One of my favorite parts of TIME magazine is their Verbatim section. It’s found on the first few pages of each issue and includes interesting quotes from famous people. I usually read it before anything else.

I’d like you to think of my column this week as THE SOWER’S Verbatim section because I’m including a sampling of things I’ve heard said on our campus over the past couple weeks. They have encouraged me and my prayer is that they will encourage you as well, so here goes:

“During the past 18 months 26 children have made public professions of faith and been baptized here at Redland.” Jennifer Crocker, Director of Children’s Ministry

“Thank you for teaching us English!” Isabel and Jorge, students attending ESL end of year dinner June 7

“17 years ago I dedicated my daughter Rachel here at Redland. That day you read the parent/child dedication responsive reading and pledged to help me teach my daughter about His great love in sending Jesus. I can look back over the years and see that you have kept your promise and I am so thankful!” Cindy Word – at this year’s youth graduate banquet

“We have 262 children registered for Vacation Bible School this summer! We now have a waiting list.” Ashley Adams, 2010 co-VBS Director

“Jack Murray and I are going to Romania this summer to set up the accounting system for the House of Hope—an orphanage Redland worked with eight years ago.” Hugh Faulconer, RBC Administrator

“We already have 96 kids registered for sports camp this year and that’s a huge increase over registration numbers at this same time last year. We have lots of new campers this summer. For 15 of these kids, the parents say they do not regularly attend any church and don’t have a church home.” Becky McGaffin, Director of Sports Camp

“Our Tuesday Morning Ladies Bible Study group has collected funds to purchase gift certificates welcoming home missionaries Josh and Soojin Lee. We’ve also received all the furniture we need to prepare the missionary furlough house for our new residents, the Tiedmanns.” Sue Adams, Women’s Ministry Director

“This fall, on the heels of a very successful first season of UPWARD basketball, we’re joining with FBC Rockville for a season of UPWARD flag football and cheerleading.” Joed Carbonell, Rec. Ministry Director

“We LOVE the new parking lot!” countless Redland members – Sunday, June 6

Not to encourage gossip—but if you listen in on encouraging quotes like this, please forward them to me, verbatim. They are a balm to my soul!

Keep the SON in your eyes!

Wayne Rice tells the story of a man from the big city who was enjoying a relaxing drive in the country when a dog ran in front of his car. He swerved to miss it but lost control of his car and ended up in the ditch.

After a few unsuccessful attempts to get his car out, the man sat on his bumper and waited for help to arrive. He didn’t have to wait long. A farmer who lived just down the road came to his aid with a big, powerful-looking horse. The man watched as the farmer hitched the horse to the car’s bumper.

When the rope was secure, the farmer yelled: “Pull, Nellie, pull!” But the horse didn’t move.

Then the farmer yelled, “Pull Buster, pull!” But the horse didn’t move.

Then the farmer yelled, “Pull, Coco, pull!” But the horse still didn’t move.

Finally the farmer said, “Pull, Buddy, pull!”  And the horse dragged the car from the ditch with very little effort.

The motorist was appreciative and a little curious so he asked, “Why did you call out four names when your horse only responded to one?”

The farmer smiled and explained, “Oh, Buddy is blind, and if he thought he was the only one pulling he wouldn’t even try.”

Just like Buddy, we need other people to help us deal with the tough times of life—those days when hardship makes us feel like we’re stuck in a ditch. This is one of the blessings of a church family like Redland. When we face trying times we know we can count on the help of hundreds of friends that stick closer than a brother—people who will embrace our burdens as their own.

This special caliber of friend—a fellow Christian—comes along side of us and with their compassionate caring, gives us the strength we need to deal with life’s difficulties. As Ecclesiastes 4:12 says, “Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”

This week I’ve met or talked with four people who are going through very difficult times. As we used to put it, “They have a tough row to hoe” and they asked to meet with me because they needed the strength and encouragement of knowing they aren’t “pulling that hoe” alone.

It is very difficult living the Christian life alone. So, don’t!  As Hebrews 10:25 says, “Let us consider how we may spur one another on…let us not give up meeting together as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another.”

Keep the SON in your eyes!

Every Monday night this past semester my daughter Becca joined a group of fellow “Wheaties” (students at Wheaton College) and volunteered at a local nursing home. These busy co-eds began their weeks by spending two hours playing games, running errands, or just talking with the elderly people who live there.

A few Mondays back was their last time to visit until classes resume this fall. As Becca and her friends shared this news and said their good-byes for the summer, all the residents expressed their sadness. Their visits obviously mean a great deal to those senior citizens.

The visits have meant a lot to Becca as well. Whenever she called on Monday nights to talk she always sounded upbeat as she described her interactions with those precious people. She got to know several of them very well and looked forward to their time together. In her conversations she has learned that these people have acquired invaluable wisdom that is born of experience—and she’s right. As Proverbs 4:1 says, we should, “Listen to a father’s [or grandfather’s] instruction; pay attention and gain understanding.” We would all gain understanding if we paid more attention to the lessons learned by those who have lived longer than we have.

During one of our phone conversations, Becca shared an interesting observation. She said that some of the residents suffer from dementia, which means they don’t remember what happened yesterday—and can’t conceive of what will happen tomorrow. They are only cognizant of the present. As bad as this sounds, she noted that it has its benefits because it enables these people to literally live in the now. They are delightful to be with because they are completely focused on the present, which means nothing distracts them from the time they are spending with you.

Here’s another plus. Their illness makes it easier for them to obey Jesus’ admonition in Luke 12:22ff when He said, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith! Do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them.” Without the past or future to weigh them down, these absent-minded senior citizens are better able to say, “This is the day the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24)

I don’t know about you—but the example set by Becca’s elderly friends is very convicting for me. The side-effects of their dementia motivates me to embrace the wisdom that they live out.

How about you? Would you be happier if you trusted God for tomorrow’s needs—and accepted His forgiveness for the failures of the past?  Wouldn’t you be more joyful—more content—if you lived in the present?

Keep the SON in your eyes!