A Modern Correspondence Pauline-Style

My brother Nathan was sick this past week and ended up getting sent home from college. Upon hearing of Nathan's illness, one of our friends from church, Pearson, took the time to write this letter (see below) to Nathan. Nathan's response to Pearson follows below. I thought you might enjoy reading this just for fun.

THE LETTER TO THE NATHAN

Pearson, called to be a disciple of the risen Lord Jesus Christ to whom all glory, power, and majesty, forever and ever.

To Nathan, my beloved brother among the saints: grace and peace be with you.
I have heard among the brethern of your unfortunate illness and that your work for the Lord is delayed by your return to your homeland. I think fondly of the faith that was made manifest through the kindness which you have displayed amid the congregation and am confident that the Lord will bring to completion the good work He began in you. My brother, though you are far from your work, the grace which dwelt in our Lord Jesus Christ now dwells in me as I long to see you. Epaphroditus and Tychius has also supplied me with a humidifing machine should you be interested.

Remain in the Lord my beloved brother - have confidence in the Lord who called us out of darkness and into His marvelous light and dwells within you through His Spirit. Be sure to take a little wine for your illness.

Robert Lee sends you his greetings, as does Gerald Stroud and the rest of the saints. Grace be with you.

 

THE LETTER TO THE PEARSON

Nathan, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be a disciple and set apart for the gospel of God,

To Pearson, my true brother in the faith: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

I send you my thanks for your genuine love and concern for my health. I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you and all the other saints who have kept me in their prayers. By His grace, I have nearly fully recovered from my illness and have promptly returned to my mission field. Praise the Lord for His quick healing hand upon my feeble body! Though my work may have been delayed, it is but temporary. And I have full confidence that through Christ's mercy and strength I will recover and regain the ground that I have lost. Thank Epaphroditus and Tychius for the offer, but I think my brethren and I can do without the humidifying machine. I will remember you in my prayers.

Send my greetings to Robert Lee and Gerald Stroud.

The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. My love to all of you in Christ Jesus. Amen.

 

Xanga No More!

If you're reading this and you've been following me on Twitter, you can see that I decided to start blogging again. Hopefully what I post up here will be more intentional and meaningful than the mundane, random happenings I used to post on my Xanga in high school.

The title of this blog, "Pressing on Toward the Goal," is taken from Philippians 3:12-14. Specifically, verses 13b-14:

Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. (NIV)

Right now I still find myself in a transitional period of my life--in between college and the working world--still finding this new role for myself as a young professional and independent adult, but also currently living at home with my parents; in the midst of college friends all getting married and starting their new lives while being in a serious relationship for the past two years myself. A lot has changed in these past two and a half years since I graduated from Taylor University and I know my life will probably change dramatically in the next few years to come.

Despite all the good and bad things that have happened, these Philippians verses are a reminder to look toward the most worthy prize and to live each day pressing toward my future with my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. So I hope to chronicle some of those times here.

Thanks for joining the ride!