From the ashes

he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, Titus 3:5

Just a few days ago, on July 4th an accidental fire, which originated on the outside of the building, caused extensive fire damage to the two year old Muncie Mission, the inspiration and dream of founder Rev. Ray Raines. It renewed painful memories for me, as all fire losses do, of the house fire my family survived in 1985. The feeling is hard to describe but it’s like when you’re doing and job and your hand makes unexpected contact with a sharp object or a tool and through the pain all you can think about is getting that glove off and making sure all the digits are there. And finding all members present the pain is so much more tolerable. The most important thing we learned as a family from that experience was fully realizing that the most important things in our lives are our health, our family and our faith.

I’ve been in spiritual winter the past week. A chronic sinus infection that I’ve been battling all summer turned severe and its symptoms caused me to lose focus, concentration, motivation and inspiration. I equated it to having a three beer buzz with a constant headache. It is times like that I find myself clinging to my faith feeling the full impact of Paul’s words, Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1 I’m now going through what my EENT Specialist called “blasting” (high dosage of antibiotics, steroids, antihistamines, etc) in preparation for a CT scan of my sinus’s and I’m starting to feel somewhat normal.

Just as our home rose and grew from the ashes to be a loving and fruitful home, and as my spirit has been renewed and refreshed by the onset of healing of my body, I’m just as certain with the help of servants faithful to the calling of Christ through the Muncie Mission, it too will rise to be stronger and more fruitful than before. "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26

Bless you brothers, live this day in peace, in His Word.