Archive for September, 2021

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:6-7

“Ambrosiaster states that in 2 Corinthians 9:6 Paul speaks of sowing sparingly because he finds that the Corinthians are like misers who deliberate much after they have promised to give a long time ago. For Ambrosiaster, since misers “regret having promised anything,” they must be forced to give. He goes on to indicate that a bountiful sower is the one who acts joyfully, being confident that they will receive reward in the future.

The same notion of reward is to be read in 2 Corinthians 9:7, notes Ambrosiaster. God rewards only the person who acts wholeheartedly as if he was depositing for himself his treasure in God’s presence. He concludes that a rich person who assists the needy in accordance with God’s will receives a double reward for one’s sowing, “both for the present and for the future.”

His [or Her] resources are multiplied to enable him [or her] to continue his [or her] practice of good deeds; and ultimately he [or she] will receive the reward from God in the world to come. But whoever gives to the needy without simplicity of heart is simply losing as says the Lord quoting Matthew 6:2.”

Viateur Habarurema and Ambrosiaster in Christian Generosity according to 2 Corinthians 8-9: It’s Exegesis, Reception, and Interpretation Today in Dialogue with the Prosperity Gospel in Sub-Saharan Africa (Carlisle, UK: Langham Monographs, 2017) 192-193.

Habarurema lectures full-time at Protestant University of Rwanda and pastors part-time. In this work, he explores 2 Corinthians 8-9 through church history. Today recounts his findings from the writings of Ambrosiaster on this biblical text.

Ambrosiaster directs our attention to the motivation of our hearts.

He does not want people to give because they feel like they have to out of “regret” but because they want to in anticipation of “reward” in this life and the life to come. The reward is not, as prosperity theology might argue, for self-indulgence, but for greater generosity or practicing more good deeds. In his view, giving should be done “wholeheartedly” from a place of “simplicity of heart” otherwise the giver is “simply losing” in the transaction.

This is not an insignificant set of ideas.

I want to drill down on “simplicity of heart” and “simply losing” in his thinking. Simplicity of heart appears as trusting God completely with the treasures that we possess. From that place, our gifts do not flow to people or even ministries, but we give them joyfully to God. On top of that, if we don’t have this perspective, we are “simply losing” in the transaction. This reveals that the “heart” of our giving is what matters to God.

Where’s your heart in relationship to your giving? 

As you sit with Jesus considering this profound question today, also give thanks for the grace that God has given a group of people who will remain unnamed. At GTP, we facilitated a five-week campaign to rally God’s people to respond to a $5,000 USD match for AfCAA for their service to God in Africa. In the final day, the total went from $3,409 USD from 33 givers to $6,555 USD from 38 givers. Praise God with me that the match was met!

God thank you for your grace. Help us give wholeheartedly out of simplicity of heart. Amen.

So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to visit you in advance and finish the arrangements for the generous gift you had promised. Then it will be ready as a generous gift, not as one grudgingly given. 2 Corinthians 9:5

“Concerning the way of giving. Theodoret notes that in 2 Corinthians 8:10-12 Paul wants the Corinthians to understand that God measures the offering by the capacity of the giver; He takes interest in “the quality of the free will” rather than the quantity. In his reading of 2 Corinthians 9:5, Theodoret writes that throughout his discourse Paul never calls the collection a philanthropic deed, but “only a gift, fellowship, alms”…

He concludes that the apostle expected the contribution to the collection to be done joyfully because he knew well that the extortioner is irritated whereas the generous giver is glad. Since Paul had given everyone the freedom to decide the measure of one’s giving, he found it important to give a further exhortation through the farming metaphor in 2 Corinthians 9:6. In Theodoret’s view, Paul calls generosity seed in order to express its variegated fruits.

A bit further, while commenting on verses 12-13, he explains that the results of the Corinthians’ generosity consist in the relief of the saints’ needs and praises to God. He remarks that Paul challenged miserly givers by indicating that the harvest is proportionate to the amount of sowing; yet once again the apostle returnd to his principle of free will in 2 Corinthians 9:7 in which he spoke of God’s love for the cheerful giver.

Theodoret writes that elsewhere, in Romans, Paul speaks of the one who gives out of mercy and joyfully. He concludes that from a satisfied soul springs the offering of money.”

Viateur Habarurema and Theodoret of Cyrus in Christian Generosity according to 2 Corinthians 8-9: It’s Exegesis, Reception, and Interpretation Today in Dialogue with the Prosperity Gospel in Sub-Saharan Africa (Carlisle, UK: Langham Monographs, 2017) 182.

Habarurema lectures full-time at Protestant University of Rwanda and pastors part-time. In this work, he explores 2 Corinthians 8-9 through church history. Today recounts his findings from the writings of Theodoret of Cyrus on this biblical text (393-457).

Three things are noteworthy for modern readers interested in encouraging Christian generosity.

Firstly, God measures an offering by our capacity. In plain terms, He looks at what we don’t give and what that says about our hearts than about what we do give. And He never forces the giving, but always encourages it to flow from free will so it remains a show of trust and love.

Secondly, it’s not a philanthropic deed. In using terms like “collection” the apostle is noting that the gift is for God. It’s a “fellowship” or “sharing” as everything comes from God. It’s a “alms” in that it shows Christian care for those who are in crisis and need mercy and grace.

Thirdly, generosity springs from satisfied souls. These are people who realize that all they need is found in Him so when He supplies abundance, it’s for a purpose. They know this and so it abounds from them by grace. It springs like a powerful fountain.

As you know, God has provided a $5,000 USD matching gift for AfCAA in Africa to help them build capacity in thin times. In real time I can relate to Paul who encouraged a collection from souls with capacity and prayed that rich generosity would spring forth.

I don’t know your capacity, but I know this. God loves cheerful givers who show grace and mercy by helping their brothers and sisters. With one day left, this GTP effort has reached $3,409 from 33 givers. Please click here to give cheerfully and join this movement of grace.

Your gift will be used by AfCAA to meet needs and result in praise and thanksgiving to God.

For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable [εὐπρόσδεκτος] according to what one has, not according to what one does not have. 2 Corinthians 8:12

“Concerning the amount to be given, Chrysostom marvels at Paul’s extraordinary wisdom in his use of the Macedonians’ zeal and the qualifications of the contribution as acceptable in 2 Corinthians 8:12. He observes that Paul asked the Corinthians to do according to what one possesses and leaves the Macedonians’ example to do its work. In effect, asserts Chrysostom, Paul was aware that emulation stimulates people much more than exhortation does.

Furthermore, he argues that the word εὐπρόσδεκτος [acceptable] used by Paul in 2 Corinthians 8:12 to qualify one’s contribution implies what is required by God. But John explains that the apostle softened this notion by leaving the Corinthians at liberty to decide because he trusted the efficiency of the example he had cited to them… The righteousness which lasts forever is love shown to people.”

Viateur Habarurema and John Chrysostom in Christian Generosity according to 2 Corinthians 8-9: It’s Exegesis, Reception, and Interpretation Today in Dialogue with the Prosperity Gospel in Sub-Saharan Africa (Carlisle, UK: Langham Monographs, 2017) 182.

Habarurema lectures full-time at Protestant University of Rwanda and pastors part-time. In this work, he explores 2 Corinthians 8-9 through church history. Today recounts his findings from the writings of John Chrysostom on this biblical text (c. 347-407).

Don’t miss the powerful point that Chrysostom makes which Habarurema echoes for us concisely: “emulation stimulates people much more than exhortation does.” Let’s reflect on this in light of our collective desire to grow in Christian generosity and to help others in this.

It means, in plain terms, that people will grow in this grace if we show them the way, more than just speaking about it. The generous example, which in this case was the Macedonians, served as a great illustration that was bolstered by the explanation of what is “acceptable” giving.

By the way, this points to a common questions people ask me. “How much should I give?” They ask. I respond by quoting today’s Scripture. Giving that is”acceptable” to God is putting to work what you possess for God. This demonstrates trust, but is never forced, only inspired.

Habarurema and Chrysostom go on to note that the Apostle Paul rightly calls us to look to the “example of self-impoverishment” of Jesus as the ultimate model to emulate. God, use human examples to inspire our generosity but help us follow the model of Jesus as our guide. Amen.

According to your ability, make a gift to support AfCAA, which is bringing accountability and transparency to churches and organizations in Africa. The $5,000 USD matching gift has only 2 days left. It’s at $3,357 from 32 givers. Please click here to give and join this movement of grace.

And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. 2 Corinthians 8:1

“The exegetical analysis of 2 Corinthians 8-9 has pointed out that Paul uses the concept of χάρις [grace] in its various meanings to stimulate the Corinthians to resume their collection for Jerusalem. The Macedonians’ enthusiastic contribution to the collection is seen as the result of God’s χάρις (8:1), and as an example to be emulated by the Corinthians (8:8).

From the Macedonians’ amazing example, Paul passes to the self-impoverishment of Jesus Christ, depicted also as χάρις, a generous act for the benefit of the Corinthians (8:9). The collection itself is called χάρις in the sense of a generous undertaking (8:6, 7, 19), a generous gift (9:5) while participation in it is seen as χάρις, a privilege (8:4). Moreover, reference is made to God’s bestowing πᾶσαν χάριν (9:8) in the sense of material and spiritual resources to cheerful givers.

Therefore, serving the poor through the collection is an expression of God’s χάρις in the life of the believer (9:14); it is an aspect of righteousness on the part of the latter (9:10). The Jerusalem Christians will hopefully reciprocate this χάρις, gratitude by means of thanksgivings addressed to God and intercessory prayers for the Corinthians. Similarly, Paul, who expressed χάρις to God for Titus’ work among the Corinthians (8:16), invites the Corinthians and other Achaean churches to join him in worship to God for His all surpassing gift of salvation (9:15).”

Viateur Habarurema in Christian Generosity according to 2 Corinthians 8-9: It’s Exegesis, Reception, and Interpretation Today in Dialogue with the Prosperity Gospel in Sub-Saharan Africa (Carlisle, UK: Langham Monographs, 2017) 168-169.

Recently I was exploring responses to prosperity gospel from voices from the Lausanne Movement. Special thanks to Kevin VandenBrink, a Daily Meditation reader, who alerted me to this recently published dissertation. It just came in the mail, and I am enjoying it very much. I will make a few posts from it.

Today’s reading comes from the conclusion of his exploration of 2 Corinthians 8-9. Take time to read it in one sitting. Pause everytime you see the word χάρις or grace. Habarurema challenges us to see how it functions to help the Corinthians (and us) discover that all giving is a grace flowing from the gift of salvation to us.

This is not insignificant in the ancient world or to us in modern times. Giving is a grace. The work of Jesus for us is a grace. Our response or participation is a grace. Helping those in need is a grace. Being refilled for rich generosity is a grace. This runs counter to most modern and ancient thinking.

In the first century and today, giving is often motivated by law rather than love, measured by merit more than mercy, and shows favoritism instead of fairness. As a result, many give grudgingly or out of obligation rather than making the most of every opportunity. Only when do we grasp grace does all this change for the good.

Speaking of change, that’s the impact AfCAA is having in Africa: replacing systems of corruption with standards of accountability. And they need our help rooted in grace, even as the Jerusalem church needed aid from the Corinthians. The $5,000 USD matching gift has 3 days left. It’s at $3,152 from 30 givers. Click here to give and join this movement of grace.

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, He made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! Philippians 2:5-8

“I am thinking of John Woolman, an eighteenth-century American Quaker who had a successful retail business and gave it up because he felt it kept him from clearly seeing something that disturbed him: slavery. He came to see how money stood in the way of clear perception of injustice: people who had a lot of property and land needed slaves to maintain them (or so these folks reasoned).

He saw the same problem with his own reasoning. . . whenever he looked at an injustice in the world he always saw it through his own eye, his own situation and benefit. . . . Once he reduced his own level of prosperity, he could see the clear links between riches and oppression. He wrote: “Every degree of luxury has some connection with evil.” Reduction of his lifestyle gave him insight into the difference between “needs” and “wants,” something our insatiable consumer culture has made it almost impossible to recognize. . . .

To empty the self is not an act of denial, but of fulfillment, for it creates space for God to fill one’s being. We are satisfied by nothing less than God; our deepest desire is to be one with God, even as Jesus was. Made in the image of God, our destiny is to become one with God, so that we too can say, not my will but God’s be done. This is not a loss, but again, the greatest gain.

John Woolman as quoted by Richard Rohr in “Curbing our Appetites” blog post by the Center for Action and Contemplation dated 24 September 2021.

I gave remarks at a memorial service yesterday. A long time friend had passed away and gone to be with Jesus. Afterwards I was in the lobby of the church talking to someone I had not seen in years. We talked about the freedom of simplifying as we journey toward our eternal home.

I knew that whatever we own, owns us, and leads to slavery. But I never thought about traveling light through life as a pathway to fulfillment until I read this post. It’s spot on.

Of course, the Apostle Paul said it to the Philippians. When we make ourselves nothing, we position ourselves to receive from God that which satisfies. And when we share this it is rich act of generosity because it offers others the fulfillment we are all looking for.

Then Jesus said to His host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” Luke 14:12-14

“I’d like to contrast two economies or worldviews. The first economy is capitalism, which is based on quid pro quo, reward and punishment, and justice as retribution. This much product requires this much payment. It soon becomes the framework for our fundamental relationships, our basic self-image, and actions (“I deserve”; “You owe me”; “I will be generous if it helps me, too”), and constructs a faulty foundation for our relationship with the Divine.

We’ve got to admit that this system of exchange seems reasonable to almost everybody today. If we’re honest, it makes sense to us, too, and seems fair. I’m not going to say it’s wrong—it does much good. The only trouble is, Jesus doesn’t believe it at all, and he’s supposed to be our spiritual teacher.

Let’s contrast this “meritocracy,” the punishment/reward economy of basic capitalism, with what Jesus presents. I’m going to call it a gift economy. In a gift economy, there is no equivalence between what we give and how much we get. We don’t really like this model, because we feel we’ve worked hard to get to our rightful social positions. We feel we have earned our rights.

Yet if we call ourselves Christians, we have to deal with the actual gospel. The only way we can make the great turnaround and understand this is if we’ve had at least one experience of being given to without earning. It’s called forgiveness, unconditional love, and mercy. If we’ve never received unearned, undeserved love, we will stay in the capitalist worldview where 2 + 2 = 4. I put in my 2, I get my 2 back.

But we remain very unsure, if not angry, about anything “free,” whether it is free health care (physical, mental, or spiritual) or even free education. These benefits can be seen as natural human rights that sustain peoples’ humanity and dignity, as papal social encyclicals make clear. All too often, though, we only want people in our own group to benefit from health care, education, and bailouts.

We don’t “deserve” anything, anything! It’s all a gift. Until we have begun to live in the kingdom of God, instead of the kingdoms of this world, we will think exactly like the world. To understand the gospel in its radical, transformative power, we have to stop counting, measuring, and weighing. We have to stop saying “I deserve” and deciding who does not deserve. None of us deserves! This daily conversion is hard to do unless we’ve experienced infinite mercy and realized that it’s all a gift—all the time.”

Richard Rohr in “It’s All A Gift” blog post by the Center for Action and Contemplation dated 23 September 2021.

Special thanks to two Daily Meditations readers, Arnie Adkison and Michael Cherenkov who separately alerted me to Rohr’s recent posts on money. They are rich. Find them here. And though this post was long, I want to make a few pointed statements in response.

My doctoral research on 1 Timothy revealed that Paul wanted Timothy to remain in Ephesus to teach people to live according to God’s economy rather than adopt to the local mindset on money. As Ephesus was the financial capital of the ancient world, it’s no wonder that his letter would include a command for Timothy to tell the rich enjoy and share God’s blessings in order to take hold of life. It was precisely the opposite of the local, worldly thinking.

Only when we live in light of the fact that everything is a gift are we released us from the trappings of merit and set free to show mercy. Only when we realize we deserve nothing can we generously enjoy and share everything.

While capitalism appears to have done a lot of good, buyer beware. The greatest danger to the radical gospel may not be the obvious enemies but rather its close counterfeit. By definition, capital or money is the god served by that structure, and Jesus warned we could not serve God and money, though we might try. The former fosters greed and the latter champions grace, and it positions us to practice distinctly Christian generosity.

If anything that Rohr said (or that I have echoed) has ruffled your feathers, take it to Jesus. And know this, Rohr, Adkison, Cherenkov and I are not trying to rob you in pointing you to these ideas. We want to help you grasp life.

This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: “Go down to the potter’s house, and there I will give you my message.” So I went down to the potter’s house, and I saw him working at the wheel. Jeremiah 18:1-3

“The potter was working at the wheel. He was working on the pot. The potter controls the wheel, using it to shape the vessel. God uses trials and circumstances to mold and shape us. God is working. Your life will be transformed as you serve Him. He is transforming not only the lives of the Treasures but also the lives of the staff, volunteers, and supporters who serve them on His behalf.

Most of the time, when seeking guidance, we do not look down, we look up. We look up to someone—someone successful, with more experience—to advise us. We look for the best of the best. How surprised would you be to learn that your adviser was a scavenger who works in the garbage dump? In Proverbs 6:6, we learn that guidance can come even from an insect: “Go to the ant, you sluggard. Consider its ways and be wise.”

Please do not misunderstand me. I am not saying that you should not try to find the best help you can. I am advising you to open your heart and mind so you can hear God’s voice and be willing to learn from others. I met God in a very unexpected place, and you can too.”

Gladys Acuña Güitz in Hidden Treasure: Finding God in Unexpected Places with Betsy Ahl (Guatemala City: Potter’s House, 2021) 112.

It was my privilege to speak at the Hidden Treasures book launch celebration last night. To view the recording, click here. I hope you take the time to watch it. Why?

If you join me in looking down at the destitute Treasures scavenging in the dump you just might meet Jesus in a powerful way and go away transformed.

Gladys is keen to point out that the ant can be out advisor! But we only learn when we are willing to look down. Are you? Read the book. Will you? I hope so.

My passion for serving the poor has been nurtured over more than a decade by Gladys and her husband Edgar, and I am so grateful. They are not friends to me, they are family!

You shall give to him freely, and your heart shall not be grudging when you give to him, because for this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake. For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, ‘You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.’ Deuteronomy 15:10-11

“The reference is to the poor, afflicted, needy, weak, wretched person who is suffering from oppression and abuse—in general the lowest class in society then and now. My heart was released when I read the rest of the verse. I interpreted it as an exercise in obedience to God and charity to my brothers and sisters who are in need.

In this verses we can learn many lessons about the heart of God for the poor. First, serving the poor is not optional. The fact that there is poverty on the earth is not a judgment on humanity; it is an opportunity to serve and glorify God.

Second, the verse tells us that we should not harden our hearts. We should not keep our hand closed, holding on to our stuff. We should, instead, open that hand with a grateful heart—a heart thankful for what God has given us. And we should be generous in sharing our time, talents, and treasure with our less-fortunate brothers and sisters, helping them overcome their poverty…

Being openhanded will not encourage the poor to depend on us. It is an opportunity to help them recognize our reliance on God, who is our Provider.”

Gladys Acuña Güitz in Hidden Treasure: Finding God in Unexpected Places with Betsy Ahl (Guatemala City: Potter’s House, 2021) 33.

This is a great book, released to help Potter’s House celebrate 35 years of service to the poor in Guatemala City. I commend it to anyone who works with the poor. Find it on Amazon here. I am excited to participate in an online event celebrating the book launch this evening.

Until I visited Gladys in Guatemala, I did not learn that that serving the poor is a great opportunity both to be blessed and to bless. We get to help people who experience far more than financial poverty to rise up out of the trash heap of life and learn to trust God with us.

God’s design and desire in Deuteronomy is that our hearts become soft and compassionate rather than hard and calloused. When we serve those who may be the lowest of low on earth, we realize by experience what our Lord did for us. We minister and are transformed in the process.

When we make margin to serve the needy, God does something through us and also in us. It’s hard to describe. He changes our hearts. He teaches us that He is our Provider. And, I think the reason it is not optional is because when we don’t serve, we remain empty, but when we do, we are enriched.

Thanks for teaching me this Gladys! Learn from her, friends. Read the book! It’s a page-turner.

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

“If we wish to become generous givers, then we must know this Scripture [John 3:16] intimately. It reminds us that God does not ask of us anything that he has not first done for us. God is the first generous giver. He has provided the highest model of generosity, and He calls for biblical people to follow.”

Gordon MacDonald in Generosity: Moving Toward Life That Is Truly Life (Alpharetta: National Christian Foundation, 2009) 8.

I fly to Dallas this morning to go to the Missio Nexus Mission Leaders Conference. I will speak and listen to great role models in Christian missions. It’s enriching to learn from seasoned brothers as sisters, isn’t it? But we must remind ourselves that the highest model is our Lord Jesus Christ. Why?

What we tend to do as humans is compare ourselves to others. We even pick the people we want to compare ourselves to, and in so doing, we rationalize that we are doing great in areas like generosity. But if we look at the highest model, who sacrificed everything out of love, we are inspired to grow.

To avoid the damaging effects of pride, to stay on the path of growing in the grace of giving, and to excel in generosity, let’s keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. When we do this, we get the right model and then when we follow, we only figure it out as we live it out that generosity is an invitation to life.

Shout out to my brother, David, in Lake Wales, Florida. Today is his birthday. I’ve always appreciated his example to me as a big brother and role model. He’s not perfect by any means, but he is tenacious in following Jesus. Happy Birthday David! Thanks for being a role model to me.

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. 1 John 3:16-18

“The true goal of being generous is not that the church will prosper, the budget will be reached or raised, or that the building will get built. The goal of generosity is not that I will, in the end, be blessed because I have pleased God. The ultimate goal of generosity is transformation of the individual. Does that help you see the connection between giving and being like God? The deeper our transformation the closer we move to being like God in character, in thought, and in action. Transformation is never skin deep or outward; transformation is from the inside out. It begins and grows from the heart, a heart that is becoming more like our Savior.

I recall the story of a young boy from a poor family walking home with a bag of groceries, a meager supply for the large household. It was cold and getting dark as he made his way through the busy streets, and then it happened––the bag tore, the load dropped, and the groceries scattered from one side of the walk to the other. Most busy pedestrians side-stepped the mess, except for one gentleman who had mercy on the boy. He bent down and helped him gather his supplies, clean up what was broken, and restock the grocery bag. As together they finished the task the little one, with tears staining his checks, looked into the face of the older man and asked, “Mister, are you Jesus?”

Dennis Fast in “The Goal of Generosity: Living a Transformed Life” excerpt from Day Seven of Seven Day Generosity Challenge by John Wiebe and the MB Foundation. Click to download the PDF and go through it.

When we love with “actions and truth” as John writes in today’s Scripture people see the love of God in our actions. We look “like God.” They experience God through our interaction with them. Few short stories illustrate this better than the poor young boy who drops his bag of groceries.

Notice the counter-cultural nature of the aid the man. When everyone else side-stepped the mess, he stopped. While the task was too big for the lad, he helped. Despite the mess, he cleaned up what was broken. This is generosity. The boy could not help but exclaim, “Mister, are you Jesus?”

God wants to transform us from the inside out as people who understand our role on earth and play it, not for blessings we get but to serve as conduits of blessing. He desires that we have mercy, extend kindness, and show love. God, make us into such people so others see You in us. Amen.

Join me and others from GTP for Monthly Global Prayer Hour tomorrow morning at 5am Denver Time. Then I fly to Dallas through Friday to speak and attend the Missio Nexus 2021 Mission Leaders Conference. Praying for a good time of service, networking, and learning.