Warm hellos once again friends, brethren, fellow laborers, spiritual family, and scattered children of God from here on the Gulf Coast. My wife and I pray and hope this finds you doing well, and that again your week has been blessed.

For many years my wife and I traveled extensively as part of our job as a pastor and wife to multiple countries outside the U.S. We traveled within the U.S. a lot as well. I remember on one occasion, my wife and I had been back in the United States for about two weeks, and were preparing to leave again the next day on another trip.

We still travel today, although not near as much as we once did. I still sometimes wake up at night forgetting, and ask myself “where am I again?”

One aspect of my calling that my wife and I must keep in mind continually is “Who do we represent?”

Have you ever thought about that question? Have you asked yourself that question in your walk as a Christian or disciple of our Lord and our Father?

Each time we travel on another trip, or leave the U.S., the following weighs heavily on my mind.

As I watch all that is going on in the world, I am reminded of who you and I are in this cosmos we live in. Over the years I’ve written on this subject, but now more than ever it’s crucial to consider once again.

An ambassador to the Court of St. James in London is the most prestigious diplomatic post in the U.S. Consular Corps. The diplomat who occupies this position must be a very tactful person. He must represent those he or she serves well.

In the world we live today, national interests are always at stake; nations seldom allow tactless representatives to represent them for long.  When diplomatic “slip ups” have occurred, ambassadors have sometimes been recalled, and replaced.

With some of those who have been removed, their name is now a disgrace within political and public circles because of their behavior.  A poor diplomat makes a poor impression for his or her country.

How about you? How about me? Have you ever pondered your responsibility as an ambassador?

You are an ambassador you know. In II Corinthians 5:20 Paul clearly explains, “…that you and I are Ambassadors for Jesus Christ”. We are ambassadors with a message, the message of that soon coming Kingdom of God.

On the pastoral visits my wife and I make, especially overseas, it often occurs to me that not only do I carry a heavy responsibility to properly represent Church of God Ministries, but even more importantly we represent the King of the Kingdom you and I are citizens of, Jesus Christ.

As ambassadors of Jesus Christ, how well do you and I represent Him and the government of God?

Are we always careful to represent that government, yes, our government, and the way of life it stands for, in the most tactful manner possible?

Have we gotten so mixed up in this present age that aren’t sure at times which government we represent?

A successful diplomat understands people, and does his very best to get along with them. Tact is a required lubricant in working and serving people.

Its origin in Latin, tactus means “touch”. It is a skill we must learn in our “touching of other people” we come in contact with. It is especially valuable in stressful or difficult situations.

Tact is every day, real life living diplomacy. Some seem to be born with it, others seem to struggle and never obtain it fully.

Simple things like how we answer the phone. How we respond to emails and texts we receive. How we answer when approached when we are busily in the middle of doing something. How do we respond to others when we are tired after a long day? The list goes on for all of us.

As we enter this Sabbath…take a few moments, to stop, ponder, muse, meditate, pray, and ask God, “am I truly being and doing what God would have me be and do by fulfilling my service as an ambassador of Jesus Christ? Is my speech and representation tactful, so as to those whose lives I touch, they see the King and government I serve?”

Most of you will receive this letter in your in box Friday evening. As we enter this Sabbath…will you please reflect deeply on these questions with me? Now’s the time to consider such as with each day we draw closer to the return of Christ.

Arms up friends! Our sincere prayers and thoughts are with you daily. Thanks in advance for your heartfelt prayers for us.