Insightful Musings on the Scriptures
by
Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67
Greetings, dear ones.
I now understand that Becki sabotaged my recipient list and informed you of my birthday yesterday. Thanks much to those of you who responded. We had a nice little blast last evening.
And this morning while still in bed (about 4:04am) we had a call from our son-in-law, Joe Horn, announcing that Katherine is finally getting serious about delivery—water broke, big contractions, etc. Not long after we were informed that little Rebecca Rae made it out OK—weighing in a 10 pounds! No wonder she kind of got stuck trying to go through the gateway. Praise the Lord. Once again—THERE CANNOT NOT BE A GOD! DIRT COULDN’T THINK THIS UP! LIFE (and the procreation thereof) IS A GOD THING!
We need to take off soon to haul Jill to the airport where she will wing her way back to New York. She’s been a blessings.
Blessings on your day.
Love, Dad/Ray.
There is something extremely attractive to me contained in this brief word of encouragement given by Paul to the freaked-out passengers and crew aboard that lurching storm-tossed ship. It is the fact that Paul had personally settled once and for all the matter of ownership and purpose as it relates to his own existence. Such confidence is a rare find among humans on planet earth. Most people, without Biblical orientation, are totally deceived, misinformed, and/or confused over these fundamental concepts. Most people think they belong to themselves and that their purpose is to achieve and acquire what they want—what they deem to be important. Those conditions right there are enough to produce a storm-tossed life course. After all, how many of that worldview ever fulfill those goals to their own satisfaction? But Paul speaks out to clarify his own completely upgraded perspective, without apology or hesitation, and sets a standard that very likely many of his hearers had never heard before: “Last night an angel of the God whose I am (ownership) and whom I serve (purpose)…”
This orientation yields infinite benefits—not the least of which is the elimination (at least major reduction) of worry over things circumstantial or future. If I have truly surrendered my life to His ownership and control, and recognize that my purpose is to honor and please Him, how can things NOT “work together for good?” (Romans 8:28). This is the vital recipe for true PEACE—as demonstrated by Paul. Good advice: Don’t leave home without it!