Dear Friends,

I have had several opportunities in the last few months to preach through the book of Habakkuk.  It is an amazingly relevant book in today’s world.  (Not unusual for the Bible.)  The reason for this is Habakkuk deals with the issue of not understanding what God is doing.  In today’s world that seems quite normal.  Habakkuk was honest with God and shared that he didn’t understand what was happening, but he didn’t stop there.  He went further and told God where His failure was.  Without realizing his arrogance, he’d concluded that he understood what God should do better than God; and he told God this.  God is amazing in His response and the book of Habakkuk shows how God brings understanding to His prophet in a series of conversations.

Well, I have been passing through a series of experiences I don’t understand.  For the past several months I have had increased pain and internal bleeding.  Not too much fun to talk about.  The doctor’s have been taking me through a series of tests that involved the month of April, May, & June.  They were unable to identify where the bleeding was coming from, but the latter part of May it stopped.  Obviously, somebody out there has been praying!  The pain has also let up.  The conclusion from the tests is I have chronic pancreatitis.  (Nothing new about that.)  There are moments when it is worse and moments when it is better.  The good news from the tests indicates that I do not yet have cancer although there is an area they want to check each year.

Why does one pass through such things?  There are no simple answers from a human perspective.  I am sure God has multiple purposes in what He is doing.  I will share one area that He clearly used.  I arrived at the hospital to do a MRI of my pancreas.  As I am talking with the technician, he asks what I do for a living.  I shared some things with him including my involvement with conflict resolution.  That caught his attention, and he kept asking questions.  Through our conversation it became clear he was a believer.  All through the MRI as I lay in this tube that was designed to cause claustrophobia to anyone inside it, he kept asking me questions through the speakers about dealing with conflict.  (Of course he wouldn’t do that while the actual tests were being done.)  At first I thought he might be trying to distract me to make the procedure easier on me, but his questions became more specific.  Anyway, when I was done, I was escorted by him back to the changing room.  He asked more questions.  I closed the door and began changing when I heard him in a discussion outside the room with his assistant.  Apparently there had been a conflict situation that had formed between them, and he was now using the principles we had talked about to try to resolve it.  The two of them walked away from the door, and I could not hear them anymore.  As I was preparing to leave, he came up to me and shared that he was grateful for the opportunity to talk.  The whole experience was amazing.

Do continue to pray for me in counseling others.  I am dealing with several situations including a couple of areas where pastors are going through some pretty tough situations.

Also, during all this testing, I had the privilege of being in a special church in northern Indiana while their pastor was away on a long deserved vacation.  Most of the time I stayed in the parsonage (except when I was going and getting those needed medical tests!)  The people were so gracious to me.  It was such a privilege to spend time with them.  The Lord has really blessed me this year.  Every place I have ministered, the people have made me feel loved.  One of the great joys of heaven will be fellowshipping with the many brothers and sisters in Christ I have met on earth.

Now for another one of those items I don’t understand.  About a month ago I had a call from the pastor of my largest supporting church.  The church was in a period of decreased income and had kept things going at its current level through some of their savings.  They were at a point that they needed to make some tough decisions.  One of those was they were going to have to drop our support.  I know this church, and they would never have done this if they had any other choice.  I am continuing to pray for them as I do all my supporting churches.  I don’t understand the plan of God that includes losing $365 a month in support; but what has been amazing is the Lord continues to provide through gifts and even some new support coming in.  Our current support level is now at 39% after all the changes.

The book of Habakkuk finishes with the conclusions that God is sovereign and trustworthy.  How discouraging it would be if God was trustworthy but had no power to keep His promises or defend His people.  Even more so, how terrifying it would be if God was all powerful but not trustworthy.  Habakkuk ends with the prophet stating, “Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labor of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.” (Habakkuk 3:17-18).  This is the equivalent of saying today, “Although there is no money in the bank, no gas in the car, and no food in the fridge – yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.”

Don’t worry, there is still food in our fridge, some gas in the car, and a dollar or two in the bank.  However, I have no intention of trusting in any of these!  I choose to place my trust upward!

Because God is still on the throne! (Habakkuk 2:20)

John

John (and Beabea) Rogers

jtrbem@gmail.com

Commissioning Church: Shepherd Road Baptist Church, P.O. Box 1054, Mulberry, FL  33860

www.barnabasenrichmentministries.org