12-15-2007, 05:46 PM
Ditto Wrote:
I'm not sure anyone missed me but I'm back.
Today, I've been thinking about how to put this into a lesson, useable by both the
Deaf and hearing.
"You also must be ready, for the Son of Man will come at an hour that you do not
expect Him." Luke 12:40
Years ago, I was getting ready to begin my Junior year in high school. All the churches,
I'd ever been in, had taught or preached the "soon-coming" rapture.
When it came time for me to begin planning my career, I knew I'd been called
to ministry. I knew the Vocational Rehabilitation wanted to send me to Gallaudet
University and I knew I wanted to serve the Lord.
Shortly after my high school graduation, I enrolled in a community college because I
had no idea how to get into Gallaudet (the Vocational Rehabilitation didn't tell me I
needed to take an entrance exam until the end of the summer).
Remembering that I'd met a man, who had graduated from Christ for the Nations Institute
and knowing that I would, someday, go there, I nixed secular college and elected to begin
work.
Hindsite is 20/20 and, after 28 years, I can prove it so, because, all during the
summer of 1979, I kept thinking I wouldn't have time to finish college and have a secular
job waiting as I worked to enter ministry.
By the time I left Middle Georgia, on my way to bible school, I thought the Lord would reapper,
before the 600+ mile trip was completed. Then, as the fall term began, I surmised that His reentry
would occur before that semester was over. The same thoughts invaded my mind, in December, when
I, again, left here and made a 600+ mile trip to Dallas.
Finally, I began pushing those thoughts to the side.
In 1983, as I entered missions, these thoughts reappered. As I left Atlanta, on a Greyhound bus, headed to Battle Creek, Michigan, I thought I'd never make it.
After touring for 3 1/2 years, I found I was headed back to Dallas, where I would end up re-starting a Deaf fellowship. During this time of labor, I was to enthused to worry about whether or not the fellowship would arrive at fruition so I just completed the labor and then, when it was over, entered secular labor.
The reason I am recounting this is because, during the years, I've mentioned, as well as several times in the years since, I've had people tell me the Lord "must be about to reappear."
As I see how the enemy robbed me of several years of potential ministry and as I see how he is now trying to get others to worry about how much time they have, before the Lord's arrival, I can only say I hope others won't make the same mistakes I made.
For on thing, He told us to labor until He comes. For any of His people to sit down and expect to see Him come, without serving Him, first, is wrong.
So, while I may not know whether anyone, herein, has missed me or noticed that I haven't been around, I would hope everyone will be prepared for His coming.
The preparation is simple: He spoke of the wise and foolish virgins. Some were prepared for His arrival and others weren't. I hope we'll all be prepared.
Today, I've been thinking about how to put this into a lesson, useable by both the
Deaf and hearing.
"You also must be ready, for the Son of Man will come at an hour that you do not
expect Him." Luke 12:40
Years ago, I was getting ready to begin my Junior year in high school. All the churches,
I'd ever been in, had taught or preached the "soon-coming" rapture.
When it came time for me to begin planning my career, I knew I'd been called
to ministry. I knew the Vocational Rehabilitation wanted to send me to Gallaudet
University and I knew I wanted to serve the Lord.
Shortly after my high school graduation, I enrolled in a community college because I
had no idea how to get into Gallaudet (the Vocational Rehabilitation didn't tell me I
needed to take an entrance exam until the end of the summer).
Remembering that I'd met a man, who had graduated from Christ for the Nations Institute
and knowing that I would, someday, go there, I nixed secular college and elected to begin
work.
Hindsite is 20/20 and, after 28 years, I can prove it so, because, all during the
summer of 1979, I kept thinking I wouldn't have time to finish college and have a secular
job waiting as I worked to enter ministry.
By the time I left Middle Georgia, on my way to bible school, I thought the Lord would reapper,
before the 600+ mile trip was completed. Then, as the fall term began, I surmised that His reentry
would occur before that semester was over. The same thoughts invaded my mind, in December, when
I, again, left here and made a 600+ mile trip to Dallas.
Finally, I began pushing those thoughts to the side.
In 1983, as I entered missions, these thoughts reappered. As I left Atlanta, on a Greyhound bus, headed to Battle Creek, Michigan, I thought I'd never make it.
After touring for 3 1/2 years, I found I was headed back to Dallas, where I would end up re-starting a Deaf fellowship. During this time of labor, I was to enthused to worry about whether or not the fellowship would arrive at fruition so I just completed the labor and then, when it was over, entered secular labor.
The reason I am recounting this is because, during the years, I've mentioned, as well as several times in the years since, I've had people tell me the Lord "must be about to reappear."
As I see how the enemy robbed me of several years of potential ministry and as I see how he is now trying to get others to worry about how much time they have, before the Lord's arrival, I can only say I hope others won't make the same mistakes I made.
For on thing, He told us to labor until He comes. For any of His people to sit down and expect to see Him come, without serving Him, first, is wrong.
So, while I may not know whether anyone, herein, has missed me or noticed that I haven't been around, I would hope everyone will be prepared for His coming.
The preparation is simple: He spoke of the wise and foolish virgins. Some were prepared for His arrival and others weren't. I hope we'll all be prepared.
Cloudwalker Wrote:
You mean you were gone??? ;D (just kidding)
A wise man once said that we should live like Christ is comming back tomorrow and work as if He's not comming back. I think it's good advice. If we do that we will strike the proper balance in our lives.
A wise man once said that we should live like Christ is comming back tomorrow and work as if He's not comming back. I think it's good advice. If we do that we will strike the proper balance in our lives.
Quote:
I wish someone had told me that, while I was in high school.
When I was supposed to go to Gallaudet University, as I was
finishing high school, one of the reason I didn't was because
I had a call on my life and a dream to attend Christ for the Nations
Institute.
Well, the same thought prevailed, while I worked, two years, before
going to Dallas, TX, and CFNI. Then, as I entered Deaf Missions, I
rode a Trailways bus from Atlanta to Battle Creek, MI, thinking I'd
never make it before the Lord arrived.
After 3 1/2 years, with The Tenth Coin Ministries, I moved back to
Dallas, thinking, "Maybe I should go ahead and continue my education,"
but, again, nixed the idea because I feared not being able to finished
before the Lord's rapture.
Well, I've now been disabled for 8 1/2 years and His return is still in the
future. I'll just have to do what I can, from here on out.
Let no one deceive you though....JESUS IS COMING SOON!!!
THIS FACT IS MORE TRUE NOW THAN EVER BEFORE!!!
When I was supposed to go to Gallaudet University, as I was
finishing high school, one of the reason I didn't was because
I had a call on my life and a dream to attend Christ for the Nations
Institute.
Well, the same thought prevailed, while I worked, two years, before
going to Dallas, TX, and CFNI. Then, as I entered Deaf Missions, I
rode a Trailways bus from Atlanta to Battle Creek, MI, thinking I'd
never make it before the Lord arrived.
After 3 1/2 years, with The Tenth Coin Ministries, I moved back to
Dallas, thinking, "Maybe I should go ahead and continue my education,"
but, again, nixed the idea because I feared not being able to finished
before the Lord's rapture.
Well, I've now been disabled for 8 1/2 years and His return is still in the
future. I'll just have to do what I can, from here on out.
Let no one deceive you though....JESUS IS COMING SOON!!!
THIS FACT IS MORE TRUE NOW THAN EVER BEFORE!!!