December 4, 2020If you have been reading my blog posts for more than a week, you know that I love to read books by Christian authors. Guess what? I found a book by Dr. M. R. DeHaan, founder of Radio Bible Class, which was published in 1966. In the front of the book is a handwritten note from friends of Karen’s parents. This book is one of the many insightful books that were in the library of Clarence and Pearl Shelly. As I looked at the page opposite the title page, I saw these words: “A Special Memorial Edition of Dr. DeHaan’s twenty-fifth volume. This monumental work represents his final accomplishment just before his ‘promotion to glory’ December 13, 1965. It might well be called the ‘last will and testament of Dr. M. R. DeHaan.’” The title of the book is “Portraits of Christ in Genesis” and I look forward to reading it soon.
A few days ago, Karen and I received an email from one of our supporting churches, Tulsa Bible Church (TBC), informing us that Mrs. Carma Lovellette went to be with the Lord. She and her husband, Dr. Bill, were close friends of the Shellys. Karen’s youngest sister is named after their friend. One of the highlights of being at TBC a couple of years ago was talking to Mrs. Lovellette and seeing her radiant love for the Lord.
Around the time that we learned of the passing of Mrs. Lovellette, we received a letter from the son of a former pastor in Buffalo, informing us that his father, Rev. John (Jack) Will, went to be with the Lord on November 29, 2018 at the age of 100 years and 4 months, having outlived his wife, who died at the age of 98. We read this on November 29th, two years to the day of Pastor Will’s homegoing. It was heartwarming to receive this letter, in which Stan reminded us that his father helped Clarence find Pearl, and as the expression goes: “The rest is history.”
Yesterday, a close friend of ours had surgery on his brain at the Montreal Neurological Institute. Please pray for Denis and his wife, Sarah, as they look to the Lord for His strength as they face several health issues. Our co-workers, Teddy and Linda Hoare, and Karen and I prayed with Denis and Sarah on Monday, asking the Lord to guide the doctors at the Neuro and we praise Him for answering our prayers.
We are also very grateful for each person who prays for us and the people for whom we are burdened (the “aches” in “Aches and Praise”). A number of people in our home church are experiencing serious health concerns, including two ladies who have been in the hospital for several weeks. Please pray for them as they receive medical care.
Scripture for the weekend: “For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be destroyed is death.” 1 Corinthians 15:25-26 (NKJV)
Thought for the weekend: “The gods of this world will not answer prayer offered in their names because the gods are made by human hands. They cannot see, they cannot touch, they cannot hear, they cannot speak, they cannot comfort, they cannot deliver, and they cannot save. But from one end of the Bible to the other, and throughout history, we find the record of those who turned the ride of history through prayers offered in the mighty name of God. He hears. He answers. He saves.” – Billy Graham (from his book “Where I Am – Heaven, Eternity, and Our Life Beyond”)