July 20, 2003
Prayer Request
Great Truths

Jack took a long look at his speedometer before slowing down: 73 in a 55 zone. Fourth time in as many months. How could a guy get caught so often? When his car had slowed to 10 miles an hour, Jack pulled over, but only partially. Let the cop worry about the potential traffic hazard. Maybe some car will tweak his backside with a mirror.

The cop stepped out of his car, the big pad in hand. Bob? Bob from Church? Jack sunk farther into his trench coat. This was worse than the coming ticket. A cop catching a guy from his own church. A guy who happened to be a little eager to get home after a long day at the office. A guy he was about to play golf with tomorrow.

Jumping out of the car, he approached a man he saw every Sunday, a man he'd never seen in uniform. "Hi, Bob. Fancy meeting you here."

"Hello, Jack." No smile.
"Guess you caught me red-handed in a rush to see my wife and kids."
"Yeah, I guess." Bob seemed uncertain. Good.

"I've seen some long days at the office lately. I'm afraid I bent the rules a bit - just this once." Jack toed at a pebble on the pavement. "Diane said something about roast beef and potatoes tonight. Know what I mean?" "I know what you mean. I also know that you have a reputation in our precinct." Ouch. This was not going in the right direction. Time to change tactics.

"What'd you clock me at?"
"Seventy. Would you sit back in your car please?"
"Now wait a minute here, Bob. I checked as soon as I saw you. I was barely nudging 65." The lie seemed to come easier with every ticket.

"Please, Jack, in the car." Flustered, Jack hunched himself through the still-open door. Slamming it shut, he stared at the dashboard. He was in no rush to open the window. The minutes ticked by. Bob scribbled away on the pad. Why hadn't he asked for a driver's license?

Whatever the reason, it would be a month of Sundays before Jack ever sat near this cop again. A tap on the door jerked his head to the left. Bob had a folded paper in his hand. Jack rolled down the window a mere two inches, just enough room for Bob to pass him the slip.

"Thanks." Jack could not quite keep the sneer out of his voice. Bob returned to his police car without a word. Jack watched his retreat in the mirror. Jack unfolded the sheet of paper. How much was this one going to cost? Wait a minute. What was this? Some kind of joke? Certainly not a ticket. Jack began to read:

"Dear Jack,
Once upon a time I had a daughter. She was six when killed by a car. You guessed it-a speeding driver. A fine and three months in jail, and the man was free. Free to hug his daughters. All three of them. I only had one, and I'm going to have to wait until Heaven before I can ever hug her again. A thousand times I've tried to forgive that man. A thousand times I thought I had. Maybe I did, but I need to do it again. Even now. Pray for me. And be careful, Jack, my son is all I have left." "Bob"

Jack watched Bob's car pull out and head down the road. A full 15 minutes later, he too, pulled away and drove slowly home, praying for forgiveness and hugging a surprised wife and kids when he arrived.

Life is precious. Handle with care. Drive safely and carefully. Remember, cars are not the only things recalled by their maker.
Thanks, the Hoods, CA

Current Issue

Prayer Requests

1) Pray for revival and an awakening in the church.

2) Pray for our country. . .As judges around the nation order the removal of words of Scripture from public places--including the Ten Commandments--pray that this alarming trend will stop. Pray that judges across America will acknowledge the vital role God's Word has played in the founding of American Law.

3) Pray for the president. . .Pray for the president and his advisors as he determines the course of action America will take regarding Liberia. Pray for the President as he hosts Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi at his ranch in Crawford, Texas, on July 20-21.

Additional leaders to pray for. . .Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony Principi, Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy John Walters, Secretary of Treasury John Snow, Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton.

Read: Ezra 8:22, 23

Missionaries

4) Continue to pray for Laura Lee and Dan in the adoption process of their Mongolian daughter. They keep getting the “run-around” with the agency in the US. It is causing them much stress on top of other things they have going on here. Please also pray for both their health. It is taking a major toll on them physically.

5) Pray for Katherin, serving in Mongolia. She only has two weeks left before returning to the states for a rest. Pray she completes her projects. Praise God -- her visa was not only renewed but for twice as long as usual for half the cost of the first one. She has been given the okay to return to Mongolia and serve another two years.

Idaho

Update: Tim’s brother, the truck driver, who had a heart attack several weeks ago went back to work this week. Both surgeries to repair damaged arteries were successful. Praise God!

Update: Remember praying for Vickie and the man who was bilking her out of bunches of money. She finally got rid of him, straightened out her financial problems and started over. Unfortunately, he returned -- with a story of being a changed man. More unfortunately, she believed him -- and married him. Pray this time God is the one who does the changing in this man's heart. Pray for his salvation and her return to the Lord.

Oregon

6) Pray for a lady who has a strong relationship with the Lord to remain strong even though she is being attacked. Pray that God serves justice upon the evil ones in this situation.

7) Pray that an appropriate place is found for an older man. Several assisted living facilities have promised the moon and given cheese.

8) Pray for Marie. She has cancer and had a treatment this past week that didn’t help.

9) Pray for Don and Virginia. Neither are saved and she had a stroke this past week. Salvation first! Then healing!

Florida

10) Pray for Bill Bright -- head of Campus Crusade for Christ. He is ill.

11) Pray for a young man without the Lord.

Great Truths That Little Children Have Learned:

1. No matter how hard you try, you can't baptize cats.
2. When your Mom is mad at your Dad, don't let her brush your hair.
3. If your sister hits you, don't hit her back. They always catch the second person.
4. Never ask your 3-year old brother to hold a tomato.
5. You can't trust dogs to watch your food.
6. Don't sneeze when someone is cutting your hair.
7. Never hold a Dust-Buster and a cat at the same time.
8. You can't hide a piece of broccoli in a glass of milk.

Great Truths That Adults Have Learned:

1. Raising teenagers is like nailing Jell-O to a tree.
2. Wrinkles don't hurt.
3. Families are like fudge . . .mostly sweet, with a few nuts.
4. Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground.
5. Laughing is good exercise. It's like jogging on the inside.
6. Middle age is when you choose your cereal for the fiber, not the joy.

Thanks to the Paynes, Gaston OR

July 27, 2003
Prayer Request
Great Truths

Holy Spirit, Tender Teacher

How ephemeral, how serene
is the nature of the Holy Spirit
At times, coursing through my consciousness,
like a river lost, but yearning to be found.

Eternal wisdom is the Spirit
It awaits as Solomon's treasure to be discovered
by the diligent searcher, the true believer.

Yet, a mystery so delicate
that my sinful thoughts will send it scurrying
as a wide eyed deer
bounding from the glades afire.

Lord, I fall prostrate, once again asking for Your forgiveness
and the Spirit groans and returns to me.
Perhaps it never abandoned me,
but if not, in my sin I could not find it.

Why does it withdraw?
Tender and elusive, it departs me, sorrowed
when wounded by my sin,
a proud guest who does not linger when not wanted.

To me, Lord, you have promised wisdom and peace
when I call your Holy Name,
when I entrust your mastery over my soul.
Come to me again, I beg you
Holy Spirit, Teacher Mine.

(c) Allen Autry, Pompano Beach, FL

Prayer Requests

1) Pray for revival and an awakening in the church.

2) Pray for our country. . .Pray for this country to return to God

3) Pray for the president. . .He is under severe pressure. Pray for him to remain strong in the Lord.

Additional leaders to pray for. . .Pray for all of your local leaders.

Read: Your favorite passage every day this week.

Idaho

Update: Tim’s brother, the truck driver, who had a heart attack several weeks ago went back to work this week. Both surgeries to repair damaged arteries were successful. Praise God!

Update: Remember praying for Vickie and the man who was bilking her out of bunches of money. She finally got rid of him, straightened out her financial problems and started over. Unfortunately, he returned -- with a story of being a changed man. More unfortunately, she believed him -- and married him. Pray this time God is the one who does the changing in this man's heart. Pray for his salvation and her return to the Lord.

Oregon

Update: Remember Cody, who had a normally fatal syndrome that strikes primarily Hawaiians? He has gotten a clean bill of health from the Medical folks. That is an answer to you'all's prayers as there could have been extensive physical damage of an irreversible nature, and that's an understatement. They say this does not mean that the problem could not return, but just that a number of very dangerous events seem to have been reversed, causing shock and awe to the doctors. Cody's grandpa reports being awed and humbled by the move of God's hand when His people pray. Grandpa is grateful for your prayers. Thank you!

4) Praises to God! Earl's heart has healed. His heart attack shows no after-effects. Meanwhile, though, he has had a small stroke. Pray for God's healing and peace.

5) Pray for Rob and Wendy and family. God has special plans.

6) Pray for Ted. He has reached a crossroads in his life and needs new direction from the Lord.

7) Pray for Michael and Judy whose marriage is troubled when neither correctly take their meds. Pray that the struggles be turned over to God and left there.

8) Pray for Lori, a single mom who is following a cult and about to marry a man who is following himself.

9) Pray for Randy. He is healing after a mountain biking accident in which he severely broke one leg.

Washington

10) Pray for Helen. She is having a hard time getting used to a new environment. Pray for God's courage to develop friends.

Missionaries

11) Pray for Rod and Dawn Taylor. They are on furlough at home in California from Ireland. While at home Rod developed a deep depression. Treatment was successful and he is feeling much better. Dawn had a herniated disk in her neck and had surgery to remove the damaged disk and fuse the vertebrae together with a bone from her hip. And Ryan, their son, developed a difficulty with his muscle development and has had therapy twice a week. And the mission informed them that they needed an additional $1500 per month before they can return to Ireland. (The value of the dollar is down 30% against the Euro since they left Ireland.) This has been a difficult ?time of rest. Pray for healing and restoration in the depth of their relationship with the Lord. Pray God brings in the extra finances when He wants them to return to Ireland. Pray that the whole family finds rest and peace before returning to His work.

12) Pray for Joan -- the trip to Africa was successful -- and tiring.

13) Pray for the Master's Work staff. We'all always need you'all's prayers.

14) Pray for Carl and Cindy Reid in Indonesia. Twenty-seven years ago, Cindy, a nurse, assisted in a delicate operation on a very young girl -- one that had never been done before in Indonesia. This year that girl, which the Reids had lost track of, came to the seminary where Cindy is a counselor, and asked Cindy to be her mentor for her Master's Thesis. What a blessing! Pray that the young woman completes her education and returns to her home area to teach.

15) Pray extra hard for a missionary you have a special interest in.

Great Truths About Growing Old:

1. Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional.
2. Forget the health food. I need all the preservatives I can get.
3. When you fall down, you wonder what else you can do while you're down there.
4. You're getting old when you get the same sensation from a rocking chair that you once got from a roller coaster.
5. It's frustrating when you know all the answers, but nobody bothers to ask you the questions.
6. Time may be a great healer, but it's a lousy beautician.
7. Wisdom comes with age, but sometimes age comes alone.

The Four Stages Of Life:

1. You believe in Santa Claus
2. You don't believe in Santa Claus.
3. You are Santa Claus.
4. You look like Santa Claus.