June 7, 2018
This was a week of celebrations for our family, as our youngest daughter, Bethany, received her Bachelor of Social Work degree from McGill University in Montreal on Tuesday and tonight we had a party for two family members whose birthdays are at this time of year. Karen and I have been reading the book of Genesis in recent weeks and were amazed again to see how Joseph handled the arrival of his brothers in Egypt. Instead of arranging for their destruction, Joseph graciously took great care to ensure their welfare and, as a result, was re-united with his father.
I read recently that a well-known British actor, who is now 80 years old, has not spoken to his daughter for twenty years. To read about this, please visit: https://www.mercurynews.com/2018/05/24/anthony-hopkins-and-his-estranged-daughter-abandonment-addictions-and-his-aspergers-syndrome/.
I don’t know if Sir Anthony Hopkins is familiar with the story of Joseph and his eleven brothers, but his attitude toward his only child is in stark contrast to the kindness that Joseph showed his brothers.
This week, I have been reading Dr. Neil T. Anderson’s book “Restoring Broken Relationships” and have appreciated his wealth of knowledge of God’s Word and his astute observations about relationships and forgiveness. He writes: “Someone said that to forgive is to set a captive free and then to realize that you have been the captive.” You can learn about the ministry which Dr. Anderson founded at: www.ficm.org.
In recent weeks, I learned that a dear friend, who served as a pastor for many years in Quebec, suffered a heart attack and is now receiving care in a home. Please pray for Brother Eric and his wife, Mary, as they adjust to these changes.
Scripture for the weekend: “Joseph said to them, ‘Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? But as for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.’” Genesis 50:19-20 (NKJV)
Thought for the weekend: “I am sure that most of us, looking back, would admit that whatever we have achieved in character we have achieved through conflict. It has come to us through powers hidden deep within us, so deep that we didn’t know we had them, called into action by the challenge of opposition and frustration. The weights of life keep us going.” – J. Wallace Hamilton (quoted in “Restoring Broken Relationships” by Dr. Neil T. Anderson)
Steve