“Behold, my servant shall act wisely, he shall be high and lifted up, and shall be exalted.”
Isaiah 52:13

The footnote for the word, “wisely” gives the alternate translation, “shall prosper.” The ESV Study Bible gives a further definition as “succeed at his task.” And the King James Version translates the phrase as, “deal prudently.”

The latter half of the verse reminds me of Jesus’ words in John 12:32, “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”

Jesus was referring to His forthcoming death by crucifixion. In light of that and the above definitions, one could re-phrase the verse in Isaiah to read, “Behold, my servant, Jesus, shall prosper and succeed at his task – he shall be crucified.”

The irony is inescapable. The most torturous, painful, humiliating experience one could endure was also God’s means of lifting up and exalting His Son. And by surrendering to His Father’s design and will in this, Jesus achieved success.

How vastly different this model is from everything that seems right and true to our human way of thinking! How often do we avoid, rather than follow after, the very things that would truly make us prosperous and successful – not by the world’s standards, but by the fixed truth of God?

The message is clear in Scripture – God wants His people to be prosperous and successful. And so in Jesus He gave us the definition and model of it. Then Jesus even put it into words for us,

“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.”
Luke 9:23-24

Perhaps we should see pain not as a crushing blow from God, but as His means to lift us up; rejection not to shame us, but to exalt us; suffering not to sabotage our work, but to make us truly successful. And all of this to fix our eyes on Jesus who through the greatest suffering achieved the greatest success.

“But we desire to hear from you what your views are, for with regard to this sect we know that everywhere it is spoken against.”
Acts 28:22

Most, if not all, of Paul’s opportunities to share his testimony and the gospel of Jesus Christ came from those who opposed and/or disagreed with him.

It occurs to me that our American culture makes a god of peace by promoting agreement and tolerance, the effect of which is to silence those who would speak the truth of Jesus Christ – the only One in whom real and lasting peace with God may be found. Most Christians, including myself, cow to this pressure and go to great pains to procure acceptance and agreement from others.

How many opportunities have been lost because I have shied away from the very opposition and disagreement that could serve as a platform from which to openly proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ?

An e-mail from the local music store announced an upcoming workshop to be given by the gifted pianist and composer, Joseph Martin. I transferred the date and time to my calendar and made plans to attend. As the day of the workshop approached, I excitedly told my sister about it and asked if I could take the compilation of hymn arrangements she had been working on so that I could get it autographed. She agreed.

On the day of the workshop, my sister handed me the book and I made the short drive to our music store. The head of the print music department welcomed us and Mr. Martin, giving an impressive introduction of the accomplished musician. I sat through the two hour presentation, soaking up the music and stories he shared with the audience. When his part was finished, I joined a string of others waiting to talk to him and secure an autograph. I finally reached the front of the line and presented him with the large volume, telling him how much my sister and I had enjoyed playing his arrangements for years. He granted my request for an autograph and conversed graciously for a moment before turning to the next person in line. Mission accomplished.

I gathered my things and headed toward the door. A friend of mine who was working at the music store stopped to talk and asked if I had gotten an autograph. I proudly opened the book and pointed to the newly inscribed signature. My friend took one look, then turned his eyes toward mine and uttered the exclamation I will never forget…

>>Read the rest of the article in this month’s issue of Generation Impact>>

“You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.”
~Deuteronomy 6:5-6

A crowd of teachers eagerly took their places as the session got underway. I waited expectantly as one of the organizers of the event introduced me to the group. They had asked me to present a workshop on marketing and running a successful music studio. I was excited to share some of the things I’ve learned over the years. But I wasn’t prepared for the specific remarks of my colleague and how they would give me a whole new appreciation for the decision my parents made many years ago to home educate their children. His words still echo in my mind, “Natalie comes from a somewhat untraditional background…” (I’d heard that before!) “…and I think that’s what contributes largely to her fresh and creative approach.” (Wow, I’d never really thought of that!)

Pondering that statement over the last several months has led me to realize what a tremendous gift my parents gave me when they pulled me out of school to start our homeschool journey. Not that I always felt that way, mind you! Our first year of transition, in particular, was wrought with lots of frustration and tears. But as we learned to replace society’s educational model with a more biblical understanding of true education, a whole new world began to open up before us. Instead of being constrained to a classroom for hours at a time, life became our learning ground. I was free to explore areas of interest and pursue skills I wanted to develop.

In a recent interview with Kevin Swanson (another homeschool grad!) on Generations Radio, he shared a vivid analogy: those who are raised in our modern schooling system tend to approach education and life as a paint-by-number piece of art, whereas those who are raised outside the system are likened to a sculptor. In a paint-by-number, as you know, someone has already determined the final design and you – the artist – are just coloring in the spaces. There’s some room for artistic expression, but only insomuch as it falls within the parameters of the original designer’s intent. A sculptor, on the other hand, employs a host of tools and materials to create a unique work of art – limited only by his imagination and ability. Obviously these are generalizations, but I love the thought that a homeschool education can be the catalyst for ideas, discoveries, and approaches that might otherwise lie dormant in a tightly-structured, conformity-based classroom environment.

My favorite definition for creativity comes from CharacterFirst: “approaching a need, a task, or an idea from a new perspective.” In a homeschool environment, the opportunities to develop creativity are endless! Consider these needs: lunchtime meals, clean clothes, money for school curriculum. Or what about some daily tasks: practicing an instrument, doing a math lesson, cleaning the bathroom. And we could never exhaust a list of ideas: hosting a Bible study, organizing a field trip, creating a short film. One of the biggest advantages we have toward developing creativity in these areas is time. The average graduating high school senior will have spent almost 30,000 hours at school, plus even more on homework! When you consider that the recognized number of hours it takes to become an expert in a given field is approximately 10,000 you begin to realize the incredible potential that exists for homeschoolers…if we use our time wisely.

Ephesians 5:16 says that we should be, “Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” The idea behind the word “redeeming” is that we spend our time on that which is profitable. In other words, we are trading in our time to get back something more valuable. You could contrast this with the opposite – squandering time, which is frivolously spending time on things that have no lasting value. With that in mind, I’d like to outline three ways that you can redeem the time by developing creativity in your life:

1. Spend time with the Creator. Proverbs 2:6 is one of my favorite verses, “For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.” Whatever your questions, whatever your needs, whatever your problems, the answer is found in the Lord Jesus Christ. The more time you spend with the Lord, reading and studying His Word, the more you will be able to draw on His wisdom and creativity as situations arise in your life. We are promised “good success” if we meditate on the law of the Lord day and night and do all that is written in it (Joshua 1:8). Likewise, the man who delights in the law of the Lord and meditates on it day and night is said to prosper in all he does (Psalm 1:2-3). Talk about a return on your investment! Filling your heart and mind with the wisdom and knowledge and understanding of the Lord is the source from which the fountain of creativity springs forth!

2. Take time to think. Victor Hugo once said, “A man is not idle because he is absorbed in thought. There is a visible labor and there is an invisible labor.” Isn’t that great?! Whether due to busy schedules or hours wasted on mindless entertainment, there is precious little time given to just thinking. One of my favorite things to do is to make my way onto our deck late at night, gaze up at the stars, and just…think. Sometimes memorized Scriptures come to mind; sometimes I present questions to God; sometimes I ponder a difficult situation with a student and how I should address it; sometimes I reflect on attitudes or behaviors in my life of which I need to repent; sometimes I contemplate upcoming events or special occasions and what I can do to make them more meaningful and memorable; and so on. Another essential for me is my “idea book.” It’s just a plain spiral-bound notebook, but I use it to jot down thoughts and brainstorm about everything from goals for the year, to lesson plans for students, to book marketing strategies, to articles, and more. Society today undervalues just sitting and thinking because it is perceived as being unproductive. Quite the contrary! It is an essential underlying element that produces an even greater level of productivity.

3. Make creative plans and put them into action. There’s a certain amount of risk in being creative because you have to be willing to try something that you haven’t done before. I like to think of scenarios in terms of a “means justifies the end” philosophy. “Will the benefit derived from the planning, preparation, implementation, and evaluation of this project be worth it even if the endeavor itself is deemed unsuccessful?” Not only does this serve to bolster enthusiasm and diligence for the project, but it also offsets the discouragement that accompanies a failed venture. So put on your creative “thinking caps” and just give it a try: treat your family to a fancy lunchtime tea and scones, make your own set of flashcards and work with a sibling on math facts, invite a mature Christian to share their testimony and host a group of friends for fellowship and encouragement in their walk with the Lord. As you develop creativity, you will discover all sorts of ways to be a blessing to the people around you. Not to mention that you’ll always keep them guessing as to what you’ll come up with next!

Creativity is an amazing gift from the Lord, and homeschooling affords us the time and environment to develop it in our own lives. I’ve had to throw away my fair share of “paint-by-number” coloring sheets as the Lord has led me to re-think the customary way of doing things in society. It’s a little scary, but what an adventure! So, grab your block of marble (i.e. whatever needs, tasks, or ideas are facing you today) and start sculpting away. Let’s become everyday artists who fill people’s lives with creativity and cause them to marvel at the ingenuity of our Creator!

That’s why the title phrase of this post, Riding to Hell in a Hopechest, really resonated with me when I read it in the fabulous article just posted by Anna Sofia and Elizabeth Botkin. Their post, Why Am I Not Married?!?, is a hard-hitting exposé that I think every young woman should read. In order to get the full context of that passing phrase that I lifted from the post, you’ll have to read the whole thing for yourself. (And hopefully it has sufficiently shocked you into going and doing just that…)

In addition to bringing to light what I believe are the foundational heart issues with which many young women are wrestling, the Botkin sisters also call us back to a remembrance of the faithfulness and sovereignty of God. This is an issue that I have studied at some length in the past, and which led me to write a short overview of my findings. I’ve previously only shared it with my family and a few close friends, but I am posting it here now because I believe it is relevant to this discussion. Perhaps it will also provide further hope and encouragement for other unmarried women who are patiently waiting on the Lord to bring them a husband…if and when He so chooses.

This study was initially prompted by a question posited to me by a friend regarding the parallel between salvation (the relationship between Christ and His Bride) and marriage (the relationship between a man and his bride) that is clearly put forth in Scripture. This is written, then, as a response to that question.

Marriage and the Sovereignty of God
originally written August, 2009

Although I’m familiar with the concept of marriage as a picture of Christ and His Bride, I had never considered the parallel between election/the Sovereignty of God and the initiation of a marriage relationship. Supposing that the analogy is valid, then we would recognize the Sovereignty of God not only in ordaining the marriage, but also in orchestrating all the events prior to the marriage, and in bringing about the consummation of the marriage at the particular time of His choosing. We would also acknowledge that each of these elements are so designed in order to make known God’s power in us and to declare His glory throughout all the earth (as we see in God’s dealings with Pharaoh – see Romans 9).

What appears, then, to be the delay of God’s plan may be seen rather as an indication that His glory will be magnified in a postponed deliverance. The intervening events serve as the conduit for greater glory, not merely as a holding time in which we wait for God to work.

For instance, if it is by God’s election that one is to be saved, but the point of salvation occurs at a late stage in life, do we conclude that God’s plan of salvation in this case has been thwarted? Indeed not! (see Job 42:2) We are all as clay in the hand of the Potter (see Isaiah 64:8; Romans 9:20-21). He forms us as He will and when He will. And we know that He “worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: that we should be to the praise of his glory” (Ephesians 1:11-12a). All things. The means, the end, the schedule, the particulars.

With these truths in mind, we pray for the salvation of the unsaved; we preach the word, seeking to “be instant in season, out of season” (2 Timothy 4:3), knowing that “faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). But in the end, we hope unceasingly in the mercy of God, who alone is mighty to save (see Psalm 147:10-11; Isaiah 63:1).

Similarly, we pray for a godly marriage; we uphold and embrace the biblical covenant of marriage and God’s design for raising up a godly seed (see Matthew 19:4-6; Malachi 2:15; Isaiah 66:22). But in the end, we hope unceasingly in the mercy of God, who has promised that “no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly” (Psalm 84:11).

My hope, then, as an unmarried woman is ultimately neither in marriage nor in the prospect of a godly husband, but in the mercy of God. This is an incredible thought to me in light of Proverbs 13:12, which I have before used as justification for a spirit of discontent. “Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.” For if my hope is in a godly marriage, then until that desire is fulfilled, I will live in a state of heartsickness/heartache. But if my hope is in the mercy of God, I will be in a state of “lively hope” (1 Peter 1:3) because His mercies/compassions fail not; indeed, they are new every morning! (see Lamentations 3:22-26)

I can take heart in the knowledge that what seems to be a delay of God’s plan for marriage in my life is actually the means by which He is working to bring greater glory to Himself, both through His mighty and faithful deeds in the intervening period and in the eventual consummation of that plan. And I can likewise trust that the Lord who “hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil” (Proverbs 16:4) can still be trusted even if He has ordained that I should never be married.

Another thought that came to mind is that the Lord who fashions the seed of the next generation in the womb and who knows all the days ordained for it before even one of them comes to be, must necessarily also ordain the coming together of the two through whom He raises up that godly seed. We need not worry or become disheartened (as I am prone to do!) as the child-bearing years seem to pass us by, for that, too, is in the hand of God. Procreation itself is not the transmitter of a godly seed – the Sovereign God Himself is! “Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments. His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed” (Psalm 112:1-2). We must therefore fear Him, delight in His commandments, hope in His mercy, and trust in His timing.

You may read the article below, or download it as a PDF from this link. Please feel free to share it with others!

Homeschool Graduate Encourages Other Grads to Rethink College

When Natalie Wickham graduated from high school, she wrestled with the question of whether or not to attend college. She had been homeschooled for nine years of her education, but the prevailing expectation was that she would pursue further schooling from some accredited institution. However, rather than follow some pre-designed plan just because everyone around her did, Wickham decided to keep her options open and trust God to provide the educational experiences and opportunities she needed.

Since graduating in 1999, Wickham has had uncountable experiences and opportunities that she never would have gained through a traditional college education. This included earning her National Certification as a Teacher of Music, and launching her own thriving private music studio. Despite having never even taken the ACT, let alone pursued a college degree, Wickham’s expertise and hands-on experience landed her in front of a graduate class at a local university. There she discovered that years of classroom lectures and hours spent studying for tests hadn’t prepared these students for the real world of teaching and running a studio. Real life has prepared Wickham far better than a traditional education ever could have. Wickham’s latest trailblazing has led her to publish Pajama School, a book that highlights her life and inspires other students to continue to challenge the status quo and trust God with the future beyond graduation.

Wickham is one example of a homeschool graduate who successfully followed the road less-traveled. While new doors to higher education are opening all the time, there is still considerable pressure on high school graduates to view college as the key to unlocking a successful future. Nothing could be further from the truth! Exorbitant tuition costs siphon thousands of dollars and instead serve to plague students for years after graduating. Propaganda-driven classes program the next generation to be minions of the state. Detrimental social environments perpetuate adolescent irresponsibility rather than equip students to be financially savvy, independent thinkers who can positively impact the culture. More and more high school graduates are looking for alternatives to the failing system that traditional higher education has become.

Cash In, Debt Out

Exorbitant tuition costs that plague students for years after graduating has become stunningly common. Many students are never even able to get a job in their chosen field.

In her well-researched book, The Case Against College, Caroline Bird reports, “We concluded that in strictly financial terms, college is the dumbest investment a young man can make.”¹ Her chapters dealing with the cost of college tuition outline in great detail how they arrived at this conclusion. After interviewing hundreds of students at schools across the country, she writes, “Many . . . told us frankly that while college is a pleasant place to be – and beats working – it would not be worth it if they had to pay for it themselves.” ² A recent survey asked thousands of students at hundreds of colleges if they would go to their school again. About 40% said they were not likely to enroll.

This trend was highlighted by the recent ABC News story, “Is College Worth the Price of Admission?” The promise that a college degree will guarantee a better paying job has proved to be a lie for many college graduates. “The bachelor’s degree is America’s most overrated product,” says Marty Nemko, PH.D., an education consultant and career counselor. “When your parents had a bachelor’s degree it was a big deal . . . today it’s like a hunting license for a job.”

Sandy Baum, an Economics professor, admits that a degree won’t make graduates the additional million that colleges promise. But she does insist that “on average people benefit much more from going to college.” However, statistics don’t back that up. Students in the bottom 40% of their high school class (students that colleges are working hard to recruit) have very low chances of ever graduating, even if given 8 ½ years, according to Nemko. The kids who are successful, on the other hand, are the ones who would have been successful whether they went to college or not, because they have the drive, perseverance, and hands-on skills to succeed.

Personal finance guru Suzu Orman agrees. “It’s smarter to acquire specific marketable skills . . . I would much rather see a student graduate knowing that they can go out there, get a job, and not be crushed under the burden of a prestigious degree.”

Perhaps if it were only exorbitant costs, the traditional educational establishment could be forgiven enough to be tolerated. But instead, there are ominous warnings that it wants students to check in their brains at the door along with their bills.

No Thinking Allowed

Lauren Bleser, an elementary teacher from upstate New York who has experienced teaching in public, private, and homeschool settings alike, points out that even the National Education Association (NEA) agrees that education cannot be neutral and that ideas do have consequences. In her recent article “A Teacher Learns the Truth About Education,” Bleser sums up the modern educational agenda with a quote from Joyce Elmer Morgan, former editor of the Journal of the National Education Association.

Morgan says, “In the struggle to establish an adequate world government, the teacher can do much to prepare the hearts and minds of children for global understanding and cooperation. At the very top of all the agencies which will assure the coming of world government must stand the school, the teacher, and the organized profession.”

Worldview does count. The old cliché that “the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world” rings hauntingly true in Morgan’s statement. But college students are not infants, and they are not prone to be lulled to sleep by relativistic, socialistic ideas, are they?

Perhaps more than we might think.

In a recent controversial book, “Brainwashed: How Universities Indoctrinate America’s Youth,” college graduate Ben Shapiro reveals the liberal agenda college students are expected to adopt if they want to be considered tolerant and academic. Professors with liberal agendas seek to champion tolerance for all – except for those with a conservative worldview. As Phyllis Schlafly notes, “the radicals of the 1960s have become tenured professors.” Situational ethics and groupthink pervade not only the classroom but also infiltrate the dorms, until all the world seems to think, act, and speak in exactly the same way. Josh Sterling, a senior at Cornell University, said, “When 1% of the campus is conservative and the other 99% who care are incredibly liberal, you’re going to get something approaching a socialist state.”

Even some avowed liberal professors have grown so disgusted with the lack of critical thinking and work ethic of students that they have decided to leave the job they love. As one such professor, who asked to be called John Smith, explained, “Intellectual sparring . . . about ideas – among students and faculty – has been replaced by one-sided, partisan drivel . . . my partisan colleagues . . . do not hear the other side, so it is easy to demonize the other side. Their students are listening, and sadly think of conservatism in its many forms as horrific. Worse still, they now conflate liberal passion and advocacy with justice, and by default, analytic rigor and reason. They do not weigh evidence, or take note of pro, cons, costs or benefits. Doing so would be to admit that there are merits to positions they do not hold.”

The question begs to be asked, why pay thousands of dollars to hear only one side of the story?

A Social Wasteland

One of the long-supposed benefits of going to college is simply for the social experience. Thousands have made lifelong friends – and found lifelong partners – at universities all over the world. But it has become increasingly obvious that college is more likely not only a fake – but also dangerous – social environment for students. Statistics show that both drug and alcohol abuse on campus has gone on a rampant increase in the last few years – with some drug increases up to 343%. According to a 2008 survey in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, violence on college campuses is also on the rise. 45% of students report that they have been the victim of some form of violence, whether physical, sexual, or emotional.

It would appear that being surrounded by peers is more likely to perpetuate a culture of irresponsible adolescence than prepare young adults for the rigors of the real world. In his article, Professor Smith describes higher education at many liberal arts colleges as a “puffy sofa nestled with down pillows” for scores of students. He observes that not only do students want it easy in class, they want to be comfy and passive beyond the classroom as well. “Student life” largely serves to debilitate the notion of a genuine, deliberative, academic community. Rather than fuel cerebral discussions with activities for the mind, resident advisors and their adult supervisors plan activities that redefine anti-intellectualism. There is Sensitivity Day, Tolerance Day, Wear [insert color here] Day, and a host of other events that are aimed at ‘inspiring.’ Dorm life is supposed to be cool, fun and engaging . . . my students are brutally honest – they tell me with candor and without shame that their peers think of college as a four year cruise without a destination.”

While there is nothing wrong with a little fun, it is not and should not be the purpose of a college education. Neither is it worthy of piling up student debts to earn nothing in return.

Rethinking College

In spite of all the negative trends, a growing number of young people are growing frustrated enough with the way things are to blaze a different trail. Those leading the charge are often young people already accustomed to challenging the status quo – homeschool graduates.

Jana Kornfeld, Marketing Manager for Natalie Wickham’s book Pajama School, can testify to a similar dissatisfaction with the traditional options available to homeschool graduates that Wickham experienced. Kornfeld also determined to trust God to show her an alternative path. She discovered an organization called CollegePlus!, a coaching program which assists students in earning their degrees via accelerated distance learning methods. “It was an answer to every prayer I’d ever prayed as far as continuing my education went. I would not only be able to save time and money, but I would be able to remain at home and stay involved with my family, church, and community ministries,” says Kornfeld. For under $10,000, she was able to earn her fully accredited four-year degree in just 14 months and 14 days.

Brittany Barden can attest to the vital assistance of CollegePlus! with similar results. Barden earned 120 credits toward her fully accredited BA entirely through credit-by-examination alone – in just 10 months. Neither did she become a mole under a pile of textbooks to accomplish this seemingly impossible feat. While she studied and took tests, Barden found time to run her mom’s business, coordinate a local Bible Bee Competition, help advise political campaigns, and serve her family. “It was absolutely crazy, but proof that you can live a full life while completing a college degree in record time!” Barden declares.

All three of these graduates present proof that education is about more than just simply going with the flow. It’s trusting God with our futures and being willing to blaze a different trail. For graduates like Wickham, Kornfeld, Barden, and countless others, it has been more than worth it. For others willing to take the challenge, new and exciting opportunities await!

Copyright © 2010 Natalie Wickham

God doesn’t want the pain we feel in our trial to go away. It produces a “staying power.” This comes from the Greek word used for perseverance; to stay under pressure. We can’t quit, complain, run, lash out, or fold. We have to stay under pressure so we can become mature and complete. And God is ready to give us wisdom while going through the trial. The only problem is we have to get our eyes off the trial long enough to ask for it.

I was so challenged by these thoughts! Usually the substance of my prayer during difficult times is that God would take away the trial and the associated pain. The realization that it is the very pain and pressure of the situation itself that serves as the agency of spiritual maturity is sobering. It reminds me of a quote that I heard years ago to the effect that we should see to it that any pressure in our lives does not come between us and the Lord so that it might instead serve always to press us closer to the Lord. There is, indeed, a certain joy and sweetness that is experienced more fully during hard times than during times of ease and pleasant situations. That’s why we must learn to give thanks and rejoice in the midst of trials – however big or small they may seem.

• Have a FedEx Day.
• Try DIY Report Cards.
• Give them an allowance and some chores–but don’t combine them.
• Offer praise…the right way.
• Help kids see the big picture.

Check out the article for details about each of these great ideas!

He was a fixture in the neighborhood for years. Every morning, like clockwork, he ambled down the sidewalk beside our house, enjoying the fresh air and frequently stopping to visit with friends along the way. While out for my morning run several days a week we often crossed paths, and I came to look forward to our occasional chats. He filled me in on his wife and the grandson that was living with them temporarily, and I gave him the latest on my various projects. Last summer, I had a chance to share my faith with him. He listened politely, but said he didn’t need a crutch to get through life. Oh how I protested that Jesus is a crutch! I couldn’t imagine anything further from the truth. Instead, I referenced Isaiah 40:31 and told him that having the Lord in your life is more like being lifted up on wings so that you can fly in the midst of life’s difficulties! But he was resolved in his unbelief. As one might expect of an 84-year old.

I knew the day would come, but it still sent me into momentary shock tonight when my sister relayed the news that the obituaries in last week’s paper listed dear Mr. Wes Gum. He breathed his last on January 31. Only a week before, Dad and I were walking back from breakfast and I had a chance to introduce Dad to the man he had heard me speak of on multiple occasions. He looked as fit as ever and responded in his customary pleasantness when queried as to how he was doing. Little did he know that in a week he would take his final trip around the block. Little did any of us know. I prayed often for Wes over the last year, but never again conversed on matters of faith. I wish I would have. Death has such a way of bringing eternity into focus. If only I could remember every day to pour my time and effort into things of eternal value. My heart is sad. I will miss Wes Gum.

“I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.”

2 Timothy 4:1-2