SHOULDER TO SHOULDER #98 ---- 11/29/99
Posted by: lifeunlimited <lifeunlimited@...>
As We fight The Good Fight
SHOULDER TO SHOULDER #98 ---- 11/29/99
TITLE: "Just Call Me Squanto"
My Dear Friend in Ministry:
Thanks so much for praying for my Mother. Space will not allow me to
elaborate, but I do share the following.
When we arrived at the hospital Tuesday afternoon, she was extremely
drugged and irrational. When she tried to move her arms or legs, they
flailed around like a new baby; she had absolutely no control of her
extremities and was totally helpless to walk, feed herself, or talk.
It was a heartbreaking scene to watch ---- the one who cared for me as a
baby, taught me as a child, and encouraged me in my manhood was totally
incapable of even touching her nose without potentially doing herself
harm with arms and hands she could not control. How frustrated and
frightened she must have been.
According to the doctors' diagnosis, she suffers from a
twenty-letter-long "uncommon" disease that is a part of the same family
as Parkinsons Disease (though not the same), there is no know cause, and
there is no known cure. It is a totally degenerative disease that
attacks the cerebellum portion of the brain, usually moves very slowly,
but sometimes rapidly when aggrevated in some way.
God, in His gracious mercy and mighty power, and in spite of unbelievably
numerous medical blunders by hospital staff, raised her up and has
restored her, exceeding her health previous to the episodes of two weeks
ago.
Early Wednesday morning, awakened at about 3:30 from a fitful night of
sleep, I cried out to God, asking Him to either take her home soon or
restore her to some sense of self sufficiency and mobility. Mother later
told me that Tuesday night she really believed she was dying.
Thursday morning, Thanksgiving Day, when she awoke, she was totally
conscious and coherent, and the extreme dysmentia was completely gone.
She was able to feed herself, play her tape recorder, and move around in
bed. By the end of the day she was up in a wheelchair and was walking
short distances, aided by a walker and a physical therapist.
Friday morning when one of the doctors came in, my father thanked him for
whatever they had done in adjusting her medication to correct the
problem. The doctor said, "I'm afraid we can't take credit for that.
We're looking for a way we can, but right now we have to admit that
someone besides us is responsible for her improvement." By Saturday
morning she was doing physical therapy exercises and taking ever
increasingly longer walks.
In talking with her Sunday evening, it is evident she is in high spirits
and looking forward to going home. She is at least as mobile as before
the attack, and perhaps moreso. If it had not been for Thanksgiving Day
and then the week-end, during which time no doctor with authority to
discharge her could be found, she could have probably gone home on
Thanksgiving Day Thursday.
Another special blessing is that she and Dad were able to see all their
great grand children and grand children, including our one daughter,
estranged from our family for nearly four years. Even though she made no
contact with anyone else in the family while here, we feel it was a first
step.
Thank you for praying.
GOD'S AMAZING CHOREOGRAPHY:
I constantly stand amazed at how God arranges circumstances of life to
fit into His sovereign purposes. Last week I wrote on the subject of
Thanksgiving, referring to some of the events that led to the formation
of the United States, particularly those moments of thankful praise when
some of the pre revolutionary explorers and adventurers landed on these
shores.
In one of those cases, I referred to Squanto, a native American who met
the pilgrims at Plymouth. Most people know little of this unique man,
and often consider him to be a pagan uneducated savage.
However, God, in His sovereign choreography, first exposed this man to
unique circumstances and opportunities which divinely prepared him for
his meeting with those Plymouth Pilgrims.
Chuck Colson recently shared a brief story about Squanto, and, because it
illustrates how God can take circumstances of life that have no
particular connection to anything, or that seem to have to significant
purpose, and can yet insert them into a scheme that accomplishes His
divine plans for a person, a church, a town ---- or even a nation ---- or
the future.
Read what Colson wrote:
++++++++GOD'S INSTRUMENT++++++++
BreakPoint Commentary #91103 - 11/03/1999
"God's Instrument" : The Story of Squanto
by Charles Colson
Most of us know the story of the first Thanksgiving ---- at least, we
know the Pilgrim version. But how many of us know the Indian viewpoint?
No, I'm not talking about some revisionist, p.c. version of history. I'm
talking about the amazing story of the way God used an Indian named
Squanto as a special instrument of His providence.
Historical accounts of Squanto's life vary, but historians believe that
around 1608--more than a decade before the Pilgrims arrived--a group of
English traders sailed to what is today Plymouth, Massachusetts. When
the trusting Wampanoag Indians came out to trade, the traders took them
prisoner, transported them to Spain, and sold them into slavery.
It was an unimaginable horror ---- but God had an amazing plan for one of
the captured Indians ---- a boy named Squanto.
Squanto was bought by a well-meaning Spanish monk, who treated him well
and taught him the Christian faith. Squanto eventually made his way to
England and worked in the stables of a man named John Slaney. Slaney
sympathized with Squanto's desire to return home, and he promised to put
the Indian on the first vessel bound for America.
It wasn't until 1618 ---- ten years after Squanto was first kidnapped
---- that a ship was found. Finally, after a decade of exile and
heartbreak, Squanto was on his way home.
But when he arrived in Massachusetts, more heartbreak awaited him. An
epidemic had wiped out Squanto's entire village.
We can only imagine what must have gone through Squanto's mind. Why had
God allowed him to return home, against all odds, only to find his loved
ones dead?
A year later, the answer came. A shipload of English families arrived and
settled on the very land once occupied by Squanto's people. Squanto went
to meet them, greeting the startled Pilgrims in English.
According to the diary of Pilgrim Governor William Bradford, Squanto
"became a special instrument sent of God for [our] good . . . He showed
[us] how to plant [our] corn, where to take fish and to procure other
commodities." He "was also [our] pilot to bring [us] to unknown places
for [our] profit, and never left [us] till he died."
When Squanto lay dying of a fever, Bradford wrote that their Indian
friend "desir[ed] the Governor to pray for him, that he might go to the
Englishmen's God in heaven." Squanto bequeathed his possessions to the
Pilgrims "as remembrances of his love."
Who but God could so miraculously convert a lonely Indian and then use
him to save a struggling band of Englishmen? It is reminiscent of the
biblical story of Joseph, who was also sold into slavery ---- and whom
God likewise used as a special instrument for good.
Squanto's life story is remarkable, and we ought to make sure our
children learn about it. Sadly, most books about Squanto omit his
Christian faith. But I'm delighted to say my former associate Eric
Metaxas has just written a children's book called "Squanto and the
Miracle of Thanksgiving. I highly recommend it.
It will teach your kids about the "special instrument sent of God" ----
who changed the course of American history.
+++++++++++++++++++
To subscribe to this list, go to http://www.breakpoint.org, or call
1-800-457-6125.
[Squanto and the Miracle of Thanksgiving can be ordered on-line from
BreakPoint at the following link:
http://www.pfmonline.net/products.taf?_function=detail&Site=BPT&Item_Code=BKSQU
]
Copyright (c) 1999 Prison Fellowship Ministries. Reprinted with
permission. "BreakPoint with Chuck Colson" is a radio ministry of Prison
Fellowship Ministries.
HE WASN'T THE FIRST ---- NOR THE LAST:
When you think about the divine arrangement of circumstances in Squanto's
life, you soon recognize that those few remaining pilgrims probably
survived because Squanto taught them how to raise corn and where to catch
fish. Just think ---- if Squanto had not been who he was, where he was,
going through what he did, the entire course of American history might
have been radically different. An entire region of the continent might
have gone unsettled for generations to come.
God has choreographed such seemingly unrelated and isolated events as
happened then into divine schemes of holy purpose many times long before
Squanto ---- and He has continued it since. When I think of that, I tend
to stand around a lot with my mouth hanging open, simply saying, "Wow!"
Abraham and Sarah: From Ur of Chaldees to Canaan, God's handling of
circumstances and timing are unmistakable ---- even when they tried to
take matters into their own hands. What if they had split up after
Abram's mistake in Egypt? What if they had chosen convenience and
comfort in Ur instead of the hardship of nomadic life? What if they had
remained in Egypt?
Joseph: What his brothers intended for evil in perpetuating acts of
jealously, God turned for good by putting Joseph in the right place at
the right time to become his family's savior from famine and certain
death. What if he had not recognized them? What if he had decided on
revenge instead of compassion?
Moses: Born a slave that became a member of the royal family in Egypt,
God raised him up to become the great deliverer of an entire nation ----
in spite of his own futile efforts at first to be what God had called him
to be. What if he had ignored the burning bush? What if he had refused
to heed the plight of the people? What if his heart had been hardened by
the pagan culture around him?
Ruth and Boaz: Born an outsider to the Jewish people, Ruth became the
woman of God's choice to begin the lineage leading to the birth of King
David and ultimately King Jesus. What if she had not stayed with Naomi?
What if she had refused to humble herself and gather grain in the fields
of Boaz? What if Boaz had not noticed her?
Esther: Born in captivity, yet with the benefits of a discerning
relative, she moved from slave girl to queen in the nation of her
captivity. What if she had been too frightened or shy to present herself
to the king? What if she had tried to take advantage of the situation
with personal revenge? What if she had valued the status and wealth of
royalty too much to approach the king?
Ezra and Nehemiah: Both held in Babylonian captivity, God put such an
intense burden in Nehemiah's heart that he could do nothing less than
approach the king about the plight of his people. His perseverance and
courage motivated the people of Jerusalem to regain new vision and
restore the city ---- and the temple. What if Nehemiah had cherished his
own Babylonian comfort too much? What if he lacked courage to ask the
king? What if Ezra had been so discouraged he had no will to open the
scriptures and read to the people? What if that great national revival
had never occurred?
Zacharias and Elizabeth: One of my favorite stories, even after years of
disappointment, God's promise of a son finally became reality as their
son, John, was born ---- to later become the man of God who introduced
Jesus as the Messiah to the people of his day. What if he had been born
too soon ---- or too late? What if Zacharias and Elizabeth had given up?
What if John had not been obedient to God's calling on his life?
Jesus: The obvious ultimate example, the coming of Christ at the time He
did is described by Paul as "when the fullness of time had come, God sent
His son, born of a virgin . . . " What if He had not come when He did?
What if He had not come in the way He did? What if He had failed in His
mission?
I know, I know . . . . . "He was God, so He could not fail."
But ---- ---- ---- ---- what if He had?
Just think about it ---- ---- ---- ---- what if?
How can anyone ever conclude that there is no God?!?
TIMING IS EVERYTHING:
Ask any professional athlete and he or she will tell you that a total
amateur can play their sport, even with the most basic and awkward
skills, if he has one thing ---- timing. In fact, timing is frequently
the most essential skill. True, he may not hit a home run or make a hole
in one, but, no matter what his stance or grip, if he has timing, he'll
hit the ball.
Two quotes by well known preachers have fueled my fire for several years.
I have referred to both numerous times in my letters.
Dr. Jack Taylor ---- "God is up to something big, and I want to be in on
what He's up to."
Dr. Henry Blackaby ---- "Find out what God is doing, and go join Him in
it."
They both speak of God's timing ---- God's intersective choreography of
circumstances, events, time, and place.
Just as God seems to have raised up Squanto at just the right time, and
then prepared him to greet the Pilgrims at Plymouth, He raises up Esthers
and Joshuas for this day as well.
Have you considered lately that God perhaps has raised you up "for such a
time as this"?
The dailiness of service, the drudgery of duty, and the disappointments
of life all tend to steal away our sense of joy and purpose in what we do
---- not only in ministry but also in normal every day family life.
Perhaps you and I need to be periodically reminded that we have each been
born, called, and equipped for our own "such a time as this". Whether
you are a "fully funded" vocational minister, a "bi-vocational" minister,
or a lay minister, it really doesn't matter ---- you and I both have been
born, saved, tested, called, equipped, and empowered for now, and for
here.
When the fullness of time had come, God sent His Son, Jesus Christ the
Righteous One, to be the Savior of mankind.
But God has more than one "fullness of time" ---- He has many.
One of them is for you. When that particular fullness of time came, He
picked you. All the circumstances of your life, both good and bad, both
blessing and adversity, both victory and heart break, God has
choreographed so you can be "Squanto" in someone's life.
He did the same thing to me. Otherwise I wouldn't be writing this letter
to you today. Years ago He knew that someone ---- maybe you ---- would
need this letter. That happened before I ever began writing ---- before
I ever became a follower of Jesus ---- before I was born. And, ---- He
knew you would be here ---- and that our paths would cross in this
letter.
So ---- just call me Squanto, and place me with some more pilgrims who
need His love and grace demonstrated through my ministry.
What name do you go by? Somebody out there needs another Squanto ----
like you.
Have a great week, my friend. I wish I could visit with you face to face
over a cup of coffee or tea. If there is any one frustration over my
weekly Shoulders letters, it is that I cannot see each recipient face to
face, fellowship together, so we could encourage and edify each other.
Here's a neat thought ---- in heaven, we'll get to make up for lost time
and opportunity!
Until then, I remain . . .
In His Bond of Grace and Mercy,
Bob Tolliver ---- (Rom 1:11-12)
Copyright November, 1999. All rights reserved.
We would love to hear from you ---- prayer requests, insights, etc. Feel
free to drop us a note at <[email protected]>.
If this letter has blessed you and you know of someone else who needs to
be encouraged, feel free to forward it in its entirety to all such people
you know.
If you would like a list of past issues which you could receive upon
request, just let us know. Write <[email protected]>.
__
/ |
(_/____)
/ ^ ^
{ (O) (O) }
------oOOO---------U--------OOOo------
Hang in there! I'm with you!
-------.ooooO--------------- Ooooo--------
( ) /
| | /
(_) (_)
TO SUBSCRIBE, send any message to <[email protected]>.
TO UNSUBSCRIBE, send any message to
<[email protected]>.
___________________________________________________________________
Get the Internet just the way you want it.
Free software, free e-mail, and free Internet access for a month!
Try Juno Web: dl.www.juno.com/dynoget/tagj.