Is it possible?

Is it posible for God to have a good outlook and positive future in mind for our lives? How can we be sure that God's destiny for us is good? What about the "Job" experience? Will I have to lose everything? There is a verse that answers this question, Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope." We can rest and be at peace knowing that God is not out to kill us or destroy us. He has good desires for you, wants to bless you and bring you into his place of purpose and destiny. Just trust Him, He knows best! Isn't a joy to serve others?

We will miss Imelda!

How can a small town pastor compete with the big city famous Icon named Joel Osteen? The answer is obvious, I can't. Imelda our fearless and competent secretary is leaving small town Harlingen to big town Houston this week. Her new pastor will be Joel Osteen. Imelda has been a part of our church family for many years. She has been an inspiration to all of us. She has grown into an awesome leader and has fined tuned some of her spiritual gifts. She has touched more lives that you can shake a stick at, and has been a great secretary and church member. She has a great ability to communcate both verbally and by text she will be greatly missed by all. Finding a body to replace her is not a big problem, but replacing Her is impossible. My loss is pastor Joels gain. Not only does he have good looks but now he also has my secretary! Some guys get all the brakes! Isn't it a joy to serve others?

India Childrens Home Fundraiser

It is always a challenge to raise funds for mission projects. I'm not one to just sit around and wait for something to happen, I have something inside that makes things happen whether good or bad. So, I contacted a friend that has a home business and signed up. I figured that anything I make off this I'll sow into the childrens home. Check out my web page, look at the products, if you find something you like, let me know and I will gift it to you and give you a membership for free. www.trivita.com/11684521

Oh NOOOOOO!!

Most members assume that the pastor doesn't have to face the same stuff that the rest of the people face. And if he does, well, he's the pastor, he can handle it. I've heard of pastors walking off of their platforms never to return to face their world again. A pastor is on call 24/7, deals with life and death situations, tries to encourage depressed people in impossible situations. Yet he always expected to be upbeat, isn't allowed to have a "bad day", is expected to be the example for others to follow without making any mistakes. I can understand why pastors burn fuses, go over the edge, and fail in peoples eyes. The apostle Paul tells us of some of his afflictions and trials. In 1 Corinthians 11:23-28 he tells of his beatings, imprisonments, danger of death, in danger of robbers, sleepless nights among other things. Then he says something amazing in verse 28. "Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure upon me of concern for the churches." He is saying that the pressure and care for the church is more difficult to deal with than all of the external sufferings that he had to deal with. I'm not asking for sympathy here, but just take into consideration that pastors are human, we eat, put on our trousers and shit just like everybody else. Allow us the same grace for change and growth that others are given. Be patient with us and give us a brake like you do with others. The pressure that Paul talks about is real, more real than what the normal church member will ever have to face. Philippians 2:13 says "for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure." Isn't it a joy to serve others!

Kristi Arrives

As soon as I can I will post a pic of our newest member of the family, Kristi. She is six or seven, not quite sure, she doesn't know her birthday. If I have the story strait, she was with her father who was a begger on the train system in India. One day he decided to sell his girl to a family. He sold her and just left! She excaped from them and began to beg on the streets for food, shelter anything to survive. One day she came across the childrens home and saw the kids playing, laughing and having a good time. She pleaded with the directors to let her stay too. How can you say no? The problem is that there is no more room, not even for a mat to be rolled out on the floor. She is sleeping outside under the porch and is eating meals with the rest of the kids. We hopefully will be able to rent soon another house and move the boys there. This will give us more room for more children. We send money to buy an acre of land and soon to build a childrens home there. Please pray for the childrens home. Isn't it a joy to serve others!

In-Law Invasion

For years when we lived in Mexico as missionaries we saw very little of our family back home. Every once in a while our parents would come to visit or on an ocassional trip up north we would be able to spend some time with family. It was hard for our kids to grow up without seeing grandparents. It was hard for us to be absent from family over a long period of time. For the past three years though Becky's parents have become "winter texans" and have spent the winter months with us. It has been so good for Becky and our kids to spend quality time with them. Since returning to the Valley some years ago we have had more access to my parents because of their ministry close by. There is a price to pay when we follow Christ. Many people don't answer the call to serve because of the ties they have with family. Jesus had to deal with the same issue. When he was teaching one day some folks interupted him and said that his family was outside wanting to see him. Jesus answered and said, "who is my family, but he that does the will of God." We have found that since we were willing to give up family in obedience to Gods call that we have inherited a much larger family abroad. We have so many brothers and sisters in foreign lands that gives us joy in knowing that lives have been changed through our willingness to go. The in-laws have sold the home here and are moving up north. We will miss them deeply. They have loved us and continue to accept us with all our weaknesses and flaws. I guess that is why family is so important to have around. Everybody needs to be loved unconditionally.

I hate the Devil!

I was chatting with Hepsiba, she is the lady caring for the children in our childrens home in India, and she told me that Usha (picture on left)has been diagnosed with TB. I knew that when we took these kids off the streets of Chirala that there might be some serious obstacles to overcome. When I heard this news today, I got angry at the devil. He is the author of sickness and desease. I'm angry coz Usha is the sweetest girl that you would ever meet. She is beautiful and is in love with Jesus. I need to ask all of my blogger friends to take this need in prayer to Jesus. He alone can heal and deliver her. Please pray for her as if she was your own child. She has no mother or father or sibling to comfort her. I hate the devil, he attacks the weak and helpless. He is ruthless! and a coward! He is as a lion going about seeking whom he may devour. He preys upon the needy and hopeless. But Jesus, He came to destroy the works of the devil. Please agree with me in this prayer: Satan, take your hands off Usha now is Jesus name. You cannot have her. Loose her and let her go. Touch her Jesus with your nail pierced hand. In Jesus name, amen. Jesus came to serve others!

Don't lose your Joy!

It Amazes me how much effect people have on our attitude and joy level. If you listen for 2 minutes to someone who is depressed, you start to feel the same way. Depression and bad attitudes are contagious! And we allow other peoples emotions to determine how our day is going to be. Paul and Silas had a great opportunity to lose their joy. They cast a demon out of a lady and as a consequence got thrown into jail. It was a complete injustice to them. They had every right to murmur, complain and get angry with God. They had every right to ask the "why is this happening to me" question. But they didn't allow their circumstances to determine their attitude. At midnight they began to sing songs of praise to God. Don't allow your circumstances or other people determine your joy level. Your attitude is one thing in life that you have some control over. You can't control other peoples attitudes but you can control your own. You can have a good presence about yourself even when all around you are mad at the world, God and George W. Bush. Get in the presence of God and let that determine how your day is going to be. Isn't is a joy to serve others?

Dear Bloggers

Hello again my blogger friends. I appreciate you dropping by to read my thoughts. I thank those of you who leave a comment or send me an email telling me that you read occasionally. We just returned from an awesome Conference in Baton Rouge, Lousiana. We were challenged by some tremendous speakers from Columbia, Brazil, Germany, England and the US on how to be fruitful and effective in serving others. One friend that went with us was healed of a birth deffect in his ear and was able to hear for the first time in 42 years from that one ear.

If you are looking for work, there is lots of it available in Lousiana. Katrina has created a huge job market in this area. It was hard to find restaurants open or with the proper staff to take care of customers. Traffic was a mess! Its nice to be back home again.

Our staff in India are excited about soon seeing a childrens home built. I've learned that faith requires action. To step out and trust that the Lord will come through and meet the need. Some of the kids have the measles. Fun! The doctor came and gave them a shot. So using some medicine and the power of prayer they soon will be back to normal.

Thanks again for dropping by, isn't it a joy to serve others?