Mindful


What the Eyes Say


by Paul Boeker, Editor Coronavirus. Kids are at home with


nothing to do. Parents are at home with nothing to do. So our local newspaper fea-


tured an art/science combo to teach kids about germs and show the importance of washing their hands. Aſter making their own watercolor paints (marthastewart.com/265249/how-to-make- watercolor-paint), kids were encouraged to mix colors and blow paint blobs representing germs onto a sheet of paper (simpleeverydaymom.com/germ-blow-painting-art). Te final touch was to stick tiny googly eyes near the center of each blob.


Eyes? Why eyes on a virus? Eyes are the universal symbol of


life. A blob without eyes is just a paint splash. But eyes make the blob come alive. Eyes give it personality; they hint of intelligence and emotion.


From the beginning, eyes have symbolized intelligence.


Te serpent assured Eve, “… When you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil” (Gen. 3:5). Eve then “saw” that the fruit would make her wise. She was not seeing some visible quality of the fruit, but she was imagining its invisible power.


On the other hand, eyes teach us much about God. “Noah


found favor in the eyes of the Lord” (Gen. 6:8). God was observing him, choosing to save him. When the Israelites were on the brink of entering Canaan, Moses assured them that God was deeply interested in the land and cared for it: “Te eyes of the Lord your God are always upon it, from the beginning of the year to the end of the year” (Deut. 11:12).


God’s eyes imply accountability. A number of the kings of


Judah, beginning with David, “did what was right in the eyes of the Lord.” Many proverbs (5:21; 15:3; 22:12, et al.) reveal that God is watching us to give protection and justice. Peter quotes from Psalm 34 to assure his hearers, spiritual refugees in a cruel land, that God sees their plight and hears their prayers. God’s eyes say he cares and provides. Haggar learned that twice, once when God confronted her to send her back to Sarai, and once when God rescued her and Ishmael from thirst. “You are a God of seeing [El Roi],” she said. “Truly here I have seen the one who looks aſter me” (paraphrased from Gen. 16:13).


When you see eyes, whether silly plastic eyes or expressive


human eyes, let them remind you that God is watching over you in love.


Training the Next Generation


Christian Ministry Scholarships Available Students heading to college this fall to train for Chris-


tian ministries (to be pastors, camp directors, missionaries, etc.) may apply for a $1000 scholarship from the Fellow- ship. FEBC pastors and missionaries can also apply for a Continuing Education Scholarship. Te number of schol- arships is based on income generated by trust accounts. Request an application packet at info@febcministries.org. Applications must be received by May 31. Scholarships are awarded at Connect20 and will be paid to schools in August.


FEBC Scholarship Fund Te FEBC Scholarship Fund began in the 1980s with


a giſt from the estate of a Canadian school teacher. Te fund has continued to grow from more estate giſts, offer- ings, and designated giſts from generous members of FEBC churches. FEBC Canada and FEBC USA each manage their own scholarship funds.


Te first scholarships were awarded in 1985. Den-


nis Wiens, at that time a missionary in the Republic of Mali, received the first scholarship awarded. He received a Continuing Education Scholarship for classes at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (Deerfield, Ill.). Tat was 35 years ago! Wiens served first with GMU/Avant Ministries and is now Vice President for Ministry Partnerships at SAT-7 USA.


Can you find another pastor mentioned in this


issue who was the recipent of a Christian Ministries Scholarship?


Would you like to help train the next generation of


Christian workers? Include the Fellowship in your will or send your tax deductible giſt to FEBC Canada or FEBC USA.


Scholarship applications must be recreived at the FEBC International Office by May 31.


Request a scholarship packet at info@febcministries.org.


4


Fellowship Focus, May/June 2020


FellowshipForward.org


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