Beecher

Finished a 2007 Pulitzer Prize winning biography of the 19th century preacher/pastor Henry Ward Beecher. Lincoln called him the most important man in America during the Civil War.

Robert E. Lee said the South would have won the war had it not been for Beecher and his sister Harriet, who wrote "Uncle Tom's Cabin."

When the US flag was re-raised at Fort Sumter, Lincoln sent Beecher to do it, saying, "We wouldn't have a flag to raise without him."

Why is Beecher, this larger than life man, not well remembered? Because of the sex scandals that besmirched the last decade of his ministry. Mark Twain said of his friend Beecher that adultery was the means whereby this Samson was shorn.

I have read few books in my life which more remind me, holiness matters most.

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Youth Ministers

Just said farewell to two friends from Spokane, Washington. Bob and Lori are youth ministers at their church. They have especially tender hearts for troubled students (drugs, broken homes, etc.).

Bob and Lori both hold down full time secular jobs, and then receive part time pay for full time work with the teens. Bob gets up at 3:30 every morning. When I gasped and asked why, he said it's the only time of the day he can control, and be sure to have his private time uninterrupted.

Bob and Lori are special friends to Ruth and me. They work tirelessly for the Lord. Please say a quick prayer for them.

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Sendei Japan

Ruth and I have met a dear couple who have served as Navigators missionaries in Sendei for 35 years. They are coming to the USA for three months.

The night of the earthquake, the husband was out of town. The wife says the house shook for six minutes. She crawled to the front door and held to the frame.

Twenty-five minutes later she saw the tsunami waves from the high cliff on which she lives. She said the water roared.

For four days her family did not know whether she was dead or alive. Finally, a son who lived in a different part of the region walked a long distance to find her.

Their stories are personalizing a story that has seemed so far away. Pray Ruth and I will be able to minister to them.

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Our wedding

When I saw Ruth for the first time at our wedding, 40 years ago today, she was the most beautiful sight I had ever seen. Coal-black hair with a white veil. I still remember the moment.

My groomsmen were my cousins Rod and David, plus my uncles John and Don. At a family wedding about one year ago, all five of us were present. Fortunately I had enough presence of mind to have a picture taken of us together.

The preachers were my dad, and Ruth's former Pastor, Loren Robinson. Both preachers are still alive and well.
Dad led us in vowing Ruth 1:16-17 to each other. Ruth had the text engraved on the inside of my wedding ring. It's still there. Ask me, and I'll proudly let you see it.

God smiled on me forty years ago today. I married a lady who has the spiritual gift of giving. Ruth is the most giving person I've ever known, the perfect help-meet for a man with stingy tendencies.

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Wedding Rehearsal

Forty years ago today Ruth and I were making final plans for our wedding rehearsal. Nixon was President. KFC was the largest restaurant chain (McDonalds took the lead soon thereafter).

Ruth picked up our wedding flowers between Marquand and Cape Girardeau. The lady had used live greenery to supplement the artificial flowers we had ordered. At the wedding, the artificial flowers looked great, the greenery had wilted.

That night Mom brought a salad for the wedding rehearsal. Aunt Katrina brought a dish; Mrs Huey brought green beans. I remember it was a good potluck supper.

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40 years?

Ruth and I will celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary this Sunday March 20. Makes me nostalgic.

It is an utterly unspeakably remarkable miracle that I rightly made the three most important decisions of my life before my 20th birthday. At age 6, I was saved. At 15, I surrendered to full-time ministry. At 19, I married Ruth.

What are the chances that a young person could make wise decisions in all three of these areas. It's a miracle. I would be remiss to rob the Lord of His glory and honor. He was guiding the steps of a naive, green behind the ears, youth.

Thank You, Jesus, for my salvation 53 years ago, for my ministry of 44 years, for Ruth and our marriage of 40 years. Annuit Coeptis (He hath favored our undertakings).

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Mid-March

This middle week of March is always interesting to me. March 15 is the Ides of March, which was a tough day for Julius Caesar.

March 16 is 3-16, the address of my favorite Bible verse, John 3:16. March 17 is St Pat's Day. My Grandma Marshall's ancestors fled Ireland to keep from being drafted into the British army to fight against the USA in the War of 1812.

March 18 is the address of what Dr Harold Renfrow, missionary to Brazil, considered the Bible's most important verse, John 3:18. We had spirited discussions comparing my favorite verse with his. Poor verse 17 never was mentioned.

March 20 is my wedding anniversary. This will be number forty for us.

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A perfect day off

What makes for a great day off? Since I'm in the middle of one, I'll share my insights.

It all starts with a good breakfast at McD. Ruth loves their coffee. She and I are now running errands. I love the time alone in the car with Ruth.

Lunch will be shared with my daughter's family. This evening will be spent with my son's family. In between I may find time to take a nap.

I'm very tired, as is everyone involved in GIC, but today will help. The sunshine isn't hurting anything. See you tomorrow night for the GIC commitment service at 6pm.

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