Gene Ort

John 15:1-5

1 “I am the Real Vine and my Father is the Farmer.2 He cuts off every branch of me that doesn’t bear grapes. And every branch that is grape-bearing he prunes back so it will bear even more.3 You are already pruned back by the message I have spoken.4 “Live in me. Make your home in me just as I do in you. In the same way that a branch can’t bear grapes by itself but only by being joined to the vine, you can’t bear fruit unless you are joined with me.5 “I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you’re joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can’t produce a thing.

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For  a while now I am been directed to this passage in John. Abide…  The theme keeps reoccurring.. The other day, as I was pondering “Abiding” the thought came to me to visit a local vineyard, Tabor Hill. I had been there once years ago when given a gift certificate from my staff.  I originally thought I would just drive out to the vineyards early in the morning and walk around and take a few pictures. With a little more thought, I realized that would be trespassing. I decided to call first.. decided a lunch trip would be the best decision.. so lunch and a free guided tour became the plan.

This is a quick post.. heading back to CSI school for girls. They are going to dance for us.  I would like to introduce Chandra. Mary and I have decided to sponsor her through Compassion International. She will be going to school with her sister, Sangetha, who the Wegner’s sponsor.   A lot more later…

Chandra and Sangetha

Chandra and her Mother

The view from their roof….. need I say more ?

We are on the ground. Great seats on the plane. We were upgraded !  Praise God !

I don’t remember right off hand ever being on any trip just like this. Rob and Michelle with there three lovely daughters, Madi, Whit and Belle have included me in what clearly is ” family time”.  I am humbled, honored and blessed.  

We are on our way to India with a lot of clear objectives. Somewhere in the process a decision was made mostly for the girls I think to break up the trip with a short break in London. I have been allowed an inside look into the way this family lives together. In a few words, they love each other. We are all tired !  Changing time zones in the middle of the night and trying to force your body to adjust just messes you up..really !  In short, any one would be proud of the way they are handling it.

Rob will be teaching a family life conference to about 150 pastors in a couple weeks in Chanai, Tamil Nadu India. He will be addressing issues related to being committed, Godly husbands and fathers. He would not have much left to teach if they could all just follow his family around like I have.

You can pray for these Indian pastors and the people they will be teaching when they return to their villages. There culture has done a lot to weaken the role of men in their families. Our culture in America is not far behind.

It’s 6:55 back in Michigan. It’s 11:55 here.. I think I should sleep… I really want to go eat something… Fatigue wins.. off to bed.

In London.. waiting for breakfast..its 4:45 Mi time.. my body already has no idea what time it is.. We got here safe and sound. A baby screamed almost all night on the plane. I felt sorry for the mom and the people near them. I met a nice lady from Kenya. She had been visiting her daughter in Indy. Her husband manages a 6 thousand acre tea plantation in Kenya. She was a Christian..  Her name was grace.