This week we’ve begun getting ready for fall. A final trim for the hedge, cleaning up the garden beds, harvesting the last of the tomatoes and tackling one of the two full-sized apple trees (I’m still sore from that one – Tree #2 will have to wait). I’ve noticed, though, that every day gives us opportunity to learn from and about the Lord… even in the midst of ugliness.
This week I heard a message entitled “The Greatest Hour of the Church”.
The faith-filled part of me affirmed the statement. My inner skeptic, however, wanted to simply reduce the title to a by-product of today’s tendency to describe EVERYTHING as… “the biggest”, “the best” and “the most incredible”… ever!
In the end… my inner skeptic lost the bet.
Hey there… Let’s talk about Short-Term Missions.
Today I’d like to address the question of Language and STM:
Well for a guy that likes to have a picture to go with everything, two of the neatest things to happen this week have no picture. It’s kind of a cardinal sin in my books but I’m willing to roll with it and will do my best to tell you about them non-photographico!
Today’s feature image shows a rather curious structure. It is more reminiscent of a Native American dwelling than something you’d find at a French high school… but it’s an important spot. Let me tell you why…
If you’re reading this and you speak French… you will no doubt be surprised to see this as the feature image for today’s post… “God’s a rip-off”. Keep reading and you’ll see what’s up with that!
OK, let’s be clear… today’s feature image is not a picture of me on the road again (I’m for sure not zipping around France in a vintage, red convertible) but it is something I saw while on my way.
Stretches like this, national roads lined with Plane Trees or Sycamores, are a pretty common sight and a welcome break from the frantic pace of the highways, which are extra busy with vacation travel. I came through this stretch yesterday, on my way home from Bible School which took up the bulk of my week, but first let me tell you about an unexpected treat.
It’s been quite a week. North America experienced Charlottesville, then Europe went reeling from Barcelona and Finland.
I don’t get it… but I do.
Grapes. Lots & lots of grapes.
I’ve always loved the symbolism and from the time I had my own home, had a grapevine planted somewhere in the garden. “Symbolism?”, you may ask, “What symbolism?”
In the Old Testament book of Numbers (13:23-25) the Israelites sent to spy out the promised land discovered a place of plenty. In particular, they found a grapevine that was producing so well that they clipped a bunch of grapes to take back to the rest of their countrymen as proof. That bunch of grapes was so big that it took two men to carry it on a stick. It was proof that God had provided a good place for them to enter, a place of provision… truly a promised land!
AIM Long 