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Monthly Archives: May 2012

My Brother

A Jon Post

For those of you who didn’t know, I traveled to the USA about 2 weeks ago to be a part of my brother’s wedding. Paul, the youngest of my siblings, got married to an incredible woman. As part of his ceremony I, along with my brothers and Paul’s best friend, addressed his bride about the man she was marrying. I wanted to take this blog and share what I said to Paul’s wife and try to honor him. Paul has made an incredible difference in my life, encouraging me, strengthening me, and pushing me towards Christ. Here’s what I shared with his beautiful bride last Saturday.

 

Becky,

Some men strive for great things.
Some men of us love wildly, drink deeply, run hard and live life well.
Some men grow old and wise, living in the broken and the whole.
Some men walk feebly, risk little and live long. 

Paul is none of these men.

Some men laugh often, battle fiercely, love their wives with clear eyes and live to be remembered.
These men we look to, marvel at and extol them for their strength of will and arm, their heart of fire and purity, and we remember them well. 

These we call Great Men. 
Paul is none of these. 

For there are yet some…
Some very few…
These hold another title altogether…
These names we men whisper in dark places to find our courage. We read these names in reverent and solemn tones, hushed so as not to tarnish their legacy. 

These are the “Mighty Men”.
These are the Heroes.
These of those of whom the world is not worthy. 

The man standing before you today…
Here is one of those. 

Here is Josheb-Basshebeth, spear in hand, smiling at the approaching 800 enemies.
Here is Eleazar, taunting thousands as his allies retreat, sword frozen in his hand.
Here is Shammah, standing his ground in a field of lentils, roaring to announce his solitary advance against thousands.
Here is Benaiah, laughing at the bad weather, following a lion into an icy pit.
Here is Samson, bone in his closed fist, bringing death at blinding speeds to his enemies.
Here is Jim Elliot, giving what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.
Here is Horatio Spafford, writing that it is well with his soul as the waves of suffering threaten to crush.
Here is Keith Green, singing and shouting truth to a generation mired and drowning in its own selfishness and greed. 

Here is Paul Heller…

Here is one of our Mighty Men.
Here is one of our Heroes. 

You tread a path few women are blessed have to known.

 We mere men could not be more proud to be at his side today.

I… his brother…
I am proud to be known as the brother of the hero…
I love this man.

I know you do.

Paul Heller…
Your Mighty Man
The Hero of your heart.

Love him well my lady
Love him well.  

Paul Heller - Hero
Many Waters Cannot Quench

 

May 24, 2012
Personal, Travel
3 comments

Encouraged by Alice

A Layne Post

“Isn’t today Monday?” she asked, a bit perplexed.

“Yes. I can’t come tomorrow, so I wanted to come today,” I explained.

I usually visit the Dermatology ward on Tuesdays, and Jon keeps Anaya at home. I knew Alice had been there a long time, but I didn’t realize how long. She had become a regular visit for me, always insisting on my prayers before I left. She is from Maputo and her husband visits near daily. While Jon and I try and focus on those without visitors, sometimes someone just catches a place in your heart, and that’s what Alice has done. The second week I visited and remembered her name, she was delighted! (I am not always so successful in this area, but I do try! In this case it helped that our  ministry partner’s name is Alice.) She is usually full of optimism, but I’ve watched the expression on her face change as time has passed.  Yesterday when I asked her if she would be completing two months there, she scoffed, “Two months? No! This will be five months!”

Five months.

She has watched every other patient in the ward come and go. Sometimes she has someone in the room with her, sometimes there are weeks she is alone. Some 20 plus hours, alone.

The hospital is slowly renovating their wards, but unfortunately, they haven’t made it to Dermatology, which is in dire need. I want to respect the hospital, so I will not describe all that I see, but the conditions are not nice, especially for living there five months.

I laid in bed last night praying for Alice, thinking that I just cannot imagine being in her place. I tried and I just can’t. I have been a bit sulky about my husband taking an upcoming trip, about the weather, about some minor health nuisances that have come with this pregnancy, but last night those things seemed so trivial, so “doable”. And I was encouraged.

So maybe this week there are some things that have got you down, that seem like a lot, that seem hard to handle or perhaps just a nuisance, and maybe you can remember Alice. Maybe it will encourage you, like it did me.

May 8, 2012
Hospital Ministry, Mozambique
2 comments