As I look over my life, even current life, I see things that just “don’t fit” my hopes, expectations, and plans.  Some people, including my friends, may from time to time feel that I don’t fit either.  Perhaps you can identify with this problem of fit or have had times when you viewed others that way.  If so I highly recommend you read an article that appeared in the May 2011 issue of Christianity Today.  It’s written by Mark Galli and titled – What to Do with Aunt Julie:  Harold Camping and our problem relatives.   Camping has,  on more than one occasion,  made a name for himself and embarrassed many of us by declaring with great conviction the specific date of the end of the world and return of Christ.  In the process he raised quite a following and a lot of money. It’s an article well worth the couple of minutes it will take to read it.  Here’s the weblink:  http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2011/mayweb-only/auntjulieharoldcamping.html?start=1

I don’t read Camping’s stuff or track his latest predictions.  However, like one of my favorite childhood stories, The Boy Who Cried Wolf, I believe that sooner or later he or someone like him is going to be telling the truth.  In the meantime, I’ve been spending some time with some ancient writers like Jeremiah and Hosea, who also were the Aunt Julie’s of their times. We are living in times that are shaping up  like the opening paragraph of Charles Dickens’ great work, Tale of Two Cities.  To save you the trouble of finding it in the library here it is:

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to heaven, we were all going direct the other way – in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only.

Bruce Boydell – Haft Director of Ministry and Operations

Christianity Today May 2011 – posted by Mark Galli | posted 5/26/2011 09:50AM

WELCOME to the first posting on the brand new Haft website.   We hope you like it and will keep in touch.

Earlier today I watched a large blue heron take off from the pond and fly low over the garden area.  The other night some deer were startled in the woods between The Barn and the Garden Cottage, their pawing and snorting registering a protest as they took off for denser woods.  Now there are three squirrels cavorting on the tree limbs just outside my window.  There is something in nature to wonder at each day here at The Haft.  The beauty, variety, and power of God’s creation is displayed all around us no matter where we are, but it seems so much more evident here in this rural pastoral setting.  Away from most of the crush of highways and the sensory overload of flashing signs and crowded stores, one is prompted to slow down and see things with new wonder.  This is a good place to come away and draw on a fresh experience of  seeing and hearing  the evidence of loving design and whispered affirmation, the nearness of God discovered in His handiwork.  Come and see that God is good.

Our 2012 Pastor Couple retreats provide a great Christmas gift idea for your pastor or favorite ministry leader.  This is a gift that will bless you as well as them.