Brenda Proulx writes about life with words from the Author of Life…
Author: Brenda Proulx
Wife, mother and grandmother, educator and someone who thinks about the things I observe. I am the daughter of a writer; my dad's career was in the field of journalism. More significantly, I am God's child, a person believing in Jesus Christ and in His timeless Word. Blogging is new to me but I feel like I've always had a pen in my hand. I jot notes in my planner, mark papers, underline verses, write many letters, and occasionally draft articles for work or church. When I am not holding a pen, I am probably cuddling a mug of coffee.
I have been mulling over a podcast I listened to last week. Following the news story of the Lakewood Church shooting in Houston, TX, “The World and Everything In It” (wng.org/podcasts) contributor John Stonestreet discussed some of the issues related to the event. Stonestreet spoke of “deaths of despair” and “acts of desperation,” terms I was not familiar with. These are increasing at “skyrocketing rates,” he said, and he rightly attributes that to the logical outcome of a secular worldview. He explains that the “expressive, individualistic secular culture (that) gives them no strong resources of a stable family, a stable sense of identity or anything else” leaves people “grasping for a cause, grasping for hope.” But Stonestreet lands the interview on hope, and it is the hope the church has to offer: “Christianity grounds (us in) dignity and value and purpose.” For the church, “this is a mission moment,” he concludes.
Here is a place I often arrive at: the unique role of the church for you and me. The Church is the God-given structure for bonding believers to Biblical truths and to each other. As we gather and grow, what we know fills our lives and the lives of others we touch. That does not mean that there will never be a searching, confused soul like the woman at Lakewood Church, but more of us will be grounded and confident in God’s design and purpose for our lives and this will have a ripple effect around us.
Each Friday, “The World and Everything In It” podcast ends with a blessing and a charge for the weekend. It is my closing today for you as well: “the Psalmist writes: “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.” (Psalm 43 v 5) Worship with brothers and sisters in Christ in Church this weekend, and Lord willing, we’ll meet you right back here on Monday. Go now in grace and peace.”
The extensive quotes in this blog post are all from this source:
This is the Church of St John the Baptist in Burford, England. It is not just a beautiful relic in The Cotswolds, it is a functioning church. We were touring on a Sunday and the usher asked us not to come in if we couldn’t stay for the whole worship service. A praise team with guitars were leading upbeat music and a mother had to leave the sanctuary with her fussy toddler. Real church!
He grew up in a northern US city with plenty of naturally frozen skating spots all winter, and her childhood in Canada was replete with abounding enthusiasm and opportunities for ice skating over many winter months each year. With mutual friends from church, he asked her out on their first date to go ice skating. Wasting no time for feelings to melt, he gave her a Valentines Day card shortly following the skating date. Their romance quickly swirled into an engagement on her June birthday, and they married at the end of that summer. Their honeymoon included time in Lake Placid where they skated together at the indoor Olympic rink.
My parents – beautiful bride & groom.
That first February ice skating date happened more than six decades ago. My parents continued to enjoy skating together over many of those years. They shared their love of ice skating with us kids. Virginia winters were milder than their hometowns, but we skated on rinks, and occasionally on the Washington Monument reflecting pool and the nearby C & O canal in years when they froze over. I remember buying my own full-size, good quality leather skates during a visit to family in Canada.
My parents also shared with us what it means to be married: “one man, one woman, one lifetime,” as Pastor Jeff at my church succinctly put it. Like pairs skating, marriage is magical, elegant, sensual, rhythmic, and risky – a dynamic partnership. There will also be bumps and bruises along the way. Marriage requires endurance and stamina, like the long program in skating competition. Couples can’t skate by on infatuation alone.
Marriage is God’s good and natural design for us, His creation (Genesis 2 v 24). Love is laced throughout the Scriptures. You’ll find romantic love stories and Solomon’s PG-13 passionate song in the Old Testament. Themes and analogies of weddings, the bride, and marital joy, commitment, and purity weave through the New Testament. Ultimately, we find God’s sacrificial love for us in the familiar verse John 3:16
For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. NLT
Thank you, Mom and Dad, for your beautiful love story. Thank you, Heavenly Father, for loving us enough to give us your Son, Jesus.
ICONIC!
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Do you remember doing book reports in elementary school? Teachers cleverly devised multiple project ideas to ensure that students were regularly reading books. Assignments included paragraph summaries on 3 X 5 cards, dioramas, posters, book jackets, and others you may recall. Book reading for the young student continues to be a high priority at the elementary level, but approaches have changed, which I will not get into here. Instead, I will report on two, make that three, books I read in 2023. They stand out for me in ways I’d like to share. I hope my synopses earn passing marks from you!
“Live Not By Lies” was the famed dissenter Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn’s clarion call to resist Soviet repression, especially of religion. Writer Rod Dreher borrowed Solzhenitsyn’s phrase to entitle a book he never intended to write. Live Not By Lies lays out a “soft totalitarianism” that is creeping, maybe steamrolling, into American culture. Dreher came to author the book when immigrants from communist countries approached him about the glaring similarities of events and policies in Western democracies to the oppression in communist countries that they had personally experienced.
The book uncovers the many ways that a liberal ‘creed’ is being forced onto American society. Warning that it could happen again, Dreher recounts dreadful stories of massive religious persecution in Soviet block nations. It is a sobering and very unsettling book to read, but the story is not limited to America’s current dangerous reality and the evil history of the recent past. Dreher shares the steadfastness of individuals, families and congregations who resisted communist aggression against their faith, and he explains how their means of resistance were effective. He suggests these are ways that would be successful again.
My other book report features the book The Thrill of Orthodoxy by Trevin Wax. I saw the book on a recommended list in 2022 and was captured by its title – a bit of an oxymoron? The author was a new name to me, but I liked his bio. ‘Orthodoxy’ sounded daunting, nonetheless I bought the book and determined to read it. I was pleasantly surprised: the book was quite readable and compelling! Wax’s thesis is that orthodoxy, the timeless doctrines of the Christian faith, is adventurous and exciting. Rather than being dull or static, the Christian faith has been and always will be solid, stable, exuberant, invigorating … and in other words, thrilling! Joy and energy permeated the explanations and examples of historic Christian orthodoxy.
For extra credit, let me tell you how the two books are complementary. The onslaught of a new totalitarianism determined to wipe out Judeo Christian beliefs is chilling, but the orthodox truths of God are firm and life-giving. Scripture is “for such a time as this,” not unlike the Jewess, Queen Esther’s, vital calling during an impending genocide (Esther 4 v 14). With confidence and fortitude, we hold on to our foundational beliefs knowing they, by the power of God and His Son Jesus, will withstand the confrontations that may lie ahead.
Indeed, the Bible is the third in my book review of 2023. Now my assignment is complete and posted by the January 31 due date! As this first month of 2024 draws to a close, evaluate the quality and quantity of your Bible reading: set some goals or make a plan for the year ahead, inasmuch as “Every word of God proves true” (Proverbs 30 v 5) and “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4 v 4).
The topmost book on the pile is a journal I keep of books I read. I record the title, author and a brief summary and critique.
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Today’s Sunday morning view behind our home is crispy and clear.
On a local errand this fall, I noticed several large birds perched on the roof of a house. I can often identify birds, but I wasn’t sure about these. They weren’t black enough to be vultures. They weren’t shore birds either. My guess was turkeys, but the rooftop landing seemed odd. Shortly thereafter, I came across an article on turkeys in the December issue of my favorite local publication, Wrightsville Beach magazine.
The article confirmed that turkeys live in the wild in this area. It described their social construct of small flocks and their roosting habits, as well as showing photographs that matched the color and shape of the birds I saw. And just last Sunday we saw two more flocks of turkeys grazing alongside a highway. Yes, as the piece noted, turkeys are “frequently observed” in our wooded, coastal area!
The article, “And Then There Were Some,” mostly focused on the resurgence of the turkey population in North Carolina. Apparently, wild turkeys were becoming scarce in the state in the early 20th century. Conservation efforts were made to protect and promote turkey life. These were successful and a flourishing turkey population has been restored. I enjoy hearing that native species thrive in their natural habitat and I will look forward to recognizing wild turkeys roadside and on rooftops.
Today is designated as Sanctity of Life Sunday and sadly, America’s human population is not protected and fully valued. Not every little person is promised the opportunity to thrive in our country. Instead, parents may opt to extinguish the life of their unborn baby. It’s a glaring contradiction to think that our society values the whales and the wolves and the wild turkeys yet wavers when it comes to human beings. Yes, there are rights but there are also undeniable responsibilities: to manage sexual behavior, to commit to family relationships, to honor human life. Regardless of what our laws permit or do not permit, our hearts must yearn for the dignity of all life, celebrating the creation of new life, and grieving the destruction of the same.
We are celebrating new life in our family!
Following a calamity that took all his possessions and children, the Biblical ancient, Job, rightly acknowledged the sole sovereignty of God over life and death, saying, “The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away.” (See full context of Job 1 v 21 and also Job 12 v 10 and Job 31 v 15)
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One of my manger scenes, a mix of nativity sets. Spanish moss serves as straw. Some time I will tell you about the creche I saw in Europe.
I had ideas for a December 2023 Christmas blog, but I couldn’t carve out the time for writing that post last month. Today, Epiphany, also called Three Kings’ Day and Little Christmas, as the church calendar commemorates the Magi’s visit to Jesus, presenting their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to Him, I present two Jesus stories. The first is one I wrote last year, when my blog was down due to a major hacking. I added secondly, another Jesus story I posted in December 2021. May you enjoy these gifts from me, that I hope remind you of the great story of Jesus our Savior.
“Presenting a Baby Jesus” – 2022
He was born a sickly baby. For whatever reason, his parents left him in the care of hospital social workers; his physical condition would require intense medical treatment for the foreseeable future. Yet he survived infancy and continued in the care of hospital staff. He grew, although he was not nurtured, and therefore did not make the baby milestones of sitting, walking, and talking. Eventually the toddler, still facing serious medical challenges, needed a home and guardians. Social services reached out to a couple who had experience with adoption and fostering, and who also had medical expertise. The couple prayerfully considered the situation: it was not a plan they had in mind, but is it ever? They agreed to become his temporary guardians.
In the following months, the little guy required highly specialized medical intervention. His foster parents procured doctors who could address his complex needs. At one point, it required weeks of living out of state with him for surgery, hospital convalescence and follow-up. His medical outcome was good, and he began to gain childhood developments, even though his long-term prognosis and life-expectancy were uncertain.
Eventually, social services approached the couple about permanent adoption. Again, after prayerful consideration, the couple decided not to adopt the little boy. Their own children were grown, and they felt the child needed a young family. At this point, one of the couple’s grown children, who had been adopted herself, asked to adopt the little boy. She had been around him often as her parents had fostered him and she felt called to be his mother. Miraculously, the social agency processed the bureaucratic red tape successfully, and the young woman became his mother. The child now has a home and he is part of a big family whom he has known since his earliest memory.
Nativity cutout ornaments from a friend; hung on a very bright day!
I got to meet this sweet little guy and his family last Christmas. He is full of love and life. As he and his mother left the gathering, he went around the table one by one, giving each of us a good-bye hug. And what is his name? Jesus. Can you believe he shares the name of our Savior, whose birth we celebrate at Christmas!? It is Christ’s birth, life and resurrection that allows us to be adopted into God’s family, becoming sons and daughters of His promises. I can’t word it any better than Galatians 4 v 4a and 5b: “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son … that we might receive adoption as sons.”
Two beautiful “Jesus” stories. Amen.
“A Real Life Mary and Joseph Story”- 2021
Friends of ours, Darrell and Cindy*, own a rental property. It’s not hobby real estate; the income it generates represents an important component of their finances. Keeping the unit rented with reliable tenants is a priority. During one rental turnover, Darrell and Cindy were interviewing interested renters. There were several good prospects including some newlyweds who were acquaintances of the previous renters.
The young couple toured the unit and liked it but felt it was beyond their budget. They told Darrell and Cindy that they were expecting a baby and wanted to get a place on their own, but their income was limited. They also shared that their baby was diagnosed with a medical condition, likely resulting in additional expenses. Doctors were not optimistic.
Darrell and Cindy looked at other good applicants for the rental, but the growing little family stayed on their minds. They decided to pray about it and consider how a discounted rent would impact their income. Darrell admitted that turning the couple away seemed like telling Mary and Joseph there was no room in the inn! They came back to the couple and asked what rent amount would work for them. An agreement was reached, and they signed a lease. What a sweet miracle for the young couple in an exciting but uncertain time.
Darrell and Cindy prepped the unit and finalized the paperwork. Darrell spoke to the previous renters about returning their deposit. They were a bit surprised to find out about the money, since even as a budget-conscious couple, they had not realized the deposit was still due them. Aware of the situation of the new renters, they told Darrell to keep their security deposit and apply it as the new security deposit! Another unexpected little miracle! The new couple moved in, and their baby boy was born. He is healthy and growing with no immediate health issues, such a great miracle for his young parents.
This nativity is on display at the Museum of the Bible in Washington, DC.
Darrell and Cindy demonstrate how Christ followers live close to truths of the Bible. Being sensitive to known needs around us and meeting them in practical ways within our capacity is what Jesus told us to do (in many passages such as Luke 3:11). And as Darrell and Cindy would tell you, the blessing is all yours.
At Christmastime, we see the stable scene creches and sing of the lowly manger birth. On the night of Jesus’ birth, no rooms were available in Bethlehem, forcing Mary and Joseph to lodge outside. Later in His ministry Jesus charged, “you have no room for my word” (John 8:37). It is worth asking: have you left Jesus out in the cold, or do you make room for Him in your heart and daily life? The best miracle is that He is at the door, knocking and asking to come in (Revelation 3:20).
*names are changed to maintain anonymity
One Christmas, Cindy gave me this book, a found treasure, if you know what I mean. She didn’t know that I had long admired the creche collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Although I visited New York city many times at Christmas, I never made it to the Nativity tree exhibit.
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Like so many early seasonal promotions, I began seeing Advent calendars advertised months before Christmas. Soap, puzzle, dog treat, and chocolate countdown calendars were among the ones I saw. They are quite unlike the Advent calendars of my childhood. In my young girlhood, my Nana sent us beautiful Nativity calendars featuring numbered windows. My sisters and I took turns opening each day’s window to find an illustrated creche figure. Window 24 always opened to the stable scene of baby Jesus in the manger.
Beautiful sanctuary decorations for Advent.
Today is the first Sunday of Advent, a season of the days or the Sundays leading up to Christmas. It is a countdown to Jesus’s birthday. Worship services may focus on the traditional themes of the four Sundays of Advent. Pastors often prepare sermon series based on Christmas topics. Many of us read Christmas devotionals throughout December and return to the narratives of Jesus’ birth in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. It is good to prepare for Christmas in these ways. The countdown is exciting!
Advent means coming; we suppose anticipation. We think of Jesus and His birth as arriving soon, but Jesus already arrived on earth some two thousand years ago on the first Christmas. Advent, then, is a misnomer, unless something else is coming, to anticipate. Yes, there is: Jesus is coming again! Jesus’ return is an Advent. You may not know this fact and may not understand. And Christians over time have not completely agreed on the exact details surrounding Jesus’ return, but all agree that He is returning, as declared in Scripture. Jesus spoke about His own return in Matthew 24 and Luke 21 and writings in both the Old and New Testament further explain Jesus’ Second Coming.
May your December anticipate the 25th and another miraculous day yet to come!
Friendsgiving is a newly coined term, referring to a meal and gathering of friends, similar to and around the time of Thanksgiving. You can search its origins as easily as I can, but I first encountered the concept as college students held a Thanksgiving-type buffet dinner together before heading home to their families for Thanksgiving. I continue to hear about Friendsgivings among various communities such as neighborhoods or church small groups.
I do wonder about the emphasis and intent of a Friendsgiving, as opposed to Thanksgiving. Hopefully, it is not the replacement of the family but an extra dose of celebrating with an additional group of people. In other words, an extra chance for great food and fellowship in the harvest season. I also wonder if some individuals use the term Friendsgiving to de-emphasize gratitude or religious significance, but the Friendsgiving events that I’ve known of include giving thanks in their celebration among friends.
My daughter-in-law shared this photo from a recent Friendsgiving.
A holiday devoted to giving thanks by feasting together is splendid and accurately regards American history. Thanksgiving is Biblical too. The American event is not, of course, found in the Bible, but giving thanks is a theme throughout Scripture. In the inspired words of 1 Thessalonians 5 v 16-18, Paul famously said to be thankful in everything. The Scripture is a trio of commands: “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” [The continual nature of giving thanks is also found in Ephesians 5 v 20, Philippians 4 v 6 and Colossians 3 v 17]
It’s hard to think of always being thankful in light of tragedies, deadly diseases, and waging wars that we hear of too often. Sadly, there will be empty seats at Thanksgiving tables. Psalm 107 v 1 reveals how unconditional gratitude is possible: “O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good.” Again, we are told to give thanks, but there is more clarification here with a direct and indirect object. We give thanks TO God BECAUSE He is good. The circumstances may not be good by human standards, but God Himself, by definition, is good (think holy, correct, sovereign). Whether you are already half full of turkey and pumpkin pie from Friendsgiving or headed to Thanksgiving with family anticipating a feast and the fellowship, go with a grateful heart to God, for who He is!
This past spring, my husband and I celebrated a milestone anniversary with a trip to the Caribbean island of St. Martin. The island is comprised of two countries: the Dutch Sint Maarten and the French Saint-Martin. Of course, the Proulxs chose a resort on the French side!
Besides the picturesque aqua waters of the Caribbean, the French international atmosphere enriched our short stay. French citizens travel to this island, no passport needed; guests from France seemed clearly comfortable in their own country! The local language is French though St. Martin is strongly influenced by Caribbean culture.
During our stay at the resort, I noticed that one of the guest activities was a French class. Being a former language teacher, I thought that sounded fun. I showed up at the poolside activity booth at the scheduled time and asked about the class. The host manning the booth scrambled a bit, but soon a staff member showed up, and brought along another staff member in training. No other guests showed up, so the two guys offered me a table and chair nearby … and I had a private French lesson! It was comical!
Here are the phrases the tutor wrote for my lesson.
The two fellows were young, Black Caribbean natives. Many residents on St. Martin are immigrants from nearby Caribbean islands, as these two may have been (I do not recall). Apparently, job opportunities are more plentiful on St. Martin. My tutors asked me what I wanted to learn. One of them pulled out a sheet of paper and began to write out conversational phrases. They pronounced the phrases, and I repeated them. I enjoyed asking them questions about local education and language. They told me the official language and the language of school is French, but English language instruction begins early in their education. There are locally spoken Creole languages too. After 45 minutes of conversing with the two young men, I thanked them for their time and went on my way. Let’s just say that I will need a few more lessons before I can manage any kind of French interaction, no fault of my sincere tutors!
Where does “A Writer’s Daughter” land this post? One of my favorite themes is work and excellence. My French teachers demonstrated those admirable traits, but I addressed that subject in my recent post “Dressed for Success on the Produce Aisle.” Instead, I lean into the value of every individual, folks like us and folks who are not, like my Island tutors, so different from me. All of us share the imprint of the divine, being created in the image of God (Genesis 1 v 27). We must esteem each other, beyond what we may or may not share in common. God’s creatures, however, are not automatically all His children, as is often misstated. God’s children are those who call Jesus, the sacrificial Son whom God provided for humanity, their one and only hope of redemption and salvation. Romans 10: v 9 – 13 Rendons grâce à Dieu.
This post is better viewed on www.brendaproulx.com where you can also read Part 1 of “Pardon My French” and other previous posts.
Before our September trip to London and Paris, we met with a couple friend of ours to get their insights on Paris. He spent some of his youth there, and they had returned to Paris for a family trip. Being the sweet hostess she is, there was a lovely snack prepared for our short visit. With the snacks, she laid out the “Pardon My French” napkins. I laughed at the unlikely thought that my friend would speak any indiscretions. She laughed too saying she didn’t even think of that, but that her grown children had given her the napkins because of the way she mixed a little bit of French and a smattering of Korean into her English vernacular. Such fun humor!
I read up on culture as our trip approached, especially for Paris. One hears that the French do not care for American tourists. What I read is that the French dislike our brash style. Americans, especially Americans on travel, may lack courtesy as they pursue their travel itinerary, expect to get all they paid for, and move on to the next event or destination. In the American rush, politeness may be cut short. This, I believe, is not the French way, The French are gracious and desire to provide polite service but expect to be approached with due courtesy.
A few years ago, I discovered a book series entitled Madame Chic. The American author, Jennifer Scott, lived with a French family as an exchange student. Scott was taken with the priority for grace and elegance she experienced in the home of her French host family. The hosts were not a family of means, but they took the time to make everyday life elegant. This included setting a nice table for every meal, keeping the house orderly and uncluttered, and taking care to dress and groom well daily. These little niceties created a sense of beauty, enjoyment, and calm in the everyday. The French expression “Joie de vivre,” the joy of living, suggests living well in the moment.
I think we felt this vibe in Paris. Many Parisians dress nicely. For example, an older lady may be seen wearing pumps to walk her dog. The cafes of Paris – there are three on every corner – are filled late into the night, even on weeknights, with folks savoring their meal, their cigarettes, and their wine. There appears to be no hurry; they do not seem to worry that it’s getting late on a ‘school night.’ I rarely saw a laptop open in a Paris cafe, unlike an American Panera where half the patrons are working on their computers or phones.
Espresso is not the size of American coffee!Every corner in Paris!Called ‘red stonefruit tart’, this fresh raspberry tart was extraordinary!
I certainly admit that I can tend to be in a rush, especially when we lived in DC, especially when I was working. I caught myself barging into an office or classroom, in a hurry to meet a student, blurting out a request, not taking the time for a kind greeting. I get impatient in inefficient lines, rather than saying a friendly word to someone else who is also waiting. Jesus’s disciples had a similar tendency: anxious to find food or in a hurry to move on to the next stop, missing the mission of the moment. Jesus, on the other hand, savored His earthly time. He stopped to heal, paused to engage (with Zaccheus, among others), welcomed children. The Apostle Paul wrote that we should “make the most of every opportunity because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5 v 15 & 16) The words God speaks through Paul may not be emphasizing the large quantity of things to be done, but rather the value of quality pursuits, using time wisely for God’s kingdom, relishing opportunities rather than rushing through them. What do you think? And yes, these are ominous days.
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This past spring the movie “Jesus Revolution” was released in theaters, more than doubling its projected earnings for the first three opening days, eventually making fifty million in theater showings. A digital format has now been released and the movie played on Netflix. I did not see the movie in the theater but recently watched it on Netflix.
“Jesus Revolution” is the true story of hippie Christians in Southern California. The movie is based on a book of the same title, written by Greg Laurie and Ellen Vaughn. I grew up with Ellen and am happy for her continuing success as an author. I have clear recollections about the hippie era. I remember the church facing the issues of the day: rock music, drugs, freedom, and anti-establishment sentiment. But genuine faith in Jesus among hippies needed to be celebrated and welcomed in traditional churches and that struggle played out in the movie.
In the early 70’s, hippies seeking truth found the truth of Jesus and began spreading the Gospel among their peers. The movie tracks a hippie Christian leader and his connection to a local church pastor, picking up on the spiritual story of a young man named Greg Laurie. The hippie pastor, Lonnie Spears, is shepherding his flock of young Christians in a commune-like setting. He teaches them and ministers to practical needs, eventually forging a relationship with a local pastor and his traditional church. The local pastor takes a risk on Lonnie, but it proves fruitful for the most part. I was captivated by this part of the story because the pastor of the church my husband and I attended for decades was also named Lon, and he too followed Jesus in the 70’s, radically changed from pushing drugs and a freefall lifestyle. Like Greg Laurie who turned to Jesus and still pastors a large ministry in Southern California, the Lord had a great plan for our Pastor Lon, who ministered to thousands, including us!
On just about a weekly basis, my husband and I recall a sermon or something we learned under our pastor for all those years. We and so many others grew spiritually because of our pastor’s commitment to God’s call of ministry on his life. I think of other pastors who have been used by God in my spiritual life too. Pastor means shepherd. Pastors lead their flocks, who wander and may be unappreciative. Ministry is hard and at times, unrewarding. The movie shows how it is personally demanding and involves difficult people dynamics. This is common in churches, but God’s work always continues, even in disappointing circumstances.
October is Clergy Appreciation Month. I encourage you to express your appreciation to those who minister in your life: pastors, Sunday School teachers, Bible study leaders, youth group volunteers, and other church staff. They will appreciate your heartfelt “thank you.” Scripture tells us to do this: “Dear brothers and sisters, honor those who are your leaders in the Lord’s work. They work hard among you and give you spiritual guidance. Show them great respect and wholehearted love because of their work.” 1 Thessalonians 5 v 12-13a
Before our September trip to London and Paris, we met with a couple friend of ours to get their insights on Paris. He spent some of his youth there, and they had returned to Paris for a family trip. Being the sweet hostess she is, there was a lovely snack prepared for our short visit. With the snacks, she laid out the “Pardon My French” napkins. I laughed at the unlikely thought that my friend would speak any indiscretions. She laughed too saying she didn’t even think of that, but that her grown children had given her the napkins because of the way she mixed a little bit of French and a smattering of Korean into her English vernacular. Such fun humor!
