The hand of the Lord

For whatever reason the Lord has always kept me from destruction.
This week was no different.

I live on a mountain top. At the bottom of our road there are
terrible potholes (A relative to Potholites.) and their cousins, the
frost heaves(From the Heavites.). Potholes seek to remove the
undercarriages of more modern cars, taking away the proper alignments
we have strived for. The Heavites have the ability to toss a small
tractor trailer to the side of the road with little effort. Our
community has allowed itself to be overtaken by these creatures.
Earlier this year our town took on the project of restoring 100 year
old waterlines. This left 2 of our roads as breeding grounds for
these dangerous denizens. The two streets (Park-more now than ever in
some cases, and Union, or more appropriately, "Dis" Union, as wheels,
tires and axles are ceremoniously removed from vehicles.) are at the
bottom of my road. From my house, there is no other way out, save the
"Valley of Death, " a usually unplowed section of road.

I mention that because it might be relevant to the rest of this
little saga. The irony of it all, is that the other day on the 25 MPH
road, I was doing 15 MPH in an attempt to not be captured and a Yaris
"blew" by me. His car could easily be captured by the Potholites
never to be seen again. So, what if he gets 30MPG. (BTW-my Grand Prix
averages 31.66 MPG and has never had a tune up! As opposed to my van
which can not pass a chance to visit the "enemy" and get gas.)

So, in the last few years, I have taken care of my vehicles. My third
car since I have moved here is approaching the 200,000 mile mark.
Previous vehicles included an '86 Mercedes Diesel that my wife
thought was "falling apart" from the noise and an '89 Ford Probe
traded in with 260K. I have had little difficulties with the Grand
Prix. But a few weeks ago on a road trip, I noticed a "lane shift"
that I had not intended. Attributing it to invisible "ice" I carried
on, completing the 500 mile trip. Upon return I arranged for new
brakes (2nd set since I owned it-the hill is murder on my brakes.)
and mentioned the lane change to the mechanic. Showed him the noise.
He spent the day on it and told me it was the bushing at the top of
the strut and not to worry about it. So, I adopted my Alfred E.
Newman stance and agreed, "what, me worry?" A few weeks go by. I hear
the noise a little more, and began to find after a right hand turn
the noise is a clunk accompanied by an attempt at a lane change. So,
I set up another appointment after I noticed my ABS light on while
taking Tina to the hospital at 5 in the morning.

I dropped my car off, explaining the action of wanting to greet "left
lane" offenders. Got in my van and went about my day. About 3PM, I
thought I would check in. There was my car. Up on jacks. I saw the
infamous "donut" spare on the area where the noise was coming from. I
walked up and noticed the absence of parts. Quite a few in fact. I
went in to talk to the mechanic. "What did the test reveal," I asked.
His answer took me by surprise. "I made it 3 feet and the front end
fell off." The car had moved 3 feet before the ball joint exited,
allowing the wheel to splay out, removing the axle and blowing a 3"
hole through my alloy wheel. His subsequent statement of "you are a
lucky man" translated to the "Lord has watched over me once again. I
don't think about what could have happened. I leave that for others.
I choose to believe that while my car is a present casualty of the
Heavites and the Pothlites, I and my family are survivors. The car
has been there a few days and I have not heard the status.

So, we are down to a van that will not drive on ice or snow, but it
is up to God the next step,as to what direction we can go. I would
ask that we all take more seriously praying for one another. It is
clear that the "some-ite" would like to remove us. Whatever God
decides for us, He is the One we can count on.

Thanks to all of you who have prayed while Tina has recuperated from
surgery last week. She is doing a lot better. Cass is home from
vacation. Matt is getting ready to go to school in the fall. Amy has
gone through some good changes. Tyler is being mentored by a fellow
pastor. Alyssa is doing well and over all life is good. My partner
and I are working on a new business structure, have begun hiring
people and are believing God to watch us over as He has.

Blessings,
Lee

Lee Johndrow
88 WCFR Drive
Springfield, VT 05156
802-885-2885

Learning about rest

Right now I have a huge fire going and it is starting to warm up. So, I am sitting in front of it with a computer in hand and a cup of YOGI tea. (Hey, hey, Booboo...) Ok, so it probably means Yogi Berra...It says on the label to "experience the warmth and love of your soul." That is a mouthful.

So, as I mentioned earlier, my meditations led me here.

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28)

I felt the Lord saying...

Learn the discipline of rest

One of the most important subjects in the bible is the subject of rest.

It is found in every book of the bible. God takes rest very seriously. He commanded the Jews to rest every 7th day, every 7th year and every 49th year to take a year off. The year of Jubilee. God took this so seriously that when the children of ignored those 7th year celebrations, for 490 years, he required that they go into captivity for 70 years in Babylon.

OK What's the big deal about this?

When Jesus was baptized, in water and the Spirit, he was tempted of the devil, overcame him with the Word and then came back into Nazareth preaching what? The year of Jubilee (Luke 4) He stood up and said that the Jubilee, the Sabbath was a person and I have arrived. (I have said this for years, that Jesus is the Sabbath and when we see ourselves crucified and risen in Him, we are in the Sabbath.)

We must learn the discipline of living from a place of rest. Sounds like a paradox? Christianity is not striving to become more like Christ, rather it is in resting in him and beholding him that we are transformed. That sound both wonderful and familiar but most Christians rarely seem to make it past the idea to enjoy the reality.

Let me take a few lines to break this down to where we are and outline how this can become our normal.

We have to learn to stop trying to produce in our experience what Jesus accomplished on the Cross. In John 19:30 Jesus cried out "It is finished". At that moment everything "pertaining to life and Godliness was bought and paid for. As evangelicals we have been taught that Jesus paid for our salvation and have understood that to be our ticket to heaven but in reality Jesus gave up everything that he had in his relationship with God that he might have it back in your experience.

We are constantly asking God to do what he has already done instead of resting by faith in the provision that he has already made available.

There's a great test to see if you are at rest. Are you enjoying your Christian walk?

That folks was a big question for me and the beginning of my pursuit to get things back.

Is it a joy? The word says that Jesus faced the cross for the joy that was set before him.

Is 28 :11 For with stammering lips and another tongue He will speak to this people, 12 To whom He said, "This is the rest with which You may cause the weary to rest," And, "This is the refreshing"; Yet they would not hear. 13 But the word of the LORD was to them, " Precept upon precept, precept upon precept, Line upon line, line upon line, Here a little, there a little," (Or as another translation says, because they would not embrace this rest...
So then, the word of the LORD to them will become: Do and do, do and do, rule on rule, rule on rule; a little here, a little there­ so that they will go and fall backward, be injured and snared and captured.


Holy Spirit has been sent to lead you into a place of rest and wonder from which to walk with Jesus. There is such a joy available to the believer that it will offend the religious.


Think about that!

A request for prayer

Dear Friends:

This is a quick request for prayer. As many of you may know Tina was in the hospital 3 times in the last few months. On Thursday, she will be headed off for surgery. And while they say it is not "major" she will be under for a while and will miss quite a bit of work. She spent a lot of time finding the right doctor, the right hospital, etc..I guess you think when you fill out a living will, huh? She has lost quite a bit of work and will be giving up the rest of her sick leave(Until Sept.) and a good chunk of her vacation time. It means we will only have a week of vacation(And not the 4 of last year.) this year and it is not until Sept. This has drastically affected our finances, etc.

So, please cover the these areas if you think of it.

1-Surgery will be successful and she will not have adverse effects.
2-Her recovery will be quick.
3-We will be able to handle things around the house.
4-She will not miss more time than necessary.
5-God will provide the necessary finances.
6-Her return to work will be pecaeful.

On other levels, the grandchildren and Alyssa are still living here so I get my jump start every day with Jacob(9 months-WOW!).

Blessings,
Lee

SPOILS-Strategic Placement Of Influence, Leadership & Service
Out of the spoils won in battles did they dedicate to maintain the house of the LORD.
www.pocafministries.org/spoils
Lee Johndrow
88 WCFR Drive
Springfield, VT 05156
802-885-2885
SHAPING THE CULTURE!!!!!
www.net2church.org Leaders-visit here.
www.newenglandflame.com back on line.