Never before have I been in the American Southwest during the monsoon season. It is a time when the rains come in from the Pacific Ocean and Baja California. Some monsoon seasons in the past have brought very little rainfall, motivating some in Arizona and New Mexico to rename the season "nonsoon." This year, however, the rains have come abundantly, causing the desert to burst into green. As I sit and write, the Catalina Mountains of Southern Arizona are covered in green due to the abundant rain. Of course, the season will end all too soon and the endless days of sunshine will resume, but it is wonderful to enjoy the ubiquitous evidence of God's gracious provision in the meantime.
After a brief time at home during which I worked a good deal with my hands, we loaded up again and headed for the Southwest. We had a great time of ministry with the Cornerstone Baptist Church of Phoenix, Arizona. After preaching to the church on Wednesday, I repaired to the mountains with the men of the church to preach a man camp. What a time I had hearing how God was working in the lives of the men! It was a blessing to hear of men who had only recently trusted Christ as Savior growing in the Lord and surrendering to His leading. Cornerstone Baptist Church has been a church that loves preaching as long as I have known them, and the men of the church seem to set the tone for that love.
Cornerstone has been one of the few churches that support our ministry on a monthly basis. On Sunday evening after I had finished preaching, the Pastor called his people into a meeting to discuss our monthly support. His recommendation was that the church double it, but his people voted to increase our support beyond his recommendation. I am still humbled as I reflect on their generosity.
After a great meeting there in Phoenix, we headed to Tucson where I preached for Pastor Jon Shuerger, a man who was at college with me. The Lord gave us a great meeting there as well with open doors for the future.
When we assayed to leave Tucson, I discovered a transmission problem in my truck. After a preliminary attempt to repair it proved unsuccessful, we took it to a mechanic in the area. He looked at the transmission and discovered that a screw-on filter inside the housing had come off and was blocking the flow of fluid at times. Just before I sat down to write, he informed me that the truck is fixed and that the bill is paid, by whom I don't know. All I know is that someone in Tucson has once again decided to serve God by serving others. Praise the Lord! Their reward will be given by God Himself.
We head north to Colorado, Wyoming, South Dakota, and Indiana in the next month. Thank you so much for your prayers.
