by Barbara Oliver

Wow! I have been home for two weeks already! I am just now coming out of the fog of jet-lag and holiday-company-overeating-lag.

We left Tasmania on November 12 and spent Thursday in Singapore repacking for Myanmar (Burma). Singapore is sort of a hub for the Choates. They stay at the Supreme Hotel, and the hotel lets them store luggage. Since they are usually toting books from place to place, it is convenient to unload things that aren't needed for certain parts of the trip.

We were met at the airport in Myanmar by Winsome Vertannes, a single woman who lives with her mother. They do all the cooking and arranging transport for the missionaries who come to teach at the preacher-training school, which is held in the spring and fall. We drove to the Seasons Hotel in Yangoon, formerly Rangoon. It is an amazing hotel, with an attentive staff. We had to stay in a hotel because the government does not allow foreigners to stay with locals.

The Burmese are a very pleasant and polite people. The predominant religion is Buddhism. The country is controlled by the military. They had free elections, but when the people elected their president, the military put her under house arrest, where she remains to this day.

I have to say, Myanmar was one of my favorite countries, except for one thing. The Myanmar government has a strict policy regarding the internet. I was not able to check my email or even go to the home pages of my email servers! For over a week I was nearly internet-less! It was frightening!

We left Myanmar on Monday, November 24 for Singapore. We spent the night at the Supreme Hotel, gathered up all our luggage the next morning and were on our way to the airport by 6:30 am. Our flight was at 10:00 am, Tuesday morning. About 25 hours later, we arrived in Jackson, MS at 8:00 pm, Tuesday evening. No, that is not a math mistake. We gained about 10 hours. Tuesday was a long day!

Since I have been back, nearly everyone has asked me, "Did you have fun?" Well, yes, we did have some fun on the trip. But was it a fun trip? No, I can't say that it was a "fun" trip. I can say that it was an adventure.

This was not a vacation trip. It was a mission trip. Anyone who has been on a mission trip will understand what I mean. People think, "Wow, you went to all these cool places! Did you see the sites? Did you travel in style and stay in luxurious hotels, and eat expensive, exotic foods?" No, no, no and no!

We saw very few "sites", we stayed mostly in other Christians' homes and ate food that they prepared for us (which was often exotic, by the way). We seldom ate in restaurants, unless you call Burger King in the airport a restaurant! We traveled for days on poorly air-conditioned trains in which we had to take our own food and water. We sat elbow-to-elbow in the back of airplanes. We still haven't figured out how we managed to always be put in the back of the plane!

Was it great? You bet! Would I take a vacation to most of the places I went? Not on your life! Would I go again if there was a need? In a New York minute!

There are brethren strewn all over this world, and I have met some of the best. I would love to see them again. But I probably won't have that opportunity. As she was giving me a good-bye hug, one dear old sister, whom I met in New Zealand, whispered in my ear, "If I don't see you again, I will see you in heaven."

Our lives are as fragile as that old lady's whisper. It is up to us to pack as much service to God as possible in the short breath of time we have on earth. Hang on tight, because sometimes it can lead you on a wild adventure!

by Emmett Smith

"Dec. 7, 1941 - a date which will live in infamy…" – Franklin D. Roosevelt uttered this phrase in a speech to the Congress of the United States on December 8 following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. They attacked early on a Sunday morning, correctly expecting that that particular timing would ensure maximum unpreparedness on the part of the Americans. And although the carrier fleet had been ordered out to sea and was spared, the attack was certainly a success. But surely there's another historical event that is even more infamous.

It's recorded in Genesis chapter 3, and has been the subject of great secular literature. "Paradise Lost!", the newspapers might proclaim in inch-high bold type. Milton would surely agree. And we've been at war ever since. President Roosevelt declaimed the treachery of the Japanese in preparing for war while speaking peace through their embassage. Their treachery pales in comparison to that of the evil one! And he's plotting your demise.

That's right, he wants to take your soul as battle spoil. And if he succeeds you'll have only yourself to blame. Unlike the sailors at Pearl Harbor, we've been warned. We've been told to be watchful, vigilant, circumspect, as we walk this life. We've been taught about his deceit, his craftiness, and his subtlety. And repeated warnings throughout the New Testament inform us as to the nature of the conflict and of our foe. And most importantly, we don't stand alone in the conflict. "But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one" (2 Thess. 3:3). See also Ephesians 6:10-18.

"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, 'For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.' No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Rom. 8:35-39).

by Bill Dillon

Men and women of God who would not think of gambling, drinking or committing an act of fleshly evil, may otherwise be guilty of a sour disposition with an envious, bitter or negative frame of mind. An individual may quote scripture, pray fervently and have an unblemished attendance record at worship services, yet, may possess such a critical and negative attitude about life that others actually wish to avoid them.

Are sins of the flesh less harmful than sins of the spirit? The sin of a bad attitude can cripple, if not kill, the progress of the Lord's church in any community.

Regardless of daily news, sorrowful circumstances or stormy weather, each of us has a duty to show ourselves true men and women of God and be of good cheer.

The Bible says: "greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world" (1 Jn. 4:4). "For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?" (1 Jn. 5:4,5).

Jesus also said; "In the world ye shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world" (Jn. 16:33).

May our faith in God cause us always to see all circumstances in as favorable a light as possible and let us have a happy readiness to go onward in life.

(Thanks to The Voice of Truth International, Vol 24.)

by Tim Hall

Two brothers made a promise to follow God. For a time, they were true to their word, submitting to God's wisdom, obeying His will. In time, however, one decided there was more reward to be found from the world. He abandoned his commitment and walked in paths the Lord had forbidden.

God described that tragedy through His prophet Hosea: "Ephraim has encompassed Me with lies, and the house of Israel with deceit; but Judah still walks with God, even with the Holy One who is faithful" (Hosea 11:12, New King James Version).

What made the difference between these two brothers? As Hosea said, one trusted in the faithfulness of God, while the other apparently did not. That trust makes all the difference. If we believe something is going to be worthwhile, we will endure great obstacles. But when our hope for reward is weakened or taken away, we quickly give up.

God's faithfulness is a prominent theme of the Bible. Paul noted it in his letter to Corinth: "God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord" (1 Corinthians 1:9). Remove the certainty that God will bless our efforts, and who is willing to give up his will for the Lord's? But Paul had no doubts about God's willingness to bless. "He is faithful", Paul assured them.

James, too, pointed to the value of knowing God's faithfulness. He compared the Christian's life to a farmer's labor. There are times, between the early and the latter rains, when the farmer wonders if his efforts will be in vain. But then the rain comes and his patience is rewarded. "You also be patient," James concluded. "Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand" (James 5:7,8).

As Christians see the world doling out riches to the ungodly, it's hard to hold onto our faith. Why not let go of things we can't see and grab for the world's golden rings? After all, this talk about heaven may just be fantasy. As time goes by, our resolve to live by faith weakens, and many decide to take what is before them. Demas was one such Christian (2 Timothy 4:10).

The faithfulness of God -- how important it is to see this attribute! And how is it that we can make it ever clearer in our minds? Here's Paul's prescription: "For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope" (Romans 15:4).

Back to the Bible! In our modern world of sophistication and technology, it sounds just too simple and old-fashioned. But those who wish to endure to the end cannot allow anything to detract them from reading the Bible. In reminding ourselves of how God has faithfully dealt with others in the past, we'll be encouraged to endure, too.

An old Greek hymn of the 8th century speaks the lesson eloquently: "'If I ask Him to receive me, will He say me nay?' 'Not till earth and not till heaven pass away.' 'Finding, following, keeping, struggling, Is He sure to bless?' 'Saints, apostles, prophets, martyrs answer "Yes".'" (From the hymn "Art Thou Weary?")

Is God sure to bless? The answer we hold in our hearts will determine the resolve we have to persevere.

by Mike Benson

It has been my studied observation that some folks treat personal problems like a fire in the backyard. In essence, their attitude is, "Ignore it, leave it alone, and eventually it will burn itself out." The problem with this kind of approach, however, is that quite often the entire house becomes engulfed in the flames.

In Philippians 4:2, Paul mentioned two Christian women -- Euodia and Syntyche -- who were experiencing some sort of interpersonal conflict. And it's interesting to note Paul's answer to this situation. He didn't say, "Ladies, let this thing burn itself out." Rather, he said:

      <i>"And I urge you also, true companion, help 
      these women..."</i> (Phil. 2:3).

Evidentally Euodia and Syntyche couldn't stop the "fire" by themselves, and so the apostle asked another member of the congregation to help them "extinguish the flames."

Dear Christian, is your backyard on fire? Put it out immediately (Eph. 4:26ff). But if you can't put it out by yourself (Matt. 5:23-24; 18:15ff), then call the local fire department (Phil. 2:3) before it's too late.