Movements Everywhere

Always Learning

After the U.S. Staff Conference, our whole family vacationed together in the mountains of Colorado. It was a wonderful experience. We did so many things together. I’m sure there will be memories for years to come.

What else will be in my memories are some of the things I observed along the way:

God’s Majesty

When we took the gondola ride from the Vail Valley to the top of one of the ski runs, we were overwhelmed with the view. We got off at the top and walked to the scenic view platform, only to be even more impressed with the majesty of the mountain range before us.

The next day we drove more than 10 miles by dirt road to see Piney Lake. It was gorgeous, with pine trees covering the mountainside right down to the lake. We hiked a little way up onto an expansive meadow, green from the recent rains. I thought, these are just small pieces of earth which is a tiny part of God’s universe. Even so, these scenes give ample evidence of the majesty of the God who created them. In Romans 1:20, Paul states, “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities - His eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made…”

The Response of God’s Creation

In Psalm 98 we read, “Sing to the Lord a new song for He has done marvelous things…Shout for joy to the Lord all the earth; burst into jubilant song with music… Let the rivers clap their hands….” One morning we went whitewater rafting on the Colorado River. I don’t think it was very dangerous, although when a wave of water in the rapids drenched us, we weren’t totally sure. At the beginning of the article, you saw a picture of us in the thick of that. Later I thought of the connection between Psalm 98 and our experience. The river was “clapping its hands”. God’s creation was seemingly responding to the splendor of his creation. He had indeed “done marvelous things” and deserved a thunderous applause.

People’s Need for Christ

One day we went to a farmer’s market, walked around and sat for awhile to eat lunch. By us went a wide variety of people. Some were speaking languages besides English. Some wore jewelry and T-shirts suggesting eastern or humanistic worldviews. Many couples wheeling their babies in strollers were apparently unmarried.

The next day we went to Glenwood Springs and in the afternoon stopped by the “largest spring-fed pool in the world.” I had the opportunity to talk to a gentleman and his wife who were there. He was a “self-made success story.” He talked about his business enthusiastically.

As we conversed, he discovered that my educational background would have prepared me for a business career. Yet I obviously passed that by to pursue a career in ministry. He was very adverse to religion but seemed interested in my story. He said he didn’t like it when people tried to “convert” people. I responded that my purpose was simply to share with others something so good that I have spent the last 40 years talking about it.

We ran out of time as the kids were through swimming, but he and his wife gladly accepted a copy of the book Enjoying your Walk with God to fill in the details on what I had experienced with God. The satisfaction of his business career couldn’t touch the satisfaction of knowing God personally.

The Willingness of People to Take Risks

One night we sat in the stands of the Eagle County Rodeo. The announcer told us that the reward for winning an event was $100. Then I watched what people were willing to do for that $100. Some rode bucking broncos bareback. Several were thrown from the horses. Others rode bulls that seemed very angry. Most of them were thrown off, and a few were almost gored or trampled.

It occurred to me that if these people were willing to risk serious injury for a small reward, how much more should we, as Christians, be willing to risk for an infinitely more important reward. Is the dedication of our time and the risk of rejection too much of a price to pay to minister to others?

As you can see, while enjoying a fun-filled time with family, I was being schooled by the Lord. He is so majestic that even His creation responds. People desperately need the Lord, even if they think they don’t. People take risks for lesser causes; why shouldn’t we for the ultimate cause!

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