Some people have asked me about my travels to Africa in light of the latest medical situation that has made headlines. It has caused me to reflect on another time when I was in Afghanistan during a dangerous time in that country. Every morning our team there had a two-hour devotional time and we started by reading Psalm 91 out loud and in unison. Then we went about our business every day. I include that psalm here (with bold emphasis added to important truths) as my response to anyone who asks my position on this latest crisis:
Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
3 Surely he will save you
from the fowler’s snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
5 You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
8 You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.
9 If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,”
and you make the Most High your dwelling,
10 no harm will overtake you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
14 “Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15 He will call on me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”
I will not go to any part of Africa to be a crusader, so if things reach a crisis mode, I will quickly and gladly postpone any trip. I have wanted to go to Syria for years, but obviously now is not the right time. One day I will go. When I go, however, I will not go in fear. The same is true for a trip to Kenya or any other country. I have survived trips to Indonesia, Cuba, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe and many other places when things were tense. I came home because of the truth found in Psalm 91. I am not about to ignore that truth any time soon as I pursue God's will. Have a blessed week.
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KENYA UPDATE: I invite you to read Pastor Francis' response to the latest money we sent to feed orphans, which also includes a brief history of his work there. You will understand why we support him. After you read, I urge you to consider a gift to help us bless the children as the holidays approach. You can give toward this cause through my website or by sending a tax-deductible check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 8882, Pittsburgh, PA 15221-0882. Thank you and God bless you for helping Pastor Francis and others like him who are helping the children.
PURPOSE SEMINAR: My last purpose seminar for this year here in Pittsburgh is Saturday, November 1 from noon to 4:30. It's free but you have to register, so please let me know if you plan to attend.
WRITER'S WORKSHOP CD SET: The Writing and Creativity Workshop we had two weeks ago was a huge success. We recorded all five hours and the CDs will be for sale for $15 (four CDs) in about this coming week. You can pre-order a set (and I highly recommend you do so if those topics at all interest you) and I will mail them to you when they are ready. Just send me an email and we can arrange payment.
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