Pastors' Blog

By Pioneer Pastors

Oct
30
October 30, 2024
By Esther Knott

On Sunday, October 27, just before sunrise, more than 250 people made their way to Johnson Gym on the campus of Andrews University for an 8:00 AM start to begin the Christmas Behind Bars project to prepare care packages for those who are in prison. A fresh crew of about 200 more joined the project at 10:00 AM In just 3 hours and 11 minutes the group of approximately 450 men and women, boys and girls, prepared 6,912 bags. During the Christmas season, every inmate in the Nebraska State Penitentiary system will receive one of these care packages.

The care packages included: Christian literature, a seasoning mix, a handmade card, Bible Study Guides from 3ABN, pretzel sticks, a popping stocking, Ramen Noodles, Graham Crackers, Sweet Tarts, marshmallows, sweet Haven plant-based candy, Planters peanuts, crackers, thirst quencher power packets, cheddar popcorn, a calendar, and of course—a candy cane. 

The project was sponsored by Andrews University, the North American Division, Pioneer Memorial Church, Berrien Springs Village Adventist Church, and the Center for Community Engagement. Between these groups, $8,000 was raised to bring this ministry to our campus. In addition—the Student Missions Program provided snacks and water for the volunteers. 

Project coordinators Teela Ruehle and Esther Knott were thrilled with the number of people who came to help. All four long lines of tables were full of people filling bags like in an assembly line. It was a high-energy, family-friendly event. People wore name tags which helped to build a sense of community. Participants jumped right in to do whatever was needed, including taking care of the mountains of cardboard that had held the products. Several strong men got their Sunday morning workout by efficiently loading the Christmas Behind Bars trailer.

The Friday before the event several groups were involved in the setting up: the Andrews University Custodial Department, students from Ruth Murdoch Elementary School and Andrews Academy, and campus and community friends.

Lemuel Vega, the Director of Christmas Behind Bars, was especially pleased with the event. He’s grateful for the leadership of Pastor Shane Anderson, Pastor Ron Kelly, Teela Ruhle, and Esther Knott who used their influence to call the church and the campus to respond to Jesus’ call to visit those who are in prison.

A video report on this project will air as part of 3ABN Today Live on Thursday October 31 starting at 9pm EDT.

Oct
23
October 23, 2024
By Prescott Khair

Losing is unpleasant.

If you have been following the post-season of professional baseball you are most likely disappointed, unless you cheer for the Yankees or the Dodgers, who are set to face off in the upcoming World Series. Even then, one fan base will come away disappointed at the end of that contest. If you are following American politics, election day is just under two weeks away. Regardless of the outcome in the presidential, state, or local elections, one side will end the day in complete disappointment.

In a world where disappointments come in all shapes, sizes, and settings, losing is particularly unpleasant. Losing loudly declares that someone or something else was more desired, more loved, more equipped, more powerful, more intelligent, more… than you. Losing is unpleasant. We much prefer the powerful feeling of victory over the humiliation of defeat. Yes, we, human beings, like to win.

Yet, when I think of the cross, the gospel, and the only Messiah the world has ever known, I see a gospel of the voluntary “loser”. Matthew’s account of the crucifixion spares no detail to show the reader just how humiliating the cross was for Jesus and his followers.

Matthew 27
27
Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. 28 They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29 and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said. 30 They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. 31 After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.

The ancient viewer of the scene would stand in awe, disgust, or jeers at the purported God-Man, dressed in royalty, being mocked and put to death by the only government that generation had ever known. The casual followers of Jesus would have known the bitterness of losing. Losing their influence in a new rising kingdom, their hope in a better tomorrow, their promise of freedom, peace, and wholeness. Yes, for the followers of Jesus, the cross was the ultimate symbol of loss. Rome had won. Jesus and the kingdom had died. It wouldn’t be until the resurrection and ascension that twelve disciples would be able to reinterpret the cross, not as loss, but as the most incredible victory the world has ever known.

Writing on the crucifixion, the Christian scholar, Reinhold Neibuhr once wrote,

“The crux of the cross is its revelation of the fact that the final power of God over man is derived from the self-imposed weakness of his love. This self-imposed weakness does not [take away] from the majesty of God. His mercy is the final dimension of His majesty. This is the Christian answer to the final problem of human existence. The worship of God is reverence toward the mysterious source and end of all of life….”

Neibuhr continues,

…A truly "holy" God must be both powerful and good. Impotent or limited goodness is not divine. It can not be worshiped. Its weakness arouses pity rather than worship… …But power without goodness cannot be worshiped either. It may be feared, or possibly defied; but reverence must be withheld1.

The Gospel of the Loser is just this. The voluntary submission of the most powerful being the universe has ever known in order to exercise the greatest power the world has ever experienced. The cross became the paradox through which the majesty of god was displayed through apparent “loss” to the empire of Rome. It was the creation of God purportedly usurping the power of God. Yet, this loss became the most powerful tool to move even the hardest of hearts into a posture of humble submission reorienting creation to the heart of the creator.

This reorientation is seen most dramatically in the words of the battle-hardened Centurion when he was moved by the selflessness of Jesus hanging on the cross.

Matthew 27:54

 

When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”

Power and Weakness

 

Modern Christians are called to demonstrate the same weakness and power in their lives. The weakness of humility, love, and Christlikeness stands in stark contrast to the abusive, coercive use of power by which our world is run. Yet, the Christian’s humility of actions, words and example exercises the greatest power in the most unexpected ways. This power of cross-like weakness cuts through every defense put up by the most hardened of human hearts. It penetrates much deeper than any law or statute going far further than modifying behavior through threat of legal penalty. This power of cross-like weakness mingles with the divine breath of life to change its recipient from the inside out at a level that can only be described as recreation in real time.

The Gospel of the Loser

 

This fall regardless of what competition toward which you had staked your interest, your hopes, your desires, your reputation and your future, remember that cross-like humility, weakness, self-emptying benevolence is a more powerful change agent than any human win could ever accomplish.

1. Niebuhr, Reinhold. 1987. The Essential Reinhold Niebuhr : Selected Essays and
Addresses. New Haven: Yale University Press. Accessed October 21, 2024. ProQuest
Ebook Central.

Oct
16
October 16, 2024
By John Glass

A week ago Thursday I was sitting at my desk thinking about what had been presented at House of Prayer the night before. Part of the presentation was a re-reading of Isaiah 53. Have you read it recently? It’s only 12 verses long, but before you read any more of this blog you might want to read that. 

In John 5:39 Jesus admonishes the religious leaders of that time that all their study of the scriptures which they did, thinking they were getting into the kingdom that way, didn’t do them any good—because the scriptures testify of him, but they refused to believe in him so, In other words, the entire Bible, which is all about Jesus whom they wouldn’t believe in, didn’t do them any good. Isaiah 53 is, of course, part of the scriptures and tells part of the story of Jesus. 

Which part? The sad part. The painful part. If you want to read sadness, like the Sabbath School quarterly suggests, John 11 is probably the saddest section of any of the Gospels: Jesus even sheds tears. Have you ever lost someone you loved? This far into a world of sin there are very few people who haven’t. Even though Jesus came, knowing what he was going to do, didn’t mitigate the pain he felt for Martha and Mary. 

Is. 53.3 says that Jesus was “a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.” V. 4: “Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering.” As sensitive as Jesus was, the pain of every single person he interacted with must have touched a resonant chord in his soul. It doesn’t say that he wept tears like with the widow of Nain, yet I don’t think there is any question as to whether or not Jesus knew how people felt—the pain they carried for whatever reason. The leader of the synagogue, Jairus, lost his heart when the servants came and told him not to bother the healer any longer because his daughter had just passed. I see Jesus putting his arm around Jairus as he told him, “Don’t fear; just believe.” Imagine the joy he felt as Jairus and his wife took their daughter in their arms. If Jesus had tears, they would have been tears of joy at bringing happiness to that family. 

Jesus still knows exactly how we feel about things. When our hearts are as broken as possible, he knows. Bring your broken heart to him. He can take care of it. 

There were two times when Jesus endured pain beyond measure. One was on the Mount of Olives when he was riding the colt, looking over the valley at the temple. He saw into the future and knew what was coming to the people he loved because they would not believe in him. Desire of Ages says that he sobbed huge, racking sobs. His people broke his heart. The other time when the pain could not have been any worse, was when he gasped out, “Eloi, Eloi; lama sabachthani.” (My God, my God, why have you forsaken me.) V. 10: “It was the will of the Lord to crush him and cause him to suffer.” V. 11: “After he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied…”

Pain? Bring whatever pain you have to him, and trust him to give healing to your heart. And as far as your relationship with him is concerned, don’t cause him any more pain than he’s already experienced, by rejecting him and refusing to believe in him. Put your faith in him and keep looking in confidence to him: he can and will heal whatever pain you are experiencing. 

Oct
9
October 9, 2024
By Hans Miranda Chavez

The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender. (Proverbs 22:7 NIV).

Have you ever wondered why people go into debt? Governments go into debt, major institutions go into debt, and even the church sometimes goes into debt. So why wouldn’t I go into debt? I’d say these are fair questions to ask. Governments, major institutions, and churches would become in debt because they have no cash for immediate expenditures, so they borrow or request a loan (usually from a banking institution). Debt appears to be the norm, but is this a twenty-first-century issue, or has it occurred in the past? Debt is an old problem. There are stories of debt from many years ago, even in biblical times. 

In times of Nehemiah, some people had gone into debt to feed their families (Neh. 5:2) or to pay their taxes (v. 4). While going into debt to feed your family or pay your taxes may be seen as the right thing to do due to necessity, sometimes the mere reason why people go into debt is that they want to have more than they have. Sometimes, it may be because people are unaware of biblical finance principles. What does the Bible say about debt?

The Bible has fifty-nine instances where debt is mentioned. How many of those fifty-nine citations do you think are positive instances? How many negatives? If you guessed that all fifty-nine instances were negative, you are correct. For example, in the Old Testament, “Do not be one of those who shakes hands in a pledge, one of those who is surety for debts.” (Prov. 22:26). In the New Testament, “Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.” (Rom. 13:8). The Bible repeatedly warns us about the dangers of debt and urges us not to allow ourselves to be overwhelmed by it, especially when we have no realistic way of paying it back. While staying out of debt today may be challenging, we should do our best to adhere to the biblical principle. What should I do if I am already in debt?

Here are three steps to follow if you are struggling with debt: To the best of your abilities, avoid getting into additional debt before you are so indebted that you cannot repay it anymore. Second, when God blesses you with extra cash, do not spend it; instead, use it to pay off your debt. Lastly, pay your debt as soon as possible by arranging them from largest to smallest. Do this by paying the minimum in all your debts except for the largest one. Once the largest debt is fully paid off, use the money you spent on paying for it and reduce the next in line with the extra payments until you are debt-free. While it appears simplistic here, creating this financial habit will ensure you direct yourself to a debt-free future and stay debt-free.

I have one last recommendation for you. In the New Testament, the Apostle Peter shares with us wise words: “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” (1 Pet. 5:7 NLT). Yes, this verse applies to your financial well-being. Give your financial worries to God, who will take care of you.

Sep
25
September 25, 2024
By John Glass

Have you ever wondered just where God is? Of course, He is seated on His throne up in the third heaven, but if we could see with clearer insight, we’d realize He is very present in our world.  

Ellen White expressed it like this: "Every leaf grows, every flower blooms, every fruit develops, by the power of God.”  One of the things that is so appealing about this part of Michigan is our trees; they’re gorgeous.  Another thing is all the eatables that are grown here. Think about all the items God created specifically for food: apples, pears, cherries, peaches, tomatoes, sweet corn, melons, grapes, et. al.  Every single leaf, every blade of grass, grows as a result of God’s power. We do, too.  

Then there are the seasons. We’re at the point right now of summer turning into autumn: 90 degree days turning into 70 & 80 degree days, then even cooler. One of the things that makes this time of year so beautiful is the colorful autumn leaves. I’ve often thought that God went wild with color with birds, tropical fish, autumn leaves, and flowers.  I still am amazed at how chlorophyll masks the colors: they’re there all the time. Then when shortened daylight occurs the chlorophyll disappears, and the colors emerge.  

This changing of the seasons reminds me of something God told Noah after he got off the ark. “As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.”  Genesis 8.22. This tells me that as long as the world continues and seasons come and go, then God is still on the throne. He is. He is ruling His universe. As a wise ruler He is very aware of what is going on here.  

Check out Daniel 2.20-23 and the words of Daniel's prayer of gratitude when God showed him the king’s dream. “He changes times and seasons, he deposes kings and raises up others…” If that is true for kings—and it is—then do you suppose it’s also true for Presidents and Governors? I think so. The implications of this are what is behind the scenes of the upcoming election, is surely God is moving to accomplish His purposes. It’s almost like whoever ends up in office is there because God chose them to be there. I don’t know that I can say that point blank, but it seems to ring in.  

What about the lives you and I live?  All those events we’re mystified and troubled by?  Can it be that God knows all about every one of them? If he knows the number of hairs on our head, 

then He’s well aware of what’s going on in our lives. And if, in conclusion, I may make a suggestion, then rather than spending so much energy in attempting to control our world, maybe the thing we need to do is put our energies to work in connecting with the God of heaven, the Father of Jesus. As you and I cooperate with Him we will be amazed at all He does.  

Sep
18
September 18, 2024
By Ben Martin

I was confronted with this when I had just begun the 8th grade. We had just moved from Tennessee to Indonesia. Two years later, we moved to Australia, and after a year and a half, we moved back to Tennessee. Not only had this been a lot of disruption, but each move left me feeling like I did not fit in. I did not realize why at the time; it was not until much later that I was introduced to the idea of third culture kids.

A third culture kid, or TCK, is a child raised in a culture different from the parents. Berrien Springs is full of TCKs. This little corner of Michigan has drawn people from around the globe to learn here at Andrews. Many of them already had families and brought them along for the ride.

That feeling of not fitting in was not unique to me. This is a stereotypical TCK feeling. Growing up in a culture different from the parents’ culture also creates a divide at home. The kids feel as if they do not fit in their home culture, nor do they fully fit in the culture where they live, hence the ‘third culture.’

As people look at the differences between generations, with the world changing at speeds never seen before, we realize that children today are growing up so different from their parents that we see third culture kid symptoms in people who have never left their hometowns. We are raising a generation who does not know where to fit in, and the disconnect between parents and their children is growing.

Fear not; there is good news. Third culture kids can cross cultural lines with fluidity. They learn to speak both languages and although they do not feel as deeply rooted in any single culture, they can connect with people from both cultures. This generation, who has spent their entire lives with smartphones in hand, can connect to people that we in the older generations cannot.

We know that Jesus is coming soon, and we must reach people of every nation, race, language, and generation. The world is changing at such speeds that it is hard to comprehend. This is why if we are going to finish the work, we need disciples of every single age on board! We need the young with their phones. We need the middle-aged and their minivans. We need older adults and their sage wisdom. 

And it is okay if we don’t fully fit in here on earth; Heaven is our home!

Mar
20
March 20, 2024
By Prescott Khair

Godly sorrow produces repentance that leads to salvation and brings no regret, but the sorrow of the world produces death - 2 Corinthians 7:10

Springtime across the wider Christian world celebrates the story of past mistakes being covered over by Jesus’ blood. The sacrificial, atonement Jesus made on the cross stands as a testament to the truly amazing nature of grace. A grace that is so deep, so wide, so rich, so beautiful that it can cover every sin inside never to be seen again. There truly is something amazing about grace that is extended to sinners like you and I.

Yet, too often that aforementioned grace is negated by the one factor in this universe that can undo it. You. Me. Us. Each of us has our own secrets of sordid nature that lurk in our past. Yes, grace covers them. Grace wipes that slate clean. Jesus, himself, won’t remember those sins again (read Zechariah 3, Micah 7:19, Isaiah 43:25 as a quick refresher). But, we do. Somehow the most powerful force in the universe - the Grace of the Almighty Creator God - can be outdone by our memories. Some individuals are never able to move forward in their faith journey’s because they are trapped by their own remembrance of their sinful past.

The verse at the beginning of this blog (2 Corinthians 7:10) is a reminder that there are indeed two roads that diverge in vastly different directions. Both roads have sorrow, but one leads to life and the other to death. Theologians and Pastors, far smarter than I, have preached and written on the differences and meaning of these sorrows. I tend to view these sorrows through the lens of guilt and shame. Two approaches, two vastly different outcomes.

Therapist and researcher Brene Brown has spent a career understanding the effects of shame and guilt on human beings. In her own words, she describes the difference between shame and guilt as such:

I believe that guilt is adaptive and helpful—it’s holding something we’ve done or failed to do up against our values and feeling psychological discomfort.

I define shame as the intensely painful feeling or experience of believing that we are flawed and therefore unworthy of love and belonging—something we’ve experienced, done, or failed to do makes us unworthy of connection.

I don’t believe shame is helpful or productive. In fact, I think shame is much more likely to be the source of destructive, hurtful behavior than the solution or cure. I think the fear of disconnection can make us dangerous.[1]

Shame is an insidious thing. It creeps into every facet of our lives seeking to destroy us from the inside out. Shame is the voice that tells us there is no coming back even when God’s grace tells us otherwise. Guilt, on the other hand, is the reminder of the wrongs we’ve done that leads us to the grace that we are gifted because of what Jesus has done.

As Brown states, the deadliness of shame is that it makes us dangerous. The stories of Peter and Judas illustrate that well. Judas’ story of betrayal ends in a scene with no hope. A man possessed by shame and seeing no way out of the mess he had made. A desperate and dangerous, making decisions that could never be undone. Shame is a dangerous thing. It makes us dangerous because it eliminates the possibility of hope and connection with God. Peter’s story, on the other hand, shows what happens when guilt makes room for grace. Peter’s guilt, make no mistake, was crushing but it wasn’t permanent. After the resurrection, by the seashore, Jesus’ gentle words of restoration, “Follow me” (John 21:19) reminded Peter that no matter the sin there was still space for connection with the Saviour.

Pioneer Memorial Church and the Andrews University Center for Faith Engagement believe strongly that each person has an opportunity for grace rather than shame. And, this season, we wanted to remind you of that. So, we got a group of students together to write a brand new, original for 2024, musical (yes, originally written songs) that will tell the story of guilt and shame. This musical is called, Through His Eyes. It will be shown at Pioneer Memorial Church on March 30 (doors open 4:30 PM) and March 31 (doors open 5:30 PM). Everyone is invited to this free event which will showcase how grace can cover our worst mistakes and give us a better future.

[1] Brown, B. (2013, January 15). Shame vs. guilt. Brené Brown. https://brenebrown.com/articles/2013/01/15/shame-v-guilt/

Mar
6
March 6, 2024
By Glenn Russell

The Honduras Mission Trip During the New Years’ break, our eleven Pioneer Youth Mission volunteers served at the Hogar de Niños (children’s home) conducting a day camp for about 75-90 children from the Hogar and the local community. The camp, directed by Scott Schalk, provided Bible class, music, crafts, health and sports activities each day. Afternoons and evenings were spent with the children at the Hogar de Niños operated by REACH International.

Additionally the team conducted worships each evening and on Sabbaths. Thanks to generous donations to Pioneer Youth Missions we were able to provide 65 families with food for an entire month. Glenn Russell described the team’s experience:

“Pioneer Youth Missions teams have been coming to this special place in Honduras for 25 years. Our lives are blessed by the hugs, prayers, laughter and worship together with these precious children. And we are inspired by the dedicated staff at the home. It was a privilege to support and assist in their service for God.”

Glenn Russell, Pioneer Youth Missions director
Scott Schalk, Pioneer Friendship Camp director

Jan
24
January 24, 2024
By Prescott Khair

It’s small group season at Pioneer!

Discipleship comes in many forms across our campus and our church. One of the most common is the small group. It’s seen in Sabbath Schools, in Grow Groups and the natural connections people form around friendships and common interests. I think about how Jesus utilized the table and fellowship to craft intimate moments of discipleship with those he was closest to. Think about his feet being anointed and the aroma wafting through the house during what could be considered a small group meeting. The lesson resonates still to this day about devotion to God being the most important aspect of faith. Small groups provide the space where lessons like that can learned. They also are places of shared connection and refreshing after times of intense ministry activity or life changes. I think about our campus small groups (which are a strong part of our Grow Group program – there are 16 run by and for our students!). Among those small groups we have a special group dedicated for our returned student missionaries to reconnect and share moments of faith and difficulty from their time abroad sharing and being the gospel.

The following excerpt is written by Kelli Coffen, AU Student and Returned Missionary Teacher.

“I don’t know if there is anything more exciting than someone asking you to share pictures from a recent trip or adventure you have just returned from. The joy of getting to relive the experience and share the details and funny moments you experienced precipitates laughter and smiles from your captivated audience. 

Last week I got to experience this joy as our student missions small group kicked off and our conversation quickly turned to our time serving and the joys and sorrows that accompanied our time abroad. It can be incredibly difficult to capture the true essence of spending a semester, summer, or year as a missionary, but the comradery and understanding that only fellow missionaries can provide is such an exciting place to be. Finally feeling like you can share the intimate details and be honest about the hardships of being away from home, living in a new country, learning how to be a teacher, and just missing out on life back home. How do you convey that to someone who has never experienced it? 

Nestled around tables full of dinosaur coloring pages and snacks, these returned student missionaries began to open up when their fellow SM’s began asking questions about what they did, what it was like, and if they missed it. Soon phones came up to show pictures of beloved students or pets, well-loved living spaces, and favorite dishes they had experienced. Stories poured out from everyone as they related to each other’s experiences and affirmed the hardships and joys that they each experienced in their own ways. It was clear that connections were being made and bonds just beginning to form between these students tied together by a common experience in ministry. 

These intimate connections and personal stories may never make it to the stage of Pioneer or a vespers program, but the impact they had will be felt in the relationships formed from this mutual exchange of lived-experiences. That’s part of the beauty that comes only from small groups– individuals feel empowered to share openly and honestly in a way that church services and pews just can’t provide. There is an implied intimacy that comes with a small group where you are able to learn everyone’s names, make a personal connection, engage in a Bible study or activity together, and truly see one another for who you are. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 says, “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” I’ve felt so blessed to be able to begin to experience this building up in a small group and cannot wait for more individuals to be able to open their camera rolls and share their adventures to allow us to build them up and build community.” – Kelli Coffen

If you are looking to have a small group experience like the one described above, check out our Grow Groups at pmchurch.org/grow. There you can find one around aligning with your interests and your discipleship needs in your current season of life. Or, maybe you have a passion to help others by leading one. We have a spot for new groups, too! Either way, don’t miss out on a key piece of the discipleship journey. Join a Grow Group today.

Dec
27
December 27, 2023
By John Glass

Usually, I never think of presents of past Christmases, but this year has been different.  

One present I’ll never forget sticks out in my mind with clarity. It’s been so long now that I no longer remember when it happened, but I’ll never forget what did happen.  

I must have been about 8 or 9 years old. That summer my parents took off for a week leaving me with one of my aunts. While I was staying with her I not only got better acquainted with her grandson, a cousin of mine, I also discovered his Lionel train set; in plain English, it was to “die for”. I came home with my heart set on getting an electric train of my own.  

I don’t remember how it was I began to pray about it, but I did. Looking back, the way I prayed was pretty unique. I didn’t really know God and what to expect from Him, but I knew an electric train set had parts, and I was afraid that God just might forget or overlook a necessary component, so I handed Him a list of parts: engine, tender, several cars, caboose, tracks, transformer and wires to connect the transformer and tracks—just to keep Him from omitting something that would make the train inoperable.

Every day I prayed that prayer. Every day I ran the list by God. Every day I hoped the train would come—complete.  

Christmas at last arrived. That morning I crawled out of bed and started downstairs. When I turned the corner and could see the living room floor I almost jumped out of my skin: there was my train going around the tracks under the tree. I let out a shriek and flew down the rest of the stairs and flopped down beside it on the floor and watched it go round and round. I must have been the most excited, happiest kid in town that day.  

Looking back at that day there are a few lessons you and I can take away. First of all, what kind of God are we praying to? I never learned how it was that my father got a train set for me (and spent half the night with a fellow down the street putting it together—you know: “some assembly required”—and playing with it). There wasn’t a single part missing. The tracks were mounted on a sheet of plywood with a tunnel on one side. I didn’t do very much that day except play with that train. I remember being amazed that God remembered every part. Now, what father would get his kid a longed-for present and overlook a few parts so it wouldn’t work? My father didn’t, but our Heavenly Father, who must have impressed him, wouldn’t do that either.  

One of these days life here as we’ve known it will be complete. We’ll get to know our Father God, and He’ll show us all that He did that we never knew, and realize just how good He really was to us through our entire life. We’ll learn what all the gifts He gave us were and the smiles He wore as He gave them to us—like the smiles we had as we watched our children open the gifts we gave them. You know, we have a wonderful God who loves us completely, and isn’t it wonderful how we can become like Him?