On the Road Again

 In just a few hours I will lug out my old, weathered suitcase and pack for my next preaching trip. Something I have done numerous times before. I am headed northwest to the mountains of New Mexico. Three things make this trip unique. One is that I will miss my 32nd wedding anniversary. This is not the first time I have missed it due to preaching some camp, revival or being on a mission trip. We will celebrate when I return home. The second unique part of this trip is that Turner, our youngest, is going with me not just to attend, but to actually do the morning teaching. That will make this camp all the more special for me. Lastly, I preached camps for this church in New Mexico nearly two decades ago. Some of the same people are in leadership. The students are new, but we are seeking the same God. 

Only for Jesus would I leave the woman I love so dearly and the flock I cherish. For Jesus I pack my bags, load up in the vehicle and make the near five-hour drive to FBC Sudan, TX where we will spend the night and get up tomorrow to make the rest of the trip. Only for Jesus would I willingly sleep in a strange bed and eat camp food. Only for Jesus would I leave Spring Creek when so many exciting things are going on. Only for Jesus would I invite another to stand in the pulpit in my familiar place to preach this Sunday while I pour Jesu and the Bible into students elsewhere. 

I've hit the road hundreds of times over the past 35 years to preach and teach. It is a gift. I am humbled God chooses to use me to minister to students at my advanced age. I will keep doing so as long as He opens the doors. I will follow where He leads. This week it is up in the mountains to meet with God. This fall it will be in a classroom teaching Bible at Pinnacle Christian School.

The hour is early. I could not sleep. Praying through so many things. Praying through all God is calling me to join Him in doing. Praying for this camp. Praying for Brenda while I am away. Praying for things on the horizon. 

I am excited about the opportunity to preach again, but not so excited about leaving home. Predictably I have procrastinated until the last minute to pack. Turner packed last night. I always wait until the last minute. Been that way for decades. I think it is because I would only hit the road again for Jesus. By nature, I am more of a homebody. Lord knows I certainly have a lot of work to do around me right here. For these few days I put all that on hold. I hit the road again to chase God high on the mountain with some students and adults. It's all the more special that I get to do it with my son this time. 

On the road again. I just can't wait, well maybe after a little more sleep, to get on the road again. 

Reunion

 After a lengthy separation of months, Tanner and Tucker came home for a few days yesterday. They had quite an adventurous trip. 

Their first challenge happened in the small town of Matadore, TX. You may have heard of this small west Texas town. A tornado ripped through there this past week killing several people and causing widespread destruction. The roads were closed down and the guys had to backtrack 30 minutes to get around. This put them on a much later arrival than they anticipated. 

They were less than an hour from home with the second trial happened. A blow out. On the same tire we just replaced 14 months ago in Tucker's car. He had another blow out coming on one night. He once again was stuck on the side of the road. He loaned his jack to a friend and never got it back. They were stranded on highway 199 between Jacksboro and Springtown. 

I called a deacon for help. We drove 45 minutes to get them fixed up. That is when obstacles three and four happened. When the guys pulled off the road to get out of the way of traffic they did not park on level ground, the road and ground sloped to the right. We could barely get the jack under the car. Next, we could not get the car jacked high enough to get the spare on it. A couple of more cranks on the jack and then it happened. The car rolled off the jack. We started over and the car rolled off the jack a second time. A hole had to be dug  in the ground before success in order to finally get the spare tire secured. 

What a reunion. I greeted both of them with a hug. It had been a long time. We celebrated at dinner with our three sons and an adopted son in our hearts. Taylor and Abby were enjoying new wed life. We laughed. We feasted. We recalled favorite memories. The reunion was well worth all the trials. 

Isn't that the same way it will be when we get to heaven. All the setbacks, sorrows, sufferings, sacrifices, and sin will be worth it when we endure to the finish line and see Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith. [Heb 12:1] It will have been worth it to be reunited with Jesus and our loved ones. Press on. Do not lose heart. Persevere. [Gal 6:9] Our eternal reward will be worth it. It will be a glorious reunion.