On the road again...

This summer has been one of travel for our family. A month ago we went to Florida for vacation. Last week we traveled to Ohio. I had to attend a meeting the last morning of the North American Christian Convention. We decided to use that travel time to catch up with people we hadn’t seen in a while.

Our first stop was at the church we served at in Illinois. We took some time to visit with friends we hadn’t seen in several years. We kind of keep up with them through Christmas cards, email and phone calls. It was good to be able to sit down and just visit with them. Of course seeing how their kids have grown up made Jenn and I feel old. We even visited with a young man who was part of the youth group at the church when we were there. Now he is married and has a 16-month-old baby.

We stopped at Jenn’s parents house in Brazil, In. Of course that meant a family get together. Which was nice. We only see her brothers and their families a couple times a year. We went to Bloomington, In to see her grandpa and had a short visit with him.

We left the girls with Larry and Pat and climbed back into the car on Thursday to go to the convention. As we walked through the hallways, we would visit with people we went to school with or ministers we have both met through the years. There is one funny thing that happened. I look enough like my dad did 20-25 years ago that some of the older preachers who know my dad would look at me and you can tell by the look on their face…”I should know that guy, he looks so familiar.”

I went to my meeting Friday morning and saw guys I hadn’t seen in year. It is hard to catch up when you only have an hour. After the meeting was over. I went back to our hotel room. Jenn was getting ready. The final service of the convention was to start at 9:30. I looked forward to that more than anything else that went on.

Ben Merold was to preach the concluding service of the convention. I have known Ben for many years. He visited our church and preached revivals when I was growing up. He has stayed in our house on many occasions. I interned under Ben several years ago. Jenn and I were just dating at the time. He and his wife adopted us. Had us over for dinner, included us in things their family was doing. Jenn would stay with them when she came to visit me.

Before Ben got up to preach, the president of the NACC introduced him. He has preached revivals in 48 states. He has grown 2 churches from attendance of 200 to over 3000. The church he currently is serving is running over 3500. He has taught church growth principles all over the world. Did I mention he is 82 years old? He still sings at the top of his lungs during worship, still runs up on the stage, still preaches with passion and conviction, and still reaches the lost. This past month he officially “retired.” Though if you ask him about it he will say, “I am not retiring from anything.” He is just looking forward to the next adventure in his life.

Jenn and I had a few minutes Thursday evening to talk to Ben and Pat. While we were visiting with them, another couple came up to say “hi”. The man said, “Well, Ben, what do you plan on doing now?” Ben looked at him and said; “I guess I’ll just find something small.” With that everyone laughed. Everyone who knows Ben knows it won’t stay small.

I realize this isn’t much of a devotional thought. I guess it is more of a glimpse into my life. But as I talked to Ben, two verses came into my mind. The first one comes from Hebrews 12:1-2

1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Second verse is found in 2 Timothy 4:7-8

7I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

To me Ben is a hero of our faith. God has used him greatly throughout his life. Ben just keeps serving God whole heartedly even though he is “past” the age when most would consider him a valuable asset. Ben is an inspiration to me to keep on plugging along…to fight the good fight…to finish the race.

I thank God for the many examples He puts before me. Men like Ben who do not seek their reward here on this earth or who do not seek comfort in the latter years but wait patiently and work diligently for the coming of our Savior.