Today was a free day so we enjoyed the Canal and Railroad museum and then drove to Frostburg University. We had great fellowship with Fred and Pat.

Wednesday evening we will be at Cherry Glade Mennonite Church in Accident, Maryland.

Aroldo emailed to tell me some things about Baxtor, the dialysis machine people, & asked about my back. He then said that the 5 children on dialysis pray for me each night. Can you imagine children who are chronically ill praying for me. That is so humbling!

James 1:27  “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.”

In our study of the man whom I call Paul’s pastor we see from I Timothy 1:16-18 that Onesiphorus came to Paul in prison in Rome when most of the body of Christ had abandoned Paul. Paul says that Onesiphorus refreshed him y the visit. When many of the rats were jumping ship and not wanting to get involved Onesiphorus came to encourage Paul. He was not ashamed of his brother in Christ.

He was not only ‘not ashamed’ of Paul he was persistent in seeking out Paul. Do you know that the trip from Ephesus was over 700 miles? Can you imagine walking or taking a small boat on a journey like that. Most Christians if they have to walk 100 feet to the front door of the church will simply drive away. Pau; tells us in I Timothy that Onesiphorus searched hard for Paul. Rome was in turmoil-Nero was crazy and filled with a demon that hated Christians. Christians were being executed. It was difficult and dangerous for anyone to walk the streets of Rome from jail to jail asking where Paul was. Is was a terrible time to be a Christian walking the streets and asking where the most hated Christian was being held.

Paul said that Onesiphorus  “SEARCHED HARD FOR ME”. I can see why Paul would say that Onesiphorus was an encouragement. Some times it is not what we do but HOW we do it that makes people realize how much we care for them. Personal sacrifice and faithfulness say more about who we are than all of the words we could ever speak. BEING THERE is the act of a true and dedicated child of God.  The fact that people came to church when it was cold or rainy or inconvenient encouraged me as a pastor to always have a message ready from God for those who braved the elements to show their love for Christ and myself.

Colossians 3:23  “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men”.                                                                                     Ecclesiastes 9:10  “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might”

Paul talks about the household of Onesiphorus so he was a family man. Some Christians neglect their famalies for the ministry while others neglect ministry for their families. There has to be a balance for all Christians. Remember God instituted the family before he instituted the church or any Christian ministry.

So Onesiphorus was not ashamed of Paul and he was also persistent. What else?  Stay tune!!!