A Call To Pray

An aerial view of a refugee camp in the Middle East is etched in my mind from a recent news report. It reminds me of a cemetery. There are over 3 million Syrian refugees, and nearly 2 million persons in Iraq, displaced from the conflict just this year. It is not hard to imagine the plight of these who inhabit those tents, in row after row. Day by day they are confined there by their circumstance, dependent on someone to supply food for survival while adults wonder when they can move back- or forward to a secure place. They may have little hope or vision for their next step. Children with parents- parents if they are lucky to even have a mother, perhaps usually hungry and sometimes sick or starving. It seems they would become despondent as they wait and wait, often with little food for survival. I suppose some are dying as this drags on and on. Meanwhile fighting among groups vying for power perpetuates this misery. No one is winning- everyone is losing. No one has any answers for the problem. Perhaps the most we can do is PRAY.

• Pray for those trying to sustain life from the UN and Relief efforts- for supplies to sustain life, and for protection to get help to the needy.
• Pray for God to reveal himself as still a God love, and give comfort for all the helpless and despondent.
• Pray for Christians to be there to share the Gospel for those who are losing confidence in the religion that is failing them, who may have visions of Jesus and a Savior for them.
• Pray for God to hasten the day of the conflict to end, that the evil plans of the warring parties will fail again and again until they give up.
• Pray for a revelation of Jesus to the whole Islamic religion, that Jesus may be seen as more than a prophet, and really the Savior of the world.
• Pray that our country will not make things worse, but that Christians here would stand up for the needs of the desperate ones who are waiting...
• For God to be a God of justice and righteousness and bring down evil rulers and warriors and raise just governments. 

                                             Loving With Heart and/or Mind

We love with our heart when that is who we are. We love with our minds when that is just what we should do.

God loves because he is love. He does not decide that he should love people for some reason. He just loves because that's his nature. We may love because it is the social call for action, for example, if someone gives us a gift.. Or because it is the right thing to do to be consistent with our beliefs, like loving the enemy or the unloving person next to us.

There are persons who, like my mother-in-law loved because of her heart of love. I doubted she gave it any thought that she should hug us when ever we came to their home. She was just being who she was. Her husband also could show love, but it seemed more just the appropriate thing to do- not as spontaneous.

When a couple prepares to sleep at the end of a day, they may hug or cuddle spontaneously. But after the have slept and one wakes up, he or she may consider whether snuggling close would be love if it may disturb the partner; perhaps loving intentionally would be to leave the person alone. This would be loving with both heart and mind.

A question comes to mind of whether one can shift from a tendency to love mainly with the mind, doing so when it is just the appropriate thing,  to become a person loving with the heart as well. It could be assumed this could happen with a married couple if the mind-loving person thinks about loving and responding to the love initiations of the partner. Perhaps also by being loved, a person may acquire a sense of love that had not been strong in his life earlier. It may also be that when a person shows love as a part of Christian commitment, e.g., perhaps as a missionary, or pastor, or anyone, a capacity to love from the heart will also grow on him.

Another source of growing to love from the heart may be that of fellowship with God. Recognizing God's love in a person's life in so many ways from birth or before, may lead one to be a more loving person when one is thankful daily for that continuous love. Why not also ask God to give you a heart of love so one can love spontaneously and not just because it is the right things to do? There should be various ways, then, that a person can grow in loving with the heart, rather than loving mainly where loving is the expected response.

                                            Why I Write and Have a Blog?

For several decades I have been writing essays of current matters, either of what is happening around me or what is ruminating in my mind. Writing is a way of communicating matters of significance to a person. But also, it helps me to think more clearly and systematically on the subject matter. Furthermore, it is a literary photograph to which one can return later and look at it again to enjoy, or experience what was felt earlier. Writing gives me time to explore a subject in more detail than casual thinking or conversation. But then why blog? Obviously blogging is a method of communicating for the present audience, who ever that may be. It is a display and perpetual archive and reference point for later readers. It is of the conviction that what I have experienced in life and thought may be of interest and value to others. Writing also gives me a sense that my life will continue after I am gone. I wish my ancestors had left a clearer footprint of where they had trodden physically, emotionally and intellectually. If any posterity or otherwise wonders about me, they can return and trace my steps by my writings. Hopefully they will gain another perspective for their lives. So in these blogs, you find items of events, feelings, inspiration, and even some paradoxes of life in humor. So don't read everything, just what piques your interest or catches you mental eye.

 SEVENTY CHARACTERS AND TRAITS OF OUR FAMILY

                   From “Icons Of My Life, A Celebration of Seventy Years

“[Our] ancestors were devout people of faith, Christians who knew they were pilgrims on earth looking for a Heavenly, eternal city.”

”And may we all be able to claim the testimony found on our ancestor’s tombstone: “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.”

             From From Descendents of David J. And Magdalena Hochstetler, p.4, p. 438                                        By Daniel E. Hochstetler

1. Jacob, man of bold vision, crossing the Atlantic to start a new life in a new land, committed to carry forth the life of peace and faith.

2. Joseph, son of Jacob, obedient to his father even when his life was in danger, remembering his faith and family even after a long separation from them.

3. Great Grandfather Jonas, restless pioneering spirit, working in Ohio in his youth, moving to Indiana establishing his family, and moving on to Iowa, ministering in the church as he went.

4. Great Grandfather David J., kind, friendly, diligent, and deeply Spiritual, outside of convention at times, pioneering Sunday school and calling into question traditions: the celebrations of some holidays, and bi-weekly church services in the Amish church.

5. Grandpa Sam, a responsible church leader and of his family, caring for a mentally ill daughter, patient and forgiving toward his “friends” who betrayed him, without malice, suffering humiliation in prison with faith and clear optimism, slightly on the prophetic front among the Amish.

6. Grandma Mommy Hochstetler, a woman of much prayer, supportive of her son’s convictions for missions, concerned about all her children, committed to relief work.

7. Grandpa Bender, a knowledgeable and wise counsellor with a deep Spiritual concern for family and church; conscientious, a kind and gentle, loving father.

8. Grandma Bender, hospitable grandmother to multitudes, adored for her sensitivity and congeniality, a sense of humor toward herself, spiritually concerned for her family and the church, service minded, bringing relief sewings to the Amish church.

9. Elam, a catalyst for spiritual growth and change, a conscientious father, Amish preacher, bishop; a Spiritual renewalist helping and letting things happen as they should in God’s timing, permitting others in the family and church go where he only dreamed of going. (He felt his desire to go to India called for more than he could manage- college, Sharing his burden with his mother, she was sympathetic: “If it is God’s will, it can happen”)

9. Eliza, a praying mother, living by the Scriptures and training her children by them as well; living sacrificially for her family, patient and humble, accepting pain quietly; submissive to God and her husband.

      10. Uncle John, preacher of the pure Word of God.

11. Uncle Orus, A humble man of honest character in the steps of his father, Grandpa Bender, in many ways.

12. Aunt Esther, always sharing what was important to her, ready with an answer, hospitable, reaching out to people, helping Grandma in her aging years.

13. Uncle Manasseh, concerned for those outside his family, pioneering missions in another state, adopting two children.

14. Aunt Mary, service minded to orphans, volunteering in an orphanages and serving in her own home with great devotion. A gentle and loving Spirit.

15. Cousin Vernon B., life long preacher of the Word, a strong family man.

16. Brother Laban, a humble servant, a quiet spirit, full of conviction, a gift of special concern for special people.

17. Agnes, a mother devoted to God, her children, grandchildren and other people’s disadvantaged children, service minded in her heart.

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18. Cousin Alpha, a quiet spirit with a clear Spirituality.

19. Cousin Chester, firm and stable in faith, charitable to those who practiced their faith a little differently from him.

20. Uncle Walter, appreciating tradition without being bound to it, always a fresh approach to life, a blessing to many.

21. Sister Miriam, serving from her youth to the present age, from Brooklane Farm to Minnesota, to Canada and Brazil, and as a pastor’s wife, and missionary, continuing with hospitality to foreigners in her retirement home; always a warm welcome every year to Loretta and me.

22. Brother-in-law Harvey, a role model to many in character, intelligence, and wisdom; a teacher, writer, mission promoter, a missionary in Canada and Brazil; a pastor and real family friend to many.

23. Brother Samuel dedicated to church development, leaving family to pioneer a new church work, diligent in his own family as counsellor, model and promoter of every good work, a real servant of the Kingdom.

24. Sister-in-law Clara, devoted preacher’s wife, a companion and quiet advisor, unassuming yet leaving her imprint of character on many.

25. Sister Esther, devoted to God and devout in faith, a buoyant spirit of faith, a missionary by true Spirituality and commitment to God, a testimony by the reality of her faith in Christ, a natural witness of the Good News.

26. Brother Daniel, always busy with people-hood activities, a real servant to families, both biological and the church family, helping us all to know who we are and where we came from, so we know better where we are to go.

27. Sister-in-law Arie, a friend where ever needed, competent in many areas with natural wisdom.

28. Sister Marietta, a servant, a supervisor, a nurse, a helper where ever needed.

29. Brother-in-law Jonathan, full of conviction and standing firm for the right.

30. Brother Walter, selfless, devoted to community above possessions, living conscientiously, a family man, an example to all of humility and Christian character.

31. Sister-in-law Frances, a loving and gentle person with a servant’s heart, a loving mother.

32. Brother Joseph, sincere, lover of music and worship, a model for his family and others.

33. Patricia, hospitable, caring for the family and the church.

34. Noah, seeking God as an example and pattern for our life in our attitude and way relating to Christians and non-Christians and children.

35. Wife Loretta, faithful, persistent, untiring, restless for bettering other people’s lives.

36. Cousin Orus U., father of a small nation, devoted family man.

37. Nephew David, son of Samuel, conscientious and concerned for the church and its mission.

38. Nephew John Howard, a wise builder, socially concerned for righteousness in the nation and the church.

39. Nephew Eldon, gifted in administration and ministry in the church.

40. Niece and her husband- Joanna and Oren, sensitive to others, wise parents, encouragers, teacher and ministering person.

41. Niece Elsie, a strong mother, a woman of courage and devotion.

42. Nephew Nathan, son of Laban, teacher, missionary, multi-gifted for God’s service.

      43. Steve Shirk, a man of wisdom, intellect; gifted in languages, culture, and organization.

44. Niece Cheryl Shirk, a heart of love to many, sensitively caring, transparency.

45. Cousin Fanny Ellen, (Elena,) and Amzie, missionaries, apostles, teachers,

46. Son Conrad, dedicated in service to those “below” him: tenants and younger believers.

47. Nephew Kenneth, gifted in business and management.

48. Cousin Doreen Mast, faithful friend, affirming, a praying, encouraging  leader

49. Son Paul Nathan, gift of faith and caring for friends in need and for missions.

50. Daughter Grace, joyful in all of life, blessed by God in motherhood and church fellowships.

51.Daughter Rachel, serious in faith and service to others: her family, believers, and slow students.

52. Daughter Julie, strong, loving, gentle, full of common sense, always standing firm for the right.

53. Son-in-law Dan, firm in faith, devoted father, lover of God’s beautiful world.

54. Son-in-law Bruce, wisdom flowing quietly, .

55. Son-in-law Ron, faithful father and teacher, a family physician.

56. Daughter-in-law Janet, a caring mother, church woman, sensitive nurse, and supportive, hostess to many.

57. Niece Judy Martin, quiet, dedicated to husband’s ministry and the church.

58. Willard Martin, minister of the word of God.

59. Nephew John and wife Denise, gifted in music and an inspiration to family living

60. Niece Carol and Bill Frisbie, devoted to serve God in church ministries.

61. Nephew Jason and Sarah, brave missionaries and carriers of the Word to new areas.

      62. Nephew Philip, administrator and family man, challenging many through fellowship.

 

      63, Brother-in-law David, missionary in Canada, with a life-time commitment to carrying forth           the Gospel and inspiring his family to the same.

64. Niece Rhoda and Steve, imitators of the Spirit of Christ in daily life.

65. Teachers and nurses, too many to enumerate accurately.

66. Niece Lois F., administrator in social services

67. Nephew Galen, financial adviser and administrator.

68. Nephew Linford, demonstrator of truth in acting, accountant, promoter; with Tina, models of love in marriage and family.

69. Niece Kathy and Rodger, instructor in higher education, and business person.

70. Eager learners of life, most likely to follow the path of Christian devotion and commitment to God in service to humanity which their parents trod and are following: many children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews and hopefully, all our posterity.  

                                  What Is Our Devotional and Worship Emphasis?

For several weeks we have been following each morning, a small devotional guide that came into our hands somehow. It is from a conservative background similar to ours of by-gone years. I noticed that the basic thrust of the meditations is quite uniform- concern for holy living and the need to be watchful lest somehow we might have some spiritual impurity creeping into our lives. This set me off thinking of what other emphasis such a devotional might have. I also had to think of Sunday morning church services, and how likely that same church group of that devotional might also be mostly concerned with the clean Christian life. There are also 2 other focus possibilities in our devotional life as well as our church services.

Church services can be a worship services with an emphasis on worship to God. This is to recall the wonderful work of God and praising and worshiping God for who he is and how he cares for all mankind and his whole universe. I recall a service in Florida some years ago in which the sermon was so focused on the person of Jesus, who he is and what he has done for us. The sermon was deeply worship of Jesus and drew my heart into deep appreciation of who he is. That was a church service 30 years go and it stayed with me. Church music can also focus on who God is, compared to much church music of the 19^th century that focus a lot on encouraging each other, like the “Each day I'll do some golden deed.”, and much other Gospel music.

A third focus of devotional material and a church service might be on the outreach of the kingdom of God in mission and personal witness. A church service may emphasize regularly many items of interest, concern, and intercession of the outreach of the kingdom of God around the world, including our personal world. Reports of missions and missionary work, and the progress of the Gospel around the world can be shared a lot by the leadership and members of the church. The church is concerned for the world which God loves and wants to be known. Here intercession for outreach, missionaries, the persecuted church, and the local outreach are primary concerns of the church. Worship takes place with pastoral concerns also, but the church is seen as having a mission in the world, not just being good people and praising God for who he is.

Certainly all three areas of worship are valid. The challenge is to have some balance and focus. It seems the outgoing Christ-centered life and mission would be what God is most interested in. “God so loved the world” that Jesus came to earth to express that. Faith is lived outwardly, not with only concerns about believers' personal lives and rejoicing in who God is. Personally, as a past pastor and missionary, I favor the emphasis on the mission of the church- reaching the ends of the world with the good news of the love and yearning of God for all mankind. Other interests should also be there to complete our devotional and church life.

                                                         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