Great Faith Stories -- Latest Stories

TAKING CONTROL

Approximately 10 years ago, on a freezing July night, the cold, hard, truth hit me like a freight train.

NO ONE WAS COMING TO MY RESCUE.

On our bedroom floor, my wife was giving birth to our son, he’d come so quickly that we had just called the hospital to tell them we were on our way. But we never made it out of the house.

The complication was he was breech, and when he had come out to his shoulders, the contractions stopped and he stopped coming. My wife and I stayed calm, but for all my trying I just could not get his head out.

While this was happening my sister had called an ambulance, but we were stuck in this position for about 15 minutes before they arrived and were able to fully deliver him.

What I didn’t realise was that the umbilical cord was obstructed and our baby was suffering asphyxiation. When he was finally born our boy was blue, and his heart rate was 40 beats per minute when it should have been 140 beats per minute.

As the paramedics worked on our son, pumping oxygen into his lungs, with a hand pump, I went outside to talk to God.

I'd been studying faith at a local church for a while, and had achieved some small successes. One of the scriptures that has always impressed on me the most was Mark 11:24 “Whosoever shall say unto this mountain, be though removed and be though cast into the sea, and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he says shall come to pass. He shall have whatsoever he says.”

This scripture told me I had to take responsibility in the situation, and not wait for something to happen, but make something happen.

I felt strength flow through me as I reminded God what this scripture said. I told God that I was not going to ask for anything but that I was going to take control of the situation.

I had a strong belief that parents are supposed to protect their children, not just naturally but spiritually as well.

I also could not accept the idea that a child would be born just to die ten minutes later.

After my conversation with God I felt fearless and determined. When I went back into the house the main paramedic pulled me aside and asked me if he could have a word with me. With a grim look on his face and a professional tone in his voice he told me, “I don’t think the little blokes gonna make it.”

This was a defining moment, I refused to become afraid and accept his opinion!

Looking directly into his eyes I replied “No he is going to be fine.” I know I must have had a look that said I meant business, because the paramedic backed off immediately with a quick reply “Yer Okay”.

It’s amazing how quickly people will change their mind and come into agreement with you when you are clear and absolute about something.

Upon entering the hospital I repeated with conviction “No he’s going to make it, He’s gonna be just fine,” to any one that spoke to me.

As I stood back and watched Doctors and Nurses buzzing around my son in a hive of activity, things became surreal.

A smiling woman in a white coat approached, “You know when they called in, I thought they’d be bringing in a dead baby, but it’s a miracle, they’ve done a great job, he’s looking good.”

Of course our baby did survive.

But the next day he was placed in intensive care. At a meeting with the head of intensive care, the Doctor explained to us that our baby was “fitting” and this was most likely because he would have suffered brain damage and organ damage due to the lack of oxygen he received during birth. At this point, once again I reassured the Doctor, “No, don’t worry, he’s going to be just fine.” Because of what we had just been through, I thought there’s no way I’m going to start backing off now.

About this time we were interviewed by the hospital psychologist, to see how we were handling the fact our baby would be severely handicapped. After the meeting my wife sneaked a peek at the psychologist’s clipboard and notes. Amoung other things, my wife noticed the statement “This couple is not prepared for failure.” It was not written as a positive statement, but I found it incredibly empowering.

The ward is divided into ten sections. Section one for the sickest babies and our son was in this section. Some babies are in section one for months and some never get well. However, within two days our son was in section three and in three days he was in section nine. Within another three days we were taking him home in absolutely perfect condition.

Since that time I have pushed myself to learn as much as possible about this incredible power that saved my son’s life.

What I have learnt I have applied to many different areas of my life, I have used this power to transform my near bankrupt, failing business into a thriving prosperous company that has allowed me an income that has totally changed my lifestyle.

I have seen this power make cancer and arthritis completely disappear from people’s bodies.

I have seen it transform children with learning difficulties and sleeping problems into peaceful intelligent, happy kids.

I have seen it do many incredible, wonderful things in relationships, and every area of life. I believe this power controls the world, and I believe it exists for the benefit of mankind.

I truly believe it’s the answer to every obstacle we face.

“And you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.” John 8:32

To find out more about Shayne Hammond please visit www.shaynehammond.com

Get Excited! It's Time to Overcome

Hope

Twenty years ago, I was married to a lady from England. In fact, in retrospect, I think I was not supposed to be because when I told the Lord I asked her to marry me, He said...^I hate divorce..^....I didn't ask if I could marry her. I just said ^I've asked her to marry me...^ We were both Christians and I was in love.
Three months later, she was pregnant. She wanted a boy. I asked for a blonde haired blue-eyed girl. My wife changed her prayer from a boy to a girl also. Nine months later, in the hospital, while awaiting delivery, the Lord spoke to me and said...^In your life, you will have two boys and a girl...^ The first child was a girl. The second, one and a half years later was a boy. My wife left shortly after that. We were divorced shortly after that even though I disagreed with her decision. She took the two children and moved back to England with them. I have not seen them in eighteen years. I ended up moving to China about 8 years after my divorce, where I met a lady and subsequently married. She too became pregnant and delivered a healthy baby boy, the one I had wondered about for so many years. He is now three years old as of this writing in Nov. 2009. My other two children have been in touch by email over the past year. The girl, by the way, has blonde hair and blue eyes. With my Chinese wife I have discussed this story. While I was in the hospital in Canada awaiting delivery of my first child, my Chinese wife-to-be sat on a hillside in the rural area of her home, asking herself what her future held. 10 thousand miles away was her future husband. The Lord hates divorce, but I believe gave me a promise that day to sustain in the days ahead and to let me know he sees the end from the beginning. You see, I really should have asked first.

GOD IS BACK IN MY LIFE

The Righteous Judge

The story was about a very wealthy but miserly man. He had everything he could ask for except the one thing he wanted, happiness. Most people hated him because he was so involved money and the pursuit of material things and he didn’t care who he hurt to get them. In fact there was one thing the Old rich man seemed to love almost as much as his money, and that was his beautiful stained glass window. It was his prized possession and rightly so, it was very old, and worth a few million dollars.

The wealthy man hated most people but most of all he hated the man and his son that lived in the house behind his property. The man was a Judge, and was known for his righteous decision in court cases. The Judge and his son had a wonderful relationship, they were buddies and loved being in each others company. They were happiest being with each other, and that’s why the rich man hated them so much, they had the one thing he couldn’t buy and that was love.

One summer day while the judge was at work, his son decide to play a game of baseball with his friends out in his back yard. He knew he wasn’t supposed to play there because the rich mans beloved window looked down on to the back yard, but there was no way any of them could hit the ball that far, so he thought his dad was being overcautious.

It was his turn to bat and the pitcher threw a perfect pitch, the judges son felt a thrill when he heard the ball hit the bat. He had er hit a ball so perfectly, but his excitement turned to horror when he realized his perfect hit was sailing straight for the Old man’s window. Everything seemed to go in slow motion at that point.

His friends running away, the ball smashing the beautiful window. The judges son could see straight into the hallway of the rich man’s mansion. Where the widow had been the vocal point of the massive stairway.

Suddenly the Old man was there, framed by the whole that used to be his beautiful window, looking at the destruction of his prized possession, at first he looked incredulous, then he spied the judges son holding the baseball bat, and his look of confusion turned to one of incredible anger, he was furious. The boy knew he was in bigger trouble than he had ever been in his life, but he also had the peace of knowing that even thou he had done something his father told him not to do, his dad would be there to help him out of any situation.

As expected the Old man pressed charges, and the case was up before the judge. The old man was secretly gleeful to have the judge in the quandary of having to judge his own sons case. The old man could have gone to another city to have the case tried, but he wanted the judge in this predicament, he thought, He will either have to judge his son righteously and send him to juvenile hall for a long time. Or he will let him go free, and spoil his reputation for being a good judge. The Old man’s ight was even more compounded by the fact that it seemed the whole town was there in the court room.

As the case was read it was clear the Judge’s son was guilty. He had been told by his father not to play baseball in the back yard and he knew it was wrong. The boy was a little scared, he knew what the consequences were for such a crime, but he also knew his dad would fix it somehow, so he was shocked and horrified when his father started to read the sentence.

The Judge had tears in his eyes when he said “Son, you will pay the price of two million dollars for the window, or you will go to juvenile detention until your eightieth birthday, when you will be released to the Rich Old mans custody to work for him for the rest of your life. There was a gasp in the court room as he slammed the gavel on his desk.

Dad nooo, the son wailed. The Old man cackled, their was a loud murmur from the towns people. Then the Judge did something strange. He took off his robe and folded it neatly on his chair he came down from the stand and put his arm around his sobbing son. He said when I was the Judge I had to judge righteously, now I am your father and I have sold everything I own to buy your freedom.

That’s what God did for us. He gave His all to buy our freedom from sin and addiction. Because he is a righteous Judge, He has to judge sin, but because He loves us he pays the price only He can afford to pay. Just as the judges son could never afford two million dollars, we could never pay the price for our sin, but Jesus paid the price and freely gives it to us. All we need to do is ask and accept.

My Pecan Pie A la Mode god

An idol is defined as: a false god on object of passionate devotion. How many times have you hidden food or waited until you were alone to eat and then been angry when you were interrupted. God showed me how greedy and passionately devoted I was to my one day in a somewhat humorous but sobering way, but before I tell you this story I need to preface it with a confession of a couple of my many weaknesses.

I have a little aversion to germs in food and a terrible phobia of mice. I go into hysterics and panic when I see one.

Now on with my story; My favorite thing to eat in the whole world is warm pecan pie ala mode and I couldn’t wait until the kids went outside to play because I had made a pecan pie, and there were only three pieces left and five people in my family!

By the time my girls finally went outside, I was lusting for my treat. There I was all alone with my love. And even though I wasn’t the slightest bit hungry I thought I better steal the chance while I had it.

I lovingly cut a large piece of the delicious treat, put it on a small decorative desert plate and placed it in the microwave and set the time so it would be the perfect temperature, I got the vanilla ice cream out of the freezer. I was thinking about how wonderful the warm pie taste with the cold ice cream. Right on time the microwave beeped signaling my pie was the ideal temperature. I adoringly pulled my sweet prize out and put the frozen ice cream on the pie.

Just then, the front door slamming interrupted the moment I was having with my lover. I immediately got angry with the person who would break up my stolen moment. I decided they were out to get me and came in at this moment just to bug me.

My darling but willful five year old, Tayler, came in and climbed up on the stool in front of me saying “I want a piece.”

Although this made me angry, I held my temper in check as I was still sane enough to appreciate I was being unreasonable.

I passed her my piece of pie and began to cut another from the pie in the refrigerator.

She decided the perfect piece of pie I had given her was not good enough and started poking it with her tiny finger saying look its too hot to eat mama you made it too hot.

My temper was mounting, and my sanity level was plummeting, looking at her petulant face and watching her little finger poking holes all over the thing of my affection. Gritting my teeth I said fine; and slid the cold piece of pie her direction knowing full well this would not satisfy her.

Soon, we were nose to nose mouths wide open each throwing a doozey of a tantrum, trying to out shout each other, she howling and crying and me yelling.

Finally I sent her to her room, because I’m the biggest. I sat down determined to eat my pie still fuming.

Looking at what had once been my masterpiece and now was a protuberant lump full of holes, cold pie swimming in warm separated white watery ^goo^ that used to be ice-cream, but I was still determined to eat it, muttering at how she had spoiled everything because now I couldn’t even enjoy my pie (because of my guilt).

I cut a piece with my fork, raised it to my mouth... When my nine year old; who had walked in just before the tantrum episode, and was a witness to the whole unholy melee said calmly,

“Mama did you know Tayler was playing with the neighbors mouse and didn’t even wash her hands?”

That was it! I totally lost control, I was about to do something Tayler would have been punished for. I raised my fork behind my ear and was getting ready to fling it, when God chose that moment to sweetly speak to my raging heart, in a still, small, un-condemning, voice.

“ You love this pie more than you love anything.”

I was so convicted, as I sat there I realized, I had been worshiping, adoring and loving that mess more than my children, and most of all my Lord. I had completely lavished all my love and affection on this god. It was my golden calf and I was worshiping at its feet.

If you give your affection and love to the one who truly deserves it, He will fill your life with joy. Anything you give up He will replace with something better.

Read: Psalm 107:9

Gods True Miracle

GOD’S TRUE MIRACLE

All my life, I have heard the name of God in all walks of life, sometimes in praise but many times in curses and disbelief… oh, I’m sorry… my name is Allan, a filipino. I’m just a normal, outspoken kid whose life has been twisted by the wrong belief that you create your own destiny and there is nobody to blame but yourself. Let me tell you a story. A long time ago, when I was a kid, I remember my lolo and lola putting me to sleep in one of those wooden kuna’s. I had trouble sleeping then… then my lola would tap my legs until I would. The instance I wake up my lola would put a bottle of milk to my mouth to suck. That was a long time ago… they said that I was a good kid… and I was for a short time.

It started when I was I think at 5 yrs old or 6 when I was playing with my baby sister. My baby sister started crying and I didn’t do a thing. Then she started pointing at my direction seemingly telling me I was at fault. My lolo started whipping me with his sinturon and I was helpless until my yaya advised my lolo it wasn’t me. At that time I didn’t know how to get angry…. I was confused at the situation then. How I wish that was true today.

When I was 11 or 12, when I went home I overheard most of the people shouting at my lola because of a confusion of some sorts (until now I don’t know the cause). It was the first time I saw that it was taking a hard toll on my lola. I then immediately went up to my lola and told the other persons in the house to stop and Mama’s hurt (I call my lola Mama) with what they’ve said. It was the first time I noticed everybody listened. It wasn’t that I don’t know what I’ve said… it was just an honest thing.

At 15 yrs old… I was idolizing juvenile delinquents who were at my point of view then was cool… I thought doing bad things was pretty cool and I lost my sense of direction on how to view life. I tried everything to the point that I became a liar, a thief and I made my evil alter-ego become myself. I was consumed by sin itself… and constructed my own version of how to live my life…. I didn’t know that this event would shape my whole life up… which was evidently shown because during my college days… I struggles with myself and did not finish my studies because of confusion… until it was too late.

At 24, I’ve noticed that my Lolo, who was our bread winner, then fell ill. Then I’ve noticed that our family was already struggling financially and I was in the middle of it. So I’ve prayed to God and contemplated on what to do. Then I’ve decided to find some work by hook or by crook. I’d be interviewed then and there… to the point I got accepted to be part of training. But due to my inexperience I didn’t get my job. But in one brief flash, the other company in which I applied to took notice of my resume and hired me. It was a miracle in itself… but I really didn’t know back then. It was the start of me growing up. I’ve learned that there are sacrifices that I need to do but I was very selfish… I didn’t share my blessings at that time… I’d use people to get what I’ve wanted and the liar inside me controlled me again. It was a pain.

When I was 26, I fell in love with this girl who was my office mate… problem was I didn’t become honest enough and eventually she broke my heart and fell in love with another man… the pain was so deep… it worsened into a depression I’ve never before experienced. I became an alcoholic after that, which led to me resigning from my job. It was a disaster. After a month of treating my depression, I’d landed another job. This time I made a vow that it won’t happen again… but it did. I wouldn’t go into details any more… but it led me to resign again and transfer to another company. It became a cycle. I was confused and I became more of an atheist every passing day. Then it happened. My girlfriend got pregnant. All the confusion, basically all that I know halted to a stop. I basically didn’t know what to do. But everything I believed was it was all me. I tried to handle it by becoming more of a man… but it stressed me out… then my baby was born. We gave the name Kyle to the baby boy… who I really loved and cared for… but at a price. My girlfriend was mad at me because of the sacrifice I did for work… and I became a financial burden for them. A few months later my health degraded. I had to be absent because I don’t want to stress myself and get much sicker… and at the same time my son got sick and my lola got sick. Bow, in the face of adversity… I turned and noticed one church. They had this video on the internet about a sermon on how God was testing us constantly… and it hit me. It wasn’t bad luck or kharma that was giving me problems. It was sin. And God was constantly testing me in every way. God wants me to trust him and let him do his work for me… I alone accepted… now I trust him more… but he still testing me. I wish to those who read this please pray for me and my family, so we in God’s will go through and pass God’s test. Thank you.

-ALLAN

Flowers Over the Wall

Isaiah 49:23b (NIV)

It had been a rough week for me. It was somewhere around 1992, I hadn’t been saved long and I hated myself. I thought the reason I hated myself was because I was fat. All my self worth was in my looks.

I still had an old friends words ringing in my head. He had introduced me to a buddy of his, and his comment to his friend was “She used to be real good-looking until she had a kid and packed on forty pounds. Apparently he didn’t think that should hurt a fat girl.

My husband and I met when we both worked in a disco, and in that environment, around closing time the compliments come in fast and furious. The only positive reinforcement I got was from guys about my looks, and when they faded, as they always do, I was completely worthless in my own eyes. The sexual abuse I had endured as a child only reinforced this idea.

My highest level of education was seventh grade, so I knew I didn’t have a leg to stand on there. I had a relationship with the bully I talk about in the fist week of the studies, and she was constantly pointing out what she thought were my many faults. I was absolutely desperate to be thin again.

I had decided I was going to pray and have faith God would do a miracle and make me skinny –down to a certain weight in exactly one month . I was used to getting on the scale every day, sometimes three or four times in a day, but I decided for that month I would stay off them. I had a hard time waiting, so by the time the day came I was excited, I just knew God would do a miracle. I stepped up on the scale and… it hadn’t moved one millimeter. I was bitterly disappointed and furious with God. I was crying and praying, I opened the Bible and read,
Isaiah 49:23b (NIV)

I remember being enraged. I basically called God a liar. I was so mad.
I disappointed, I felt He had let me down. I remember saying to Him, I did hope in you, This is your Word, you promise we won’t be disappointed, You let me down!

I was still mad at God when I went to church that Sunday, I couldn’t even get into the worship: usually the part I love the most. The Pastor started reading the text for the sermon that day, I was surprised because it was the same text I had been reading when I got so mad at God,
Isaiah 49:23b (NIV)

I was shocked when, in that church with over five-hundred people listening, the pastor said something along the lines of “somebody sitting here today, read that scripture this last week and was mad at God. It is not acceptable to talk to God like that, you need to respect Him, but, still, He wants you to know, He will answer your prayer and you will not be disappointed, but, He will fulfill the promise in His time. Then he went on with his sermon, It was about trials and the blessings that come out of the trials.

The pastor related a incident in his life. He said he used to love to look at the fields out his back window, He loved to sit at his kitchen table and watch the wind make the stalks sway. So he was particularly disappointed when a contractor started building a subdivision right behind his house, where lovely swaying grass once grew, was now being torn up, the ground full of pockmarks where foundations for new houses were being dug. He tried to give it to God, but the more he thought about it the angrier he became.

He knew it was silly to be so upset about an earthly thing, but he just couldn’t help it. He had enjoyed his view so much. He finally started becoming used to the idea, when his new neighbor moved in, he thought maybe they could become friends.

Imagine his disappointment when the neighbor started building an ugly, Grey, ten foot, cinder-block wall. He built his wall so tall, my pastor could barley see the roof of this neighbors house. The pastor was ashamed to admit it, but he felt bitter against his neighbor every time he looked at the wall.

But something started to happen over time, little flowers started peeking up over the wall, and then more flowers of different types and colors started to spill over. Slowly but surely the ugly wall became a mass of beautiful flowers. He said the effect was breathtaking and priceless. It was the focal point of his whole yard, and was so much better then the wheat grass he had been so enamored with. He felt grateful to his neighbor for this wonderful gift.

He said sometimes God works like that, He may not take the problems away immediately, but Like flowers over an ugly wall our problems can bloom and grow and fill us with joy. At that time even though I knew God was talking to me, that sermon didn’t hit home. I thought Okay now I will be healed of my eating addiction because God spoke directly to me… but no I was still as addicted as ever.

Many years later when God did heal me, I recalled the sermon and gratitude overwhelmed me for the trial of being overweight. The flowers I had enjoyed thorough the years of searching for an answer to my problem have filled my life with beauty, I am so grateful that God gave me the gift of being overweight. My weight problem brought me unimaginable joy, it brought me to my knees, It made me seek God, It made me see the beauty is my soul, the eternal part of me. That is why outer beauty is so important to the world because Satan makes the least of us the most important part.

My Dream

Once in a while I have frightening dreams, I call them my devil dreams. One in particular was even more scary than usual because all the other times I would say or think the name Jesus, and I would wake up instantly.

But this time it was different. In my dream I was standing in my kitchen and Satan was sitting in a chair. He started to get up, coming towards me. I rebuked him in Jesus name. He flew back onto the chair and looked as if he had been beaten . He was shaken and weak and I could tell he was hurt, but it scared me because I didn’t wake up as I usually do.

He looked at me slyly and started to get up and come towards me again, I said “I rebuke you Satan in Jesus name” this time I said it a little louder, he fell back but not as hard and he got up faster.

He came towards me again, and I yelled “I rebuke you Satan in Jesus name!” He fell back to the chair but got right back up. This time I screamed the rebuke as loud as I could, and he just stepped back.

I was so scared because I knew I couldn’t scream any louder, I could see him crouching and could sense he was about to fly at me when I heard a still small voice in my heart, “if you have faith you can whisper.” I remember looking Satan right in the eye as I spoke softly, whispering, “I rebuke you Satan in Jesus name” and I instantly woke up.

I believe God works through dreams because there are instances in the Bible I can refer to, and this one had a profound affect on me.

I reflect on it often I think that’s why I remember it so vividly.

Loan Modification

The service then works with the bank to draw up the specifics of the new loan conditions and put them into practice. This resolution is preferable to the bank because the bank stands to lose a lot less if the owner is able to hold onto the home and continue making payments. They will also typically prepare a hardship letter which will explain why the loan modification is needed and how it will help their client avoid a foreclosure.

This will allow the service to take the right steps when approaching the lender. Their first stepis to understand the terms and conditions which the lender has on implementing modifications of loans. They will usually follow a few steps to ensure the best possible chances of obtaining a modification. A loan modification companies or, in some cases, an individual who specializes in working with lenders to modify existing loans. For anyone in this type of situation, a loan modification service is a viable option.

Some find the entire process to be confusing, while others feel they don't have the time to take the necessary steps to receive such a modification. Unfortunately, many people find themselves unsure of how to go about getting a modification from their lender. This is an agreement made between the lender and the person who received the loan which modifies the original conditions of the loan to reduce monthly payments. An effective solution for people in these circumstances is a loan modification.

The good news is that there are options available which can help someone avoid foreclosure. The unfortunate truth is that there are many people who are facing imminent foreclosure.

Borrowers may find themselves scratching their heads and wondering where to start, no wonder, with so many new announcements from lenders and the Feds about various government sponsored and independent loan modification programs. Distressed homeowners seeking assistance with a mortgage debt conversion program may not understand the different programs they might be able to get.

Using a mortgage loan modification does not guarantee that the loan modification will be accepted by the bank, but it is likely to improve the odds. These services have made it their job to understand how to setup the loan modification requests to suit both the bank and the individual facing foreclosure. Beyond increasing the odds of success, these services also reduce the work load for the individual - allowing them to continue with their normal life.

Praying for Hitler

Bethel near Bielefeld in Germany is a small town, consisting almost exclusively of hospitals. It was founded by Pastor Friedrich von Bodelschwingh. For more than one hundred years, destitute and sick people have found an ever open door, and a warm welcome in this oasis. The von Bodelschwingh family is still the guardian of this large institution. Towards the end of the war Hitler gave orders to confiscate Bethel and turn it over to the military, which needed more beds for the war casualties. The sick and helpless people, mostly epileptics and mentally ill, were to be sent to “camps” for treatment, meaning gas chambers. When von Bodelschwingh received the order, he informed his dedicated staff. Countless prayers, desperate pleas for help, were spoken on bent knees. There was no answer. The officials began to make the necessary preparations for an “orderly” transfer. Pastor von Bodelschwingh was well known throughout Germany and in Berlin. He went from one government official to another, begging for the lives of his “children”. He found some sympathetic ears, but nobody was willing to risk his life, by going to Hitler and pleading on his behalf. Pastor von Bodelschwingh returned to Bethel, and the preparations for the transfer continued. The end was near. Two Gestapo Generals arrived, demanding the keys. Von Bodelschwingh suggested that they tour the hospitals, because they had come to facilitate the evacuation. They agreed to accompany him. When they entered the children’s hospital, frightened eyes were focused on the two well fed men in their black uniforms. For a moment, there was absolute silence. Now the children looked at their Pastor, they called him “Onkel Fritz”. “Children”, he said “this is Uncle General, he has been sent to us by Uncle Hitler to take care of us. We must pray to Jesus and ask him to BLESS Uncle General and Uncle Hitler. THE CHILDREN TALKED TO THEIR JESUS. The Nazis left and never returned. Today, Bethel is home to fourteen-thousand patients.

Giving Thanks

Years ago when I was a young Christian, I heard the song “Give Thanks” by Don Moen. It was a simple message about being thankful with a grateful heart for all that the Lord has done for us. At the time, it had a profound effect on me and really resonated with my heart.

My entire childhood and early adult life had been blessed with great parents and being able to do just about anything I wanted. I can’t ever remember being in need of anything. I had great friends, a supportive family, and a life that would be envied by many. Looking back, I realize how blessed I was. God was working in my life even though I didn’t realize it at the time. He’s still blessing me today and yet I sometimes take it for granted, as I’m sure some of you do.

As the year winds down, I’d like to challenge you to take a few minutes and write down what you are thankful for. If the list is less than ten things, keep thinking. Even you have had a difficult year; there are always things to be thankful for.

Like any parent, I know I like to hear how much my children appreciate me. I believe that God is no different in that respect. So give God thanks often as we prepare to celebrate our Saviors birth in the next few weeks. Walk in Love.

God, thank you for all that You have done for me this past year. You have blessed me beyond all that I could ask or think. I’m grateful for my wife, my children, my parents, my friends, my job and all the other things You have freely given me. Help me to recognize when I begin to take things for granted and bring my heart back to You. In Jesus name.

Rev 7:12 ^Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!^

For what I have received may the Lord make me truly thankful. And more truly for what I have not received. Storm Jameson

Lost Searching

Are you lost? Searching?… I was, but maybe my experience can help you make sense of your own situation.

About me

I’m not someone who is easily convinced about anything and am of the philosophy if it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is. So first, let me give you a little information about myself.

I am in my forties, married with one child. I am employed as a Fire-Captain/Paramedic in a suburb of . I have been on the job for about 26 years. I tell you this because I think I am a pretty average normal guy and have at least been around the block once or twice – I hope! Eight years ago, if I would have heard someone say they were “saved” I would have thought they were some kind of religious freak. So, bear with me! If you have found this article, I now truly believe there is a greater reason you are reading it.

Who did I write this article for? Well . . .

First, if you are a bible scholar, then I am sure you will soon be painfully aware that you are not reading an article that measures up to your caliber. I am writing this for people who, maybe like I did, feel lost or feel as though something is missing in their lives. Also possibly, for the new believer who’s life has been affected or changed in such a way that they feel “compelled” to investigate this new conviction and need some direction.

This article isn’t for . . .

As I stated earlier, it is neither for the bible scholar nor for the debater or “my faith is better than your faith” person. I am an “average Joe” and offer this only for those people who find themselves in a situation similar to mine - 8 years ago. I am only equipped to defend my own position and beliefs. This is my personal story plus some helpful (I hope) advice – So now is the time to turn back if you think reading this will be too painful!

My Story

One morning, about 8 years ago, while I was driving to work, I was going through my usual routine of trying either to find a good morning talk radio show or music station with a song I wanted to hear. I came to a busy intersection and had to make a left turn into traffic to proceed on my route. Just before I made the turn, I pressed the scan button on my radio and it landed on a religious station. I remember thinking “Oh Brother”, and that “as soon as I make this turn I’m going to turn this nonsense off!” But, ‘something’ the guy who was talking said, caught my attention and I felt compelled to leave it on. The person who was speaking was Pastor Greg Laurie. I remember thinking this guy is pretty funny and also thinking most of what he was saying really seemed to make sense.

Let me back up a little at this point…

My wife and I had recently experienced tragedies that had either personally touched our lives or touched the lives of our close relatives and we had begun to question subjects like our life purpose, beliefs, and faith - or should I say lack there of it. Each day, listening to this guy (Pastor Greg) really hit home and I found myself really looking forward to hearing his show. On his broadcasts, he would share personal stories about his life and I learned that, compared to where he was now in his life, he had come from a very different path. He was very funny and presented his sermons on the level with no sugar coating. I was able to relate to a lot of what he said. Most of the guys I work with or my friends are straight talkers – no bull. And as I listened to this guy, I could tell he was giving it to me straight. Many times when I listened, I felt as though he was speaking directly to me. There would be sermons he presented discussing subjects or questions that were almost identical to the subjects and questions my wife and I had been discussing recently and often in just the previous night’s conversation. Many times, I would call my wife and tell her to turn his broadcast on and listen. I would say something like, “you’re not going to believe what Pastor Greg is talking about right now!” I also began to feel like I was starting to get some direction in my own life. There was a point at the end of each show where Pastor Greg would ask if the listeners wanted to say a “prayer” regarding a request. Well I always felt compelled from day one to do it, but I initially didn’t, mainly because of my previous faith background. Well one day at the end of one of his shows, I said the prayer and made the request that Pastor Greg stated. I repeated the prayer and it changed my life. Now there weren’t fireworks or lightening bolts, but a peace came over me, like a weight lifted off my shoulders and I knew in my heart that I had made the right decision. I also felt a wave of emotion that sort of took me by surprise.

I’m not Mr. Emotional mostly because of my upbringing. My dad – don’t get me wrong –is a good guy; he was a sergeant in the army and then in construction, but I don’t think he ever lost that sergeant thing! He always kind of ran our household like a mini boot camp and sayings like “I’ll give you something to cry about!” taught my brother and I early in life to “suck it up” and move on. But when I said the prayer and the first time I shared my story with a pastor at my church, it really got to me. I didn’t really understand it then, but I do now! As you grow in your faith, you too will increasingly understand the stakes involved and the cost of the gift offered to you.

Saved?….

For the new Christian, you have heard and should understand this term, but for the person who is searching, you may not understand this term or many of the other terms you will begin to hear. But hang in there, it will shortly become very apparent how many of these terms will apply to your new Christian life. That day, I repeated the prayer Pastor Laurie stated and I was saved. Now if you’re new or searching, don’t get nervous . . . just hang in there and keep reading, it will soon make more sense. There was no mystery and the prayer was all I needed to meet the requirements of being “Saved”. OK! Here was the context of what I said; I repeated: “Lord Jesus I know I’m a sinner, but I believe you died on the cross for me. I turn now from my sin and receive you as my Savior and my Lord and I choose to follow you from this day forward. Thank you for calling me and accepting me. In Jesus’ name I pray.” It was and IS that simple. I meant it from my heart! Meaning…everything in me told me it was right. I said it, meant it, and I felt relieved. As I stated, there weren’t fireworks or lightning bolts, but I felt a peace in my life, a relief. It changed my life.

It changed my life . . . . .

When I say it changed my life, I don’t mean it was immediate and I surely do not mean I picked up a sign, grew a beard and started yelling at people through a megaphone. But I do have to say that if today, I saw someone doing what I describe in that scenario, the bearded guy and megaphone, I wouldn’t think less of that person. Although it might not be the method I would use to get the message out, it might be the method someone else feels convicted to use and I wouldn’t think he or she were strange. Well, maybe she - with the beard thing – just kidding! In general, here’s how it did change my life. Instead of living a selfish life, pursuing my own desires, I started to try and live my life for others. Instead of trying to fill that gap in my life with financial pursuits, parties and the next “good time”, I started to look at what was really important in life.

As for God, I always believed in God, but I thought of Him as very distant from me. I thought of Him more like a Judge with a good and bad list. Each of our names headed a list and there were check marks in the bad and good columns of each person’s list. I always hoped that if my time came, that I would have enough checks in the good column and be able to “get in”. I felt that God was “up there” somewhere watching me and if I screwed up, he would shake his head and place a mark in the bad column of my list. If I did pray, it was half hearted or more along the lines of “if you can do this for me, I will never do that” or “remember when I did that ‘good deed’, now I need something.” It was often a bargain session, rather than true prayer. There was always a gap and I felt like I could never measure up, but I now know God has filled that gap. God made the ultimate sacrifice and provided the answer to that problem in His Son. I also learned that, to my surprise, God isn’t looking for the perfect person and he most often uses the “second string”, the common and many times broken man to accomplish his greatest work.

Many other things changed and continue to change in my life. Don’t get me wrong though. Does this mean that everything started to go great in my life and I became a “choir boy”? NO! I did get on solid ground and had a more clear direction. I made peace with God, but in some ways, my life got complicated. Overall my life has become more fulfilling and peaceful. I try, with God’s help, everyday to live for Him and others. Try is the key word here; if anyone tells you they are the poster child for the perfect Christian- you probably want to steer clear of them. I’ve heard it said and I subscribe to it – “put your faith in God, not men”. Look to God for your Christian life example and you will continue on the right path. I have learned that serving God by serving others is how you begin to live a Godly life. Also, that moderation in some things and elimination of others is how you stay on the right path. If you have trouble with moderation in any given area of your life, you need to eliminate that problem. Now, I could give you specific examples or opinions of things you should avoid, but I would risk being a hypocrite. For me, I can give you an example I have expressed to some friends and guys I work with. “I don’t think God, my creator, is happy when I drink, get drunk, and act foolish.” As I said, this is an example of mine. I unquestionably am the last one to pick up stones and start launching them. I will say however, I now do believe that if you have a buddy (brother) who has difficulty with moderation in this or any other area, you should help him by not causing him to stumble because of your actions. Also, let’s face it. If you are reading this article, you’re no dummy. I mean, you apparently have the basic skills down. Therefore, I believe you are also smart enough to know that moderation is moderation. In view of that you know, some things in life do not fall into the category of any “-RATION”. For me, now I have an understandable “life guide” to go to for advice on most anything this life has to throw at you. You should try it! Previously, when I would hear people say that the bible was an old book and out of touch with today’s life style, I would have somewhat bought into that philosophy! That was until I actually read it and then realized the old adage, “history tends to repeats itself”, is as true today as in biblical times. Many of the problems and issues we face today were also present in biblical times.

OK, here are some things that helped me as a new believer…

Read your bible! When I became a Christian I began reading the bible. In addition to reading the bible, I also tried to find a bible study, but I was very apprehensive because I knew my knowledge of the bible was almost non-existent. I was “fortunate” to know a guy at work who I considered religious. I thought of him in this way because I formerly believed that anyone who would even utter the name Jesus Christ in public must be “very religious”. Well, this friend from work introduced me to a man named Hank from his church and the three of us had an informal bible study for about a year. The study, along with guidance I received from Hank, really helped me in my faith walk and helped me find a church. Regarding the bible, I would suggest that you get a copy of the NIV Study Bible or a Life Application Study Bible. At times in my life, before I became a Christian, I would feel lost and think maybe there is something in the bible that can help. I would then pick up a copy of the King James Version bible that we had collecting dust on our book shelve, and try to make some sense of it. Well for me, the language they used made an already unfamiliar book, even harder to understand. Needless to say, my reading session would be very short and unproductive. Now, I read either the NIV Study Bible or the Life Application Study Bible. If you are searching, I suggest you get one of these versions and start in the book of John. (Gospel of John)

You will find as you read the bible, on the surface that in many chapters, this book wasn’t necessarily written as a “feel good” book and many times leaves you with more questions than answers. Also, it often appears we/people (I’m included in that we) have the “what’s in it for me” mentality. Well again, on the surface this isn’t a great advertisement for that – which in my opinion makes my faith in this book even stronger. Because the bible is a no frills, no sugar coating, in your face kind of book, people do not want to accept it. Most of us want to believe we are in control of our own destiny. Well, the gift God offers us is free – all we have to do is accept it! It’s that simple, but He is not going to make you accept it. It’s a choice that we are going to have to make and in a world where absolutes seem grayer and grayer everyday, I think many people think it can’t be that black and white or simple. There are only two answers to the offer extended, yes or no, but it’s your choice.

You may think why doesn’t God just give us a taste of the “good life”? I believe if God had given us a crystal clear window into what our afterlife would be like, it would be too easy and our choice would be skewed. We wouldn’t be making a decision based on faith or belief; we would be making it on the “OH! I see what’s in it for me attitude!” I believe that He has given us a view and if we are really seeking HIM, He will reveal it. He states it best in his own words: Revelation 3:20 “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in, and eat with him, and he with me.” OR John 3: 16: “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

Attending a Christian Church

First of all, it is going to be different! What I mean is, if you have never attended a Christian (Protestant) Faith based church it will seem strange. The language you will hear might and/or will seem overboard, weird, cultish. I have a hard time explaining exactly how I initially perceived the first Christian Protestant faith church I attended, but here are some examples of things I would see or hear that made me uncomfortable because at the time, I really didn’t understand my faith. First, I would see people raising their hands and swaying back and forth when they sang praise songs and I would hear them sometimes shout out various phrases during a sermon, like “Praise Jesus” or “Amen”. Initially, I would think “man, that’s kind of weird!” “Am I in the right place?” Are these people just trying to put on some kind of act?” Then there was the “weird” way they talked the terms or phrases they used either while singing or in conversation. Things like “we are all washed in His blood”. “Nothing but the blood of Jesus can save us”. “Can you feel His Spirit?” “We are all crucified in Christ”. “His Spirit is moving in you right now!”

I really can’t remember everything, but those were the highlights. Now if you were raised as a Christian, things like this are familiar and normal to you, but for me, this just added to my confusion over my new found faith. Since I have grown in my own faith, I now understand these actions and this “lingo”. Before, I would have thought this stuff bordered on over the top freak cult behavior. I’m now ashamed to say it, but I would have categorized people like this as “Jesus freaks” and I would have steered clear of these people. I now can tell you that although I may not act or speak entirely as many of my Christian brothers and sisters do (see I just did it!) I totally understand the actions and each day understand more of the “lingo”. I now know why people are raising their hands and what it means to have His Spirit move you. I was formerly of a different faith, and mostly only a Christmas and Easter attendee. You may have heard the term or joke people would use when asked what faith they were and they would say they were “Chreasters”. That was how I would describe my faith to people and again I am ashamed to say that I actually thought that it was funny to use that line. After I was saved, I did attend my former church, but for ME I believed I needed to find another church. When I listened to the message I found it vague and had a hard time applying it to my life. In my own experience, I can tell you that if I sang a song at my former church, I would kind of just mouth the words with a lot of the other attendees. Now as I stated earlier, I understand how people can be moved to really show their feelings for God during worship. Today when I worship at Sunday Services, while singing praise songs, sometimes I get choked up because the words point to how much I have been freely given and I have to stop singing because I really am being moved by His Spirit. There are times now where I have either said or done things that I never would have in my “former life”; for instance, sharing my faith with a friend who is experiencing a low point in their lives. I now ask for guidance and, if I can get out of the way long enough and allow God to work through me, He will provide that guidance, not only in my request, but also in all areas of my life.

There is no perfect church

It’s been said there is no perfect church and if there was, you or I wouldn’t be members there, if you get my drift! But, you will find, like anything in life, there are going to be things you like and dislike. Unfortunately, if you answered that persistent knocking at the door later in your life, as opposed to being born into it, there are going to be people who think of you as a “Johnny come lately”. You may find it’s initially hard to relate to the “Christian Scene” and therefore feel like you don’t fit in. You have to remember this is a “two way street”. You may also find tight knit groups that may not allow you into the inner circle. That being said, you have to remember why you are there. It’s not for any other reason but to serve God. So get involved, volunteer, serve, just give freely of yourself just as He gave freely of himself. Pray to God to bring people into your life that will help you in your new found faith and He will! Get into a bible study. When we searched for a church, we used Pastor Greg’s number one rule of advice. Find a bible- based Church that teaches from the bible and adheres to biblical principles. We looked for a church following this principle and one that would help our child grow in faith. Ask the experts, go online, do a little research. We attended several churches until we finally chose a church. I would suggest you do the same.

In conclusion

As I stated, I wrote this for the person who is searching or who has accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior but is thinking now what? I have only scratched the surface, but I felt “moved” to do this! In the fire service, we use the acronym KISS which stands for “keep it simple stupid”. So that’s what I have tried to do. I could hit you with a lot of catch phrases and terminology that would probably just cause confusion or add to your frustration. So I have kind of given you a blue-collar view. If you are trying to sort this all out, first pray about it! Really, if you are truly seeking and praying about it, you will be amazed at how God answers your prayers!

Second, listen to Christian radio and find a good pastor on the radio. As I said, I really love Pastor Greg Laurie. You can cut and paste this link into your browser to go to his website www.harvest.org. I feel God really uses him to reach people. His shows are powerful and additionally you can listen to him either on his website or download his pod cast. He never talks down to you and his messages are a benefit to all believers, regardless of your stage as a believer.

Third, get into a good church. A church that teaches from the bible and adheres to its principles.

Lastly, read your bible. Some people say it’s an old book with old ideas and problems. Well, read it and you be the judge. It seems to me we are still repeating the same mistakes of ancient times. It also seems apparent to me that if we would just follow the advice given in this book, we might find that life is a great deal easier, but again, you be the judge. I suggest you start in the book of John. (Gospel of John)

Recognizing A Sign From God

Have you ever just wanted confirmation of something that would cause there to be no doubt left in your mind? Perhaps a sign that is so unmistakable that there would be no question, you would know the answer as clearly as if it were tattooed on your forehead.

Let me back up for a moment and fill you in. I have been a believer all my life. I have never doubted God's existence, his love, or his plan for my salvation. I accepted Christ at a young age and even though I strayed for a little while I came back to him, recommitted my life, was baptized and strive daily to live a life in accordance with his will. Now that you are caught up with me, allow me to explain my dilemma and God's amazing answer to my prayer.

When I was very young my mother took me to see a film about the Rapture. It scared me to death! I was convinced that I would wake up and find my family gone and be all alone. This terror stayed with me well into my teenage years. After that I didn't really like to speak of the Rapture or the end of our days. I knew I was saved but there was always this fear that if I had missed something I would be left behind.

Recently my husband became very interested in the book of Revelations and in Bible Prophesy. He really peaked my curiosity so I began to read the ^Left Behind^ series by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins. This stirred up all the old feelings of doubt that I had carried through much of my life. I began to pray for God to open my eyes if I had missed something or to show me how to have faith that I was truly saved and not let the devil put doubts in my mind that my salvation was not real. That maybe I was doing something that would cause me to miss the big party in the sky.

One morning I awakened before I really needed to (and I try to sleep as long as my children will let me) and began to pray. Once again I asked God to help me see clearly and shared my fear with him. When I finished praying I opened the Bible and it opened to Isaiah 56. As I read the passages I began to truly feel like God had given me an immediate answer to my prayers. To summarize, it basically said if you have bound yourself to the Lord and hold fast to him he will give you an everlasting name that will not be cut off. It goes on to say that those who serve him, worship him and love his name will be given joy in his house of prayer. Wow, I was amazed! I thanked God for his answer to my prayer and marveled at his majesty all day. Then the doubt crept back in. What if I had misunderstood, what if I was interpreting his message wrong?

Fast-forward 3 days. Our church was hosting a wonderful evening of worship & praise on Sunday night. Our family attended and I was blessed beyond measure. During the time we were given an opportunity for silent prayer. I went to my knees and asked God yet again to either open my eyes to any areas I have been blind in or to somehow assure me of my place in his kingdom. I begged for the faith I needed! At the close of prayer I rose to sing another song of praise. To my jubilation, God did it again! We began to sing ^Till I See You^ by Hillsong United. Check out the words of this beautiful song below and you will understand why I stood weeping at the amazing love that my Master poured out upon me. I believe he gave me my answer, healed my doubt and caught every tear!

Till I See You

The greatest love that anyone could ever know
That overcame the cross and grave to find my soul
And till I see You face to face and grace amazing takes me home
I'll trust in You

With all I am I'll live to see Your kingdom come
And in my heart I pray You'd let Your will be done
And till I see You face to face and grace amazing takes me home
I'll trust in You

I will live to love You
I will live to bring You praise
I will live a child in awe of You

You are a voice that called the universe to be
You are the whisper in my heart that speaks to me
And till I see You face to face and grace amazing takes me home
I'll trust in you

You alone are God of all
You alone are worthy Lord
And with all I am my soul will bless Your name

Finding Our Direction

When our oldest daughter first got her drivers license, she immediately wanted to go shopping with her sister at Castleton Mall. Although her mom and I were nervous about them driving into that congested area, we decided to let them try it. After about 15 minutes, the telephone rang and we both rushed to the phone fearing they were in an accident. It wasn’t an accident, but they were calling to inform us that they couldn’t figure out how to get to Castleton.

I’ll never forget my reaction after finding out they were OK. I said “you have been to Castleton at least 100 times and you don’t know how to get there?” They both told me that since they weren’t driving before, they never really paid attention. Through the years, those phone calls have been repeated often and that’s one of the reasons why my daughter received a GPS system for Christmas.

Like most people, my daughters don’t like to stop and ask directions. Mapquest has been a big help, but for some reason, both my daughters have issues with directions. They will call and wonder where they are and then get upset when I can’t explain it clearly enough for them. It makes for a very frustrating experience for all of us.

I have found life has a way of working the same way. I want to ask God what direction I should take with my family, my job, my personal life, or my spiritual life; yet oftentimes I can’t figure out what He is trying to say to me. I’d rather God worked like that GPS system where he tells me exactly which way to turn. However, that obviously requires better listening skills than I possess.

As you do your daily travels this week, try shutting off your radio, CD player and GPS system and listen to that still, small voice of God. There are a lot of roads that will get you to your final destination, but it is important that you go there with God. So stay on the right path, listen to His voice and He will give you the deepest desires of your heart. Until next week … Walk in Love.

God thank you for loving me and my family enough that You will show us the right way to go in all we do. Your direction for my life is perfect; if I will only take the time to listen to You. Help me to hear Your voice and seek Your guidance, especially in the life of my child / children. (He, she) is being pulled in so many directions and I want to encourage (him, her) to follow You. Give me the words to say and to provide a loving environment where (he, she) can thrive. In Jesus name.

The wise also will hear and increase in learning, and the person of understanding will acquire skill and attain to sound counsel [so that he may be able to steer his course rightly] Prov. 1:5

The voice of God is a friendly voice. No one need fear to listen to it unless he has already made up his mind to resist it. A. W. Tozer

Lessons From An Old Friend

This past week when I was in Angola for business I decided to visit on old friend. Dave and I grew up together on weekends during the summer when my family would go to our lake cottage on Crooked Lake. Dave lived there year round and although the miles separated us during the winter months, when Memorial Day came around, it was like we were never apart.

Dave was a terrific friend and an amazing artist. You knew that when college was over, the sky was the limit for him. He was also one of those people who never rested and lived life to the fullest. Growing up we played baseball and would swim all day long if our parents let us. As we got older, we’d water ski all day and then Dave would say, “I’ll go home and change and pick you up in 30 minutes.” He was an unbelievable friend, and until this week, I hadn’t fully realized how much I have missed having him around.

You see, Dave passed away when he was 24 and I was living in Fort Wayne after finishing college. I’ll never forget how the cancer tried to take the life out of him, but he just wouldn’t have it. He’d come visit me after his chemo treatments and say, “I can’t wait until these things are over so I can get back to partying again”. He had a strong belief that the cancer was only a temporary setback.

As I stood at his grave, I was surprised to find myself a little emotional, because it has been over 25 years since his death. But I was thinking about all his talents and what he would be doing with them today. What influence would he be having in his world? Then, I started thinking what positive impact am I having in my world today?

This week, think about what affect you are having on the people around you; and especially your family. I realized more than ever that it is only through the grace of God that I have gotten to live a longer life than my friend Dave. I want to make sure I live it to its’ fullest like Dave did and to remember to have an eternal perspective in all I do. Until next week … Walk in Love.

Lord, thank you for the time You have given me on this earth and all the things I have been privileged to enjoy. I’m especially grateful for my family and the relationships I have developed through the years. You have blessed me beyond my wildest dreams and I want to continue to grow in those areas. Help me to be supportive, caring and loving in all my relationships and to emulate You in all I do. In Jesus name.

Love is this divine ingredient. It alone describes what can be our perfect relationship to our Heavenly Father and our family and neighbors, and the means by which we accomplish His work. David B. Haight

II Cor. 3:5 It is not that we think we can do anything of lasting value by ourselves. Our only power and success come from God.

Overcoming Disappointment

After watching the Colts disappointing loss a few weeks ago, it reminded me of a similar experience I had playing basketball in the 8th grade. My older brother was the star of the high school team and this was the night I finally got my chance to shine. The coach had chosen me as captain of our team for the night and I was going to get to start against the big city team from Fort Wayne.

This was my big opportunity and I was really excited; that is until they made the first basket and began pressing all over the floor. Since I was playing guard, it was my responsibility to bring the ball up-court. I’d never seen anybody that fast or tall or with as long of arms in all my life. After throwing the ball away twice, then getting a jump ball against me, the coach finally called time out and mercifully put me on the bench for the rest of the night.

If you haven’t faced something similar to this in your child’s life, then they probably aren’t old enough yet. Disappointments are going to come at some point in their life and I believe it is your job as a parent to be there for them when it does. Although I’m no expert, here are a few things I’ve learned over the years:

1. Be a good listener – there were no words that could console me after that game, but I did want somebody with a compassionate heart to listen to me.

2. Have empathy –No matter how old your children are, disappointments are never easy to take. Try to put yourself in their shoes and react accordingly.

3. Encourage them – remind them that disappointments are a part of life, but trying their best is the most important thing.

4. Love them – usually a good hug and telling them you love them can make all the difference.

No matter how disappointed your child may be, it is important to remind them that God loves them and so do you. It is that love and encouragement they will remember and will hopefully pass down to their own children someday. Until next week … Walk in Love.

Lord, I know there are always going to be disappointments in my life and in the life of my child / children. Help me to be a good listener for him / her and encourage him / her with whatever life has thrown their way. Give me your heart and let me share positive words with him / her so that he /she can grow from this experience. Most of all, help me to love him / her the way You do. In Jesus name.

Isa. 48:10 See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.

The greatness comes not when things go always good for you. But the greatness comes when you're really tested, when you take some knocks, some disappointments, when sadness comes. Because only if you've been in the deepest valley can you ever know how magnificent it is to be on the highest mountain Richard Nixon

Not My Job

Through the years my wife and I have attempted to assign tasks to be done around the house so everyone was doing an equal part. Sometimes we were successful, but other times we heard the phrase, “that’s not my job; you told her to do that”. It was always amazing to me how something as simple as emptying the dishwasher could turn into an argument or a time to make excuses.

Recently I was reading Revelations and in chapter 4 I found something I have read numerous times, but it never registered this way before. It says; “And the four living creatures … day and night did not cease to say, Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and is to come.” Those 18 simple words were repeated day and night by the angels. After a few weeks, I’m sure in our own human minds we would say, “Can we have a different job or can we change the words a little, I’m getting tired of this job.”

All of us, including our children, sometimes feel that certain tasks are not our job. We try to make excuses, but they really don’t make sense. The same is true when it comes to praising God. No matter how busy we are, praising God for who He is and for all He has done for us is not an option. There is no excuse that sounds remotely logical where we can say, that’s not my job now.

This week make every effort to connect with God and praise Him for who He is. He is our provider, our counselor, our healer, our rock of salvation, the bread of life, the everlasting Father and the One who loves us unconditionally, to name just a few. We have no excuse not to praise Him. So this week, make it your job to praise Him and to thank Him for all that He has done. Until next week … Walk in Love.

God, there are so many days that I don’t take time to praise You for who You are in my life. My family owes You our lives; yet I can find so many excuses why I don’t praise you daily. Help me to praise You every day this week for all the blessings You have given me. For my spouse, my child / children, my health, and all the other things You so willingly provide. You are an awesome God and worthy of all my praise. Help me to remember that every day this week. In Jesus name.

I Thes. 5:16- 18 Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Praise God even when you don't understand what He is doing. -- Henry Jacobsen

Prop Us Up

Every time I am asked to pray, I think of the old deacon who always prayed, Lord, prop us up on our leanin' side.

After hearing him pray that prayer many times, someone asked him why he prayed that prayer so fervently.
He answered, 'Well sir, you see, it's like this...I got an old barn out back.
It's been there a long time, it's withstood a lot of weather, it's gone through a lot of storms, and it's stood for many years.

It's still standing. But one day I noticed it was leaning to one side a bit.
So I went and got some pine poles and propped it up on its leaning side so it wouldn't fall.

Then I got to thinking about that and how much I was like that old barn. I've been around a long time.
I've withstood a lot of life's storms. I've withstood a lot of bad weather in life, I've withstood a lot of hard times,
and I'm still standing too. But I find myself leaning to one side from time to time, so I like to ask the
Lord to prop us up on our leaning side, cause I figure a lot of us get to leaning, at times.

Sometime we get to leaning toward anger, leaning toward bitterness, leaning toward hatred, leaning
toward cussing, leaning toward a lot of things that we shouldn't. So we need to pray, 'Lord, prop us up on
our leaning side, so we will stand straight and tall again, to glorify the Lord.

If you stare at this barn for a second you will see who will help us stand straight and tall again.

The Paths We Choose

There were two girls in Atlanta who formed a strong friendship that lasted through junior high and high school. They took classes together, participated in many of the same activities, socialized together, and even attended church together after they both made a commitment to Christ as ninth graders.

When they graduated from high school, they joined some other friends on a graduation trip to Daytona Beach, Fla. The hotels were full of kids just like them—free from high school, free from responsibility, and free from parental restraint. Naturally, it quickly turned into a giant party scene.

One of the two friends, intent on celebrating and letting loose, plunged happily into the revelry. The other young woman, however, held back. She was uncomfortable with what she saw—the alcohol, the drugs, the promiscuity. God had been working in her life the last few months, and her commitment to Him was growing stronger. Somehow she knew this was an important choice for her. So she avoided the party scene as much as she could.

A few days after returning home she left on another trip—to a giant student conference in Dallas, Tex., sponsored by Campus Crusade for Christ. It was a life-changing experience—a time when she caught a glimpse of how God was working around the world to draw people to Himself … and a time when she recognized how He wanted to use her in that movement. She remembered what she had seen at Daytona Beach, and didn’t want to follow that path. She knew that she was choosing a different world, a different direction for her life.

To say she was “involved” with Campus Crusade through her college years would be an understatement. She jokes today that she majored in Campus Crusade and minored in elementary education. After she graduated she joined the organization as a full-time staff member, and today remains as committed as she was during that week in Dallas years ago.

As you may have guessed by now, she also became my wife.

For a number of years, Merry wondered what happened to her childhood friend, whom I will call Karen. After that week at Daytona Beach, Merry and Karen saw each other a few times and then drifted apart.

Then, about 15 years after they graduated from high school, Merry received a surprise phone call from Karen. As they caught up with what had happened over the years, Karen told a sad story of failed relationships, alcoholism, and drug abuse. She clearly was not happy with the direction her life had taken.

Merry remarked that she was a bit surprised, because during high school Karen did not appear to be on that path. “What happened?” she asked.

Karen replied, “Remember that week in Daytona Beach?” She didn’t realize this at the time—she just thought she was having fun—but the choices she made that week started her on a dangerous path. One choice led to another, and then to another, and the longer she stayed on that path, the harder it was to step off it.

In many ways, life is a series of choices. Some of these choices announce themselves with the blare of a marching band, like they did that week at Daytona for Merry and Karen. Others appear as a faint whisper in your ear. Yet at some point it seems that each choice comes down to a simple question: Are you going to follow the path of wisdom or the path of foolishness?

Sometimes we don’t fully realize the implications of our choices—how they will affect our future, and how they affect our relationships. Let’s say that I return home from work, and Merry is in the kitchen working on dinner. I sense that she wants to talk about something, but I’m tired and want to relax on the sofa and read for awhile. In my heart, I may know that I need to set aside my own desires and focus on her. Then I reason that sometimes a man just needs to kick back after a tough day at the office, and it won’t hurt her if we wait to talk. So I disappear downstairs … and a few hours later I realize that I never did get around to focusing on Merry.

A choice like that now and then may not hurt a marriage. But if I make that same decision the next night, and the next night, then I’m moving further down the path of foolishness.

In recent months Merry and I have heard the stories of two couples who appear to be on the brink of divorce. In some ways, both stories are similar: They’ve been growing apart for years, they’ve been living largely separate lives, and they don’t know how to put their relationship back together. We wonder what choices they’ve made over the years that, in retrospect, put them on this path. Did they start focusing on their own interests at the expense of their relationship? Did they let other concerns become more important than their commitment to Christ and to one another?

I am reminded of the first chapter of Proverbs, which calls us to “know wisdom and instruction, to discern the sayings of understanding, to receive instruction in wise behavior, righteousness, justice and equity” (1:2). Proverbs makes it clear that when we base our choices upon the “fear of the Lord”—a holy, reverential sense of humility and commitment to God—our choices will put us on the path of wisdom: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction … My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent … do not walk in the way with them. Keep your feet from their path. … But he who listens to me shall live securely and be at ease from the dread of evil” (Proverbs 1:7, 10, 15, 33).

So it really comes down to who you listen to when making choices. Are you listening to God, and seeking His wisdom? Or are you listening to your own desires, or to people who wish to lure you away from the path of wisdom?

Each day I am grateful for the fact that Merry listened to God when making those choices as a young woman. As a result, God is using her, and He is blessing our marriage. Her life is a reminder to me that I need to walk with her on that same path.

The Purpose of Life

In the interview by Paul Bradshaw with Rick Warren, Rick said: People ask me, What is the purpose of life? And I respond: In a nutshell, life is preparation for eternity. We were made to last forever, and God wants us to be with Him in Heaven.

One day my heart is going to stop, and that will be the end of my body-- but not the end of me.

I may live 60 to 100 years on earth, but I am going to spend trillions of years in eternity. This is the warm-up act - the dress rehearsal.

God wants us to practice on earth what we will do forever in eternity. We were made by God and for God, and until you figure that out, life isn't going to make sense.

Life is a series of problems: Either you are in one now, you're just coming out of one, or you're getting ready to go into another one.

The reason for this is that God is more interested in your character than your comfort.

God is more interested in making your life holy than He is in making your life happy.

We can be reasonably happy here on earth, but that's not the goal of life. The goal is to grow in character, in Christ likeness.

This past year has been the greatest year of my life but also the toughest, with my wife getting cancer.

I used to think that life was hills and valleys - you go through a dark time, then you go to the mountaintop, back and forth. I don't believe that anymore.

Rather than life being hills and valleys, I believe that it's kind of like two rails on a railroad track, and at all times you have something good and something bad in your life.

No matter how good things are in your life, there is always something bad that needs to be worked on.

And no matter how bad things are in your life, there is always something good you can thank God for.

You can focus on your purposes, or you can focus on your problems.

If you focus on your problems, you're going into self-centeredness, ^which is my problem, my issues, my pain.^

But one of the easiest ways to get rid of pain is to get your focus off yourself and onto God and others.

We discovered quickly that in spite of the prayers of hundreds of thousands of people, God was not going to heal my wife or make it easy for her.

It has been very difficult for her, and yet God has strengthened her character, given her a ministry of helping other people, given her a testimony, drawn her closer to Him and to people.

You have to learn to deal with both the good and the bad of life. Actually, sometimes learning to deal with the good is harder. For instance, this past year, all of a sudden, when the book sold 15 million copies, it made me instantly very wealthy.

It also brought a lot of notoriety that I had never had to deal with before. I don't think God gives you money or notoriety for your own ego or for you to live a life of ease.

So I began to ask God what He wanted me to do with this money, notoriety and influence. He gave me two different passages that helped me decide what to do, II Corinthians 9 and Psalm 72.

First, in spite of all the money coming in, we would not change our lifestyle one bit. We made no major purchases.

Second, about midway through last year, I stopped taking a salary from the church.

Third, we set up foundations to fund an initiative we call The Peace Plan to plant churches, equip leaders, assist the poor, care for the sick, and educate the next generation.

Fourth, I added up all that the church had paid me in the 24 years since I started the church, and I gave it all back. It was liberating to be able to serve God for free.

We need to ask ourselves: Am I going to live for possessions? Popularity? Am I going to be driven by pressures? Guilt? Bitterness? Materialism? Or am I going to be driven by God's purposes (for my life)?

When I get up in the morning, I sit on the side of my bed and say, God, if I don't get anything else done today, I want to know You more and love You better ...

God didn't put me on earth just to fulfill a to-do list. He's more interested in what I am than what I do. That's why we're called human beings, not human doings.

Happy moments, PRAISE GOD.
Difficult moments, SEEK GOD.
Quiet moments, WORSHIP GOD.
Painful moments, TRUST GOD.
Every moment, THANK GOD

Easing the Pain

This past week I had the unfortunate need to visit an endodontist for a root canal. I’m no stranger to the dentist chair and I’m sure my mouth has brought a smile to every dentist I’ve ever visited. If fillings were still made out of that silver stuff, I’d probably set off the metal detectors at the airport.

From prior experience, I knew there would be some lingering pain and after a couple of days, I’d be fine. Boy was I wrong. Through no fault of the dentist, I apparently had some infection that caused me excruciating pain. It was amazing how one little tooth could affect my whole mouth and body.

Life can sometimes be very similar to that tooth. Most of the time you take things for granted and then one day, you get hit with a sharp pain. In life, it may be that you were downsized in your job, or a family member passed away, or you find something out about your child that breaks your heart.

Whatever the pain may be, we thankfully have a “great physician” that can help diagnose and heal every heartache. Unbelievably there is no charge for His advice, He will listen to you day and night, and He will never make judgments about you. So the next time that pain strikes, reach out to the One who can help take your pain away and let Him speak to your deepest heartaches. Until next week …Walk in Love.

Lord, I want to thank you for each time that You have stepped into the life of my family and healed our pains. There has been discouragement and setbacks along life’s journey, but You have always been there to pick us when we were down. I pray that You would continue be with us in every decision we make. Especially help my child / children to trust in You and to know that You are the only real answer to life’s problems. In Jesus name.

Isa 40:28 Why would you ever complain, O Jacob, or, whine, Israel, saying, ^God has lost track of me. He doesn't care what happens to me^? Don't you know anything? Haven't you been listening? God doesn't come and go. God lasts. He's Creator of all you can see or imagine. He doesn't get tired out, doesn't pause to catch his breath. And he knows everything, inside and out. He energizes those who get tired and gives fresh strength to dropouts. (The Message)

Pain is pain, but if you can seek Him in the darkness of your midnight, your pain can become the wind beneath your wings that lifts you into His presence! -- Tommy Tenney

This Is My Motivation

By Kevin Schott, KIDS Inc volunteer/board member

In 1998 my good friend Jerry Barnaby invited me to come to KIDS Inc for a Tuesday Boys Night just to see what it was all about. God had other ideas.....I was hooked! I started out playing basketball with some of the guys week after week, then something happened that I never expected. Some of the guys actually started talking to me about their problems and situations at home. This opened up an awesome opportunity to present Biblical principals and why Jesus came to this earth.

In today’s business world you account for every dollar spent and try to do everything that you can to squeeze every penny out of that dollar. This is obviously done to maximize the profit margin and if done right can contribute to a successful “business plan.” As a member of the board of directors at KIDS Inc, we have a different business plan. Are we continuing to lead kids to Christ? Is Jesus being lifted up in every program that we have throughout the week? Are we being good stewards of every penny that comes into God’s ministry? He has entrusted us with His children. He has a plan for His children. We must continue to teach, preach, guide, pray with, and listen to his children. This is God’s “business plan” for KIDS Inc!

The following is a copy of a letter from a young man named Nick that I received from the staff of KIDS Inc a few years ago.

“Before God came into my life this is what it was like: My parents got divorced when I was nine and I didn’t have a father figure in the house so I didn’t respect authority. My mom got a boyfriend that was a main thing that messed me up. He yelled at my mom and he came home drunk. That made me not have respect for women because I thought that was what being a man was about. My friends- they were Goth and didn’t believe in God. I tried to be cool and not believe in God. This lead to me quitting school because I didn’t see the point in going. When I skipped school, we would run around and vandalize stuff and do drugs. I ended up in juvenile for a month and on house arrest. I was diagnosed with depression and felt that I had no reason to live. My lowest and scariest point was when I thought I was going to fail my drug screen and get sent to Boy’s School for 6 months. Nothing made me feel valuable then, but I tried to make myself feel valuable by getting girls. I now feel ashamed for how I was using them to make myself feel better.
After I got off house arrest, I started going to KIDS Inc. every chance I had and I don’t know why. I just felt the need to be there. Even though I had gone to KIDS Inc. before and gotten kicked out, when I went back this time I kept thinking about God and how He had to be real. I knew if I didn’t change my life, I would be like my dad and be lazy and smoke pot all day and have no reason for life except getting high and getting money to get high. I had to change if I wanted to get closer to God... so I changed. But I still knew I wasn’t exactly where I needed to be.
Then one day, Shalin, my friend that works at KIDS Inc., called and told me that In Pursuit had an opening in an Alpha trip. I was reluctant to go because I didn’t want to leave my mom alone dealing with my troubled brother. Everybody at KIDS Inc. kept bugging me about going because it was an amazing opportunity. I finally gave in and said yes. I am glad I went on the Alpha trip because everybody was kind to me and I felt free to be a Christian. My counselor, Chad, was cool and I looked up to him. The day that we were leaving In Pursuit, I asked Shalin if there was any way I could come back. She begged Rich to let me come back and he found a scholarship to put me in a 3 week TST. I love TST! Being in TST meant I had responsibility which made me feel relieved to be doing something important. Working didn’t just have to be for money, it could be for God. TST helped me to respect other peoples’ feelings and helped my relationship with God. My relationship with Jesus started during TST. I felt loved by Jesus and by the people around me. I finally felt valuable and loved, and felt like I had a reason for living. My favorite part was learning more about Christ and making Christian friends. I could share a lot of my feelings with my new friends because they believed in God. My counselor, Bill, was great because he understood me. At the end of 3 weeks, I didn’t want to leave.
Now I am in a better understanding of God and Jesus. I pray for my family, my friends, and for my relationship with God. I seek Him by reading the Bible daily and praying. In the future, I want to work at In Pursuit so I can help people to see that God is real by showing them the same Christ-like love that I received. I feel that God also wants me to work for Him in my neighborhood by showing them that I was the same way and that if Jesus can save me, He can save them too.”

I could’ve written an entire article on how God has blessed my life since He brought me to KIDS Inc ten years ago, but nothing says it better that this testimony. If you would like to volunteer or support KIDS Inc in any way please call or email Paul Velazquez at (317) 917-0451. This is what it’s all about. THIS IS MY MOTIVATION!

Because I Belong to God

For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me,” says the Lord Almighty. 2 Corinthians 6:15

A lot of people will wake up this Tuesday morning filled with the resolution that in 2008, they will be different. They will think differently, they will do different things, and subsequently, life will be better. At least that’s what they hope.

But within a few days or weeks, most if not all, will lapse back into old behaviors, old attitudes, old patterns. That goes for Christians, too.

No matter how passionately you feel about pleasing God right now, living a holy life in 2008 will depend on a few key decisions.

Decision #1: Will I live my life in the power of God’s Spirit and not in my own strength or willpower?

Decision #2: Will my personal life be determined by God’s Word and its wise application? Between me and God—I will live according to what He has said is right.

The Bible describes this as holiness—being “set apart; separate.” The word actually means “to mark off a boundary.” Read 2 Corinthians 6:15-19 at the top of the page for specifics.

Separation is holiness in action. It’s drawing a line in the sand and saying, “I don’t go there; I don’t look at that; I won’t tolerate that in my life. I belong to God. I’ve made a choice and by God’s grace I’m not going back.”

Living a holy life begins with building convictions and living within those boundaries. The best time to make that lifestyle decision is today—before you’re in the heat of the moment, apart from the pressure of the choice.

Have you drawn protective, preventative lines around your life? If you haven’t established your own convictions based on God’s Word, you’re going to fail. You might do O.K. for a season, but if you don’t heed God’s call to come out and be separate, you’ll waffle right back into that old pattern of defeat.

If you’re ready to break the cycle, start here. Say, “I resolve once and for all that with the Spirit’s help and power, I’m doing it God’s way. I belong to Him.”

Maybe you’ve been struggling in a particular area of sin and you wonder if you’ll ever get victory. Hear the tender call of your loving Father, be done with that. Those things don’t fit in your life.

Maybe you’ve tolerated your rationalized behavior a long time and the Spirit of God wants your attention about the compromises you’ve been excusing. Before you make a choice you can’t reverse and reap a whirlwind of consequences, heed the piercing word of His Spirit saying, “Come out from that and be separate.”

I don’t know how the command could be any clearer, loved ones. God’s Word says to separate from the world’s lifestyle. Don’t touch what is unclean; don’t sit on the fence, don’t straddle the line, don’t be double minded. God’s says: “Be holy as I am holy.”

There’s joy and blessing waiting for you in 2008 when you live in the protective boundaries of God’s holy call on your life.

Amnesia

I went to sleep praying and woke up with a head ache. I must have prayed toooo hard.

You see, I have a lot on my mind at this point of my life. We’ve just entered the year 2008 and life is going in a different direction than I had imagined.

All of that brought me back to the lifelong question, “Who am I”? Which reminds me of several movies I have seen which depict people who have suffered accident or loss, or injury or disease and have lost their identity. They can’t remember who they are, amnesia they call it.

Many methods are used to help them try to regain their true identity. Some are seeing old friends, hearing favorite songs, eating favorite foods, visiting familiar places, going back to childhood surroundings and the worst, shock therapy.

What will it take for me to regain my true identity? Would I even know if I found it? How will I begin the journey? Do I even want to find out?

I started out life at an early age and close to my mother. Life began in a small mid-west town and at a time when the streets were still dirt roads. When you got off the highway which ran through the town, you were on a dirt or gravel road. Things like this are part of who I am, good, bad or indifferent. The two room school house that housed six grades, three in one room and three in the other. One teacher for each room. Many moves from our small town to the capital city and back again and as a child, never knowing why. This is a part of who I am. Amnesia would have been preferred to some of the memories, but … it’s part of who I am.

I’m going to take a large leap to another dimension, that of a spiritual nature. I must never forget or have selective amnesia about who I am spiritually. The price was too great and the suffering too intense for me to forget. The Crux of the matter, is the crux of the matter. The Cross, an instrument of death. We wear it around our necks with the glimmer of high polished gold or sterling silver on a chain to match. As one of our Pastors said last week, “Would you wear an “electric chair” around your neck, or a “hangman’s noose”, or a “guillotine”? Where do I find my true identity? How do I find my true identity? Who am I? Who’s am I?

God gave us an incredible gift, that of free will, an ability to choose. If you have ask Jesus Christ to be your Savior, you still have choices. The choices are, to obey or to disobey. You can never say, “Oh, I forgot”, or “I didn’t know” or have “selective amnesia”. You are accountable from day one of your spiritual journey about the choices you make. You can’t blame it on your parents, or your teachers, or your boss, or your spouse. When you become a Christian, the Holy Spirit comes to live within you and He will lead you into all righteousness. No Excuses. Now the choice is yours. Shock therapy or obedience?

This Thing Called Christmas

As I awake from sleep at 4:37 AM, my mind wanders to this thing we experience between Thanksgiving Day and New Years Day called Christmas. Sometimes I will hear “Christmas Carols” on the radio and think about the lyrics and whether they are telling an accurate story of what this season is all about.

The ones that talk about St. Nicholas or Santa Claus are an aspect of this season. But, why then don’t we call it St. Nicholas Day? How did the term St. Nicholas come to be and how did the term Christmas come to be? Which came first (the chicken or the egg?)?
Could you have a St. Nicholas Day without first having a Christ-mass day (it‘s not that I don‘t know how to spell, I‘m trying to get you to think “outside the box”)?

St Nicholas… if you type St. Nicholas into your web browser and click “go”, it will take you to all kinds of information on St. Nicholas. He was a real man who lived in the his adult years in A.D. 300’s and is reported to have died in A.D. 343. This should be your first clue as to “Who” came first. A.D. simply means, Anno Domini, in the year of our Lord. So… you have to have a Lord first. St. Nicholas lived in the area of Turkey on the south-west tip in an area called Myra. His life was dedicated to helping the poor, from the commandment that Jesus himself gave, “sell what you have and give to the poor”. Again, “Who” came first? The St. Nicholas celebration was held on December 6, to honor the death of St. Nicholas and help preserve the day of Christmas to focus on the Christ Child. St Nicholas’ life became legend and his mission became that of many, many people throughout the world. That is why St. Nicholas or Santa Claus is celebrated throughout the world. Much more can be said of St. Nicholas, but if you need that information, search it out for yourself.

Jesus Christ…again, if you type the name Jesus Christ into your web browser and click “go”, you will have a lot of information. He was a man who lived at a certain time in history. That time is what we now understand as the separation of B.C. and A.D., the actual date is uncertain, but his life is not. Jesus had many, many wonderful teachings such as, sell what you have and give it to the poor, turn the other cheek, honor your father and mother, and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength.

But… it was more than His life and teachings that make Him different from any other man. It was His death and resurrection that set Him apart from any other man or religious leader in all of history. To have death and resurrection, you must have a birth. Many, many religions follow the essence of Christianity without taking the person of Christianity.

The real teaching of Christmas is that Jesus was God who was born of a virgin, a miracle. That’s what we celebrate on December, 25th.

Super Lungs

It was one of those days you dream about if you live in Arkansas. Our summers are so hot and muggy that, when the weather finally changes, a fall day feels like heaven. On this particular Saturday, the morning was crisp and cool, and by the time I reached the football stadium the temperature was moving into the low 60s.

As I settled into my end zone seat to watch the Arkansas Razorbacks play Mississippi State, I thought there was no place I’d rather be that day.

And then, five minutes before the game began, everything changed.

I discovered that I was sitting directly in front of Super Lungs.

I’ll give the guy a little credit: He didn’t curse, did not appear to be intoxicated, and seemed like a nice guy. But his idea of having fun at a football game consisted of standing and yelling—non-stop, as loud as he could.

He yelled at the coaches. He yelled at the players. He yelled at the officials. He yelled at the Mississippi State fans in the next section. Always at the top of his lungs.

I don’t know whether all those people on the field heard him, but I sure did. My ears were two feet from his mouth.

It was an astonishing performance. Super Lungs kept it up for the entire game and never showed any sign of fatigue. His voice never grew hoarse. I got the feeling that years of training had given him superhuman powers. I’ve attended athletic events most of my life and I’ve seen a lot of loud and insufferable fans, but this guy made them all look like amateurs.

While my ear drums throbbed, I discovered that I had gained the power of reading minds. People all around me were turning to look at Super Lungs, and I could hear their thoughts: “Is he for real?” … “Is he never going to stop?” … “At least I’m not that poor soul sitting right in front of him.”

A few sympathetic souls caught my eye, and I could hear them thinking, “We feel for you, buddy!”

At halftime I escaped by walking for a few minutes outside the stadium. I could hear birds chirping in the trees and was thankful that my ears did not seem too damaged. I was thinking seriously of claiming one of the empty seats in the student section across the stadium when the thought occurred to me: I could write a Marriage Memo about this!

Words of wisdom from Proverbs came to mind. I thought of verses like Proverbs 12:18: “There is one who speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” Or Proverbs 10:19: “When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise.”

The thing that struck me about Super Lungs was that he seemed clueless about the way his behavior was affecting those who were seated near him. Did he observe the looks of weariness and dismay, the whispered conversations? Was he so caught up in his world that he failed to notice he was ruining the experience for hundreds of others?

And yet wasn’t his behavior just an extreme example of what we all do on a daily basis—fail to consider how our behavior is affecting those around us? How often do I say things without thinking of how my words wound my wife or my children? How often am I so caught up in my little world that I fail to notice those around me?

I thought of Matthew 22:36-40, where Jesus was asked “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied:

^'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the first and foremost commandment. The second is like it, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.^

The more I think about these two commandments—to love God with all your heart, and to love your neighbor as yourself—the more I realize that they provide a powerful summary of what much of the Bible is about. This is what God is calling us to do, and of course our inability to do it is why He sent Jesus Christ to live among us and to pay the penalty for our sin.

I suppose there is nothing more difficult than to pull out of my little world and to think of my wife, Merry, before myself—to consider her needs as more important than my own (Philippians 2:1-4). Super Lungs was a good reminder to me of the battle I face every day.

And so I returned to my seat, and endured another 90 minutes of non-stop shouting. Somehow it seemed easier to bear, knowing that I could write about it.

I guess you can learn from anything.

A Box of Chocolates

Thirty days ago our missions team were in flight from Accra, Ghana to Amsterdam, in route to Detroit and then home again in the Indianapolis area; with an aggressive case of reverse culture shock. After being in the Accra area for ten days and actually into “the bush” for two days we saw the simplicity and sometimes poverty in which other people live.

Today, December 4th, I went into a church building to do some business. As I was leaving I saw a box of chocolates sitting on the counter of the reception area, assuming it was there for visitors or those passing by to help themselves. So I looked carefully to find just the right chocolate to satisfy my taste buds. Upon closer inspection I noticed that several had been squeezed or broken into and then left in the box. The Receptionist said, “We have a lot of picky eaters around here”.

The Lord spoke into my heart at that exact moment. Someone had given these chocolates as a gift for several people to enjoy. Seemingly, several people didn’t like the gift and returned it to the box and selected another piece or maybe had to repeat the testing process several times to “get what they wanted”. My heart was broken. We here in America have more of the worlds resources than anywhere in the world, and yet we pick and choose and are many times not grateful for the simple gift that has been given. The people in Ghana would have gratefully and graciously been so thankful just to have a box of chocolates, not caring what the filling was, just to have the sweet savor of something in their mouths.

Then the Lord spoke again, “Christians are the same way, they pick and choose their way through My Bible and take the things they like and are pleasing to their taste, but leave the “bitter” things, even though they are as true as the sweet. Christians live life in their own way and on their own terms, not considering My ways and My terms”.

Forest Gump once said, ”Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get”. My friends, please, please, please be thankful for all you have. In this season that we celebrate our Lord’s birth, remember, For God so loved the world, that He gave… don’t reject the Gift!. When this season is over, don’t put Jesus back in the “box” and put Him back on the shelf for another year.

I did not ask to be born in America, but I’m thankful I was. I did not ask to be born Caucasian, but I am. I did not ask for God to reveal Himself to me, but He did. Grace and Peace to you all.

The Resume of Jesus Christ

The Resume of Jesus Christ

Address: Ephesians 1:20
Phone: Romans 10:13
Website: The Bible. Keywords: Christ, Lord, Savior and Jesus
_____________________________________________________

Objective
My name is Jesus -The Christ. Many call me Lord! I've sent you my resume because I'm seeking the top management position in your heart. Please consider my accomplishments as set forth in my resume.
____________________________________________________________
Qualifications
· I founded the earth and established the heavens, (See Proverbs 3:19)
· I formed man from the dust of the ground, (See Genesis 2:7)
· I breathed into man the breath of life, (See Genesis 2:7)
· I redeemed man from the curse of the law, (See Galatians 3:13)
· The blessings of the Abrahamic Covenant comes upon your life through me, (See Galatians 3:14)

Occupational Background
· I've only had one employer, (See Luke 2:49)
· I've never been tardy, absent, disobedient, slothful or disrespectful.
· My employer has nothing but rave reviews for me, (See Matthew 3:15 -17)

Skills Work Experiences
· Some of my skills and work experiences include: empowering the poor to be poor no more, healing the brokenhearted, setting the captives free, healing the sick, restoring sight to the blind and setting at liberty them that are bruised, (See Luke 4:18)
· I am a Wonderful Counselor, (See Isaiah 9:6). People who listen to me shall dwell safely and shall not fear evil, (See Proverbs 1:33)
· Most importantly, I have the authority, ability and power to cleanse you of your sins, (See I John 1:7-9)

Educational Background
· I encompass the entire breadth and length of knowledge, wisdom and understanding, (See Proverbs 2:6)
· In me are hid all of the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, (See Colossians 2:3)
· My Word is so powerful; it has been described as being a lamp unto your feet and a light unto your path, (See Psalms 119:105)
· I can even tell you all of the secrets of your heart, (See Psalms 44:21)

Major Accomplishments
· I was an active participant in the greatest Summit Meeting of all times, (See Genesis 1:26 )
· I laid down my life so that you may live, (See II Corinthians 5:15)
· I defeated the archenemy of God and mankind and made a show of them openly, (See Colossians 2:15)
· I've miraculously fed the poor, healed the sick and raised the dead!
· There are many more major accomplishments, too many to mention here. You can read them on my website, which is located at: www dot - the BIBLE. You don't need an Internet connection or computer to access my website.

References
Believers and followers worldwide will testify to my divine healing, salvation, deliverance, miracles, restoration and supernatural guidance

In Summation
Now that you've read my resume, I'm confident that I'm the only candidate uniquely qualified to fill this vital position in your heart. In summation, I will properly direct your paths, (See Proverbs 3:5-6), and lead you into everlasting life, (See John 6:47 ). When can I start? Time is of the essence, (See Hebrews 3:15 ).

This is an awesome witnessing tool. Send this resume to everyone you know, you never know who may have an opening!

Have you sent this resume to anyone? What was the outcome? How did your friend respond? Please post your comments below for others to read.

Coming Up Out of the Valley

Last week I wrote about how thankful we should be in spite of life’s troubles, and while I thoroughly believe that, we need to realize the enemy of our soul puts us to the test regularly. Not more than 24 hours after writing my e-mail, my youngest daughter starting complaining about her chest and back hurting after she had returned home from college. Since she is slightly lactose intolerant, I thought the milkshake she had had might be the cause. But the next day she was in terrible pain and couldn’t sleep or get comfortable. So we scheduled a doctor’s appointment and after some testing we found out that she had gall stones and would have to have her gall bladder removed.

Life can be a roller coaster ride of mountain top experiences and valley experiences. For me, I tend to compartmentalize my valley experiences something like this:

Big Valleys – a wayward child, finding out you have serious illness, losing your job, or the death of friend

Medium Valleys – your car breakdowns, hassles with the insurance company, or having a major report due to upper management on 24 hours notice

Small Valleys – stubbing your toe, forgetting to pay a bill and getting a finance charge, having a customer cancel after driving 2 hours to see them

But as they say before a football game, “the game is won in the trenches”. We need to do the basics of blocking and tackling in our personal life. Things like praying, reading the Bible, fellowshipping with others believers, being honest and trustworthy, working hard, having a thankful heart and having integrity. When you put these things into practice in the game of life, even the big valleys seem a little smaller.

This Thanksgiving, take some time to focus on the basics. Be thankful for all that you have and take some time to bless at least one member of your family. Whether it is a child, a spouse, a parent, or a sibling; find a way to encourage them. Then when the enemy comes to kill (your joy), steal (your witness) or destroy (your life), remember the One who will stick with you through all those valley experiences. Only He can give you a life that is more abundant than you can imagine. Until next week … Walk in Love.

God, I know there are times in my life and the life of my family that circumstances seem to be turning against us. I realize these are not from You, but from the one who wants to destroy us and who wants us to give up on our life with You. Help me to keep a positive attitude during these battles knowing that You are in control and You won’t allow these situations to overwhelm us. Be my strength and protector as I look to You for all my needs in life’s journey. In Jesus name.

John 10:10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

God will not spare a man trouble. But He will help a man be a man in the midst of it. When a man yields to God in difficulty, he turns weakness into strength. Richard Halverson

The Lesson of the Cucumber Tulip

I want to share a story with you that I heard this past Sunday. Actually, it was the ‘rest of the story’ that was shared after the service by our guest speaker, Bud. During the sermon, he told how he and his wife had stopped at a house while on a walk to check out a somewhat rare Cucumber Tulip tree. The owner of the tree eagerly talked about it and about his life, but it wasn’t until after church that I learned the lesson of the Cucumber Tulip.

Around the lunch table, Bud shared how the guy they had been talking to suddenly burst into tears and told them that he should be dead right now.

Bud went on to tell the old man’s story of how one day as a child he neglected to do one of his chores and how furious his dad was with him. As a punishment, he was not allowed to go with his father and five brothers to town for a soda later that day and watched as they drove down the road without him.

Minutes later, while still in sight, there was a terrible accident. The old man, who was then a small boy, ran to the gory scene of the accident to find that all five of his brothers had been killed and that his father who had a broken neck died when they attempted to move him.

I’ll never forget Bud’s observation, “That man carried the guilt and grief for fifty years because his dad left mad and hadn’t restored his relationship with his son.”

I’ve thought about that since then and wondered how often I get mad, hurt feelings, and then leave without restoring the relationship. I guess I sometimes assume that I’ll be able to ‘make up’ later.

After hearing Bud’s story, I know that isn’t always the case.

So, Dad, learn the lessons of the Cucumber Tulip, the little boy who would become an old man, and the power of an unmended relationship. Let me encourage you, if you have some unfinished business with a child or your wife---to make it right, TODAY! You don’t know what might happen just down the road. You need to keep relationships right because no amount of time can heal a broken father/child relationship.

Hopelessly Romantic

Saturday, September 22nd was a rough day for us. Jill and I went to a marriage conference at a local church to hear Gary Thomas speak. Gary is an author and frequent guest on FamilyLife Today. He’s written many books geared toward moving us closer to Christ. Sacred Marriage was the topic of this seminar. Gary challenged us to consider this question: “What if God designed marriage to make us holymore than to make us happy?”

It was a difficult day because I got offended at something Jill said to me and allowed pride to fill my heart. Instead of communicating with her, I withdrew. We sat next to each other, but we were miles apart. The wall between us thick, cold and high. I’m sure we were a sight to see for those around us.

You see, I’m a hopeless romantic. I read books on marriage and listen to programs on marriage all the time. I have a picture in my mind of what my marriage should look like. The problem with this is that this image is not reality. It’s what I call a phantom. And when I begin to compare reality to this phantom, the phantom wins every time.

Gary Thomas referred to this in his seminar. He talks about how we want the perfect marriage with all the romance and excitement of Hollywood. That’s just not how marriage is designed to function. God has designed marriage in sucha way that all of our faults and flaws are revealed most every day so that we’ll see where we need to change to become more like Christ. My life was more simple when I was single because I normally got what I wanted. Marriage doesn’t accommodate to my wishes so easily. In fact, being married challenges me to “die to self” multiple times every day. Saturday was no exception…I simply made the wrong choice and chose to live to please my flesh. I was wrong!

Too many couples get married having wrong expectations. Romance is a wonderful thing and should be a part of every marriage. But to have this as the goal of marriage is not good. We need to enter marriage with the idea of serving our spouse. We need to build a life-long “conversation” with our mate and allowthe trials of life to drive us closer to each other as we grow our committed love. We need to see our mate as our friend, not our enemy.

Satan is crafty and deceptive. He’ll make you think your mate is out to get you and is saying things just to be mean. THAT is rarely the case. Your spouse loves you and wants the best for you. You and I need to stop believing the lies of our real Enemy and start believing the Truth about our mate.

God finally broke through my pride, though it was after the seminar. Jill and I had a great talk and began working through the issue of that morning. As hard as it was, Saturday may have been a turning point in our marriage. I learned that romance is an important ingredient in a healthy marriage, but it shouldn’t be the focus or barometer. I was reminded that Jill is NOT my enemy and that I need to hear what she is saying, process it through the correct “filter” and then respond in a Christ-like way. Jill is a gift to me from God. I want to love, honor and cherish her as we build our marriage on the hope found in the gospel of Jesus Christ. Anything less will simply leave me… hopelessly romantic.

Check out the book:

Never Too Late for God

No matter what has happened in your past or what pain you have endured, the Lord has been and will always be with you. Look at Joseph´s life. In Genesis 50:20, Joseph, second in command in Egypt, tells his brothers, ^You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.^ His brothers plotted to kill him, then decided to sell him into slavery. Later in Egypt, he was falsely accused of assault and spent two years in jail.

Because he successfully interpreted pharaoh´s dream about seven years of plentiful harvest followed by seven years of famine, Joseph was elevated to Egypt´s prime minister. He helped Egypt and the region survive a devastating famine.

Remember, someone else´s action against you is not the bottom line. God can still redirect your life to reflect His glory. His hope will sustain you as you move forward in life. It´s never too late for God!

SCRIPTURE READINGS

2 Thessalonians 1:3-12
2 Timothy 3:10-17; 2 Timothy 3:10-17
Genesis 50:15-21; Genesis 39: 20-23; 42; 42:5-7

Visit The Urban Alternative at www.tonyevans.org

Slow Down and Listen

Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.
—Jeremiah 33:3

Life moves at high speed, and we spend our minutes, hours, days, weeks and years trying to keep up with its ferocity. Over the course of our lives, we accomplish a consequential amount, but the unanswered questions of our heart and soul are often left unexplored. We fall short for two reasons.

First, we are faced with issues so great and so numerous that our energy flows in only one direction. Our time and attention are activity-driven, rather than interior-driven, and we find it increasingly difficult to re-direct our energy to what is inward, unspoken, undefined. Secondly, the very prospect of entering the unseen spaces within us, where life's questions lurk, can feel so daunting that we hesitate to dip our toes into water so black.

The path away from the whirl of activity and into the interior world of ^great and hidden things^ is by way of prayer. When first we decide to follow this path, we feel fidgety and unfocused. Being still seems as foreign to us as it would to a busy squirrel searching feverishly for nuts scattered on earth's dark soil. We may need to drink stillness in small doses, until it feels more natural, more delectable.

But once we stop our exuberant and endless activity and quietly begin to call out to the Holy One, we will find ourselves discovering diamonds that before had been hidden from sight. Even the smallest moment of stillness, the smallest cry to God, begins the unveiling of what makes us truly human, truly holy.

Even that small moment in God's presence can be one of whispered awe.

O God, let me stop my frenetic scratching and scurrying so that the mysteries of life can be revealed to my hungry, silent soul.

The Signposts for September are written by Renée Miller, author of Daily Vitamins for the Soul, which can be purchased at lulu.com. These Signposts were originally published on explorefaith in 2004.

What Guides Your Life

Oh, how I love your law! I think about it all day long. Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, foot your commands are my constant guide. Yes, I have more insight than my teachers, for I am always thinking of your decrees. I am even wiser than my elders, for I have kept your commandments. I have refused to walk on any path of evil, that I may remain obedient to your word. I haven't turned away from your laws, for you have taught me well. How sweet are your words to my taste; they are sweeter than honey. Your commandments give me understanding; no wonder I hate every false way of life. Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path.

Psalm 119:97-105 NLT

No Other Book

I have guided my life by the Bible for more than sixty years, and I tell you there is no book like it. It is a miracle of literature, a perennial spring of wisdom, a wonder of surprises, a revelation if mystery, an infallible guide of conduct, and an unspeakable source of comfort.

Pay no attention to people who discredit it, for I tell you that they speak without knowledge. It is the Word of God itself.

Study it according to its own direction. Live by its principles. Believe its message. Follow its precepts.

No man is uneducated who knows the Bible, and none is wise who is ignorant of its teachings.
SAMUEL CHADWICK

Quoted by R. Kent Hughes in 1001 Great Stories and Quotes , Tyndale House Publishers (1998) pp 29-30

A Bible which is falling apart usually belongs to someone who is not.
CHARLES H. SPURGEON

God did not give us the Scriptures to increase our knowledge, but to change our lives.
D. L. MOODY

God is Faithful

The book of Habakkuk is a four-chapter conversation between God and the prophet. Habakkuk had lots of questions for God. First, he couldn´t understand why God would use an evil empire to punish His people. Can you identify with Habakkuk? You may also struggle with God´s timing or ask what on earth He is doing. Yet Habakkuk provides a powerful lesson about God´s faithfulness and faith in our Creator.

The secular world view offers several options to cope with trouble: first, resign yourself to your fate with no hope for change; second, distract yourself with alcohol and drug abuse, promiscuity or an unhealthy quest for wealth; third, put on a false bravado, holding your chin up while you´re really falling apart internally.

Habakkuk chose to trust in the reliability of God. God calls us to act in faith and remember His character, believe His Word and trust the testimony of believers, including yourself. Just as you trusted God yesterday, you can trust Him today.

SCRIPTURE READINGS

Psalm 119:1-16
Psalm 119:49-64; Psalm 4
Habakkuk 3; Habakkuk 1

Visit The Urban Alternative at www.tonyevans.org

Volunteer For GreatFaithStories.com

We’re on a mission from God! OK, that sounds a little nutty, but it is true. Have you ever felt a calling so strong in your life that you just had to act on it?

Our calling is a web site called Great Faith Stories (www.GreatFaithStories.com). About a year ago we felt a strong urging to create a blogging based web site that allows people to share how God is working in their lives. Sort of like a YouTube for stories.

We wondered: What is the value of one story that has the power to change a person’s life? Can a story give inspiration, hope or encouragement that speaks into another person’s life? Such a story can cause a stirring and a desire in people to better themselves and others around them. We believe that is a story worth telling.

So…Given the daily pressures of life and a year later after the initial idea, the site is launching!

This is where you come in. If you have a passion for the Lord and a desire to spread inspiration, hope, and encouragement then we need you. We’re looking for anyone that believes in this idea that can spare any time to just search the web and look for great “God Stories”. Your job would be to find out if we can post the story on our site and then use our web site to post the story. Good story sources would be authors of blogs you’re already reading, pastors, friends, etc.

Our goal is to get a good base of stories loaded into the site so that as we begin to publicize the site, there will be relevant content to read. Once we start getting traffic to the site, the stories will start to get added from the site visitors.

We need your help. Please pray about this volunteer opportunity. We believe God is going to use this vehicle to touch many lives. If you are interested, please email us to find out how to get started.

Thanks and God Bless.

Winning Too Much

I recently read an article by Marshall Goldsmith entitled, “When Winning Isn’t Worth It” written primarily for business people. But as I read the article, I realized how much it applied to parenting. Take this test for yourself and see how you do.

You want to go to dinner at restaurant X. Your spouse and your friends want to go to restaurant Y. After some discussion, you end up going to restaurant Y where the service turns out to be lousy and the food even worse. Do you choose option A: Critique the service and point out how wrong everyone else was or B: Shut up and have a nice evening with friends. Everyone knows the answer is B, but many of us who love to win just can’t help ourselves

I thought how appropriate this is in parenting when we know we are right, and the child probably knows we are right, but we just can’t help ourselves. We have something to prove and we need to point this out to everyone who will listen. As a parent, have you ever had the need to prove to your child (especially teens) that they were wrong on a minor or trivial point? Was it worth it to win the battle? In almost all cases the answer is NO.

I remember taking a Sunday School class years ago aimed at parenting and the theme that was discussed almost every week was two things: 1. pick your battles and 2. what is more important, winning the battle or the relationship? In most cases the point doesn’t matter that much and the relationship means everything.

I know that I’m as guilty as the rest of you of this subject and probably worse than most. So as a reminder to all of us as the summer months wear on, pick your battles. Are the holey jeans, excessive make-up, or droopy pants worth damaging the relationship you have with your son or daughter? Try to focus on the major issues in their life and learn to let go of everything else. After all, isn’t that what Christ does with us every day? Until next week … Walk in Love.

Lord, I thank you for my child / children. There are times when (he, she) is difficult to understand and can make life so frustrating. Help me during those times to remain calm and patient, just like you do with me. Help me recognize the true source of the disagreement and make the appropriate comments to diffuse the situation. Give me Your heart so that I can become the loving parent You desire me to be and give me peace for all of life’s difficult circumstances. In Jesus name.

Romans 14:1 Welcome with open arms fellow believers who don't see things the way you do. And don't jump all over them every time they do or say something you don't agree with—even when it seems that they are strong on opinions but weak in the faith department. Remember, they have their own history to deal with. Treat them gently. (The Message)

The peace of God is an eternal calm like the cushion of the sea. It lies so deeply within the human heart that no external difficulty or disturbance can reach it. Anyone who enters the presence of God becomes a partaker of that undisturbed and undisputable calm. Arthur Pierson

When The Shaking Comes

I know this is going to age me, but do any of you remember the little jingle that went by the name of the “hokey-pokey”? We use to go to the roller skating rink and that was one of the traditional songs they played every time. It was the most popular song of the entire evening; even more popular than the couples skate. Everyone would gather in the middle of the floor in a big circle and the song would begin. “You put your right arm in, you take your right arm out, you put your right arm in and you shake it all about. You do the hokey pokey and you turn yourself around, that’s what it’s all about”.

For some reason that song came to mind the other day and then, like any number of those crazy songs, I couldn’t get it out of my mind. God does work in mysterious ways because I began thinking how our children’s lives are like that crazy song. They can be in flow with Christ during their lifetime, they can be out of the flow, and they can be in flow, but be shaken by all the challenges that life brings.

Unless you are one of the few parents that have the privilege of living with a perfect angel, you will know what I mean when it comes to the shaking process. There are stages where self centeredness, lying, drinking, sex, and disregard for authority can raise its ugly head in any family. Yet there are times when prayer, helping others in need and loving the unlovable manifests itself in our child’s life. But oftentimes, there is that fine line between being in or out in your walk with Christ where the real shaking comes in. We all desire to be totally in tune with Christ, but reality suggests we are not. We are not perfect and neither are our children.

So what do we do? We pray like our children’s lives depend on it and we love them unconditionally while trying our best to point them in the right direction. Then when the shaking from this world comes about, we will be able to hang on for dear life knowing that God will help us in our time of need. Until next week … Walk in Love.

Lord, I see all of the challenges and difficulties my child / children has on a daily basis. The enemy of this world would have (him, her) think that the pleasures of sin are greater than anything You can offer. But there is no greater pleasure than feeling Your presence in our lives. Help (him, her) to understand this and help me to guide (him, her) in that direction. So when the storms of life gather at (his, her) doorstep, You can come in and calm the waters. In Jesus name.

Eph 6:11-13 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.

Difficulties are God's errands; and when we are sent upon them we should esteem it a proof of God's confidence- as a compliment from God. Henry Ward Beecher

Developing Thick Skin

Most experts agree that as we age, our skin has a tendency to get thinner. The elasticity begins to wear out and the aging process depletes other important nutrients from our bodies to make this happen. However, before the skin ever gets thin, it must go through a rigorous process which we all must develop in parenting teens. As our children reach their teen years (and maybe even a few years beyond), we start developing a “thicker” skin to survive. It happens just as certainly as the thinner skin does when we become elderly.

Without that thicker skin we’d be unable to survive those years when are children go from cute elementary school kids to some pretty obnoxious teens. For many parents, they can’t believe it is happening as the first layers of new, thicker skin begin to form. Next, we find out our child doesn’t want to be seen with their parents and instead would rather hang out with their friends. Add another layer of skin. During the next phase, the skin really starts grow. Driving leads to high insurance premiums, cars that are breaking down, and worrying when they come home late. Then it is dating and all of the concerns that go with that. Next it is grades, college, and paying for college that really adds to the thickness of your skin and it seems like it will never end.

In reality, developing thick skin is just part of being a parent. It is listening, praying and being there for your child, even when they aren’t so lovable. By doing so, you have played a major part in helping them realize an independence and confidence in themselves that will last a lifetime.

So if that skin feels a little thick, stretched and tired now, just remember that some day in the not too distant future it will return to normal. You will be so happy to see it and will fully understand that you have just completed a huge part in the parenting process. You will have survived the teen years and can hopefully say that you wouldn’t have traded those experiences for anything in the world. So try to enjoy that thick skin while it lasts. Until next week … Walk in Love.

Lord, there are so many times during the teen years that I’m not sure that all of us will make it through alive. My child / children can one day be so kind, compassionate and loving, and the next day be just the opposite. Help me to understand that it is just part of the maturing process and love (him, her) no matter what may happen. Give me the strength and wisdom to be a Godly parent so that I can help (him, her) grow into the person You created (him, her) to be. In Jesus name.

I Cor. 3:14 If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward.

Troubles are often the tools by which God fashions us for better things. Beecher, Henry Ward

The Ultimate Gift

Over the summer, our family read the book, “The Ultimate Gift” by Jim Stovall. The book reading is one of those traditions that we started two years ago and everyone seems to enjoy it, providing we find the right book. I try to choose books that are interesting and have some real life issues that it requires some thinking. We all share the reading, but since I’ve already read the book and know how it will end, I get an opportunity to watch how it impacts everyone else as the story unfolds.

In “The Ultimate Gift”, there are 12 life gifts that a young man has to grasp before he can receive his inheritance from his grandfather. Some of these include the gift of family, the gift of dreams, and the gift of laughter. Each gift plays out in various acts until finally; the grandson receives the ultimate gift.

Although I enjoyed relating to every gift in my own life, I think the one that had the most impact on me was the gift of gratitude. The author states that if we dwell on what we already have, we will realize that our lives are already filled to overflowing.

If it has been awhile since you have done this, try thinking of 10 things that you are thankful for this week and stick them on your refrigerator. Too many times we wallow around in self-pity, when in reality we have much to be thankful for. As Christians, we should all have salvation at the top of our list. For without God’s grace, we’d never experience the ultimate gift of salvation in our lives. Until next week … Walk in Love.

Lord, I want to thank You for all the wonderful gifts that You have given me. Personally You have blessed me with my salvation, a wonderful wife, two terrific children, parents who have loved me unconditionally, a great family of sisters, brothers and in-laws, and more friends than I deserve. (Fill in your own list). There have been challenges and obstacles in my life, but knowing I have You beside me has made all the difference in the world. So today, I want to thank you for all that You have done for me and continue to do in my life. In Jesus name.

However many blessings we expect from God, His infinite liberality will always exceed all our wishes and our thoughts. Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Dry Bones Dancing

Today, many of God´s people feel stranded in a desert of hopelessness and emptiness. In Ezekiel´s day, the children of Israel were in tragic desperation, but God planned a spiritual miracle to demonstrate His power over any circumstance. Ezekiel watched God supernaturally restore a valley of dry bones into an army of living human beings . . . just as He promised.

In their day of despair, God focused their spiritual eyes on a brighter tomorrow when their relationship with Him would be better than ever. The God who made dry bones live again is all-sufficient for our every need.

When our disobedience distances us from God, our spiritual lives become like dry bones. Yet these bones can thrive again. These bones can dance! God promises a miracle of spiritual renewal in a place of hopelessness. God´s Word, living and working in you, restores life.

SCRIPTURE READINGS

Isaiah 49:5-13
Philippians 3:12-21; Psalm 23
2 Corinthians 1:1-11; Psalm 6; Ezekiel 37:3-6

Visit The Urban Alternative at www.tonyevans.org

9-11 Trucker

Have you heard about the trucker who has painted his cab and trailer with the names of all those who lost their lives in 9/11?

The trucker's name is John Holmgren from Shafer, Minn. He has been 'pulled over' numerous times just so the troopers can get their picture taken with the truck.

As you look at these pictures and remember 9/11, remember what Jesus did for you as well.

The Fellowship of the Red Bandanna

As stories began to emerge from the survivors of the South Tower of the World Trade Center, several mentioned a mysterious young man who stepped out of the smoke and horror to lead them to safety. They did not know who this man was who saved their lives, but this they did remember: Wrapped around his mouth and nose was a red bandanna.

For 76 minutes, the man in the red bandanna barked orders, and led people to safety down stairwells. He said, “I found the stairs, follow me.” He carried one woman down fifteen flights of stairs—on his back, while leading others to safety, urged them to keep going down, then headed back up.

Upstairs, a badly injured woman was sitting on a radiator when the man with the red bandanna over his face came running across the room and said, “Follow me. I know the way out. I will lead you to safety.” Then he led several survivors to a stairwell that took them to safety. He was never seen alive again.

Six months later, on March 19, 2002, the body of the man with the red bandanna was found intact alongside firefighters in a makeshift command center in the South Tower lobby buried under 110 stories of rubble.

Slowly the story began to come out. Welles Crowther graduated from Boston College where he played Lacrosse, always carrying his trademark red bandanna. In high school Welles was the kid who would feed the puck to the hockey team’s lowest-scoring player, hoping to give his teammate his first goal. At 16 he became a junior volunteer firefighter, following in his dad’s footsteps. After college he joined Sandler O’Neil and Partners and worked on the 104th floor of the South Tower. He always carried change to give to street people. His dream was to become a firefighter or public servant. On Sept. 11, at the age of 24, Welles Crowther became both, and also a hero -- the ^man in the red bandanna.^

(Compiled from news reports and used with permission by Alison Crowther).

We’re looking for people willing to go up while everyone else is coming down—to rescue men and lead them to the safety of the cross of Christ. The Fellowship of the Red Bandanna is offered to men and women who are willing to train, serve, and make a sacrifice to engage every man in America with a credible offer of Christ and the resources to grow.

“Follow me. I know the way out. I will lead you to safety.”

Welles was willing: willing to serve and to make a sacrifice for the good of others.
He was also prepared: he trained so when the time came he was ready. 25% of Secret Service duty is training— their credo: “repetitive training to overcome the negatives of self-sacrifice.
Welles did not miss his moment. He went up while everyone else was coming down.

You are someone who has been recognized as willing to go up while others are coming down. It is my privilege and honor to invite you to be part of The Fellowship of the Red Bandanna. Do you accept? I hereby initiate you into The Fellowship of the Red Bandanna by the grace of God and for the glory of Jesus Christ.

Superficiality is the curse of our age. . . . The desperate need today is not for a greater number of intelligent people, or gifted people, but for deep people.
-- Richard Foster

I tell you that this sweet and loving gaze of God insensibly kindles a divine fire in the soul which is set ablaze so ardently with the love of God that one is obliged to perform exterior acts to moderate it.
--Brother Lawrence

A Horn Honking Dad

Whew! I’m bushed. After searching and praying for a larger Familyman Mobile (FM3), we finally purchased one off Ebay, and I had to make a quick down trip down to Florida to pick it up and drive it home.

I’m not complaining, because it was a great feeling sitting behind the wheel of our big rig. This new RV (14 years old) is a diesel pusher, 8 feet longer, runs great, and looks great thanks to a new paint job. But the coolest thing is the air-horn.

FM2 had a dinky little horn, but FM3 has a big, honkin’ air horn. I’m talking a train/tanker ship kind of horn. It’s awesome! When I was driving down the highway all by myself, I just let her wail!!! Man, this is going to be a great RV.

When I got home, however, my wife almost burst into tears. See didn’t appreciate all the bells and whistles…or the horn. All she could see was the crummy, rough, old, and worn interior. She’s such a---woman.

But now, two days later, she’s caught the RV makeover vision, and we’ve torn up the inside and are on our way to creating our home on wheels.

But I’m really writing to remind you again about the influence you have in your children’s lives, and I’m not talking about all the stuff you try to influence them in. It’s not the sit down kind of lessons they’ll learn. It’s the very fabric of who you are that is the real influence.

I was reminded of that myself as I came tooling up I-75 just north of Orlando. It was about 7 o’clock at night when my phone rang. It was my son Ben (14).

“Hey Dad,” he began without any other greeting, “what time is it?”

After a slight hesitation, we both blurted out, “My FAVORITE time to drive.”

He knows me. He knows that’s what I always say when I’m behind the wheel of our RV as the sun hangs low in the sky and the air is cooler. A thousand miles separated us, but he knew that’s what I was feeling right then.

In thirty years, when he’s a dad and I’m old, he’ll be driving down the road as the sun sinks and think, “This is Dad’s favorite time to drive.” He’ll think about me, our RVing days, and our life on the road.

You know that thought may not seem like much, but it’s huge. Our influence is huge. Your influence is huge. Just be there, Dad. Don’t worry about whether you’re doing enough teaching or training---just be there, modeling what you want them to live.

If you would like to receive the ^Familyman Weekly^, sign up at www.familymanweb.com

God is Up to Something Great

Because of His grace, God takes our mistakes and turns them into miracles. Let´s be clear on this point: God does not endorse intentional sin. He´s not saying, ^Make all the mistakes you can, so I can use you even more!^
God can take sins that we have truly repented of and use them to make us better people. He uses our failures for His glory. Peter promised to stand by Jesus . . . no matter what. Yet Peter denied Him. Jesus´ act of forgiveness paved the way for Peter to do great things for the Lord.

Fast forward to the 20th Century where a high-ranking bureaucrat was imprisoned for his part in Watergate. Chuck Colson, burdened for other prisoners . . . men and women he never would have encountered except for his own failure . . . founded the ministry, Prison Fellowship. Yes, God uses bad for good and He´s up to something great in your life as well.

SCRIPTURE READINGS

Acts 2:29-41
Philippians 1:12-26; Exodus 14:19-31
Exodus 14:1-18; Exodus 2:11-15; 3:1-14

Visit The Urban Alternative at www.tonyevans.org

Enter The Twilight Zone

Hey Dad,
The story I’m about to share with you is weird---I mean Twilight Zone kind of weird. In fact, it might be better if you picture me wearing a black suit and tie as I describe it in a Rod Serling voice. So join me as we enter---the Twilight Zone. Na na na na---na na na na!!!

It was a night, like any other night. I was sleeping peacefully when something woke me---maybe it was a child’s cry, a dog’s bark, or maybe God just wanted to show me something important.

Rolling out of bed, I went to the dresser where I keep my glasses and felt around for the familiar frames. Finding them, I put them on, only to discover that I had placed my wife’s glasses on by mistake.

Everything was blurry at first, but as things came into focus, I became acutely aware that I was seeing life through my wife’s eyes, and it was freaky.

Drawn by some will other than my own, I began to walk around the house. I stepped into our garage that we are working on, and instead of seeing a simple project, I saw a huge, hideous beast that needs conquering.

“Is that how she sees it?” I wondered. But I already knew in my heart that it was.

I looked around the house and saw heaps of endless refuse.

I peered into the pantry and discovered a gaping cavern that can not be filled.

I ran upstairs and looked into each child’s room and saw sleeping monkeys capable of mischief and perpetual messes, who are constantly hungry.

Then a scary thought hit me---“How does she see me?”

With fear and trepidation (whatever that means), I crept towards a mirror and glanced in. I was aghast. Instead of my usual stud-like image, I saw a six-armed groping “thing” that is only kind when it “wants something.”

That’s all I could take so I quickly returned her glasses to the dresser and slipped back into bed.

Since then, I’ve thought a lot about that night with the glasses and realized (maybe for the first time) that my wife sees things very differently than I do. Things that seem like no big deal to me are overwhelming to her. It used to bother me that she makes such a big deal about them---but that was before I visited the Zone.

The bottom line is---your wife sees very differently than you do. That’s why she cries, gets frustrated, or overwhelmed when you wouldn’t.

So, Dad, learn from my story, or God just might take you to---The Twilight Zone.

PS – Check out this singing dad on utube. Several readers sent it to me. Turn up the volume, and go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAiiU2nwyDI

With God, Nothing is Wasted

God is not going to waste anything He can use! Before he was Paul, Saul had tremendous credentials, which he used against the church. Once Paul was committed to Christ, God was able to use Paul´s gifts to advance His kingdom. When God needed a strong leader in the early church, when God needed a man to write down the theology for His church, when God needed a man to stand up to Caesar yet talk straight to ordinary, hurting people . . . He used Paul.

How can God use your life? Even before you were saved, God already knew all your traits. God wants to sanctify the things that are already part of you so He can use them to advance His Kingdom.

Are you in a situation right now wondering how to turn it around for good? God is preparing you, positioning you and enabling you to do what He knows you can do most effectively.

SCRIPTURE READINGS

Psalm 51:1-13
2 Corinthians 12:1-10; Ephesians 4:1-16
John 15:9-17; Psalm 138; Psalm 139:13-18

Visit The Urban Alternative at www.tonyevans.org

Lasting Impact from Keynote Outreaches

One of the real privileges we have in Keynote is to join hands with military chaplains around the and sometimes overseas. Often we find receptive hearts in these men and women who may some day face death as they defend our country as well as other nations around the world!

However, our bands rarely have the opportunity to ^stick around^ when we work with military installations. At basic training locations, the recruits themselves aren't even around very long after the concert. So we continue to plant seeds, talk with people and let the concert hosts and military chaplains provide the follow-up.

About five years ago, one of Keynote's Summer Project bands visited Edwards Air Force Base in to perform an evangelistic concert. The comment cards indicated several decisions for Christ, but the band was on a tight schedule and had to leave shortly after the concert. Fortunately, we had a base chaplain excited to follow-up with the airmen.

Fast forward to a few weeks ago, when Chasing Elvis (one of Keynote's current bands) played at Bolling Air Force Base near Washington, D.C. and worked with, you guessed it, the same base chaplain that had been at Edwards Air Force Base! He told us of a young airman who accepted Christ at that concert five years ago. Chaplain McIntosh continued to disciple the airman and eventually baptized him, kept track of him in his new marriage, and recently performed the baby dedication for their new daughter. These two men continue to connect and the airmen is still walking with God and leading his family to walk closely with God as well.

^Life-Change^... another soul transferred from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of His beloved Son!

Keynote artists hit the road this week for a busy season of outreach concerts and a number of those concerts will take place on military installations. We also have international outreaches starting again in September - stay tuned for more information in our next update.

Thanks again for your interest in Keynote's ministry - We're grateful for your partnership!

PS. To contribute to Keynote's ministry and help even more individuals hear the gospel click this link: https://give.ccci.org/give/2278105

Why GreatFaithStories.com

Why build GreatFaithStories.com? Why not? That's the question we would ask. We believe that God is working in so many people’s lives and that needs to be celebrated. We need a place to post and read about the Glory of God and how He is working in this world today.

GreatFaithStories.com was built for one reason: To provide a place where people can share how God is working in their lives.

We want your stories. How is God working in your life?

Add your story right now.

Putting My Daughter to Bed Two Hours After the Bridge Collapsed

At about 6 PM tonight the bridge of Interstate 35W over the Mississippi River in Minneapolis collapsed. I am writing this about three hours after the bridge fell. The bridge is located within sight of Bethlehem Baptist Church. Most of us who minister at the church cross this bridge several times a week. At this point I don’t know if any staff was on the bridge. Desiring God offices are about a mile from the bridge.

There are no firm facts at this point about the total number of injuries and fatalities. When we crossed the bridge Tuesday on our way out of town, there was extensive repair work happening on the surface of the bridge with single lane traffic. One speculates about the unusual stresses on the bridge with jackhammers and other surface replacement equipment. This was the fortieth anniversary of the bridge.

Tonight for our family devotions our appointed reading was Luke 13:1-9. It was not my choice. This is surely no coincidence. O that all of the Twin Cities, in shock at this major calamity, would hear what Jesus has to say about it from Luke 13:1-5. People came to Jesus with heart-wrenching news about the slaughter of worshipers by Pilate. Here is what he said.

There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And he answered them, ^Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.^

Jesus implies that those who brought him this news thought he would say that those who died, deserved to die, and that those who didn’t die did not deserve to die. That is not what he said. He said, everyone deserves to die. And if you and I don’t repent, we too will perish. This is a stunning response. It only makes sense from a view of reality that is radically oriented on God.

All of us have sinned against God, not just against man. This is an outrage ten thousand times worse than the collapse of the 35W bridge. That any human is breathing at this minute on this planet is sheer mercy from God. God makes the sun rise and the rain fall on those who do not treasure him above all else. He causes the heart to beat and the lungs to work for millions of people who deserve his wrath. This is a view of reality that desperately needs to be taught in our churches, so that we are prepared for the calamities of the world.

The meaning of the collapse of this bridge is that John Piper is a sinner and should repent or forfeit his life forever. That means I should turn from the silly preoccupations of my life and focus my mind’s attention and my heart’s affection on God and embrace Jesus Christ as my only hope for the forgiveness of my sins and for the hope of eternal life. That is God’s message in the collapse of this bridge. That is his most merciful message: there is still time to turn from sin and unbelief and destruction for those of us who live. If we could see the eternal calamity from which he is offering escape we would hear this as the most precious message in the world.

We prayed during our family devotions. Talitha (11 years old) and Noel and I prayed earnestly for the families affected by the calamity and for the others in our city. Talitha prayed “Please don’t let anyone blame God for this but give thanks that they were saved.” When I sat on her bed and tucked her in and blessed her and sang over her a few minutes ago, I said, “You know, Talitha, that was a good prayer, because when people ‘blame’ God for something, they are angry with him, and they are saying that he has done something wrong. That’s what “blame” means: accuse somebody of wrongdoing. But you and I know that God did not do anything wrong. God always does what is wise. And you and I know that God could have held up that bridge with one hand.” Talitha said, “With his pinky.” “Yes,” I said, “with his pinky. Which means that God had a purpose for not holding up that bridge, knowing all that would happen, and he is infinitely wise in all that he wills.”

Talitha said, “Maybe he let it fall because he wanted all the people of Minneapolis to fear him.” “Yes, Talitha,” I said, “I am sure that is one of the reasons God let the bridge fall.”

I sang to her the song I always sing,

Come rest your head and nestle gently
And do not fear the dark of night.
Almighty God keeps watch intently,
And guards your life with all his might.
Doubt not his love, nor power to keep,
He never fails, nor does he sleep.

I said, “You know, Talitha, that is true whether you die in a bridge collapse, or in a car accident, or from cancer, or terrorism, or old age. God always keeps you, even when you die. So you don’t need to be afraid, do you.” “No,” she shook her head. I leaned down and kissed her. “Good night. I love you.”

Tonight across the Twin Cities families are wondering if they will ever kiss a loved one good night again. Some will not. I am praying that they will find Jesus Christ to be their Rock and Refuge in these agonizing hours of uncertainty and even loss.

The word “bridge” does not occur in the Bible. There may be two reasons. One is that God doesn’t build bridges, he divides seas. The other is that usually his people must pass through the deadly currents of suffering and death, not simply ride over them. “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you” (Isaiah 43:2). They may drown you. But I will be with you in life and death.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, ^For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.^ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life . . . will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:35-38)

Killed all day long. But not separated from Christ. We go through the river. Not over it. He went before us, crucified. He came out on the other side. He knows the way through. With him we will make it. That is the message we have for the precious sinners in the Twin Cities. He died for your sins. He rose again. He saves all who trust him. We die, but because of him, we do not die.

Jesus said, ^I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.” (John 11:25)

Talitha is sleeping now. But one day she will die. I teach her this. I will not always be there to bless her. But Jesus is alive and is the same yesterday today and forever. He will be with her because she trusts him. And she will make it through the river.

Weeping with those who weep, and those who should,

Pastor John

Psalm 71:20 You who have made me see many troubles and calamities will revive me again.

Terms and Conditions

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF USE

Vortex Ministry, Inc.

Vortex Ministry and GreatFaithStories.com does not claim ownership of anything you write or submit.

PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING TERMS AND CONDITIONS RELATING TO YOUR USE OF THIS SITE CAREFULLY.
By using this site, you are deemed to have agreed to these terms and conditions of use. We reserve the right to modify them at any time. You should check these terms and conditions periodically for changes. By using this site after we post any changes to these terms and conditions, you agree to accept those changes, whether or not you have reviewed them. If at any time you choose not to accept these terms and conditions of use please do not use this site.

Scope of Terms and Conditions
These terms and conditions apply to your use of all of the sites and services owned or operated by Vortex Ministry Inc., referred to here as Vortex and collectively ^we,^ ^us,^ or ^our^, including greatfaithstories.com, and any other site that we own and operate or may own or operate in the future (collectively, the ^Sites^). Unless we say otherwise, all references to the Sites in these terms and conditions include all such sites. These terms and conditions do not apply to your use of unaffiliated sites to which any of the Sites only link.

Restrictions on Use of Material
The contents of our Sites are protected by copyright and trademark laws, and are the property of their owners. Unless we say otherwise, you may access the materials located within the Sites only for your personal use. This means you may download one copy of posted materials on a single computer for personal, noncommercial home use only, so long as you neither change nor delete any author attribution, trademark, legend or copyright notice. When you download copyrighted material you do not obtain any ownership rights in that material.

You may not modify, copy, publish, display, transmit, adapt or in any way exploit the content of the Sites. Only if you obtain prior written consent from us - and from all other entities with an interest in the relevant intellectual property - may you publish, display or commercially exploit any material from the Sites.
You must abide by all additional copyright notices or other restrictions contained in any of the Sites.

Links
These terms and conditions apply only to the Sites, and not to the sites of any other companies or organizations, including those to which any of the Sites may link. We are not responsible for the availability of any other site to which any of the Sites links. We do not endorse or take responsibility for the contents, advertising, products or other materials made available through any other site. Under no circumstances will we be held responsible or liable, directly or indirectly, for any loss or damage that is caused or alleged to have been caused to you in connection with your use of, or reliance on, any content, goods or services available on any other site. You should direct any concerns to that site's administrator or webmaster.

Other sites may link to any of the Sites only through a plain-text link. Permission must be granted by us for any other type of link to the Sites. To seek our permission, you may write to Vortex Ministry, 1101 3rd Ave SW, Carmel, IN, 46032. We reserve the right, however, to rescind any permission granted by us to link through a plain-text link or any other type of link, and to require termination of any such link to any of the Sites, at our discretion at any time.
Submissions

The Sites contain a number of areas through which you will be able to submit materials to us (collectively, ^Submissions^). For example, your Submissions might include articles or reviews you have written, photographs you have taken, or messages you would like post to chat rooms or forums. We do not claim ownership of any of your Submissions. However, by making a Submission you (a) grant to us and our affiliates, representatives, and assigns an irrevocable, perpetual, non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide, transferable license (with the right to sublicense through multiple tiers) to use, reproduce, prepare derivative works of, distribute, adapt, publish, translate, publicly display, transmit or otherwise dispose of your Submission (in whole or in part, alone or together with other materials) in any format or medium now known or later developed, including without limitation for advertising and promotional purposes, (b) warrant that you have the right to grant the foregoing rights to us, (c) agree that we have no obligation to compensate you for your Submissions or to exercise any of the foregoing rights and that any such exercise shall be in our sole and absolute discretion, (d) warrant that your Submission does not contain any material that is abusive, vulgar, threatening, harassing, libelous, defamatory, or obscene, that invades a person's privacy, that violates any intellectual property rights or that violates any law, (e) warrant that your Submission does not solicit funds, or advertise or solicit goods or services, (f) agree that we may, and may authorize others to, identify and credit you as the author of your Submissions and use your name and pertinent biographical data in connection therewith, and (g) agree to indemnify and hold us harmless from any and all loss, damage, and/or expense (including reasonable attorneys' fees) that we may suffer arising from or related to the exercise by us of the foregoing rights or the breach or alleged breach by you of any of the foregoing warranties by. We are not responsible for screening Submissions for any reason. We retain, however, the right to reject, modify or remove Submissions that we, in our sole and absolute discretion, consider unacceptable. Whether or not we reject, modify or remove a Submission, you remain solely responsible for the content of your Submission. If we highlight any particular Submission in any area of the Sites, any promotional materials or otherwise, such conduct is not intended as, and should not be deemed to be, an endorsement by us of such Submission.

Copyright Infringement
We respect the intellectual property rights of others. Accordingly, we have a policy of removing Submissions that violate copyright law, suspending access to the Sites (or any portion thereof) to any user who uses the Sites in violation of copyright law, and/or terminating in appropriate circumstances the account of any user who uses the Sites in violation of copyright law. Pursuant to Title 17 of the United States Code, Section 512, we have implemented procedures for receiving written notification of claimed copyright infringement and for processing such claims in accordance with such law. If you believe your copyright is being infringed by a user of the Sites, please provide written notice to the following agent for notice of claims of copyright infringement.

Your written notice must: (a) contain your physical or electronic signature; (b) identify the copyrighted work alleged to have been infringed; (c) identify the allegedly infringing material in a sufficiently precise manner to allow us to locate that material; (d) contain adequate information by which we can contact you (including postal address, telephone number, and e-mail address); (e) contain a statement that you have a good faith belief that use of the copyrighted material is not authorized by the copyright owner, the copyright owner's agent, or the law; (f) contain a statement that the information in the written notice is accurate; and (g) contain a statement, under penalty of perjury, that you are authorized to act on behalf of the copyright owner. Please do not send notices or inquiries unrelated to alleged copyright infringement to our designated agent.

Registration
We may, at our discretion, suspend or terminate the registration of any general user who violates any of these terms and conditions of use, any of the forum member guidelines or for any other behavior that we in our discretion believe is inappropriate.

Disclaimers
THE SERVICES, PRODUCTS AND MATERIALS ON THE SITES ARE PROVIDED ^AS IS^ AND WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. WE DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

NEITHER WE NOR ANY OF OUR RESPECTIVE LICENSORS OR SUPPLIERS WARRANT THAT ANY FUNCTIONS CONTAINED IN THE SITES WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED OR ERROR-FREE, THAT DEFECTS WILL BE CORRECTED, OR THAT THE SITES OR THE SERVER THAT MAKES THEM AVAILABLE ARE FREE OF VIRUSES OR OTHER HARMFUL COMPONENTS.

NEITHER WE NOR ANY OF OUR RESPECTIVE LICENSORS OR SUPPLIERS WARRANT OR MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS REGARDING THE USE OR THE RESULTS OF THE USE OF THE SERVICES, PRODUCTS OR MATERIALS IN THE SITES IN TERMS OF THEIR CORRECTNESS, ACCURACY, RELIABILITY, OR OTHERWISE. YOU (AND NOT WE OR ANY OF OUR RESPECTIVE LICENSORS OR SUPPLIERS) ASSUME THE ENTIRE COST OF ALL NECESSARY SERVICING, REPAIR OR CORRECTION TO YOUR SYSTEM.
NO ADVICE OR INFORMATION, WHETHER ORAL OR WRITTEN, OBTAINED BY YOU FROM US OR THROUGH THE SITES SHALL CREATE ANY WARRANTY NOT EXPRESSLY MADE HEREIN.
APPLICABLE LAW MAY NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OF IMPLIED WARRANTIES, SO THE ABOVE EXCLUSION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. TO THE EXTENT THAT WE MAY NOT, AS A MATTER OF APPLICABLE LAW, DISCLAIM ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY OR LIMIT ITS LIABILITIES, THE SCOPE AND DURATION OF SUCH WARRANTY AND THE EXTENT OF OUR LIABILITY SHALL BE THE MINIMUM PERMITTED UNDER SUCH APPLICABLE LAW.

We do not endorse, warrant or guarantee any products or services offered on the Sites. We are not a party to, and do not monitor, any transaction between users and third party providers of products or services.

Limitation of Liability
TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES AND UNDER NO THEORY OF LIABILITY (INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO NEGLIGENCE), WILL WE OR ANY OF OUR OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, DIRECTORS, SHAREHOLDERS, PARENTS, SUBSIDIARIES, AFFILIATES, AGENTS, OR LICENSORS OR SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, EXEMPLARY OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF REVENUES, PROFITS, GOODWILL, USE, DATA OR OTHER INTANGIBLE LOSSES) THAT RESULT FROM THE USE OF, OR THE INABILITY TO USE, THE SITES, THE MATERIALS ON THE SITES, OR ANY PRODUCTS OR SERVICES PROVIDED PURSUANT TO THE SITES, EVEN IF WE OR ANY SUCH PARTY WAS ADVISED OR SHOULD HAVE KNOWN OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. APPLICABLE LAW MAY NOT ALLOW THE LIMITATION OR EXCLUSION OF LIABILITY OR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO LOST DATA), SO THE ABOVE LIMITATION OR EXCLUSION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE TOTAL LIABILITY TO YOU BY US OR ANY OF OUR OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, DIRECTORS, SHAREHOLDERS, PARENTS, SUBSIDIARIES, AFFILIATES, AGENTS, OR LICENSORS OR SUPPLIERS FOR ALL DAMAGES, LOSSES, AND CAUSES OF ACTION (WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT, OR OTHERWISE) EXCEED THE AMOUNT PAID BY YOU TO US, IF ANY, FOR ACCESSING THE SITES. THE FOREGOING LIMITATIONS ON LIABILITY SHALL APPLY NOTWITHSTANDING THE FAILURE OF ANY LIMITED REMEDY OF ITS ESSENTIAL PURPOSE.

No Personal Advice
The information contained in or made available through the Sites (including but not limited to information contained on message boards, in text files, or in chats) cannot replace or substitute for the services of trained professionals in any field, including, but not limited to, financial, medical, or legal matters. In particular, you should regularly consult a doctor in all matters relating to physical or mental health, particularly concerning any symptoms that may require diagnosis or medical attention. We and our licensors or suppliers make no representations or warranties concerning any treatment, action, or application of medication or preparation by any person following the information offered or provided within or through the Sites.

Parental Permission
Some of the information available on the Sites may not be appropriate for children. Further, the Sites are not directed to children under the age of 13 and we will not knowingly collect personally identifiable information from children under the age of 13. WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT PARENTS PARTICIPATE IN THEIR CHILDREN'S EXPLORATION OF THE INTERNET AND ANY ONLINE SERVICES AND USE THEIR BROWSER'S PARENTAL CONTROLS TO LIMIT THE AREAS OF THE INTERNET TO WHICH THEIR CHILDREN HAVE ACCESS.

We may, at our discretion, require users under the age of 18 to obtain the consent of a parent or guardian to view certain content, and we may limit access to certain content to users above a specified age. You agree to abide by any such restrictions, and not to help anyone avoid these restrictions.
We reserve the right to charge fees, surcharges and/or membership fees for all or any of its services currently provided for free at any time upon thirty (30) days' prior written notice to you. We also reserve the right to modify or discontinue any Site (or portion thereof) with or without notice to you.

Privacy Policy
We are committed to protecting your privacy and security and have explained in detail the steps we take to do so. We urge you to read our Privacy Policy. You agree that we may use any information that we obtain about you in accordance with the provisions of our Privacy Policy.

Jurisdictional Issues
We control and operate the Sites from our offices in the United States of America. We do not represent that materials on the Sites are appropriate or available for use in other locations. Persons who choose to access any Site from other locations do so on their own initiative, and are responsible for compliance with local laws, if and to the extent local laws are applicable.

Miscellaneous
These terms will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Indiana, without regard to any principles of conflicts of law. You agree that any action at law or in equity that arises out of or relates to these terms will be subject to binding arbitration in accordance with the American Arbitration Association and will be arbitrated in Indiana. If any of these terms and conditions are found unlawful, void, or for any reason unenforceable, then that provision will be considered severable from the remaining terms and conditions, and will not affect the validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions. This is the entire agreement between you and us relating to the subject matter it contains and supersedes any prior communications, understandings or agreements between you and us with respect to its subject matter. These terms shall be construed without regard to any presumption or rule requiring construction against the party causing such instrument or any portion thereof to be drafted, or in favor of the party receiving a particular benefit under these terms. These terms and each and all of the provisions hereof bind and benefit you, us and your and our heirs, executors, administrators, legal representatives, successors and assigns. The agreement between you and us reflected in these terms may be modified only by our posting of changes to these terms and conditions, or by a writing signed by both you and us.

(Last modified on July 1, 2007)