Family Reflextions

It was so good to have family home for Christmas. We have so much to be thankful for. I am thankful for my son Jason, he has taught me so much about life. Since we adopted him as a new born baby, Jason has taught me about unconditional love. I learned how the father loves us and is committment to us as we too have been adopted into His family. I am proud that Jason is serving the Lord and walking in Gods purpose for his life. I guess out of my three children, I love him the most.

I also am thankful for Robert, our first born child. I am so proud of Robert as I see him now as a husband and father. I see his patience with his two boys, his tender care and love for his wife, Gracie. Robert has taught me to never give up on the promises of God. As through his teen years I wondered a time or two what might be the outcome of his life. He is a great son, and now a great husband and father. I guess out of my three kids, I love Robert the most.

Then there is Patricia, I missed her this Christmas as well as Chris her husband and Calista my grand daughter. I am so proud of Trisha. She has been a perfect daughter, (Trish, I know that you are not perfect, so don't think that you have to be). She has brought such joy to my life. She also has taught me many lessons of life. She has the laughter and joy of her mother, always positive and looking at the best in people. As I reflect about Trisha, her birth caused me to make an appointment with a Urologist and get a vascetomy ASAP. But seriously, out of all my kids, I love Trisha the most.

Grandpa and Dylan

Random thoughts

I just recieved word that the three children in our Childrens Home in India have been released from the hospital and are doing well. One of the directors of the home was also in the hospital and is also released. We are thankful for the Lord touching these kids.

My fast is coming to an end. Just a few more days to go. I think that it ends on Tuesday. I am expectant to see what the Lord will do in 2006. I beleive that this is the year for a bountiful harvest and even the hard places will over flow with abundance.

It will be nice to have family together for Christmas, even though I am not eating it will be nice to fellowship and watch everybody enjoy themselves. I hope that Becky likes the Iron and pots and pans that I purchased for her. (haha) If not, she can take them back to Big lots and exchange them for something else she might want..... Isn't it a joy to serve one another?

The Joy of Fasting

Sounds like a contradiction? How can there be joy in fasting? To many it seems absurd to deny their bodies three daily square meals and drink only water. There are many benefits to fasting, both spiritually and phyiscally. I am not going to expound on those here. I am on day 13 of a 21 day water only fast. It seems especially strange to fast during the holidays where there is so many good things to eat. Just the other night we had our christmas dinner and celebration. There I sat watching everybody enjoy their meal while I drank my glass of bad tasting water. Don't feel sorry for me though, the results are out standing. As my body becomes weak, my spirit becomes stronger. The anointing increases during a time of fasting. My ability to be sensitive to hear Gods voice is clearer. Obedience to His will is easier, and discovering His will for our church for the next year also becomes easier to define. One reason to fast is to prepare for my next trip to the Phillippines and to India in January. I want to be ready to cast out any demon that presents itself. I am expecting for God to move mightily there in the lives of the people. Fasting is a wonderful way to serve others.

Mission Accomplished

It took just one look in the Valley Morning Star Classified adds to find the perfect gift for the wife. If I tell you what it is, then I'll have to kill ya. (kidding) So what do you buy for the lady that almost has it all? The advertisment on the TV always says that "a diamond is a ladies best friend." But we all know that that is a BIG LIE! My mind goes to our childrens home in India during this Christmas season. Usha, a twelve year old girl is visiting the hospital every other day to receive treatment for puss pockets that she has on her skull. Seems that she needs some injections and ointment to be applied to her wounds. Ouch!! Anyway, while we are enjoying the blessings of God this year we really ought to be thankful for prosperity, health and all the blessings that we have been given over the years. Remember that it is more blessed to give than it is to receive.

Christmas is almost here!

I finally bit the bullet and bought a Christmas tree. Being raised in the Pacific Northwest and having worked in the Christmas tree Industry as a child to being an adult, I appreciate a good fresh tree. Even when we lived in Mexico as missionaries I was able to find something that looked green and resembled a tree. I've thought about buying an artificial tree and not bother about buying a fresh one each year. I just can't bring myself to do that. Every year, I have a hard time to get into the christmas spirit. As I reflect on why that is, I guess that as a child I had such high expectations of what might be under the tree that when my expectations weren't met and Santa let me down, I became disappointed. I detest the comercialism of Christmas, but do enjoy giving. Our tree is beautiful! Rebecca did an awesome job of decorating it and our home does have a christmas feeling to it. There are still some days until the big day arrives, maybe I'll be more into the season. One of my holiday thrills is the day after christmas when the tree is taken down and I light a match to it the evening and watch it burn!!

More Crusade pics from Tapachula, Chiapas

The devestation was massive in Tapachula, Chiapas from huricane Stan. The death toll is still unknown, but the estimate is in the thousands. I spoke to people that lost everything and yet there was in their eyes an unshakeable faith in God to provide and meet their needs. Where this river runs there used to be "colonias" and streets and churches, but now is just rubble. There are still people in shelters recieving food and clothes from friends and agencies. One lady told me with tears in her eyes that she was so thankful for the message of hope that God still loved her and has a good plan for her life. There were about 1,500 people that accepted Christ and many people were healed of different illnesses. What a joy it is to serve others!

Crusade Update

What a joy it was to visit Tapachula, Chiapas, Mexico and to minister to the lovely people of that region. There were approximately 11,000 during the three nights of conferences. Healings and miracles were seen each night with about 1500 decisions for Christ. A 94 year old woman was healed and started walking for the first time in years! A woman testified that she had no more pain that she had been dealing with from cancer! A mother brought her baby that was burning with fever for three days and the babies temperature returned to normal. Legs, arms, backs, shoulders and many other parts of the body were healed through the prayer of faith. Hope was given to the city recently devastated from huricane Stan. I spoke with people that lost everything, I noticed an inner strenght from the christian beleivers that are have put their hope and faith in God rather than material things.

Tapachula Crusade

I´ve havn´t had the opportunity to update my blog recently, it seems like I´ve been on the road trying to arrive and prepare for the crusade. On Friday, I did an interview with Televisa. This station covers all of Chiapas, southern Mexico and parts of Guatemala. The first night of the cruade there were about 2000 in attendance. About 300 people accepted Christ and there were many testimonies of healings. Tumors disappeared, back and kidney pain disappeared as well as many others things. The huricane Stan devestated this area. About 36 colonias totally were washed away in the torrent of water that swept through the area. Thousands of people were killed many others lost everything. The Lord is bringing a word of comfort and faith to this city to help ease the pain of the tragedy that happened. His great love is being put poured upon these needy people. More updates later with pics.........