Healings in Morelia, Mexico

I am in an internet cafe here in Morelia sharing what God did last night in our healing conference. First of all, about 75 people accepted Jesus into their lives. Thats totally awesome! Then when general prayer was made for the people for healing, many testified about pain and symtoms leaving their bodies. It´s always amazing to me to see people being touched by Gods love and power. Today we go to a ranch and later this evening we have another conference at the church. Working on the mission field is so much more fruitful than having to deal with the god of materialism and the religous spirits of the US. It always amazes me how much people in foreign lands honor and respect the gifts and callings on my life in comparison to the US where people are so used to these carismas and mostly take them for granted. Coming home soon and looking forward to the next missions adventure in July where we will do a Crusade in Palenque Mexico and then in Cancun. Is´nt it a joy to serve others!

Thanks

Thanks Cristina and Dee for your comments. It's nice to know that somebody checks in from time to time. Abe is encouraging me to write more often, I'll see what I can do. So Fred, Dee says that she cuts and pastes my blog to send to you. I want you to know that you are frequently in my prayers as well as your family. Keep up the good work out there my friend, I know that you are letting your light shine and touching lives there.
At our leaders meeting tonight we read in Isaiah 60:1-5 "Arise, shine for your light has come, And the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, darkness will cover the earth, and deep darkness the peoples, but the Lord will rise upon you. And nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising, lift up your eyes round about and see; they all gather together, they come to you. Your sons will come from afar, and your daughters will be carried in the arms. Then you will see and be radiant and yoiur heart will thrill and rejoice." Just take a few minutess and meditate on this and let the Holy Spirit speak to your heart. Isn't it a joy to serve others?

I wonder if anybody reads this??

Hmmmm, I know that there are a few people that check in to read my blod from time to time. But sometimes I wonder if anybody reads this blog? I'll keep blogging, its good therapy for me, gives me an outlet and an opportunity for folks to see a different side to me. This week I will be traveling to Morelia Michoacan to visit my friend Eli and there we will be doing a Healing and Miracle Seminar. We are scheduling two large crusades this summer. One in Palenque Chiapas and the other in Cancun. Well Jesus did say to go into ALL the world. Go figure! Our Project in India is going forward, we soon will be building the security wall around it. Pray with us for the $7,800 to get this part finished. I want you to remember something, God thinks that you are pretty neat and He is proud of you. No matter what to do or don't do, He is still proud of you simply because you are His special child. Isn't it a joy to serve others?

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Orphans Reach Out!

These children are performing an Easter play at the village branch church in Chirala, India. They are bold in their performance and obviously not ashamed of Jesus Christ. Please pray for Usha, she has TB as well as the other kids. We recently purchased a acre of land and will be building the security wall around the property soon. Isn't it a joy to serve others?

Grand kids

A sign that you are getting old is the fact that little critters start showing up called Grand-kids. When the first one arrived over 6 years ago I had an internal struggle. In my mind, grand parents are old. I saw that the next major event in my life would be having to use a cane or a wheel chair. Old age is inevitable, it chases us all. Now I have three critters with a fourth one on the way. I do enjoy seeing them from time to time, an ocassional visit is acceptable. The amazing thing about grandkids is that their parents are the kids we raised. I'm proud of my kids, they have stepped up to the plate of responsibilty and have not backed away. Robert has two kids, he is a good daddy. He goes to work everyday, is a good provider, loves his wife and kids. I am proud if him. He really has been blessed by the Lord with a great family. Patricia is a mom of a three year old pretty girl and the soon to be mom of a new born. Trish works part time, goes to school and takes care of her hubby. She is a real tropper! Her and Chris are doing a good job as parents and at life in general. Today at our easter dinner, Dylan (critter number one) took great pleasure in smashing confetti eggs on my head. What he doesn't know is that Grandpa has a long memory and pay-back is sweet. Isn't it a joy to serve others?

India Update

Just recieved word from our Friends in India that the land purchase has just been completed. It so happens that another parcel of land, 1.84 acres has just become available. This land is adjacent to the acre we just purchased. The asking price is $18,500.00 US. It would be nice to have this property as well to have an impressive compound and childrens home. With God all things are possible. I appreciate all of you who have taken this project to heart and are supporting it with your prayers and suuport. Soon Construction will begin on the security wall around our property. We are on our way to see this vision fulfilled!

I am blessed!!

It's hard to beleive that our daughter Patricia is having her 24th birthday this week. Wow! Where has time gone? You can tell who she was named after, right? We were so happy to bring her home to us. In fact she was such a blessing that imediately following her birth I found a Urologist in Irapuato where we were living and I got a vasectomy. NO MORE KIDS!! Praise God! With all kidding aside Patricia has been daddys' little girl until some punk kid swept her off her feet and took her to San Antonio. Oh well, such is life. I am blessed though, just the other night Patricia called and said that she just wanted to let me know that she loved me. Hmmm, there not much else that can melt a dads heart than to hear those words. As I look back over my years of fatherhood, its so easy to focus on the mistakes that I made. To me its a miracle that Patricia has turned out so well. She is an excellent daughter, wonderful wife (right Cristopher?) and I'm sure that she will be a wonderful mother of her expected child. Do you think that she might return the favor and name her new born child Patrick? Just a thought! I heard someone say that when we raise our kids we are actually raising our grandchildrens parents. Think about that! Isn't it a joy to serve others?

In India, time stands still

One of the first lessons I learned while in India is that there are no watches. We americans are known for being punctual, on time, never late (except when we go to church) and always on the run. Raju, our host in India told me (jokingly) that "here there are no watches". It seemed like the common answer to "when are we leaving?" was 5 minutes. Everything is five minutes. I'll be back in five minutes, please just five more minutes, we will be there in five minutes. I finally realized after 10 minutes or 15 minutes had passed that the "5 minutes" was just a figure of speach. I soon began to joke about the "5 minutes" took my watch off and just relaxed and went with the flow. Our out door crusades were to start at 7 pm. Rarely did we get going until 8 or 9 pm. What a way to live! Life without time! Just in case you are wondering, flights at the airport were leaving "on time". It looked like the train left "on time", church in India, like in america started on time, but the people arrived late. Having experienced the "no watch" concept, I decided that watches are good, being punctual is good, if you need a reason why I think this way, just look at the confusion and poverty that they live in. It doesn't take a genious to figure out that watches were made for a purpose. Isn't it a joy to serve others?

Tribute to Dad

I have been blessed to have a Father. In todays society many fathers have gone "missing in action". Thats not my case. From my earliest memories my dad has been there. I learned some important lessons in life by watching "his life". My dad is a "mans man". A hard worker, honest, sincere, lover of God, generous, helpful and an example to follow. I don't recall ever seeing him take a "sick day" or trying to sluff off on the job. He always gave his employer a better than an honest days worth of work. I wonder how he learned how to be a good dad? His father (my grand father) died when my dad was a young lad. My dad had to be the man of the house from an early age. My dad didn't have an example to follow or a mentor to guide and advise. How did he succeed in father hood? If half of the fathers today do half of what my dad did for his family, society would be different today. Sometimes we take our parents for granted, I don't. I'm thankful that as a child growing up, my dad was there for me. Took me fishing, hunting, swimming, family vacations, showed me what a father is supposed to do. Thanks DAD for everything, I love you!

Home alone

Wow, what am I going to do with myself for a couple of days? Becky is going to a Women of Faith Conference in Houston, Jason is going to Mexico City, looks like I'm stuck at home with the dogs! Thinking about it for a moment, I don't think it will be all that bad. I can use a little alone time, some time to meditate and think without having to do the "honey do's". I know the routine anyway, wash clothes, sweep and mop, do the dishes, take the trash out, feed the birds. Hmmmm, sounds like my alone time is already being filled with chores. I will go Friday to a house warming up in Mcallen, eat a little Bar-b-que, fellowship with the folks, sounds like fun to me. Where I really get to be alone by myself is on a foreign trip. I really enjoy that. Some of you might already know this, I really am a loner. I like to be by myself, left alone. Why the Lord put me in public ministry is a wonder to me! Isn't it a joy to serve others?

Sizzling Hot!

I've been teaching on the Book of Song of Solomon in our church. It's a love story between King Solomon and the Shunamite woman. It's symbolic of Jesus and our relationship with him as beleivers. She says, "Oh let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth for your love is better than wine." This is a great desire for her to be intimate with him. To be kissed, to be connected to, to be fastened together with Him. You know that when a man kisses a woman in a passionate way, the body gets turned on. The old body heats up and begins to feel the urge and desire for fulfillment. When we get connected with Jesus in that way, we too will be passionate about him. We will fall in-love with him, He will become more than just an aquaintance but will be the lover of our soul. Has your love with the Lord grown cold? When was the last time that you and He had a lip lock (kiss) and felt sizzling hot in your relationship with Him? He is longing to re-ignite his love with you. Isn't it a joy to serve others!

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?