Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Did you ever stop to think that you have the United Nations hanging in your closet? I recently did laundry and as I was hanging up my shirts I noticed where they had been manufactured: Bangladesh, Honduras, Egypt, Hong Kong, Guatemala, and Mongolia. These are all brand name shirts from Chaps, Geoffrey Beene, and Nautica. It was a reminder once again of how our world is shrinking. I wish I could trace back where just one of my shirts came from. What an interesting story that might be!
The Lord has brought us to this time and place in history. Instant communication. World travel. Much of the world knowing English. Our recent international student from half way around the world in Indonesia had seen many more recent American films than anyone in our family. Yes, it is a different world from when I would watch the Olympics growing up and the only people speaking the language I knew were the people from the United States.
While the world continues its rapid changes, the Gospel of Jesus Christ does not change. We are blessed with so many opportunities to share the saving message of the cross and grace and mercy. Because of weather delays the Lord opened up doors for us to do this last month. I just sent an e-mail to the Hilbert’s, Lutheran Bible Translators in Botswana that made it there in an instant. They say letters can still take up to two months!
While some doors may be closing in our country, many doors are being thrown open in other parts of this grand sphere. People clamoring for the Bible and the message of a Savior. Men and women who want to confess Jesus as Lord. Children who want stories about the man who walked on water and healed the sick. We continue our prayers for missionaries and others on the front lines doing this work.
What might the Lord be calling you to do? Now where did I hang that shirt from Vietnam?
In Christ,
Pastor