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It is just over two weeks before our planned departure to Germany. In the meantime, we are busily packing and trying to tie up loose ends here. One of the loose ends is to sell some of the our household things that we are not going to be taking along. If you are interested in these items follow the the page link in the right column "Items for sale." Email us if you would be interested in any of these items.
This coming weekend I will have the opportunity to give the message at Zion Congregational Church in Cheyenne, WY. The message that I have been working on has been on the "Parable of the Sower" from Luke 8:4-15 (//Matt 13:2-23; Mark 4:1-20). In general, I have understood this passage as an explanation by Jesus to His disciples of the mixed response to His message of the kingdom. On the one hand some, like the disciples, respond with faith to what Jesus says, while on the other hand, others, like many of the religious rulers (Mark 3) or even Jesus' home town (Luke 4), do not. Thus for me, the parable was essentially "negative"--a warning to the hearer to avoid being part of the "failed crop" but instead, to belong to the harvest of the "good soil."
After reading William L. Lane's commentary on Mark this week, I wonder if my usual take on this parable misses the bigger picture of what Jesus wants to say. From all three gospels we see that Jesus' explanation of the parable was given only to His disciples--those who had responded by faith to His message. Thus, the point of the parable is not to focus on those who do not respond, but to highlight the miracle that any actually do. We would expect a fallen world to reject God's Son. What is not expected is that some respond in faith and, as Luke's version states, bear a crop "a hundred times as great" (8:8).
While I will leave the theological implications of this to my Calvinist and Armenian friends, Jesus' observation should greatly increase the joy of any one who "has ears to hear." This is the miracle of salvation, the miracle of faith. The Parable of the Sower is not primarily about a failed crop. Rather, about a harvest, one that is sure to take place.
"Click or wait" adequately summarizes my thoughts last Saturday morning as I prepared to book our tickets on Delta.com for our move to Germany. Ever since the AWM asked us to come for a three year ministry and we were approved by Liebenzell USA to raise support, we have been preparing for this moment. Why the hesitation? For one, in order to go somewhere new, one must leave behind something familiar and comfortable. We have been the last eight years in Dallas and have come to know this community and love and care for our friends here. To go means to maintain these ties in a new way while trying to establish other ones elsewhere--a worthwhile, though hard task. Second, we still have a lot to do. When we moved here we came with a car load of stuff from the Northwest and seven boxes sent from Germany. Eight years and three kids later, despite a weeding out process we still have a lot to sort and sell--not to mention the plethora of other details associated with moving anywhere. Third, one always wonders if it is the "right" time. Are we really ready? The wisdom here clearly does not come from within. God gives wisdom and counsel through revealed Scripture, trusted voices (such as church and mission board), and circumstances. In our case, the alignment of the latter two that does not contradict the first, seems to indicate that this is the way forward. Does this mean 100% certainty. It never will. It is only as we go step by step that God unfolds the details of a plan in which we only play a small part. So, with this in mind: "click."
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