, often unrecognized until later. I thank you for your wisdom and ways in which you have brought us together.

Thank you that you have kept us together in all kind of experiences in life. You have kept her faithful to me, unworthy as I am. Lord, I thank you than I have never had reasons to doubt her commitment to me and to me alone. You have blessed me through her with this confidence far beyond that of many we have known.

I thank you for what you have taught me through her, taking me as a youth unlettered in true love, crude in my ways and language, and by her presence and interaction, have removed much of that which creates barriers with people, and have taught me kindness, gentleness, respect, and love.

I thank you especially that you have taught me love, to love and be loved. In my longing to be loved, she has shown me a deeper love, the way two persons can learn love through intimacy, as well as through the struggles of two minds and hearts, yearning to be of one spirit. You Lord, in ways beyond understanding, have given me a heart of love through the one you brought to my life. Thank you Lord.

Thank you for her partnership with me in all a life of service to you. She has accepted my call to ministry, careful not to undermine me in my imperfections, but being by my side as I served you as a pastor of your people. Thank you that she helped to nurture our children so that they all yearned to know you even as we know you.

Lord, I pray that you will bless her with all the blessings you have for your children. Give her courage to continue walking with me in the blessings of life with all its challenges. Make her strong in heart to walk with assurance of your presence in our everyday life. Grant her always a sense of your care, nearness and affirmation.

Lord, grant her strength to face the daily challenges of meeting people, that she may do it with joy, assured of the presence of your Spirit of power and strength. Grant her awareness that we serve you in your power, not the confidence in our strength. May she realize that she is never alone; and that you are always with us as we serve you.

Lord; I pray that you will give her joy in our daily life: That she will have peace when life is a challenge: I pray that she will have a sense of your approval; that you are pleased with our service to you. May she have a vision of what you will do with our efforts to be faithful to you in your calling. May she be content to walk in your will

Lord, fill her life with your love for her, that she may know she is precious in your sight. Let her know that you have loved her from birth and before. May she know that you planned for her to have a life in your love. Fill her with that love till it overflows from her heart more and more. May she always be a radiant fountain of blessing to those around her.

Lord, grant her a tender heart of patience and understanding to those who are weak. May she feel the pain of those who are helpless, who face life with so little strength, so little hope, so little confidence that life is in your hands. May she ever give courage to those who are weak; to lift up those neglected by their parents, who are slow to know the way of life in you.

Lord, you have not revealed our future to us, the prospects of getting older, and the strength you will give us in those twilight years. Grant us faith to walk in confidence that you will always be near, that you will give us strength for the tasks you have for us. Grant us the assurance that you will always provide for us, that according to your word, we will never lack any good thing.

Lord, grant us a vision of what you are doing in us as we serve you. Let us see some of the fruit of our labor so that we may be assured of your blessing in our life. Let the love we plant in others grow into love for you, that all we love may experience your love and reflect it in their daily lives, back to us and others. Grant us faith, not to minimize your work through us, but rather to rejoice in the fruit of our labor as you bless it.

Grant that our love for you may ever increase, that it will transform our lives in devotion to you and your will for us. May we grasp the heights and depth of your love increasingly so that we stand in awe and worship you with all of our life. Give us a vision of your majesty, your worthiness, your power, that we may also see who we are under your Lordship and always bow to you.

Grant us faith to believe in your work through us; that you are accomplishing something of your will, regardless how inadequate we feel, even as we fall short of the potential if we could only be as strong as we would desire to be. Help us to see a vision of the fruit of our work in the distant future, the lives that will be eternally changed by your love working through us. Help us to sense the investment we are making in your Kingdom as we give our lives and resources in your services.

Lord, grant us hope and confidence in you to believe that you who have begun a good work in us will bring it to completion for the day when you will return with your rewards with you, for all who love you with a sincere heart. We bow before you for your glory.

               SEVENTY THINGS I STILL WONDER ABOUT (Second half of questions)

             “For we know in part…I think like a child…we see a poor reflection of reality…” I Corinth. 13

                              From my book, Icons of My Life, A Celebration of 70 years.

32. Why is God so slow in meting out justice to the oppressors and their victims?

33. Can God accept those as his children who do not walk in the peaceful way of Christ?

34. Should the Bible be considered a holy book, like a sacred object? Don’t Fundamentalists give credit to the book that belongs only to the main character of the Book, making the book an idol?

35. Is homosexuality genetic, or from one’s environment, or from circumstances? Is the origin and basis the same for all people? Are there degrees of fixation of orientation, from slight attraction, to exclusive attraction to the same gender?

36. Paul to the Romans seems to feel homosexual behavior is a kind of abandonment of God toward those who turn inexcusably from him. “He gave them over to…” Is homosexuality thus justifiably a point of focus for the church above other kinds of sexual sins, or just a present day point of controversy?

37. I still wonder how high the pile would be, if all the things that were stolen from us in Belize would be divinely reassembled on our living room floor!

38. I further wonder how many people have built a wall between us and them by thievery, isolating and insulating themselves from the Gospel we would want to share with them.

39. Is there any way we can protect our goods without being paranoia, having a big dog, or hiring a full time watchman? Even bank security fails at times.

40. What will be my Achilles’ heal, or fatal weakness, or will I just hold together until one day, like the Deacon’s One Horse shay, everything breaks down at one point in time.

41. How I can tell if an ache or pain is the beginning of something, or just a little more wear on this aging body.

42. If we were made in God’s image, then in how many ways are we like God our Father?

43. Am I as old fashioned and removed from the reality of youth as we used to think our parents and grand parents were when we were young?

44. Can a person live off the intimacy with God when intimacy with someone is lacking, or does intimacy have to be with someone in human skin?

45. Is it all right to think that Jesus may have been wrong in thinking that he would return to earth in the same generation that some of those lived who were hearing him speak?

46. Was Jesus thinking of situations like Belize when he said we should give to anyone who asks of us what we have? What of those willingly submitting to dependency in hard economies?

47. Will I always get tired easily the rest of my life?

48. How would I know if I am no longer as wise as I think I am?

49. I wonder how strongly and sincerely Dad believed in the Amish Ordnung as the best interpretation of Scripture and way of the Christian life, especially when I was a teen in the mid 50’s, or was he just pragmatic, seeking to maintain peace in the church and with churches?

50. I wonder if Dad was a weaker leader partly because he was ambivalent in the above years on rules and regulations.

51. I wonder if personal computers really enhance the quality of life for most people who have them, or are they mostly an electronic toy.

52. If they can make a computer that does a million things for under $400.00, why can’t they make one that lasts a week without malfunctioning? Why do programs stop responding?

53. I still wonder how we can basically affirm any culture over all as they all are practically deifications of fallen man’s values.

54. Does God laugh or cry at the foolishness of man, those who deny his existence, his creating the world, who think they may destroy human life that was created sacred by Him?

55. Is God satisfied with my life in any degree, or is he still longing for some break through to my dull mind and spirit? What mid term grade would I have received from him?

56. I still wonder why it is that I hesitate, even delay a day or two, to tell Loretta bad news like thievery and big bills, or missing money, but she feels compelled to tell me frequently about mold, roaches, and every knife she loses as well as every other little fault of our house.

57. I still wonder why I don’t have credibility; why people ask me how I know what I say and where I heard it; and why what I say is not very convincing to many. (Also in Burdens)

58. Why does Jesus say in one chapter that we should let our lights shine so people will see our good deeds (Mt 5:16) and in the next chapter (6:1) say we should not do our good deeds to be seen by men? May some in Belize think we are nearly irrelevant and dispensable because we of Amish background hide our good deeds so well that they have little idea how much we are doing?

59. I still wonder when we will ever move back to the States and retire. See Appendix D

60. I still wonder how nationals can be made to feel comfortable with missionaries when we are so much more educated and experienced then they are.

61. I wonder how many of our Belizean children will grow up as Christians and be faithful in the church and have beautiful families and good jobs.

62. I wonder if God may just work through our prayers what we just can’t seem to get a handle on, like leading persons into the kingdom.

63. I still wonder what the limits are of our marriage to meet each other’s needs.

64. Like Billy Graham said on a TV interview, I also wonder if I will ever hear the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

65. Why it seems to us that the needs of persons around us seem so obviously desperate to us but others can know about them and be totally unmoved to any action and practically ignore them; e.g. the delay in establishing a home for youth.

66. The Creation: How many years B.C. was Genesis 1:1? Is the Biblical record literal, poetic, or didactic? Were the 6 days literal, or a story telling scheme of the oral tradition? Did it matter to the Hebrews?

66a. If we are made in the image of God, and have a sense of humor, God must also have a sense of humor. But what would God find most amusing? Us, his children?

67. In spite of the statement of the founding fathers that all men are created equal, I wonder if that is really the case by races. Of course it is politically incorrect to even ask the question. Most African groups, perhaps almost all, have not broadly developed the arts, science, education, literature, theology, and political structures that work most of the time, and that mark most European groups. (Probably honesty, truthfulness, forgiveness, generosity and fidelity are less common for Africans than Americans in general.) I wonder, were all actually “created equal” but some cultures and races not affected by Christianity as much? Aren’t slavery and colonialism just excuses for lack of maturity like western societies and with the weakness of family structure? Is black sensuousness genetic (racial) or moral? Are we really all equal? I still wonder after many years among blacks in Belize

68. How do you convince young women to stop having new babies when they already have 3-5 and struggle daily in begging something for them to eat? Is it right to send away such a mother with a new born who comes to your door when you have warned them various times before?

69. I still wonder whether she and I should try to resolve our seemingly irreconcilable difference on the liquidation of our assets in ministry, or whether I should just manage the way I am convinced we should do it; and whether we should consider not supporting families with small children in this matter before we find alternative support for them.

70. I wonder if many of the above issues will be resolved in our life time, or if I will just keep on wondering. Most will not be worth asking God about when I will have a chance, I am sure.

                                                                                                                          Finished in Belize

                                                God's Appreciation of the Aesthetic

I suppose I first thought of this subject when we lived in Belize and realized that there were so many beautiful flowers out there in the hills and mountains that nobody would ever see. It seemed God made this beautiful hidden beauty simply for himself to enjoy. It didn't matter that no one else was aware of the flowers. I was so impressed with this beauty that I began to video some of these flowers and greatly magnified them on the screen.

There are many other amazing matters reflecting an interest that God had in his creation that has little
relevance to mankind or the rest of creation. Take color, for instance. There are very few practical values of hues- well perhaps for bees to find sources of sweets, but are not many animals color blind? Color is for beauty, which people enjoy just like God who created it for himself and us.

Or take tastes. Why should anything be sweet, or salty, or sour, or like any taste? People would eat out of hunger even if there were no tastes. Like color, taste has very little practical value except to give pleasantness to eating beyond the need to eat and feel better. Taste makes eating pleasant as a bonus to eating. There are various things we eat for the pleasure of eating, not for their necessary or value to our bodies. We eat butter on bread for taste, not nutrition. Likewise as suggested, sugar has no essential function to the body that can't be met just as well other ways. The whole soft drink business flourishes not for its practical value to the body- but for the pleasure of drinking pleasant tastes. Foods are flavored for aesthetic reasons, not for practicality and nutrition, usually. There are aesthetic bonuses to eating beyond necessity.

Or why should sex be pleasurable? The procreative act could simply be a matter of choice and practicality like eating when we want to have children,. But there is a bonus of ecstasy far beyond the “Task” of creating a new life. You might imagine the sheer joy God had in creating man in his image, a joy of creating human life "in his image". This elation he passed on to mankind, as we create new life generation after generation.

You can also consider the sheer exultation of flinging out the planets and galaxies and the most distant stars as celestial bodies so vast and distant that the earth would have been no more than a mud puddle in comparison. At the other extreme in size, the hobby of creating the smallest units of matter, far sub atomic where electrons gleefully dance around protons with the speed of light. That is still intriguing scientists to discover. Stuff could simply have been made simple stuff. God didn't stop at just doing it the easy way. No, he tinkered with sub-matter, and no doubt enjoyed doing it with greater enthusiasm then any inventor of things in the modern world. We take pride and joy in our creations, trivial as they may be in comparison to the complexity of matter. Whether they are material like a computer or “i-machines”, or intellectual as in writings, or artistic as in paintings or architecture. It seems we have the compulsive joy of creating just like our Creator, how be it in a miniature pattern, perhaps a bit like a child playing in the sand on a beach by an ocean.

What is our greatest aesthetic investment? What is God's greatest project? Did he just set everything up for the fun of making it and admiring it; just standing back watching his universal machine work? I can't believe God would then only stand at a distance in amusement, when there is so much to communicate with his most intelligent creature- which we assume we are! And does he only try to communicate with us? How about all higher mammals who have some intelligence? But the even insects seem to have some intelligence- bees can communicate to each other and dogs howl, and endlessly other creatures are able to communicate. Why would not God want to have a relationship with all creation? I don't know what molecules would say to each other or to him. Who knows?

Several days ago I was watching over our grandson, Baby Noah, now 8 months old. He crawled through the grass, back to me, over me, stabilizing himself by holding on to me. He toyed with everything his hands touched and then went on to other matters. It seems he was trying to learn all about his world and his place in it. He didn't use any words to communicate with me. Yet we did communicate to each other. How I wished he could talk to me! He seemed to know me, that I cared about him, that he was safe with me. So I believe God's greatest aesthetic interest is in continuing with his creation, ever waiting for all creation to respond to him. He tries again and again in all ways imaginable, to tell us that he is there for us. He longs for us to communicate with him on the level of our maturity. Sometime Baby Noah will speak to me. He know me- somewhat. But it is his development that is in process. He was created to relate. He will in his time. We suppose much of material is inanimate. Maybe not. God's greatest goal is that all creation would recognize him and respond. At least we know that we who call our selves mankind can respond. That, I believe is God's greatest aesthetic goal and appreciation.

                                   Reflections My Leaving and Longings

Something hard to talk about to anyone and be taken seriously is the feeling that I may not grow old in this life like my father or grandmother. Perhaps a lot less years than either. In Belize already these thoughts came to me and it is not with any fear or dread, although with some deep emotion that I cannot verbalize even to my self. It seems that would be all right, as also how my younger brother did not shrink from moving forward when his day was coming. Why such feelings come without any known basis is a mystery, unless God is graciously preparing me for something. I had hoped to have many years of unwinding and sharing all the things I had learned in life with my children and grandchildren. I am most grateful that God has already called some of our grandchildren to a life of deep dedication to service and ministry to the world. Perhaps my life has been a slight example of what God’s call to Christians is all about.

But how I might stimulate others to listen to that call of God would be my greatest desire in the rest of my life. I wish my writings of the past years were more positive and stimulating to who ever finds them. Instead, they are so much of my own mental searching to understand my life and relationships. I wish I had a forum where I could have a writing ministry to many that would challenge people to a full devotion to God. It haunts me that I see many people who think they are religious and in God’s will, never the less squandering time and resources on themselves while a billion people are hungry and starving for the Gospel.

This culture binds people to a standard of living that hinders nearly all Christians from devoting their wealth to the furtherance of the Gospel. We have tried to be free from the demands of culture, but the tentacles are ever trying to bind us to cultural standards so that we also come into bondage to it. Living abroad was liberating, but here we have few defenses except our perceptions and memories of the needs that daily pressed upon us in Belize. Perhaps we can do more when we pray, as a pastor friend in Belize use to say. I hope a meaningful life emerges for us while we are here in the States this year.                                                                                                                          7/6/09

All this relates to a sense some months ago that my life may not be extended into the 90’s like some of my predecessors. It seemed strange that such thoughts came into my mind and that so clearly. Like the time I was at the market and the lines from a old song reverberated so distinctly: “Through the valleys of this life, I have traveled, and I’ve worked for Jesus all along the way; but now life’s evening sun for me is setting; I have reached the ending of my way”. It also happened about that time that I had a sense that our time in Belize was drawing to a close. Both perceptions seemed surprisingly comfortable with me, contrary to what I would have felt shortly before.

                                                                                                                                      Nov. 21, 2009

Written while still committed to Belize, about 5 years ago. Most of the sentiments are still relevant today and I am becoming more content and at peace with the life God is allowing us. In fact, retirement seems an undeserved reward for the life God gave us for many years. Yet, I am still hoping for several more decades with family, friends, the church and the local community.                                                                                                                                                     September 2014

                                                          Me and My Mother

                                                          (From my Biography)

There is no doubt in my mind that my mother has been the person of greatest influence in my life. From as far back as I can remember and certainly much longer, she was there to help me be the person I am today. It was her holy calling , she felt, to help me be the person God wanted me to be and become. Once she said that if she had only cared for us when she felt well, we would often have gone hungry or forage for ourselves. No doubt she also strove to teach and train us and me, perhaps especially, to become what she sense was her call from God.

I recall knelling at her knees, and learning a prayer which she hoped would make be a praying person on my own. I don't remember that it was for a long period of time that she had this practice, but she no doubt taught all her children to pray. She was a praying person. When Dad was away traveling, she led the family in Scripture reading and prayer. She wore her prayer veil at night in bed so she would always be ready to pray which I assume was her resort when she lay awake at night. She was concerned about all her children and I was there in the middle of her caring.

She was a teacher in many ways. She had a way of impacting ideas that have stuck deeply all my life.

Some things were simple, but never to be forgotten. Like when someone asks for something like a drink of water: serve them first before yourself. Scripture verses were a technique of teaching. “Honor others above yourself.” Don't inconvenience another person carelessly, like”Don't make someone wait on you.” Or against laziness- “Go to the ant thou sluggard; consider her ways and be wise.” Don't strengthen you words with I am sure: “Let your yes be yes and your no, no. What is beyond that is from evil”. The list of teachings from Scripture could go on and on.

She taught us respect for people in other ways. Don't say. “It is just like him to do so”. And you don't tell someone he is crazy if you disagree with him, even if you have strong feelings. Absolutely never call someone a fool. Oddly, we said 'thank you' mainly to persons outside the family. I don't know why that was. Did we say please? I don't know. Respect even though not today's politeness was stressed.

She was a person of peace and harmony. She may have chafed at Dad's frustrations, but would say little. Arguing at the table was called down. Once when my brother and I had a quarrel, we had to walk arm in arm from the barn to the house in demonstrated peace and unity. When I complained at how my sister made a long issue of eating her required single bite of oatmeal which she so detested, I was instructed to “look onto your own plate.” When our aging Grandfather live and ate with us, we were discouraged from arguing with him, regardless what subject came up.

She was much concerned that I would relate to her as a child should should- to respect and obey her as the Scripture prescribes for a child to do. She was creative and deliberate in her commitment to my upbringing. I found an original copy of a letter of her concerns for me in which she asked questions and I was to make commitments of “yes” (which I did):

“Will you pray for me that I can be a better mother and more understanding?” _____

“Will you be more quiet?”_____

“Will you be kinder to your brothers and sisters?”_____

“Will you refrain from talking back[to me]?____

“If you are told to do something, will you do it without being told the second time?”____

“Will you walk and sit down more decently?”____

Will you respect your father and grandfather more and not talk over them [gossiping about them]?”____

Will you be willing to do more than ask with a willing heart?”____

Will you be more quiet at the table?”____ [There were many of us at meal time.]

She concluded, “I will be praying because I know there is power in prayer and the devil will not want you to heed this and discourage you and say there is no use, but don't believe him. Christ is all powerful.”

I returned the paper with my commitments and request, “Pray for me that I do these things that I promised.”

She was a person of deep conviction and a sense of responsibility for and to me. That no doubt was passed down to me and all of us siblings. It was a pattern for me to raise my own children with a deep sense of challenge for them to become persons with self discipline, which was a challenge for me in my youth. I credit her for a sense of seriousness of life as Christians. Perhaps her sense of humor was not strong, but her role of “bringing us up for the Lord” was dominate in all of her life. I can only wish that I had made her life easier and been more responsive to her goals for me. She graduated to an early reward from God at the age of 73, a loss to me that I could no longer expect her loving concerns for me in my daily life.   

        So You Are Looking for Channels to Help the Desperately Needy of the World?

When you are eager to help worthy causes in the far parts of the world, or even closer to home, but where help is most desperately needed and the laborers and resources are few, here are some channels to explore.

1. “World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential to tackle the problems of poverty and injustice.” More Info on www.worldvision.org on sponsoring children or program donations.

2. “Mennonite Central Committee endeavors to share God’s love and compassion for all in the name of Christ by responding to basic human needs and working for peace and justice.” They work with disasters and in community development to help impoverished people help them selves for their basic needs. More info on www.mcc.org/identity/vision.

3. Compassion A ministry especially for sponsoring children living in poverty around the world working with over 65 denominations and working local church partners in Africa, Asia, Central and South America and the Caribbean in one to one relationships with over 2 million children. Visit Compassion at www.compassion.org for more info.

4. Every Orphan’s Hope, Sponsoring children left behind by Hiv/aids in Zambia.

Orphan sponsorship works directly through the local church to reach children and minister directly to their needs. One approach there is to set up a widow with a number of aids orphans in a home and persons can contribute to this or sponsor a home. Zambia rates in poverty with Haiti and has about a million orphans. See everyorphan.org for more info.

5. Christian Aid Ministries, An American relief and mission organization with many programs throughout the world, distributing the Bible and Christian literature, food, clothing, medicines, seeds, working in self-help projects, disaster areas, an orphans' home in Romanian, and church plantings. There is a clothing collection in Shipshewana and much information there. Ph. In Ship. 260 768 4855`

6. Eastern Mennonite Missions, Salunga, PA. See emm.org for how you can be involved in world missions in many countries.

7. “Ten Thousand Villages provides vital, fair income to Third World people by marketing their handicraft and telling their stories in North America. Ten Thousand Villages works with artisans who would otherwise be unemployed or underemployed. This income helps to pay for food, education, health care and housing. Ten Thousand Villages is a non profit program of Mennonite Central Committee.” In Goshen, MCC has a store at the Whistle Stop by The Depot and Ten Thousand Villages has a store at 206 South Main in Goshen.

8. “Revolution In World Missions”, a book by K.P. Yohannan, director of Gospel for Asia, a ministry with HQ in Texas that seeks supports for native pastors in Indian at a cost of a fraction of sending an American Missionary. They have thousands of pastors in support. Book from Amazon.com, $5.95. Visit Amazon’s K.P. Yohannan Page.

9. Ministry of the Gospel and feeding the hungry in Kenya and Uganda, and other countries. Seen on WHME; info on feedthehungry.org. Or call 1 888 832 6384. $30.00 feeds 5 children for a month and gives them the Gospel, and also helps them in education. Address: LaSEA Global Feed the Hungry, 530 Ireland Rd. South Bend IN, 46614.

10. Nearly every local congregation has some outreach to local and world wide needs through which individuals can contribute in various ways. Each person should search out God’s will for a personal calling to meet the needs of persons for the Gospel in all its aspects. Our participation in these endeavors should be balanced with the conviction of helping in other world wide ministries such as the above listed as well as with local needs to be personally involved with, hands on. In all sharing of the total Gospel, we need to respond according to the full conviction God’s Spirit places in our hearts as we learn of the opportunities and needs.

11. Food for the Poor. A brighter future for destitute families across the Caribbean and Latin America through food distribution, housing improvement, and micro-business opportunities with a record of very efficient operation of services per contribution. More info at FoodForThe Poor.org

The following are Scriptures that indicate God’s deep concern for the Spiritual and all needs of the whole world, as well as the next door neighbor and how his people also share that concern.

Proverbs 14:31, 41:1-4 To show kindness to the needy is to honor God, with blessings.

Proverbs 22:9 “A generous man will be blessed; he shares his food with the poor.”

John 3:16 This familiar Scripture tells us just how much God loved the world of needy people including both us and those with least access to his love; and the cost to him of that love- his Son. As his children we should have that same love for the world.

Luke 4:18 Jesus accepted that he was anointed to preach good news to the poor.

Matthew 28:18-20 Jesus commissioned his followers to go into all the world with the good news of the Kingdom.

Matthew 25:31-46 How we deal with the poor and disadvantage will be criteria of our eternal judgment and destination. whether we have done it for Christ, or not.

Matthew 5:7 Merciful to those without the Gospel and their basic needs as well.

II Corinthians 8:9 Jesus became poor for our sake. Should we do this also for the least of His?

I John 3:17 John questions whether anyone having material possessions can see his brother in need and not help him and still have any claim to have God’s love in him.

Luke 5:38 Jesus commands us to give, with the promise that we will be blesses overflowing.

Jesus gave more credit to the widow who gave her last penny than to the rich who had a lot and gave only a small percentage.

II Corthinians 8-9 Paul gives much encouragement to give to those in need, including the saying, “God loves a cheerful giver”.

Psalm 41:1-4 God blesses in many ways those who have a concern for the weak and the poor.

                                      One of My Dad's Hobby Horses

One of the important themes of  my father's life and teaching was Christian Stewardship.

The basic idea was that God is owner of everything we have- and we are care-takers, or trustees, or stewards. He felt that this includes everything we have and are- our time, talents or gifts; and he especially he emphasized wealth. This meant that the way we use all of our financial resources should take into account that things really do not belong to us and we should use them only the way God desires; and we are caretaker. He was not ascetic in sacrificing all conveniences and enjoyments, but that all we use money for should be within moderation when used on our selves. 

It also meant that we should share readily with the needy, and especially for the sharing of the gospel which God certainly want to accomplish through us and our resources. In Dad's passing, it was mentioned that this theme was important to him and he often preached about it. It certainly was true that our early spiritual fathers, the Anabaptist, felt strongly about stewardship and applied it to both wealth and the Gospel. When Dad passed away, he had distributed nearly all wealth from two farms, and still had a descent burial. 

This meant a lot to us when we were in Belize and were constantly confronted with the needs of others and our own. I have a whole series of essays on “Dealing with Prosperity and Need, as I worked through this issue for myself among the many challenges of using our resources wisely.”

You can imagine with the frugal and stewardship themes of my parents, that when I returned to the US each year, I had to fit all my experiences and sharing habits into a very different cultural setting. Do I just comfortably fit back in to the culture a lot like other Christians, or maintain the standards of stewardship I was accustomed to in Belize? Even now, I could be critical in my thinking when I see how others gorge their wealth on themselves, especially considering the needs of the world as we see it on TV.

Recently we were at an estate sale in Elkhart at a big 3 story house by a lake and every room was loaded up with all kinds of diversions. For example, throughout the house were various bookshelves still loaded, but in one room I counted 9 book cases full of books, many recent ones. Then there were also many paintings and hobby boat miniatures in many rooms, beside all the other stuff which I don't see where they ever found storage for. It is easy to feel they had wealth and built a luxurious nest around themselves and must have spent decades collecting what ever attracted their attention. 

Certainly none of  my friends could identify with such accumulating of stuff.  We have our standards I suppose, and perhaps need to be reminded of the larger picture of how God values his entrustments when we look around in our culture 

I need to restrain my judgment on others, while I continually evaluate how I live in light of the fact that God owns everything. I am just a caretaker of his stuff, seeking to do what he would have me do. Just like my father went before me and taught me by example.