Well, yesterday I celebrated my 65th birthday! Although my two oldest “children” (44 & 43 yrs) were not able to visit, my youngest (Katrina) was and so she, Viv and I spent a great day together. Terry (my oldest) and Tammy both called a talked a long time on the phone and that was nice. We spent some time sitting the the front yard talking and listening to the nature sounds: wind in the trees, birds singing and water trickling down the fountain. Later, we had a delicious meal out on the patio and enjoyed some of the most lovely weather you could find anywhere on earth! Except for a couple of minor interruptions of rain, weather in South Louisiana here has been FANTASTIC for the past 6 or 8 weeks! It has made my construction project more of a pleasure.

Did I mention that I have been remodeling my home? Well, Viv and I tore out the carpet in the downstairs area and installed porcelain tile in the living and dining area. Katrina then came over and she and I installed the tile in the master bedroom.

Then we decided to rebuild the stairwell. That was about six weeks ago. We STILL do not have stairs! <grin> But Katrina has hung in there and, although we have built and tore out three sets of “stair stringers”, we finally have a set that will work properly (I hope). I am trying to build a solid oak stairway and it is a lot more difficult that I ever imagined.

But the entire project has been a great experience. It has been very therapeutic for me. This year is a major milestone in my life. In February, Viv and I began receiving our Social Security checks; Last week was the first time I used my Medicare card; My birthday was yesterday; Today is the celebration of my retirement as pastor of the Agape’ Fellowship Church; and tomorrow is my last Sunday there as pastor – plus it is “Pastor Appreciation Day” at the church. A lot of CHANGES to absorb. But having this work to occupy my mind AND having Katrina to work with me has been a very enjoyable thing. Although I am a bit anxious for the time when I can again get to my upstairs office, I almost want the work to continue.

I don’t believe that I have gotten old yet. I think I may LIKE this retirement thing!!

We are conducting a seminar at our church (on Thursday evenings between 6:30 & 7:45) on the topic of “End Time Prophecy.” One of the first things that comes to my mind when I approach this subject is the question, “Why bother studying something that will happen after I have already gone in the rapture/resurrerction?”

There are some significant issues related to this question – both positive and negative. Here are some such issues that will illustrate the point:

Reasons that may lead one NOT to study prophecy:

• Idle curiosity (2Pe 1:20,21 & Is 55:5-11)
• Test of fellowship (dogmatism)
• Spiritual “pride” (Acts 17:21)
• Uncertain symbols (may misunderstand and become more confused, 1Co 14:33)

Reasons why we SHOULD study prophecy:

• Fact of presence in the Bible (31,000 verses are prophetic in nature)
• Assurance (previous fulfillment authenticates those still unfulfilled – Gen 3:15; 12:1-3; 18:21; 19:24; Is 7:14;Lu 1:30-33; Jn 1:29; Heb 11:8,12)
• Understand God’s plan (Is 8:20)
• Incentive to labor (2Pe 3:9-11; 1Jn 1:1-3
• Blessing promised (Rev 1:3)

I will be posting some notes from these studies. Look for them in the “Prophecy” category of this site.

What do YOU think about studying prophecy? Do you teach prophecy? Do you invite “prophecy teachers”? Why, or why not?