BROADENING HORIZONS

Wedding receptions are a curious thing. They are attempts to bring together in celebration those people who are near and dear to the bride and groom. It can seem a curious mix. Some attendees only know either the bride or the groom, so we separate them in the chapel with his friends on one side and hers on the other. As if it were the marriage of Mr. Hatfield to Miss McCoy. The reception can offer glimpses into what the new family recently minted during the ceremony might look like. Had a similar experience recently in Orlando. Two great loves of my life involve the ministry of Open Door Bible Church and that of a mission organization called Pioneers. I had the privilege of inviting friends from the church I’ve pastored for 38 years to meet friends of the mission organization that I’ve been a part of for 33 years (if I can include the 23 years on the boards of Arab World Ministries before the merger). No question that the one group would bond with the other in mutual admiration and commitment to the same goals. Pioneers captures their passion in the tagline: “The relentless pursuit of the unreached.” Open Door has always had that same heart for the world. And it was a powerful couple of days! New friendships formed. New opportunities to explore working together for kingdom glory. I’m excited to see what the Lord has in store in the coming days.

The Resurrection Direction in Life

On this Good Friday, I am thankful that the Lord Jesus Christ presented Himself as the ultimate Passover Lamb who would die for my sins and be raised from the dead. This year Good Friday coincides with another legacy that has benefited my life immeasurably. On April 19, 1995, the Murrah Buiding in Oklahoma City was destroyed, taking with it the lives of two people I did not have the privilege of knowing. Still, they enrich my life even today. Dr. Charles Hurlburt and his wife Jean stopped in that day to deal with some Social Security business. Their grandson, Robert Palmer, would marry my daughter, Beth, a dozen years later. The Hurlburts left behind a rich heritage. They built into the lives of their family and of people around the world. As we celebrate the resurrection, may we strive to live as they did--with eternity in view.

https://oklahomacitynationalmemorial.org/people/dr-charles-erwin-hurlburt/?fbclid=IwAR3Sp8E6guJyxENeU8SDMD-3njixIUyBTLfZvMbx8XSg0NWeOKnH5C6okw8