Area Director's June Devotional

The Makings of a Triple Crown Winner 

The caption to the article intrigued me: “Triple Threat.”  The photo captured on American Airlines magazine (April 2013) was one of Miguel Cabrera’s intensity moments before he hit the ball.   In 2012 he was the first Detroit Tiger since Ty Cobb (1909) to hold the coveted “Triple Crown” at one time leading the American League in batting average, home runs and RBIs.   I had to know.   What makes Miguel so effective in baseball?   Here’s what I discovered.   1. He is totally focused on the game.  He played through a pressured season complaint-free despite the pain in his bum ankle.   2. He loves the game! He often laughs and interacts with the fans.  His enthusiasm spills over to his fans of all ages.  3. He knows the dynamics of the game, which keeps him flexible.   “Cabrera can remember without the benefit of the printed scouting report, how each opposing pitcher got him out in the past, then make the necessary adjustments.”   4. He has great instincts for the game, which come from his family.   His mother played for Venezuela’s national softball team.   His father was a baseball player.   Last, but certainly not least: 5. He is a team player.   “He may be a Triple Crown winner but the Detroit Tiger’s Miguel Cabrera isn’t all that interested in talking about himself.”   “We’re a team.   You win games with 25 guys.   You don’t win games by yourself.”  As missionaries, if we applied these principles to our ministry, we could be a Triple Threat to Satan’s Kingdom.  2 Timothy 1:7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.

Area Director's May Devotional

Dreams Planted in Eternity 

The news came as a shock.   Randy Johnston*, a man of God, a prayer warrior and a friend died unexpectedly at age 60.   Randy was the picture of vitality but now he was gone.  My connection with Randy came because Randy was a dreamer.  As a passionate layperson Randy envisioned how his skill as a businessman in the clothing industry could integrate with his love for the children in the (Latin American ChilcCare) LACC schools in the Dominican Republic where he visited often.   His passion inspired me to keep on dreaming.   As I sat quietly in his memorial service a few days ago, a question lingered in my mind: “Now that the dreamer is gone, what of the dream?”  

 

Perhaps it was too little sleep.   Perhaps it was an Immanuel Kant kind of contemplation, “Is the dream real without the dreamer?”  Maybe my recent trip to Branson to see Joseph (the dreamer) or our planning for the 2014 Caribbean Retreat at the Dreams Resort had me fixating on dreams.   What of the dream?   Before the inquiry disquieted my spirit, I knew the answer!   Pastor John Bates called for testimonies of people whose lives were impacted by Randy’s life.   After the sixth testimony, I knew.    Randy had planted his dreams in others and his dreams will outlive him!

 

If you are a dreamer, make sure your dreams will outlive you.   Entrust those dreams to others.   As Paul said to Timothy:   “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.” (2 Timothy 2:2)   Randy’s dreams are alive and well.  God help us to be people who plant dreams for eternity. 

*Duane and Julia Martin are AGWM missionaries to Mexico currently at CINCEL.   Julia is Randy Johnston’s daughter.

Caribbean & U.S. Based Missionary Retreat

 

The Caribbean and U.S. Based Missionary Retreat Dates are Monday, September 1 - Friday, September 5, 2014.  The speaker will be Dr. James Bradford.  Travel days are Monday, September 1, 2014 for arrival, and Friday, September 5 for departure.  The retreat will held Tuesday - Thursday in the Dominican Republic, with more information to follow.  Please mark your calendars, thanks!

AD's April Devotional

Ministry in a ‘Till Love Do Us Part’ Culture

Fox News.com (July 29, 2005) reported a major shift in our culture’s view of marriage.  They observed that the traditional “till death do us part” vow was being eroded by vows such as  “For as long as our love endures.”    This trend to center the marriage commitment on the couple’s unreliable feelings rather than their deep conviction of the value of a lifetime pledge underscored a major cultural slide away from absolutes into our present post-modern drift.    This subtle but persuasive shift can impact us all in our understanding of commitments in life and even our missionary call.   If, as the culture suggests, ministry is rooted in the vacillating and capricious whelm of our emotional state, we’d all be adrift subject to every wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind (James 1:4-6).   Thankfully, God reached out to us and He will sustain us.    Rom. 5:10 NIV “For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!”   His love draws us out of the sea of cultural uncertainty into a life of hope, based on God’s power to sustain our commitments.     Heb. 6:19 “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.”   There is two ways we can live our lives, i.e. by feelings or by faith.   Because of the changing nature of feelings, this path leads to a “Till Love Do us Part” level of commitment.  The other way is God’s way.   His love draws us apart from this world and anchors our lives and ministry in His unchanging nature.  Two paths, two choices: “Till love Do Us Part” or “His Love Draws Us Apart.”   You choose, but know this: Only God’s way will stand the test of time.