June 2025 Conchshell Chronicles
Eve of Destruction?
There was a song by Barry McGuire that hit the charts on 1965 called Eve of Destruction. Maybe you remember his raspy voice singing:
The Eastern world, it is exploding
Violence flarin, bullets loadin’
You’re old enough to kill
But not for voting
And even the Jordan River has bodies floatin
But your tell me over and over and over again my friend
Ah, you don’t believe we’re on the eve of destruction.
In 1965 we had just had the Cuban Missile Crisis where Russia and the U.S. almost went to nuclear war. The Vietnam War was heating up. Egyptians, Syrians and Jordanians were rattling their sabers for another war with Israel, while we had sent the Gemini astronauts into space for four days. Racial tensions were high in the South as Martin Luther King launched his non-violent protest over Jim Crow laws.
Now 60 years later, we have ‘violence flaring’ and some think we are on the ‘eve of destruction’.
Yet we made it through those turbulent years, 18 year- olds got the right to vote. Israel, Jordan and Egypt have peace and trade treaties with each other. We elected an African American/Caucasian president who served for two terms.
Those of us who have a Biblical Worldview know that our King is in charge, and at the right time He will return, establish justice, set all things in His order, restore our planet to its original pristine state, and reside with us here on Earth. He is our Creator and we should have no fear when we see the video clips of the current wars, hear the rumors of economic collapse, and the theories that our Earth is going to burn up.
Here is what the Apostle John saw and recorded in the last book of the Bible.
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, 4 and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” Revelation 21:1-4
Until He does return, He has assigned us to be his ambassadors to the community around us, with specific tasks to complete while we are here.
- Look around. Something big is happening in our culture.
- Last year there was a 21% increase in Bible sales in the U.S., with many 20-30 year olds purchasing their first Bible.
- As unlikely as it may seem, the fastest growing church in the world is in Iran.
- My four children report that there is an increased interest in Jesus among their age group.
- Worldwide, Christianity is growing faster than the world’s population and projected to reach 3 billion people by 2050.
We are living in a culture like the First Century Roman culture with excessive corruption, promiscuity, broken families, extreme wealth and extreme poverty in many places, rampant immorality, and little regard for human life. Yet the Christians behaved differently than their pagan neighbors and through kindness, charity, care of women, orphans and the poor, and service to their community, the Christian population increased, through natural evangelism.
By the middle of the Fourth Century there were 33 million Christians, constituting 53% of the population of the Empire. (Rodney Stark, The Rise of Christianity).
Let’s do our part and care for those whom God brings to us. Let’s be attentive to the voice of our King and be part of His strategy to reach our world, even in these turbulent times. Michael
Lamb Bleatings
The Battle belongs to the Lord and He is near and dear to the brokenhearted .
The awareness that the Ruler of the entire Universe reached out to mankind by sending His Son in the form of a man to be sacrificed for my life in exchange for His is mind boggling and difficult to believe in this evil world full of distraction , unrest and warring spirits against this Truth.
The only Perfect man born to die. Sent to the cross with intent, purpose and the knowledge he would brutally crucified on a cross, die, lose touch with the Father and then be resurrected on the third day. When Jesus defied death, he made visitation in the flesh upon this earth and showed up for his friends. Many witnesses declaring this reality in history.
Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life.
I am a believer and follower of Jesus Christ and I know that I have been put on this planet for a plan and purpose. My Creator sent me to fulfill a divine eternal supernatural work which He engineered long ago into my soul. I have a moment-by-moment choice to live for my Heavenly Father, Son and Holy Spirit. They operate as One in my mind, body and Spirit. I invited the Lord to be the Ruler and King In my heart about 48 years ago. Got baptized and proclaimed out loud my desire to die to self and live for him.
I try to die daily but my mind, emotions, circumstances, & people try to rule and often do. The barrage is constant. This world and my heart are innately evil. I want what I want, when I want it and however I like it. My mouth is also out of control and out of touch with my divine Source of strength, power and peace. My homage to the One True God gets pushed around and overtaken ….
Mostly by my own desires, habits, thoughts and words (my own and others)
The is my Refuge and my Strength. The only One I can depend on because He alone knows, cares and can do anything He wants with everything. I run I to His loving arms and He assures me that everything will be as He planned and I have no fear in this Love which renders peace when I choose to rest.
I rest and am silent trying to listen for his heartbeat and thoughts. I ask, “What do YOU think? How do you feel about that? How should I feel about that? Lead me. Guide me, heal me, help me.”
I war daily against the rulers, principalities and my own evil desires and I need guidance from my Commanding Officer. I need His game plan and wise counsel as to how I can be a Victor In this battle.
“ Dear Lord, make yourself known. I want to stand down in humility of heart and mind so you can pick me up and direct me in Wisdom and Understanding. I get lost so easily and need you to take over to drive me forward for your purposes and pleasure.
In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit” Laura
Below: Mother’s Day 2025
Rio Coco Utila
As we shared in our last edition, we had a very successful opening of our café on the island of Utila (off the north coast of Honduras). Our four girls did an excellent job of integrating into the Utila community with appearances at Karaoke Night, Open Mic night, Trivia night, soccer and volleyball games, as well as all taking the Open Water scuba course.
One of the girls, Gracie, purchased an abandoned 25 foot sailboat that was sailed down from Canada and left at a dock 15 years ago. She and her first mate Olivia scrapped the oyster and barnacles off the bottom, cleaned the vessel and rain up the sails. More work is needed but this will be an excellent ministry opportunity for all of us.
We have two young men who are joining our Utila team, arriving in Florida for training this month and in September. As a result, we are building a two-bedroom apartment for more staff housing.
Our builder, Robert Bodden, has done an incredible job with is crew. The structure is complete, roof is on, exterior walls built, and now we are completing the interior. When this project is complete, we will return with our full team and reopen the café.
In the meantime, please pray with us that we will be able to complete this project on His time, and that He would bring us team servers who have a heart to reach the travelers on Utila for His Kingdom over these next years. Below: Our Sunday morning Utila Bible Study
Here is a link to our Utila Construction page:
If you would like to help Gracie or any of our Utila Missionaries, here is our giving page:
Rio Coco Beans
Join our coffee club and receive 15% off your order that is delivered to your door.
Leave a comment
Please note, comments must be approved before they are published