Thursday, January 7, 2016

Don’t Get Too Close to the Edge of the World

Tuesday 1-5-16 (The Askew’s Ranch, Boring, Oregon)     

Scripture reading for today:    Gen 12 - 14        Luke 5

S=Scripture  O=Observation  A=Application  P=Prayer  SOAP for the soul.


S.  Gen 11:31-32  And Terah took his son Abram and his grandson Lot, the son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, his son Abram's wife, and they went out with them from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to the land of Canaan; and they came to Haran and dwelt there.  NKJV


O.  Terah, Abram’s father was no ordinary man.  Something prompted him to seek new horizons.  Perhaps hundreds of his relatives would stay behind in the land of Ur where they knew the land and people.  He was stepping out into the unknown.  They moved to Haran.  A short time later God would speak to Abram, “Go west, young man!”  And with the same adventurous spirit of his father, Abram took his wife and belongings and stepped into unknown territory... based only on the call of God.


A.  “Go west, young man!” became the call to adventure and a new life in the early 1800s.  Only the most adventurous would dare to face the lethal dangers of the unknown and leave their relatives behind.  My grandfathers on both sides were Christian men that with courageous spirit left comfort and security behind to go west stepping into the unknown... hoping to leave a richer inheritance to their children and grandchildren.  I guess some of us inherited their spirit.  It was in our blood.  Even as young teens we would go to any extreme to reach the edge of the world just to peek over.*  When God called me to Argentina it was not frightening.  With God we would step into His adventure.  I have never recovered from that disease.  I’m packing up to go again.


P.  Lord, You had set me up.  You had prepared my heart.  Early on I had learned the sound of Your voice.  You called and once I had proved that it was really You and not just my enthusiasm, I was ready to go.  It was “Go south, young man!  Way south, to Argentina!”  And every day became adventure much like Abram.  You promised never to leave or forsake me.  Once more I am counting on You as I prepare to step out again at 84 years of age.  Amen.


Ralph 

*Below is a poem I wrote many years ago just for fun:

Don’t Get Too Close to the edge of the World
By Ralph Hiatt

Don’t get too close to the edge of the world.
There’s sure to be danger out there.
There’s danger of slippin’ or of your lid flippin’
It’ll get you when you’re unaware.

If you take your walks near the edge of the world
You’ll be tempted to look, but don’t try.
There’s probably ice in the heat of the summer
And rain with no cloud in the sky.

They say some folk LIVE near the edge of the world.
It’s the place they like the best.
They sleep in the clover with their feet hangin’ over.
That’s how they get their rest.

But don’t YOU hang out near the edge of the world.
It’s damaging to the brain.
Poor Uncle Nook took only one look.
They say he’ll never be the same.

It’s dangerous out there near the edge of the world.
As dangerous as it can be!
Your feet could slip!  You could lose your grip!
More dangerous is what you might SEE!

Who knows what’s above or beyond or down under?
Surely creatures big and small;
Wigglies, squigglies, woggles and boggles...
Or worse, maybe nothing at all!

Don’t you DARE go out to the edge of the world.
But then, of course, if you do...
Take along a good anchor, a cable and cranker
And a hole driller that’s brand new.

If you should sneak out by the edge of the world
Be sure to go well prepared.
Take a pole and some tackle and dress all ram-shackle
If not, your sure to get snared.

Don’t try to play games near the edge of the world.
It’s safer to read a book.
That feelin’of goin’, but not truly knowin’
Might tempt you to take a look.

I’ve had it with you hanging out near the edge,
In spite of all I say.
I’m coming right quick to take the first peek.
Step aside!  Get out of my way!




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