We meet as a family every morning at 7:00 am for bible study; it is a fun tradition
in our family, (yes, even the kids think so). We have been doing it for years.
We try to not be religious about it; we just love to bring the Word alive and pray together. Well, the Lord asked me to switch gears a bit and read the “Biography of James
Hudson Taylor” – its 512 pages of faith!
I wasn’t sure how it would go over, but after the first two
mornings, Michael, my almost 14-year-old, said, “Dad, this is the best bible
study we have ever done!”
I have them take notes on what I am reading to try
and help keep them engaged, but they are getting it more than me and receiving
some amazing revelation – when I grow up I want to be just like them!
To be honest, it is challenging all kinds of things in me.
Hudson hears the call to China at a very young age, and as he wrestles with
this call, he backslides and runs from it; at 17 years old, the Lord arrests his
heart and says, “Now is the time; prepare yourself.” 
He decided to get rid of
most of his comforts in life, visiting the Humber dock during the days, loving
the poorest of the poor, “boarding himself” – which meant that he was teaching himself to
live on next to nothing. Here is a passage from page 45:
“He had made himself at close quarters with poverty and
suffering. He had cast his lot with those who needed all the help and comfort
he could bring. This gave new purpose to his life and taught him some of its
most precious lessons.
I soon found that I could live upon very much less
then I had previously thought possible. Butter, milk and other luxuries I
ceased to use, and found that living mainly on oatmeal and rice, with
occasional variations, a very small sum was sufficient for my needs.
In this
way I had more then two-thirds of my income available for other purposes, and
my experience was that the less I spent on myself and the more I gave to
others, the fuller of happiness and blessing did my soul become.”
Hudson
birthed missions in a whole new way, but it took ‘boarding himself’ – living with
the people he was called to and to a life that would seem not very glorious. We
talk a lot about “Apostolic Family,” meaning families that live out the Acts Church
together and operate in the supernatural. Not sure we are ready for that, but
it sure is easy to preach and read about!
I will give you excerpts as we continue on the journey as a
family… I trust it will lead to much deeper commitment to the poor and to knowing God; it’s working so far!
hey – is that the book I gave you? great book! Bruce Wilkinson told me about it. anyway – my hat is off to you, Black. you are the MAN! this is fathering at its best.
Black -Seth beat me to it ! This is a great and intimidating example to all of us . You are that MAN. xo A.
yes, Seth, it is… thanks for helping me to steward part of my inheritance!