One of my dearest friends on earth passed away Monday morning. Don was a giant of a man: a man of faith, wisdom and insight; a philosopher and a scholar until the day he died. He finally succumbed to age and Parkinson’s. He was my kids’ grandfather-in-residence while we were raising our girls far away from family. We joined together with him and Marian, his wife, and two of his daighters as they were planting the Nazarene Church in Laurinburg, NC. That was the church I was in when God called me to preach.
Don’s shadow was the one resting over me as I prepared for ministry. Much of what I am today as a pastor can be traced directly to the sharp insight, challenging words, and skillful hands of Don Ekis. I have never gotten away from those probing conversations. Nor do I ever want to. Last spring, Lana and I planned to see him on our way to SC. When I contacted Marian, she responded, we are leaving that very day to go to Texas to be near Carolyn. Oh, no! I didn’t want to think of it, but I felt in my heart, “I’ll never see Don on this earth again.” Still, I held some glimmer of hope that somehow, somewhere, sometime, I would. On Monday, that hope was gone. It was over.
But, that hope is in heaven with Jesus! I will have to await my own arrival there for another conversation. But, thanks be to God, in Jesus it’s never over!
The Bible teaches us that God is leading us “in triumphal procession.” He is changing us from glory to glory. What was the former glory is nothing compared to the surpassing glory that is ahead. Thanks, Don, for showing us the way.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Wisdom
In Matthew 25, Jesus told a parable to teach us about the Kingdom of heaven:
When I was a child I learned the little chorus at Vacation Bible School: "Give me oil in my lamp; keep me burning..." I'm glad that I was taught that song. That is a good sentiment for children of the Kingdom to have.
Do you have oil in your lamp? If you are wise you do. If you are wise, you will seek to understand just what that means and how you can accomplish it in your life.
God does not move on our timetable. As a matter of fact, he is not nearly as concerned about time as we are. He often delays his movement, but never without reason. As you wait for him to fulfill his purpose in your life, keep on trusting him - and keep oil in your lamp! Through a steady diet of prayer and God's Word you will keep your lamps filled. Prayer and God's Word are the jars in which we carry the oil of God's Spirit. If we fill up at the beginning of the day, we will have enough to get us through the day and the long night. But be careful! Do not think that you can do it just once and be done. When our lamps burn, they consume oil. We must fill them each and every day!
I have a friend who is facing a trial similar to the one I faced in 2008. When I saw him at a recent conference he shared with me all that has happened. My heart was broken, both for him and his wife and family, but also for my own sake as I relived the dark days from my past in his story. How similar are our stories! I was able to tell him that God is faithful! I remember how hard it was in those days - without any knowledge of what my future held and feeling forgotten by The Church. Yet in the dark night, God had not forgotten me. His presence sustained me. How? Through prayer and the Word of God. I literally spent hours with God each morning. But, oh how rich my life became! What a habit developed in my life! While it seemed to take way too long for me, the oil never ran out, and my hope was never depleted!
Take heart, my friend. God is with you and at the end of the long night the bridegroom will arrive. Keep your lamp filled!
1"At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
6"At midnight the cry rang out: 'Here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!'
7"Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8The foolish ones said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.'
9" 'No,' they replied, 'there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.'
10"But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.
11"Later the others also came. 'Sir! Sir!' they said. 'Open the door for us!'
12"But he replied, 'I tell you the truth, I don't know you.'
13"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.
When I was a child I learned the little chorus at Vacation Bible School: "Give me oil in my lamp; keep me burning..." I'm glad that I was taught that song. That is a good sentiment for children of the Kingdom to have.
Do you have oil in your lamp? If you are wise you do. If you are wise, you will seek to understand just what that means and how you can accomplish it in your life.
God does not move on our timetable. As a matter of fact, he is not nearly as concerned about time as we are. He often delays his movement, but never without reason. As you wait for him to fulfill his purpose in your life, keep on trusting him - and keep oil in your lamp! Through a steady diet of prayer and God's Word you will keep your lamps filled. Prayer and God's Word are the jars in which we carry the oil of God's Spirit. If we fill up at the beginning of the day, we will have enough to get us through the day and the long night. But be careful! Do not think that you can do it just once and be done. When our lamps burn, they consume oil. We must fill them each and every day!
I have a friend who is facing a trial similar to the one I faced in 2008. When I saw him at a recent conference he shared with me all that has happened. My heart was broken, both for him and his wife and family, but also for my own sake as I relived the dark days from my past in his story. How similar are our stories! I was able to tell him that God is faithful! I remember how hard it was in those days - without any knowledge of what my future held and feeling forgotten by The Church. Yet in the dark night, God had not forgotten me. His presence sustained me. How? Through prayer and the Word of God. I literally spent hours with God each morning. But, oh how rich my life became! What a habit developed in my life! While it seemed to take way too long for me, the oil never ran out, and my hope was never depleted!
Take heart, my friend. God is with you and at the end of the long night the bridegroom will arrive. Keep your lamp filled!
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