THE BIG, BIG. *BIG* GIFT -- Just a Minute for Monday 12-15-08

            Howdy Once again…

 

            Some have had some *really* bad winter weather. I suspect the folks who go to work in Dublin, New Hampshire may not be able to work today because of power outages. That would mean the “Old Farmer’s Almanac” and “Yankee” magazine folks would have to haul out the manual typewriters and fire up the wood stoves.  Or perhaps just stay home if it’s warm there… And I’ve seen enough people with their BIG wood sheds to know lots of them know how to keep warm.

They’ll have stories to tell the grandchildren about the ‘GREAT ICE STORM’ of the winter of ’08.

 

            Nonetheless – let’s send up a prayer for the folks affected by this pre-winter ice storm that really shut down big portions of New England – and particularly New Hampshire as I read the news reports. It’ll be taxing even for ‘Yankee Ingenuity” to come through.

 

            Down south here it’s been much milder – but still we’ve had our welcome rains… and can still stand more they say.  The lakes in upstate SC are still *very* low – too low for safe boating and winter fishing if you’re into that.

 

            Meantime the world still turns – and Chicago politics still grinds small. I think it’s sad the Chicago area has to stand the chaffing that comes from the actions of a few. I wish the law enforcement people well in trying to unravel this tangled web. But let’s not obsess about this. It’s the time of year we celebrate Christ’s first Advent… coming to earth by His Father’s good will that all mankind should be saved. There’s no better news than that – no matter what the BIG 3  auto-makers think. In 100 years it will be entirely forgotten --- that’s *my* prediction… and I’ll buy you a steak dinner if you find it not so. J How many people are discomfited in these days by the demise of the buggy-whip factories?

 

            Cordially, IN HIM

 

            Jack Buttram

 

http://www.jebcovoice.net/audio/jama12-15-08.mp3

 

http://www.jebcovoice.net/scripts/jamt12-15-08.doc

 

 

“JUST A MINUTE”

THE BIG, BIG, BIG GIFT

JUST A MINUTE – This weekend, I re-encountered the story of William Carey – called the father of modern missions.

In the 18^th century, the prevailing mindset was Jesus words “go into all the world …” was intended only for the Apostles. But this little-known cobbler,  unconvinced by the conventional wisdom, and stirred by the printed words of Jonathan Edwards – New England pastor and leader of the First Great (Spiritual) Awakening of 1747 – joined with five other pastors, and set aside one day of every month to fast and pray for  -- “the extension of Christ’s kingdom in the world.”

For eight years they prayed – after Carey published his little book about the obligation of all Christians to reach the unsaved. A year afterward he sailed for India where he spent the rest of his life, never returning to his homeland, making Christ known to people who had never before heard the Gospel.

This season – we think of Christmas gifts. Here’s a man who gave himself – totally -- to reach out to people he did not know. His missionary effort impacted unknown thousands of souls, for all eternity.

What a gift.

<> I’m Jack Buttram

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