Fred

Just finished up The Fred Factor by Mark Sanborn (see left-hand column). Sanborn tells the story of Fred, his mailman, and the kind of extraordinary service he provided to him and all of the people on his route.

It reminded me of another mailman I know. A few years ago, Lois use to meet weekly with a Somali woman to help her learn English. She made the contact through World Relief, if I remember correctly. On her way into the apartment building she ran into the mailman that we know from New Life Church. He asked her what she was doing and she explained. With tears in his eyes he told her that she was an answer to prayer. He explained that he prays regularly for the people in that apartment complex, mostly Somali refuges. He was so excited to see her there doing what she was doing because of her love for Christ.

That's a Fred. Praying for the people on his route. That's bringing Christ into the arena of your vocational life.

Families Serving Together

A high school (and college) friend of Lois', and her family, visited Five Oaks this weekend while in town. Dad farms just outside of Sioux Falls and mom is an occupational therapist. They were in town to help with Samaritan's Purse Christmas boxes project at the regional center in the Twin Cities. I thought it was cool to see a whole family take two days to serve Christ in this way. It's behind the scenes but necessary. The folks who distribute the boxes couldn't without this kind of help. Those boxes demonstrate and announce the good news of the Kingdom all over the world. 

I knew the kids probably had heard it a dozen times, but I told them that I've been with the kind of kids that receive these boxes and that it makes a huge difference in their lives. It's really hard to convey without seeing it yourself.

Years ago I was leading a team that was building an addition to a school in the Dominican Republic. One of the teachers was working side-by-side with us and pointed to his own son. He said, "See those shoes. They were provided by Compassion International. My son would have no shoes or books if not for Compassion International." Having been a Compassion International sponsor for years, hearing that had a big impact on me. We still sponsor a child and it's great to have seen the difference it makes firsthand.