Packing Up

The saying that "all good things come to an end" is true only to a certain point.  It is true about the good things that we experience in this life, for this world is passing away, along with all its desires and pursuits.  But Jesus has risen from the dead and secured the life and world to come for all his people, for all who will bow to his rule and receive his love in this life.

And, if you will, since all good things in this life are known by God as one eternal present, to him no good ever passes away.  That means that any circumstance, event, person or any other thing we know in this life that is good, in one real sense, never absolutely and completely passes away.  Whatever exists in the mind of God exists, though we human beings, who experience everything chronologically, may not re-live those things that have flowed into our past.

England will continue to exist, though we must leave her on Friday.  We are sad to leave so much good and beauty.  But we will be thankful.  The word "England" will never mean the same thing to us again.  It will remind us of our friends we have left behind, of the many good things we have seen and done, of opportunities for service, and of good friends back home who have helped us along the way.

But in those immortal words of that great philosopher, Scarlett O'Hara: "Fiddle-dee-dee.  Tomorrow is another day!"  Our Lord is also already in the future, isn't he.  Jeremiah 29:11: "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope."  We're glad the Lord knows what's ahead, because we sure don't!  But a main ingredient in walking "by faith" is believing that God is good and he loves us.  He who has faithfully lead us through what has passed is going to faithfully carry us through what is ahead.  As David says, "He will be our guide, even unto death."

Lastly, it is also true that all good things are only beginning.  Through Christ's redeeming and creating work in his cross and resurrection, all the good of this world is but a hint, a foretaste, of the world to come.  And it is ultimately for that world that Jesus has rescued us and made us anew.  The joy of that world is the hope of Jesus (Hebrews 12:2).  Let's keep it our hope, as we continue our brief time in this life.

I could keep going on, but this post must end, too.  And we've got to pack!  Cheers!

Coming to the end

As we continue to walk through the changing scenes of life, Sheila and I find ourselves coming to the end of our time at The Kilns.  We fly out on the 21st and arrive in Chattanooga on the 22nd.  We aren't packing yet, however.  We've got a full house right now and odds and ends to take care of.

The group here is pretty interesting.  There's a young couple, both working on Ph.D.'s.  The husband is just getting started, studying the relationship between religious belief and warfare.  He hangs out with British generals.  Very interesting.  Then there's an English teacher from California, who made us a terrific supper night before last!  Glad to have him around. :-)  There's a N.T. professor from a college in Michigan; she keeps visiting her family here.  Last, there's an English professor from New Zealand who is in town for a conference at Pembroke on Samuel Johnson and Shakespeare - wish I could go with him!  A great bunch of folks, and we are glad to serve them.

I think we have taken care of the last item of business related to the summer seminars.  We had originally planned to leave Oxford at the end of last week.  We are so glad we gave ourselves more time!  There was no way! Plus, we are going to be able to spend a few days with an old friend of ours from our Cayman Islands days.  Her name is Arthurlyn.  Arthurlyn married a British fellow named Phillip, who had come to work on Grand Cayman.  They had two sons.  When we lived on Grand Cayman, they became very good friends; indeed, Phillip was one of the best friends I ever had.  After we returned to the States, however, Phillip suddenly died of cancer.  Arthurlyn is over here in England visiting Phillip's family.  This will be the first time we've been able to see her since we lost Phillip.  We are so, so thankful that the Lord has given us this opportunity to see her again.

We are also thankful for recent providences related to fellow clergy.  This past Sunday, we were able to say good-bye to the pastors at St. Ebbe's Headington, which was a big blessing because  - unbeknown to us - they are leaving this week on holiday.  The President of Pusey House - another friend - took time to chat with me the day before he went on holiday and he happened to recommend me to a physical therapist about my injured foot.  I went to the therapist yesterday and got just the help I have been needing.  Thank the Lord!

And thanks to all of you who encouraged us to undertake this "adventure" - as you called it - and have also helped us financially to be able to do it.  From what we hear, a lot of people have been blessed by our work and we remember that we could not have done it without you.  Can't wait to see you again in a few weeks.