A special lunch

Dear friends

I had a rare privilege yesterday, meeting some Internet friends I had never before met in person.

Jerry and Arlis Cooney live in Oregon, but are on the East Coast this week for their son's wedding. Jerry called me and the four of us, including my wife, all met for lunch today. We had a great time of fellowship at an out-of-the-way country restaurant, near the ocean. I had the $4.99 pot roast special, because it was old-fashioned Southern style, which you don't find much anymore. (I was so excited to find it, I just had to tell you!) The others had fish. Jerry generously picked up the tab, which was an extra blessing! (Bless him, Lord, a hundredfold!)

Jerry is a retired high school teacher and counselor and has been an outstanding Bible teacher for 30 years. I know he is outstanding because of the insights I get from him and his unusual ability to communicate difficult biblical truths. They are a dear couple, just beaming with the love and presence of Jesus and a delight to be around. They both are looking for the Lord's soon return and sense the rapture is extremely near.

We discussed many things, including worship and watching for the Lord's return. Suddenly, I believe I had a revelation from the Lord that none of us had ever thought of before. It just popped in my mind. That is, watching for the Lord and longing for Him is a form of worship. It involves recognizing Him, assigning Him worth-ship, honoring His Word and promises, longing for Him and seeking Him. It is setting "your affection on things above, not on things on the earth" (Colossians 3:2). It might also qualify under Romans 121.

With that in mind, when our emails are focused on anticipating Jesus' return (and not necessarily all subjects), it could be considered worship!

It is great to see other cyber friends face-to-face, as I have done a few times before. Just think -- hopefully soon we will ALL meet face to face and fellowship with Jesus and each other forever in the great virtual Web site in the sky! (Hopefully, there will be Southern-style pot roast, with gravy, carrots and potatoes, at the Marriage Supper.)

Jim