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Archive for August, 2006
My family is rapidly facing some pretty big decisions. We are in good health and my marriage is rock solid but we find ourselves in one of those seasons that we have no idea where God is at in a fairly signifigant part of our life. As much as you pray and declare, there comes a time when you cannot let circumstances make decisions for you. We are rapidly approaching that point.
I am not looking for a pep talk or condolences. This morning I enquired if the Lord was still on the throne and I was assured that He is. In that I am fulfilled.
Nevertheless, the planet continues to spin and the cycles of life march on and we have to make some decisions. So to you my handful of people (or less) who read this blog and have endured this long into this post I ask this of you:
- Please pray that God would show up mightly in our circumstances
- That we would follow His lead (closing and opening doors, you know the scriptures)
- If you happen to get a word - please send it to me at revivalblog at gmail dot com
Thanks
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Here is the latest posting from a missionary team to Albania. They have been there seven years and the wife and mother of small children is dieing.
Lynette has begun to slip away from us. A few weeks ago when we learned that the cancer had begun in her liver we believed that it was at an early stage and that we would still have some time together. Since then, things have progressed very rapidly. 10 days ago a scan showed that cancer had completely taken over her liver and caused her liver to expand to fill most of her abdomen. Since then, she has begun to show signs of liver failure with these becoming acute in the last 48 hours. She is extremely tired, sleeping throughout the night and most of the day. She has begun to lose her motor skills; things like drinking out of a glass have become very difficult. She has spilled her water on herself many times in the last two days. It is becoming difficult for her to think and speak clearly. The doctors say that her time is now very short. Those who are planning to come and visit are accelerating their travel arrangements in hopes of arriving while she can still communicate.
We returned from the girl’s summer camp yesterday. The evening before we left Lynette gathered her strength and mental faculties to spend about one hour speaking to the girls about the end-of-life and preparation to meet our Lord. This was a beautiful time in which the work which God has done in Lynette shown out so clearly. Death is almost never talked about here in Albania and terminally ill people are not told that they are dying so we pray that Lynette’s testimony will help these young women to prepare for a Christian end to their lives.
We continue to be so grateful for the companionship of each one of you on this difficult journey. We have been so wonderfully sustained by you in so many ways. I asked your prayers especially for these last days and hours which we have with Lynette. Though we have known it was coming for a long time, the end has come suddenly and there are still many things which we would like to finish. Please pray that she will have at least a few hours of strength and clear thought and that we will use these moments well. Also pray that those who are coming to visit will arrive in time.
Pray for the children and I, and that we will have a sustaining sense of His presence. My eyes are full of tears as I write but I also have a strong sense of joy. The jewel which I have been privileged to hold a short time is slipping away from me, but I know that she will be held in far more worthy arms until we are reunited. I am so blessed in these days by her joy and her faith and her love. She is truly an icon of Christ to me which is sustaining me.
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when we stand before the seat of judgement how will we answer when this is brought up?
Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. (1 Tim 6:6-12)
and
Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. (1 Tim 6:17-19)
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Is this how we live? Are these the values we embrace?
Matt 5:3-12
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall b6e called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
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My three year old daughter has gastroenteritis. She is quite miserable and breaking my heart. If I hear one more “Daddy, my belly hurts.” I may cry.
Please take the time to pray for her right now.
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I preached to the the youth that did not go to the AG National Fine Arts Competition. We had about 55 people go so I got to preach to the remnant. Had a message on Ephesians 4. David recently asked about Apostles and Prophets. I don’t think this was your average youth group message but there were almost as many adults as students.
note: If anyone wonders why I am talking so fast, I found that is the key to keeping their attention. You talk slow and they nap in between words.
I am normally a preacher but for some reason I taught this message. Not the most dynamic message but at the end of the night many got revelation of their call and that was most important to me.
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I have several sites. None of them make me any money. I thought I had an idea for one the other day while in prayer. I tinkered around a little and put it up then linked to it from a couple other sites I have.
Can you tell when Google and Yahoo found the site?
update: I put up that graphic prematurely. That turns out to only be half of the visits I got yesterday.
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Here is stuff that I found interesting. some of this is interesting for good reasons, others for not so good and yet more that is to be determined later. If you need something to look at, have a gander.
- human video –
I don’t really know how to describe this video - Evotional.com - Originality, Authenticity, Creativity –
This video had me in tears. - God Hates Figs –
This is a funny take on a similar hate speech site
- Aug. 2006 Expecting Club #15624.1 –
All I can say is wow!
These are links that I found interesting. Just because I found it interesting does not mean I agree with it. I find the workings of cults interesting, but only so I can help their members come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. You know what I mean.
Since almost nobody reads this blog it may really not matter.
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By now most people know that Church Growth Today put out its list of the 100 fastest growing churches in the U.S.
They list 11 independent Charismatic Churches and 5 Assemblies of God churches among the 100. I thought it would neat to put together an interactive map showing where all the Spirit-Filled churches are. So off I went to the websites of the churches listed
The only problem was that I could not tell the Baptists churches from the Pentecostal ones. There was a time when Pentecostals were persecuted for their faith but that is no longer the case. Is it because we no longer glory in the second blessing?
Do we just have a different way of doing church or is there something inherently different about being Baptised in the Holy Ghost? I don’t bash people over the head with doctrinal differences but when people from other streams of Christianity ask me counsel about following God or overcoming sin or engaging in the Great Commission my first advise is almost always,
Did I not get the memo that we have to trick people into coming to our services?
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I use firefox. If you don’t. It’s really time. I decided to view something in internet explorer today and saw how the formatting was all messed up! Nobody told me. I have fixed to problem and now all is well.
I read my rss feeds with the sage reader which is a plugin for Firefox.
Does anyone else find it funny that this ad won’t show up in IE?
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Now, I am not putting down anyone called to the mission field. To pack up and move to a new locale, be it across the state or across the world, is a radical thing. But somehow, when I think missionary I think of Sumrall backpacking on a mule through Burma. Now please do not get me wrong. I have nothing but respect for those of you who have laid down all to follow the call.
But I read this article in Al Jazeera of all places. They talk about South Korean missionaries in Afghanastan. Now that’s radical faith. Didn’t they have to send that guy to France who admitted he got save 10 years ago to keep him from being killed?
I have written before about the United States abdicating its role as chief among missionary nations. In this case it makes sense. Americans are not exactly going to get the red carpet in the Middle East but still. I am provoked by this.
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