Category Archives: Uncategorized

Budapest, taken from a hilltop in the 3rd district.

Sweet Anna pointed out that her reading plan had her in this text this morning:

Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; for “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls,   but the word of the Lord remains forever.” And this word is the good news that was preached to you. (1 Pet. 1:22-25)

When I read it with her it occurred to me that Peter is, with this phrase “purified your souls by your obedience to the truth” may be encouraging us to, as Willard puts it, train the heart and mind. This is the task of the disciple as we want to grow in being more like Jesus.

To be more like someone requires time invested with them. This of course means studying the Scripture deeply so that, indeed we may “test the spirits” but it also means just sitting with the Scripture, reading for readings sake. This way we become more and more familiar with the mind of God. But, we must not, as it is the habit of some, neglect deep abiding prayer. “Abide” in me, Jesus said. Are we carefully investing our life in an ongoing (“without ceasing”) conversation with God which is informed and enhanced by our knowledge of His word?

This, I contend is how we may live this:

Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; for “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls,   but the word of the Lord remains forever.” And this word is the good news that was preached to you.

This morning I joined my colleague Josh for his weekly visit to the local HIV clinic. He has been serving there for quite a while now and he goes there weekly to offer spiritual counsel and Bible study to the people there. He has a huge heart for these people and they know it.

As soon as we arrived a member of the staff grabbed him and asked him into an office to offer comfort to a woman who was in tears. She was being treated badly by her employer and the nurse handed this task right to Josh. He spoke with her to comfort her, assuring her of God’s love for her, her value as a person and that she did not have to suffer abuse from anyone. He then talked to her about forgiveness. As, I think about this, it was so important. 

Way too many people are hauling around bitterness in their lives (which affects SO MUCH of their life) because of unforgiveness they have for someone else. I was really glad Josh had the understanding to remind her of God’s love, her value to Him and her need (for her own sake) to forgive. 

Make us wonder who we need to forgive, huh?

FYI: HIV is a huge problem in this country. But there is now readily available treatment for all the people. The staff in the clinic that I observed were professional and courteous, the facility was in good shape. I was glad to observe these things. I am glad my colleague is serving there on a weekly basis to bring the Gospel to life in this corner of this city.

I’ve just invested a few minutes updating my trip plan, log and answered prayers. CLICK HERE to read some details.

Someone asked me why, most often, I post in the early hours 1 or 2am Eastern… it’s because many, sometimes most of my four readers (yes! we’re up in readership) are in time zones that are 5 – 7 hours ahead of the USA east coast, that’s why.

Consider this bit…

“Have I told you about my knees? They are killing me these days. And it’s not even when I’m doing anything strenuous. It’s just when I’m walking. In fact, I don’t have to
be doing anything at all. They ache when I’m sitting. Heck, they ache right now and I just got out of bed! I’d love to tell you more about how much they ache but I’m still at a point where I can exercise a little self control on this subject and cut myself off. In a few more years, who knows?”

Click here to read the rest and consider how the body reflects the universe.