helping others – Letters to Rachel

Set in Concrete

Dearest Rachel – So yesterday was our last day of actual work. Today, we’ll be on what they refer to as an ‘adventure day’; another nod to the ‘volun-tourism’ concept we discussed the other day. But with my work as an educator over with, this last day was spent doing manual labor – which, toContinue reading “Set in Concrete”

Work Keeps You Sane

Dearest Rachel – I really thought that coming back to your hometown would hurt more than it did. As I’ve said before, what with you being gone (to say nothing of your folks, who served as your anchor to the place), there’s nothing for me in the place anymore. It represents somewhere – and moreContinue reading “Work Keeps You Sane”

Offering Assistance

Dearest Rachel – I honestly didn’t know whether I’d have time to get in touch with you today. Oh, I’ll have hours in which I’ll be doing nothing but sitting in the passenger seat of a U-Haul bound for your hometown, but I think that may serve a purpose in its own right, which deservesContinue reading “Offering Assistance”

So What’s Holding Me Back?

Dearest Rachel – Ostensibly, one of the great privileges of my semi-retired state is that theoretically, I can pack up and go here and there on a whim, at a moment’s notice. It would please me no end to be able to just cab out to the airport and fly wherever at some point –Continue reading “So What’s Holding Me Back?”

from Rachel: The Display of Satisfaction and Peace

Read Isaiah 58:6-12, and… write a one sentence summary expressing the heart of this passage. “If someone obeys God and becomes a powerful force for Him, He will satisfy their needs.” Theme 1 (v. 6): The kind of “fasting” God has chosen. Theme 2 (v. 11): [The Lord] will “satisfy” your needs in a sunContinue reading “from Rachel: The Display of Satisfaction and Peace”

from Rachel: The Display of His Glory

Now let’s consider the portrait of our second benefit… write benefit 2 of our covenant relationship with God. “To glorify God” A wonderful example of persons living beyond their human responses appears in 2 Corinthians 4:8-9. In one word, how would you characterize the kind of person these words describe? “strong” Read 2 Corinthians 4:7Continue reading “from Rachel: The Display of His Glory”

The Brits Have a Term for It

Dearest Rachel – More than most people, I’m quite well aware about of how we Yanks and the Brits are “separated by a common language.” On this side of “the pond,” my name is just that – a name – while over there, it’s not used as a name for the very reason that itContinue reading “The Brits Have a Term for It”

Convenient Inconveniences

Dearest Rachel – I don’t know where I heard it originally, but it’s been said that there are no such thing as coincidences; it’s just that God doesn’t always want to sign His name to everything that happens. Considering that some of what happens isn’t exactly what we would call ‘good’ (although, given our collectiveContinue reading “Convenient Inconveniences”

Commitment Kept

Dearest Rachel – This is something I hardly need to tell you, as you always meant what you said when you said it, but… one must never make an offer to someone that one isn’t prepared to back up. Now, this isn’t to mean that I have just done this; when I got the textContinue reading “Commitment Kept”

Other People’s Accidents

Dearest Rachel – I woke up with a slight headache this morning, and I regret to inform you that it’s only increased in strength over time. Some of it may have to do with the fact that I can’t remember much of last night’s dreams, apart from a.) it (or was it they?) was (were?)Continue reading “Other People’s Accidents”

Hug Ambassador

Dearest Rachel – You would be proud of him, honey; he really is your boy at times like these. When we were at Bible study on Wednesday night, Pastor Joel was using his recent vacation to illustrate a point or two – not sure specifically as to when and what it was, probably that lastContinue reading “Hug Ambassador”

In Your Stead

Dearest Rachel – I always knew that I could find someone to replace you, but if I find someone to do the things we used to do together, that would be sufficient for the time being. It never occurred to me that I wouldn’t be the only one who needed someone to take your place,Continue reading “In Your Stead”