October 5, 2003
Prayer Request
Some More “Ole And Sven” Adventures

Good Safety Information
PrayerWorks rarely prints articles like this. But it never hurts to be careful in this crazy world we live in. Please take the time to read this. I know you are smart enough to know most of these pointers but there will be some, where you will go "hmm I must remember that".

1. The elbow is the strongest point on your body. If you are close enough to use it, do!

2. Learned this from a tourist guide to New Orleans. If a robber asks for your wallet and/or purse, DO NOT HAND IT TO HIM. Toss it away from you....chances are that he is more interested in your wallet and/or purse than you and he will go for the wallet/purse. RUN LIKE MAD IN THE OTHER DIRECTION!

3. If you are ever thrown into the trunk of a car: Kick out the back tail lights and stick your arm out the hole and start waving like crazy. The driver won't see you but everybody else will. This has saved lives.

4. Women have a tendency to get into their cars after shopping, eating, working, etc., and just sit (doing their checkbook, or making a list, etc. DON'T DO THIS! The predator will be watching you, and this is the perfect opportunity for him to get in on the passenger side, put a gun to your head, and tell you where to go. AS SOON AS YOU GET INTO YOUR CAR, LOCK THE DOORS AND LEAVE.

5. A few notes about getting into your car in a parking lot, or parking garage:

6. ALWAYS take the elevator instead of the stairs.(Stairwells are horrible places to be alone and the perfect crime spot).

7. If the predator has a gun and you are not under his control, ALWAYS RUN! The predator will only hit you (a running target) 4 in 100 times; And even then, it most likely WILL NOT be a vital organ. RUN!

8. As women, we are always trying to be sympathetic: STOP IT! It may get you raped, or killed. Ted Bundy, the serial killer, was a good-looking, well educated man, who ALWAYS played on the sympathies of unsuspecting women. He walked with a cane, or a limp, and often asked "for help" into his vehicle or with his vehicle, which is when he abducted his next victim.

9. Recently a lady heard a crying baby on her porch in the night, and she called the police because it was late and she thought it was weird. The police told her "Whatever you do, DO NOT open the door." The lady then said it sounded like the baby had crawled near a window, and she was worried that it would crawl to the street and get run over. The policeman said, "We already have a unit on the way, whatever you do, DO NOT open the door." He told her that they thought a serial killer has a baby's cry recorded and uses it to coax women out of their homes thinking that someone dropped off a baby. DO NOT open the door for a crying baby. This story was mentioned on America's Most Wanted recently when they profiled the serial killer in Louisiana.

Ladies -- beware. Men -- make sure your loved ones are informed.
Thank you, Jennifer Demagalski, Kaiser OR

Prayer Requests
1) Pray for revival and an awakening in the church. . .God protects --He also expects us to know where we are walking. Even Jesus didn’t challenge God’s ability to take care of Him.

2) Pray for our country. . . Pray for the Justices of the United States Supreme Court as they begin hearing oral arguments on Tuesday, October 7. Pray that they will have God's wisdom and insight into each case that they consider, and that they will serve out their terms faithfully before God.

3) Pray for our president as he meets with leaders of the world to bring about health and peace everywhere. Pray for his strength, his wisdom, and his protection (both physical and spiritual). May God go before him and be his rear guard.

Additional leaders to pray for: Supreme Court Members: Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist, Justice John Paul Stevens, Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, Justice Antonin Scalia, Justice Anthony M. Kennedy, Justice David H. Souter, Justice Clarence Thomas, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Justice Stephen G. Breyer.

Read: II Chronicles 6:40 & Micah 6:8

October is Clergy Appreciation Month! It is the perfect time to let your pastor or chaplain know how much you appreciate him. Pray for your pastor and let him know that you remember him regularly.

Missionaries
4) Joan Lipis from Israel writes: “Just a note to praise the Lord for His healing touch. I'm able to sit and type!!!” Thank you’all for your prayers.

5) Pray for Richard and Charlotte. Their trip has been successful so far. They’re not home yet so keep praying. They have met some old friends and had some new experiences. Mostly they are learning effective ways to help spread the word. Continue to pray for their safety and “fact-gathering” mission.

6) Pray for Frank and Barbara Emrick in Siberia.

7) Pray for Gil Harder of East/West Ministries. He is preparing for another trip to Russia with a team for evangelism. The last two trips and teams seemed to be very successful. Pray that God leads this group to open people and open hearts.

8) Pray for a couple on a potentially dangerous mission across a dangerous border.

Washington
9) Pray for Nadine Haines and her family. Her husband, Robert, passed away recently and she is struggling.

Oregon
10) Pray for Luba that she can walk with the Lord--strong and bold. She also wants to learn to walk again and get out of the wheelchair.

11) Pray for a lady who has been severely traumatized.

12) Pray for Jay and V.Ann. Several weeks ago the van lost its transmission. (The mechanic wants $2800 to fix that.) This week Jay’s pickup’s transmission went kafluey. (Another $5-700). --- Just pray for Jay and V.Ann -- and however God leads!

13) Pray for salvation for Brad.

Some More “Ole And Sven” Adventures

Ole and Sven were visiting and eating Lutefisk at the 1st Annual Bellyache Festival and Sven was having more troubles. . .

Sven: “Ole, Aye take Lena to Norvay for our 25th vedding anniversary. Vat dew yew tink Aye shewed dew now, our 50th anniversary is coming soon!” Ole: “Sven, yew dummy, go back to Norvay and get her!”
*****************************

Sven walked by as Ole was painting his barn. He noticed that Ole was wearing two jackets even though it was June. So..... Sven: “Vy are yew vearing tew yackets dere, Ole?
Ole: “Vell, Sven, da directions on da can said to ‘put on tew coats!’ Dat’s vy!!”
*****************************

Other Stuff
Some people read just enough to keep themselves misinformed.
The biggest thing we find wrong with the younger generation is that we don’t belong to it any more!

November 9, 2003
Prayer Request
When God Cares, He Sends The Very Best!

Current Issue

Prayer Requests
1) Pray for revival and an awakening in the church. Pray that people can learn to love themselves according to the two greatest commandments so that they can love others as the Lord requires.

2) Pray for our country. . .Pray for it’s morality.

3) Pray for our president. . . This month there have been some very strong (from verified sources) prophecies about physical harm coming to our president. Pray for Mr Bush and his family (no matter what your political thoughts on his actions). God seems to be saying that the president is in mortal danger.

Additional leaders to pray for:

Read: Psalm 33:12 & Luke 18:1

Missionary Reports
4) The ACLJ (American Center for Law and Justice -- Jay Seculow) reports: The Supreme Court of the United States has refused to hear a Washington state equal access case - allowing an appeals court decision to stand. School districts must treat religious student clubs on campus in the same manner they treat all other student clubs.

They are still waiting to hear if the Supreme Court of the United States will grant review to the critical Pledge of Allegiance case - and potentially overturn the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals' tragic decision that threatens to remove the words "under God" from the Pledge recited by schoolchildren each day. Praise God for the first decision and pray for the second.

5) Katherin Hitchcock returned from Mongolia and was home for a month. Now she is returning and asks for prayer:

** Pray for my interactions with my mission in “closing” my time there
** Pray for wisdom and discernment as I seek the Lord’s plans for me daily.
** Pray for strength in the Holy Spirit during all trials and triumphs!
** Pray for future training and my acceptance into Multnomah Bible Seminary Graduate Program.
** Pray for safety in travel.

Illinois
6) Praise God for the young family man who had Class IV Cancer and received experimental treatment - several years ago, now. He is doing well, continues cancer free and gives God all the praise and credit for his health. He is truly grateful for you’all’s prayers during that difficult time. He and his wife are a real witness in several small rural communities. Praise God for His work in these lives, and pray they'll have the grace and wisdom to continue witnessing as they are from families and communities with few born again Christians.

7) Pray for “Phyllis” who has had a long experience with family dysfunction, worthless "taking" men, and some bad luck such as a terrible auto accident that smashed her face and has resulted in all kinds of facial neuralgia and miserable sinus problems due to the damage - to say nothing of the physical disfigurement. Her 15-year-old committed suicide on his 15th birthday last month. The son was born with ‘water on the brain’. He had had 60 or 70 surgeries over his lifetime. He looked different and had some scars on his head that showed and was not accepted by his peers. She said he was lonely, miserable, and had threatened suicide several times because of the high school problems.

Her status with Christ is uncertain. She believes that her son might be “in a different corner of heaven, not yet good enough to be in the real place”.

Her ex-husband has now demanded she sell the house so he can have his share of the money. Pray for her salvation to be confirmed. Pray that she learns to trust God with all the trials.

8) Praise God! Ted's checkups for cancer were GREAT!

9) Praise God! Jeff has accepted an excellent administrative position in Atlanta. He has been looking for a job for a long time. There are some family issues to overcome that need prayer. So continue to pray for Jeff and his family in this time of transition.

When God Cares, He Sends The Very Best!
A woman received a phone call that her daughter was very sick with a fever. She left work and stopped by the pharmacy for some medication. She returned to her car to find she had locked her keys inside. She called home to the baby sitter, and was told her daughter was getting worse. The sitter said, "You might find a coat hanger and use that to open the door.."

The woman found an old rusty coat hanger on the ground, as if someone else had locked their keys in their car. She looked at the hanger and said, "I don't know how to use this." She bowed her head and asked God for help.

An old rusty car pulled up, driven by a dirty, bearded man with a biker skull rag on his head. The woman thought, "Great, God. This is what you sent to help me????"

The man asked if he could help. She said "Yes, my daughter is very sick. I must get home to her. Please, can you unlock my car."

He said, "Sure." He walked over to the car and in seconds the car was opened. She hugged the man and through her tears she said, "THANK YOU SO MUCH.....You are a very nice man."

The man replied, "Lady, I ain't a nice man. I just got out of prison for car theft."

The woman hugged the man again and cried out loud, "THANK YOU GOD FOR SENDING ME A PROFESSIONAL!"

October 21, 2003
Prayer Request
Some Interesting Thoughts

Tell Me A Story
...but now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 14:19

The sheets stretched taut from the long necked lamp to the bedposts. They hung to the floor forming a tent, and we slipped through the draped opening on hands and knees. My four-year-old grandson held a finger to his lips as he turned to me, “Shhhh!” he said. “We don’t want to wake the monsters.”

I nodded silently, as I settled into the corner.

“Are you ready now?” he asked, still in his stage whisper.

“I’m ready,” I whispered back. “Now please. . .tell me a story.”

Bending his head close to mine, in a barely audible voice he began, “One a ponce a time. . .”

Lord, thank you for stories from a child’s heart and the priceless gift of one a ponce a time. . . . and Lord, thank You for the wisdom of knowing when to listen, and for gently reminding me when I don’t.
(c) Jan Fugman, Troutdale, OR

Current Issue

Prayer Requests
1) Pray for revival and an awakening in the church. Help me to understand that, as I share my life with a child, I am embracing and returning the love of God.

2) Pray for our country. . .

• This is National Character Counts Week. Pray for a resurgence of godly character in America, causing all Americans to develop godly character in themselves, in their children, in our schools, businesses and government.
• Pray for a return to biblical values, integrity and honesty.
• Pray for the President and for the Congress as they decide how to help Iraq financially. Give thanks for the decision by Japan to join in the effort.
• The Supreme Court has decided to hear the case on the constitutionality of requiring children to recite the Pledge of Allegiance. It won't be argued until February or March.
• Pray that the cause of religious freedom in America will be upheld, allowing for the clear expressions of the Christian roots of our Founding Fathers.

3) Pray for the President as he travels abroad for a number of commitments in the coming days.
Additional leaders to pray for this week:

Read: II Chronicles 7:15 & Romans 5:3-5

(This section is from www.presidentialprayerteam.org. There are 2.8 million people signed up to pray for the president regularly. If you aren’t onto this site, you might check it out!)

Missionaries
4) MaryAnn Hood writes, “I am not able to go to the nursing home for Bible Study, singing, and prayer due to pancreatic cancer in its final stages. I have four months or less to live. The cancer was in my blood stream, and had spread to the lungs and the liver. Please pray that my remaining days will bring glory to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. I am not in pain-for which I'm very thankful.” (MaryAnn has been taking prayer letters to a nursing home in Gadsden, AL)

5) Pray for Howard Hunter and family. They have worked faithfully in the Tanauan church in the Philippines and have seen little results. God seems to be moving them into a radio ministry. They will be home soon for a furlough and working to establish a firm financial base for the radio station. Pray for strength for the move, wisdom in closing down their mission post, and peace in the situation.

6) Pray for Joan Lipis to be sure that

7) Debbie and Peter Dodd in Taiwan ask for prayer for their work in the church and her teaching at the seminary. Thought you’all might enjoy a bit of their personal life as missionaries:
“Taiwan's Tasty Treats: This past week we have had the opportunity to sample some of Taiwan's more interesting delicacies. At a wedding feast we were treated to deep fried bees. The stingers had been removed and they were dipped in batter. I found them to be very similar to fried grasshoppers. Today my lunch was a very good thick soup. The main meat was octopus, not the regular meat from the octopus arms, but the mouths. Think of the giant octopus from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, and then imagine a tasty ball of tender meat the size of an olive with a little "beak" on one end. If it weren't for those beaks, I would have finished the whole bowl!”
(YUCK!!! -- maybe you’all need to pray for their taste buds and stomach strength too!)

8) Pray for Marty who was able to get out last Monday afternoon to try a little street outreach in St. Helens, Oregon. Pray he finds a better, safer, quieter spot to do street preaching. Pray for open hearts.

Oregon
9) Pray for Neil and his family. His mom is ill.

10) Pray for Sahara. She is a teen-ager and she has recently been suicidal. Pray for her family that the Lord would be taken seriously.

Nevada
11) Pray for Jeff. He is a young man in his late twenties. Several years ago, he injured his hip and he will be having hip replacement surgery. Doctors say that the new hip will only last 10-15 years. Pray for doctors’ wisdom. Pray for his family’s peace. Pray for healing.

Some Interesting Thoughts

Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it.....

I get enough exercise just pushing my luck!

Families are like fudge. . .mostly sweet with a few nuts.

Snowmen fall from Heaven unassembled.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst, for they are sticking to their diets.

There was a man who entered a local paper’s pun contest. He sent in 10 different puns, in the hope that at least one of the puns would win. Unfortunately, no pun in ten did.

Today’s mighty oak is just yesterday’s nut that held its ground.

There is always a lot to be thankful for if you take time to look for it. For example, I am sitting here thinking how nice it is that wrinkles don’t hurt.

October 26, 2003
Prayer Request
Quite A Question

History Exam For Seniors
Don't peek at the answers 'til you try it.

13. What was the name of Caroline Kennedy's pet pony?

Answers
1. b); 2. b); 3. c); 4. a); 5. b); 6. a); 7. c); 8. a); 9. a); 10. c);
11. c); 12. b); 13. c); 14. c); 15. a); 16. a); 17. b); 18. c); 19. a); 20. a).

Scoring
17 - 20 correct: You are older than dirt. Now if you could only find your glasses.
12 - 16 correct: Not quite old yet, but your mind is definitely muddy.
0 - 11 correct: You are younger than springtime!

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

2) Pray for our country. . .Now there are wild fires in Southern California. 14 have died so far and many homes have been lost. Pray for those who have lost loved ones and all their possessions.

3) Pray for our president. . .politics are heating up. Pray that God protects truth.
    Pray for your own local leaders this week.

Read: Isaiah 22:22

Oregon
4) Pray for Nancy. Her liver isn’t functioning correctly.

5) Pray for Bob who had a lower leg amputated. Pray for healing.

6) Pray for Erin and Craig for salvation.

7) Pray for AnnaMarie who is having medical problems.

Washington
8) Pray for a friend of Bob Jr’s who is a pastor and started a church which didn’t seem to thrive. Pray for wisdom and direction.

9) Pray for Sam who has dementia. Pray for his wife. She struggles with the new relationship.

Missionaries
10) The Erringtons worked with Wycliffe Bible Translators in the Philippines for nearly 25 years. Now much of the Bible is in the native language of a tribe of 30,000 people. They have now returned home to teach at Trinity Bible College in Vancouver BC, Canada because their 25 year old daughter has developed breast cancer. Pray that their ministry will continue to be effective. Pray for their daughter for healing and the ability to trust Jesus for the outcome.

11) Recently heard from Dr. Tim Herrick in Mali. Here is his report:

12) Urgent: Got a call tonight (10-26). Justin was in a serious car wreck. Pray for both him and his family.

Idaho
13) Pray for Tim’s dad who will be having cancer related surgery on his hip in mid November. (Not the first time) Ross is in his 80's.

Bible Trees
See how many Bible trees you can identify.

2. The tree growing in Babylon, known as an emblem of sorrow, upon which the captive people of Judah hung their harps:
__________________________ (Psalm 137:1,2).

3. The kind of wood from which the ark was built:
__________________________ (Genesis 6:14).

4. A dove brought back a leaf from this tree before Noah left the ark:
____________________ (Genesis 8:11).

5. The tree that enabled Zacchaeus to get a better view of Jesus:
_______________________ (Luke 19:4).

6. A very hard wood, with a black center, used in Bible times to make musical instruments:
___________________ (Ezekiel 27:15).

7. A tall tree which grows in Lebanon, used to building David and Solomon's houses:
_________________ (2 Samuel 7:2).

8. The kind of wood used to build furnishings for the tabernacle:
_____________________ (Exodus 25:5,10,23).

9. The nuts of this tree were part of the present Jacob sent by his sons to the ruler of Egypt during a famine in Canaan:
________________________ (Genesis 43:11).

10. People met Jesus with branches from this tree when He rode into Jerusalem:
_____________________ (John 12:12,13).
(c) Maryann Cavender Hood, Gadsden AL