Comfort In Pain

 

Horatio Spafford was a successful attorney and real estate investor, but lost his fortune in one of the worst economic collapses in the country's history.  Later that year, he lost his 4 year old son to a debilitating disease.  With what money he had left, he decided to send his family on a trip to separate them from his work and soothe the pain of their loss.  He arranged for his wife and four remaining children to board a ship from the states bound for England, and he would join them after tying up some loose ends with his work.  Two days after boarding the boat, Horatio received a cryptic notification from his wife which said "Saved alone.  What should I do?"  He then learned that the ship his family was on had been hit by another ship, and his family's ship had sunk.  Over 200 people died, including his four daughters.  His wife survived.   Horatio left immediately to join his wife in England, and part of the way into the trip, the captain let him know they were passing over the spot where the shipwreck had occurred.  In the midst of unbearable pain, Horatio wrote these words of comfort.  "When peace like a river attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll - whatever thou lot, thou hast taught me to know, it is well, it is well with my soul."  The year was 1873, and Horatio had just penned what would become one of the most well-known hymns ever written.   God did not promise that life on this earth would be easy, but He did promise that He would be with us and that He would comfort us.

I was first introduced to Wintley Phipps at a company meeting when he performed one of the most moving performances of Amazing Grace that I have ever heard, but I just found his arrangement of It is Well today.  Take a moment to feel the comfort of God's presence.

Thanks A Billion

I'm thankful that at least once a year the holiday schedule reminds us to be thankful.  Being thankful is one of the healthiest states of mind because it takes my mind off of my problems and points it towards all the good in my life.  More importantly, it takes my mind off of myself and points it to others.   I am thankful I have work that is meaningful.   I get to work with Janet, who has been with me for 17 years, and my son, Michael, who has been with me for 10.   I am thankful for many great clients who make working a joy  and the others that create opportunities for growth.  I am thankful for my extended family, many of which are close by.  I am especially thankful for my immediate family.  I would rather be with them than anyone else in the world.  I am most thankful that God sent his son Jesus to die for my sins, and that He reveals Himself to me as a seek to know Him more.  I hope you have much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. 

The Shepherd shepherding

If you are looking for a great place to spend the night in Clemson, be sure to check out The Shepherd Hotel.  It is a high end hotel with some of the best service around thanks to its relationship with Clemson Life.  You may already be familiar with Clemson Life, or remember it from this post I made 8 years ago.  The story is unforgettable.   Clemson Life helps students with disabilities learn how to live on their own, and one of my clients and neighbors at the lake, David Saville, was featured in that video.  The Shepherd Hotel opened last year and hired 60 students associated with the Clemson Life program to provide the highest level of service possible to its guests.  Check it out for yourself the next time you are in the area.

Adrift No More

 

Vinh Chung graduated Magna Cum Laude with a BA in Biology from Harvard University and received his medical degree from Harvard Medical School.  He is now a board-certified dermatologist in Colorado Springs, specializing in treating skin cancer using the Mohs surgical technique.

In 1979, Vinh was four years old and floating adrift on a derelict fishing boat off the coast of Malaysia with 92 others including his mother, father and siblings.   Vinh was one of the 300,000 boat people forced to flee Vietnam under the threat of persecution and  death.  On one of the last days that he was on the boat, Vinh saw his father fall to his knees and pray to his creator for the first time.  His father was praying for rain that might save them from dehydration and allow them to live a few more days.  Almost immediately, the skies turned dark and the rains came.

That same year, Stan Mooneyham was the  president of World Vision, a Christian humanitarian aid organization bringing relief to those in need.  Knowing of the crisis in Vietnam, World Vision purchased a WWII service boat and had it reconditioned into a rescue boat.  The mission was to try to bring aid to any of the refugees that were lost at sea, and was named Operation Seasweep .  After days at sea, and finding no refugee boats, Seasweep was almost out of fuel and water and was preparing to return to port, but in the distance they saw a small fishing boat filled with refugees bobbing in the sea.  On that day Vinh and 92 others were saved.

Vinh is now on the board at World Vision and has published his memoir, Where the Wind Leads, detailing the story.  Click here for a preview of the book, and if you have more time, click here for the full story of Seasweep including footage of the actual rescue.

Girl Power

 

I have a lot of important females in my life - starting with my mom who lives next door to us, and my loving wife, Caroline, who lives next door to her...(with me!).  Then there is my amazing daughter, Lizzy, and equally amazing daughter-in-law, Emily.  Those two females gave me 5 more spirited granddaughters that bring us so much joy.  

I hear and read about a lot of girls that are hurting.  They hurt because they may not like the way they look, or they aren't accepted by the cool kids at school.  Many are bullied, and in the most extreme cases, they are taken advantage of.  

Some of you may be familiar with Tori Kelly.  She is an accomplished singer with a long career, but do you remember that she got her start on American Idol when Simon did not vote her through and described her as a human orange?  I am pretty sure that was not the only criticism that she endured trying to make a name for herself.  I found this video of her testimony which should serve as encouragement for any of us that sometimes feel like we are not enough.  Tori sings both pop and worship music.  I was mesmerized as she leads worship here singing about the reckless love of God.

I pray that all the females in my life, and females everywhere, find their identity in Christ and their joy in His reckless love.

Looking For Joy

 

Last week, I posted about a Christian comedian, John Crist. John has definitely brought me some laughs over the years.   Watching a good comedian can take the edge off and bring some temporary relief to a monotonous day or even some more serious struggles.   But lasting joy only comes from a connection with our creator - and that creator sent his son, Jesus, to earth to reveal himself to us.  I was looking for a worship song to help express that feeling and found this one by Tauren Wells and Elevation Worship.  "If it's not good, then He's not done, no He's not done with it yet, there will Be Joy in the morning".   Take a few minutes and meditate on those words.

Seriously?

Let's face it, this blog usually deals with some pretty serious topics - serious to me, at least.  Last week, I had some thoughts on the war in Gaza/Israel.  A lot of times it is about something I heard at church or in our small group, and sometimes it is about something that inspired me.  I admit to taking myself way too seriously most of the time, but that is my nature.   My son, Michael, and his wife went to hear John Crist at the Fox Theater this past Saturday.  You may be familiar with John from some of his YouTube videos.  He is a Christian that is all about finding laughs at our own expense.  I'm pretty sure God has a great sense of humor, and I know he loves humility.  Here is a short clip of John doing stand-up.  I know I need a few more belly laughs, and maybe you do too.