Rubber On The Road  

What does it take to be a Youth Pastor? Humility and a good sense of humor are mandatory.

Many a Youth Pastor has had to shave their head, eat crazy things, kiss a pig, had a pie in their face or “got a dunking” in a vat of cold water to raise money for youth room equipment.  

Commitment to ministry and a deep love for teens are also required. As is appropriate for every Christian, the Youth Pastor’s life must be lived as an example (James 1:19-21). The burden of Youth Ministry keeps the Pastor on his face. Literally hours are spent in prayer seeking daily direction and wisdom. 

The Youth Pastor listens, prays, gives wise counsel and supports right choices.  Youth Ministry isn’t just about games and social gatherings.  It’s even more than teaching teens God’s Word!  It’s about teaching kid’s how to apply God’s word to everyday life situations (Psalms 119:105; II Timothy 3:16-17).  

Our teens face challenges today that many parents can’t even imagine! Movies, music and top rated television programs show ungodly lifestyles and irresponsible behavior as ‘normal.’  

Teens need spiritual truth that can be applied to the life decisions they must deal with every day. As David said in Psalms 25:5, “Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my savior; and my hope is in you all day long.”   

Statistics show that the church is losing our youth between middle school and college. According to America’s Research Group’s survey, only 55 percent of children who went to church regularly continue to be churched during high school. And by college, only 11 percent were still attending church.  

Statistics alone illustrate the need for an evangelical youth leader that is devoted to prayer and ministry! Satan has the youth Pastor’s name written at the top of his ‘project’ planner; I  need to make sure our Youth Pastor’s name is at the top of my prayer list.

“Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my savior; and my hope is in you all day long.” Psalm 25:5

Prayer:  Father, encourage our Youth Pastors and Workers.  Give them strength, faith, discernment and hope.  Touch me that I would support our youth and the leaders; always holding them up in prayer. Show me opportunity to encourage them and bless them. Amen

Scripture References:

Psalms 119:105  Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path

2 Timothy 3:16-17  All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of Godmay be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Psalms 25:5, Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my savior; and my hope is in you all day long.   

The guy across the street repainted the fence around his house. 

The old wood was splintered and needed to be sanded down and some of the pieces replaced. 

But, he just applied putty and new paint.  The fence looked new; but in time, the decay again came to the surface. 

In Matthew 23:27-28, Jesus talked about the difference between “repainting” and removing the decay. The tombs that Jesus spoke of were whitewashed regularly and always looked fresh and clean to the people walking by. However, no matter how many times the tombs were painted, they were still tombs filled with dead bones.  

As a Christian, it can seem easier to clean up the outside than allow the Holy Spirit to do His redeeming work on the inside.  I put my ‘happy face’ on and go to church. I sing the praise songs and look all shiny new.  But, on the inside, I still harbor bitterness, jealousy and anger. My attitudes and worldly ambitions haven’t changed. 

When Jesus came into my life, it wasn’t just to make me ‘look good’ on the outside.  It is His desire to change me from the inside out so that whether rich or poor, I live the abundant life. (I John 10:10) 

God is far more interested in having a relationship with me than He is in how I ‘look’ to the people at church. (I Samuel 16:7) The purpose of asking Jesus into my heart is so that He can forgive me of my sins so I can have relationship with Him.  

A part of that relationship is showing me how to realign my priorities and attitudes so those sins that tormented me and separated me from His love and mercy no longer have a place in my heart. (Philippians 4:8-9) 

In order to bring about that inward change; God sends His Holy Spirit to first, convict me of sin (John 16:7-11), then, to show me how to live to please Him (Galatians 5: 16).  

It’s important for me to remember that God does not make me do anything; nor does God’s Word force me to change! Bible study, prayer and going to church give me the tools for change, but I must do the things necessary to change my attitudes, friendships, goals and priorities.  

James 1:23-25  Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror  and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.

Prayer:  Father, help me to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit and be quick to repent of wrong doing.  Give me a heart for Jesus and help me to live a life of commitment and love. Amen.

Scriptural References:

Matthew 23:27-28   Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.

I John 10:10  Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean.  In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.

I Samuel 16:7  But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.

Philippians 4:8-9  Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

John 16:7-11  But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.  When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment:  about sin, because people do not believe in me;  about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer;  and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.

Galatians 5: 16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

As I sat in the break room one day at work; my eyes noticed a shiny new poster on the wall over the lunch table.  The picture on the poster depicted two women facing each other, obviously arguing. Beneath the photo of the arguing girls was a printed dialogue. “Trouble in your work place?  Feel like nobody listens to you? Perhaps medication is the answer.”

I marveled at how progressive our company was, and wondered what kind of medication they had in mind that would stop the fussing between employees. I’d only been employed here for a few months but that was long enough for me to observe that there were some employees who were always fussing about something.  Not unusual in large companies, but I’d never heard of a company that was so intent on resolving this issue.

About that time, the store manager walked in and I asked her what kind of medications the store offered as intervention in a dispute.  She looked at me, her expression totally blank. Turning, I pointed to the printed dialogue on the poster and read it to her.  She laughed till she had to sit down! After she had recovered herself, she showed me the word was not ‘medication,’ it was ‘mediation!’ BIG difference.

It’s easy to laugh, but it can be easy to do the same thing to God’s Word.  Many strange doctrines can and have come about because somebody failed to go back and read a scripture with understanding and common sense. When we study God’s Word, we should study it prayerfully; asking the Holy Spirit to open our eyes and our hearts to receive knowledge.

Use a concordance to cross reference words that are unfamiliar so they can be read in other contexts. This will give you insight to whether the word means something else as well as the meaning you know. Sometimes specific phrases are situational, having a different meaning from one text to the next.

The simple phrase, “Take your shoes off,” can be an important instruction, friendly advice, a sharp reprimand, a humorous cliché, or a serious warning; depending on the situation at the time. Know the circumstances in which something was said before you attach meaning. Make sure you read the chapter before and after the verse so you’ll understand what was going on when the verse was originally penned.

Read God’s Word. Read it for knowledge, read it for direction, read it often and always with prayer that the Holy Spirit will reveal God’s intent to you.  But above all else, read it with your thinking cap on, applying common sense.

(II Timothy 2:15)  Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.

Prayer:  Father, thank you for your Word to guide my every day actions and attitudes. Thank you for your Holy Spirit that reveals your mind and intent to me. Help me to read your Word with understanding so I can apply it correctly to every situation. Amen.

One day, God spoke to my heart with a specific direction; to bake cookies and take them to the grandfather of one of my kid’s friends. No big effort, except it was cold and rainy and I had no car that day! 

But, the urgency to do that, do it now, continued to grow in my heart. The urging to take cookies and GO pounding with every heart beat, I baked then put on my coat and set out the door through the cold rain. 

Several times before, I’d tried to talk to the old man about the Lord. He wouldn’t listen, stopping me with angry words. Perhaps, this very day, the fruit of witness would be ripe; I began to praise God as I sloshed through the puddles.    

The old man welcomed me into his home, accepted the cookies and invited me to sit down. My heart thundering in my ears with excitement, I asked him if he’d thought about all that I’d said about the Lord when we last spoke.  To my amazement, he jumped to his feet yelling that he’d had enough of me and my Jesus, leave; leave NOW! 

Stunned, I stumbled to my feet and walked past him to the door.  He slammed the door shut.  For a moment, I stood, thinking that he’d open the door with tears of conviction and invite me back in, asking me to lead him to the foot of the cross.   

Nothing—only the sound of the cold rain as it assaulted the street. I turned and walked home with sadness aching in my bones. A few weeks later, I learned that the old man had died suddenly a few days after my visit. I have no idea if he ever asked Jesus into his heart. 

Part of being a servant is obedience; even when what we’ve been told to do makes no sense at the time we are told. No matter how uncomfortable or inconvenient a direction to witness may be, when the Holy Spirit urges; go.   

Romans 10: 14-15  How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?

Prayer: Father, help me to always be listening to the quiet voice of your Holy Spirit. I want to be obedient, even when the directions make no sense. Give me strength and discernment.  I love you. Amen.

I Corinthians 9:27 

 Sometimes, when I feel guilty about my lack of personal diet discipline, I put on my fat pants. They are way too big and give the illusion that I’ve lost tons of weight—even though I haven’t. 

 When I wear my fat pants, people think that I’m disciplined. They have no clue that I have the self control of a dog with a meaty bone and I haven’t lost an ounce.  However, only the people who don’t know me are fooled by my charade.

 In my heart, I know what I need to do and the discipline it takes to do it. Being overweight didn’t happen over night. Without planning and self motivation, I’ll never be victorious over the real problem—I’ll just wear fat pants.

 As our lives get more and more busy, the first place we give slack to is our relationship with the Lord.  Like gaining weight, we don’t mean for it to happen, we certainly don’t plan to lose our passion for the things of God!

 Nobody gets up one morning and says, “Starting today, I’m going to eat more and exercise less until I’m so fat I can’t fit into my pants.”  Nobody ever says, “Starting today, I’m going to stop going to church, stop reading my Bible, stop praying and get as far away from God as I can get.”  But, without a plan and the discipline to follow that plan; both are easy to do!

 Living healthy is a discipline, a commitment. Living the Christ life is also a discipline. The discipline of Bible study, prayer and fellowship at church are all self motivated.  It is a decision that I must make, that I must make a plan for doing and then follow through.  If not, whether I intended to or not, I’m a member of The Church of the Fat Pants. 

I Corinthians 9:27  (NIV) No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

Prayer: Father God, help me to be strengthened by your Word, encouraged by your Spirit and to always realize the importance of fellowship. Thank you for my church, thank you for the strength and encouragement I find there. And please help me to help others when they need encouragement; we are a family. Amen.

Last week, I found myself waiting. In retrospect, I realize that a great deal of my life is spent in waiting.

Waiting in line to make a purchase, for the light to change, an appointment, waiting for the oven timer, a phone call, a package—waiting.

Waiting is a common bond in our humanity; everybody rich and poor, young and old, waits. Perhaps the hardest “wait” of all is waiting for God to answer prayer. 

Whether we have entered a physical waiting room for an appointment or we are waiting on God; waiting can be tedious. The best relief for tedium is being busy. 

Both the spiritual and the physical waiting room can be a place of learning. I should occupy myself with Christian magazines and books that will encourage and direct me as I wait. Certainly, reading my Bible is a good pass time as well. (Proverbs 9:9)

For there to be learning, there must, logically, be teaching. Many cooking techniques, gardening tips and ideas for vacation spots have been expounded upon while in a physical waiting room.

There exists the same opportunity to teach others about my Lord’s love, mercy, forgiveness and provision (I Timothy 4:11-13). Whether physically or spiritually waiting, I can use the time productively.

The waiting room can also be a place of introduction. Everybody knows of a time well spent with a stranger while waiting on an appointment time. Sometimes, common ground is found and comfortable conversation leads to an opportunity of witness. Whether I’m waiting for an appointment or waiting on God, I can look for opportunity to introduce Jesus to those around me. 

Waiting can also be a time of personal reflection. The word, Selah, is found in the Psalms 73 times. Selah is thought to mean: “think about this” or “pause and reflect.”

When I remind myself of all the times God has met me in my need, my faith is strengthened. God was faithful ‘then’ He is faithful now. Filling time with contemplation of God’s mercy and provision leads to praise and makes waiting a place of worship.

God’s Word reminds me that as I wait, I can be renewed and strengthened.   I will be held accountable for how I use my time (Romans 14:12). Whether in the physical waiting room or a spiritual waiting room, from now on, I will discipline myself to use my time in “the waiting room” productively. 

Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

One of our daughters is a professional Renaissance Seamstress; sewing authentic gowns and garb for Renaissance Fairs.  Part of her product line is caparisons, an ornamental covering worn by horses in jousting tournaments. I love seeing  the animals dressed for faire.

In preparation for the fairs, much research is done to authentically re-create every day activities and fashions. Great expense and time is taken to be accurate in the portrayal of a time that is nearly 400 years gone by.

It gives one pause to think if perhaps the times we currently live in will be copied 400 years from now. Maybe fairs will be held featuring facades of fast food eateries and malls?  Certainly, the people during the Renaissance had no idea they would be emulated in the centuries ahead!

Society changes, customs change, speech patterns change.  New inventions make our lives more comfortable, less complicated. The only constant ‘we’ have throughout the ages is God.  No matter what goes on in the world, no matter our circumstances, God is the same yesterday, today and forever.

God’s plan for our individual lives hasn’t changed either!  We are created for relationship with the Lord. There is a need within each of us that only God HIMSELF can fill.  Talking about God and knowing about God does not fill the need in our heart to have one on one intimacy with Him.

No matter how hard we try to fill that ‘need’ in our life, only a relationship with Jesus can fill the empty place in our hearts. Many try to fill that need with activity, addictive substances and even theology.  Being a Christian isn’t about knowledge or rules; it’s about relationship.  Through that interconnection, our desires are changed and our lives are given purpose.

Today, let us begin to seek the Lord, to fill the emptiness in our heart with His presence.  The Lord does not change; He still wants to have an intimate relationship with me—with you.

Malachi 3:6 “I the LORD do not change. So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed.

Prayer:  Father, I thank you for the gift of relationship through your son, Jesus. I’m blessed to know that you love me so much that you, the creator of the universe, the great and mighty God, want to spend time with me; to listen to me. Help me to get to know you more, to enjoy your presence in my life. Amen.

My New Year’s resolution: join an aerobics class.  Stopping by the gym to pick up the program syllabus, I was invited to observe an on-going class.  As I stood, watching the Barbie doll instructor, I made two observations.   

#1.  If I wore that little aerobics outfit, I’d look like 100 pounds of Jell-O struggling to get out of a 25 pound sack.  #2. It would take a crane to get me off the floor when I fell.   

Thoroughly frustrated yet painfully aware of the need to change my lifestyle; I remembered a conversation I’d once had with an inmate at the county jail. She’d recently accepted Christ and was struggling with many life style changes. 

With the insight of the Holy Spirit, I told her that she should stop looking at ALL the stuff that had to change and begin to focus on starting ONE thing: start reading the Word of God.   

The Word of God changes your heart!  Once the heart is changed, attitudes and life styles change. No matter how strong worldly habits or how deep the scars, faithful daily exposure to God’s Word will, in time, heal, deliver and direct.  Start now. 

Exercise and diet are the same way; at my age and weight, I know it will take more than a plan, I have to START. I’ve set a time each day to walk; planning is essential to success!  But, the most important part of any plan is to START.  Once I start, if I remain faithful to my commitment, my whole lifestyle WILL change.   

I Corinthians 9:27 I don’t know about you, but I’m running hard for the finish line. I’m giving it everything I’ve got. No sloppy living for me! I’m staying alert and in top condition. I’m not going to get caught napping, telling everyone else all about it and then missing out myself. (The Message)

Prayer: Father, I WANT to serve you with all of my heart. Encourage me as I read your Word. Hold my heart close as I talk to you. I love you, thank you for loving me. Amen

As the holiday festivities wind to an exhausted close; my mind keeps returning to a conversation I heard curbside last week. A young mother had paused to explain to her son why she had dropped a five dollar bill into the big pot beside a bell ringing volunteer.  

She told her son that the donated money was used to buy food for the poor people at Christmas time.  After a moment of thoughtful contemplation, the little boy quipped, “Won’t they still get hungry after Christmas?”

There’s something about the holidays that moves us to compassion for those who have less than we do. What heart can turn away from the thought that some child will go without toys or an elderly or homeless person goes without food? 

Beginning in November, community benevolence programs crank up; the Salvation Army, Toys for Tots, Samaritan’s Purse and the post office food drive all begin vigorous campaigns.  Churches begin to promote getting personally involved by adopting a “needy child from the angel tree” and participating in preparing holiday meals for the elderly.

In three Gospels (Matt. 26, Mark 14 and John 12) Jesus said that the poor are with us always. True, our Lord continued by saying He would not always be with us—but the fact the reference Jesus made to the ever presence of the poor is included in all three Gospels is surely still relevant.

In Matthew 25:31-46 Jesus clearly states that if we take care of those less fortunate, we take care of Him. Scripture abounds with reference for the necessity of being generous with those around us who are needy.  Oddly, there is no Biblical mention of that generosity toward the poor being only on a holiday.

As the time for New Year’s resolutions approaches, I’m adding something important to my list. I’m going to carry my eagerness to “help the needy” into every day of the year.  No matter how prosperous our country becomes, there will always be those among us who are in need. Since the poor and the elderly continue to eat after the holidays, shouldn’t my concern and generosity also continue?

One of my New Year’s resolutions could be to contact the local homeless shelter once a month to ask what they need or to check with my elderly neighbors and single parent friends to see if they are cared for.  The lonely, poor and discouraged are among us every day.

I should also check with my church to see what needs there are within the body of Christ. People in need don’t just exist outside the church doors, sometimes; they sit quietly on the pew beside me, praying for a miracle.  

What better way to show my faith in God and love for his children than by helping the needy, both in church and out—all year long? And what greater opportunity can there be to show Christ through our outreach? A full belly listens better than a hungry belly.

James 2:14-17 What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

Prayer: Father, thank you for my blessings, you are so good to me! Help me to always be aware of those around me in need so that I can share what I have with those less fortunate.  Show me opportunity to minister not only to their physical needs, but their need to know you as well. Amen.

Scripture references:

Matt. 26:11 The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me.

Mark 14:7 The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me.

Matthew 25:31-46 ³¹ “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. ³² All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. ³³ He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

³⁴ “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. ³⁵ For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, ³⁶ I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

³⁷ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? ³⁸ When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? ³⁹ When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

⁴⁰ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’^(K)

⁴¹ “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me,^(L) you who are cursed, into the eternal fire^(M) prepared for the devil and his angels.^{(N) 42} For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, ⁴³ I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

⁴⁴ “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’

⁴⁵ “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’^(O)

⁴⁶ “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life

While serving as a Sunday School Superintendent, I felt that God was leading me to begin a Young Adult Class.  God showed me a dynamic young man in our church to be the teacher. 

The class went GREAT!  Within a couple of months, the class grew to over 50 people.  It was the most successful adult class the church had ever had.  I was glad that I’d followed the direction of the Lord.    

Then, one day, the Pastor informed me that the teacher had taken the class, rented a building across to the other side of town and started a church.  Of course, I felt betrayed, used, and MERCY, I was mad!  How dare this young man betray God’s trust, and my confidence.

Years later, the church that started from the Sunday School class is a thriving Independent Pentecostal Church with almost a thousand people in attendance. Obviously, God’s plan was different than my plan!  

So often, we are committed to what we think God is doing. God has a plan; however, not necessarily the same plan that we have.  The question is, are we committed to what we’re doing or surrendered to God’s perfect will? 

There are times in both Old (Judges 14:1-4) and New Testaments when God’s plan wasn’t exactly what everybody expected. Even the disciples thought that Jesus had come to free them from Roman rule and be their King ( Acts 1:6). Jesus had other plans. (John 6:15, John 18:36)  

The Apostle Paul had plans to preach in Asia.  Instead, he was directed by the Spirit to Macedonia to preach the Gospel. (Acts 16:6-10)  An important part of ministry is planning, but God’s plan is preeminent.   

God uses ordinary people to do His will, people like you and me. It is important to remember that God is sovereign! When we serve God with all of our heart, we sign our name on the bottom line and tell God to fill in the contract.  Not commitment to a goal; but total surrender to God’s will.

Psalms 37:23  The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, and He delights in his way.

Prayer:  Father, help me to be sensitive to your voice and direction.  I want to be a help, not a hindrance to what you are doing. Show me the steps you want me to take. Amen.

Scripture References:

Judges 14:1-4  Samson went down to Timnah and saw there a young Philistine woman. When he returned, he said to his father and mother, “I have seen a Philistine woman in Timnah; now get her for me as my wife.”

His father and mother replied, “Isn’t there an acceptable woman among your relatives or among all our people? Must you go to the uncircumcised Philistines to get a wife?”

But Samson said to his father, “Get her for me. She’s the right one for me.” (His parents did not know that this was from the Lord, who was seeking an occasion to confront the Philistines; for at that time they were ruling over Israel.)

Acts 1:6  Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”

John 6:15  Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.

John 18:36  Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.”

Acts 16:6-10  Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia.  When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to.  

So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas.  During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.