Friendship

Let’s Hear It for Bridges!

/ Greg Asimakoupoulos
A floating bridge connects Mercer Island to downtown Seattle

We are islands of opinions
separated by our views
and the isolation that results is wrong.
Our beliefs reflect our values
and determine how we’ll vote,
yet the way we live together makes us strong.

Where I live is on an island.
But a bridge from here to there
means I am not left alone with just my thoughts.
I’m connected and am able
to both listen and to speak
and I’ve found I like this interchange a lot.

Don’t you think we need more bridges
to encourage ebb and flow
in a culture where it’s your way or it’s mine?
Building bridges to each other
will allow for give and take
in a world where easy answers rarely rhyme.

In addition to each week’s post on this website, Greg Asimakoupoulos offers daily video devotionals on his YouTube channel. Here is a sample video. If you are interested in receiving these devotionals Monday through Friday, you can subscribe on Greg’s channel.

Wanted: A Mentor

/ Greg Asimakoupoulos

George Toles has been a mentor in my life for over fifty years

I am inclined to take my cues
from one I know who’s paid his dues
and learned the hard way what it takes
to gain experience.

I have discovered I need more
than just the dreams I have in store.
I need someone who shares my dreams
and knows they can come true.

I need someone whose honesty
means they will tell the truth to me
although my ego often longs
to only hear their praise.

Like old Saint Paul to Timothy,
I need someone who’ll help me be
the very best at what I do
by showing me the way.

You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them.  In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it… 2 Timothy 3:10-14

Remembering an Image Bearer

/ Greg Asimakoupoulos
Randy Klassen’s painting “To Such Belongs the Kingdom of God”

A painter with words,
an artist with paint,
The Reverend Randy Klassen
brought truth to life.

He transformed an easel
into a pulpit
by dipping his brush
into the colors of God’s grace.

In the process,
he conveyed the beauty
of the Father’s love
for which His children instinctively hope.

Randy’s “Child at the Church Door”
has hung above my desk
for forty years.
It captured my sense of wonder when,
as a young pastor,
I stood at the threshold of mystery
Sunday after Sunday
where earth
and Heaven meet.

That child was me.
Opening that door
was my sacred honor.
The image bearer
who reminded me
of my call
was my friend Randy.

Peace to his memory!

Link to: Randy Klassen – Evangelical Covenant Church

The Three Amigos

/ Greg Asimakoupoulos
David McKenna, Greg Asimakoupoulos and Don Argue communing at St. Arbucks

Much like the Holy Trinity,
we’re one in friendship, though we’re three.
We listen to each other’s hearts
and pray for those we love.

St. Arbucks is our chosen place.
It’s where we sip a cup of grace.
Such rich communion slakes our thirst
and nourishes our faith.

Our trust allows transparency.
We own our fears and victories.
Without the need to preen or boast,
we share our memories.

The Three Amigos! Such are we.
A brotherhood. A company.
A triune cadre with one aim:
to spur each other on.

* Dr. David McKenna is the past president of Seattle Pacific University and Asbury Theological Seminary. Dr. Don Argue is the past president of the National Association of Evangelicals and Northwest University. Both men have become mentors to me as we meet regularly to debrief lessons learned on our spiritual journeys.