June 2008

The Other Shoe Drops
I have mentioned often over the years in this report the struggles in dealing with the power outages that have been frequent and extended (up to nine hours at a time). Last report I mentioned that we have been relatively unlimited in the supply since my return from my visit to the States. Now, with the beginning of the hot weather, we have begun to have relatively short outages (2 hours) but they don’t happen every day. The temperature has been up in the low 100’s a couple of days, so when there is no electricity it can get really hot. Of course, we are among the lucky ones who have air conditioning. The official report is that we will not suffer an energy crisis as we have in the past. Be thankful for small blessings!

Leaders’ Meeting In Korçë
This month we were again blessed with a gathering of missionaries, church leaders and church workers. It was hosted by Kevin and Allison Morrill, missionaries in Korçë, at their apartment. Getting there was somewhat challenging, given the road construction that is taking place between Korçë and Pogradec, but we made it all right. I had Kujtim Myftari and Harilla Mandro (preachers in Poliçan and Kuçovë, respectively) with me as we went. On the return I had three American young men, as well. Two of them are working with the AIM program with the church in Durrës for a number of months. The other was Eric Winebarger, who was here on a shorter term visit. Eric lived in Albania for a couple of years with his parents, who served as missionaries in the city of Durrës. He subsequently married an Albanian young lady, and they are attending university in the U.S. at this time.

I volunteered for Lushnja to host the meeting in the month of August. These meetings focus on fellowship, as well as matters of mutual concern, and prayer needs. It is our goal to have 100% participation from all the congregations in Albania, which has not yet been realized. Our discussion this past month dealt with the various methods of growing the kingdom, which is, of course, a relatively new area of discussion among Albanian members of the church. Of those present in the meeting, relatively few had been Christians for more than ten years. Please pray that these meetings can continue, and that much growth in maturity, love for one another, and cooperative kingdom efforts will be the result.

Philosophical Differences
I have never met a person who agreed with me 100%!! What is the matter with people? In truth, such is an unrealistic expectation, though I might want it to be so at times. There will always be differences of opinion, even in the church, which we must allow for. I am not at all talking about compromising truth. I am talking about allowing for other people to think and act differently than do I in even matters of faith. Isn’t this the very issue Paul was addressing in his remarks to the Roman Christians?

The real challenge comes in reading Romans 14 without assuming for ourselves the position of the “stronger brother”, while assigning the “weaker brother” designation to those with whom we disagree. Paul’s point is, “For which of those two did Christ die? The weak brother or the strong brother?” The answer is, of course, that he died for both. Which of us is ready to consign to hell someone for whom Christ died, who has accepted Christ, but who functions in some areas differently than I do? I pray that is a position I will never assume as either my “right” or my “duty”.

Peter, always quick to make judgments early in his walk as a follower of Christ, gives warning against the same in his first letter. “Clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble’. Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” (I Pet 5:5-7) God is never glorified when we seek to belittle others, especially our brothers and sisters.

Paul, likewise, addressed this issue in Galatians 5:13-15: “You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.”

We are in a battle, but it is not with each other. Our battle is against Satan and his forces. Let’s focus on that, rather than on the disagreements and differences we have with each other. In this way God will be glorified, which is, after all, the central part of our mission.

Lifted by, and lifting high, Jesus

Tom