Since I was a kid, I have always enjoyed watching and keeping up with the weather, and I have even done some storm chasing in my time. For many years I kept a journal of weather observations (my own and others), and over the years it would become comprehensive, detailed, and, ultimately, time consuming. Since getting back in fellowship with the Lord five years ago, and as I have grown closer to Him, and as I have become more and more involved in my church, I would find myself with less and less time for my weather journals, and I began to realize that the day would come when I would have to make a choice. Well, on Sunday, April 16, 2000, that day finally came. As I was on my way to church that morning, I realized that it was time to give up my weather record-keeping for the sake of my Lord, and, in that moment, I did. I sealed that decision the following Saturday when I dismantled my "weather shelter" (best described as "an oversized birdhouse with louvers"; its purpose was to house weather instruments). I felt some sadness as I did this, realizing that a part of my life (a fairly big part, I must admit) had been slain. As believers we know that where there is a death, there is a new life to take its place. In March during my church's stewardship campaign for our new sanctuary, we were each asked to prayerfully consider sacrificing something so that we could give more to the campaign, and for me, that was an easy one--I had been spending a fair bit on my weather hobby, and I would give most of that up for the sake of the cause--even then I had a feeling that this would become a total and permanent sacrifice. On April 9, the day that we began our new comittments, my pastor gave each of us a bag of corn seed, and suggested that each of us plant one or a few of the corn seeds in our backyards, with the corn stalk serving to remind us of our committments. On April 22, I figured out where I would plant my corn--right where my weather shelter once stood. That corn stalk will have a double significance for me--it will remind me of what I have given up for my Lord, and also of what the Lord has given and will give me and my family, and my church, in return. In Philippians 3:7-8 (NAS), Paul writes, "But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish in order that I may gain Christ."

A year ago, if you had suggested that I would give up my weather, I would have said NO WAY! But...that was a year ago. Much in me has changed since then, and the changes are still ongoing. And to God be all the glory.

Bob Welch - lonechicken1