“Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him” (Matthew 10:4).

As I travel alone, I know I will have plenty opportunities to betray the Lord.

There are magazines to look at, Web sites to browse, TV programs to indulge, and real live people to study.

Not only that, I will have occasions to behave in ways that don’t fit a Christian.

I purpose not defile myself.

“But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 10:33).

I purpose to be faithful to Jesus, to my wife, to my family, and to my church.

I didn’t post til November 14 from the airport in Tucson, Arizona. I’m on my way back to Mexico for my third mission trip there in two months.

The shepherds, that is.

And the harvesters.

And also the pray-ers.

I read the last three verses of Matthew 9 and am left to conclude that God calls me (and each of us) to be at least one of those.

“But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd” (Matthew 9:36).

“Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few” (Matthew 9:37).

“Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest” (Matthew 9:38).

I’ve been a harvester and a shepherd.

And I’ve been a pray-er.

But how can I be only a have been?!

I purpose to resume being a pray-er.

And I purpose (again) to be the shepherd my family needs.

Not posted til November 13. Tomorrow I plan to leave on my second mission trip to Mexico this month.