Ho, Ho, Hold on: Reconnecting and renewing friendships midway through the year

     

     Glancing at the calendar as I write, I see that Christmas is exactly six months away. What a thought! 
     Our lovely June is fast disappearing with summer already upon us. 

     My weekend was a busy one.
      

    "I heard about some people 

who were singing for the Lord, 

so I packed up my car and I got on board. 

I headed down the road to old Enderby, 

and to the Southern Gospel Jamboree.” 

     Actually, six of us girls made our way to Enderby in a mini-van to enjoy this year’s concert, Singing’ Good News. 

     

     What a great way to get — Refreshed, Renewed, Revived!

      Each year, a variety of musical guests present the Good News of the Gospel in word and song. A short stop at the Log Barn, Armstrong location, saw us enjoying our bag lunch in the picnic area. Having attended these concerts for several years already, they have become a favourite of mine. 

     Another weekend delight was a barbecue gathering at Terri and Jim’s home on the lakeshore, overlooking our lovely Okanagan Lake. 

     Our Alpha group that met at church in January, decided to have a get-together to see what has transpired in each of our lives since then. Terri and Jim, who were our leaders, offered to be our gracious hosts. We all seemed to enjoy reconnecting, as we renewed friendships, feeling continued love and concern for each other. 

     My pastor’s Sunday morning sermon reminded me that God knew me at the beginning of all time and already had a role for me to play in His eternal purpose. 

     He chose me, giving me the Great Exchange — my unrighteousness for His righteousness. How wonderful that I am now called “His child!”  

    The following is a true story from the Far East Broadcasting Association which, reaches people with the good news of the gospel through radio in many far-away corners of the earth.  

     “Seven Hindu boys in India, were sitting in a tree — whiling away time, as children often do. 
     One of the boys brought a radio with him and it happened to be tuned in to an FEBC International program. 
'If you’re ever afraid or lonely,' the boys heard the broadcaster say, 'call on the Name of Jesus, and He will help you.' 
     Just then, a neighbourhood woman, known to be demon-possessed, burst out of her house and ran down the street screaming. 
     The boys watched as this scary woman knocked over chairs, garbage cans …anything in her way. 
     As she ran closer to the boys, they panicked. 'Hey, do what they said on the radio,' one of them yelled. 'Call out the Name of Jesus.' 
     Skeptically, the other boys in the tree looked at their friend …but as the crazed woman bore down on them, they turned and shouted in unison: 'Jesus!' Immediately, the woman fell to the ground. 
     The boys stared in amazement and questioned amongst themselves: was the demon-possessed woman, who was now quiet, suddenly changed because of Jesus? 
     Still shaken, the boys contacted the radio station …and the ministry’s team talked to them about Jesus, visited them, brought them Bibles, and kept in touch. 
     Eventually, the seven Hindu boys — who first heard about Jesus through a radio broadcast — committed their hearts to the Lord! 
     

     Each of them was baptized and later attended seminary, with plans to pastor others and lead them to Jesus, in the same way that the radio ministry staff had led them to do so, many years before.”

     How wonderful that the message of Jesus’ love is still being carried to the many corners of the earth. 

    
     When all have had the privilege to “hear,” then Jesus will come back. 

     Praise God!

— beulah