General
Before I Leave This Earth
Two men I admire died recently and neither left this earth on their own terms. Floyd McClung, Jr. was a gentle giant who taught our mission to love the unlovely and personally helped me with a book on leadership. Dave Frederick was a long-time friend who set a marvelous example of caring for at-risk kids and the homeless.
Floyd contracted a disease in Africa that left him unable to communicate and care for himself the last five years of his life. Dave died of hereditary cancer that took the life of his dad at forty-eight, and him, after a lengthy battle, at sixty-six.
Neither ended his life on earth as desired. Few people do–and those who schedule it may have a problem in eternity. So, how should we live our final days if given the chance to chart it?
Here are my thoughts before I leave this earth.
Government Schools Were A Bad Idea
There is much unrest in Cuba this week and I encourage you to pray for this important island nation just ninety miles off the coast of Florida.
I have never been to Cuba, but have friends who have ministered there. Cuba is a sobering example of what the U.S. could become if we do not resist tyranny in our own nation.
The Cuban government-run schools indoctrinate youth in Marxism/socialism/communism. The same thing is now happening in America via our state-run schools.
Government schools were a bad idea.
Here’s why.
The Priority of Discipleship–for a Lifetime
The world in general and the people of God specifically have learned much from the global pandemic over the past year.
Though the United States is emerging from the crisis through mass vaccinations (thank you President Trump for Operation Warp Speed), many nations remain in crisis. In Mongolia, the failure of the Russian and Chinese vaccines has led to new lockdowns and Soviet-like controls on the people. There are many deep-seated problems in numerous nations.
What has the Church learned from this “pause” in world history? Yes, God has pruned us, re-prioritized our focus, released new technologies and emphases, and taught us to persevere.
But the biggest lesson is the call to discipleship. It must be our clarion priority–for a lifetime. Here’s how.