Understanding the Schaeffers and Saving the World
Posted by tom | Dec 27, 2007How does one deal with the saints who have only recently gone before us . . . leaving living reports from family, friends, and co-laborers? Betty Smartt Carter's review of Son of a Preacher Man: A memoir by Frank Schaeffer raised this question for me in a strong manner. A few hours before reading the article, I had chosen to play an American Girl Doll board game with Ellen and Hayley. I stepped into their world of interest. They shared stories which brought me up to date as we unpacked and stepped into this challenging Christmas gift (thank-you Groshes). While we played the one van was in the shop for an inspection, I had a printer to hook-up, expense reports waited in the to do pile, relatives floated around, and the phone kept ringing (one letting us know an American Girl Doll book was ready for pick up at the library).
The girls have heard (and witnessed) much about the Kingdom of God at home, in our family, as part of a local assembly (and the larger Body of Christ, not to mention various mission weekends), on campus, in the community, around the globe, through time/eternity . . . As we spend time together around American Girl Doll and daily devotional readings, my prayer is that I reflect Christ, the Spirit moves/breathes in our midst, and the Father draws all of us closer to Himself. Today my prayer has been that I would become more like a child, knowing I can't do it on my own . . . extending my arms out to receive strength from the One through whom I live, move, and have my being. The One who makes me whole again, as I was intended to be, in His image . . . cleansed from the flesh, the devil, and the world.
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