Tuesday, November 03, 2009 – 3:13pm
Chicago, Airport –
I was supposed to leave yesterday. My travel agent called me early Monday morning to let me know that somewhere in the middle of phone lines, mail servers, and austere British accents, my ticket lay canceled and unaccounted for. Ed from Pelitravel, always very helpful, tried to get me a seat on the flight that I had been booked on at least six months ago. But no one at British Airways was willing to make the necessary commitments apparently, and so I had one extra day. I’m leaving on Tuesday instead of Monday, and I am currently sitting in the Chicago airport instead of London.
Finally about to leave, I just wanted to say one more quick goodbye and thank you to everyone who over the past three months gave me a bed to sleep in, food to eat, and especially a warm and heartfelt welcome in the name of our only Lord and Savior. It has been a rare and special privilege to spend so much time meeting and re-meeting so many of my fellow believers. Indeed it is one of the greatest opportunities that I have in this calling to bring a little closer the men and women that struggle together though separate by thousands of miles of water and earth. It is amazing and marvelous to see the strength that God created in miles of stone standing firm and tall and grey along the north western borders of Nepal and India. But it is joy to the soul to see the Lord work the same strength in the hearts of men and women who labor in His name, held by the rock, firm as stone, overflowing in love.
And therefore, as I depart once again, to the praise of the Lord:
1. For all the saints who from their labors rest,
Who Thee by faith before the world confess,
Thy name, O Jesus, be forever blest,
Alleluia! Alleluia!
2. Thou wast their Rock, their Fortress, and their Might;
Thou, Lord, their Captain in the well-fought fight;
Thou, in the darkness drear, their one true Light.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
3. Oh, may Thy soldiers, faithful, true and bold,
Fight as the saints who nobly fought of old
And win with them the victor’s crown of gold.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
4. O blest communion, fellowship divine,
We feebly struggle, they in glory shine;
Yet all are one in Thee, for all are Thine.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
5. And when the fight is fierce, the warfare long,
Steals on the ear the distant triumph song,
And hearts are brave again, and arms are strong.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
6. But, lo, there breaks a yet more glorious day;
The saints triumphant rise in bright array;
The King of Glory passes on His way.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
7. From earth’s wide bounds, from ocean’s farthest coast,
Through gates of pearl streams in the countless host,
Singing to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
Alleluia! Alleluia!
8. The golden evening brightens in the west;
Soon, soon, to faithful warriors cometh rest.
Sweet is the calm of Paradise the blest.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
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